Costa Rica Bound!!

What a busy time for me right now, but exciting. In two more days I'll be heading down to Costa Rica for the Coastal Challenge Route Of Fire (a 6 day 245km staged trail race through the jungles). I attempted this last year as well but had to miss 2 days of the race with a horrible stomach virus (I.V. in the jungle is quite an experience). I absoulutly fell in love with the beautiful country, race and people down there, so I feel like I have unfinished business down there now. I really went there last year not giving the race enough respect and under trained as well, and boy did I suffer for it.
I will be a little more prepared this year as I've got about four 50k trail races under my belt, some longer training runs in, Bikram yoga, plus I will know a little more of what to expect (rivers, mountains, mud, food, heat, and everything else that race will chuck at you), and of course an all together better attitude. I have really fallen in love with the whole trail running/racing thing now, and continue to look forward to improving, learning, and meeting all the great people along the way. I really have to thank Jude Ultra, Rob Thompson, Paul McGowan and Mark Cryderman for all their help, support, encouragement, and generally changing my attitude into loving running, it really is what makes this sport so great.

Training last week went well, I did get a little behind a couple weeks back with that bad stomach flu (well, hopefully its all out of my system now for the big race). Did over 100km in 4 days with a couple run commutes to work and back, hill and stair reps, plus I even fitted a Bikram session and soccer game in there to (yep, my training is a little unorthodox).

I've also been getting things together for my upcoming run clinic's at the Delta New Balance shop starting Tuesday. Things are looking good (thanks Bro) and there does seem to be lots of interest as we get closer to the start date (really seems to be a last minute decision for lots of people). I'm looking forward to starting them again as I really do get inspired by all of the motivated runners.

Check out the 2012 coastal challenge link for race updates, and I'll do my best to update you guys as soon as I can. I do hope to get more consistent with my blog, share more about me, and  fill all of you in more with  all my adventures and stories. Well, time to pack and head down to some sunshine, warmth, oh yeah......and maybe a little suffering :). Ya Whooooooooooo!!!

Pura Vida, Chris Barth (hope that's spelled right, my Spanish not so good)