The Coastal Experiences : General Information

The Race

After many years of working with some of the most grueling races on the planet, Tim Holmstrom and Merritt Hopper have drawn upon their collective knowledge and experience to design an extraordinary new event unlike any other on the planet.

Our Mission

In an effort to create a truly inclusive international event and open it up to a much wider audience they have taken a fresh approach, one that offers both a running competition and a chance to experience everything Costa Rica has to offer. They have managed to maintain the adventure and challenge of a race but created a novel format which can be accomplished by anyone who is up to the task. The actual running will be geared toward those who have accomplished 5K’s and 10K’s in their hometowns and local communities. However, this particular week has a strong emphasis on day trips, excursions or just down time on the beach. If you’ve gone on a 10 mile hike or run 5K, this is something that you’ll be able to start AND finish! Over the course of a week you can meet your goal of running, jogging or walking 40K while enjoying all the beauty and adventure that Costa Rica offers the active traveler. Their goal was to put together an unforgettable and diverse series of day tours. Everything from hiking the rim of active volcanoes to Class IV and V river rafting in the Picuare River, the most sought after rafting experience in this hemisphere. Whether you are part of a group looking for something different this October or someone who is looking to use their vacation time to do something no one else is, this week long adventure is the opportunity of a lifetime and could be exactly what you’re seeking.

Your Goals What are YOU determined to accomplish?

If you’re looking to test your limits and push yourself to accomplish something you never thought possible, this week promises to help you meet that goal. You will experience Costa Rica like few others have, in the company of others who seek adventure, fitness and cultural experiences. If you’ve imagined participating in an adventure race or stage run but felt intimidated by distances or level of conditioning required then this could be a great stepping stone for you. If you’re ready to move from watching the Eco Challenge, Primal Quest, Ironman, NYC Marathon or Xterra races on TV to actually stepping up to your own challenge, please join us on this unforgettable Costa Rica adventure.

Registration

Registration Prices:

• $1250 full payment if registered by Feb 1 (mix of camping and lodging)
• $650 deposit (mix of camping and lodging)
• $600 final payment if registered by Feb 1 (mix of camping and lodging)
• $300 extra lodging (no camping, all lodging)
• Price after February 1 $1450
• Price after May 1 $1600
• Registration is limited to the first 85 racers
• Registration deadline is October 1

Optional Payment Plan

• Initial deposit of $650 per person is required to secure a spot.
• Deposits can be made up until May 1st. After May 1st full payment is  required.
• All outstanding balance payments must be received by May 31st
• All registrations with outstanding balance payments beyond May 31st will be subject to an additional $200.00 late fee.

Important regarding deposits: Balances on any registration deposits are due May 31st, 2010.
This is a strict deadline and all check payments must be postmarked by May 31st to avoid an additional $200.00 fee.

Payment Options

• Online using a credit card with Active.com
  
• Check Payment (no service fee)
  
• Travel Insurance Option
  

Cancellation and Refund Policy

• All registration fees paid are 100% refundable until April 1
• All registration fees paid are 50% refundable from April 2 - August 1
• NO REFUNDS of any kind after August 2

Lodging Option

Before and after the race everyone will stay at The Best Western Irazu.

During the race we will set aside camp areas for campers and have lodging available for non-campers. For much of the course we are traveling through remote parts of Costa Rica but for those who would rather not camp during the race we have arranged for lodging at the nearest possible hotels or haciendas. This often puts you within 5-10 minutes drive of the main camp. You will be dropped off in the afternoon, picked up before dinner and dropped off again an hour or two after dinner.”

The lodging is typically pretty rustic but clean and comfortable and meant as a viable alternative to those of you who may not own camping gear (which would probably cost $ 200-300 to purchase) or those of you not entirely fond of sleeping under the stars in a tent. (see details and photos on lodging page)

What's Included

• 7 day adventure
• 5 days of racing 5-10K’s
• 7 breakfasts, 5 dinners and 5 lunches
• Daily excursions included: Volcano tours, canyoning (i.e. rappelling down waterfalls, ziplining through trees), whitewater rafting class ll, lll, and lV rapids, kayaking and snorkeling.
• Excursions offered at a small additional price: SCUBA
• Registration is limited to the first 125 racers.
• The registration deadline occurs once the slots are filled or by October 1.

Itinerary

Have questions? Give us a call at (917) 328-6472

Day 1/Pre-Race check-in (Sunday/October 10)

Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica before 3pm. Registration, check-in by 5pm. Welcome reception from 5pm-7pm. Get some sleep! We’ve got a big week ahead of us!

Day 2/Race Day 1, (Monday/October 11) 10k

Depart the Best Western Irazu in San Jose and head for the volcano. The 10K run will be near the volcano of Turrialba.  A narrow unpaved road will take you through the hills and past small villages that sit above San Jose.  Your finish line is the home of Turrialba Lodge, where we’ll be staying that night.  Relax at the indoor pool, go horseback riding or trek up to the volcano.  It’s all up to you.

Note - For those not interested in camping, lodging is available on a first come first serve basis. 4 nights lodging (w/out any camping throughout the week) will be available for an additional $300 per person for the week.

Day 3/Race Day 2, (Tuesday/October 12) 9k

Our 8K run begins at 6:30 am through the region of Turrialba. Trails will take you through Costa Rica’s world-renowned rainforests and a botanical garden. Today’s main event is an intense canyoning tour and canopy walk! As you rappel down waterfalls and tall trees, drift through huge lagoon pools, and zip-line across spans of jungle floor 60-80 feet below, you’ll soon realize you are just beginning to experience Costa Rica in a way very few people have the opportunity to do in one week!
You’ll also tour the "Golden Bean Coffee Mill", a local coffee plantation that helps produce one of Costa Rica’s most amazing exports. You’ll see, smell and taste how it’s transformed from a simple bean to rich, flavorful perfection in a mug! Feel free to explore the town of Turrialba that evening.

Day 4/Race Day 3, (Wednesday/October 13) 6.5k

The 6K run begins at 8am and will end at the put-in for today’s whitewater rafting adventure! The Pacuare River is one of the top 5 river rafting experiences in the entire world and the most beautiful rafting trip in this hemisphere. You will hurdle down Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids with certified river rafting guides and have the rafting trip of a lifetime.
That evening we’ll be lodging in style and recovering from the long day on the water at the Rios Tropicales Lodge!  This lodge is actually on the river and is half way through your water rafting adventure.  Rest up for the final leg on the river tomorrow morning.

Day 5/Race Day 4, (Thursday/October 14) 5k

Today’s 5K run begins at 8am. Be prepared for a combination of jungle and riverside trails today. The race will start and finish at the Rios Tropicales Lodge.  After breakfast, it’s time to get back on the river for your final leg of rafting.  Enjoy the rapids, waterfalls and overall scenery of the rain forest because we’re headed straight for the coast that afternoon.

Our next stop is Manzanillo!  It is the first of three coastal towns we’ll be exploring over the next 2 days. Manzanillo is a 250 year-old village originally settled by fishermen seeking the hawksbill sea turtle. They first settled near Monkey Pond and gradually moved into what is now known as Manzanillo. The village has developed slowly over the years and did not have electricity until as recently as the 1980’s or landline phone service until the year 2000. The areas are close to one another so you won’t need to brace yourself for long trips on a daily basis. This section of the race will allow us to gradually cover the beauty of Costa Rica’s Southeastern Caribbean side.

Day 6/Race Day 5, (Friday/October 15) 7.2k

Today’s 8K run begins at 8am.  Give it all you have for the last 7K, a tough but stunning single-track trail. You’ll need to dig deep on this one. We’ll be running past the final small town on the last bit of road in Southeastern Costa Rica. You will see one of the most beautiful and unspoiled places in the entire country, a stretch of jungle trail that weaves on and off the beach before turning inland and leading to Panama. You won’t get to Panama today but you’ll get close before circling back to where you started. This entire area is a surfing Mecca and bohemian paradise.
We’ll also have complimentary snorkel equipment, kayaks and tours for those not interested in conquering the Costa Rica waves. SCUBA tours will be an option at an additional price for anyone certified. We’ll celebrate everyone’s success with a banquet and awards ceremony that night. CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

Day 7/Transport back to San Jose (Saturday/October 16)

Brunch is served and then it’s time to board the bus back to San Jose. Accommodations are complimentary if you’d like to stay at the Best Western that night. Some of you may decide to say goodbye to the group in Puerto Viejo, contemplating the idea of calling it home for the next year or so.

Day 8/Depart San Jose (Sunday/October 17)

Adventures

In addition to each day's race leg you can also look forward to:

• Trekking up Turrialba : a trek to the rim of Turrialba Volcano
• Canyon Tour: Prepare to defy gravity and get wet while exploring picturesque canyons.
• Rafting the Pacuare: An unforgettable day of rafting down class lll and lV rapids.
• Snorkeling: Dive into the crystal blue waters of this gorgeous section of the coast.
• Kayaking: Explore the beauty of the Caribbean from the Southeastern coast of Costa Rica.

Training Program

Jeff Galloway's injury-free training principles have been used successfully by hundreds of thousands of runners and walkers of all abilities, including beginners.

Jeff's many accomplishments include:

• US Olympian
• Author of top selling running books in North America, Galloway's Book on Running  and Marathon You Can Do It!
  
• Runner's World columnist
• Inspirational speaker to over 200 running and fitness sessions each year
• Designer of the walk-run, low mileage marathon training program-with an over 98% success rate Jeff Galloway spends the time necessary to answer the questions of thousands of beginners, recreational runners, aspiring marathoners and time goal runners-every year.
• He has worked with over 150,000 average people in training for specific goals and is the inventor of the Galloway RUN-WALK method.

Click HERE to learn more about Jeff Galloway, training for this race and more!

Event Contacts

• General Information
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• Media Relations
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• Registration
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• Event Director/Event Founder: Tim Holmstrom
  
  
• Adventure Program Director: Eduardo Baldioceda
  
  
• Medical Staff: Dr. Federico Gallegos Jimenez, AHA certified

If you would like to connect by phone, please contact Merritt Hopper with any questions or if you'd like to volunteer for The Coastal Experiences at o 203-353-1608.

• Tim Holmstrom, Event Director/Event Founder
  
  Tim Holmstrom has been producing and staging events in Costa Rica for 4 years. As a photojournalist Tim Holmstrom has been covering adventure racing and multi-sport events for over 10 years. He has witnessed the tremendous growth and steady evolution of these races while gathering a vast library of images for magazines, corporate sponsors and race organizations.
  
  For Tim, The Coastal Experience is a part of a natural progression and evolution of attempting to open up these types of events for more and more individuals to enjoy and participate.
  
  
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• Merritt Hopper, Race Director
  
  Merritt Hopper has been an integral part in some of the most famous races in the world.  He has pooled his logistical and operational experience from races like The Eco Challenge, Primal Quest and The Coastal Challenge to bring us this race.  Merritt will make sure to bring his spirit and enthusiasm to what he promises will be "An event like no other."
  
  
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• Eduardo Baldioceda, Adventure Program Director
  
  An accomplished tropical biologist, Eduardo, has worked as a naturalist/adventure guide in Costa Rica since 1999. He’s a member of Costa Rica's Adventure Racing Team with who has won the National and Central American Championships.  Top Team finishes include: 1st place in Coast to Coast AR - Costa Rica, 1st place in Trio AR - Nicaragua, 3rd place in CAMDEX - Mexico, 4th place in Travesia Max Bosi - Colombia, and most recently 10th place in Desafio de los Volcanoes 2007 - Argentina/Chile, referred to as the toughest race in South America.
  
  Eduardo has turned his knowledge, love and passion for Costa Rica into a successful tourism business and will be putting all of his skills into designing and executing The Coastal Experiences.

FAQ's

• If you’re arriving into San Jose a day early, we’d highly recommend you stay at the Best Western Irazu. The pool and courtyard are beautiful. A restaurant, bar, complimentary wireless internet and casino are all within the hotel (not your standard Best Western!).
  
  
• Roundtrip transfers from the San Jose International Airport to the Best Western are included in the racer registration fee.
  
  
• If you're looking into a flight that is leaving at 4pm or 5pm on October 18th, please think twice. We recommend that no one depart San Jose International Airport any earlier than 6pm on October 18th. There is absolutely no guarantee you'll make earlier flights based on where we'll be traveling from (Puerto Viejo) that morning.
  
  
• Travel insurance option
  
  
• For those looking to extend their trip, please feel free to do so! If you’d like to stay in Puerto Viejo when the race crew departs on the 18th, you’re more than welcome. Keep in mind that the country of Panama is directly below you!
  
  
• This is a race which can be run, jogged or walked. If you’re fit and ready for a challenge, regardless of ability and age, this race is for you. There may be some top racers running 6 minute miles but don’t think you’ll be alone walking 15 minute miles!
  
  
• If you prefer not to camp, you better act fast. There are only 20 spots available for people who prefer not to camp. An additional cost of $300 per person will be assessed.
  
  
• Vegetarians can and will be accommodated but you'll need to notify the race staff by August 1, 2008.
  
  
• All daily adventure excursions are included in the registration fee. If you choose not to participate in a daily event, it’s not a problem. We’ll make sure to fill the day with plenty of fun and/or relaxing things to do. After all, it’s Costa Rica!
  
  

Lodging

During this week you will stay at resorts in San Jose's volcanic interior regions in Turrialba, rainforests on the southeastern coast of the Costa Rica Carribean, and beaches in Puerto Viejo. You'll never find a more diversified experience combined with a race like this.

Not a camper?

• The Coastal Experience has 20 spots for 4 nights lodging (which would replace the camping) at an additional $300 per person
• A valid passport is necessary when traveling to Costa Rica. No visa is necessary
• US currency is honored in Costa Rica
• There is a departure tax of $26 dollars charged at the airport when leaving Costa Rica