“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”
― John Bingham, No Need for Speed: A Beginner’s Guide to the Joy of Running
Ron and I volunteer every year for the Fuego y Agua Survival Run and Trail Races. The first week in February is my favorite time of the year because I witness dedication, perseverance, strength, endurance, stamina, courage and GUTSINESS all in one amazing week.
This year’s Survival Run was BRUTAL. Racers contended with 90+ degree heat, carried 30 lbs. of plantains up and down a 5,500 ft. volcano, ran for two hours holding a live chicken, maneuvered through the cloud forest at night carrying 20-ft bamboo poles, caught fish, and climbed trees…all within a span of 25 hours.
When we arrived at the pre-race events Friday morning, 60 survival runners from around the world gathered to compete. They divided into teams for the pre-race events and organized their team members into those who dug holes with their bare hands, those who made rafts, and those who searched for puzzle pieces in a giant plantain field.
The diggers dug with doggedness…
splayed out with stoutheartedness.
The raft makers assembled with adventurousness.
Injuries were dealt with integrity and treated with tolerance and tenacity.
They completed challenges with coolness…
manipulated puzzle pieces with persistence and carried raw eggs carefully…well most of them carried them carefully. There were a few mishaps.
They packed plantains with power and prowess.
The race directors led with lion-heartedness.
After the survival runners completed all of the team challenges…the real race began.
They were off on their individual quests over dusty paths, up and down two volcanoes, with many miles to go before they slept. Who were the runners to watch?
Fuego y Agua Survival Run: Men to Watch
Fuego y Agua Survival Run: Women to Watch
25 hours later…the survival run is over with many record-breaking results.
This is an absolutely amazing event. Huge, huge congrats to the six out of 60 runners who managed to finish the entire course in 25 hours. And congratulations to our island man, Johnson Cruz! He placed third in the Survival Run.
That is an amazing race packed full of all kinds of challenges, wow!
Barbara, it is incredible. Every year I am in awe of the courage and strength of these survival runners.
awesome !! Congrats to the finishers !
I live vicariously through these young and energetic runners. lol
WOW!!!!
that looks super hard!!!! Congrats to the winners !!!!
I will stick to my aerobics , yoga and weight training tho,,,
cool article, thankssssss
Haha. I will stick to volunteering for the Fuego y Agua. It is easier on old bones.