Seven-month training schedule paying off for daycare teacher on day five of The Coastal Challenge

While race leaders continue to push forward in their quest for race champion on day five of The Coastal Challenge, Shannon MacLeod (Canada) has already won the race in her mind.

After seven months of training with running coach and professional endurance athlete Jen Segger, MacLeod reached her goal on day two.

With 12,000 feet of elevation change over a 55 kilometer course, day two features one of the hardest routes of the race. Runners had to climb the continental divide by a certain time or they were disqualified and moved down to the shorter, but still difficult adventure portion.

"I trained for seven months with countless back-to-back weekend long runs and raised money by selling coffee and muffins to my kids' parents and collected cans to recycle," said MacLeod. "There was absolutely no way I was going to miss that cutoff."

MacLeod, with thoughts of well wishes from her students, made the cutoff and has been running strong everyday since.

"Physically, I knew Jen's training had me ready," said MacLeod. "And mentally, I had prepared myself to finish since day one so I was determined to make it and I did."

Of course, it didn't get any easier from there. MacLeod, who had given everything she had to make the cutoff the day before, found herself struggling on day three.

"I had gone out so strong the day before that I felt very weak the next day," said Macleod. "But looking around I realized I was running somewhere wicked and awesome and I powered through."

Top three men's division finishing times: Javier Montero (CRC) 1:59:00, Cesar Ortega (CRC) 2:09:45 and Ty Stevens (USA) 2:15:56.

Top three women's division finishing times: Melida Barbee (CRC) 2:43:19, Margaret Phillips (Canada) 2:55:53 and Stacey Shand (Canada) 3:24:50.

Shannon MacLeod trained for seven months with one goal, finish.
Photo Credit: J. Andrés Vargas - Lead Adventure Media

About The Coastal Challenge (Route of Fire) – January 31 – February 6, 2010

Runners from around the world cover approximately 200 kilometers of
exotic and wild Costa Rican mountainous regions and rugged coastline.
For six days, runners embrace the spirit of adventure, discovery and
camaraderie within a long distance running competition while
navigating wide river crossings, rainforests, jungles, windswept
highlands, beaches and rock outcroppings. It is an expedition run of
epic proportions introducing competitors to the hospitality of the
local Tico culture while pushing the limits of their will and
endurance.