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The Jungle Marathon in Brazil

If any of you have ever ran a marathon you know that it takes hard work and dedication to complete one and also the training that leads up to it.

But, one marathon in Brazil not only tests all that, but also tests your physical and mental well being that far exceeds a normal marathon.

Known as the Jungle Marathon, this extreme marathon is not your ordinary marathon and is definitely one of a kind. The difficulty of the Jungle Marathon is not measured by its distance, but by its terrain, where competitors encountor challenges such as extreme humidity, mud, water crossings and insects that test them physically and mentally.

The Jungle Marathon takes place every year in the state of Para in Brazil's Amazon Jungle. This extreme marathon offers competitors the choice of two distances: 242km or 110km, which are completed in stages throughout the week. The longer distance is six stages over 7 days and the shorter includes four stages over 4 days.

Competitors are required to carry their own food and equipment for the week and nights are spent sleeping in hammocks at checkpoint campsites along the shores of the river. The organizers provide shelter, medical and safety cover and water. Competitors are required to provide their own hammocks which should include a mosquito net and rain fly sheet.

The first edition of Jungle Marathon in Brazil started in 2003 and the race was set up to meet the desire of the many extreme marathon runners & Athletes that enjoy challenging & unique environments, which the Amazon rainforest offers. Since then it has seen athletes from all around the world compete in the Jungle Marathon.

The Jungle Marathon Stages

The total distance to be covered is either 110km in 4 stages over 4 days, or 242km in 6 stages over 7 days.

The entry fee to participate in the Jungle Marathon is around € 2,000 euros and the money that is collected from the competitors goes to very worthy causes such as:
 * •Stage One-departs 0700hrs - .20km, cut-off 17.30hrs
 * •Stage two-departs 0600hrs -25km, cut-off 17.30hrs
 * •Stage Three-departs 0600hrs -38km, cut-off 17.30hrs
 * •Stage Four- departs 0730hrs 32km, cut-off 17.30hrs, end of 100km race
 * •Stage five-departs 0530hrs 105km- non stop overnight stage,dark zone 1600hrs to 0500hrs at CP4, cut off at 1900hrs on second day of stage
 * •Stage Six departs 0800hrs-22km finish of 222km distance, cut-off 1700hrs
 * •The course route is along pre-existing paths, trails and tracks through primary jungle.
 * •There will be natural obstacles to pass including streams and shallow rivers.
 * •The route will be well marked using coloured tape, paint markings and the use of landmarks to find your way.
 * •Although great navigational skills are not a prerequisite, commonsense is.
 * •The night stage will be clearly illuminated and along easily navigable routes.
 * •Guidance for each stage will be given before departure each day.
 * The course route is along pre-existing paths, trails and tracks through primary jungle. There are natural obstacles to pass including streams and shallow rivers. Route are well marked using colored tape, paint markings and the use of landmarks to find the way. Guidance for each stage are given before departure each day.

LIFE & CAST

LIFE (Life Improvement For Everyone)'s main objective is to support individuals (children and adults) who are experiencing emotional, psychological and behavioural difficulties as a result of deprived backgrounds both in the UK and around the globe.

City of Hope

The City of hope is a local organization offering refuge for abused women and children. The shelter houses up to 50 women, includes victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and other forms of discrimination. City of Hope provides these people with a safe place to live, counselling, training programmes, education, medical care and legal support, in order that they may become self-sufficient.

More Information

For more information on the Jungle Marathon or how to participate, visit the site: http://www.brazilmycountry.com/jungle-marathon.html

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Video The Jungle Marathon was just recently featured on a USA News show, ABC's Nightline