Damon Goerke competing in Coastal Challenge, Costa Rica

Team Blackheart's ultra running machine Damon Goerke has started 2012 in fine form. Firstly he placed first  in the Bogong to Hotham 64km ultra. Unfortunately the race was cancelled at half way due to poor weather and Damon didn't feel right about taking the trophy. But he was in front of his best previous time at Langfords Gap by 7mins so he was certainly in good form. Good enough form that he booked a flight to Costa Rica and is now running The Coastal Challenge. This race has been on Damon's bucket list for a while now and its easy to see why. The course looks amazing and this years edition is 220km over 6 days. 

The good news is that Damon was 2nd in the first stage, just one minute behind Canadian Charlie Barth, and in front of several time Coastal Challenge winner Roiny Villegas. 

But  Damon has taken the lead on a the extremely tough stage two and now leads by 11 minutes with 150km left to race. Keep it up Damon!

Here is a link to the website-http://www.thecoastalchallenge.com/
But there are more updates via the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TCC.Rainforest.Run

Race Facts:Dates: January 21- January 28th
Length of Race: 6 Days
Location: The remote and dry Northwestern coast and volcanic regions, through inland lakes, windswept highlands, jungle and tropical dry forest. The course is set in Costa Rica's driest area. 
Terrain: jungle and rainforest trails, rough and winding dirt roads, farm roads and some asphalt; mountain trail and some single track across ridgelines, passes and highlands; beaches and rocky outcroppings or reefs, dry tropical forest and rainforest, open lands including river/water crossings and more...

here is the stage one and two reports translated to English from http://blog.leadadventuremedia.com

(TCC2012) RECAP - STAGE 1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 AT 2:57 PM

In Stage 1 of The Coastal Challenge was Chris Barth Canadian who comes in first place in stage one of the event. This is the second occasion on which the Canadian competing in the sack.

The Stage 1 was very sunny and moderate wind in the hills west of Lake Arenal, where he met the goal of this first stage. This is one of the shorter stages in preparation for the second stage which has a distance of 62km.

The competitor Roiny Villegas (CRC) ELMEC team comes in third position and remains one of the favorites to win the eighth edition of the Coastal Challenge.

Kelly Nelson is the first woman to finish the stage in the female category this is the first occasion on which Kelly competes in this event and leads the overall standings.

Stage one of the event was a distance of 24 km, up to 1550 meters and accumulated two checkpoints.Started in La Fortuna de San Carlos, climbed the hill flat, went through the Arenal Volcano and came to the castle (Rancho Margot) on the shores of Lake Arenal.

This year participants from Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Sweden and the United States were present to participate in the eighth edition of the ultra-marathons planet's strongest stage.

1. Barth Christ - Canada - 2:26:07

2. Damon Goerke - Australia - 2:27:15

3. Roiny Villegas - Costa Rica / ELMEC Team - 2:30:39

Stage 2 Find New Leader

In stage two of the Coastal Challenge Expedition Run World's Damon Goerke was (AUS) who won the first position followed closely by Roiny Villegas (CRC / ELMEC). Chris Barth (CAN), who finished first in yesterday's stage today suffered the consequences of a scorching sun and a cumulative total ascent over 4200mts losing first place in the overall standings.

From this stage the fight is between the Australian national Roiny Goerke and Villegas.

The Stage 2 began in the Arenal Volcano and went to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, then heading north through the mountains to pass Tilarán Wind Project near Lake Arenal and then turning to the community in Moray Land Volcan Tenorio

In the women's U.S. Keri Nelson had to retire in the Doping Control after presenting two knee problems and fatigue.

The stage went from tropical rainforest in the Cloud Forest Arenal to Monteverde area and then dry forest in Guanacaste where competitors have four stages to go before reaching the finish line in Bahia Salinas near the border with Nicaragua

There is nothing defined yet, four stages remaining after the event and more than 150 km yet to go on the slopes of the volcanoes of Guanacaste.

Masc. 1. Damon Goerke - Step 6:18:49 - 8:46:04 2 General. Roiny Villegas - Step 6:27:09 - 8:57:30 3 General. Chris Barth - Step 8:15:53 ​​- 8:57:30 General

1 female. Laura Hronik - Etapa 8:48:10 - General 12:12:24 2. Kelly Wilson - Etapa 9:14:31 - General 12:50:38 3. Patricia Osembach - Etapa 9:14:31 - General 12:57:48