Pre-race report Sao Tome - The Hemisphere Crossing -
The long anticipation is ending soon - GlobalLimits Saõ Tomé – The Hemisphere Crossing, is going to take place in a few days A special race prepared for GlobalLimits’ long term supporters - All of our 60 runners (and 15 of them were podium winners) from 27 nations ran in at least two GlobalLimits races in Cambodia, Bhutan, Albania, or Sri Lanka.
The 200km, 6 stages ultra-running event will take place in the far-flung tropical island between 13-22 February 2020, with the finish line right at the equator line. As the first ultra-running event in the country, GlobalLimits is uncovering the spectacular natural beauty of the island by offering our runners a running course dotted with waterfalls, endless chocolate plantations, coconut palm garden, pristine beaches and bamboo forests. The campsites are set in botanical gardens, beach with the view of the famous needle shape volcanic plug peak, the Cão Grande, local villages and schools.
Click the link below to watch the video animation of the stages:
www.relive.cc/view/vrqodjg12Kv
Who are we going to meet this time and who would be on the podium? Xavi Marina (Spain), who championed all three GlobalLimits race series, will be competing with Frank Johansen (Denmark), who won Albania in 2017 and was 3rd in Bhutan 2019. Michael Traub (USA), who was on the podium in all three GlobalLimits races, joins the competition with Peter Osterwalder (Switzerland), who was second in Bhutan 2016, and Loz Wong (UK), and 3rd in Bhutan 2017. Colin Harper (UK), who had very strong performance in he recent race in Cambodia has been training in Fuerteventura in the last few weeks, is to be closely watched.
In the lady’s category, we welcome back Véronique Messina (France), winner of our races in Bhutan, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. She is joined by Christina Khinast (Austria), a 5 times GlobalLimits podium winner. Our African representative, Belinda van der Riet (South Africa), a two times podium winner is also in the competing with Ruthann Sheahan (Ireland), Sharon Harper (UK) and Teresa Lam (Hongkong).
We are grateful for the tremendous supports we received from the government and local businesses of Saõ Tomé and Principé. For example, Valúdo (www.valudo.st), the company that produces organic, fair-trade, premium quality coconut oil on the island, is actively supporting the local runners and the race logistic. A big thank you to the local telecom company CST for supporting our event with various equipments and to Intermar for sponsoring some drinking water for the checkpoints.
Engaging the community is part of GlobalLimits’ tradition, two local athletes, Ismael Tavarez and Júlio Pereira, will be competing in the race. Upon completion, they will be the first in their country to experience and complete an ultra-running event. On the other hand, GlobalLimits is also supporting the Filhos project (www.filhosstp.org). Filhos, a project supported by the Reál Madrid, improves the quality of life and inspires children in Sao Tomé & Principé through sports.
