Adventurer Lei Wang departs in less than 2 weeks to make an attempt on Everest. Born in Beijing, she says that she grew up as a typical city girl. She graduated with a B.S degree in Computer Science from Tsinghua University in Beijing followed by an M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After working in the IT field for several years, she decided to pursue her M.B.A. degree at Wharton. It was there that she was first introduced to ice climbing and mountaineering and climbed her first glacier mountain in Ecuador (Cotopaxi). Upon graduation, she traveled to Africa where she reached the summit of Kilimanjaro.

A brand new trail marathon is coming to Indiana in April. The Planet Adventure Heritage Trail Marathon will start and finish in historic Battleground Indiana. The (out and back) course will follow the Heritage Trail through and beyond Lafayette. The scenic route will take you through beautiful wooded and semi-urban areas as you run on all sorts of trail surfaces.

With the start of the Iditarod today, we felt it a perfect time to post our story on Lance Mackey after his 3rd consecutive win last year. AWM contributor, Amanda Jones interviewed Lance after his ‘three-peat’ of the more than 1100 mile race from Anchorage to Nome. Lance is just off of a second place finish at the Yukon Quest and could potentially set a record that will be hard to beat if he is successful with this year’s event. Good luck to all of the racers this year.

February was a busy month for the Adventure Racing World Series, so my posts previewing the full 2010 AR World Series circuit of races took a break. Briefly, while we were away, three teams earned their tickets to the World Championships in Spain later this year:

• Team Ecuador Chevrolet won the race in Ecuador
• Craft Ukraine won the race in Poland
• The race in Argentina was won by Team Merida Laboratorios Abraham

“PlanetExplore is an online community designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. Powered by partner organizations that share our passion, PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to develop the benefits gained through a connection to nature..” -www.planetexplore.com

Here is a sample of the images taken at The Coastal Challenge 2010.

Here’s one for everybody that didn’t get enough of the Black Hills during Primal Quest last year. The Dakota Rogaine Championships will be held May 8-9 in Custer State Park. There will be a 24 hour championship along with a 12 hour intermediate and 4 hour beginner events. USOF sanctions are applied for. The events will be staggered so they all will finish Sunday at noon.

The course is designed by Rick Emerson,course designer for Primal Quest Badlands.

Untamed New England is the mid-August race in the circuit of Adventure Racing World Series events. One disclaimer before I continue: this race is near-and-dear to my heart as I’m closely involved with the organizing of Untamed New England. I am biased. The race is, however, next in line for my preview of the entire 2010 ARWS schedule of events and so I am skirting the line here between commentator and promoter. On the bright side, I do know A LOT about this event! Let me turn my focus, then, to August and what’s in store for the AR World series . . .

After six days of climbing volcanos, traversing rivers, fighting wind swept plateaus and scorching dry heat, Javier Montero (CRC) has secured his third consecutive overall win at The Coastal Challenge. Stage racing newcomer Margaret Phillips (Canada) took first place in the women’s division.

Cesar Ortega (CRC) finished second and first-time multi-day adventure racer Ty Stevens (USA) took third place overall. The six-day expedition race through Costa Rica’s must rugged and surreal mountainous range showed why you can’t expect what’s ahead on the trail.

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.

American Ty Stevens takes risk, second place on fourth day of The Coastal Challenge

American Ty Stevens came into his first multi-day stage adventure race looking to finish with a decent time. After taking second on day four of The Coastal Challenge, he now finds himself in competition for second place.

Flatter terrain and cooler weather made for a faster course on the third stage of the Coastal Challenge Tuesday morning, allowing for Judith Abbot (Canada) to lengthen her lead in the women’s division.

With a strong finish on day one and taking first place on day two, Abbot is poised for her first adventure race win.

In and effort to raise $10,000, after months of planning, the 2nd Annual 2-Day Howler Mountain Bike Race presented by Bodhin Adventure Services is moving ahead for February 20 & 21st, 2010.

American Ty Stevens overtakes third place, increases lead on day two of The Coastal Challenge

Despite heavy overnight rains making for tough muddied trails and more than 12,000 feet of elevation change, Ty Stevens (USA) took a hefty lead over fourth place runner Victor Zuniga (CRC).

Two-time champion Javier Montero of Costa Rica is in position to take an unprecedented third win after stage one of The Coastal Challenge, a six-day adventure race in Costa Rica.

While un-matched in the previous two races, Montero will have his toughest challenge yet with newcomer and local Costa Rican Ceasar Ortega. Ortega trailed Montero by less than three minutes by the end of the stage with a finishing time of 02:41:45.

Americans have been inundated with images and stories coming out of Haiti amidst the devastation there. People are constantly wondering what they can do to help. One man has found his solution! On February 15, Abe Clark is attempting to run over 2800 miles solo and unsupported across the United States. If he is successful, he will join the ranks of only a small handful of individuals who have made this ocean to ocean run.

The Desert Winds Adventure Series has been providing quality adventure races for teams from all over the United States since 2007. This year, The Desert Winds will be producing its first expedition length race September 18th – 25th 2010 in the Mojave Desert just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. This 310 mile (or 500km) race will consist of trekking, mountain biking, rappelling, desert navigation, paddling, and surprises throughout the incredible terrain.

On January 8, 2010, Jacob Thompson, Sean Monterastelli and Goat arrived in Ushuaia, El Fin del Mundo (the tip of South America). What began in in July of 2006 and covered more than 34,000Km and passed through 14 countries has come to an end for the team.

Thanks to The Adventure Blog for the heads up on this expedition.

In early December, self proclaimed ‘kayak bum’ and adventurer, Jake Stachovak, set out on his “Portage to Portage Paddling Project‘ to circumnavigate the entire eastern United States via kayak. He began the journey in the small town of Portage, Wisconsin and plans to complete his 5,000 mile expedition there as well.

In an official move to streamline operations of their experiential and immersive running expeditions, the creators of The Coastal Challenge (TCC) today announced a new name and sponsorship platform for 2010. The now-titled TCC Adventures provides a unique community-driven platform for more targeted sponsorship opportunities throughout its array of international off-road running races.