Source: Gizmodo Australia
TWO friends are heading for the Amazonian rainforest next month to take part in what has been described one of the toughest races in the world.Brett Bader and Wesley Crutcher will be aiming to complete the equivalent of five and a half marathons in six days for charity while carrying everything they need to be self-sufficient.
Company director and father of two Wes, 33, of Bearwood, who is running for UNICEF, said: “It’s always been my ambition to go to the jungle, then Brett came up with the idea to do this.”
Both men are experienced distance runners, but the Jungle Marathon in Brazil presents a daunting challenge even for the superfit.
One section involves running about 60 miles, setting off early in the morning and continuing through the night.
Temperatures could be as high at 50 degrees C with 98 per cent humidity.
Other hazards include piranhas, snakes, jaguars, panthers, pumas, spiders, stingrays, wild pigs, scorpions, ants and caiman crocodiles. “Last year, they had to divert competitors because there was a jaguar on the track,” said Wes.
He has been wearing winter clothes through the summer, putting bin bags under his clothing to try to acclimatise during training.
Father of three Brett, 36, of Christchurch, has already run 250km in six days across Chile’s Atacama Desert – while wearing a rhino suit. “Having completed the driest ultra marathon on earth, I’m now doing the wettest,” he explained.
Brett, who runs his own business and is an officer in the Territorial Army as well as a town councillor, wants to do an ultra marathon on every continent and complete a total of 100 marathons.
He is also setting up a Help for Heroes team to row from London to Paris in 2012.
Both men are covering the cost of the trip themselves, so every penny they raise will go to their charities. To sponsor them, go to justgiving.com/wesinthejungle or justgiving.com/Brett-Bader, or ring 07810 503533.