The Coastal Challenge (TCC), the World's Expedition Run, has announced that its 2009 race, the "Rainforest Run", has reached the halfway point of its 125-person registration capacity. The race, scheduled February 1-6 along Costa Rica's tropical Pacific coastline, opened registration this spring with a revamped web site and new blog. Registered competitors, representing eight countries, include a mix of alumni and new athletes, including several teams. Interested competitors are encouraged to contact TCC staff for information about how to get involved.

"We're thrilled so many competitors and teams have joined our 2009 racing community," said Tim Holmstrom, race director. "We're celebrating our fifth anniversary with a spectacular and funky course that combines the best of Costa Rica's natural beauty with a stunning and challenging route that will reward athletes of all levels. In short, this is going to be an insane tropical adventure with exotic scenery, rugged landscapes, and amazing wildlife."

Set in Costa Rica's pristine southern region, the "Rainforest Run" will utilize the country's rich rainforests as a backdrop for a diverse course that moves from jungle and rainforest trails to highlands, coastal ranges, reefs, and river crossings. The route, which takes a decidedly different feel from last year's "Route of Fire" in the Northwest, will weave from the beach into the Talamancas, a coastal mountain range, before finishing in Corcovado National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site and one of the world's premier rainforest experiences. The Rainforest Run will also feature a first-ever night run in which racers will traverse a portion of the course in the dark, navigating via torch-lit trails.

The race offers four categories of participation:

• Team Expedition Run - Runners sign up in teams of three to six
• Solo Expedition Run - Rhe full 200+ kilometer Expedition Run
• Solo Adventure Run - A shortened, yet extremely challenging 125-kilometer route
• Guest Adventure Tours - Daily adventure tours like river rafting, nature hikes and more available to guests of the runners.

The new course served as the inspiration for the revamped thecoastalchallenge.com, which includes additional photos and information, and will unveil the complete route later this year. Also, in an effort to connect competitors before and after the event, TCC has created a blog, thecoastalblog.com.