New Dangers in Adventure Racing!
Start of Belize Challenge Postponed
Racers Encounter Band of Armed Smugglers
by Leigh Pearce
February 14th, 2006
Belize--The start of the Belize Challenge has been postponed by 24 hours following an incident at the canoe race start camp. As the competitors finished a 7km approach march to the canoe launching point carrying 50lb packs and their canoes, our local guide came to warn us that he had spotted an armed group of 'xateros' (Guatemalan smugglers) in the jungle camp where the competitors were due to overnight.
The Belize Defence force immediately deployed a patrol and captured a number of the smugglers but several escaped and it was considered too dangerous to overnight in the area.
The competitors were forced to walk back to the training base, arriving shortly before midnight with aching feet and shoulders, tired but buzzing with excitement.
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