The Tololar Marathon!

May 02 2017

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We’re hosting a Half Marathon in Tololar!

Race Background

One misty morning a few years back, myself and my good friend Wilmar Quintero woke up early and went for a run. We didn’t have a particular goal in mind, but enjoyed feeling the soft sand under our feet as we ran together, volcanoes smoking in the distance. As we ran among the verdantly green peanut plants, we talked about the flip side of this beautiful plant. We chatted about the way peanuts destroy the soil, create huge amounts of dust, and negatively impact the health and economic livelihood of many members of the community of El Tololar. We talked about how our nascent NGO, Tololamos, might be able to address some of the problems created by peanuts, and at the same time support the community at-large. By the time we were done talking, we had completed 11 1/2 laps around the peanut field.

Fast forward to last month when Miriam and Cully Lundgren – volunteering with Tololamos this year – were running together in the same field, retracing our route. They thought to themselves, “Hey, maybe we can beat Tyler and Wilmar’s record, complete 12 laps?” And as they thought, they realized that at about 1.0 mile a lap, completing 13 would be just about a half-marathon.

They ran a couple more laps, and their minds began to spin. Soon they were in conversation with Tololamos staff and others, and the idea was born for a race/walk event – the first ever in El Tololar – that could both raise money to support the projects of Tololamos and engage the community in issues related to health, education, and the environment.

And so on June 3rd, 2017, the first ever Tololamos Race will take place in a beautiful, currently fallow, peanut field about one kilometer from downtown El Tololar. The event will be open to the public, and will include several running and walking events and other activites. All money raised after costs will go to support Tololamos Projects. Food and drinks will be provided to participants, and we will have information and activities about the health, environmental and education programs of Tololamos.

We anticipate having approximately 70-100 runners/walkers for our first race, and with families and supporters hope to reach 200 total attendees. We hope you can make a general donation to the race but, if you would like to symbolically support a specific corredor (runner) below please find pictures, goals and bios of some of our runners. They are all grateful for your support, as am I!

Tyler St. Clare

Just a few of our featured runners:

Adilsa’s Bio (written by Harlan)

The all mother to some of the family, she at the age of 10 decided she did not want to spend her life picking cotton. So she started walking 8 miles to and from school every day. Now at the age of 53 she works as a teacher/librarian at the local Tololar primary school. All her kids and grand kids love her. So her goal is 4 laps/4 miles around our local peanut field. Support Adylsa Rivas, co-founder of Tololamos, and master runner 10$ per lap.

Harlan’s Bio

This is Harlan Lundgren reporting from El Tololar, Nicaragua, getting ready to start the first race ever in Tololar. Each lap is a mile of dusty, difficult terrain. My goal is thirteen laps (or about a half marathon) if at all possible. I might even run more than that, in the hot climate of Nicaragua. Support my race per lap or my race in general! Let’s Go Team Tololamos and Team Lundgren!

Olle’s Bio

This is Olle in Nicaragua. I plan to run my longest race ever of thirteen miles (I started out with a goal of 7 but I keep changing it). I have been training for the race and am totally prepared. I am excited about raising money for Tololamos so please support me per lap or my race in general. The event will be so great for the community in so many ways. Let’s Go team Tololamos and team Lundgren!

Miriam’s Bio

Miriam has never considered herself much of a runner but here she is preparing for a race, her longest distance ever, of a half marathon. The volcanic sand will make it a hard race but she is going to do it. Tololamos is using the race to educate the community about the importance of taking care of the environment, cleaning up trash and planting trees being the forefront of the conversation. Miriam is not only running the race to support Tololamos and their efforts here but also in honor of her Grandma who passed away March 16th, 2017. She loved the environment and gave time during her retirement to support and work on environmental causes. She also supported the Team Lundgren’s year in El Tololar. Please support Miriam per lap or her race in general. Go Tololamos and rest in peace GG!

Cully’s Bio

As Cully has almost reached middle age (45 this August, gulp) he has noticed that his body aches more after each run, and needs a bit more time to recuperate. Still a semi-avid trail runner back in the states, you would think volcanic sand as a running surface would not be dissimilar to a sandy path back home, but this stuff is different. Cully is passionate about international development and the type of meaningful environment, health, education and micro-investment projects that Tololamos provides to the community. He’s going to give his best shot at a half-marathon, and no chickens, pigs, rocks, or aggressive dogs are going to stop him. Please support Cully per lap (we are saying 13 laps for a true half) or with a general donation. Thank you!!

Larry’s Bio

An 18 year old sports powerhouse, especially for soccer, and arguably the best player in Tololar is now stepping up to the old peanut running field to show it. The very fast sprint runner is now going for 6 laps/6 miles at his top speed. Support the 18 year old sports master on the track at 5$ or 10$ per lap.

Fernando’s Bio

The man is an artist, and a damn good runner. Fernando is 19 years old, one of the quickest soccer players in El Tololar, and an amazing all around person. He is gentle, caring, quick to laugh, very caring for others, and truly a multi-talented artist – as evidenced by all the artwork hanging around the Lundgren’s house. He has a goal of running 13 laps for a half-marathon. Support Fernando at $5 or $10 a lap by making a donation to the work of Tololamos.

Yader’s Bio

Yader is Fernando’s older brother – by like a year. Yader is a man for all seasons; a tourist guide in training, a bed maker (he helps his father with his bed-making business), an English speaker (he’s getting good) and like his bro, a really fast runner. Yader is a great example of how your support of Tololamos can make a difference in someone’s life. He is currently the recipient of a Tololamos scholarship from that is enabling him to study English, an essential skill for a budding guide and a way to increase his income (and therefore his family’s) exponentially. Yader also is hoping to run 13 laps for a half-marathon. Support him at $5 or $10 dollars a lap!

Chico’s Bio

Chico is an elementary school teacher in the nearby town of Monte Chico – that’s not an error, the guy lives in a town that means it is “Chico’s Mountain”, pretty cool. Chico is 42 years old, and has a gift for interacting with all people, especially kids. Chico has been running in a peanut field near his house almost every day in preparation for the big race. He has a goal of running a half-marathon (13 laps) as well so consider supporting this awesome guy at $5 or $10 a lap.

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