Celebrating The Ultrarunning Ancients

THE RACE THROUGH THE SACRED VALLEY CELEBRATES PERU’S HISTORY OF RUNNING

- Monica Prelle

When Claudio Castillo started to plan a running event in Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, he knew it should honor the country’s deep history of long-distance running.

“We wanted to make a race that would evoke the chaskis,” says Castillo. “Peru has a history of ultra runners, and we wanted to make this race a tribute to that legacy.”

Ancient Ultrarunning Messengers

During the Inca Empire that peaked in the 15th century, communications between different regions of the empire were delivered by running messengers called chaskis. According to lore, the complex communication relay system could cover more than 200 kilometers per day on the Inca roads. Today, trail running is in its golden era, and new events and participation in Peru are on the rise.

Castillo, 40, works between Cusco and Lima, selling outdoor equipment. He partnered with Daniel Martos, who also coordinates logistics for the longstanding Jungle Ultramarathon in southeast Peru, and Juan Carlos Flores, who is in charge of photography, design and marketing. In 2015, the first annual Andes Race—Chaski Challenge was born.