Artsakh Ultra - Support an Armenian Runner!

   
*****Due to travel restrictions, this race has been officially postponed to September 2021, but IS STILL HAPPENING in every spirit it was meant to be! 

In September 2021, an Ultramarathon is taking place in Artsakh and Armenia for the first time in history. Even more astonishing than the 160 miles the race covers in six days is the person who will be directing the event. Chris Kostman, a legendary athlete in his own right, is the long-time director of the famous Badwater 135, widely considered the toughest race on earth. He has a handful of other races under the Badwater name, all of which draw international recognition and world-class runners. The Artsakh Ultra, a new addition to Kostman’s repertoire, will undoubtedly bring vast positive attention to the republic of Artsakh, and open the eyes of adventure-goers around the world to the beauty of the region and culture.

     The Artsakh Ultra will follow a series of trails similar to the 178-mile route Telma Altoon covered 2017. A two-time participant of the Badwater 135, Telma is one of the only and certainly the most recognized Ultra-Runner in the Armenian community. Her 2017 self-devised run inspired Kostman to create a race of his own in the region of Artsakh. With both minds put together and years of extensive coordination, the Artsakh Ultra was born.

     The race will only allow 50 runners world-wide to participate. The goal is to create as much international representation as possible in the field. As there are very few Armenians who run these distances, I may be one of if not the only Armenian competing. I am outreaching to the community to spread awareness of the event, inspire other endurance runners to participate, and obtain as much support as I can to make the race possible for me. As a Teacher, I won’t be able to individually sustain the thousands of dollars this trip will cost, and greatly appreciate any assistance to become a part of this historic race.

The donation goal is itemized for:
- Race entry fee (maintenance of the course, camping between stages, transportation of gear, medical  / support team personnel, etc.)
- Mandatory Gear
- Flight / hotel / food
- 2 weeks of missed, unpaid work to make the trip possible

     Any funds raised that exceed the actual final expenses will be donated to the Trails for Change Organization, a non-profit group focused on creating new trails, jobs, and tourism in Armenia and Artsakh.


You can read more about the 2020 Artsakh Ultra here: https://www.badwater.com/event/artsakh/

And Trails for Change here: https://www.trailsforchangengo.org/about

     Thank you dearly for any support you can provide, I will be putting my heart into each mile of this race, for Artsakh, and Armenians around the world