--- title: "Ligia Madrigal: from zero meters to fulfilling her dream" published: 2016-01-13 updated: 2026-08-04 category: "Corredores que inspiran" source: "https://dev-abp.massivoai.com/en/articles/ligia-madrigal-de-cero-metros-a-cumplir-su-sueno" --- # Ligia Madrigal: from zero meters to fulfilling her dream **Position yourself on Dominical beach. Take a deep breath and feel the sea breeze running across your skin and the rich aroma of the forest and sea embracing each other in the warmth of Costa Rica's South Pacific. It is night. Midnight to be exact, and with the help of a faint moonlight and the stars you look toward the east and see a great mountain, the highest in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripó. Standing there, at zero meters above sea level and with a pair of sneakers on your feet, could you imagine yourself running, step after step, to that distant summit?** It would be madness, surely. A madness that Costa Rican athlete Ligia Madrigal has just completed for the first time in history (that we have record of). Never before had any man or woman attempted such a crazy feat: 77.92 kilometers from sea level to the highest point in Costa Rica, at 3,820 meters of altitude, all in one go. You have to be a great runner to attempt something like this, and even greater to achieve it. Ligia is no stranger to similar challenges. She is perhaps the most renowned ultramarathoner in Costa Rica: she has run the Chirripó race nine times (with a record at some point), she was the first Costa Rican woman to run 100 miles (160 kilometers), and she has won multiple ultramarathons in Costa Rica such as the Moonrun, the Q50, and the Central Valley Challenge. But this is something new. It is not a race, there is no trophy or medal at the end of the road. It is a desire and a personal challenge that few would dare even imagine. Her project is even more ambitious, and she calls it Traversing Costa Rica 3D (across, lengthwise, and upward). Her idea is to traverse Costa Rica from coast to coast, from border to border, and from the lowest point to the highest point. Last Thursday Ligia managed to complete the first of these stages by climbing from zero point (Dominical) to Chirripó in 15 hours, 29 minutes and 56 seconds. "There are no big or small dreams, no silly or crazy ideas, you have to decide and go fight for the desires of your heart, no matter how difficult, distant, or crazy they may seem. This is what I want to convey with this project, the limits are in our minds!", Ligia wrote just before beginning her dream. It was not easy at all, with stomach problems, unexpected stops, and at times lack of support due to some delay from her assistants. "Those were the 50 hardest miles I have ever done in my life", Ligia told us sitting in the armchair of her house, still recovering from the effort. "When I arrived, for the first time in my life I was left speechless, it was a sensation... I felt like I was in another world, like walking in a dream, I could not believe that after so many years the dream was becoming reality". The second stage will be during Holy Week. Ligia will attempt to cross the 290 kilometers that Costa Rica spans from coast to coast. "The plan is to do it in three days, that is to average almost 100 kilometers per day", explains the ultramarathoner. The last stage is planned for October and will consist of running from Gandoca (the southernmost point of the Costa Rican Caribbean) to Boca Tapada (border with Nicaragua). We wish Ligia the very best of luck and hope she is an inspiration for many to believe in their dreams and undertake personal challenges. You can follow Ligia on her [official page](http://www.ligiamadrigal.com/#bio) and on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/RecorriendoCostaRica3D/?fref=ts). Numbers from the Dominical to Chirripó crossing: - Total distance: 77.92 kilometers. - Time: 15h29'56''. - Total elevation gain: 5,450 meters. - Net elevation gain: 3,820 meters. - Pace per kilometer: 11'56'' (including stops). - Calories burned (according to watch): 3,720. A Buen Paso uses [Massivo](https://massivoai.com), the event-registration platform that powers this article.