Project ends on Rapa Nui but doesn’t finish there!
A long distance run was the final challenge for Susie Stephen (handicap 20.8) as she completed retracing the steps of the 1914 Mana Expedition from England to Easter Island – Rapa Nui. But rather than run the marathon as initially planned, a new running route emerged – in keeping with the project’s theme of ‘retracing’, writes Christian Friis.
In the midst of researching the Mana Expedition Susie discovered the name of an ancient coastal footpath that circumnavigates Rapa Nui. The path, named the ‘Ara Mahiva’ hugs the rocky coastline of the island, taking in many of its iconic sights – namely the infamous moai statues! Katherine Routledge documented the path in her 1919 book, ‘The Mystery of Easter Island’:
“There is no reason to suppose that it (the Ara Mahiva) is due to the imported livestock, and it has no connection with ahu, or the old native centres of population, yet to have been so worn by naked feet it must constantly have been used. This silent witness to a forgotten past is one of the most mysterious and impressive things on the island.”
Susie explains why she decided to run the Ara Mahiva path instead of the marathon, 40 miles compared to 26.2 miles: “From the beginning of this journey in February I have been retracing routes and connecting places. The Ara Mahiva footpath continued along that theme and I felt it was a more fitting tribute to the work of the Mana Expedition and also Katherine Routledge, who traversed the island 100 years ago before any paved roads even existed! The run for me was probably one of the most memorable I have ever completed.”
It took Susie nine hours to make a full circle of the island on the Ara Mahiva trail, a challenging run over the island’s volcanic landscape. Before arriving on Rapa Nui Susie had completed a 1000mile bike ride across South America and finished an ultra run through England, from Darlington to Southampton, covering a marathon a day for thirteen days. The endurance challenges were part of Susie’s fund raising effort for Pacific Aid Australia, an NGO who carry out environmentally focused projects on Rapa Nui, and in total £2,500/ $5000 was raised.
The final phase of ‘Retracing Routledge’ will be back in the UK, in Darlington this September. Working in conjunction with Creative Darlington an exhibition will be held showcasing modern photographs from Rapa Nui alongside those of the 1914 Mana Expedition. Workshops and free public talks about the project will also be held in Darlington venues.
For further information about the journey and for updates about the exhibition in September please go to the Facebook page “Retracing Routledge”: