|
         |
|
The Self Discovery Adventure Race is a one-day adventure racing
event for teams of 3 members. The event includes the following
disciplines: mountain biking, mountain running, river trekking,
and waterfall climbing. Brodie: "The format of having a three person team was very beneficial for all of us. We all have our strong points and our weak points. For me, I was fairly strong in the mountain bike stages but the running stage really took it out of me. For my team mates it was different stages which hurt them more, but the whole time we are looking at each other and thinking that we aren't going to let anyone else down by stopping now and so we push on and force ourselves to greater abilities than we thought were possible. Far more than we could individually, and probably more than we could as a 2-person team, as in a 3-person team you are the minority if the others want to keep going. We worked together very well as a team, no arguments or disagreements.
Encouragement where required and silence at other times. We rested when we needed to
rest and pushed when we needed to push. We all learnt a great deal from the race,
and already we are looking forward to the next race together as a team, the next
goal is to finish in the top 30 teams, and from there we'll just keep getting
better".
Fabien: "The race starts at 6AM. 225 racers are present and ready for the full day race. We are lead by a pace car for the first kilometers until we reach the main trail. It's quite impressive to see so many racers gathered in the pack ahead of us... It makes me feel for a second like a member of the tour de France ;-). It brings my motivation a step higher. This motivation makes me feel like starting the race faster than initially planed... but Brodie and Peter... thinking more about the 12 hours we have to keep going... manage well their energy and maintain their "cruise" speed. The first section will be tough for Peter who has not a lot experience in MTB. However, the progression is good, without any breaks and we stick together whatever happens."
After 35 km of up and down on the bike and just one puncture, we are glad to the end of this stage - which was 10 km longer than we expected. Brodie and Peter seem OK physically. I keep looking at my watch trying to estimate in how much time we need to cover the next stage to have a chance to make the cut off stage at 3PM (end of stage 4). 15 minutes of break to eat some energy bars and drinks, change shoes and all and here we attack the running section (16kms)! Peter set the running pace and Brodie and I will follow him all the way. The noon gets closer, the heat as well and running up the cliffs brings pain in the knees. I worry about Brodie who used to have a bad knee and I just hope he will not have any major problems with it. This running section will be harder than we thought with some major steep climbs where running is just out of question. We have left lots of efforts and power during this section, especially Brodie who gave everything to follow our leader Peter. I can see from the look in his eyes that he is glad that the running is over. I also feel some pain in the right knee but it is still bearable and I try not to show my pain. But as a whole, I am still feeling pretty good and can keep going. After lots of determination a great team work to push each other higher, we reach the second CP to start the river trek.
15 minutes to recharge our batteries in energy drinks, wear our wet suit and wet shoes and we are now ready for the water section (4kms). Peter and Brodie seems to feel better in the water. We are 38th at the stage of this race and our time is reasonably good but we won't be able to make it for cut off stage. We decide to slow our pace and enjoy more the race. Brrrr the water is so damn cold..!. even my wet suit doesn't help me much standing the cold temperature. I was feeling very good until then but I guess that's my turn to suffer in this section. The cold water makes me cold, hungry and weaker and generates cramps and a couple of fall (of violent one on my knee against a big rock). I stop a second to eat a rice ball and one of these too sweet power bar... Brodie and Peter are ahead and seems to have recover from the running. I can't wait to get out of this river ... Many things go through my mind: "Damn it hurts...! Man... how come Peter and Brodie goes so fast? I got to keep going...!! I can't be the one that stops or rest.. I am the one who has done adventure racing before and I have to lead.., We'll never make it on time for the cut off stage! I hate cold water...!". 3.15, we finally finish this section. I am just glad to jump back on my bike and start feeling my energy and mental going back up.
Surprise! Peter can't keep going for the Mountain Bike section (30kms). He made until now a hell of a race and we can't blame him. At 46 and just 2 weeks training, he has nothing to prove anymore. Brodie and I will keep going for fun and more a question of honor. I am back on my bike and feeling so much better already, finding my lost energy coming back to enjoy some wicked up and down hills. Brodie seems to be doing pretty good as well. The night starts to fall down quickly and we are still in the middle of the forest. Trying to avoid any encounter with the lovely bears of the area, we put back on our bear bells and Brodie puts on his "anti-bear singing". Visibility gets minimum (no moon tonight) and we just navigate with our bike and head lights.
We'll catch up another team ahead of us and will finish the section 4 with them. We are getting close to the end..., temperature is getting lower..., I didn't take enough warm clothes and start to get cold... but no big deal since I know we are not far anymore from the finish line. On the last meters, I think over the race we just did... and feel really satisfied. We certainly didn't finish together but everyone did their best, the team spirit was there.., we motivated each other, pushed hard when we had to, remain silent when it was necessary and personally I still feel I could keep on going for some more. I can't wait for the next race!! Final comment: Great race, great team, good
improvement of my mental while going through the pain (nothing to
do with my first race in IZU 2001). With more training, we will do
much better next time. |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
"SpeedLink" Official Web Site