Training Log Archive: Dolf

Event: Espresso 24hr Adventure Race
 

Pre race: I realized on friday night that I had forgotten my orthotics but luckily I had some felt to put into my shoes. I was a little concerned it would not be good enough and my Achilles would flare up but I would just have to wait and see. Liz and Joel did a great job getting all the logistics sorted out packing the tubs while Steve and myself started marking up the maps. We measured and marked lots (but not all) of sections to make it easier to know when to turn rather than just looking for features and this worked really well for the majority of the race.

Leg 1: Paddle

Liz was the designated runner and did well to come back in the first bunch in about 6th place. We ran to a pair of boats that had looked to be in pretty good condition and started getting them ready. After getting the first boat down to the river (by the bridge) we realized that the other boat had a leak and could hear a slight hiss as we were pumping it up. No other viable boats to choose by then so we pumped it up as well as we could and took a pump with us. We noticed one boat still on the bank as we passed the other entry point and assumed we were the 2nd last team to leave.
After settling into a steady pace we started passing teams and moving up the order. A good strategy seemed to be to push hard to pass just before any technical section as we noticed a lot of boats going sideways and getting caught up on corners ( and a few going sideways in the straight sections )
Liz and Joel had a hard time in the deflating boat but did a great job keeping a steady pace after they had figured out how best to handle it.
We probably passed about 8 or 9 teams by the end of the paddle. Some passed us again but only when we waited a couple of times for Liz & Joel to catch up. It would have been nice to have some real rapids but at least some sections were moving and it was fun to bash through a couple of sections of ti trees.
Coming up the muddy slope into TA1 was fun and out change over onto the bikes was fairly smooth. Jacko hitting Liz in the head with an empty drink bottle that he was trying to throw into the tub doesn't sound very nice now but it was hilarious at the time.

Leg 2 : MTB

Out of TA1 with team RATBOD (or RAD BOT as one of them would probably prefer to be called when wearing tights) who we would be seeing a lot of over the next 24 hours. They continued down the track as we turned into the bush to bash our way to the another track, which when found didn't seem like much of a track at the time but when compared to some others later in the race it's a virtual highway. We continued to yo yo back and forth with a few other teams but managed to get away from a few near the end of the stage with some pretty smooth naving by Jacko. I started towing Liz towards the end of the stage as she was starting to drop back a bit, we later found out the reason she was dropping back was because of a flat rear tyre but we were close enough to TA2 to just put some more air in and worry about it after the rogaine. After CP8 we got caught in a bit of a loop with a few other teams looking for the way to TA2 when RATBOD caught up again and we all made our way together through the bush to the right track and into transition.

Leg 3 : Rogaine

Out of transition and down to CP 9 pretty smoothly where we found Juffy ready to shuffle out onto the log to punch the card. I think the occasional CP in which teams are broken up by a minute or 2 in the process of punching the card is probably a good thing. After 9 we headed back to the main track and looking at the map I had trouble orientating the map properly even though we were still very close to TA and had come back the same way we headed to 9. we got on the right track and had decided to turn onto a track after about 600m. No sign of any track and no expected bend to indicate it was close, when we finally found a track we knew we had gone too far and Joel confirmed our position by finding a blazed tree. No problems, we could still get to 10 by taking this track and heading down a water course... maybe the next water course... Oh shit, too far again.
I hated this track. We went way to far again... I lost my favorite beanie... And Jacko was clearly the champion Possum spotter getting 5 to my 0.
It was around this time that my mild headache that I had since leaving transition had turned into a thumping headache and I got Joel to get bout some drugs from my backpack.
When we had a positive location we decided to skip 10 and then just get our required 5 controls as we had wasted too much time already. 11 was pretty straight forward and 12 a little tricky because of the slow moving through the watercourse. A little jog down the Vasse was nice before cutting in to get the bore monitor pump control.
By this stage my headache had not dulled and was joined by a slight queasiness making it difficult to eat or drink anything.
We headed down the track to 18 and I thought it would be good to follow the creek bed with Joel as Jacko And Liz paralleled us on the track that was close by to pace out the right distance. As I was walking along the edge of the creek I stumbled and fell backwards into the creek luckily missing all the branches sticking out and ended up with my feet in the air and my head down in the creek bed. Joel found me here and thought it was quite amusing (which I'm sure it was) I assured him I was fine and I had just tripped but I think it was probably caused from the way I was feeling. Coming down the track from 18 we saw some lights heading our way. As they got closer I noticed one of them was a giant friendly Teddy bear wearing aye ups so I went straight up to him and gave him a hug.
Heading back towards transition I was pretty much at my lowest point and had to stop to throw up and slowed us down a bit by not being able to run.
I was seriously thinking that I was not going to get through the race as we where not even half way yet and already all I could think about was curling upon the side of the road and going to sleep.
Back in transition I had some more drugs, managed to get a little food down and Liz made a nice cup of coffee that helped me feel a bit better. Joel changed the tyre for Liz and Jacko sorted out the maps.

Leg 4 : MTB

The start of this leg helped to make me feel better as I was able to spin the legs and not push too hard. A couple of slight hesitations but we naved through this leg pretty smoothly. Joel did well to follow the almost non existent tracks and we managed to pass a few teams during this leg.
I was feeling well enough to start towing Liz again for the hills and not long before we started heading back to Nannup we stopped to celebrate Jacko's birthday with a nearly frozen chocolate bar and gave him a nice gift that would keep him warm for the rest of the race.

Leg 5 : Trek

Heading out of town and up the hill we had a team not far behind us but slowly catching us. It was The Yogi Bears and they passed us just as we got to the first CP but headed back out the track we came while we headed straight up the hill, we were in front of them again heading towards the next CP and over the course of this leg we must have swapped positions at least half a dozen times. We had a little trouble getting the CP on the spur and Liz had a nasty fall smashing her elbow on the rocks on the way back down. Heading up the track towards the next CP we saw lights down the hill and thought it would be good to head down a bit early and follow the creek up to the dam. When we got down to the creek we saw a concrete structure across the creek and with heaps of other teams joined in the search for the elusive CP. A lot of time wasted here and we were ready to head back up to the track when from out of nowhere the giant Teddy bear appeared and informed us that this was not the dam we were looking for and lead us to a much more impressive dam with a CP just below.
The remainder of this leg we were not far behind RATBOD and although we were pretty much going on our intended route there is no denying that we hit the CP's a bit cleaner with Juffy leading the way. (I'm not sure what happened to the giant Teddy bear, I think he just appears in times of need).
During the last few km's of this leg I got my first blister, probably due to not having my orthotics so the shoes were fitting a little different and in the last km my left knee started to hurt a little so overall I was happy to get this far without any major muscle/joint niggles.
A bit of a mix up heading into TA with 2 roads with the same name and one rider on the singletrack pointing us in the wrong direction adding quite a bit of time and a hill to what should have been just a few more hundred meters.
A bit disappointing being told we couldn't do the singletrack as I was really looking forward to some time without the backpack on. We were also told to drop a couple of controls on the final MTB leg and at the time it sucked but feelings changed pretty soon into the last leg.

Leg 6 : MTB

I had a bit of trouble getting onto the bike as the legs didn't want to work after a few minutes sitting changing shoes/socks in transition. The first hill looked quite nasty but not too bad until what appeared to be the top turned out to be only about 1/4 of the way to the top.
Trying to get the legs working on this hill wasn't easy and I just kept spinning my way to the top but it was good to see Jacko riding well up ahead and Joel seemed to keep getting stronger as the race went on. I felt bad not being able to tow Liz up this section but it just took too long in this leg for them to warm up and feel good.
After the hill things got easier for a while but then we entered what was supposed to be some singletrack, at best it was 1/4track and I may have mentioned a few times during this section that I was going to punch Murray in the face when we finished the race.
Out of the 1/4track we picked up the next few controls and saw RATBOD again before starting the freezing but very much appreciated downhill sections into town. I was able to tow Liz on the few remaining hills again and once we hit town we went a bit too far before heading down to where 39 and 40 were. As we headed back towards 39 I though we were in the general area of 40 and after getting 39 and joining other teams including RATBOD again we stuffed around looking for 40 but getting frustrated, some teams decided that any bridge would do and headed towards the race start area. As I was staring at the correct little bridge I told a few people that it had to be the right place and the CP must have been stolen as it was in a populated area. I had another look and noticed the chain then the punch sitting down in the mud. I thought someone may have deliberately put it in the mud but with the number of people stopping at the bridge it may have just been trodden on.
Finally we could head back and finish the race.
Yay.

I really felt this race took a lot out of me and I don't think I fully recovered from feeling unwell earlier and not eating or drinking enough during that time. Luckily Team Ranga made the race enjoyable even when I was feeling crap. A good laugh always helps.

Jacko did a great job with the nav, I would have liked to do more but wasn't feeling up to it for a lot of the race, although I still tried to contribute and have a look at the map to help out whenever I could.
Joel just got stronger as the race progressed and strategically helped out with his keen eye for tracks and features.
Liz was a trooper as always, willing to cross just about anything to get to the CP and making us nice warm drinks in TA while still doing all the stuff we had to do, and doing a great job with the pacing.
Although not technically part of team Ranga the giant Teddy bear was very much appreciated.

Although there was some talk after the race of taking up golf again, I may just be back for some more...

C • N'awww *hug* 2