Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 120, July 2019 | Page 66

MULTISPORT
Time for a bit
of paddling
Proudly PE at the finish line,
battered but still game
Andrea and
Keith during
the first
MTB leg
Leg 3: An 18km paddle on the Gariep Dam that started off with a twist. Two
members of the team had to run to a pinnacle point on the dam whilst the other
two members paddled there with boats to collect them and then continue to the
furthest island. This twist was missed by three of the top four teams, and they
incurred a 90-minute penalty. Another lesson learnt for us newbies: Always read
race instructions at least three times!
Our team fared better than most, largely due to the fact that we had sourced
exceptional equipment: Lightweight paddles made by Carbonology Sport and two
special kayaks (a rudder directed TouCan kayak and the newly built Vagabond
Mazowe kayak), which gave us an advantage over other teams. However, due to
extreme coldness, high waves on the dam and the setting sun, the race director
made the right call to cut short the paddle leg for those already on the water,
from 18km to 12km. We understood completely when we came off the water and
couldn’t stop the uncontrollable shaking of our bodies due to the extreme cold. As
darkness set in, it was on to leg4.
Leg 4: A fairly easy 12km trek around the dam wall and surrounding mountain side,
providing the team with amazing views highlighted by a full moon reflecting off the
now still Gariep Dam.
Leg 5: A 56km MTB that involved much ‘off-track riding’ and what we’ve come to
love/hate, “hike-a-bike sections” where we encountered more bushpig holes than
easy tracks. Technical light issues, tracks that suddenly ended, fence after fence
(all of which were barbwire), minus-eight degrees… all made for an interesting MTB
leg, which thankfully ended with our arrival at a warm fire and our transition boxes.
Yay, food and warm clothing! Thankfully our team was fuelled by Science in Sport
(SiS) energy & caffeine nutrition, which enabled the team to focus whilst knowing
that we were fuelling our bodies well the entire time.
Leg 6: A 12km trek, encountering more koppies, but having already ridden over
130km over rough terrain, we were all very grateful to be on our legs again. Due to
some teams having been short-coursed on the earlier paddle leg, for not making
the 2pm cut-off to be on the dam, we found ourselves with a number of top teams,
and the camaraderie amongst the teams was terrific, like a family affair. Another
lesson leant: One is never alone! But the fun times had to end...
Leg 7: Another 56km MTB leg awaited us, during the coldest part of any day,
sunrise. This was arguably our hardest leg of the race. The first objective was to
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ISSUE 120 JULY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
find CP1, approximately 10km in, but after missing a vital path – a miss that was
made by all three teams working together at that stage – the team endured an
extremely tough two hours in the dark, where we climbed numerous fences (barbed
wire is now our friend), and hiked our bikes over terrain best left to antelope instead
of humans on MTBs.
Another lesson learnt: At some point a call has to be made to cut one’s losses.
Eventually our Nav made the decision to lead us back the way we had struggled.
This eats at the morale and mental strength of any team, but is part of adventure
racing, and was a vital learning curve for us newbies! As they say, HTFU and carry
on... no point in crying, as it doesn’t get the team anywhere.
We found the missed track, and as the sun raised its warmth above the horizon, we
rediscovered our spirits and continued on to the last few Checkpoints, apart from
two serious crashes involving Andrea and bushpig holes. We later found out she
had cracked two ribs!
On this leg there were also some fun bonus elements thrown in by race director
Saffie: A visit to the concentration camp memorial, an ‘over-the-edge’ abseil, and
a vodka and litchi shooter at the local bar, which has been operating for over 165
years! The place had tradition-a-plenty, and 30 AR teams passing through added
a little more. Then it was back to Destiny Lodge for the last leg of the race.
Leg 8: This was an 18km trek, but due to the race cut-off being 2pm, and us
having arrived at the last transition point a bit late in the day, Saffy told us we could
either throw in the towel and enjoy a beer, or do a “shortened last leg of 3km.”
Should take us one hour, he said. Without hesitation, the team opted to complete
the final 3km trek… Come on, it was only an hour.
Ha,ha, another lesson leant: A race director’s hour is never only an hour! Two
hours later, Team Proudly PE crossed the finish line after 31 hours 45 minutes of
racing, in an unofficial fifth place, based on teams completing as many CP points
as possible, and the time taken to do so. Exhausted, but also overwhelmed with
self-accomplishment, the team hugged, posed for the compulsory finish line pic,
and then started packing for the six-hour drive back home. Thankfully, Monday was
a public holiday, ideal to rest and spend time with family.
Such is the amazing life of the adventure racers, who race not for trophies or
prizes, but more for team accomplishment, finding out who we really are in times
of ultimate adversity, and being a part of the very special AR family. Reflection is a
great thing… Did we make mistakes? Definitely! Did we learn loads? Bucket-loads!
Will we be back? Of course! Next up is Expedition Africa Rodriguez. Bring it on!
Thorpe/Vuurtoring
path, under pressure to make the 2pm cut-off to get onto the water, or else risk
being short-coursed due to water safety considerations and very low temperatures.