Race results queried and interesting AR World Champs format

A few folks have queried the race results, and I confess a few errors may have crept in, so I will gladly fix it if you point out a mistake.

I have also checked the format of the AR World Champs in Portugal.It is interesting to see that they also have some sort of bonus system featuring in the race. Team Cyanosis from SA are doing quite well and with a day or so to go hopefully they will finish strongly!

So perhaps the bonus points system was confusing because it may be the first time something like this is being tested in SA, but it seems to be the way that AR is evolving overseas (at least in Portugal that is). So in that sense it is re-asurring to see we may not have been so way out in our approach to the race.

Race reports online

The Pennypinchers Team and the guys from Team Gijima have posted their race reports online. (Click on the links on the left side of this page).

Go have a read and hopefully you will get a warm glowy feeling as you remember the day.

Lost property

Your kit is always taking shots at an AR, so you will know the feeling of getting home and wincing when you see something is missing. And the worst part is that most times it was SO unnecessary.

So if you can help a fellow adventurer out, please send me the good news if you found the following kit:
Lettman Paddle (it fell out of the trailer that was transporting the boats)
Bratcha Paddle (it was left at the Swartvlei Caravan Park TA)
Any other bits and bobs that you picked up along the way.

Then I have the following items in my possession if you lost them:
Neon orange tie down
Thick black tie down

And if you think it was only the racers that suffered from "loosing" stuff, when I went out to fetch CP 2 on Monday evening - it was missing in action, so at least in this instance I am feeling the same pain as everyone else who is mourning over lost kit!

BTW, I am also still catching up on sleep and my legs are still a bit tender from all the running around putting out CP's and fetching them. At least I was spared the ferocious fynbos and blazing sun on the Tierkop Hike (but I know it all too well.).

Cheers
Garth

Give me the bad news (but keep the rave reviews coming too)

As much as I love hearing that people enjoyed the race, I would like to get constructive criticism from time to time. I am sure some people have some complaints and some ideas on how to improve...

There was confusion about the various categories and bonuses / penalties so that is something we will be looking to improve in 2010.

But that said, here is what you are saying about the event so far:

Thank you again for a great event and its was an absolutely fantastic experience for me to have raced with such committed youngsters who never lost their focus even when it meant some painfull back tracking to find a missed CP. (I did not navigate at all and relied on the team for everything) ! - Chris Crewdson who raced with the Elephant Park Pennypinchers School Team

Thanks guys for an awesome race. - Drew Scott, Enthuisiastix 

Thanx for a good event. I did appreciate all the correspondence before the race – does make organising teams a lot easier. - Rob Flashman, AR Wannabees

Thank you so much for the opportunity! We really loved helping and met some great people on the day.
There are two people that help us a lot. Please thank them for us - Desire Roos, second for Pieterman

Thanks for another super Saturday with all your competitors and supporters.  Again they left the farm immaculate. - Vivien Harpur, co-owner / manager of Herold Wines

I wanted to congratulate you on the great success in the Eden Duo 2009!! The turnout was brilliant and although the race was very tough for most of us, I think every single person who took part enjoyed it to the max for the time they raced.

Being my first ever adventure race, I knew I would learn a lot through the race- not only on a personal level but also about the strength of the bond between my husband and I. A steep learning curve it was indeed and although we were disappointed we didn’t make it through the full course, we were very excited at what we did manage to achieve. With the bond between us stronger than ever, we know what our pitfalls were and the areas we need to change and work on for next time round. I may need to work hard to convince Mark to do it with me again but either way, I’m in for next year!! - Amanda Judson Dixon, The Dirty Dixons

Thanks for putting so much effort into keeping the adventure racing flag flying, this was my third Duo and it’s nice to see it growing and evolving.  I still have great memories though of the original long tough hike in the dark – I used to look forward to that!

I do have a complaint though, that quite simply comes from the complete confusion you created at the race briefing:

‘There is the Eden Duo and there is the Open category  –a category made for the ‘Professionals’. Open category cannot win the main categories. There are bonus points for those racing in the standard duo of 30min per CP but as an Open category a 90min penalty for missing one’.- Owen Middleton, OMI

Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you!. What a great race it is so so nice to be able to race in ur own back yard usually we have to travel far away to experience an adv race but what pleasure to be able to do it here and why not we do have the most stunning area, the most stunning people to do it. Well done Garth and Jan for a great adventure and work out it was great fun a nice wake up call realizing I'm not as fit as I thought. Well done your great team. Thank you to Merrell as well for the support and prizes. 

and how awesome was it to see old familiar adventure faces from all over and new ones!! - Jeanette "Bubbles" Walder, McCain Chicks

What a great race you guys put together. I think it was enjoyed by all from the racing snakes to the novices. Merrel put on a great show and Jan as usual a great route. - James Stewart, Pennypinchers AR Team


Thanks for a great race. - Ronald Jessop, Team Parallel



Thanx Jan, Garth and all the rest for organising a superb event . It was pretty challenging for us -more the time factor than the distance one but all the same we had a great race , our seconds promised to come back for more and our time in the Wilderness on both sides of the race was just awesome .Facilities too were something that I can only wish for on more of the distance events. So a big thumbs up . - Grant Frewen, Team Freegone

Glorious weather for the weekend

Teams have already started arriving at Ebb and Flow and the weather is looking great! Blue skies warm sunshine, and the same is expected tomorrow... wohoo!

Some teams have already hit Vic Bay for a bit of a dip in the ocean, so all in all things are looking like a great weekend!

As they say - "wish you were here" if you are sitting in the concrete jungle reading this!

Weather and land owner check

It's getting hotter, from 22 we have gone up to 25.

The little "peninsula between the Swartvlei and Karatara River can now legally be crossed without fear that the farmer will be shooting to kill :-) He said he found the channel the other day so it is possible paddle all the way - but you need to know where to look.

Well, not sure if I will get the chance to post again so if's this is the last post before the race - see you at registration, I am putting CP's out tomorrow, I really do hope they don't get stolen...

I will make a point to take a photo of each one I put out there! So at least there is evidence if they "disappear"

Ciao
G

Wednesday weather

The temperature has dropped by 1 ° to a cool 22 ° C. Still cloudy, a 20 km /h wind blowing, might cause a few waves on the Swartvlei paddle later in the afternoon.

It looks like it just could be the perfect weather. There might be some mist / fog in the early morning / evening, but that may serve to make things a little more interesting. There may also be some fog / mist on the higher parts of the mountain hike near Tierkop.

What constitutes the N2

For the purposes of the event, the whole road reserve of the N2 is out of bounds, this includes a strip of land 20 m either side of the centreline of the road. The only time you are allowed to be closer to the centreline of the road is when you go under the road under the various bridges.

If you do end up going on the N2, irrespective of whether you get caught or not, you do so COMPLETELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Except for the tar road section on the Old 7 Passes Road and a bit of tar roads in Saasveld and at Swartvlei Caravan Park, you should not have to go on any tar roads.

If you want to take part in tar road events, do the Iron Man, Argus or 2-Oceans.

Tuesday's Weather Update

The terrain under foot was wet and slippery last night, but by the looks of it, things will dry out a bit by Saturday.

The temperature stays the same, but you will see less of the sun in today's weather forecast.

Race Day Weather Forecast

I had a look at Weather SA's website, it will be rainy this week, but race day should be dry - at least the atmosphere that is, the ground may be wet and muddy underfoot (or tyre) at some places. So it should make for some slippery situations. The 23 ° C is nice and cool, if it was 31 ° C you would really be suffering!

I will post updates daily, last year for the Outeniqua Traverse the Monday forecast looked good, but by Friday it had changed completely so don't get too excited yet.

Fireflies, porcupine and bushbuck!

On Monday nights, a few of us George runners regularly go for a trail run. This last Monday we decided to run some of the singletrack around Saasveld, and my what a great time we had!

First off we entered the "Root Farm" and after a few minutes we noticed some fireflies, so we switched our headlamps for a few seconds and enjoyed the light show. It was really beautiful!

Then off we went again, the next singletrack section being named "The Bog", we crossed a few wooden pallets laid across what is probably wet muddy bog, but at the moment everything is bone dry! A few minutes later there was a heart stopping scruryring in the bushes, and the pine trees didn't look as if they were practically climbable, but upon closer inspection, we spotted a small porcupine looking for supper. Phew, I was glad it wasn't a family of angry bushpigs! A little later we spotted some bushbuck along the trail.

It was a great run, and it is tough to decide which is better, running the singletrack or riding it with a MTB. Both are great and demand a high level of concetration. Both also demand more physical input than riding / running on plain gravel roads, so, make a note of it to come and run this section one day!

Getting to the Karatara Bridge

I have had a few reports that finding the channel that goes up to the Karatara Bridge is quite tricky, so if you are not keen to get lost in the reeds, the best option might be a short portage as indicated on the image bellow. I haven't managed to contact the owner of the property you would be portaging across, so if you go for that option, please don't get caught!!! Hopefully I can make contact with the guy soon.

Cheers
G

VAALIES ON THE MOVE!

The two Vaalies are getting ready for the MERREL EDEN DUO.

The info that we as participants receive is great. It keeps us motivated and we've been looking forward to the event for some time now.

We look forward to the cape and seeing the ocean again(typical vaalies), to racing and to making new friends.

Thanx to everyone for helping us out. Garth, Lisa, Ryno, doitnow.co.za, Outeniqua paddling club...

See you guys soon!

Team Gijima

www.gijima.wordpress.com

Kaaimens Mouth

On our recce recently, we decided that going down next to the train bridge is just to risky (especially if there is a bottleneck and people are being pressured by those behind them).

So there is a revision in the route at the Kaaimens mouth.

You will notice on the picture that after coming through the old tunnel, you go past Kaaimens Grotto and then about 100 m further there is a gully that goes up to the old broken house below the N2. THE N2 STRICTLY OUT OF BOUNDS AT ALL TIMES DURING THE RACE! YOU ARE ALSO NOT ALLOWED TO GO DOWN NEXT TO THE RAILWAY BRIDGE - THIS AREA IS OUT OF BONDS. You pass through the house and almost run under the N2 before turning left down another gully that takes you back to the Kaaimens River.

Time flies when you are busy!

It is now about a week and half to go until the race gets going.

I hope your training has gone well, it is now almost too late to do anything about it if you haven't put in the long hours.

Note: For some of the top teams, the Merrell Eden Duo IS training!

Feel free to post something if you have a spare moment, or just come and read what the other folks have to say about their race build up.

G