Training Log Archive: peterprong

quad were cramping on the way down... weird

Been sick with Man Flu (worst kind of flu) this week. Went for an afternoon roll around stromlo.

I have man flu so wanted to drive this morning. Car didn't start, flat battery, so had to ride anyway.

Geoquest Hawks Nest

http://live.opentracking.co.uk/geoquest2015/ to check out the reply of the GPS routes

Racing with Rob, Kathryn and Damon in team Thought Sports / Shotz Nutrition

Last time I raced Geo with Rob and Damon was my first Geo in 2006 where we place 5th.

Leg 1 - 10km Ocean kayak from main beach at Hawks nest to Nelson Bay.
The leg was originally supposed to round Cabbage Tree island but due to choppy conditions this was cancelled so we just headed around Yacaaba to Nelson Bay. Around the headline it was really choppy. We watched Sam and Josh from peak adventure tip in. We were 4th or 5th team off the water. Nice first paddle.

Leg 2 - 7km Trek from Nelson Bay to Fingal Bay.
Passed a few teams and came into TA in 3rd place.

Leg 3 - 18km MTB rogaine with a snorkel leg mid way. We were around a couple of other teams on this leg and by the snorkel the top 5 teams were all in the water at together. Came into the TA just off the leaders in 4th.

Leg 4 - 16km trek and blow up rafting
There was a bit more nav on this leg with several controls along the rocky coast line. We quickly caught the lead teams and the lead kept swapping. The pace was pretty quick so the short leg over the sand dunes we decided to drop back little but held the gap on the shitty 4kms along the road into the rafting leg. Rob had Kathryn on the tow rope and machined away from Damon and I. Our pumping up of the raft was quick and we were onto the water just behind peak adventure. Our boat was ok but fair bit slower than Peak Adventures stand up paddle board, especially when only one of the two boards had to go near the CP. We finished this leg 5 mins behind in 2nd.

Leg 5 - 13km river kayak
A bit of a nothing leg up to Karuah with 2 CPs on the way.

Leg 6 - 22km Trek rogaine that included the option of picking up CPs on the following kayak leg back down the river. We had planned what we thought was a good route that would see us picking up an extra control on foot and an extra half a km or so but would give us a safer route into CP(n) seeing as it was likely to be dusk when we got there.
We headed out of TA about 15min behind Peak Adventure but caught them at the river crossing as the CP as well as the kayaks to cross the river hadn't been put out. Jarad called the organisers and was told of the mistake (they picked up a 22min time bonus) so we jumped in the freezing water and headed off. We were both running together and Jarad joked to me that that worked out well as now he could just follow Robs navigation through the next trickier CPs. They followed us into the next one but we put down the hammer on the way out and dropped them. This was just before there was an option on what way to go but since checking the GPS they must have seen which way we went as they went the same way. It was dark before we came into the next TA. We came into TA 9mins ahead of Peak Adventure

Leg 7 - 16km river kayak back to Karuah picking up the last of the rogaine CPs. We only had 2 CPs to collect along the way and started on the water just in front of PA. At the two spots we had to get out of the boats there were campers set up on the bank and we were the first to surprise them. Pity for them there was another 60 teams to come through and they weren't going to get much sleep!

Leg 8 - 56km MTB
The next 3 legs were unsupported so we needed enough food for 8-9hrs at least. We headed out just in front of PA but they quickly caught us and we road the next little while chatting and having a nice night ride. This was until we both realised that we had missed a turned and neither team was really sure where we were and they rode off. Rob and Kathryn worked it out and on the way to the next CP we passed PA riding the other way. Rob was still sure about where we were going but it was difficult working out which were the main road and which were the minor over grown tracks (typical Geoquest Topo maps). At one point we came across a shack in the forrest with all these motocross guys camped out. They must have had a big night as there was a keg next to the fire. We asked one guy who woke up but he wasn't much help. We found the CP and headed off to the TA passing PA on the way. The bike I was riding was stuffed and I couldn't free wheel so had to continually pedal. I was stuffed and stared to suffer. We came into TA still in first 7 mins in front of PA.

Leg 9 - 10km Rogaine.
We started off well and I was feeling ok. We headed off from the CP at the top of the ridge down towards CPu. Looking at the GPS we headed off to the right but when we got into the creek we first headed the wrong way before working out the creek ran the other way. Rob corrected this and we headed down to the creek junction where the CP should be but couldn't find it. I was falling a sleep now and was like the walking dead. We finally decided to relocate from the track. Came back down into the creek but from the other entrance but we still couldn't find it. We decided to head out of the creek when we came across CBD coming up the other way. They were just starting to look for it and thought we were in the right creek. So we turned around and headed about 50m back up the creek before CBD found the flag. Shit when your in the right place but just find the CP. I wasn't much help on this leg (more of a drag) and didn't pay too much attention but as we headed out I saw a white water barrel floating in the river that I had seen bloody ages ago!
We finished the leg in 3rd now 2:03hrs behind PA!

Leg 10- 25km MTB
Easy ride down to Bulahdelah. Sun was now up and I had now woken up and was feeling good.

Leg 11 - 25km Kayak to Mungo brush. No CPs on the way and we headed out about 5mins behind CBD.

Leg 12 - 25km flat MTB with most of it on the road. I was still feeling good so led the way to the finish.

Finished in 3rd place half an hour behind CBD and 1:50hr behind Peak Adventure.

Congrats to PA. Happy to finish but a bit disappointed I had such a bad section in the early hours of the morning. Rob and Kathryn were bloody strong and will go well in Alaska next week. Kathryn on the bike was way stronger than the last time we had ridden together and she just got stronger and stronger.

Also congrats to Lazy daves team Tom's Minions for their 12th place finish.

Thanks to Mum and Dad for supporting!

C • results and write-up please 9

C • Leg9 sounds like my Oceania experience 1