Training Log Archive: Georgia

Leg 5 - 15km paddle

We had planned to sleep at the beginning of this but the mosquitoes were horrible. Given how things unraveled later we should have made more of an effort to find shelter. Bones managed to find a yurt and so did we on the return journey. I think a sleep here would have greatly decreased the chance of disaster later but then if we had slept we may not have made the "wind" cutoff and been on the short course...hard to know.

Leg 6 - 45km trek

O dear such a disaster more to come

Leg 4 - Mtb 200km (actually maybe 240km)

Started off up the hill feeling fairly useless on the bike but came right within about 10min which was good. Spent the rest of the leg feeling really strong riding. Struggled a bit on the hike a bike. Need to get stronger generally so I can carry stuff better and push bike up hill better. Ryan had to help me a lot through here. Didn't eat enough leading into the hike a bike and hit the wall a bit I think.

Nav was good for this section all the way through.

Team went well, pretty even riding speeds. Always comfortable enough that I was able to navigate but probably found myself out the front a bit too much.

Sleep at the noodle house worked wonders for JJ.

Xtrail Altay expedition race. Times are all a bit of a guess as the tracking site is difficult to understand.

Leg 1 - 3km run down to the lake and then a 25km paddle out and back to a control. I paddled with Ryan, Matt with JJ. Despite the lack of paddle training this seemed to be a pretty manageable distance and time. We didn't have the combos quite right or perhaps should have done some towing as the others struggled to stay on our wash. It didn't matter too much though and we jumped out of the boat just after the Weasels and ahead of Estonia.

Leg 2 - 12.5km paddle in a 4man toy raft. Probably Grade 2-3. Lots of fun and a bit out of control but some good communication meant we stayed upright.

Leg 3 - 50km Trek.

A trek that I was fairly sad to see was very similar to last years. So much potential for fun treks in the are but they stick to making us follow the same track :(

Anyway we set off at a pretty good pace up the hill and I was feeling fine. Team seemed to be moving along well but not that keen for the running generally. Bit of a nav wobble when the track disappeared but sorted that out fairly quickly and followed a bearing to the pass. Pretty cold in the thunderstorms and no one was eating that well. I was feeling good and on reflection should have been making an effort to look after the others a bit more. Im just not that good at it. Should have made up a meal for someone and given it to them as that is what I would have needed in that situation.

Over the pass we managed to push on enough to get the last control before it got dark and then it was just following the track down to Hemu for the orienteering. Tried to get the running going again but there wasn't much enthusiasm. Moved along at a fair walking pace though.

Orienteering was easy around Hemu. Street O only.

Freezing cold arriving at TA. Should have put gloves and jackets on before TA (or done some jogging to warm up) as it was difficult putting the bikes together when so cold.

We were all feeling pretty smashed hopping onto the bikes.