Endurancelife Classic
Usual Suspects Endure
Gary Vallance / 07.06.2005
Saturday May 21st started much too early. A communicational glitch between organisers Endurancelife had left our pre-event information a little perforated, so as event rookies, team “Usual Suspects� decided to be at the race site with time to spare, heading off any potential problems.Our concerns turned out to be unfounded, and consequently were the first competitors at the Shoreham event site. Anticipated difficulties regarding access, parking, registration, transitions or security had all been taken care of, with the cunning use of a quiet location, small marquee, large patch of grass, loud hailer, and a straightforward if slightly disappointing course.
As the grassy transition area slowly filled with assorted bikes and equipment, the skies filled with clouds of apocalyptic portent. We headed off to change, opting for versatile long-sleeve baselayers under windproof cags. A choice we were instantly glad of as the heavens duly opened onto the alfresco race briefing.
Final preparations complete, the masses assembled at their respective starts. The “Classic Lite� entrants donned buoyancy aids, ready for their opening kayak leg, while the “Classic� competitors jostled at the start of the running stage. Nine o’clock arrived, rain stopped, jackets were stowed, airhorns were honked, we were off!
Faced with two last minute venue changes, the organisers had been left limited options, and we were sent off on twelve miles of flat, boring and mentally gruelling course; back and forth along the footpaths flanking the River Adur. The only changing feature of this exposed floodplain being the weather, from warm sun to punishing headwinds. A couple of hours slogging away on slippery chalk towpaths saw us arrive back at transition for the kayak leg.
Since we’d opted for no-frills transitions, we simply threw on life vests and jumped aboard our two-man kayak for the four mile stage. Five minutes upriver and the first seeds of doubt crept into my mind. It had been a while since either of us had been in a kayak, we had never paddled together, and we were rubbish!See All Event Posts
