Sweatshop Adventure Race
Dune Racers
Rob Howard / 04.10.2005
Teams drove into the Longmoor army camp just off the A3 for the second round of the Sweatshop AR series and parked on the parade ground on a bright but distinctly autumnal day. Soon they were gathered around the maps and instructions in the registration building, trying to work out the complexities of the course which had been set in the surrounding woods, heaths and sand dunes.Having left their bikes in a transition area just round the corner a few then walked up to the start finish area to take a look. The map showed this was in an area called the Sand Pit, which the course crossed several times and where 3 of the special challenges were set up.
‘The Silson 3’ all AR novices from Silverstone running club were taking a look to get an idea what they’d let themselves in for. They’d looked over the heavy duty cargo net staked out by a muddy, and deep looking, puddle, and were eyeing up ‘the slippery wall’ nervously and discussing tactics for crossing it. Just then Race Director Keith Andeson came along with his bottles of cooking oil and paintbrushes to make quite sure it was slippery enough!
The team had all seen the event in ‘Runner’s World’ and only entered a week beforehand, so there had not been much specific bike training. “I ride to work,� said Andy Taylor, “and Bev rides too. Ben just falls off!� Beverley Place admitted to being a bit worried about what lay ahead and added, “What’s this about a puzzle? I’m puzzled by that!�
They were standing on the edge of a large area of sand dunes, used for driver training in military vehicles and littered with used smoke grenades. In the distance taped areas of the course could be seen on the higher dunes, promising some tough running to come.
Having set up their bikes in the long tin-roofed hut, which served as an ideal transition area, 137 teams gathered under the huge inflatable arch being used for the start/finish for a briefing from Anderson. He was firm about pulling out any team not wearing cycling helmets or pfds, and about sticking to out-of-bounds areas around the kayaking lake ... which was in a firing range! As he spoke there was the sound of small arms fire nearby!
Mixing his imperial and metric he advised, “It’s a 10km run and a 14 mile cycle, which is not too technical. The kayaking will last as long it takes you to steer those bloody yellow boats around the lake 3 times!� (Sevylor inflatables.) Briefing over he dropped his arm on the count of 3 and the race was off with a right turn at ‘Kylies Crossroads’ – marked by a large sign saying, “Smile with Kylie.�See All Event Posts
