MOMAR Ucluelet, BC
My first adventure race
Jacqueline Windh / 10.05.2006
Pre-race report Tuesday 9 May, 2006Well, I alternate between feeling full of confidence, knowing that I can manage the distances, and wondering what the heck I was thinking!
It has been quite a learning curve, finding out how to balance the training with listening to my body and knowing when to rest and recover. This is especially a challenge, as my body has been very clear about letting me know that I am in my 40s – I cannot just jump into things without training like I used to do in my 20s.
All of that hanging out with racers as part of my Sleepmonsters reporting is what has got me inspired. Last year I returned home from Patagonia Expedition Race in March, inspired to get in better shape – the idea was more just to be fit enough that I could accompany teams on some of the treks in the longer expedition races, in order to maximize my photo opportunities. I passed through Peru on the way home, did a lot of high-altitude hiking there, and returned to Tofino with some good strong lungs. I plunged straight into 10 km runs, and promptly found myself with a stress fracture in a metatarsal.
So it has been a long and slow recovery... I was only able to start running again (and very gently at that) in January. I returned home this past March, again inspired after having reported upon the Costa Rica Coast to Coast, and launched into a more gentle training program.
So, where am I?
I am a strong expedition kayaker – that will probably be my strongest AR event (well, aside from the photography...). When I first decided to enter the event, I figured that I will hopefully gain a bit of time on the paddling leg – and that will make up for my slowness on the running and cycling. However, now as I think about it, I realize that most of the racers are in teams, and so I expect that they will be racing in faster doubles. So I may find myself at the back of the pack even in the kayaking, which will be a great mental challenge for me.
As for the running – well, I have been training in distances up to 14 km, so just a little bit longer than the 11 km run on this course. My metatarsal fracture has been doing well, especially this last month, but I am still paranoid of over-training and setting myself back for another year. In the last two weeks I have had a sharp pain in my other ankle, and it has been a struggle for me to know how much I am being paranoid, and should still be running, and how much I am being stupid, and should be resting. So I have barely run these last two weeks, which is when I had intended to do more runs with my loaded backpack.
As for the biking – hmm, I am not sure on that one. I am absolutely not a technical off-road biker, which will restrict what ARs I will ever be able to enter, but this race was advertised from the start as “non-technical mountain biking�. My biggest fear was lots of hills (I have lots of endurance but little strength). Mount Ozzard (the mountain that they ran up and biked down last year) is scarily close to Ucluelet – but the recent racers’ info package states that the ride has little elevation gain. So no Mount Ozzard, yay!! I will probably be on the slow side for the ride, but I should be able to complete it without problem.
My big aim is just to finish. It is my first adventure race (and in fact my total race experience is one 12 km run and one very short triathlon, both 12 years ago), so if I can make it to the finish line injury free and feeling somewhat OK, I will be really pleased. My biggest fear is finishing an hour behind the second-last racer, and having everyone at the finish line frustrated that they have to wait for me to come in! At least I will have an excuse... I am a reporter, and had to stop to take photos!
OK, wish me luck! I will try to get a race report in Saturday night, but probably will be too trashed (or partying it up!). For sure I will get a report up by Sunday morning. Talk to you then!
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