The 2007 Adventure Race World Championship
Long-Suffering Survivors at T6
Robyn Ferrar / 31.05.2007
The theme of the last couple of days at the Dalwhinnie Inn, has been suffering and survival. Most teams have been hanging on as long as possible before injury or illness has forced them to stop - most notably, Helen Jackson of Aberdeen Asset Management with her haematoma injury from the water jump on Day 2.Fat-Bottomed Girl
“I’ve never seen Helen in so much pain� said Tom Gibbs, “there were times when the painkillers were working and she’d be moving ok but it wouldn’t be for long.� After landing on a submerged rock ledge and badly bruising her bottom, she had to do the remainder of that bike stage out of the saddle, as sitting down was too painful. However, with significant swelling of her left buttock, it also seemed clear there was damage to the hamstring insertion, which meant the trekking was painful too, especially when she developed compensation pains as well.
Deep down, the team realised that she would never be able to sit in a kayak for long enough to finish the second paddle stage, “I knew for some time that T6 would be the finish line for us� said Tom, and no easy achievement either. After a big breakfast with Petri Forsman (also with numerous injuries including a bad “grind� – his word for a wetsuit chafe), Helen got some well-earned rest. Warren Bates and Nick Gracie have rejoined the race with the remaining two members of Team Sole.
Dogged Determination
Around 8:30 this morning, while Intersport were wheeling their trolleys to the Loch, Team Helly Hansen UK arrived at T6. They had suffered a broken chain only a few miles out of transition. With very little sleep in the bank, Nicola McCloud was looking particularly “spaced out�. They spent some time at the Inn, treating themselves to a hearty breakfast, and their plan is to take to the water around 2pm in order to hit Rannoch Moor first thing in the morning.See All Event Posts
