Hebridean Challenge
True Adventure on the Heb
Joe Faulkner / 06.08.2007
Once you done it, you will fondly refer to The Hebridean Challenge simply as ‘The Heb.’As races go it is quite simply the best I have ever done and certainly deserves the title of an Adventure race.
Many people don’t realise the scale of these islands which stretch for 150 miles from Barra to the Butt of Lewis at the remote north westerly out post of The UK. The six main islands vary in size and shape and contrast dramatically amongst the sea of rock, sand and mountain. Getting to the race is an adventure and for most will involve a five hour ferry crossing from Oban, to Lochboisdale on South Uist. The shortest crossing is about two hours from Uig on the tip of Skye to Tarbet.
Essentially the race is a relay and comprises 5 very full days, with a stop over each night at a mobile race HQ. You’ll need a team of five including an experienced and qualified sea kayaker, or a four person ‘land based team’ who can road cycle, MTB run and swim. There is also a race for pairs who do all the disciplines split between them, due respect to them. (The solo class was dropped a few years ago as numbers indicated that not many people are up for such lunacy.) Because it is a relay, you need a multi-skilled team prepared to do discipline and the strongest teams are capable all rounders.
There is a big element of planning and strategy involved, not least because one of the team has also got to drive your support bus from the various checkpoints and tag points, so expect pretty busy days of 12 -15 hours. Teams also need to score 150 points by ‘doubling up’ on special points stages, so many of the sections be it mountain running, MTB, or road cycling is done in pairs. As a rule of thumb I guess most team members are active for 50% of the ‘working day’.
Our team this year consisted of Pete Smith, Gareth Hicks, Hannah Marshal and myself. I’d decided many months ago that I couldn’t cope with the prep and logistics of including a kayaking person this year, but already I’m prepping for 2008. Gareth and Pete were equipped with mountain bikes whilst Hannah and myself had road bikes, and swim wetsuits. All of us have some experience of hill running.
This year’s race started on Eriskay based from an idyllic wild camp, where kayak testing, kit checks and last minute prep took place. Sunday evening involved a Prologue with two team members plus kayaker crossing to the island of Barra. One runner did a hill run time trail whilst a cyclist rode the hilly 16m road loop around this beautiful island. Meanwhile back on ‘the mainland’ the two other team members Hill ran/MTB’ed a cross over route. Hannah rode the cycle loop, I ran the hillocks. Pete and Gareth did the deeds on Eriskay including a visit to the pub! All this was a suitable evening’s introduction to the complexities of the week to follow and I slept soundly in our wild and dramatic camp.See All Event Posts
