Endurancelife Raid 20
Tactics and Risk on the Raid 20
Kris Smith - Team Adventure Sports Magazine / 22.10.2009
Coming from Newcastle I've only ever heard of Endurancelife events but never experienced one, so entering the RAID 20 for the first time I had no idea what to expect! With the race format and area being kept secret, all we knew was that the race would last 20hrs, 12hrs on Saturday, a short camp, and then a further 8hrs on Sunday, starting and finishing in Totnes Castle!After a 6hr train journey from Newcastle I arrived late on Friday to do some last minute kit sorting with the rest of my team, Adventure Sports Magazine. After completing registration and picking up our complimentary, lightweight Slipstream jacket supplied by the event sponsors Montane, we were ready for the start.
An early morning briefing within the castle walls revealed the race format. The race would be split into 6 stages. Each stage had a score format, i.e, you could chose your own route trying to gain as many points as you could.
There would be 3 stages on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. Each stage would have a cut-off time and most importantly if you were late missing any cut-offs you would forfeit all your points for the next stage and would have to make your way to the following transition, where you would be able to continue the race. If you were late on the final stage of the event, you would forfeit all points for that stage!
This meant it was going to be a very tactical race, trying to gauge how fast you were running, kayaking, biking to get the controls worth the most points and get back before the cut-off!
With the disciplines and controls of each stage kept secret until you started it, no major tactical decisions could be made, just take one stage at a time!
So with the sun rising and the morning mist clearing we started Stage 1 at staggered intervals. The first stage consisted of a mixture of running and kayaking toward Dartmouth, ditching the kayak where we could and running inland to pick up controls, then back to the kayaks. We realised early on that it wasn't possible to pick up all the points, so decisions had to be made. We opted for a couple of 35 pointers and headed straight for the big 65 pointer, which was beyond the kayak drop off point.
We doubled back and transitioned onto the run. We'd allowed just over an hour to pick up all the run checkpoints and get to the end of the stage. We finished Stage 1 at a stunning secluded cove with 5 minutes to spare. The race format didn't allow you to carry over time to your next stage, a key piece of tactical info, so we spent the 5 minutess preparing the bikes, eating and taking photos! So with 30 seconds to spare, (just to be safe!) we started Stage 2.See All Event Posts
