Raids EnduranceAventure.com and Fou Raid Saint-Donat
A Raid in Quebec
Isabelle Creusot / 21.10.2011
When I was young, I watched the Raid Gauloises on television and told myself that, one day, I would participate! Many years later, here I am, on October 1st, 2011, on the start line of the Saint-Donat Endurance Aventure raid. The road to get here has been long, but I am ready, at last, for this adventure.My teammate, Caroline Barre, and I are the Blue Girls team. We agree on our goal: to finish the race and, most of all, to have fun! When it comes to having fun, we will not be disappointed ... although it will take some time!
The first bike climb is quite difficult. It gets our hearts pumping and keeps our calves latched to the pedals. I desperately attempt to stay with my partner but in vain. I get off ... its just too difficult! I glance at my watch, we’ve only been gone 20 minutes ... this is going to be very long!
At the summit of Mont Garceau, snow has begun ... and the fun begins! Holding the map between our smiling lips, we attack the checkpoints one after the other. Today, I am the navigator while Caro holds the instructions and the passport. It is with much enthusiasm and confidence that she descends towards yet another checkpoint located at the bottom of a hole, climbs a rope ladder, and paddles on a buoy! We are already back on our bikes.
We must eat Caro, its time! That would be the sentence of the day. We had been told that it was best not to stop and to eat often. We followed that advice! Then, fun peaks with the descent of Mont Garceau towards the ninth checkpoint. We change roles and I race ahead like a crazy person, I am having the time of my life! Caro is wet and the descent has made her cold... I decide that it is best to stop. Hot Shots are put to good use. We drink. We eat. We warm up. Then, we set off again ... we have a hefty plateau ahead which will keep us warm.
We pedal hard and whiz by a succession of checkpoints! We then reach the 2nd transition. We hear, Go girls, keep it up, you are second! Wow that’s when the race begins. We have a chance for the podium. A wonderful group of people are there to encourage us. Bastien is there ... its so good to see familiar faces at this point in the race! Our feet are frozen and we begin the running portion with, it seems, two blocks of cement to drag along. We warm up as we climb towards the summit!
Yes! JF is at the summit. You are doing great girls! You now have two options, but I recommend the more difficult one. Isa, for your first raid, grab your compass and go! Azimuth south, I navigate through the forest in awe. This is it! I am really here! There are no paths, just a compass and lots of energy! A little voice whispers in my head; Life is so good! See All Event Posts
