Eco-Challenge
The 2 Steves: Lay your bets please...
Steve W / 10.10.2002
Boom boom, boom boom… there is only an hour to go now and the Eco teams will be anxious, focused and busy…busy double-checking their packs, adjusting their drinking systems, studying the maps. With close on 300 racers around you all decked out with their national flags on their race jerseys it is impossible to avoid thinking that you are in an Olympic event, representing your country. The nationality rule is one of the interesting parts of Eco. The rule which means that all team members must come from the same country and once they race for that country they can’t swap to a team from another country, injects this Olympic feel that is lacking from other expedition length races that allow hybrid teams.
The opening party, which Keith from Team The North Face Kona mentioned in his last dispatch from the field, feels like a mini Olympic opening ceremony too. Whatever your thoughts are about Eco and its organiser Mark Burnett, he sure does know how to put on a show.
So, here they go and I think Nasty Steve and Nice Me should be brave enough to put our money on the line and have a little wager on which British or Irish team is going to come out on top of this mini battle within the big battle…so Señor Duffy whaddya reckon? I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest that while Team The North Face Kona will surely top the pile of British teams and in the top ten, I fancy Noel Hanna’s Bridgedale Ireland team to upset the apple cart and get above them in the rankings. Sorry Keith! Over to you Nasty Steve…?
Whoever comes out on top though I hope that all the Brits and Irish teams have a great race, work hard and look after each other. Good luck to you all…including Team USUK with Dave and Mike our allies in Borneo. Now bring on the leech-free jungle and coral fringed sea Mr. Burnett...
SleepMonsters
