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The Ups and Downs of an Ordinary Racer

Ruth Johnson / 13.07.2009

The months of anticipation were finally over. The car was loaded with a makeshift bed in the boot and the kit we thought we might need for 12 hours of activity in and around Llandegla. I say that because you never really know what to expect for the Open Adventure Endurance Series events. You know that, at the core, there will be mountain biking and running and you need to be a good navigator (or have a teammate who is) but then there are the “special stages� which are kept deliberately secret until the event starts. Some clues can be gained from the required kit list but guesses can still be wildly wrong.

So what did we know about what might be in store this time? Well we knew it would probably be a tough race, as elite racer (and thoroughly nice chap) Tim Higginbottom was the guest event planner and there was going to be an additional “strenuous� Prologue as well as the main twelve-hour event. There was a hint that the format may be different as more than ever we needed “careful planning and knowing when to cut your losses and run�. We also knew that there would be some climbing involved (two harnesses, a belay device and krab per pair, and some belay skills can surely only mean one thing) and we might get wet (please don’t let it be waterfall jumps).

Also a good running head torch was recommended. Did that mean underground activity or difficult on foot navigation in the dark. Possibly the latter as early on there was a suggestion that racers familiarise themselves with orienteering maps. Mmm… As fairly regular orienteers we didn’t need to do this but we did bob down the local climbing wall to get a bit of practice in. We had also been training hard for the last eight months and were feeling fitter than ever before. This was slightly ruined by a bout of flu in the week before the event from which I wasn’t really recovered but I still wanted to go and have a go (and suffer the consequences later if need be - mind over matter is a powerful thing!) Even the weather forecast didn’t look too bad with only the risk of isolated heavy showers. So we set off full of enthusiasm.

The event centre was at Coed Llandegla forest centre so there was plenty of space to park and food was readily available which was great. They do all kinds of cool stuff like recycle rainwater for flushing the toilets and powering the bike wash (yes I read the signs on the back of the toilet doors). They also make great cakes. We arrived early and had plenty of time to register and chat until the Prologue briefing at 5pm.

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