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Interview with Monique Merrill

Anne-Marie Dunhill / 25.06.2010

When asked about how the team felt about the three hour penalty they received yesterday Mona Merrill of Out There USA took the time to give me her impressions after the first two days of the Grand Raid in an off the cuff interview near the ladies loo. She started by saying that the team was just happy to be racing in France with good friends and so far have been pleasantly surprised by the scenery so far, especially the on the mountain biking sections;not at all what she had expected from the North of France.

She went on to say that under these conditions it was hard to be too upset about getting lost during the vehicle transfer and losing more time due to less then top notch orienteering. She joked about trying to get Mike Kloser in the support van to focus on their plight instead of on a blueberry yoghurt he was after. After their intelligent tactical choice on the Cap Blanc Nez she said that it was an odd sensation to realize a few hours later that after taking the lead by five minutes, they were three hours behind Thule due to a penalty.

Mona added that it’s a reflection of life, one minute you’re up and the next you’re down, condensed into a short time frame, and that’s one of the things she likes about adventure racing. She went on to acknowledge that the French team, Wilsa, was stronger then they are on the race route and she was happy that they are leading because, “I hate to beat a team that I know is stronger then we are, by luck or something like that�. She then headed off to check the ranking posted on the wall of the hall where racers and the organization are gathered for the evening meal.

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