Bruce Duncan and Mark Humphrey on Lake GreyBruce Duncan is going back to the Patagonian Expedition Race for the third time. The British athlete is already a two time winner of ‘the world’s hardest race’, and is returning with team adidas Terrex/Pruncesco which includes Mark Humphrey, who is also looking for a third win, plus Nick Gracie and Fi Spotswood, who are new to the event. <P>
Three years ago the team had a surprise win (as Helly Hansen Prunesco) and they defended that title winning by a huge margin in the last race. This slightly different team are now returning to see if they can complete a trio of wins, once again helped by Chilean prune exporters Prunesco, who have been such stalwart supporters of the team. As he prepared to leave his Lake District home I spoke to Bruce about the upcoming race.<p>
I asked first about the new team line up. <P>
<i>“Our original team included Nicola MacLeod, who is an army medic and is now away serving in Afghanistan, and Andy Wilson , who I think decided he had suffered enough. He loved the two races he’d competed in, but twice was enough for him, so he is sending his girlfriend instead! Seriously, Fi is really excited about the race and has been training hard, and through Andy knows what to expect. She is mentally strong and that is the key to this race. It is so brutal, it’s a real mental battle. <P>
Nick Gracie has always wanted to go to this race and this year got his chance. Nick was part of the World Championship winning team in Portugal so we are a strong team and are definitely going out with the intention of winning again.</I>
<P>
With those comments in mind I asked Bruce why he’d chosen to go back. For most this is a once in a lifetime race and just completing it is the ambition, and for most once is enough! Incredibly he told me both he and Mark had as good as decided to return only days after last years race.
SleepMonsters
