Lycian Challenge Adventure Race LC 2014 - AREC
Lycian Challenge 2014 - Captains Post-Race Blog
Team Skandia Adventure / 06.05.2014
Writing a post-race blog would be a lot easier if I knew the ranking of our team but as of Monday afternoon no results bar the top three has been posted.
We probably ended just outside the top 5 and considering the chaotic race circumstances we shrug our shoulders and turn our attention to the positives: The Lycian Challenge Adventure Race went through a course that was worthy of more than a European Championship.
Sadly I have a hunch the race will be remembered for the logistical blunders and not the stunning terrain and perfectly put together stages.
We had two game changers thrown at us: After TA1 (about 24 hours into the race) we arrived at the first rappel. The first sign of trouble was a heap of teams crept up in space blankets sleeping.
When we checked in, we were told to expect a two to three hour wait (we ended up waiting for 2 hours and 54 minutes before strapping on our gear). The time would not be credited we were told.
The race set up was: Get as many checkpoints as possible before the cut-off on Saturday at 17.00 so having to wait three hours, meant less time to collect check points.
We did the only thing we could: Shrug, try to relax and put together a plan B: Forget the other teams, and still try to clear the course.
This went well until the second game changer: The route choice to CP 29.
Being the hopeless romantics we are, we opted for the shortest (mountainous) route to the checkpoint (instead of running 25 km around the mountains on tarmac). I have to say: It was a beautiful leg. And the mountain we had to climb was an adventure in itself. But our efforts were in vain as we were moving far slower in the hills, than we would have been on the tarmac.
So we had to re-saddle again and skip checkpoints to be sure we could make to cut -off on Saturday. This also went well until we got to the second rappel. Here we received the familiar message: There is a 2-3 hour waiting time.
The waiting time would mean not making the cut-off, so again we shrugged and again we trotted along. This time around the gorge and down to the kayaks on foot for the final short kayak leg and short swim to the finish.
We made the cut-off. And we got all CPs minus four of them. And nobody really knows where that puts us in the race.
Where does all this leave us? Knowing that sometimes things do not go as planned and when the things that go FUBAR are out of your hands, you just have to hike up your skirt and get on with it. And look forward to your next race!
[Since this was received the results have been published and Skandia finished 7th.]
You can follow the Skandia team on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/teamskandia
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