ITERA - Presented by Open Adventure
White Water Prologue
Rob Howard / 09.08.2014
With 5 days and over 600km of racing to come in the week ahead there was really only one way to get warmed up – to have a little race round Cardiff Bay!
It might seem strange to have a 10km prologue before an expedition adventure race, but it does help ease the tension ahead of the main start, and the results of the prologue will have an impact on the real race.
After the mornings briefings and an introductory talk on O.S. maps for the visiting teams by James Thurlow and another by Tom Gibbs for those new to expedition racing, teams gathered by the bay at 5.30pm for the prologue start. It was the first time they’d worn their red race bibs and in some cases the first time they’d raced with their team mates!
This was the case for British racer Nicola McLeod, who had joined team Swedemount AR only the day before. They had been desperate to secure a replacement team mate, and Nicola is among the most experienced UK racers. Only after the prologue did the team mention they’d not raced together before either!
The prologue start was held up a little as the barrage bridge was raised just at the wrong time, but 5 minutes late the prologue was underway!
The teams raced across the barrage and round to the international white water centre where the fun began. A set of inflatable kayaks were waiting for them and all their paddling kit was laid out ready at the centre where there is a short custom build course. Teams had to split into pairs, each pair making a trip round in turn before they could all run back to the finish.
It may only be a 10km prologue, but it was still intensely competitive. All the pent up energy put into months of preparation was released and the race was on with no quarter given! adidas TERREX were the first to reach the boats, stripping off as they raced in to pile of kit! Everyone else was not so far behind and soon there was a mass pile up to teams pulling on pfd’s and grabbing paddles and helmets.
Once into the boat a ramp moved them up to the top of the run and then they were off in a flurry of paddles and white water. The expressions ranged from scared to elated, and the boats filled with a considerable amount of water. They were also very flexible and when the water pinned the boats they bent almost at right angles! (I only saw one capsize.)
Once they were thoroughly soaked and had their adrenalin levels raised sky high it was time to run back to the finish which was set up close to the Welsh National Assembly. There was a big funfair in the main Roald Dahl square and the waterside was packed with people out on Saturday night – all a bit bemused to find groups of red T-shirted runners weaving a way through them!
First to finish were adidas TERREX in 53 minutes with teams finishing right through to Cosmic Chancers in 1.23.44. There were lots of smiling faces and they’d clearly had a lot of fun, but there is a competitive advantage to be gained as well.
Teams will be held at the zipwire on day one for 3x their time difference behind the winners (up to a maximum of 2 hours penalty) - so adidas TERREX will move straight through and everyone will else will have to wait, how long depending on how far behind they were tonight.
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