Training Log Archive: Mounty

Touristing in Paris with the kids

Headed in to the local markets to trade the rum barrels for something more portable, then swam until flight time.

Very enjoyable, albeit slightly odd week in the end. Shortcomings on the organising front could be laughed at due to the sheer quality of the destination and pleasant like-minded people to hang out with.

Need to do some exercise now.

Some photos in the sleepmonsters gallery

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?page_a...

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?page_a...

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?page_a...

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?page_a...

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?page_a...

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?page_a...

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/race_article_window.p...

Not sure whether it was due to the earthquake or something else, but today was a bit of a waste. First there was an embarrasing beach event (see report) before a final discovery event in the main town and cruisy paddle through the mangroves. Most people frustrated by lack of activity today, with extra training sessions being contemplated.

Spectacular post race banquet, with each team receiving 9l of rum as prize.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/race_article_window.p...

Walked up a big hill, did an abseil after a lot of waiting, then walked down again. No canyon to be seen. Had a bit of an impromptu international race food tasting session to kill time at the top. Very relaxing.

Then another discovery event in a town before a bit of an earthquake.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/race_article_window.p...

Event schedule began to fall apart here which started to annoy people, but dinner was superb.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/race_article_window.p...

Volcano run. This was one of the most fun trail runs Ive done. About 9km with 1000m ascent over 3 pitches and through 2 saddles then down again. Mix of rough tracks through jungle, then up to the tropical equivalent of alpine country above the tree line and a lap of the crater in the mist with sulphur stinging the eyes.

Then the best bit - a 600m vertical descent down winding/flowing rocky singletrack. Popped out of the cloud halfway down to catch a vista of tropical greenery and ocean expanses. Finish was at a sulphur hot pool.

Katrin proved cycling strength is useful for hill climbing by reaching the top in 4th, and then suprised me by showing she had learned to run down rocky tracks and held the place to the bottom. Too much fun.

Discovery event around a town, before a very pleasant dinner and drinkies. The tempo of the race started to drop off here, becoming more of a social event at times.

Running of the bulls....

Night orienteering/coasteering section. Ironically made to walk through town for saftey reasons, before being let loose on an O course which involved running through a section of thick cane fields mixed with paddocks full of bulls.

The bulls were on chains staked to the ground, so worked out how long the chains were and slalomed through. (This was a massed start so people everywhere).

Was pushing through some cane with Katrin and an English/Italian pair when we came out in a little clearing with a bull that turned out to have a chain longer than the rest. Bull charged and managed to brush englishmans leg before coming to a halt on his chain.

Quote of the week after this incident - Englishman to Italian very composed "Marco, we need to have a talk about what stop means".

Made a 10 minute mistake near the end in the cane maze and lost a lot of points. Pity as had been running really well until then.

Awful lot of running today for a cyclist - Katrin held up well.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/race_article_window.p...

Took the boat to Marie Galante for an activities day. Given rental cars and drove around between events.

Activities were
- 3 x discovery runs around towns
- Token kayak
- Ropes section
- Swimming race (they ran out of time for the snorkel).

This island, particularly the beaches, is absolutely stunning. Guadeloupe is wonderfully unaffected by tourism in general, but this island was something special.

Camped on the beach amongst coconut trees.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/race_article_window.p...

- Ran down the coast to an orienteering section
- Did all the controls on the O section- no one told us to only stay out 30 minutes
- Ran back up the coast to a ropes section
- Absolute cracker of a ropes course. Flying foxes over the ocean around cliffs etc.
- Continued running up the coast for another couple of hours, then driven back to town for a paddleboqrd race.

Lots of sitting around waiting between legs, which meant that the runs were rather quick.

Had worked out by now that the control circles often indicated a good place to start looking for checkpoints rather than the actual flag.

This section of coastline was truly spectacular.