Training Log Archive: nmulder

Expedition Africa 2015 in Swaziland with Team Cyanosis (Mac, Nathan, Hilary). Based at the Lugogo Sun Hotel

Race started at the base of Sibebe Rock, with the first CP on top. Got up to in 2nd / 3rd just behind Teams Sweco and Peak Performance. Dropped off the hill early back to the tar road en route to CP2, whilst other teams ran further along the ridge. Took a few teams with us (Merrell, Jabberwock, Peak), but a footpath dropped too quickly and found a few teams ahead of us when routes rejoined, with Sweco and EstonianACE in front. Got to CP2 in about 7th but had a good leg going cross-country to CP3. SugarMonsters met up with us, but we got to the CP together just behind Sweco & Ace. After this, entered Malalotja Game Reserve at CP4, then a view point at CP5 before dropping into the Malalotja canyon at CP6. Got there in 4th, just ahead of the safety marshalls (!!!). Cold water, but we did the kloof quickly. Were in 3rd afterwards before Jabberwock past us en route to Maguga Dam and T1.

Quick change over into paddling gear. Stephan and Jose busy trying to dig the truck out of a ditch.

A 22k paddle on Maguga Dam with a CP on an inlet about 65% of the way along. Started 15 min behind Jabberwock, but started catching them and the other 2 front teams along the way. The paddle seemed to speed by. We were ahead of race schedule, so only spent 30min paddling in the dark instead of 2 hours. Saw all the teams at the quick in and out run for the CP. Got off the water at the dam slipway no more than 10 mins behind the leaders. From there, we had a quick 1km jog into the Maguga Lodge and transition.

Transtion at Maguga Lodge, including bike assembly. Had passed Sweco just before transition, so left in 3rd place, just behind Jabberwock.

Left transition in 3rd, but caught and passed Jabberwock almost immediately for 2nd on the drop down to the Komati weir below Maguga Dam. Crossed it and hiked out bikes out the other side. Set up a good rythm climbing out of the valley, but Nathan's condition started deteriorating badly as he started getting bronchial pneumonia. Forgot about a CP at the same time and had to go back for it. By 11pm in the cold air, Nathan was too bad to continue. We ended up sleeping it out on the side of the road before Nathan was picked up by organisers at about 3am. By then many, many teams had passed. Mac, Hils and I continued, started from about 11th-13th? place. Did another 30km back towards the Ezulwini Valley and T2, but had no appertite for continuing this race unofficially. Eventually decided to pull out of the race and head back to the Lugugo Sun Hotel.

Bike Stats:
Tm 7:39:34
Av 11.3
Mx 64.5

Very disappointing outcome for a race in which we were otherwise in good condition for. We'd had a decent race until then bar 1 or 2 very small route choice errors that cost us 2-5 mins each time.

Knowledge of large parts of the course had helped in preparing for the race and could have been advantageous over the remainder. There was a big dark zone on the 2nd night where we estimate we would have waited for 10 hours. This would have effectively restarted the race for us and another 6-8 teams, which would have meant the first 1/2 of the race was pointless for us. We started off the race at a good pace to test whether the time predictions were reliable and whether it would be possible to beat the dark zone on Day 2, but by the time we pulled out we knew it wasn't an option and that the dark zone was inevitable.

In the end, 6 teams made the dark zone lifting on Tuesday morning. The lead bunch was slowly whittled down with Merrell taking the win despite a last leg surge by EstonianACE.

Event: Expedition Africa
 

Short run around the Lugugo Sun and Royal Swazi Sun complex with Team Cyanosis members. Expedition Africa starts in a couple of days.