run (TexasQuest) 5:50:00 [3] 50.0 km (7:00 / km)
great return to adventure racing. I took a rookie through the 6hr race.
I still struggled with the UTM plotter. I misplotted one of the points and we spent 20 mins looking for it in the bushes, where I nearly crawled over a snake. scary moment, first snake I have seen in AR.
First run leg was a marked route with 2 controls anywhere on the route. but we had 8 anytime controls that we had to first plot on the map. you could collect them anytime on the course. 6hr had to get 4 of them, 12 hr course had to get all of them. this is where we wasted the time looking for a non existent control in the bushes. (about 10km)
First bike leg was also a marked route with 4 controls. (we got one extra optional). Was a beautiful sweeping single track route. worth the drive out there just for this bike leg. about (23km)
Then we did one of the 2 paddle legs. more of a pain then fun. (1km)
There were also 4 special tasks to complete anytime in the race in the transition. we did 2 of them. (1km)
Leg 3 was a trek, plot 6 points and the 6hr race had to get 3 of them. walked right past one of the points and had to search for 6 or 7 mins for it, and took a short cut through the bush that Pete wasn't too leased with. otherwise a great leg. (4km)
did the next paddle and remaining 2 special tasks. with only 55 mins to go after plotting the 6 points for the cycle (6hr had to get 3 of them) we decided to just try for the 2 other anytime points and 2 of the 3 cycle controls.
bit of a search for the first cycle leg, and then 2 non existent roads meant that we missed the last 2 cycle legs and ended with 13/15 controls. still enough to finish in top spot for the 6 hr race. (12km)
Winning glory was all on offer as it was a free race. Still a great day out.