Challenge update

Hey all,

A part from the obvious serious news (mark's serious injury while mountain bike riding around port arthur) things have been interesting.

Yesterday (day3) was a 40km mountain bike ride that was extremely tough and then there was a 4km run which included a rope bridge cross, a rope swing and a bridge cross (scaling the trusses of the bridge) while hanging over a gorge. Then to complete the day we white water raft down rappids to the finish line. I was crapping myself as white water is a fear of mine.

Day highlight: - Derek coming off the mountain bike at about 40kms.. face/shoulder first! Nathan leaving GPS at transition point and needing to run back and get it

Today (day4) was tough.. we started out with a 11km through a rain forest and around some cliffs to finish on a beach and then a mountain bike ride (30kms) through the hills to port arthur. here we got off the bikes and trekked around an island and then rode back to the accommodation for a feed and a break. at 430 we then set off on a sea kayak race in the harbour which was approximately 7km with 30 knot wins (HELL)

Day highlight: - not many apart from the scenery

injury report:
apart from the countless bruises and scratches, derek and I both have a really sore knee each. Apparently there is no structural damage so is just trying to put up with it for the last day

all in all we have had a great time.. the experience has been extremely tough but also very rewarding.. the people we have met along the way, the way the event is run and the people competing in it make the experience worthwhile.

Stay tuned for results from the final day.

Cheers
Nathan and Derek

Day One of the Challenge

Hi all,
Well what a day. Day one of the Challenge presented us a 4km kayak, 12km run up and down cradle mountain, and a 32km bruising and battering mountain bike ride.

We have already suffered the lows and celebrated th highs of this event. We came out of the kayak and run in a great position and all of a sudden we went from just hoping to finish and enjoying the unreal views, to thinking we could actually do OK.

That did not last long after missing a transition point and doing an extra 5kms on the bike and losing 20 minutes.

Anyway, after 7hrs of adventure racing, we made the finsih line. What an achievement.
The evening has been spent in the lake, on the massage table and with medicos to have knees etc attended to. Bring on Day Two.

Cheers,
Derek and Nathan