Breaking Davina!!

Today the Comic Relief Challenge for 2014 rolled in to the Lake District. We were running mountain safety for Davina McCall and a BBC film crew on her Beyond Breaking Point challenge with a planned mountain walk from Seathwaite to Langdale via the summit of Scafell Pike. Fresh from a 130 mile cycle from Edinburgh, which had taken her 15 plus hours in horrendous conditions, Davina cycled into Seathwaite Farm and the delights of the camping barn in which to prepare for the hill. We'd made the decision to shorten the route due to full winter conditions on the hill. Seven hours later we arrived in Langdale with a very bedraggled looking film crew but Davina was in a far better state than when we first met her!

Open Adventure C2C Race Film

Additional GoPro filming by yours truly!

Isklar Norseman 2013 - Blowing in the Wind

Open Adventure Coast to Coast Adventure Race

 The initial sea kayak stage from Whitehaven

In an unusually sensible decision for me I decided not to race the Open Adventure Coast to Coast race a few days before the CCC. I completed this four day adventure race in 2011 and was keen to compete again but thought I'd save the legs for the main event. However it did mean I was able to enjoy the atmosphere and buzz of the race as a supporter shuttling equipment, feeding my competitor, filming and generally drinking coffee in the sun.

The race began in a millpond like Whitehaven harbour with a sea kayak stage around to St Bees. As the flotilla swept around the headland they were met by choppy seas and things became a bit more exciting. A couple of competitors had to be rescued and ferried to the beach while the leading team capsized within sight of the finish and had an eventful swim and clamber through the rocks with their kayak to reach transition.

Day one is the most demanding for competitors and support crews alike. As the racers headed off on their bikes the boats were transported to Crummock Water. The next stage was a paddle in to a headwind along the length of the lake, an interesting and energy sapping unsupported portage and back into the boats to paddle to the far end of Buttermere. Finally the race took to the hills for a run over Robinson, Maiden Moor and Catbells. With the finish in Keswick in sight there's a final sting in the tail with a 600m swim across Derwent Water. After the days efforts the cold water triggered leg cramps in even the hardiest of competitors and the rescue kayaks were kept busy providing a floating stretching service. As the racers hobbled from the water they faced a short run in to the centre of Keswick and the finish outside the iconic Moot Hall.

Day 2 began in the half light of a misty morning with a short but sharp climb on the bikes up out of Keswick to Thirlmere Dam. The midges were out and hastened competitors through transition and into their kayaks for the paddle up Thirlmere. A muddy portage, change the shoes and away up the side of Helvellyn heading for the summit in the cloud. Navigation was certainly an issue for some of the competitors this year and there were a few variations on the normal descent via Swirral Edge and Hole in the Wall. The final paddling stage was from Patterdale to Pooley Bridge along the length of Ullswater.Conditions were improving fast but all the racers made it safely past the ice creams and on to the bikes for a mainly on road blast to Kirkby Stephen. Within a few miles of the finish an unsecured map restricted a competitors view at high speed and she found herself sliding along the road minus her bike. Missing several layers of skin but made of tough stuff she was able to finish the day and with a bit of good work by the medical team was able to complete the four days.
Low cloud gave a challenging start to day 3 with a boggy run over Nine Standards with even some of the most experienced competitors struggling with the navigation. Meanwhile the local farmer was doing a roaring trade in teas and coffees at transition as the support crews relaxed after an early start! The rest of the day would be spent on the bikes initially offroad on some great mountain biking over the moors to Castle Bolton and then following minor roads to Northallerton. Unfortunately another highspeed bike crash caused one of the leading teams to retire from the competition although the two remaining members did complete the course - in a particularly fast time.
The final day was spectacular as the early morning cloud inversion burned off to give a hot and dry day. The first racers were on their way at 4.30am making their way through the gloom on a short road bike to Swainton. The early start was worth it though as they climbed out of the cloud for a stunning sunrise as they ran over Carlton Bank on the Cleveland Way. A long biking stage then followed. Less technical than yesterday but mainly off road as far as Gainsley and then back on to the minor roads as far as Whitby. In a major route change from 2011 the final leg to the finish at Robin Hoods Bay was a run along the cliff top path dodging the bank holiday tourists. The staggered start times meant that the majority of the competitors finished within a short space of time of each other and there was a real party atmosphere on the terrace above the sea where the finish gantry was located. A top event with some very close racing. There were clear winners in each category but further down the field sometimes only seconds separated the racers after four days of racing. Race reports can be found at here and results here.

The field heads for St Bees and some rough conditions!

 Stunning early morning on the Cleveland Way

Fast mountain biking on the fourth and final day of racing

A windy Celtman Extreme Triathlon

Beinn Eighe - the day before the Celtman!

Celtman 2013 was all about the wind. You know you're in for a tough day when you're reduced to using the granny ring on your bike to keep moving forward on the flat! On the plus side the Torrdion midges were kept at bay!

The alarm went off at 2am and in the half light we made our way down to the village of Sheildaig nestled on the shores of Loch Torridon. Bikes racked and final preparations made we boarded the coaches to take us the short distance around the bay to Inverbain. Water temperatures were reportedly a chilly 11oC and a gusting wind was driving down from Glen Shieldaig. We were led to the waters edge by the traditional piper and in front of the flaming Celtman logo the race got underway. The swim route rounded Eilean an Inbhire Bhain before a long and exposed stretch to Shieldaig Island and the final few hundred meters to the village.

I struggled to adapt my stroke and breathing to the choppy conditions swallowing a lot of salt water in the process with  predictable results. Luckily there were very few folk behind me by this stage! The wind increased in ferocity during the second hour and many of the slower swimmers were pushed a long way east struggling to make ground back towards the old slipway at Sheildiag. As the sea floor came into view in the last 100m it was dishearteningly obvious I was only inching forward as squalls ripped water off the surface peppering my back with spray. I'd estimated the 3000m swim would take me around 1:25 but eventually exited in 2:06. A number of competitors did have to retire from the swim, mainly due to the cold, so I was very pleased to have got my kit right and was comfortable throughout. It was the usual fun trying to stand up in the shallows but once my cold fingers had managed to pull my ear plugs out my balance quickly came back as I clambered across the rocks to my bike. 

A quick transition and I was away for the 202km cycle. There was a surprising amount of sunshine around in the morning and there's a few competitors sporting a Scottish glow today! However the gusting wind always seemed to be working against me. After a couple of close calls with ditches I came off the tri bars and resigned myself to a long battle.  My pace was still pretty good and I managed to overtake my support without them noticing. Que some frantic driving and searching until they got back to me.

Annoyingly I'd failed to get my nutrition right for this race but my support driver / runner Carrie worked her magic and managed to source a bacon sarnie and a milkshake in the wilds of Scotland just when I was at my lowest ebb! Replenished I got my head down and started to pick off a few riders ahead of me.The rain arrived with an hour to go and just as we turned westward to face the full brunt of the weather.It was at this point I was reduced to grinding along in my lowest gears to try and keep any forward momentum. 

I eventually arrived at a very soggy and bedraggled marshal manning T2. I was outside the 11 hour cut off time by 36 minutes so had to retire. The body and mind were still fine and I felt like I had plenty of running in my legs but I just hadn't dealt with the conditions well enough. In reflection it's my usual problem of bucket loads of endurance but not nearly enough base line speed over the ground.

There were some incredible world class performances at the head of the field especially the 11 competitors who headed up over the mountains of Beinn Eighe before the route was modified due to dangerous conditions. As a general rule I usually race at around 150% of the winners time but the lead swimmers were out of the water in under 50 minutes, more than twice as fast as me (251%). My bike leg was more normal posting 9:21 as opposed to the quickest time of 6:07 (153%). All in all a stunning event and I'll be back in the future to try and get that blue t-shirt!

Climbing into my wetsuit in the half light 

 Fires burning on the Celtman swim exit

Exiting the water after a very slow swim

 

 A brilliant bike course with only a few long hills

 

Fighting the strong headwinds 

 Head down in the granny ring on the flat!