Less than one week till race time

I have spent the last four months preparing for my first 12 hour adventure race and race day is just around the corner.

We’ve recently had a teammate change because one of our team members a few weeks ago, dislocated his knee and we have had to find a replacement for him. Luckily I found someone willing to join us on short notice.

I have been running, biking, canoeing, learning to use map and compass and other outdoor skills this summer. I have never been so aerobically fit before in my life. It is nothing for me to now go for a multiple hour bike or run and not feel like I’m going to die.

With the race being only a week away I have concerns about whether we are prepared for this endeavour. I’m not worried about our physical condition, I’m sure we will survive and finish within the 12 hours. It is more the little things that are hard to practice

For your first race it is hard to prepare for things such as, what am I going feel like eating at hour 8 or do I have to much or not enough gear, how will my route planning be when I’m exhausted or when it is dark. Also this is a team sport and although I’ve trained with and know my teammates well, it is hard to say what our team dynamics will be like when we come across a ‘bump in the road’.

I’m sure no matter what happens, finish or not, we will have fun. I don’t think even the rain and a daytime high temp of +11C (the forecast for Saturday) will slow us down!