Czech AR (august, 2014) – race report Wouter

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9 september 2014
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Wet, wet, wet! Racing the Czech AR!

Race report Czech AR 2014, Wouter-Dirk “Wodi” Huitzing, Team Dutch Adventure

For the first time in a long time I had a normal amount of sleep the night before an adventure race. Somehow most race directors seem to enjoy depriving racers of their sleep already before the race has started. This time we received our maps and briefing at 8pm on Wednesday, and the race wouldn’t start until 10am Thursday. So we would have enough time to mark our route, laminate the maps and get a great 8hours of sleep.

Thursday early morning we were woken up by rain dripping on our tents. After a short two kilometer bike ride we arrived at the start in the city of Jenseník. At exactly 10am the prolog started. Patrick and Lukas had to MTB 12km to get 3 checkpoints (CP’s), while Inga and I had a 12km trekking to get 4 CP’s. Just after starting the trekking teams divided into two groups, the first group was going for the CP’s in alphabetical order, while the other groups was tackling the CP’s the other way around. We went for the second option as I expected the rise in the terrain to be more easy that way (looking back I don’t think it really mattered). The first CP was easily located in a small forest. The second CP took us more time, as we were constantly checking the map although we were heading the right way the whole time. As we left the second CP we already met the two first teams from the other way around running downhill, so we knew we had to speed up the pace. The third CP again gave us no trouble and to get to our last CP we took some forest cut offs. But when we came back to civilization I had some trouble with the map. The Czech maps can be quite busy with all sort of colored paths and pictograms. This part was so full of this all, that I didn’t distinguish the buildings on the map (which are very clearly highlighted on Dutch maps). So we searched some time to pinpoint where we had to go. After locating the last CP it was a smooth run back to the start. Unfortunately upon arriving at the start we noticed that next to us there was just one other team left, this meant we had to go and make up for the first small mistakes and had some catching up to do.

We quickly left on the first biking stage, but after only one kilometer we already encountered the first 12% rise sign, which is quite impressive if you are from the Netherlands. To show that we were clearly impressed Lukas broke his bike chain, but it was quickly fixed. After finishing the climb it was a flat ride to CP 1, however it wasn’t there. We found the spring covered by a lot of ribbons. So we put one of our ribbons there as well. In Czech AR you get some ribbons with your team number noted down on it, which you can leave at the spot where you think the CP should be if it isn’t there. This was going to be an interesting race, being in the back of the pack, having some troubles with the busy Czech map and the first real CP already missing. Luckily CP 2, the caving section, was close by and the CP happened to really be there. At the cave we found several quartets of bikes, so we knew there were some teams just in front of us. With helmets and head torches we descended into the cave and soon met some teams coming up. Down, at the end of the cave CP 2 and a photographer were waiting for us in the dark. After punching our first CP we quickly climbed up again and went back to the biking. Through a quick transition from cave to bike we overtook the first team in front of s. After that it was back to the road and back to climbing. On our way to CP 3 we again made two mistakes and I was getting annoyed with myself, as these were unnecessary mistakes, however I was still adjusting to the types of maps. Just before CP 3 we had to push the bike uphill, and also mostly push the bike down the other side, as most of the path had been destroyed by woodcutting machines and the rest of the path turned had into a small stream. CP 3 was just beyond the stream, and from that point we could bike down hill again. So as everything was turning for the better, the weather gods decided to throw in some thunder and rain. Soaking wet we came to CP4 which was also the start of the MTB single track. For this area we had received a special 1: 25.000 scale map, which was more detailed. CP 5 was a long way uphill and after that we even had to go more uphill to get to CP 7 (at CP 4 we were informed that CP6 had been taken out of the race). Just before CP7 we could finally start with some good downhill single track. CP’s 7 and 8 where swiftly found during the downhill, the first three team members actually missed CP 7 as they had to much fun going down. Unfortunately, after CP 8 we had to get back up again to find CP 9 at the highest point of the single track. Following CP 9 was a delight of riding/ flowing downhill over the superb downhill track. Every couple of kilometers we had to stop to get CP’s but it was a great ride with nice curves and turns. With a big smile we arrived at CP 15, which had also been CP 4, where we were to leave our bikes and get on with the first trekking.

During the single tracks I had developed a headache, therefore I handed the navigation over to Patrick. Starting the trek around 18.00 we knew we had just a few hours of sunlight to go and with the knowledge that we had at least 5 twenty meters swims to look forward to, we set of at a jogging pace. The first CP was at a ruin on a small hill quite close to the start of the single track, so we knew where to go and easily found it. After this CP we came to unknown territory but Patrick didn’t need any paths as he was leading us straight through the bushes to the next two CP’s. At the third CP of the trek we were introduced to the notorious Bols Cross. As we weren’t sure what the night would bring we dressed down to our underwear to face the Cross. In our underwear, with climbing equipment and helmet we looked quite funny. With fading daylight we needed 45 min to climb onto and over trees, rocks, walls, spree fields and as a bonus three query swims. Some of the rope descends past slippery rock were a little sketchy, but we all survived. To get warm and dry and to make the most of the last rays of sunlight we left the Bols Cross at a run to go to the first query CP. At the query we once again dressed down to our underwear and we went for a 20 meter swim to the CP at the other side. We somehow hoped we could get the CP without getting wet, but the CP was placed below a vertical wall. The following 4 CP’s would all be in similar circumstances, except that it was getting darker and colder every hour. We were happy to discover a heap of ribbons at the third query, which meant that we could put our ribbon there as well and have one less query to swim. After the last swim we made sure we all were dry and warm so we could go for the last CP and head back to the bikes. We started the trekking around 18.00 and we finished near 23.00, this meant we would be having our first long bike ride throughout the first night. Patrick had navigated us perfectly through the trekking and now it was once again up to me to navigate us through the night. The section started with a 5 km single track, which was great fun to ride by night. We found the two CP’s without any problems and left the single track for a long ride on the asphalt. I had finally gotten familiar with the Czech maps during the last bike ride and it was a soft night, therefore the navigation went very smooth and we just had to concern ourselves with staying awake and making the most speed as possible. Lukas had a hard time staying awake so we had to motivate him. During the biking section we over took several teams, which were taking it easy at a CP, were sleeping in a forest, went the other way or just weren’t as fast as us. Things were looking better and better and we knew we were going up in the ranking. After several CP’s and several hours it started to get light again and we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise. Unfortunately we had all misjudged the time the first stages would take and towards CP 31 we were all running very low on food. Luckily after CP 31 the roads became easier again and it was only 12 km to transition area 1 (TA 1).

Around 09.00 we rolled into the TA 1 (which was also our campsite). Before entering the TA we discussed our goal to try to leave in 25 minutes. Upon entering the TA we quickly changed to trekking and resupplied our food and drinks. At the same time we tried to get as much food and drink down as possible before we had to head out again. After little more than 30 minutes we were ready to leave. As we left the TA we were informed that we were in 7th position and that there we three teams closely in front of us. Straight after starting the trekking it was once again uphill for us Dutchies. Through some forest cut offs we found our first CP and were to move on to the cancelled CP 34. Although it was cancelled we still planned to cross it as it looked the fastest way to CP 35. As CP 34 was cancelled it also meant we didn’t have to do a 7km uphill inline skating section. Although the tarmac looked very good, we were happy that it was cancelled as there was a lot of traffic coming up and down. With a steady pace we walked the road until we came to a nice short cut through the woods. As we found CP 35 we once more saw the clouds packing together and getting dark. Our next point would be the climbing, and as we didn’t want to do the climbing in the rain, we started off at a run again. I handed over the navigation to Patrick so I would get some time of the map. Still dry we entered the climbing area. At the climbing area there we several teams still climbing, so we knew we were getting closer and making time on teams in front of us. Here we received our inline skates and were told that we could walk the next stage as long as we were bringing our skates with us. Once we put on our climbing gear it started to poor down on us. We didn’t want to do any penalty laps, hence we climbed everything in the rain. While we were climbing water streamed over the rocks, soaking the climber. However, it wasn’t much drier for the one belaying as water came in by the sleeves and neck as both arms and face had to be hold up for belaying. Every team member finished his or her two climbs and we could leave for the skating without having to run any penalty laps. As we were completely wet we had a very slow change to skating as team members wanted to change clothes and try to get warm again. Slowly we started to walk the skating section as the road looked more like a small stream. After a kilometer the rain stopped and we decided to start skating anyway, so we changed to the skates. But after only five minutes of skating the rain came back, once again weakening our spirit and speed. It was a though challenge to skate al the way uphill and speed and strength between the team members changed constantly. After just one kilometer of skating my Achilles tendons started to hurt bad, over the last three years I had a constant problem with this injury and it had never really recovered for the full 100%. After we found the first skate CP, the rain stopped once more and we had some hope to get ourselves and our clothes dry before the night and to get a dry second night. With the setting sun and an increasing slope we decided to change back to our shoes and walk the last bit up. Enjoying a great view at the top basin of Horní Nádrž we punched CP 38 and started a long descent over overgrown ski slopes down to the village of Kouty. In Kouty we were surprised by multiple tents with people and small fires at the parking place, but none seemed to be our CP. At a parking lot further down the river we found CP 39 and dropped off our skates. We took a couple of minutes to take care of our feet, and off we were again. We had just dropped down from 1300m, but the organization thought it funny, that to get to CP 40 we should again be crossing the 1300m. Near to midnight we once again went back uphill and it slowly started to rain again. At this point Lukas was very tired and after two kilometers of straight road, my eyes also started to fall shut. Our plan for the second night consisted of finding a place for a quick power nap, however due to the rain and the wind our only option was to keep walking or to find a shelter, as sleeping outside was no option. According to the descriptions CP 40 would be at a chalet, however after hours of walking at a slow pace in wet mud we arrived at the chalet to find in completely shut. Inga and Patrick were cold so they went for their foil blanket, which only made us stop for longer and let me get only colder. Lukas took the time to have short standing nap. As I urged the team on, a small comment developed in a small, irritated discussion due to us all being cold, wet and awake for a long time. A little annoyed we all started up again, setting a hard pace and getting warm again. Still the rain kept on coming. We decided to skip CP 41 as we started to run low on time. The rest of the night was hard on Lukas and me as both of us had a hard time keeping awake. Inga and Patrick made sure we weren’t left behind by connecting us all with two towing systems. According to Patrick, who closely watched the navigation, our pace wasn’t much faster than two km/u. At some point during the night the rain stopped, but I have no idea when that happened. At dawn we came to a small house with a shed, after asking the owners we were told we weren’t allowed to use the shed for a small nap, so we continued to CP 42. As dawn came in I started to wake up, however Lukas still had a hard time. When Lukas was asked to look out for CP 42 at a shed, he replied he saw 5 different sheds, unfortunate for him they were al sleepmonsters. Not much later we found the real shed and we could punch CP 42. Through some miscommunication and as we only had around 9 hours to complete the race we didn’t nap at the shed but moved on downhill to the TA 2, again at the campsite. It was almost the whole time downhill, however we couldn’t make a really good time as both shins and knees of Lukas started to hurt. Within a kilometer of TA 2 we encountered the race leaders Salomon-Suunto as they had just started the last trekking. With just 7,5 hours to go, even for them it was going to be though to finish full course.

With a slow jogging pace we entered the campsite and had a 25 minutes transition to the bike. I took a look at my left Achilles tendon and had a nasty surprise to find that most of my left foot was badly swollen. After my inspection my Achilles tendon felt even worse and I had pain every time when I jumped onto my bike. Until now we had skipped only CP 41, but we knew that as we wanted to finish on time we had to go and skip CP’s from now on. Again on the bike we left the TA at a good speed. CP 44 looked to be close, however as we aren’t that much used to look and read (we are from a very flat country) contours we had a nasty surprise as we hit a step wall. We mostly pushed the bike uphill. After CP 44 we decided to head to CP 48 and skipping everything in between, increasing the total skipped CP’s to four. To get to CP 48, we had to pass by CP 49, but we would punch that one on the way back . It was a nice ride and we were finally able to enjoy the sunshine. Although we didn’t have our fastest pace anymore we made good time to get to CP 48 and spend no time there, but we went straight back to CP 49. Again Lukas had a hard time, so Patrick and I towed him back uphill, while Inga was showing of her strength on the MTB as she was racing in front of us. The only part of CP 49 which we hadn’t done before was a nasty uphill MTB pushing. Except for the slow pace uphill everything went fine and the CP was easily found at the top ruin. As time was running out we decided to head back to the TA and try to get at least one more CP from the last trekking. With little less than two hours left we came back to the campsite, which now was TA 3. We dropped our bikes, helmets and all non-mandatory gear and left for the last stage. As time was running out it had become clear to us that we could only go for the last CP, CP 57. We left TA 3 over the same paths we had used before with the earlier trekking. During the rapid transition we forgot to bring the CP descriptions, so we weren’t sure what to look for, however as the CP is at the top of a hill, we expect that to be the clue as well.

Just a kilometer before the CP we have to leave the known path. We meat another team and checked if we indeed had the right clue, they say we did. A little too early we left the path to search for the CP, and off course we couldn’t find it. We moved through the bushes in search of the hill. After we encountered a hill, we couldn’t find any sign of the CP, but we saw another team running towards the next hill, we also decided to go there. A team coming down informs us that the CP is indeed on top of the hill, but they are not sure if the map is accurate. I also had a feeling something is wrong with the CP, but I couldn’t pinpoint it. However, we found the CP and the only thing left to us is heading down to the campsite to get the best possible time. With the compass we move through the forest and soon see the known path again. Some unnecessary miscommunication leads to some irritation and Inga takes of in front of the team. After some minutes the team walks together again and we move as fast as possible towards the finish. With half hour left we finish to receive a bottle of bubbles to celebrate our race!

That evening at the price giving we hear that we came in at 6th place, a result with which we are very satisfied.

That evening we participate in the “last stage”, the beer relay. However, as all the other teams have finished their beers our second member is still drinking. After one round we had enough and make sure we leave before the next round begins.

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MTB stage 1