Substituted into this AR event seven days before it took place, I joined Lisa (Ms AR SA & definitely not a novice!) and my fellow novice racers Motlatsi and Nadia …. and seven hours and ten minutes after we had started in cool Cullinan conditions, we finished our first AR race in the hottest Highveld heat and finished 15th out of 120-odd teams!
120+ teams, 50km of bushveld wilderness, 38 degrees sunshine and a shimmering pond at the finish set the scene for an incredible day of racing. Both experienced and novice racers lined up at the start with equal amounts of enthusiasm and anticipation.
Full results from Diamond Dash, held Saturday 20 February 2010 in the Cullinan area are now available. The race was won by the Team Cyanosis pair of Nicholas Mulder and Ryno Griesel. They were followed very closely by Team Red Ants of Nicky Booyens, Brian Gardner and Ryan Hodierne.
After 27 months out of adventure racing in South Africa, Team Red Ants returned on Saturday, 20th February at the Diamond Dash AR near Cullinan, with Ryan Hodierne, Nicky Booyens and Brian Gardner making up the mixed team. Team Red Ants took a self-imposed sabbatical from racing since the end of 2007.
On the weekend of 22-24 January, Team Cyanosis’ Ryno Griesel and Nicholas Mulder made their first attempt to break the record of the Drakensberg Grand Traverse. Weather conditions were tough, but it was finally the high altitude that was their undoing, halting our attempt after 25 hours, 38 minutes at the 89km mark of the Grand Traverse.
We entered two teams for the Bonamanzi AR. Our fastest three and slowest three. Roossenekal is mountainous. It sits right on top of a ridge of mountains, but just to the west is a big open plain running between two moutainous ranges. When we heard we would be racing in Roossenekal I expected lots and lots of mountains.
To grasp all the experiences we had during the Eden race in a few pages will be demeaning. Once again, I fully understand the reason why we do Adventure Racing – it is not only the extreme adventures which we undergo, but the feeling of being a champion!
The story of the Merrell Eden Duo is one that illustrates the restless heart of the adventurer… always wandering deeper into new territory, beyond the known, testing skill and leaving comfort zones. We think, live and perform outside. The athletic prowess, basic survival instincts and a passion for the outdoors all get mixed up.
Many people can honestly say they enjoy the following: Endless moonlit walks on the beach; Lush forested river valleys; Views to the sea from miles away on top of a mountain range; Historic mountain passes; Swimming in the cool waters of natural rivers; Losing yourself amid the smells and sights of the fynbos, plantations and forests…
This race started at the outskirts of the city and after a quick view at Google maps we realized that it will take us more on gravel roads than the previous race. Our game plan was clear, and we decided beforehand to do the long run first, thereafter the long bike and lastly our weak point: Navigation!
