I have waited an entire year for this race, and what a year it has been!
5 out of 5 individual Adventure racing victories, 2 team victories and one second. Not to mention my trip to China in November for the Adventure reality TV series "The Crunch", where I was successful in falling very ill and remaining very ill until February this year.
Character building . . . apparently! Enough history let's get on with what's happening at present.
I will be teaming up with Hugh Stodart, one of my regular team mates and training partners on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Hugh joined me in a very close Geoquest in 2007, where we were pipped for 1st place after 30 hours of intense racing. Hugh was crowned the Australian 24 hour solo Adventure Racing Champion in September 2007, and is also itching to race.
Only having resumed training a little over 6 weeks ago, I must admit to being a little nervous about my current physical condition. Hugh is an extremely talented adventure racer, and is well known for his determination and ability to push himself beyond his limits. Never the less we are entered and very excited about racing amongst some of the most successful adventure racers in the world. My training has been going well, and I am happy to say that I am in better condition than expected at this stage.
Current world champions Richard and Elina Ussher will be the red hot favourites, with OrionHealth.com mixed (3rd place World Champs 2007) consisting of Stuart Lynch and Anna Berthelson not far behind on the odds. Not to mention 2007 winners Atenah Merrell NZ (Ian Edmond and Nora Audra). There are also a number of Aussie mixed teams that will be looking for an opportunity to show their class. The question posed to Hugh and I is not how well favoured we are against these teams, but how far we are able to push them on the course during the 5 days of competition next week?! We are pumped and ready to race!
I will be updating this blog in the lead up to the race, which begins next Tuesday 8th April.
Please stay posted for race updates that I will be posting along the way.
1 comment:
Well done Christie I know it must have been terribly hard to miss that section and considering it was only 4hrs you missed your 4th on the last day is impressive. Well done to Hugh also and get well would you!!
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