[Event] Freedom Challenge 2014

[tubed]

Imagine what the gate will look like after 50 or a 100 people have climbed over it.

 

Welcome - thanks for your contribution.

[cat-i]

glen out; quad injury

[tubed]

The big news is the withdrawal of Glenn with a thigh injury at Willowmore.

 

So that's Glenn, Tim and Chris as contenders out, with Hanno (trying to locate him) and Marnitz still in, but unless Graham collapses, he should be first.

 

I must take my hat off to Graham - besides being consistent, he seems so strong and determined, with a very solid strategy.

 

Will try and update a leaderboard a bit later this morn.

[tubed]

Graham Bird: I wont add to what he posted on FB on June 16, here are his thoughts and his steed - seems he deserves to savour the last couple of days. Huge respect.

 

 

Graham Bird wrote:

 

"You can checkout anytime you like, but you can never leave."

 

Sport in general has been a major part of my life and more particularly Adventure Racing / Non Stop endurance / extreme sport for the past decade. I have enjoyed pushing my body and more importantly my mind to the absolute limits. I have thrived on what I have taken from these events. My mental strength and focus in dealing with everyday issues and life in general comes from what I learn about myself in doing these events and spending time outdoors training and preparing for them. It is what has driven me. It is my soul food.

 

Whenever I have competed in these extreme events, I have left with my mind and soul refreshed and ready to tackle life’s challenges. Just over two weeks ago, I completed the 570km Expedition Africa in just over 4 and half days. It was beautiful and a true test physically and mentally. Finishing the race, I did not have the rush of emotion and sense of accomplishment that I usually get when completing an event of this nature. I finished without gaining insights into myself or my soul. This scared me.

 

Have I lost the passion? Does it not make me happy anymore? Have I lost my drive for it? Have I got all I can from this and time to move on?

 

I am entered for the 2300km Freedom Challenge and my start batch departs tomorrow. It is a non-stop 2250km MTB race across South Africa from Pietermaritzburg to Wellington, just outside Cape Town. It is extreme. Though you stop at support stations roughly every 100km where you can get food and a warm bed to sleep if you chose. It is a race about getting to Wellington as fast as you can or as slow as you want, within the 26 day cut off. Current record sits at 10 and half days. It is about riding everyday come sun or rain, day or night, hot or cold. I have done two already. One in 19 and half days and one in 13 and half days.

 

I been in turmoil over the past few weeks about actually doing it or whether to withdraw. Sitting in front of a warm fire watching the howling wind and pouring rain outside yesterday, I had serious debates going on in my head as to whether I really wanted to go and push my mind and body to the limits in whatever weather that will be put in my way (there will be a cold front or two that I will need to pass through!).

 

I am just scared as to what my mind will get up to in those deep dark lonely places out there on the track! This is not just a two-three day event that you vasbyt and get home in a couple of days. This is two-three weeks!

 

A friend wrote to me two nights ago: "Tweetles, if your hearts not in it......... We only do it cause we love it and if that's taking a dip then perhaps respect it.... Change is good. Learn new things about life and ourselves by embracing change and new experiences. Don't want you to start, not love it and then if it gets tough put yourself in an unfair situation.... Basically, Do **** that makes you happy....."

 

And someone close to me wrote yesterday: "One never stops being a certain type of person. Extreme sport and the need or desire to push oneself beyond oneself will always be a part of you if that is who you are. Sometimes we need to change focus...but that doesn't change the type of person you are or what ultimately makes you tick."

 

Finally this morning I got this message: "Do what you want in your heart".

 

All very good pieces of advice and all helped me finally decide this morning that I must line up tomorrow and do Freedom. This is what makes me tick. This is what I love. This is what is in my heart. This is my soul food. My head will sort itself out.......it has 2250km and 10-14 days to do it!

 

So either freedom will pull me right or it will make me completely hate extreme sport and drive me away for along time or forever.

 

So my backpack is packed and my Giant steed are ready.

 

"We all just prisoners here of our own device."

 

FREEDOM!

[tubed]

Rider locations as of this morning.

[tubed]

33 started RASA, 13 withdrawn.

 

Could we describe the conditions this year as benign?

I don't think a drop of rain has fallen. There has been no mud or snow. (*images Eugene Nel)

 

The wind has definitely been a factor.

 

Luck certainly plays a major role.

[Shebeen]

Ja, not sure why but it seems to have maybe been a bit colder - appears to have been lots more chest infection type withdrawals.

 

Definitely been quite windy in places, first in the matat region and now the prince albert stretch. tweet did 160km against a 40km/h headwind yesterday, and called it his toughest ever day on a bike!

 

Mud? mud played a big role in slowing down martin's 2012 record year in the stormberg section.

In my 2008 year we had no snow, but got klapped by big rain in the beginning and end. Made some chocolate mousse out of the roads on days 2-3. Not ideal conditions to take a bike on km 100 of a 2300km ride.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_58Xv77IO9-k/SHdjd6oe8RI/AAAAAAAAABk/kyp_4rB6rJ4/s1600/IMG_1608+(Large).JPG

[cat-i]

Rider locations as of this morning.

 

Tubed, any idea why Tracey withdrew?

[tubed]

Ja, not sure why but it seems to have maybe been a bit colder - appears to have been lots more chest infection type withdrawals.

 

Definitely been quite windy in places, first in the matat region and now the prince albert stretch. tweet did 160km against a 40km/h headwind yesterday, and called it his toughest ever day on a bike!

 

Mud? mud played a big role in slowing down martin's 2012 record year in the stormberg section.

In my 2008 year we had no snow, but got klapped by big rain in the beginning and end. Made some chocolate mousse out of the roads on days 2-3. Not ideal conditions to take a bike on km 100 of a 2300km ride.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_58Xv77IO9-k/SHdjd6oe8RI/AAAAAAAAABk/kyp_4rB6rJ4/s1600/IMG_1608+(Large).JPG

now that's mud!

[tubed]

Tubed, any idea why Tracey withdrew?

 

Hi, I am afraid I don't, having been there myself I know its quite emotional and sometimes personal, so if they volunteer the reason then fine or else we leave it there.

 

I will say this of Tracey, I saw her faltering around day 2/3 and I though oh no!, but boy did she get it together and rode strongly after that, the tough part is when the field leaves you behind and you are the last one on the trail, then its a mind game and not just physical.

 

If there are any novices reading this for next year I would strongly suggest you try and get put into one of the earliest groups ( I think the race office does this anyway), it will give you the best chance of finding riding buddies as you go.

 

Back to Tracey - lots of respect for her effort.

[dirtrider]

So Buks and Allen will sleepover at Trouthaven ? Looking at the race narratives the last bit to Diemersfontein looks like a real thriller ?

[Shebeen]

So Buks and Allen will sleepover at Trouthaven ? Looking at the race narratives the last bit to Diemersfontein looks like a real thriller ?

Yup, they should finish tomorrow. sting in the tail of note. The kloof who's name we don't talk of.

 

there was a fire about two years ago that, cleaned things up a bit. but it's growing back i'm told.

kicked my ass.

[tubed]

Its been a quiet day on the FC with maybe a bit of a somber mood with Glenn's withdrawal and the sting being taken out of the race. The riders are also riding long stretches now and few will not be doing double days, skipping out the likes of Hel, Anysberg and perhaps Good Hope Support Stations as they are drawn to an earlier finish.

 

Seems like Graham was in a reflective mood this morn as he has posted a pic from the sunrise in the Hel this morn, see below and see the earlier post on some of his reasons for doing the race - he has every reason to savour his last couple of days.

 

Reports seem to suggest that Marnitz emerged from the Leer earlier and started his way down to the top of the Bosluiskloof Pass where he will be back on district roads to Rouxpos, Graham wont be far behind him and the fact that this pic has emerged on twitter suggests he is also out of the Hel and back in sms reception.

No sign yet of Jill and Liehaan.

 

Its a very beautiful ride down to Rouxpos with the Seweweekspoort Mountains (the highest peak in the WC) on your left.

 

Elsewhere the 2 big groups of riders will be arriving at Prince Albert and Willowmore after long days riding, both have excellent 'recovery' facilities with great food. Its seems they have been spared the demented wind of the past couple of days.

 

Hope Stu and Hanno make it out of the Kloof today and then it should be plain sailing.

 

Bugs and Allen will be enjoying their last night on the trail at Trouthaven - no doubt raiding boxes and then chucking the stuff right back as nobody wants to carry any excess up that Kloof. (Weird psychology that goes on in box raiding - has to be seen to be believed - plunder psychosis takes over and even the wealthiest most intellectual riders are reduced to moments of barbarism)

 

All good on the Freedom Trail today - no drama.

[tubed]

First home, Bugs du Toit and Allen Liversage, they put their heads down and nobody was able to catch them - fantastic achievement for novices. Now they are proud blanket wearers and friends for life.

 

(Nice to finally get a pic of them)

Edited June 28, 2014 by tubed

[dirtrider]

First home, Bugs du Toit and Allen Liversage, they put their heads down and nobody was able to catch them - fantastic achievement for novices. Now they are proud blanket wearers and friends for life.

 

(Nice to finally get a pic of them)

 

Awesome , well done

[cat-i]

Any news on Tweet?