Team Wombat's Race report on the Maximum Adventure Race
Blue Mountains - Sunday 14th January ’07
Rob & Richard

Richard & I hail from Forster & I twisted the arm of this seven times Ironman finisher to get involved in the bush for a change.

Pre race there is a relaxed but busy atmosphere as we all prepare – water, first aid kits, gels…. last minute changes, bikes into compound and registration to get the first of several handouts and instructions for what is to come. The initial map does not give much away in that it only shows a few local streets with our first five checkpoints listed. Following a short briefing we are off, teams running in several directions to quickly clip these initial easy controls and get back to the start for the next set of instructions.

On returning the 100 teams are split into two groups – the first fifty to return getting kayaks and heading into the Nepean River with the rest of us set to run a couple of k’s along a somewhat overgrown riverbank. This was our first surprise – the quality of this run leg was great – not just an easy plod along a well manicured walkway but an enjoyable rough bush track.

The run finished, we change into the kayaks and paddle nearly three k’s into the Nepean Gorge. Beautiful scenery and bellbirds constantly chirping, all so close to Sydney – for us boys from the bush we are truly amazed. Transition time again and we have ahead around seven k’s of running although it’s a slow start climbing up from the river to Euroka. The checkpoints are getting a bit tougher to find now and distractions such as Kangaroos and other National Park visitors are starting to impact on some of the teams around us. A fair bit of up and down is followed by a quick dip in the Jellybean Pool to get a deviously placed checkpoint on the far bank. One last climb up to the Ranger’s Station and then back down into Glenbrook Gorge for a rock hop of about 2 kilometres back to the river. Again we are impressed by the scenery and what we suspected would be an easy walk in the park is starting to take its toll with everyone slowing down due to both the terrain and the heat.

Eventually we reach the river and are pleased to be back on the water and heading for the transition to mountain bikes. The waves from passing ski boats cause amusement amongst the group we are paddling with and even in such stable craft, one team almost goes over. The haul up the riverbank with the kayak is a steep struggle and the tired bodies certainly appreciated the ice cold Red Bull’s being distributed in transition.

Thoughts are now eighteen k’s to go, only half a dozen checkpoints to get and as we are on bikes this next section should be a tad easier. Wrong. We get over the initial off road steep climb to the railway station, crossover, take a few roads to the Motorway underpass and head up to a manned checkpoint. Just when you think you have it nailed, out comes a separate mountain bike orienteering map, another twelve checkpoints, oh, and just bring that back here and we’ll tell you what’s next! The thing I really like about volunteers is they have no concept of how you feel, what you’ve been through, and what they have just done to you mentally. Their ability to keep smiling and relay the same message to team after team of tired bodies really has to be admired – and appreciated.

So again we head off and the entry into this area really is the track from hell. Not much chance of riding this one – a steep, rough, unending, uphill climb that breaks more than a few spirits as we ascend. Finally at the top, we can attempt to lower the heart rate and recover as we set about locating these next twelve apostles. The further we go, the better it gets. There is some great terrain (and views) in this area and plenty of singletrack to revel in. A few technical sections require a bit of concentration but what fun - the energy levels have surged as we enjoy flitting between checkpoints and reducing the list.

Finally, back to the smiling volunteers, a gear check just to make sure we were medically equipped and directions to the one last elusive checkpoint. The ride back was a bit of an anti climax after the area we had just been in but the downhill from the railway was an enjoyable blast to finish on.

We had a great day out, good organisation and supporting volunteers with the highlight being the quality of the course.

Rob