Polo & More, Singapore 2017 Polo & More, Singapore 2017 | Page 74
The competitors at the start
of the marathon
Bobby Melville getting a post
race rub-down
Bobby Melville and myself waiting for competitors
to arrive back in camp at the end of day 3
“It isn’t about winning, it’s the wilderness, the friends and
the experience that will be with you for the rest of your lives.”
– Adventurer and IGO Partner George Bullard –
Bobby “I wanted to bottle the adrenaline and emotions I felt upon seeing
Antigua after 2 months of rowing, I wanted to give that adventure euphoria
to people who only have a week to spare”…. Therein was the birth of
IGO, its DNA is all about challenge, wilderness and camaraderie. The
challenges usually consist of a series of multi-discipline activities suitable
to the terrain of each adventure, the participants cover the spectrum from
the absolute novice, to people like me with some adventure experience
to accomplished athletes, be they marathon runners, cyclists, triathletes,
climbers et al looking for a demanding training weekend in an ‘exotic’
location; IGO has something for everyone. This inaugural event, was a
four-day expedition covering Norway’s infamous Hardangervidda Plateau.
The route followed mountain passes, crossed frozen lakes, and travelled
through the undulating hills of this spectacular region, nights were equally
as adventurous spent under canvas in Norwegian Lavvu tents.
Better known as a Quadrathlon, for N60 the challenges, run on
consecutive days, were ski touring (Day 1), fat-biking (Day 2), cross country
skiing (Day 3), and just for good measure to finish a full 26mile marathon
(Day 4). If that wasn’t enough on Day 2 in the afternoon there was also the
optional dog sledding. As this was a last-minute decision on my part and
with limited or no experience, lest training in the other disciplines, I opted
to participate in the marathon, as at the time I was already in training for the
London Triathlon in August that year. Having always been fascinated by the
Iditarod, an annual professional dog sledding race that takes you 1,850km’s
from Settler’s Bay to Nome In Alaska’s wilderness, the dog sledding (though
only about 150km) as well was a must, and as it turned out it appeared as
though I was an absolute natural at it.
By the time I arrived, 3 days late due to some last minute commitments,
the rest of the participants had already had some days to acclimatize to the
weather and the tasks ahead, the comforts of the 5 star Skarsnuten Hotel
in Helmsedal, “where good food and drink is an important part of the
experience” were most certainly welcomed prior to the race start . Once
the event got underway, creature comforts would be off-limit s for the next
4 days, the only luxuries would be the attentions of the physio/massage
therapist and expedition medics who spent each night providing relief for
injuries sustained that day and preparing contestants for the next day’s
challenge. If you came here expecting gourmet food and 600 thread count
Egyptian cotton sheets, you were certainly in the wrong place.. Our food
was freeze dried, with everyone allocated their rations at the start of the race
along with a peculiar looking eating utensil called a “spork”, a combination
of a spoon and a fork, which we were warned not to lose as they were limited
in number, needless to say, I lost mine on Day 1!!!! Showers consisted of a
daily wet-wipe or two and nights would be spent sleeping in traditional
Lavuu tents on cots covered with reindeer skins, along with the -30 degree
rated sleeping bag which we had been advised to bring as part of our kit. The
roaring wood burning fire in the centre of the Lavuu which usually was too
hot when you first got into bed, was typically stone cold by 2am as no-one
managed to be awake in the middle of the night to stoke its embers.
Even though I was only participating in the marathon which was on
the last day, I travelled the route with the other participants along with
the support crew helping to move the camp every day. I was impressed
with the fortitude of the participants, whether they came in first or last, for
most people this was their own private race. Many sustained minor injuries
and kept going, some like the ski-adventure writer Abi Butcher had a torn
hip flexor by day 3 and still participated in the marathon on the final day
with a decent time. The camaraderie was evident as competitors put aside
aspirations of personal best’s and supported each other along the way; as
aching bodies, and at times lagging spirits slowed the pace, together they
focused on ensuring that each other made it across the finish line. The IGO
spirit was alive and well, by marathon day, people that had started out the
week as strangers were now almost like family.
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