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. 74