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Rat race coast to coast 2014
Hi guys, I'm doing the one day category and been reading everyone's threads and comments on here. Picked up some useful hints and tips.
I've never done anything like this before so having to buy and accumulate all the different stuff ie. bike, bag, shoes ect ect. I was just wondering what everyone's choice of waterproofs/ windproof garments where???
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I bought the decent stuff but as long as you have a main waterproof layer for your core & other light layers/cap/hat/gloves for warmth depending on forecast, you should be fine. Not too cold in Sept & as long as you keep moving this will work.
That will be the motto "keep moving, keep warm"
I took a single trekking pole last year, I could off sold it on the final section for hundreds. Lol
Its hilly on a lot of track. I ran the flats and downs, but marched up the hills. I found doing this I did not get over taken once and allowed a steady pace. You could run it all if you had the life left in you. The last hill is steep and comes down a wet grass verge which can be a bit precarious. Once the run is done, most I saw got cramp sitting on the kayak, this was best avoided by sitting cross legged - surprisingly works well.
The rest of it isn't too bad. Paths and a bit of road so you could run all but the worst bits. But I was knackered by then.
Feel quite nervous now, wishing I'd done more brick-type sessions
The first run is only 10k so I'd prob do that in bike shorts.
At fort William if transition is the same as it's been - there are facilities. You'd not need to change in a portaloo.
How did everyone do?
was the weather kind for you.I imagine the views would be wonderful on a nice day
Hey guys sorry it's taken so long to write up my thoughts on the event. Just not enough hours in the day.
Well what can I say........it was bloody ePiC!!!
The weather fell great for us on the day, a bit misty first thing but soon cleared, 1st run was decent although with it being single track it was hard to overtake people. The 1st bike ride was good also, a nice hill to start sucking the air into the lungs near the end but the 4 mile or so down hill in to Fort Augustus soon made you forget all about it. 1st kayak wasn't much to talk about.
The 2nd bike stage was decent especially when we got into the forrest. Not to technical but enough to keep you switched on although I got a puncture & my chain jammed on this section, the hybrid bike took a bit of a beating!! Then the 2nd run 14mi through some breathtaking scenery. We stuck to walking the inclines and running everything else and it paid off. About 8 miles or so from the finish I was thinking the run wasn't to bad until the marshal pointed to the last climb. (wasn't expecting that!!!) The quads started to feel the decent and had a little twitch of cramp in the hip flexor but a little side ways running for a while took it away. So it was just the last kayaking section left, a lovely paddle over calm water to the finish. I was lucky the cramp never came back but couldn't say the same for my team mate. Anyone watching him must of thought he was breakdancing in the back. (Or it sounded & felt that way to me!!) a short run to the finish line and we couldn't believe we had made it.
Was over the moon with a time of 10 hrs 34 secs. Over all a well organised event, registration was fast and simple, no problems with the bag drop off & pick ups and the same with the bikes.
Will I do it again????? Definitely!!!!
It is a great event - and so funny to watch everyones hip flexors refusing to bend on that last kayak !
Congratulations.