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Opportunity Knocks

Posted by: Mark "Cabin" Leishman
Monday 8th September 08
696 reads

Apologies. My blog has been rather obviously dormant for a wee while. Thing was I got a bit pre-occupied a couple of weeks back when Stu Lynch came calling out of the blue with an attractive offer, and my XTERRA preparations got sidetracked for a wee bit.

"Do you want to come to China and do an adventure race with us? Cost's covered. Wayne's hurt his ankle so we need a fill in....." Doesn't take a genius to figure the answer to that one out. Hell yes. I always said I'd be keen on an adventure race one day when I get old and crusty. Guess I'm old and crusty?!

I'll do some sort of detailed writeup at some point, bu the quick version of events is.......Race was fast and hard. More than 120km of MTB, 68km+ on foot, 66km of paddling, some abseiling/caving,and canyoning. Around 5000 vertcal metres of elevation gain (and loss), and after 21hrs+ of racing my team (Orion Health) finished up 7th. It was a little dissapointing in that we had held 4th going in to the last day, but were hampered by punctures, one very crook team member, and one crippled team member: that would be me. A painful knee injury seeing me hobble my way thru the days opening 2 1/2hr run. There were tears, and I am suprised I have teeth intact after grimacing/grinding my teeth so hard for so long. I was amazed at how hard these guys/girls go in what is quite a long event. Yet pleased with my abilities to handle it (knee aside!). I was fascinated and privalaged to see the 'real' China as we raced thru high mountain villages, farming routes, rivers, dams, and rural towns. The contrast between opulanceand absolute poverty is startling. We were treated like kings. Whilst all around us people slaved away, laboring intensively, earning a pitance. I am quite cynical at the best of times..... but after this trip I have to say Beijing's Olympics did a magnificent job of presenting China as they would like us to see it..... and that the reality is quite grim. i've attached a few pics of everday life in Wulong (where we were). No race pics.... was too busy racing. Anyway. On the plus side I had an amazing (...ly hard) trip. Hopefully I stop hobbling soon enough, and another weeks sleep should see me caught up?!

Link to original article: http://cabinracing.blog.com/3820738/
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