|
 |
11-Sep-2010 10:44:12 |
 |
From the Bergson Web site |
| 16-Feb-2009 13:08:18 |
| |
Unusual Emotions
Endurance
Adventure racing is a competitions that take most sacrifice from competitors. Taking a start line won’t tell anything about what’s going to happen. One thing you know for sure – before taking finish line, you’ll have few dozen of constant struggle with route difficulties, up growing tiredness, special tasks. Before the “zero hour” you’ll be given a map with race route. You’ll have 100, 300 or even 1000 km. It’s a killing effort, but you try not to think of it. Not now. Then there’s a race start – you are going on route. You know that race will take the truth out. You can not hide anything here – a moment of weakness, even a small navigation mistake can cost you even hours of wandering. If you disregarded exercising you have no chance. No sight of reduction. Hundreds of run kilometers, dozens of biking hours, liters of sweat. This is an essential minimum. Alpinism techniques, survival elements, kayak maneuver on rapid river – you have to gain this skills also. To get to finish line. To survive.
Experience
In half of route you know, that your time has come. Skills bear interest. Few less experienced lost their way. Other pushed to hard at the beginning stages and now – exhausted – have to resign. At the Special task your team climbed fast and with skills, went through two rope bridges and descended into 100 meter precipice. Others are lack of experience and are still climbing with difficulty. There is only a lack of water. But this is as usual. Only two liters fit into the backpack. Next spring is on the other side of the map... Which is 12 hours later. You must watch out for dehydrate.
Psyche
How long can you bear with no sleep? Three, four days? Sleeping is a waste of time – when you napping and giving time for your massacred muscles to regenerate others can get ahead. Your navigation partner is tired in the same way. Two ours earlier he had chosen the wrong route. Your mad but you also know that being nervous is of no use. You force yourself to take next kilometers. Inside your telling yourself ‘never more, never more’. During trekking your eyes shut without your permission. Sometimes you take few kilometers without being aware of it. The worse time will be on the bike. One moment without attention can take a result in nearest trench. It’s now hard to concentrate vision. Going down the hill is almost like being in space. But there are no trees...
Special tasks
Four monotonous days are over. Running, biking, kayaks, trekking and biking. You can barely stand on your feet. A moment ago you dreamed of hot meal, comfortable bed and hot bath. For now you can only get a quick and freeze “shower” in mountain spring. For an hour now your team is struggling on a rubber pontoon with frothy, rapid environment. River is taking speed, river trenches are bigger with every moment. After last 10 meter flying down you hardly found tour pontoon and get all your equipment back. Emotions are at the highest level. You are no longer dreaming about sleep. You only hope to get out of water and be on the bike again.
Euphoria
Suddenly a mirage – you see something what you cannot believe in. Few hundred meters before you, with majestic swing with the wind, you can see a “Finish” sign. You realize a feeling, something like joy or happiness is getting through you numb body. Bravos, music, congratulations. You slowly realize that this is the end. You can not put your mind together. You don’t even know exactly what your name is. Your dehydrate, hungry and tired body screams “help” with every inch. Massacred feet with last effort take you to deserved rest. You know that earlier said “never more” is a joke now. Another race is only one month away. |
| |
| |
|
|
