Discussion: AR Worlds

Have a great trip, Randy! Looking forward to "watching" the race.

Nov 25, 2013 4:36 PM #

I'll be in country too, coincidentally on my honeymoon. Since they seem to be going Panama to Nicaragua, I'll be going in the opposite direction. Pacuare-Arenal-Uvita between Nov 28-Dec 7th. It sounds like they're going to be all over the place! Jealous!

Nov 25, 2013 9:47 PM #

Here are a couple of links to follow the race with me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77976186@N07/sets/721...
http://explorecompetelive.com/
http://www.facebook.com/randy.ericksen

Not much yet. Tomorrow I start a 3 day tour of the country and will post.

There will be others later.

Nov 25, 2013 9:50 PM #

Looking forward to the coverage Randy and not getting much accomplished next week! Thx!

Nov 25, 2013 10:03 PM #

One more.
http://enduranceracingmagazine.com/

Nov 26, 2013 3:12 PM #

I'll be covering the race as live as possible via the Breathe Magazine live coverage site.
Breathe Magazine

The most recent Breathe posts will also be on the ARWC Live site.

And yes, we'll be getting raw video footage from legendaryrandy's coverage of the non-Swedes of Team Thule.

As a further added bonus, Leanimal will be on the ground with her camera, and we've got her onto the media bus, so we'll have good eyes on the ground.

I can't wait for this thing to start.

Nov 26, 2013 3:40 PM #

FB:

I can't wait for it to be over :-)
... this always makes for one of my most unproductive weeks of the year (workwise)... so hard to be near a computer and not constantly check on ... EVERYONE!

Nov 26, 2013 4:38 PM #

I wasn't just being tongue-in-cheek: Thule really has no Swedes in their lineup. They are 2 French, 1 Spanish, and 1 Kiwi.

Ironic in light of the proposed change coming to next year's ARWC...

Nov 26, 2013 9:27 PM #

Pretty big change for Silva...

http://www.multisport.se/nyheter/nyhet.php?id=1239

Nov 26, 2013 11:09 PM #

I'm leaving the UK on Thursday morning and will be arriving in San Jose the same evening! Can't wait. I seem to have more kit than other multi-day races though. Excess baggage is going to cost a fortune.

For those of you that will be following various team's progress, could you include our team (Team Endurancelife) in your commentary for the benefit of my friends and family? I have pointed them to this forum for some good updates.

Good luck Kyle and others that will be racing. I will hopefully see you there.

Gary

Nov 27, 2013 12:01 AM #

Is that another Thule team? I think there is the all/mostly Swedish one, and then another Thule sponsored team that has competed at races where the Swedish Thule team hasn't been there? But why wouldn't the Swedes be at the Worlds? Are any of those members going to be there, on other teams? Or do they have a different sponsor?

Nov 27, 2013 12:02 AM #

Who decided to let Leanimal do the photography? Have you seen how spotty her track record is for posting photos on AP? ;)
Although she does do amazing things with photoshop.... (gotta go, starting to have a laughing fit again...)

Nov 27, 2013 3:51 AM #

No racing yet. But I am getting to see some of the country. Some of it from above the trees.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=71104629890767...

Nov 27, 2013 4:08 AM #

Who are all the Attackpointers at ARWC this year? Gotta know who I'm supposed to watch and cheer for.

Team Endurancelife (GD44)

Tecnu (Tico 3.0, Getawaystix, Beantown)

"Bounddless" 2 (Turbo, Zoolander, Slice, Phatty) (intentionally misspelt. See comments later.)

Untamed Canada / Clinique du Pied Equilibre (Jackson5)

Who else?

Nov 27, 2013 4:11 AM #

Oh, and we mustn't forget volunteer / staff APers:

Legendaryrandy
Untamedadventur
Leanimal
LaFemme
Hermes
LosDobos (although he is working from home)

Nov 27, 2013 10:57 AM #

I will be there as well, filming on course with the Japanese film crew. My main task will be to follow/film (i.e. try to keep up with) the lead team on the longer trekking sections of the race. So it will be a whole different kind of "race" for me this time around.

Nov 27, 2013 1:51 PM #

Very cool! They've picked the right guy. :) If you find a moment to post here occasionally, that would be awesome.

Nov 27, 2013 1:54 PM #

z:

It's Weds morning and I still don't have an itinerary (but I'm bringing all the gps tracking hardware and sat communication stuff from www.PinnacleTracking.com, so I have to think they'll get me there somehow). I *think* I may be flying down tomorrow, but so far there's no ticket.

Randy, you're my stand-in if I don't make it (and yes you can have my hotel room)

Nov 27, 2013 1:59 PM #

Not only am I looking forward to the race coverage, but utlimately the footage to come out of the race, including Boundless 2. How cool to see a race on tv since the last eco challenges.

Nov 27, 2013 2:37 PM #

@Untamed: Not cool. Hope things get sorted out soon.

Nov 27, 2013 2:41 PM #

z:

Aren't you sorry you passed on the opportunity, @Bash?

Nov 27, 2013 2:50 PM #

Still disappointed not to be there with you! :) However, I worried about stuff like this when details weren't forthcoming. The last AR world championship I volunteered at put me in scarier situations than I've ever encountered on a race course, so I like organizers who provide information in advance and give me confidence that they'll take good care of their volunteers.

Nov 27, 2013 5:39 PM #

Two AP's who are not actively logging since last year are:

Thule (Stuart L)
Columbia Vidaraid (Vraid)

Nov 27, 2013 9:19 PM #

FB:

This thread could hit 50 before the race starts... I'm guessing it'll eclipse (1000, 1500, 2000, 2500) 2575 before it's over!

I love that these can be edited... I may bump this 2 or 3 times! :-)

I'll look like a jeanieous.... :-)

Nov 27, 2013 10:46 PM #

Last year's hit 640 and that was with fewer AP's involved! We're gonna crush that! Who's going to start with the top 5 guestimates??

Nov 28, 2013 12:35 AM #

Seagate
Thule
Silva
Tecnu
Columbia

Adidas Terrex Prunesco is the likely spoiler.

Nov 28, 2013 4:38 AM #

Silva will be racing in a new combination without their injured team captain, Björn Rydvall. They still have three of their regular squad including navigator Aaron Prince. They're a very experienced team but this will add to the challenge.

Nov 28, 2013 5:30 AM #

I propose that this week we all add "ARWC Spectating" as an activity category and log it appropriately.

Nov 28, 2013 5:35 AM #

If we'd done that for Expedition Africa, there would have been some level 5 intensity toward the end!

Nov 28, 2013 5:36 AM #

Seagate but barely
Adidas Terrex (they know how to win over long remote distances)
Tecnu
Columbia
Thule

Nov 28, 2013 6:08 AM #

Putting things in perspective: The Merrell Adventure Addicts make a last minute substitution after a cancer diagnosis. :(
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/11/27/team...

Nov 28, 2013 11:03 AM #

Which reminds me: the Merrell Adventure Addicts are my dark horse top-5. They thrive on long tough races and are likely to be super motivated.

Nov 28, 2013 2:48 PM #

Breathe easy. Grant got his plane ticket and is on my flight now from Atlanta. Tracking will happen.

Nov 28, 2013 2:55 PM #

z:

Kyle refused to shake hands, though, avoiding germs on the flight --- maybe Tecnu lands a new sponsor for 2014: Purell!

Or maybe I stink of poor fitness!

Mark Lattanzi is in the row ahead if me. Everyone converging on San Jose...

Nov 28, 2013 2:57 PM #

Great news! ARWC without trackers would be sad indeed.

Nov 28, 2013 3:12 PM #

Bash, don't even say that.

Nov 28, 2013 3:55 PM #

z:

Me and you both, Peter, would be out of a job :)

Nov 28, 2013 6:59 PM #

LosDobos could be our "tracker".... :)
(as if keeping up with any individual top team isn't tough enough, try keeping up with 65 of them... Give LosDobos enough good Costa Rican coffee and I think he could try to pull it off... ;)

Nov 28, 2013 7:54 PM #

All of Team Untamed Canada have arrived with their gear. Getawaystix (with Hermes) and Special K have arrived with all their gear too. It's a rainy day, perfect for pre-race prep.

Nov 29, 2013 11:10 AM #

I'm on my way today. Just testing out brand new camera gear....what do they say about using new equipment on race day? LosDobos is meeting me at the airport with a go pro so I a motivated to get up in the trees and doing a nice video montage of me drinking some really good coffee. That's what you guys wanted to see right? I agree LosDobos will be deserving of some of that nice CR coffee. Of course he will be more in need of it during the next two weeks than when I get back. I'll take care of the coffee.

Nov 29, 2013 1:43 PM #

Leanimal, I can help you with the gopro when you get here.

Nov 29, 2013 2:59 PM #

What camera did you decide on in the end?

Nov 29, 2013 4:54 PM #

Here's the event schedule.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/11/26/arwc...

My favourite session is tomorrow morning from 9:30-11 a.m.: "Briefing Teams and Snake Talk"

Nov 29, 2013 4:56 PM #

LosDobos wrote a good overview of what we can expect when the race course is announced.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/11/26/tour...

Nov 29, 2013 6:31 PM #

z:

En vivo y directo, desde race HQ:

https://mobile.twitter.com/untamed_adv

Still waiting on DHL to deliver the tracking hardware...

Nov 29, 2013 9:18 PM #

A favour requested by Team "Bounddless" 2 (misspelling is intentional): Many people on AP are familiar with their television series seen in Canada and the U.S.A. Although everyone here knows how to follow them at ARWC and will know how it turns out for them, they would appreciate minimal mention of their team name online and in social media in order to avoid spoilers for the average viewer in their audience.

They don't mind people mentioning their individual names, and if we stick to AP names when we talk about them here, that adds a level of obscurity: Zoolander, Turbo (also the name he uses on the show), Phatty and Slice. Since Slice is a defending champion at Costa Rica AR, perhaps we can just call them "Slice's Team". :)

Nov 29, 2013 10:50 PM #

Good reminder Bash, thanks cause I surely would have opened my big mouth! :)

Nov 30, 2013 5:38 AM #

A few point form notes Hermes took at the media meeting:

4 am bus for 6-8 hours. Start on the Panama/ CR border. Le Mans start to bike boxes.

Trekking will traverse through sections that are forbidden and very wild - 35 hours approx for top teams. Indigenous sections very wild. 3 different tribes in CR.

Access for press 2 ways but very limited, Indian guide necessary when covering sections like this, require permits. Get registration form.

Cerro Chirripo - 6-8 hours to summit (highest mountain in CR).

6.5 days for top teams assuming all the conditions are favourable!

Nov 30, 2013 5:40 AM #

As per Sleepmonsters, one of the dark zones exists because that area has so many poisonous snakes. (!!!)

Nov 30, 2013 5:50 AM #

That is absurd!! I am sure it will be all clear in the daylight.

Nov 30, 2013 6:25 AM #

Tico, I was thinking of you when I heard this. :) I wondered if the dark zone was in place to ensure you have a better chance of seeing the snakes but it turns out that two of the most dangerous snakes - fer-de-lance and bushmaster - tend to be nocturnal so the dark zone sounds like a fine plan.

Btw I stumbled on this advice about CR snakes:
"We recommend that you don’t get too close to rivers or dead trees and foliage. Try not to touch trees without looking."

Hmm, that sounds a lot like adventure racing. Stay alert!

Nov 30, 2013 12:45 PM #

Knee-high gaiters would be good mandatory gear in this case. None of the snakes can strike higher than that.

Nov 30, 2013 1:09 PM #

Hi all
Team Endurancelife are all hereand ready to roll. I'm glad I read the above log for info. Communication on the ground isn't the best as the organisers issue their schedules and information by email instead of the old fashioned way of handing out paper or placing info on notice boards.

Chatted with Nathan Faave in the queue for registration. Really nice guy.

Interesting to hear that some of you above fancy Adidas Terrex Prunesco in the top 5. I know 2 of them well (Tom Gibbs and Nick Gracie). It'll be interesting to see whether they decide to keep up with the pack at the start or play their own race. I suspect the former as like Kyle said in one of his interviews, you've got to be near the front after 36 hrs to win.

Racing to avoid dark zones may play a significant role in this race too.

Nov 30, 2013 5:27 PM #

Course reveal!

here

Nov 30, 2013 7:34 PM #

z:

In the media briefing, they announced a media embargo on discussing sections after the first one. Let's see how that effective that is...

Nov 30, 2013 8:58 PM #

I'm changing my completely uninformed predictions to Tecnu second, Adidas third. I think the different strategic choices favor Tecnu.
And I'm biased. Though still think Forne's team will win, but just barely.

Nov 30, 2013 9:02 PM #

The current Seagate team has never been beaten with this lineup of racers.
Not sure about Haglofs-Silva's lineup, but they have finished on the podium at ARWC 5 times...so overdue for a win. It would take a race-ending disaster to keep either of those teams off the podium. That leaves on spot sort of up for grabs. There's the small matter of 2011 world champs Thule, although half their lineup is different now.
It'll be muy interesting.

Nov 30, 2013 11:22 PM #

Silva is racing without their team captain (injured shoulder) and a barrowed 4th teammate which could impact their podium push. They are still a top 5 team with new lineup.

Nov 30, 2013 11:52 PM #

Tecnu's Facebook post is a good summary of what's been going on:

Long day today with pre race meetings about snakes, and the release of the course description and the first set of maps. We then had a media meeting and were given our media credentials so we can follow the team during the event. We ran some errands for the team, and now we are getting ready for a parade of athletes through the town to a posh Country Club for dinner and opening ceremonies. I will be sure to download pictures tonight when we get back. Sorry reporting has been so spotty today but we are very busy in preparation for the race start in less than 2 days. Tomorrow we will do a social project out on the town and then Monday morning at 4 a.m. a.m We will leave to go to the race start somewhere near the Panama border a seven or eight hour drive from San Jose where we are currently. The halls of the Radisson Europa are filled with bike boxes & gear boxes and bike bags and kayak equipment and teams preparing for what will be one of the toughest adventure races in quite some time.

Dec 1, 2013 12:37 AM #

Here's the race course overview, courtesy of Jackson5 of Untamed Canada.

Dec 1, 2013 12:40 AM #

And they posted an overview map too. They'll be getting most of their real maps on the course.

Dec 1, 2013 5:11 AM #

My predictions:
Thule
Seagate
Adidas
Silva
Columbia V

Dec 1, 2013 3:37 PM #

The complete race in a nutshell:

Breathe

Dec 1, 2013 4:13 PM #

z:

Off to the race start in a couple hours -- I'll be there tonight in advance of teams arriving 2 PM tomorrow. If I get a chance I'll update you all on the conditions.

Dec 1, 2013 4:17 PM #

Thanks, Untamed! :) LosDobos' overview is so useful that it merits putting most of the text in this thread so we can refer back to it quickly during the race. Thanks, LosDobos! (But I recommend reading LosDobos' linked version now to get extra commentary.)
_________________

- Initially teams have 1 overview map of the entire course... They will only receive the maps at the start of the race. Actually, they will only receive the maps up to TA4 (mid camp?), at which point they will be given the maps up to TA8, and only then will they get the final set that will see them to the finish.

- The start... racers sprint 1 km to get to their bike boxes and maps.

- Section 1 is a 95km mountain bike ride from the start down to the Pacific coast at the Golfo Dulce.

- Section 2 is a 65km flatwater kayak along the coast, North-West to the Osa peninsula.

- Section 3 is a trek across the Osa peninsula, 27km during which they will have to carry all their paddling gear with them. This section finishes with teams picking up their kayaks and portaging them 10km to the northern coast of the Osa peninsula.

- Section 4 is a combined kayak & trek (65km) through the biggest mangrove swamp in Central America. This will be a score orienteering section, with the checkpoints taken in any order. Tides will likely play a large role in routes and speed, and all teams have been given local tide tables. This will also be their first exposure to crocodiles.

- Section 5 is a 101 km bike ride to mid camp, with a brief stop to experience the longest (2km) and fastest (145kph) zipline in the world: the Tirolesa Superman Osa. If there is a bottleneck here, time will be neutralized.

- Mid Camp is a 4 hour mandatory stop at the end of the bike ride. Teams will be checked over by medics, write a short race blog (which will be posted to the live coverage site), recharge batteries, and get some off-the-clock sleep. It is likely here that they will get the maps to take them all the way to TA8, so not much sleep for the navigators here.

- Section 6 is a huge 92km remote mountain trek, and will be the key stage of the race. Teams start off with an ascent of Chirripo, the highest peak in Costa Rica involving over 4000m of ascent. The expected fastest time for this stage is 35 hours and teams will have to take everything they will need on their backs, true expedition style. There is nowhere to resupply along the route. They will also face 3 roped river crossings, so must carry their climbing harnesses with them.

- Section 7 is a relatively short bike ride of 40km, but it does involve climbing over 1600metres.

- Section 8 is a trekking and guided rafting stage of 33km and will be another decisive point in the race. The start of the rafting is the one and only cut-off in the race, at 1400 on Day 9. Any teams failing to get through will be moved ahead to complete the final two stages.

- Teams will receive the final set of maps at TA8. This transition is also the only Dark Zone. Any teams arriving after 1400 will have to wait until 0430 next morning for daylight to continue. Furthermore, the Dark Zone will extend into the ensuing 89km paddling section, and teams who make it onto the water have to stop at 1730 and camp for the night until the Dark Zone lifted. The Dark Zone will be strictly enforced using the race trackers and teams were warned the penalty for being on the water late would be disqualification. (They were also told not to sleep beside the river,as it is full of crocodiles. Sweet dreams.)

- Section 9 is the long 89km down-river paddle mentioned above.

- Section 10 is a short, flat trek of 18km to get racers to their bikes for the longest stage of the race.

- Section 11 is the longest of the race at 156km. It takes teams up to the border with Nicaragua before turning South to reach the final leg of the race.

- Section 12 is 23 km of canopy and guided rafting to the finish line. With perfect weather the lead teams are expected to take on the order of 6 days to complete this Tour de Costa Rica.

Dec 1, 2013 4:18 PM #

As LosDobos mentioned yesterday, the much-publicized Snake Dark Zone appears to have been a jungle myth.

Dec 1, 2013 4:45 PM #

Great overview LosDobos thanks! Sounds like one long gruelling race. Interesting that teams will not get any detailed maps until the start then again at the mid camp.

Dec 1, 2013 5:47 PM #

I like the way they are handing out maps...will keep teams from going overboard the night before with planning. Will make the start much more interesting...who will just bolt, who will take time to plan, who will make a mistake, who will see an amazing route choice that others miss.... Makes it way more interesting.

Dec 1, 2013 6:06 PM #

I love the map idea but I don't like the bike assembly idea. There are skills worth testing in an AR and that isn't one of them (arguably). If it is necessary because the bikes have to be transported in boxes between TAs, then of course. But this is just a way to split up the field at the start - a frustrating way.

Dec 1, 2013 6:22 PM #

z:

Props to LosDobos -- better summation than I've seen on the ground here at the host hotel! I did get an english route book that I'm looking forward to finally reviewing on the 8 hour drive to the start line.

Just one point about the snake dark zone: it *might* come later in the race (after the high mountains) where we have a media embargo about discussing. Might. Who can tell with these things :)

Dec 1, 2013 6:24 PM #

I hope it does. It's the kind of thing people will talk about for years after the race! "Remember the world champs with the snake dark zone?" Also, some of the nastiest CR snakes are nocturnal.

Dec 1, 2013 6:57 PM #

Noticed a few other Canadian teams besides Slice's Team, Untamed Canada and G-Stix with Tecnu. Curious to know more about SXM (Bruno Rey, Cyril Margaritis, Jean-Baptiste Calais, Irina Safronova) and Epic Endurance (Kelly Boyd, Wayne Nyman, Andrew Fairhurst, Teresa Richer).

According to their Team Profile - EE has quite a bit of experience on their team and multiple podium finishes in various disciplines.

Dec 1, 2013 7:10 PM #

Interesting preview on the US teams which are entered from the Barking Frogs RD.

The Adventure Racing community is a small one. Looking through the lineup of the US teams, I realized that I have raced with many of them. As a result I have some insight in to the strengths of the various teams, and team members, and will go out on a limb and make some projections.

First and foremost, this appears to be one of the strongest fields ever for a world championship. There are many very fast and experienced teams vying to win. In addition, the terrain in Costa Rica will force teams to be on top of their game the entire way. Navigating in the jungle can be very tricky – I have learned the hard way on that one! And I understand that there will be a lot of paddling in relatively slow kayaks. (recent facebook posts show inflatable kayaks with attachable sails that teams can bring themselves) maneuvering these rigs will take good technique and long sustained effort. Above all I would expect that this course will be very wet, which means that foot care will be essential. Any adventure racer knows that if you fail to take care of your feet, it will be a very, very long race.

Team Tecnu is the top ranked team in the US. Based out of Northern California, I know Kyle Peters and Garrett Bean personally and I know that they have been training very hard. Other team members are Bob Miller, a Canadian icon and great navigator, plus Karen Lungren (Super K), one of the top female adventure racers in the world with tons of experience with Team Sole. Tecnu won in Costa Rica last year and took the USARA Championship this year. They are looking for a top 5 finish and if some of the favorites falter, they could find themselves on the podium.

Team Bones is also a Northern California based team and is anchored by Roy Malone. Roy introduced me to adventure racing back in 2003 when he was racing for Team Subaru. Roy has a ton of experience dating back to the Eco-Challenge days and has had top finishes against international competitions including Primal Quest. Jason Quinn formerly of Silly Rabbits is a medical doctor and a top navigator. Andy Tubbs, also an old Silly Rabbits team member is a top notch paddler. They are joined by Mari Chandler another world class female racer. Mari races more then anyone I know, most often with DART/Nuun and took 2nd this year at the USARA Championship. Bones won the Gold Rush Mother Lode 2013 and is in top form. I predict they will be a top 10 finisher and, based on their Costa Rica experience, might be able to place even higher.

Gear Junkie/YogaSlackers lives by the motto of “Go fast and take chances.” I have raced against Jason and Chelsey Magness many times and they always shown up fit and ready to go. Jason and Chelsey have been racing with Daniel Staudigel for a number of years now. They tend to do better when the conditions are rough and could be a sleeper team. They are joined by a relative new comer Eric Sanders. I don’t know Eric but if he is hanging with the YogaSlackers, he must be fast and tough. I would expect a top 20 finish and if the conditions are really rough, maybe even better.

Leki 50 is a group of racers that I have personally raced with at various times. I raced with Pete Spagnoli (from New York) and Thor Egerton (Australia living in Norway) at Raid the North in 2011. J.D. Eskelson (currently living in Germany) dragged me around the Gold Rush Course in 2011 and Mark Lattanzi raced with me in this year Gold Rush. This team collectively has done well over 50 expedition length races. There are three excellent navigators on the team and they are all strong and determined. Given the strength of the field a top 30 finish would be an excellent out come.

Dark Horse and Committed. I don’t know either of these teams so can’t comment too much. Based on a little research it appears that Dark Horse has team members that raced back in the Eco-Challenge days so they would have some good experience. Team Committed raced at Gold Rush this year as an all male team. They seemed to have a fun attitude which will carry them a long way. Given the length and expected difficulty of the course, I would expect that these teams will be trying to stay ahead of the cut offs so they can do as much of the course as possible.

Shout out to Team Selva Kailash with Jennifer Moos from Florida. This Brazilian team has lots of experience and has done well on the international stage. The main challenge for this team will be the language barrier. Jen doesn’t speak Portuguese and the guys speak very little English. This will make for an interesting team dynamic. I raced with Jen on Team Barking Frogs at Gold Rush this year. She is super strong and fast on the bike and has a great upbeat attitude. That should help a lot!

We will be following all of these teams as they battle the course and each other. The starting gun goes off soon. Good luck to everyone.

Mike Chastaine
Adventure Racer
Barking Frogs Ambassador

Dec 1, 2013 8:08 PM #

My teammate from the US Natls the past 2 years Molly Housman is racing with Dark Horse. Its her first attempt at an expedition length event. Nice one to pick as her first. ;-)

Dec 1, 2013 8:14 PM #

z:

To speak to your two ? Mike, SXM is a TOUGH team that I saw win in Patagonia 2008, do don't count them out if the course is really wild & wooly. They race like a military operation (not many laughs or anything), but can be effective. Epic Endurance team has great attitudes & are out for the beauty/challenge not so much the podium -- they raced Untamed New England 2012.

Dec 1, 2013 9:12 PM #

FYI: the ARWC live site is now live!

Dec 1, 2013 9:56 PM #

Here it is.
http://live.arcostarica.com/

Dec 2, 2013 2:07 AM #

I would be surprised to see a dark zone announced during the race. Eating my last supper in bed. Going to be sleeping before 9PM. Alarm is set for 3AM. Sleep and eat all day tomorrow on the bus ride. I am looking forward to it.

The tides ebbing in the second paddle leg (most teams will see the tide change 3 times during this section) could prevent teams from forward progress. This would most likely be happening for us on Night 2. We plan to sleep 3 hours, but may get a huge 6 hour sleep if the current is pushing us backwards. We really aren't quite sure what to expect in this leg. Can't wait to see the maps!!!

Good Night. Happy Tracking. It is always a warm feeling out on the course to know so many of you are keeping an eye on us and yelling at your desktops!!

Dec 2, 2013 2:45 AM #

Good luck Tico, Bean, K, and stix. Go get it!

Dec 2, 2013 3:34 AM #

I'm about to fall to sleep too. Good night.

I informed Adidas Terrex of some of your predictions above! They intend to hit the long trek section hard.

Bye

Dec 2, 2013 4:01 AM #

Be safe, everyone! We'll be watching your little dot.

Dec 2, 2013 4:30 AM #

Getawaystix of Tecnu talking about the race course and the sections they believe will play the biggest role in separating teams.

Post by Tecnu Extreme Adventure Racing.

Dec 2, 2013 2:24 PM #

From the little I know about foreign teams I would imagine Seagate has a big advantage because of the delayed map distribution and has to be the favorite. From what I know Chris Forne is one of the best orienteers in the world.

Dec 2, 2013 2:39 PM #

FB:

I don't know enough about all of the teams to make a top 5 prediction list. Seagate to me is an obvious favourite but I see Tecnu on the podium or DNF, based on a comparison with Seagate. Seagate will push the pace as usual and some of the top teams will crack after 48-60 hrs.
Tecnu has the experience and fitness and preparedness to race for the podium and the fact that Bob and Kyle won this (CR) race last year is a huge advantage (IMHO) mentally. I think they are at the point where they will hold nothing back from start to finish, flirting with 'the danger zone' on occasion, which gets them on the podium if they don't crack.

Dec 2, 2013 3:13 PM #

Also, Bob is a big fan of getting maps on the course. This is an advantage for strong navigators since teams have to use the map alone to make quick route decisions without Google Earth, extra maps or local hints.

Dec 2, 2013 3:22 PM #

FB:

BTW... in that pic above, Bob looks like he's about to be interviewed by a naked female Klingon sportcaster... it's like "I'm a little startled, but hmmn, let's see where this is going?!" :-)

Dec 2, 2013 3:29 PM #

Added to list of things I'm afraid to google: "naked female klingon sportscaster"

Dec 2, 2013 5:02 PM #

Good grief this is exciting! Can't wait for the start!

Dec 2, 2013 5:13 PM #

I agree about getting maps on the course is a good thing. Rewards good navigators and I've never liked the luck factor that some teams might get different course information from their research. Plus it reduces pre-race stress. Wooooo! Almost go-time!

2 Breathe articles from LosDobos about Stage 4, the mangrove paddle, are fascinating. AND...this section is a score-o, right? Totally awesome to see how teams will use the tides to make route choices.

Dec 2, 2013 6:28 PM #

Am I the only one who is pathologically rechecking the web, even before the race starts? I'm using mainly this site, the arcostarica site, and breathemag.

Dec 2, 2013 6:37 PM #

Fyi Costa Rica is in the Central Time Zone, i.e. it's the same time as Dallas and Chicago and one hour earlier than Toronto, New York, Atlanta, etc. So the race starts in just under 90 minutes.

Dec 2, 2013 7:13 PM #

We are currently lobbying for a bit more real estate on the live site, especially on the home page. FYI, the home page only shows the 4 latest posts from Breathe, so it's best if you click through to our live coverage site to see all the content. I would not be surprised to surpass 500 posts during the course of this race.

45 minutes to go...

Dec 2, 2013 8:07 PM #

And they're off! Kiss your next 7-10 days of productivity goodbye. ;)

Dec 2, 2013 8:28 PM #

Watching the Race

The live coverage site looks great. It ties together many sources of coverage including selected social media posts. For moderate AR fans, this site may be enough if it is kept updated throughout the race.
http://live.arcostarica.com/index.cfm

You'll want the tracking map open in a separate tab so you can see more detail.
http://live.arcostarica.com/tracking/index.cfm

See LosDobos' tips on using the tracking map here. In a subsequent post, he mentioned that the trackers appear to be updating every 20 minutes - something to keep in mind when you're wondering where teams are relative to one another.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/02/usin...

Breathe Magazine (LosDobos, Leanimal, LaFemme) posts the most frequent commentary on the race but only their last few posts will be linked from the live coverage site. So you'll need another tab open to ensure you don't miss any of their excellent coverage.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/category/arwc-2...

Sleepmonsters and Endorphin Mag are also linked from the live coverage site. They tend to provide updates less frequently so you may be OK to just link to their newest stories as the titles appear on the live coverage site. But if you have room to open more tabs, here they are.
http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?event_id...
http://www.endorphinmag.fr/evenement/arcostarica.p...

The official race Twitter feed is being updated regularly.
http://live.arcostarica.com/index.cfm
[edited]

Depending on which team(s) you're interested in, there are various Facebook, Twitter and photo sites to watch - too many to mention here. Untamedadventur is working at Race HQ and may have some interesting comments from behind the scenes.
https://twitter.com/Untamed_Adv
[edited]

Legendaryrandy will post his photos here. Not sure if they'll also be posted on the live coverage site.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77976186@N07/sets/721...

Any other good news sites I've missed here? If you read back through this thread, there are other links but the ones I've mentioned here seem to be providing up-to-date news.

Dec 2, 2013 8:48 PM #

While the racers are getting on the road, here is a pre-race interview with one of our Canadian teams: Untamed Canada / Clinique du Pied Equilibre. Hope you were all paying attention in French class.

And if you weren't, you might prefer this interview with Seagate instead. The best question: "Do you prefer cobra or crocodile?" (They are evenly split on that one.)

Dec 2, 2013 8:54 PM #

STAGE 1. STAGE 1
Discipline :: Mountain Bike (95 km)
Ascent :: 850 m
Descent :: 1822 m
The race will set off from the Talamanca mountain range between the Costa Rica & Panama borders. The start will be "Le Mans " style, with a 1 km run to the bike boxes where the teams will have to assemble their bikes. Once riding, they follow the border on a rocky dirt road. This area mainly inhabited by the Boruca Indigenous tribe and is dedicated to producing coffee, bananas and African palms. Teams will enjoy a 1000 metre descent to sea level. However, once they have reached the low lands they will need to navigate carefully though the palm oil plantations and abandoned railroad tracks.

Teams will be starting on the Panama border and making their way towards the Golf of Dulce. Looks like they will avoid the Pan American Hwy which is definitely a good thing.

Dec 2, 2013 9:07 PM #

Let the speculating begin. Just an hour in and it appears teams are already splitting up. Top ranked teams like Seagate, Colombia, Merrell Adv Addicts are headed towards #617 while AXA, Adidas Terrex and Haglofs Silva are headed to the road which runs along the border. I've spent 10 days driving around parts of Costa Rica and although it has changed a bit in the few years I've been there I can say for sure that most main roads aren't anything like roads were are used to so the side roads will likely be very very rugged. Probably easier to ride a bike on then a car though!

Dec 2, 2013 9:13 PM #

And just like that Tecnu, Thule, Mtn Hardware join the other group of teams heading towards Route 617. BMS Multisport has gone the border route.

Dec 2, 2013 9:18 PM #

Anyon know if the Panama/Costa Rica border has a road along it, just a dirt track? The satellite map is really fuzzy.

Dec 2, 2013 9:21 PM #

Pretty sure it would just be a dirt track. Interesting to see the difference in starting times. Tecnu was 2nd out of the gate but it shows teams like Seagate were 18 minutes behind. Is it possible they just spent more time looking at their recently acquired maps/route choices.

Dec 2, 2013 9:23 PM #

It appears that most of the teams who started off along the border are now cutting across to Route 617. The last update shows Seagate in the early lead cruising down the "road".

Dec 2, 2013 9:41 PM #

One of the local teams has just left Route #617 to head in towards the "yellow" route before turning south on Route 237. It appears to be a 200m crossing.

Dec 2, 2013 9:59 PM #

What's up with Dark Horse? Penalty perhaps? There was a mention on Sleepmonsters about a team with a missing back-up GPS device.

Dec 2, 2013 9:59 PM #

If anyone is using Google Maps and finding it too fuzzy, AdrianM suggested using Bing - Aerial view. Much much more detail zoomed in!

Dec 2, 2013 10:18 PM #

Dark Horse's tracker hasn't updated since 22:16. They're probably somewhere in the pack with a tracker that isn't pointed the right way to see the sky.

Dec 2, 2013 10:22 PM #

Doesn't sound like any DNS.

From Sleepmonsters -

The last teams took almost 45 minutes to get going, but once they were on their way Race Director Pongo Baker could not stop smiling. “I have to pinch myself,” he said, “the race is finally underway after we have worked so hard for 2 years. I’m so happy.”

[Note, a few teams were issued with 1 hour penalties for not having a back up GPS device – though I am not sure who yet.}

Dec 2, 2013 10:23 PM #

Sounds like there was some confusion at the start as teams were looking for their maps but the RD had placed them under their bike boxes.

From Sleepmonsters -

The teams raced the kilometre back up the road to find their bike boxes which were stacked under the palm trees beside a small farm. Now the chaos began. Teams had to unpack and assemble their bikes, and also find their maps, which had been left with the boxes, before setting off on the first cycling stage. (Although they did know the first two CP’s as those were on the sample map they were given at the briefing ).

It was a pressured situation which the organisers had created, and a soon there were bikes, wheels, boxes, helmets and frames everywhere. The teams quickly set to their task, some more quickly than others, and Seagate quickest of all. They had not run too hard up the hill and arrived in the bike box area in mid pack, but showed just how slick they are at transitions and left first. Thule Adventure were quick too, but they ran to the marshals to ask where their maps were, only to be told they were under the bike boxes. “It’s very confusing!” was all Stu Lynch could say.

Dec 2, 2013 10:25 PM #

Based on the last update, Seagate has ventured into Panama. Not sure that is allowed but will be interesting to see if they quickly come back across the border.

If this is allowed then it's a lot more direct route to get to the suggested route to the south.

Dec 2, 2013 10:29 PM #

It's been over 1 hour for Dark Horse and Got No Sleep, plus their "update" is in the future. I'm thinking it's a couple of DNS's. Either that or 2 broken trackers and those two team are out on the bikes without any tracking. If that's the case then they should be able to get working trackers somewhere down the line, presumably at the kayak transition.

Dec 2, 2013 10:32 PM #

Interesting... As per LosDobos, Dark Horse's tracker is set for 22:16 tonight, i.e. 6 hours in the future, which is Greenwich Mean Time, for what that's worth. Another team, Get No Sleep, is in the same boat. I suspect a software / settings issue.

Dec 2, 2013 10:39 PM #

I talked with Molly (Dark Horse) last night and at that point they were definitely starting. Hoping is just a tracker issue.

Dec 2, 2013 10:45 PM #

Just a preview of what teams can expect in section 4 - The Mangroves (Humedal Nacional Terraba) GULP

Caption Text

Ebb Tide in the area.
Caption Text

Dec 2, 2013 11:02 PM #

inTIMidator:

Thanks for the updates so far guys, very helpful for those without tracker access.

Dec 2, 2013 11:10 PM #

Amazing mangrove pics!

Lead teams are only a few kms from CP4. Seagate and Merrell Adventure Addicts are going along the Panama-Costa Rica border while the others are approaching on the "yellow" route. Looks like Seagate's route choice might pay off.

Dec 2, 2013 11:17 PM #

It's hard to tell if there is a dirt road along the border or if it's a small river. When you zoom in on Bing there appear to be quite a few structures so have to be accessible somehow.

Dec 2, 2013 11:31 PM #

Instead of heading straight to CP4 along the border, Seagate has turned and started heading toward the other teams. There must be another CP they need to pick up as an out-and-back before continuing on the road to CP4. They are within 1-2 kms of the other lead teams.

Dec 2, 2013 11:36 PM #

Some pics I stole from the main website:

Caption Text

Dec 2, 2013 11:44 PM #

Small little tidbit.

In nearby San Vito, the sun currently sets at approx 5:11 PM local time and it rises at 5:32 am. Teams can anticipate around 11.5 hours of daylight.

Dec 2, 2013 11:57 PM #

Hoping there isn't a problem as I just noticed that Untamed Canada have fallen back of the peleton and have only a few teams behind them.

Dec 3, 2013 12:02 AM #

Update on teams #47 & #61. It is an issue with their tracking equipment as reported by HQ on Twitter. Everything is okay with the teams and they are working on fixing the problem.

Dec 3, 2013 12:11 AM #

Is there a way to turn on tracked history on the map?

Dec 3, 2013 12:28 AM #

Tracking is apparently down. That would explain why no one has moved in a while! :)

Dec 3, 2013 12:34 AM #

Yeah, I'm also trying to follow our friends on Bones who had a good start. But they are frozen too.

Dec 3, 2013 12:37 AM #

Does anyone know if Panama was allowed or not? I'm referencing Los Dobos' article and Seagate, and Merrell too it seems.

Dec 3, 2013 1:01 AM #

Don't know about Panama rule.
Good to know about teams 47 and 61 - thanks.
If you click on a team in the list, it brings up their route history complete with breadcrumbs.
Tracking is def a software issue, happened a few times during XPD, usually fixed within minutes of them being notified.

Dec 3, 2013 1:09 AM #

CheersSA:

Does anyone know if the maps given to the teams will be made available online by the race director?

Dec 3, 2013 2:23 AM #

CheersSA - Welcome to AP! LosDobos is getting a copy of the maps which he is going to share with us but he's yet to receive them. I know he's as anxious as the rest of us.

Dec 3, 2013 2:37 AM #

What the?? Teams have moved less then 2 km in the past 2 hours. From Bing Maps it doesn't look like too tough of terrain but the weather must be really bad.

Dec 3, 2013 2:55 AM #

A few pics of Tecnu, Untamed Canada and Seagate-

Caption Text

Dec 3, 2013 3:11 AM #

DD, FYI here.com looks to have decent satellite resolution for the area, for a different view from bing and google.

Dec 3, 2013 3:12 AM #

Okay here goes my first guestimate on rankings so far as teams close in or pass through CP4 (7 hours into day #1).

Edited to include Colombia Vidaraid..oops.

1. Thule
2. Colombia Vidaraid (missed on first update)
3. Adidas Terrex
4. Mountain Hardware
5. Seagate
6. Banano de Costa Rica
7. Tecnu
8. Haglofs Silva
9. Gearjunkie
10. Quasarlontra
11. AXA Adidas
12. Trangoworld
13. Bones
14. Jeep Adventure Team
15. Ecuador Explorer
16. Bivouac Colts

**Completely a guess at time point because everyone's trackers register at different times.

Dec 3, 2013 3:12 AM #

Thanks Wilberto! I forgot about here.com!

Dec 3, 2013 3:18 AM #

Teams will treated to a nice downhill section after they ride through CP4. Thule appears to be stretching out their early lead.

Dec 3, 2013 3:31 AM #

I emailed family friends at their winter home near San Ysidro, CR as the race goes close to them and got this response:

"our neighbor is the one making the ‘Superman’ line where they go face down on a zip line hooked to the cable from their back. It is over 1 Km. and reaches speeds of 120 Kms! This neighbor is working the line 24 hours, day and night as the people come at different times. The Superman line is about 1/2 hr. from here. The whole family next door (including their triplet 7 yr. girls) are still at the mountain."

Sounds like a fun ride in store for racers!

Dec 3, 2013 3:33 AM #

Most of the teams are shown in Panama right now so either the map is off or it's not against the rules!

Thule is a few kms in front with a chase pack of about a dozen top teams including Seagate, Tecnu, Columbia Vidaraid, Adidas Terrex and Haglofs Silva.

Slice's team is looking good in the midpack. Untamed Canada is a little further back.

Dec 3, 2013 3:33 AM #

bugeater:

thanks DD11 for the updates! It's always a bit chaotic getting info, and it's so fun to wish I was there! or maybe not! the snakes would spook me

Dec 3, 2013 3:35 AM #

Don't forget the crocs!

Dec 3, 2013 3:37 AM #

Very cool Wilberto. I watched a few videos of that zipline and it looks awesome! In the pre-race briefing they included the Superman Line to showcase it but teams won't be penalized if there is any bottleneck.

Dec 3, 2013 3:39 AM #

Thule is flying down towards the Pan-American Hwy. Lots of teams starting their descent behind them now. Looks like once teams cross the P-A Hwy they will be following fairly descent roads into the first TA which is good since they will be approaching midnight.

Dec 3, 2013 3:40 AM #

Which is scarier? Face down ziplining at 120 kph or a venomous snake. Hmm...

Dec 3, 2013 3:51 AM #

Great shot of the teams assembling their bikes after the Le Mans start.

Post by AXA-adidas Adventure Racing Team.

For bigger size, click here.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5959581804...

Dec 3, 2013 4:00 AM #

Since there were a number of teams grouped together on my first guestimate, here is an edited rankings.

1. Thule (21:29)
2. Colombia Vidaraid (missed on first update) (21:39)
3. Quasarlontra (21:48)
4. Gearjunkie (21:#35)
5. Bones (21:37)
6. Sportovia (missed on first update) (21:32)
7. Salomon-Suunto (missed on first update) (21:31)
8. AXA-Adidas (21:37)
9. Mountain Hardware (21:44)
10. Banano de Costa Rica (21:33)
11. Selva Kailash (21:45) (missed on first update)
3. Adidas Terrex (21:24)
13. Trangoworld (21:22)
14. Hagofs Silva (21:29)
15. Tecnu (21:28)
16. Jeep Adventure (21:31)
17. Seagate (21:22)

Lots of variance between the times (about 25 minutes) so this is NOT a true reflection of the actual standings but a decent gauge where some of the top 15 teams stand.

Dec 3, 2013 4:01 AM #

Hammer:

"Which is scarier? Face down ziplining at 120 kph or a venomous snake. Hmm..."

Umm, no contest.

Dec 3, 2013 4:03 AM #

That heavy metal music might be the scariest Hammer! :)

Dec 3, 2013 4:06 AM #

Thule have now crossed over the Pan-American Hwy and are on last section of the first bike leg. From the crossing they have about 30km of backroads (mostly flat) till they hit the first TA (kayak).

Dec 3, 2013 4:16 AM #

Quick update as a few trackers have caught up. That top 8 looks very very familiar..missing a few key names but most are there.

1. Thule (21:49)
2. Tecnu (22:08)
3. Colombia Vidaraid (missed on first update) (21:59)
4. Adidas Terrex (22:04)
5. Seagate (22:02)
6. AXA Adidas (21:57)
7. Bones (21:57)
8. Gearjunkie (21:55)
9. Sportovia (missed on first update) (21:52)
10. Salomon-Suunto (missed on first update) (21:51)
11. Banano de Costa Rica (21:53)
12. Quasarlontra (21:48)

Dec 3, 2013 4:22 AM #

Interesting to see Thule veering from the "projected route" as they head south on Route #608. There is a smaller road which it looks like they will take to approach the TA from the south.

Dec 3, 2013 4:22 AM #

Great updates, thanks DD and everyone. From a big picture point of view, teams are pretty even for a first stage, though Thule showed they might have something more this race. I know, way too early, but I'm just trying to read the Turkish coffee grounds.

Dec 3, 2013 4:26 AM #

A look ahead at the 2nd leg of the race:

Discipline :: Sea Kayak (65 km)
Ascent :: 0 m
Descent :: 10 m
Starting in the Coto River, teams will make their way from the Coto River down to the ocean. To obtain the next CP, they will need to find a narrow path through a mangrove channel. At low tide teams will have the added difficulty of having to portage their boats to get to this CP. Once cleared they will paddle across one of the deepest gulfs in the world, Golfo Dulce, and if they are lucky see the Humpback whales and dolphins the gulf is a sanctuary for.
Several coastal hamlets reside along this enchanting gulf, namely Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, Zancudo and Pavones, as well as the Piedras Blancas National Park. This is one stop on the itinerary that won’t soon be forgotten.

From the web:

Easily one of the wettest and most humid sections in the country, Golfo Dulce and the southwest can receive more than 200 inches (500 cm) of rainfall per year. This assures the surrounding area will be thriving with wild and plant life, perfect for aspiring adventurers.

Surrounded by Corcovado National Park to the southwest, and Costa Rica’s mainland to the northeast, Golfo Dulce serves up a large platter of entertainment for all who visit. Sport fishers will be happy to know that deep sea fishing here, which is second to none, is available from Golfito and Puerto Jiménez. To the southeast of the gulf is where you will find two great surfing locales. The palm shaded beaches of Zancudo and Pavones supply great surfing for anybody looking to hit the waves.

Golfito, the region’s unofficial capital, is situated along a small inlet of Golfo Dulce. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, Golfito provides an ideal location to escape from your hectic schedule and experience all this area has to offer. Lodges, cabinas and deluxe accommodations are available to supplement any relaxing vacation to the region. A short trip across the gulf from Golfito will land you in Puerto Jiménez, gateway to Corcovado National Park. Here you’ll find plenty of places to stay, as well as restaurants and shops. One single highway (245) links these destinations by land, snaking its way around the calming Golfo Dulce from the Inter-Americana, until arriving in Carate along the southern coast of the peninsula.

Sprouting along the edges of the Golfo Dulce are mangroves and estuaries full of wildlife. Hop in a boat or kayak to explore these ecosystems crawling with crocodiles, river otters, waterfowl, monkeys and much more. Fed by the Coto Colorado River, the Coto River Swamps are an excellent choice for discovering these uncanny wetlands and the secrets that lay within.

Dec 3, 2013 4:38 AM #

Hagofs Silva just made a huge jump on the recent update so they are somewhere in the top 5-8 teams it appears.

Dec 3, 2013 4:40 AM #

I am curious to see if anyone continues South on #614 after crossing the Pan-America Hwy. It seems like a bit of a shortcut but so far no teams have ventured that way.

Dec 3, 2013 4:47 AM #

Hop in a boat or kayak to explore these ecosystems crawling with crocodiles...

!! If that's not enough adventure for you, here's more on Corcovado Park from Wikipedia.

- Malaria is not a concern in Corcovado, but Dengue fever is a possibility.
- Avoid swimming. The ocean tides in this area are extremely powerful, while crocodiles and bullsharks are present in both the Rio Claro and Rio Sirena. River crossings should be done quickly and carefully.
- Snakes. There are Fer de Lance and various other poisonous snakes here. Fer de Lance or Tercioepelo, as it is known locally, is most active at night commonly along stream beds.
- Nature's defenses. Be careful of trees covered by thorns, spines, or ants.
- Peccaries Also know as Javelinas. There are two different species of peccaries in Corcovado, the Collared and the White-lipped Peccary. They run in packs and can be very aggressive. If threatened by a group of peccaries, climb a tree until you are six feet or higher off the ground.

Dec 3, 2013 4:49 AM #

Interesting route choices for teams after crossing the P-A Hwy. Some teams are following the suggested route while teams like Seagate, Adidas Terrex and AXA Adidas have found a smaller less distinct road to try and cut some distance off.

Dec 3, 2013 5:01 AM #

Looks like the alternate route worked OK for Thule.

Dec 3, 2013 5:16 AM #

Thule first to the TA at 11:09 pm local time while lots of other teams are close to finishing the last section of the bike leg. Lots of different route choices so will be interesting to see who comes in where.

#1 Thule 8:52 to complete leg #1

Dec 3, 2013 5:34 AM #

Good work! Seems that the official Twitter feed is providing regular news so I'm adding it to the list I posted above when the race started. Amongst other things, it mentions rain tonight. It also mentions a racer with an injured ligament on Team 67 after a bike fall. The leaderboard shows them as continuing unranked.
https://twitter.com/ARcostarica

Dec 3, 2013 5:45 AM #

Geez, I look away from the tracking map for a short while, and see what happens...

Dec 3, 2013 5:50 AM #

Looks like teams are going to be coming into the TA right away... AXA Adidas is now in second, and they updated times:
Thule - 23:29
AXA-adidas - 23:39

They all look so close still!! Wonder how long that will last.

Dec 3, 2013 5:59 AM #

OK Californians, it's bedtime here so we're counting on you to keep an eye on this race for us! :)

Dec 3, 2013 6:19 AM #

The tracker delays are driving me nuts. First Tecnu is up the road, behind the main pack, now they are back in the mix. And Columbia should be right nearby, but seem far out of position. We'll have to rely more on spotters' reports if the race stays tight and the trackers continue to have this delay.

Dec 3, 2013 6:27 AM #

Afsheen, leaderboard has Tecnu in the TA right after Seagate in 6th place. Only 39mins behind 1st place! The team has been kayaking like mad this year, so they should do well on these stages. Awesome start for Tecnu! I know they're going to be psyched to be right there with Seagate.

Off to bed for me!

Dec 3, 2013 6:29 AM #

It seems like they are keeping an up-to-date leaderboard. Placement, coming into CP 6 and the first transition:

Thule
Quasarlontra
Haglofs Silva
Seagate
Tecnu
AXA Adidas

Edit: they changed their leaderboard, so I changed my list to reflect. But I'm not calculating the time differentials again...

Dec 3, 2013 7:05 AM #

I'm awake again, but going back to sleep soon. Posted a slew of updates on Breathemag.ca

Dec 3, 2013 7:25 AM #

They changed the leaderboard again, and put Seagate second this time. I think I'll sleep and let the race org continue to refine their operation. At least they're trying to keep the leaderboard current. I hope they can continue to do that through the race.

Dec 3, 2013 10:50 AM #

Los Dobos, maybe you can help me out here.

Tracking system is working well, but the interface isn't so easy to follow. This is a relative term as we are currently spoilt compared to what used to be standard.

You talk of breadcrumbs, I can't activate this(using chrome browser)

If you click on a team in the list(from leaderboard, right hand pane or general drop down from the banner?), it brings up their route history complete with breadcrumbs.
http://ar.attackpoint.org/discussionthread.jsp/mes...

How are you seeing the exact CP placements, very hard to see where you can deviate from the suggested route.

Dec 3, 2013 12:34 PM #

Good morning everyone!!

LosDobos just reported this too but Seagate has passed Thule in the open waters of Gulf of Dulce. They can probably see each other? Haglofs Silva a little ways back and they might be within visual contact too.

Then there is a chase pack of Columbia Vidaraid, Quasarlontra, Tecnu, and AXA-adidas. Seems like everyone else is still working their way through Golfito Bay.

Dec 3, 2013 12:45 PM #

afsheen:

I am using Firefox, and for me if I click on the team name in the team list it opens a popup window which shows that teams track, complete with breadcrumbs. If that persists in not working for you, then I suggest you download and use Firefox, although I can't imagine why it wouldn't work with Chrome.

I am not able to see the CPs except for the ones that they show us on the maps. I can infer the presence of CPs depending on the route. For example, if you pull up Merrell's breadcrumbs you can see where CP3 is shortly before the top of the climb.

We STILL haven't got the promised maps from the race, but are working on a backup workaround. Stay tuned. We will have race maps if it kills us.

Dec 3, 2013 12:50 PM #

afsheen:
just tested the breadcrumbs with Chrome, IE and Firefox. All appears to work as LosDobos says.

Dec 3, 2013 1:11 PM #

Can I quote you out of context on that? I like the ring of "All appears to work as LosDobos says." :)

Dec 3, 2013 1:27 PM #

lol. sure thing.

Dec 3, 2013 1:34 PM #

Looks like a lot more teams are taking the shortcut to get out of the 'Golfito bay' with a small portage. Suppose daylight helps both in seeing it, and not having to hug the coastline for navigation. The bay looks incredibly wild, so probably no shorelights to navigate off in the dark.

ok, it was me asking about the breadcrumbs, glad to see the sun has come up that side of the atlantic.
I've got all three browsers loaded on my computer so am feeling a little bit stupid to have to ask again! What team list are you referring too?
- the teamlist/leaderboard directly below the tracking map
- the standalone teamlist under leaderboard option
- the teamlist under teams option

None of these have a hyperlink, or floating window when I hover over them. I also don't have a pop up blocker installed.

Dec 3, 2013 1:39 PM #

get onto the tracking map page by clicking the Tracking menu item between Home and Leaderboard. In the top right corner of the map will be an orange running man icon. Click it and it will open the team list. Click on any team name in this list to see the route with breadcrumbs.

Dec 3, 2013 1:41 PM #

shebeen - that's not infact a shortcut, its a narrow channel that they have to take in order to pick up a CP. Not sure if it's navigable at full ebb tide but most teams look like they've been able to paddle through it. Switch to satellite view and zoom in to see the channel.

Dec 3, 2013 1:52 PM #

Methinks he's referring to the shortcut portage when exiting Golfito Bay - teams #2 and #22 have just taken it now.

Dec 3, 2013 1:58 PM #

Ahhhhh, the orange running man. thank you for returning my sanity.

The shortcut I'm referring to is a bit later, just before they enter the Gulf of Dulce itself proper. Now that I can use the breadcrumbs, it's much better. Looking at yogaslackers, they've just skipped this bit at 06:48. I mention them because they took a rather interesting route between at 04:35 (hard to tell as breadcrumbs are far apart, probably overshot the entrance to the river).

Dec 3, 2013 2:11 PM #

ok, got it wrt the shortcut. my bad.
sometimes the tracker will fail to reach the satellite on one or more of its attempts, and then you get breadcrumbs that are far apart. What this means is that we know nothing of the route between those two temporally distant points: the tracker just draws a straight line from one to the other. It's like the uncertainty principle: the better we know their velocity, the less well we know their position, and vice-versa. There's your Tuesday morning quantum physic for ya.

Dec 3, 2013 2:26 PM #

Shrek Feet:

Lovin these updates! Thanks for everyone keeping us uodated (especially for those, like me, that can't watch as close during work :)) Go Tecnu!!

Dec 3, 2013 2:35 PM #

Hope there are some Europeans, Africans and Australians here who can keep the commentary going during the Costa Rican night. Even LosDobos needs to sleep sometimes. ;)

Dec 3, 2013 3:23 PM #

Morning!

Looks like Thule is keeping it pretty close behind the leader Seagate. Here is my updated guestimate based on the last update.

1. Seagate (9:02) ~12km to 2nd TA
2. Thule (9:02) ~500m behind Seagate
3. Hagofs Silva (8:54) ~3km behind Thule
4. Quasarlontra (9:09) ~3km behind 3rd
5. Tecnu (8:53) ~500m behind 4th
6. Colombia Vidaraid (8:48) ~in pack close to 4th
7. AXA Adidas (9:06) ~in pack close to 4th
8. Adidas Terrex (9:06) ~3km behind 7th place
9. Sportovia (9:13) ~2.5km behind 8th place
10. Bones (8:59) likely just ahead of Sportovia
11. Merrell (8:59) ~1km behind 10th
12. Selva (9:06) paddling close to Merrell
13. BMS (8:52) likely paddling close to Merrell/Selva
14. Banano (8:54) ~1km behind 13th
15. Trangoworld 8:57) paddling close to Banano

Followed by about 12 teams which are anywhere from 5-10km back.

**Once again this is just a guestimate as trackers are all updating at different times.

Dec 3, 2013 3:37 PM #

Great update from Breathe Mag's onsite reporter Leanimal -
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/03/live...

"I am going to just rant here and you can make lovely sentences if you like. Soon tired, but you probably are too.

Hot race start in a field across from a school near the Panama border.

Surround by coffee trees

Teams arrived about 2 hours before race start and had food while huddling together in the shade lining the field

The Le Mans start saw some teams sprinting off the start line while veterans and the top teams in the world trotted along quite comfortably.

Seagate was somewhere around mid pack. Minutes later though they were the first to leave the TA.

After finding some pollo at a roadside stand we were able to catch up with the teams just after CP 5

We waited with some local kids and asked them repeatedly if there were many snakes around. Si si. And then they proceeded to walk ahead in bare feet. They were enamoured by our headlamps and insisted on coming with us down the trail to see the teams coming. After over an hour of waiting we returned to their village so they could play With their friends again.

We headed back down the trail to see Thule coming by about 31 minutes ahead of Columbia.

Next came a Brazilian team and then a pack that included Tecnu, Adidas Terrex, Axa, and about 4 or 5 other teams.

By the next CP and TA1 Thule, seagate and Silva were all in the TA.

Teams chose different routes to get there. Again Seagate was in and out while other teams took quite a while to get organized and Mikael from AXA had a hell of a time getting his bike shoe off. A bike shoe that we had a discussion about being brand new on the start line. He commmented that all of the training trashes his gear so he had to get new shoes.

That's it for tonight since I am exhausted but you should have the maps in your hotmail account and I sent them to Joel too. I have pics and want to post them but Flickr won't work. I am going to make a FB album just so you can get them"

Dec 3, 2013 3:52 PM #

With the lead teams approaching Stage #3 let's see what's waiting for them. There aren't any remote Cps between TA2 and TA3 so teams will likely have different route choices in this section.

STAGE 3. STAGE 3
Discipline :: Trek (27 km)
Ascent :: 960 m
Descent :: 985 m
The first trek of the race will present to teams the pristine rain forests and rugged natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula, one of the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica. Teams trek West across the entire peninsula and finish this leg on the North side, near Drake Bay. This bay was named after Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century, and believed to be the location of one of the British pirate's fabled hidden treasures.

The National Geographic magazine described the Osa Peninsula as "the most biologically intense place on earth". It is one of the last places in Costa Rica to be settled and has only had road access within the last 10 years.

From the web -
Caption Text

Dec 3, 2013 4:01 PM #

Sounds like quite the muddy hike-a-bike in sections of the first bike leg.

From Sleepmonsters -
As a foggy dawn broke Transition One was busy with teams preparing to set off on the first paddling stage. By this stage the transition field was awash with mud and the mosquitoes were massing and biting, but as teams rode in (coming along the road from both directions), they didn’t care, they were just glad to have arrived!

It had been a long, hard first night of the race, and the competitors and their bikes were caked in mud after the overnight rains. It sounds like the teams did miss the worst of the deluge, which left the roads a foot deep in water in places nearer the coast, but they did encounter some rain. “It wasn’t too bad,” said Wendy Fjellstad of Team Peaklife Sport, “we had some rain and put our jackets on, but it wasn’t cold. It was the mud which was the problem.”

Her team mate Karl Webster was more forthright. “I’m not sure whose idea of a joke that was,” he said, “we carried the bikes for hours and the muddy gullies were horrendous – I’m sure no one has ever ridden some of those trails before – they were not meant for mountain biking!”

At the time this team were deciding whether to wash the bikes or leave them, but most took them down to the river to wash off.

In transition at the same time were the La Ruta Landrover team with ‘the Italian adventure racer’, Marco Ponteri (he is usually the only one at big races like this). He was with the team representing ‘La Ruta’ perhaps the world’s premier endurance mountain bike race, which crosses Costa Rica coast to coast, and race founder Roman Urbina is on the team.

He was busy dismantling his bike in the mud and commented, “I didn’t really enjoy carrying my bike for 5 hours – you should ride a bike not carry it! As you can see we are not really adventure racers – we are mountain bikers pretending to be adventure racers!”

Team Dark Horse from the USA were busy sorting their gear, and discussing why the kayak gear box was not at this transition, which it isn’t apparently! “It’s just another one of those little challenges,” said Tom Smith. He was talking to Molly Houseman who is on her first long adventure race. This a quite a race to start with!

“The mud and carrying was crazy,” she said, “there was one place where there must have been about 50 people queuing to get down a slot canyon of mud in single file, and everyone was helping each other out. We did get wet for a while, it went from fog to mist to rain to a downpour.” This is a team with some experience of Costa Rica as both Smith and David Darby have done all 4 Costa Rica Adventure Races, but after that night Smith said, “Pongo is off my Christmas list now, he’s not getting a card!” (Pongo is the nickname of the Race Director.)

There was no let up for the teams either as they all had to drag their heavy bike boxes through the mud across to the truck and pump up their own kayaks, which took a while. Once that was done they could slide down the muddy bank into the water of the Rio Coto Colorado. They would follow this for some distance out into the delta and onto the ocean, but even at the put in position it was broad and fast flowing.

The leaders had passed through this transition much earlier, moving an hour quicker than the predicted race time, despite the weather. Thule Adventure had made a break and were chased into transition by Columbia Vidaraid , quickly followed the rest of the top teams. Near CP5 on the ride there had been 14 teams all together in the chasing pack, and even by TA1 the first 12 teams came in within an hour of each other.

Seagate and Haglofs Silva were particularly quick in transition and as teams set off onto the ocean it was the 3 most successful squads of recent years, Thule Adventure, Seagate and Haglofs Silva leading the way, but the chasers were not far behind.

Dec 3, 2013 4:13 PM #

I'm really curious how much quicker Thule and Seagate are in their transitions compared to other teams! With about 11 transitions one could loose or gain 2 to 3 hours.

Dec 3, 2013 4:14 PM #

A few FB pics of Tecnu at the first TA.

Caption Text

Dec 3, 2013 4:20 PM #

It would be better if the team trackers would just reset at the same time, I think.

Dec 3, 2013 4:34 PM #

no doubt about it afsheen - that's how it was at XPD: they all updated every 15 minutes on the hour. It was sweet.

Dec 3, 2013 5:34 PM #

Nice shorts Kyle.

Dec 3, 2013 6:07 PM #

Latest guestimate as lead teams get to CP11/TA2

1. Seagate (11:43) -Likely getting ready to depart TA2 to trek
2. Thule (11:43) 2nd to check in at TA not too far behind leaders
3. Hagofs Silva (11:34) At TA2
4. Tecnu (11:41) - Getting close to end of paddle in a group with next two teams
5. Quasarlontra (11:30) - in small pack with Tecnu and Colombia
6. Colombia Vidaraid (11:29) ~in pack close to 4th
7. AXA Adidas (10:47) Tracker hasn't updated for an hour but likely just behind 6th
8. Adidas Terrex (11:47) Only a few kms from end of paddle.
10. Bones (11:39) ~1km behind 8th
11. Merrell (11:40) paddling well and just behind Bones for 10th
12. BMS (11:35) ~1km behind Bones/Merrell
13. Selva (11:26) paddling with Salomon-Suunto
14. Salomon-Suunto (11:34) - paddling with Selva
15. Sportovia (11:33) - Appear to have lost some ground since last update.
16. Banano (11:54) Fallen off a bit and trail 15th by ~1km
17. Bivouac Colts (11:58) ~ 1km behind 16th
18. Toyota (11:43) - paddling with Bivouac
19. Gearjunkies (11:33) ~1km behind 18th
20. Mountain Hdwre (11:26) just ahead of Opavanet

Trangoworld has fallen out of the top 20 after sitting in 15th place on last update.

Dec 3, 2013 6:12 PM #

Untamed Canada's tracker hasn't updated since 7:44 am local time so it will be interesting to see where they are after 4.5hrs.

Dec 3, 2013 6:21 PM #

A few other teams who are likely further than they are showing on the tracker are:

Great Langdale Bunkhouse - last update 6:27am local time
Endurance Ecuador - last update 10:02am
Jeep Adventure Team - last update 10:34am
AXA Adidas - last update 10:47am

Dec 3, 2013 7:25 PM #

FB:

Untamed has updated... look to be just ahead of Slice o' Phatty

Dec 3, 2013 7:44 PM #

Garret (Team Tecnu) was telling me pre-race the kayaks are 50lbs...pretty sure this trek leg they are responsible for lugging that weight to the next put in. :P

Dec 3, 2013 7:53 PM #

Plus sails, seats, pump etc.

Dec 3, 2013 7:54 PM #

no, just their paddling gear. their kayaks will be transported to CP12. From there they have a 10 km portage to CP13 where they can put in.

Dec 3, 2013 7:57 PM #

Slice o'Phatty. These are getting creative. :)

Dec 3, 2013 8:11 PM #

According to the official twitter account the teams do need to trek with their kayaks...but, Peter has also asked them about that on the same account. Let us know what you find out!

Dec 3, 2013 8:55 PM #

just got photo of the race instructions for that section. Kayaks only portaged from 12 to 13, not from 11 to 12.

Dec 3, 2013 9:41 PM #

But they still carry paddles and everything else, right? Sounds like a fun night ahead!

Dec 3, 2013 9:55 PM #

The race just posted a short summary video of Day 1...but it seems of very low quality. Unless that's just my setting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxhzQh0dUj8&feature...

Dec 3, 2013 9:56 PM #

FB:

Looks like all road 'run' from 11-12 and 12-13. Better than carrying crap through the bush I suppose

Dec 3, 2013 10:56 PM #

Thule just had a huge hike/run and overtook seagate, completing the first trek 31 mins fast than their counterparts.

It's also amazing that the top 5 teams in the world occupy the top five spots in the race right now!

Dec 3, 2013 11:46 PM #

just had a chance to check out the tracking map. Looks like Columbia is having a good trek, getting some space between them and Tecnu. And though Thule pushed the trek and came in first per escondido, Seagate left sooner. Dang, they are consistent. Bones coming in strong in 8th. Not sure what happened with Quasarlontra's tracker, it's hours behind, as they should be in the mix further up. I can't quite figure out where Yogaslackers are as I'm getting mixed signals from the tracker vs the breadcrumbs window. But they should be past the TA I would think, based on past reports. So much racing has gone on, but so much more racing left!

Dec 3, 2013 11:51 PM #

The leaderboard is updated now. Are those times out of TA's?

Dec 4, 2013 12:14 AM #

Found the Yogaslackers. 13th maybe, currently between 11 and 12.

Dec 4, 2013 1:09 AM #

WOW..

“Boats, they are more like barges,” said Bob Miller of Tecnu. “Seriously they are terrible and I think the fastest we made was 6k an hour. Everything is sore after sitting for 12 hours. As the team struggled to deflate and roll the boats I asked Garrett Bean it they had used their sails at all, and he said, “Not at all!” I think all the teams have bought them, but it is not often sails give a big advantage. Teams don’t want to give any advantage to their competitors however, and there is a lot more paddling to do on the race, so they might yet play their part.

Kyle Peter was looking forward to sleeping tonight though he knew foul tides might mean they couldn't and Bob Miller was already feeling how tough the course is. “These were supposed to be the smoother legs,” he said, “and so far it’s been brutal. I don’t think many teams will finish.”

Dec 4, 2013 2:11 AM #

Slice o Phatty? I was thinking PhatLander/ Turboslice.
Thanks for the updates, guys!

Dec 4, 2013 2:55 AM #

simpy, where did you get those quotes from Tecnu from? Mind if I post on the Tecnu FB page? Just want to give reference....

Dec 4, 2013 3:28 AM #

Found it here:
http://live.arcostarica.com/news/fullstory.cfm?sto...

Dec 4, 2013 3:39 AM #

I thought the quote came from a Sleepmontsters.com storu

Dec 4, 2013 3:42 AM #

And it's not just Tecnu. Adidas Terrex feels the same way.

“That was too long,” said Nick Gracie. Warren Bates chipped in, “No, the boats were too slow, they are designed for floating down rivers, not use on flat water.”

A lot of us here have had to paddle Tomcats, and I'm sure we're all sending our deepest sympathies to the racers.

It is interesting that the top teams are sounding so beaten up this early in the race. It doesn't bode well for the teams further back.

Dec 4, 2013 4:18 AM #

Teams are definitely getting spread out now...going into the second night, it's going to be a tough race to finish.

Dec 4, 2013 4:29 AM #

They were estimating 15-30 hours for leg 4. With the tides, the tough nav, and teams starting to get fatigued, I wonder if that is a low estimate.

Dec 4, 2013 4:31 AM #

z:

Teams arrived to TA 2 looking *WORKED* and I thought the same thing. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2212433447224... shows Jari Kirkland 80% of the way through the first paddle.

Dec 4, 2013 4:36 AM #

The projected time for the 55 km mangrove paddle is 15-30 hours. Between the tides, the complex nav and the darkness, I wonder how many teams will take longer. I'll bet a few teams end their race here. It sure looks like a vortex!

Dec 4, 2013 4:37 AM #

Looks like Runninghils, Untamedadventur and I had the same thought at the same time!

Dec 4, 2013 4:48 AM #

Merrell seem to be making a nice climb up the leader board, matching Thule on the paddle split and catching up on all other teams, except Seagate who were clear by 1hr on the paddle...

Dec 4, 2013 4:56 AM #

Thule is about to enter the first mangrove channel en route to CP14. The tide is just 90 minutes past its lowest point - what are they seeing? Mud? Root systems? Paddle-able water? Possibilities are endless!

Seagate's tracker hasn't updated in 2 hours. They are showing still on the portage, about 2-3km away from where the tracking map shows paddling can begin.

Tecnu is about 1km behind Seagate but their tracker hasn't updated in 1hr.

Merrell AA continues their amazing comeback and is tracking 1.5-2km behind Tecnu. Their last update was 30min ago.

Haglofs behind Merrell probably within visual distance, but their tracker hasn't updated in 2hrs either.

Dec 4, 2013 5:00 AM #

No tracker updates for a long time from Seagate, Haglofs Silva or Tecnu. I wonder if they decided to sleep before the paddle, given that neither tides nor daylight are in their favour, and they're coming into their 2nd night. Thule's tracker is updating; they're making progress on the water - if any Tomcat paddle can be called "progress".

Dec 4, 2013 5:05 AM #

Agreed, Silkychrome. I'm interested to see what Thule's tracker does next. Can they get in there?

Dec 4, 2013 5:13 AM #

A nice bunch of paddling photos from Legendaryrandy's Facebook page. I'm not sure if everyone can see them...?

https://www.facebook.com/randy.ericksen/media_set?...

Dec 4, 2013 5:17 AM #

A photo of the Sierpe Mangroves tweeted by race organizers. It's the largest mangrove reserve in Latin America.

Post by Aventura!! Costa Rica.

Dec 4, 2013 5:31 AM #

Thanks Bash. I may have nightmares of that pic this evening.

Dec 4, 2013 5:35 AM #

We've put a similar section in Wilderness Traverse 2014. ;)

Dec 4, 2013 5:44 AM #

Merrell Adventure Addicts and Haglofs Silva were together half an hour ago. They're both in the top 5 but since we haven't seen an update from Seagate or Tecnu in a long time, we don't know whether Merrell has moved up or Silva has moved down.

Thule is moving up that mangrove channel.

Dec 4, 2013 6:26 AM #

Hermes:

Team Tecnu looked pretty fresh coming off the loooooooong 27km gravel road trek. (Leanimal and I hiked a portion until we got sidetracked by fresh coffee and it was stinking hot and it gott old pretty fast). Getawaystix was rocking his sweet oversized Trimtex pants too!

Comments included "nothing has been easy so far and that was suppose to be the easier sections..." and "just finishing this race will be a huge accomplishment"

Tecnu is doing well and they are about 10 + hours off their anticipated time to arrive at T4...so there's some indication of the course so far.

Time fort sleep....

Dec 4, 2013 7:16 AM #

A note from the race. It sucks being in the media bus.I will end up mostly seeing TAs. It is what it is.I am post most of my videos on the Breathe blog,http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/category/arwc-2...
Finding internet can be tough. The Race organization is doing what they can. For now I am just putting my pics on my Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/randy.ericksen/photos_albu...
In your spare time, of course.

Dec 4, 2013 7:17 AM #

Tecnu's tracker just updated about an hour behind Merrell/Silva/Columbia - they must have taken some sleep? This puts Merrell/Silva/Columbia in joint 3rd at the moment - go Saffas! :)

Dec 4, 2013 8:23 AM #

Merrel Adventure Addicts* have had a real see saw race already, they took the eastern loop with seagate on the first bike to be effectively leading. got a bit lost finding the CP and came into TA1 in 21st place. paddled across the sound to 11th place, and have now moved into an effective 3rd place on the trek/portage/paddle section. Big gap up to the leading 2 but lots still to happen.

*disclaimer, there will be serious bias towards our south african team whilst north america sleeps.

Dec 4, 2013 11:37 AM #

So the muddy waters of those mangrove swamps have just become a little clearer:

Seagate had in fact stopped to sleep at midnight and have just started moving again after about 4h of shut-eye

This puts Thule waaay ahead, but without any sleep yet – they are currently taking a massive back-track as they probably ran into a dead-end channel and were unable to reach the CP. This is going to cost them a few hours and may let the other teams catch up again (unless of course they make the same mistake or the tides change)

Merrell seems to have taken a wrong turn (looking for a CP perhaps?) but are now back on track and moving with Seagate in joint 3rd

Silva have gapped Merrell (and Seagate while they were sleeping) and are now a few km up the channel in 2nd place.

So the only team in the top 4 that have gotten any sleep is Seagate (unless they were also lost for those 4 hours and not tracking).

Dec 4, 2013 12:00 PM #

cramptonite:

Thule is backtracking, looks like they are attempting an alternate route to CP17 as the tide goes out.

Dec 4, 2013 12:03 PM #

Wrong turns in those boats may turn out to be very costly. Thankfully Merrel are making progress again, and don't seem to have lost too much time looking for CP15, they actually look to be in contact with Silva/Seagate now... 3hrs to low tide, not looking great, I wonder if there will be any 'forced rest' if only in daylight.

Dec 4, 2013 12:38 PM #

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/wp-content/uplo...

Thule got CP16 about 0317. Then they spent 1hr trying to move directly towards CP17, eventually bailing on the route and backtracking 1hr to the main channel, arriving there about 0530. Now they have to paddle the around route to CP17. The tide is in the middle of its ebb, but the main channel should be paddle-able since it's so wide.

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/wp-content/uplo...

The interesting thing is that even though Thule essentially wasted 2hrs, they are so far ahead of the other teams that no one saw them re-emerge into the main channel so i bet plenty of other teams will try to go directly 16-17.

Dec 4, 2013 12:41 PM #

i'm not sure how much sleep seagate got - they took 8 hours to do a section that merrel and thule did in 3. really hard to tell from the breadcrumbs, but they did spend about 2 hours looking for what could be CP14 same spot that thule left the channel (at about midnight). according to los dobos maps that would have been a bit early (columbia have also gone off west there now) merrell also bushwacked there.

I'm not sure why Thule backtracked after getting 16 to go around, if you look at the tide table at 3:30-5am it was falling, and at the strongest flow so maybe they just couldn't paddle up the channel. they sure left it in a hurry to go round. if that is the case, then teams arriving at CP16 at 10/11am will have a freeride up to CP17

Dec 4, 2013 12:49 PM #

Also, it's Garret Bean's birthday today! Happy birthday! Here's your present, a bunch of sometimes-good-sometimes-bad muddy channels to paddle through! Oh, and you can lug around this slow heavy inflatable too!

Dec 4, 2013 1:14 PM #

I'm looking at the maps as posted with CPs on them.

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/04/race...

I can't see any point in calling this a score event, even with tidal changes, i don't see any feasible options that don't just get the CPs in numerical order? anyone else got a different route?

Dec 4, 2013 1:40 PM #

14-15 obvious in order.

my only guess is you could go 17-16 if the tides are right, paddle around to 17 in the big channel, then attack 16 on an ebb tide, and proceed to 18-19??

i am really guessing on the tide thing. i have never paddled in an ocean!

Dec 4, 2013 1:46 PM #

it's like a big salty lake with reversing currents every 6 hours. good times

Dec 4, 2013 1:51 PM #

z:

Hey everyone -- I'm physically on the ground at the race and I get a lot of great info from this Attackpoint thread. You're in a position to synthesize everything, like a crowd-sourced eye-in-the sky. So thanks!

Dec 4, 2013 2:46 PM #

Don't know the rules but is it maybe more of a rogaine section of the course where not all points are mandatory. This is not very common in ARWC events but occurs a lot in North American ARs. If this is the case many teams could paddle directly to the CP19 or maybe just get 14-15 and then go to 19. Both would probably save significant time and the hassle of having to deal with tides on some of the smaller channels.

Dec 4, 2013 2:48 PM #

Seagate just got to 16 at 828 and Merrel at 839. Curious to see how the attack 17 and if they decide to take the small channel can they make it. Seagate tracker should ping again in the next minute or so.

Dec 4, 2013 3:13 PM #

...and you can't drink salty water, no matter how much you purify it.
"water, water everywhere...but not a drop to drink"

Dec 4, 2013 3:20 PM #

Seagate, Merrrel and Silva all are attempting to go directly to 17. Can't blame them for trying but tide is as low as it gets. One would think they won't be able to make it through. We'll see.

Dec 4, 2013 3:44 PM #

Seagate is now at the point that Thule had to turn around. It will be interesting to see if they are able to keep going or have to take the same route Thule did over 4 hours ago? Does that timing make sense?

Dec 4, 2013 4:00 PM #

Seagate seems to have turned around. Merrell as well. Tecnu and Columbia should see them coming out as they approach and should know not to attempt.

Dec 4, 2013 4:16 PM #

Quasarlontra seems to be having trouble finding their way in a spot that seems to have given everyone trouble except Thule. I don't think Tecnu got any sleep here or at all. Not sure if the trackers are not that accurate and when people stop to sleep it jumps around or if they are actually getting lost here. It looks like there are a couple channels to follow here so getting lost is definitely feasible. Especially since everyone is doing it in the same spot, just before 14.

Does look like Seagate got some sleep and they may have been the only ones to do so in the top 6. They just happened to stop just as they made a wrong turn.

Dec 4, 2013 4:22 PM #

Exciting! Looks like the 2nd through 6th place teams might have a little reunion in the middle of the main channel, saving Tecnu and Columbia the trouble of paddling up the dead-end channel.

Dec 4, 2013 4:22 PM #

FB:

This could be perfect timing... for Tecnu, Vidaraid

Dec 4, 2013 4:25 PM #

cramptonite:

Especially given Thule turned back right at peak tide.

Dec 4, 2013 4:27 PM #

now there's a mini-race between Seagate/Merrell/Haglofs and Tecnu/Columbia. Seagate has turned around after getting stuck between 16 and 17, and I'm pretty sure Merrell and Haglofs will do the same shortly. will those three teams make it to the main channel and out of sight before Tecnu/Columbia get there to attack 16?

the tide was at its lowest about 1hr ago, and is rising now.

agree w mayer22 on the sleep thing, doesn't look like there has been much resting going on in the top 6. even on 2 full nights' sleep my head is spinning keeping track of routes/breadcrumbs/tides.

Dec 4, 2013 4:31 PM #

When I went to bed last night, the tracks for Silva, Tecnu and Seagate had not updated for an hour or two, and they were all near the put-in. I wondered if they had snuck in some sleep then. Like Silkychrome, I'm going cross-eyed on the breadcrumbs. The tracker might jump around a little while they sleep, which is hard to distinguish from normal adventure racing. :)

Dec 4, 2013 4:33 PM #

90% sure Seagate got some sleep

Dec 4, 2013 4:34 PM #

Also amazing to see that the gap the top 6 teams have created in this tide. If Tecnu and Colombia can get up to CP16 quickly then back behind Seagate/Haglofs Silva, it could make it very interesting on the last third of this paddle especially if some had sleep while others didn't.

Dec 4, 2013 4:34 PM #

Haglofs Silva is backtracking with Seagate. Looks like maybe Merrell didn't see them turn around because they were in a smaller side channel when the other teams went by. Merrell is still near the turnaround point.

Paddle, Bob, paddle! (Sorry, a bit of hometown bias here.)

Dec 4, 2013 4:35 PM #

FB:

Tecnu going to bump into Seagate at the fork!! :-)

Dec 4, 2013 4:37 PM #

Look at the cluster of 10-12 teams which appear to be "Tide-d out" from 7th place back. A few of the trackers haven't updated in an hour so they could be a little further then indicated.

Dec 4, 2013 4:38 PM #

Recent update has Tecnu in the channel passing Seagate! Let's see if they are able to get CP16 and turnaround.

Dec 4, 2013 4:40 PM #

YEAH!!!! Columbia has stopped but there is a definite party going on in the mangroves w Seagate/Haglofs outbound and Tecnu inbound. Merrell still mucking around on the direct route.

Dec 4, 2013 4:41 PM #

Yea does look like they got some sleep at the put in. Hard to tell with the breadcrumbs. Seagate seemed to have stopped right before 14 as well though.

Looks like Merrell stopped when they saw Seagate coming back and decided to sleep.

Passing Seagate and Silva is gonna be a huge confidence booster. Thule is way out in front though.

Dec 4, 2013 4:41 PM #

FB:

looks like tecnu blew right by Seagate (going the other way) in a narrow channel?!?!

Maybe they are having a picnic together and 'catching up' on recent events :-)

Dec 4, 2013 4:43 PM #

Don't see that Columbia stopped. They should see Tecnu coming out if they don't see Seagate/Silva

Dec 4, 2013 4:44 PM #

This is when we need one of those mini-drone helicopters with a GoPro.

Dec 4, 2013 4:45 PM #

Meanwhile in the front of the pack and on no sleep in almost two days Thule is in the last section of the mangroves. It appears they have about 12km left of paddling to go.

Dec 4, 2013 4:47 PM #

As a reminder, here is the map with CP16 that Tecnu and Columbia still need to visit. (Thank you LosDobos and Craig Bycroft.)
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/04/race...

Dec 4, 2013 4:48 PM #

In the big chase pack behind 6th Aerodiva has made a slight push ahead and is now alone in 7th place. Not familiar with that team so good on them for pushing through as they were 21st at the last TA.

Dec 4, 2013 4:49 PM #

Just as I posted Adidas Terrex joined Aerodiva in the battle for 7th.

Dec 4, 2013 4:51 PM #

Thanks everyone for all the great updates. I'm just tuning into the race after some time spent away from technology.

Dec 4, 2013 4:56 PM #

FB:

Based on the times of how that all worked out I don't see how Tecnu could have gotten past Seagate and Silva without passing them going opposite directions?
Very anxious to see Tecnu's next update after 10:33... and Vidaraids
hope it's quick... gotta get back to real life :-)

Dec 4, 2013 4:58 PM #

There are 3 teams who have officially withdrawn.
- 67 Ríos y Canoas Colombia (teammate injured a ligament in an early bike accident)
- 26 La Ruta - Land Rover
- 23 Trópico Extremo

Canadian team Epic Endurance (15) is a bit of a mystery. They were on the first kayak section yesterday afternoon, then their tracker disappeared until it showed up at TA4 this morning. Then it tracked several times between TA4 and TA2. They are now trekking along the road from TA2 with their paddling gear.

Dec 4, 2013 5:01 PM #

I felt bad reading Epic Endurance's team page because at one point they were listed as first place and some of their friends and family woke up to see this and got really excited. If they were following Breathe or AP they would have known!

Dec 4, 2013 5:01 PM #

FB:

Thanks Bash... makes sense now.... they still have to go up and back, they just (presumably) won't waste time trying to push through.. I think....
I hadn't looked at that map :-)

Dec 4, 2013 5:02 PM #

At 10:33, Tecnu still had to go up the channel about 1.5 km further to get CP16 so we won't see them turn around on the next track, I don't think.

Dec 4, 2013 5:04 PM #

(Not that it stops me from hitting refresh!)

Dec 4, 2013 5:05 PM #

DD11, do we know what happened to Epic Endurance? Their diversion seems pretty big - and specific - for a mere tracker snafu.

Dec 4, 2013 5:06 PM #

z:

Epic lost their tracking device in the Gulfo Dulce; a new device was initialized near TA 4 -- where I am -- which inadvertently triggered the geo-fencing logic to award them the CP visit to TA 4. I think that's all been backed out OK now, and most importantly the new tracker has been connected with the Epic racers and they're now back to tracking normally.

Dec 4, 2013 5:06 PM #

Epic lost their tracker in the Gulf during the 1st paddle. they had a replacement delivered to them at T2.

Dec 4, 2013 5:09 PM #

Okay thanks for the updated Untamed!! How's the weather and spirit of the racers in general? Crazy to look at the overall race course and see how little they really have covered in two days.

Dec 4, 2013 5:13 PM #

A quick check on the breadcrumbs and it appears Thule has about a 5 hour lead over second place Seagate as they were in the same area at 5:37 am local time. That said, we're pretty sure Seagate has banked some sleep while Thule hasn't had any that we know of.

Dec 4, 2013 5:15 PM #

From Untamedadventur: Hey everyone -- I'm physically on the ground at the race and I get a lot of great info from this Attackpoint thread. You're in a position to synthesize everything, like a crowd-sourced eye-in-the sky. So thanks!

Although there are many places to "watch" the race, this is why I always love the AP thread. Contributions from people around the world in different time zones with a good understanding of maps and adventure racing, and experience with some of the racers. Nobody can watch the race all the time (not even LosDobos) so I love being able to catch up here first, then I check the Breathe Flashblog and tracking map - then the rest of the live coverage. Thanks, all!

Dec 4, 2013 5:20 PM #

It appears Tecnu is going to chance it and continue on to try to get CP17 directly. They will likely see Merrell up ahead. Hope for their sake the tide is higher and they can squeeze through the channel. Looking on Bing maps there doesn't seem to be much water even in higher tides.

Dec 4, 2013 5:20 PM #

z:

It is brutally hot out. I'm in a shaded cafe here near the bridge spanning River Sierpe so we'll see lead teams come past with a final KM or so still to go to the TA. Thule maybe 60 mins away. I did a quick interview with ARWS Craig Bycroft - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=6947193038809... - out in the sun on a dock, and it was sweltering. I think I'd need a gallon of sunblock to feel any measure of protection from the intensity of the sun.

Combine that with all the surrounding water is filled with crocodiles so that everyone is warned against swimming, and it's a recipe for some broiled adventure racers today. I'm getting sun-burned just considering it.

I last saw teams at TA 2 around dusk yesterday, the lead ~25 teams, and it looked like most underestimated the first paddle (or maybe overestimated those inflatable kayaks?). Most were in good spirits, though, glad to be moving on land for a bit. I'm guessing teams will arrive to TA 4 enthusiastic to ride their bikes for a bit.

Teams knew they were coming to the jungle for a race, though, so didn't sense any "shock & awe" from any teams I saw yesterday.

Dec 4, 2013 5:21 PM #

@Grant, the ranking for Epic Endurance needs to be fixed on the leaderboard. Instead of 18th, they would be 45th, I think?

Thanks for sharing that good info about race conditions! :)

Dec 4, 2013 5:24 PM #

Great update Grant! Thanks for the real-time update from the course! It will be interesting to see if Thule stops to re-charge at the TA for a bit.

Dec 4, 2013 5:26 PM #

Teams will get a well deserved break front the water after the Mangrove leg as they won't paddle again till Leg #8 which has a dark zone. Still lots of biking/trekking before that though.

Teams will have the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling rafting experience in the Pacuare River, which is rated amongst the top 10 most beautiful rivers in the world. Class IV & V rapids will get the adrenaline flowing in all racers who will be guided by expert river guides. There is a dark Zone that applies from 5:30pm through the night until 5 am - meaning no paddling is permitted during the night time hours.

Dec 4, 2013 5:27 PM #

Always so hard to stop when daylight is limited but Thule has to be exhausted.

Dec 4, 2013 5:28 PM #

It appears Tecnu is now on Merrell so let's see what happens on the next update. Colombia's tracker hasn't updated for a while so curious to see where they turn up!

Dec 4, 2013 5:29 PM #

Seagate and Haglofs/Silva are making good time on the wider channel above. So close…yet so far..

Dec 4, 2013 5:32 PM #

To put things in perspective for Merrell and Tecnu, Thule was at the same spot 7 hours ago. At that time they decided to turn back and head along the wider channel to the north. To get to the same spot where Seagate currently is, it took Thule ~2 hours. Of course this could totally change with the high tide coming in!

Dec 4, 2013 5:40 PM #

Canadian team Untamed Canada (16) is moving along steadily in 25th place [edited]. They should be starting to paddle the mangrove section shortly. Looking at their breadcrumbs, it seems that they might have had a couple of naps in the 1-hour range at the start and finish of the Stage 2 kayak but there's no sign of a longer sleep yet.

Dec 4, 2013 5:41 PM #

z:

Craig and I sipping a drink while we wait for Thule to come past:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-...

It's a hardship assignment

Dec 4, 2013 5:41 PM #

These updates are awesome, thank you so much everyone!

Dec 4, 2013 5:42 PM #

Untamed Canada is 1-2 km into the paddle based on the latest track.

Dec 4, 2013 5:48 PM #

Slice o' Phatty (17) is not far behind in 33rd place. (I'm correcting the positions since Epic Endurance is incorrectly placed on the leaderboard right now.) They have a bit more portaging to do. It must be hellish in the heat. They appear to have slept for a couple hours at the end of the Stage 2 kayak section.

Dec 4, 2013 6:00 PM #

Just noticed this from Endorphin Mag earlier today:

Nathalie souffre d'une allergie (sur le dos et le ventre). Elle l'a sans doute attrapée à cause de la natation dans la mangrove ;-) Le Docteur lui a fait des des injections d'antihistaminique pour calmer le début de démangeaison et de brulure. Elle doit ensuite prendre des comprimés. Ils ont dormi sans chaussure pour faire sécher le tout. Le moral est bon.

For the non-French speakers, I think this means that Nathalie of Untamed Canada has a rash from an allergic reaction on her back and stomach. The doc gave her antihistamine injections to calm the itching and burn. She'll take some pills too. They slept without shoes to dry their feet out. Morale is good.

So I guess this means they got some sleep at a TA.

Dec 4, 2013 6:04 PM #

Dec 4, 2013 6:05 PM #

Merrell is trying to push forward to CP17...

Dec 4, 2013 6:06 PM #

...not Tecnu moving back. their tracker hasn't update in 55 mins

Dec 4, 2013 6:07 PM #

Yah I was wrong and deleted my comment. Didn't realize it was Merrell who had moved up the narrow channel. Let's hope it works!

Dec 4, 2013 6:08 PM #

Almost looks like Merrell is trying to follow a bearing....that could be trouble...

Dec 4, 2013 6:11 PM #

Merrell's tracker has just updated, seems like they are taking a slightly different approach to CP17... A little bit of 'bundu' bashing :). Hoping this pays off for them!

Dec 4, 2013 6:18 PM #

I just compared Merrell's current location to where Thule turned around and it's the exact same spot. Not sure how much time they will spend there but it would really suck if they have to go all the way around. Mangroved out..is that like being cliffed out?

Dec 4, 2013 6:20 PM #

Meanwhile the chase pack continues to make their way up the first narrow mangrove with Aerodiva leading the charge. Where is Colombia? No update in 2 hours.

Dec 4, 2013 6:22 PM #

Merrell has turned around and are now heading back to the main channel. UGH.

Dec 4, 2013 6:25 PM #

Based on Thule's earlier time it took them 1.5-2 hours to get around to CP17 from where Tecnu and Merrell currently are. Too bad because they made up some ground earlier. Let's see if some of the chase pack make it to the main channel as Tecnu and Merrell paddle out.

Dec 4, 2013 6:32 PM #

AR Costa Rica posted on Twitter than "Thule is walking on the side of the river as they approach TA4". That can't be a good sign for water levels in that area. So much for being open and an easier paddle.

Dec 4, 2013 6:33 PM #

The twitter feed also confirmed that Team Ducati is still in the race and getting close to finishing the first paddle stage.

Dec 4, 2013 6:37 PM #

In the midst of the chase pack it appears BMS Multisport has gone off course and may in the wrong mangrove channel. YIKES!?

Dec 4, 2013 6:40 PM #

Tecnu's tracker has now updated and unfortunately they have dropped to about 2 hours back of 2nd/3rd place Haglofs/Silva as they will navigate the long (but easier) way around the mangrove.

Dec 4, 2013 6:44 PM #

2nd/3rd place Seagate and Silva have just reached CP18. Thule hit this CP ~4.5 hours ago.

Dec 4, 2013 6:47 PM #

Looks like 7th place Aerodiva is going to be heading up to CP16 at the same time as Tecnu is coming down. Will they repeat the same "mistake" as the 6 teams ahead of them (assuming Colombia did the same). It really can't be called a mistake as this was the suggested route on the maps.

Dec 4, 2013 6:50 PM #

Tecnu is now back where they were 80 minutes ago. Hopefully they can make quick work of the main channel as they get back to it.

Dec 4, 2013 6:56 PM #

BMS Multisport...maybe 90* compass error? even still, they should have realized that there is only 1 side channel up there and not 2 as on the official route. but then again who am i to say, i've slept in an actual bed.

Dec 4, 2013 6:58 PM #

It will be interesting to hear what Tecnu was thinking. Given where they met Seagate and Silva, they wouldn't have expected the tides to be much different for the shortcut.

Or is there some way they didn't see the other teams? These teams wouldn't *want* to be seen but it doesn't look like an easy place to sneak past someone.

Dec 4, 2013 6:59 PM #

As Thule comes into TA4, here is what awaits them on the next leg.
STAGE 5. STAGE 5
Discipline :: Mountain Bike (101 km)
Ascent :: 2090 m
Descent :: 1210 m
On this long bike ride teams will encounter a number of diverse challenges. The first is detailed navigation through palm oil plantations. If they succeed in this they will find the boat dock which is required to cross the Terraba river. Next teams will ascend the toughest hill in the race course, the "Donkey Hill". To provide some short relief - at least physically - athletes must complete the thrilling "Superman Ride", a 2km canopy ride (ie screaming down a steel cable in the flying position of Mr Clark Kent). The leg finishes with a number of long up hills and technical downhills as a final test of riders bike skills and stamina.

Donkey Hill sounds like quite an ass. I can't imagine teams running on no sleep and in hot hot heat will have much energy for the toughest climb of the race.

Dec 4, 2013 7:00 PM #

Top 10 team Mountain Hardware appear to have made a nav error as well as they are headed up the wrong channel.

Dec 4, 2013 7:01 PM #

Given that the sun sets in 4 hours, the lead teams will probably be doing that hill in the dark.

Dec 4, 2013 7:02 PM #

So far we've only seen the top navigators in the world in the mangrove channels. As the day goes on, we're going to see more "interesting" route choices for sure!

Dec 4, 2013 7:04 PM #

Bash, I am wondering the same thing. hard to say without being there and seeing exactly the water levels. i can't imagine Tecnu didn't see Seagate/Silva on their way into 16. on paper, the direct route from 16 to 17 seems reasonable...daylight and close to high tide, plus the allure of short-cutting their way into the top 3. on paper it sounds like a risk i would be willing to take. i hope at least one of the four of them will be coherent enough at the end of the race to remember this part and tell us!

Dec 4, 2013 7:05 PM #

And like you said Bash only 4 hours till darkness starts to set in. Navigating from CP16 to CP17 looks like a challenge for the top navigators in the world in the daylight. I can't imagine what it would be like in darkness.

Dec 4, 2013 7:07 PM #

Silkychrome - If you take a look at Bing Maps zoomed in, it's hard to figure out how teams would be able to get to CP17 directly even in the best tide conditions. The channel appears to disappear for a few 100meters. Guessing that maybe teams have tried to mangrove whack through but that mud/muck must be relentless.

Dec 4, 2013 7:09 PM #

Bones is currently moving well and appear to be sitting in the top ten. I doubt they will make it out to the CP16 channel before Tecnu/Merrell approach but will be interesting to see how they far a few hours later in a higher tide.

Dec 4, 2013 7:16 PM #

Channel just seems to disappear

Dec 4, 2013 7:17 PM #

The shortcut to 17 was a risk worth taking based on the objective info (maps and tides) but if Tecnu saw that both Seagate and Silva deemed it impossible and not worth waiting for the higher tide, it would take some serious optimism to keep moving forward. It would be a big move for them but it would also be a big move to just turn around after 16 and try to chase down the 2nd and 3rd place teams.

Dec 4, 2013 7:19 PM #

It appears Mountain Hardware knew what they were doing as they opted for the longer wider route as they work their way through the mangroves.

Dec 4, 2013 7:21 PM #

That channel looks like it disappears between CP16 & CP17...the risk of whacking through it would be way too large. I think the teams that make the decision to turn around fastest will be the real winners on this one. But, if I was there...I'd probably want to try it as well...can't fault them for that.

Dec 4, 2013 7:22 PM #

Definitely agreed, and not that they have the luxury of zooming in on Bing Maps to see what we see sitting at work/home! :)

Dec 4, 2013 7:23 PM #

WOW Colombia tracker has updated. Unfortunately for them, they are where all the top teams got Man-groved in.

Dec 4, 2013 7:25 PM #

I think Tecnu was probably racing their own race not letting other teams influence their decision. They didn't know that Seagate and Silva tried to go the other way. They only know they are going the long way. There is logic behind this thinking but sometimes you have to bet that the teams in front of you are making logical and accurate decisions especially when they are Seagate and Silva. It's easy to get caught up in another team's strategy and make a mistake though (like miss a CP) It would have been best for Tecnu to see them coming out of the deadend while they were at or past CP 16.

Looks like Tecnu woke up Merrell.

We still don't know where Columbia is recently. (Now we do)

Not sure if Mountain Hardwear thought they could cut through where they went or if they were lost.

Dec 4, 2013 7:27 PM #

Another WOW goes out to BMS Multisport. Check out their route as they navigate through the west side of the mangrove. Very very interesting route choice for them as they approach a wider channel.

Dec 4, 2013 7:27 PM #

Just realized that Tecnu had no idea how far ahead the other teams were since they'd probably all taken naps. *We* know the other teams tried to do the shortcut but Tecnu probably just thought the other teams went to 16, then turned around to make a safe route choice.

Dec 4, 2013 7:29 PM #

Latest update for Thule has them out of the TA and on the bikes heading up the road. So much for resting at the TA! I guess they want to get as much biking in as they can before the sunsets.

Dec 4, 2013 7:29 PM #

Not sure that BMS took the route on purpose. It doesn't look that much better than the other. At least they made it through.

Dec 4, 2013 7:30 PM #

Good point Bash. You don't think Nathan would have just said to Bob "hey I wouldn't approach CP17 that way, follow us". :)

Dec 4, 2013 7:30 PM #

It actually looks like Thule paddled up the river. They must really love those Tomcats to choose them over their bikes ;)

Dec 4, 2013 7:31 PM #

Agreed mayer22. I'm guessing they made a nav error earlier and decided to keep forging ahead. Good on them to make it through an area which looks on Bing to be impassable.

Dec 4, 2013 7:31 PM #

Bash looks like you had the same thought as me. I figured they might think that as they passed them but hoped they might just forego the exploration.

I think Tecnu didn't assume anything though. Like I said above just racing their own race. That's why they explored. Assuming in AR's can be a losing strategy

Dec 4, 2013 7:34 PM #

For the record, Thule officially checked into TA4 at 1:18 pm local time. They were on the "Mangrove" paddle for 20.5 hours which is the high side of RD's guesstimates for the fastest teams I believe.

Dec 4, 2013 7:39 PM #

I can't believe what BMS Multisport just did....that looks just as impossible a route as what we've been looking at betwee 16 & 17....even more difficult. Did that save them any time though?

Dec 4, 2013 7:40 PM #

It was estimated at 15-30 hours, according to the race book. So that's still on the high side for Thule, even without sleep.

Dec 4, 2013 7:43 PM #

Quasarlontra and BMS were at the exact spot at 11:52 am. BMS is still navigating out to the main channel and still have about 4-5km to get to where Quasarlontra currently sits. Unfortunately for BMS it doesn't look like their route choice helped.

Dec 4, 2013 7:44 PM #

Or route "choice", as the case may be. ;)

Dec 4, 2013 7:46 PM #

DD11...mangrove-whack! yes! :)

Dec 4, 2013 7:47 PM #

Thule looks like they portaged, no? Track shows them cutting over on the roads then on their way back down to the TA in Sierpe, either via road or come downstream on the small river. 9 km on roads vs. 7 km on the river in a slow Tomcat: which is faster? They would still be carrying their portage wheels so maybe that's a good strategic move. They have to deflate their Tomcat and set up bikes, so Seagate might see them in transition.
EDIT: Ahh, the TA is up the side river, not as indicated on the tracking map. Curious how many teams choose this portage.

Dec 4, 2013 7:49 PM #

As BMS approach the next turn in the channel I am curious if teams are allowed to leave their boats for a few 100m to mangrove-whack to a CP. If they see how open the north route (which all top teams have had to take) is, maybe they can stash the boat and grab CP16 which appears to be a few 100m in. Any chance they try this??

Dec 4, 2013 7:50 PM #

Several more teams including Untamed Canada have made the same mistake as most right before CP14. UC has already recovered and is hopefully going the right way this time. It took some teams several tries to get out of this area.

Dec 4, 2013 7:52 PM #

Wilberto- It was mentioned on Twitter that Thule walked beside the river for the final kms so the level must have been really low in that area. Thule is already long gone from the TA so no chance Seagate sees them at this TA.

Dec 4, 2013 7:54 PM #

Next team up in the CP16-17 route choice guessing game is Adidas Terrex. Will they head into meet up with Colombia? I'm sure they would be shocked to see Colombia cause at one point they trailed them by several hours (although they wouldn't necessarily know that).

Dec 4, 2013 7:57 PM #

Good catch wilberto. They have been in that spot for more than 20 mins. The first point was at 1:18. Maybe thats where the TA actually is. Also remember TA's and the leaderboard are just geofenced. I don't think they have left yet. We'll see.

Seagate definitely seems to be moving fast.

DD: Interesting idea but I don't know about that. They also have to be careful of crocs if they are out of their boat. Risky decision but possible. It's atleast 500m from the small channel from the west.

Dec 4, 2013 8:01 PM #

DD11 - would definitely be interesting if BMS sticks to the main channel and trys to get to CP16 via the other side....could be disastrous, could be stellar. Eager to see what they do. I'm sure Thule is going to rest once the sun goes down, they still going on no sleep? They really did great on this kayak leg.

Dec 4, 2013 8:02 PM #

Untamed said they were on a bridge 1k from the TA. I am guessing that is where 223 crosses. Which means the TA is 1k away. Likely up the creek where Thule is.

Dec 4, 2013 8:02 PM #

They also have to be careful of crocs if they are out of their boat.

Because crocs can't do anything to a 13' inflatable boat. ;)

Dec 4, 2013 8:05 PM #

I'd say the TA is here. Thule is still there.

Dec 4, 2013 8:06 PM #

Seagate is <3 hours behind now. They gained 1.5 hours since CP18

Dec 4, 2013 8:07 PM #

Wilberto: Agreed

Dec 4, 2013 8:08 PM #

Doesn't look like Seagate is following Thule's portage move.

Dec 4, 2013 8:08 PM #

If Seagate can even make it just a little further down the river they may have a better portage opportunity ~1.2k (but they do have a troublesome portage setup as noted on breathe)

Dec 4, 2013 8:09 PM #

Slice o' Phatty should be at the mangrove put-in now.

Dec 4, 2013 8:09 PM #

Sorry my mistake Wilberto. I hadn't checked their breadcrumbs. I remember someone (Losdobos or maybe Bash) saying that the leader board is set to automatically update when a team is close to the TA. If that's true then that is what has likely happened here.

Dec 4, 2013 8:11 PM #

Amazing that Seagate has made up that time in that area. I wonder if it's sleep or tides or the wildlife in the shoreline keeping their pace up.

Dec 4, 2013 8:13 PM #

Aerodiva are headed towards the recent mangrove dead-end. Will they have any better luck than those before them?

Dec 4, 2013 8:14 PM #

the ta is where thule has stopped. not the first time a cp location has been a bit off on the tracking map

Dec 4, 2013 8:14 PM #

Columbia hasn't updated in awhile. It's possible that the teams coming up the dead-end channel may have the good luck to meet Columbia coming back *after* 16. (Tecnu didn't have this extra information.)

Dec 4, 2013 8:15 PM #

is it just me or is this not crazy exciting.!!! WOW. Loving this.

Dec 4, 2013 8:19 PM #

Three teams are now in the narrow channel to try and head direct to CP17. I'm guessing we will see almost every team try this. Can one team navigate through? My money's on BMS because of their other mangrove-whack! :)

Dec 4, 2013 8:20 PM #

Silva hasn't updated for 2 hours so curious to see how close to Seagate they are.

Dec 4, 2013 8:25 PM #

i can only imagine all the poker been played as teams pass each other on the channels, so far it doesn't look like anyone has gained by turning back early! it also does look like merrell took a nap for two hours - 10am is a bit of an odd time for this. Maybe they sent someone up a tree to see if other teams find a way whilst the other three slept(ok, that's a bit too much speculation)

also surprised to see the bms route option which didn't seem to slow them down at all. if this is the actual maps they're using then i suppose the channel they took does sort of look marked.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/04/race...

I really do expect to see some teams try harder at the 16-17 shortcut, it really is only 150-200m. calling it a shortcut also seems a bit odd, since it's the actual route map been traced, if i think of the Rd scouting these CPs, he probably would have started from the TA4 and done CPS 15-19 from that side, so would have got through this channel from the other side.

Another factor that could be at play is the lag of the tides. we're looking at tide tables on the ocean, i'm pretty sure there would be hectic interplay between all the different channels which doesn't make it such a simple 6 hour high/low scenario.

Dec 4, 2013 8:29 PM #

back to queries on following the maps/trackers. anyone worked out how to get it fullscreen? the breadcrumb history window is just too tiny (and then it refreshes too, making you start again)

Dec 4, 2013 8:30 PM #

Here is a quick guestimate as to the leaders/tiers:

The lead -
Thule - Had a 3-4 hour lead over Seagate/Silva but that appears to be decreasing rapidly

Chasing the lead -

Seagate - No surprise they are making some good time (despite the Tomcats/Mangroves) as they close in on Thule
Haglofs-Silva - No update for awhile but assume they are close to Seagate

4th - 5th place

Merrell and Tecnu appear to be back and forth and a few hours behind 3rd place

6th place

This was Colombia but hard to say if they have turned around from the Mangrove dead-end.

7th - 11th place

Aerodiva
Adidas Terrex
Quasarlontra
Bones
Sportovia

***all of these teams are somewhere between CP16 and the turn around point for all the teams ahead of them. Who will turn around first to head back to the main channel? They are ~1.5-2 hours behind 5th place.

12th - 15th Place

Bivouac Colts
BMS
Mountain Hardware
Selva

**All four teams are getting close to narrow channel which heads north to CP16.

Ecuador Explorer and Trangoworld are the only other teams in the narrower section of the mangrove as there are many other teams who still are making their way into the first tough mangrove section.

Dec 4, 2013 8:33 PM #

Looks like a party in the mangrove area around CP16 as 8-9 teams are less than a km away from each other?!

Dec 4, 2013 8:34 PM #

z:

TA moved last minute I guess -- out of sync online. GPS is accurate. Thule on their bikes, calm & collected (& sweltering!)

Dec 4, 2013 8:35 PM #

Thanks Grant! Any sign of Seagate?

Dec 4, 2013 8:39 PM #

did thule grab a quick nap, do you know?

Dec 4, 2013 8:41 PM #

with a punctured boat this is gonna be make-or-break for slice of turbo phatlander

Dec 4, 2013 8:41 PM #

Shebeen: good call on the BMS route. Also good call on the tides.

The tide chart does have high tide coming in 30 minutes. If someone is going to make it the teams approaching will. That would be a huge boost and would almost bump them into the 4-5-6 chase pack

Dec 4, 2013 8:41 PM #

hoping like crazy their repair holds out

Dec 4, 2013 8:45 PM #

Hammer:

"Man-Groved" is trending. ;-)

Dec 4, 2013 8:47 PM #

Hammer - you're usual spinning buddy is about to get Man-Groved.

Dec 4, 2013 8:51 PM #

ok, did some scratching around in the source code. fullscreen maps are here

http://maps.opentracking.co.uk/arwc2013.cfm

Dec 4, 2013 8:54 PM #

That's great shebeen, thanks!

Dec 4, 2013 8:55 PM #

NICE!

Dec 4, 2013 8:56 PM #

From AR Costa Rica Twitter:

"It's around +35C and with humidity it feels +10C warmer"

Dec 4, 2013 9:00 PM #

"mucho calor"

Dec 4, 2013 9:02 PM #

As 4th/5th place Tecnu/Merrell approach CP18, they will have ~2.5-3 hours left in this epic mangrove paddle. That is approx. the same time behind Seagate.

Dec 4, 2013 9:03 PM #

What is C?
Does that stand for Crocodiles?
I guess that means its 0C where I live.

Dec 4, 2013 9:08 PM #

The background noise during the race director interview on Breathmag Flash Blog sounds like me during the Wilderness Traverse race this year :)

Dec 4, 2013 9:11 PM #

BREAKING NEWS - First two teams to make it through the "short-cut". Quasarlontra and Bones make up some HUGE time here! Will the other teams follow..

Dec 4, 2013 9:14 PM #

That move by Quasarlontra and Bones is huge as they gain about 1.5-2 hours on the lead teams. Where is Colombia??! Gotta think that they made it through or did they go around? These teams are fighting for 6th spot.

Dec 4, 2013 9:16 PM #

As Simpy said, it's damn exciting!! I haven't bothered with the Tracker/LeaderBoards, nor any other sources... reading this play by play is like listening to it on the radio sitting on the edge of my seat! knowing some of you puts the voices to the narration and others seem to get filled as well!

Keep it up guys, everyone will need a good rest after this (racers included haha!!!)

Dec 4, 2013 9:20 PM #

Meanwhile at the front, Thule continues to keep up the pace on no sleep. They are about half way to the "Superman" zipline.

Dec 4, 2013 9:21 PM #

Looks like Seagate is almost at TA and Thule is closing in on the zipline. I wouldn't want to do the zipline in the dark!!! Who knows what you will run into especially if you have your lights on, it will attract many insects and hitting those at 120 km/h won't be fun!

Dec 4, 2013 9:27 PM #

BMS Multisport who just a few hours ago went rogue and did a different mangrove whack of their own to the west are now just behind Bones and Quasarlontra heading to CP17. I imagine this has a lot more to do with the tide and higher water levels then it does anything else.

Dec 4, 2013 9:32 PM #

The leader board has updated and it shows Seagate checking into the TA at 3:05 pm local time. Only 1:47 behind 1st place Thule and we believe they have banked a little sleep on that last leg. Amazing job by Seagate as it appeared they were over 3 hours behind Thule at one point not too long ago. It took Seagate just over 23 hours to complete that leg.

Dec 4, 2013 9:36 PM #

DANG! way to go Bones, Quasarlontra, and BMS! masters of the mangrove-whack!

Sportovia through now too! Selva Kailash and Aerodiva should be through shortly.

Dec 4, 2013 9:37 PM #

It appears Tecnu has stopped before CP18. Their tracker has been updating but no movement for a while. Merrell has moved past them while other teams are quickly closing the gap. Quasarlontra just grabbed CP17 while Bones/BMS are headed south to grab it.

Dec 4, 2013 9:43 PM #

Just received the following message from onsite correspondent Ron Burgundy..I mean Hermes (G-Stix fiancé):

Omg and the course is a sloth!
We just did the superman zip line and teams have to trek up to the top with their bikes....it's not going to be pretty! Zip line down and then trekk back up to get the bikes...wtf???
Team's might take 7 hours to get up the zip line with their bikes!

Dec 4, 2013 9:44 PM #

Hey gang,

I haven't read this at all since it's hard to get online most of the time but we just did the zip line and it's incredible. The problem is that the teams have to climb a VERY steep climb to get there. I mean steep. They are not going to enjoy it and I only hope the zip line makes up for it. They then have to climb back up part of the steep road to their bikes. Ugh. The plan for us is to climb Chirripo tomorrow and stay the night so we can catch the teams there.

Dec 4, 2013 9:46 PM #

Okay Hermes and I just updated people at the same time. She was sitting 10 feet away from me with her feet in the pool. What a princess!

Dec 4, 2013 9:47 PM #

Don't think Tecnu stopped. It just got them on the way in and out at the same spot.

Dec 4, 2013 9:47 PM #

Lol, thanks Leanimal! Love the real-time updates from you two and others!

Dec 4, 2013 9:48 PM #

They have now moved on

Dec 4, 2013 9:48 PM #

Mayer22 - Just saw that..phewf!

Dec 4, 2013 9:49 PM #

After many hours, Haglofs-Silva tracker just updated and no surprise they are right beside Seagate!

Dec 4, 2013 9:50 PM #

so as expected teams have made it through the cul de sac to cp17.

this is where it gets interesting, thule got stuck there at 4am - effectively two hours after high tide. so water levels would be dropping and they would going against the current.

time to look at those tides again

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/wp-content/uplo...

BMS/quasarlonta/bones got through at 3pm. this is almost the same waterlevel but rising tide, so current would be with them.

the other big difference is that they did it in the day.
we also have to take into account that thule probably didn't want to try anything risky given the lead they were sitting on. whoops, dead end, let's go round.

all sort of logical, it will make more sense if teams battle to get through by 5pm, when the tide conditions are similar to when thule turned back.

Dec 4, 2013 9:53 PM #

Silva officially checked into TA4 at 3:43 pm local time. Only 18 minutes behind 2nd place Seagate! Amazingly it took them ~21.5 hours to complete that leg which was almost an hour faster than Seagate.

Dec 4, 2013 9:54 PM #

Bivouac Colts through the mangrove-whack!

i am going to announce each team just so there can be more 'whackage.

Dec 4, 2013 9:57 PM #

Keep an eye on 1st place Thule as they approach the start of the climb to the Superman Zipline. After hearing from Leanimal and Hermes it will be interesting to see how long it takes teams to get up to the top with their bikes.

Dec 4, 2013 10:14 PM #

Tecnu and Merrell are taking the easterly route down to 19. I believe everyone else has gone west so far.

Dec 4, 2013 10:22 PM #

Columbia through to CP18, their tracker is very lazy about its updates!

Mountain Hardware through as well. can we call it a man'whack?

also thanks shebeen for the fullscreen tracker link!

Dec 4, 2013 10:22 PM #

That whole chase pack seems to have made it through the shortcut to CP17...what a huge time savings! Makes this interesting tight again after the top 5 had really put a lot of distance on the pack....insane!!! Love it.

Dec 4, 2013 10:26 PM #

Columbia might have decided to wait out the tide and get some sleep while waiting.

Dec 4, 2013 10:27 PM #

That or they saw teams as they left 16 and then saw them again when they got to 17. That would be a total bummer.

Dec 4, 2013 10:28 PM #

z:

Silva still at TA 4 -- they say they slept ~90 minutes in the mangroves on a raised wooden platform with a roof that they happened to find

Thule says "no sleep"

I couldn't ask Seagate before they left

Dec 4, 2013 10:29 PM #

Interesting to see Colombia in the chase pack after sitting in 4th coming into this leg. Tecnu has stayed consistent and Merrell has had a great gain. Interesting route choice for the latter two teams as they head down to CP19.

Dec 4, 2013 10:30 PM #

z:

Some racers on Silva team have showered, seen the medic for various cuts (prob getting antibiotics), & seem not rushed in the least.

Dec 4, 2013 10:31 PM #

Thanks Grant! Thule seems to be making decent time in their ascent to the zipline. It's about to get really really steep though.

Dec 4, 2013 10:34 PM #

Curious when teams do the zipline do they then head back up to grab their bikes the descend with them?

Dec 4, 2013 10:36 PM #

I'm guessing it's not a whaCk at all when the tide is up. raising the Floor 6 feet can make a big difference of what you can and can't get through

Dec 4, 2013 10:38 PM #

Aerodiva (great name!) through the mangrove-whack.

Ecuador Explorer and adidas TERREX are next in the queue. interesting to see if the tides will hold for them.

Dec 4, 2013 10:41 PM #

Seagate seem to be sticking to the hwy instead of the route Thule took. Can't see how this would benefit them unless they are looking for something else.

Dec 4, 2013 10:46 PM #

Tecnu moving well and are only 5-6 km away from the TA! They started this leg at 7:24 pm local time yesterday so I'd think they're ready for some biking even if it involves some killer climbs.

Dec 4, 2013 10:47 PM #

Thule seems like they are flying up the climb. Something tells me the worst is still ahead of them though.

Dec 4, 2013 10:50 PM #

Damn this is a great discussion. Lots of up to the minute comments and live stuff from untamed. It's one of my perma-tabs as far as sources go. :)

Dec 4, 2013 11:27 PM #

I know there have been other videos of the zipline, but Tecnu posted a few great ones that they filmed today (Aaron Johnson of Mowglimedia). Check out their FB page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tecnu-Extreme-Adven...

Dec 4, 2013 11:43 PM #

Have a look at team #6 Griffon. They have gone a completely different route than all other teams and are approaching the mangrove-O counter clockwise.

Dec 4, 2013 11:45 PM #

Tecnu is almost done this crazy paddle with Quasarlonta and Merrell on their heals. Great recovery for Quasarlontar.

Dec 5, 2013 12:25 AM #

Thule is done the zip and were moving well up the hill, impressive.

Dec 5, 2013 12:32 AM #

Great interesting posts. Thanks. Love the adventure good luck teams. Go Moreorless 2

Dec 5, 2013 12:43 AM #

Or as we call them here, "Slice o' Phatty", "Turbolander" and other creative names, since I'm sure other people must be wondering why we never mention our Canadian friends. They've asked us to avoid the team name to minimize spoilers to their TV audience.

Dec 5, 2013 12:53 AM #

The trackers all stopped over an hour ago, while I was on dinner. I have know emailed the gurus and it should be up and running again soon. :)

Dec 5, 2013 12:55 AM #

looks like the tides have made the shortcut from CP16-17 impassable again - Ecuador Explorer has turned around.

Antioquia Trangoworld is just near CP16, followed by TOYOTA and Banano de Costa Rica.

changing topics, why hasn't anyone proposed Phat Slice of Turboland?

Dec 5, 2013 1:02 AM #

Thanks, LosDobos! I was just about to ask if I was the only one that was happening to. By the way, in case anyone missed it above, be sure to switch to the full screen tracker. Many thanks to Shebeen for figuring htat out.
http://maps.opentracking.co.uk/arwc2013.cfm

Dec 5, 2013 1:06 AM #

Leanimal took this pic of Thule pushing their bikes up to the zipline. One teammate is pushing two bikes; one of the male team members is looking rough and walking without his bike. Surely they'll sleep when it gets dark on Night 3.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015354722...

Dec 5, 2013 1:18 AM #

Maybe Thule napped while laying down on the zipline...
Looks like Tecnu did the same portage into the TA as Thule. Only 2 so far to get off the water early and come in on the road.

Dec 5, 2013 1:19 AM #

Miscellany:

Tierra Viva has just succeeded in mangrove-whacking the same section that BMS Multisport pioneered.

Untamed Canada is approaching CP16. Will they or won't they...? Looks like they've moved up to 22nd.

Phat Slice of Turbolander hasn't updated in 90 minutes but so far their mangro-navigation looks good.

Dec 5, 2013 1:28 AM #

somebody explain team #6's track please...

Dec 5, 2013 1:38 AM #

I'd say they're about halfway through the rarely seen "lazy S" swamp navigation manoeuvre, LosDobos.
I had forgotten where midcamp is (after the next bike) so I went back to reread LosDobos excellent course overview and realized just how much race is left. This is a tough, tough race, as it should be.

Dec 5, 2013 1:49 AM #

Poor #6! Looks like they're about to relocate using the Pacific as a backstop.

Dec 5, 2013 1:54 AM #

Based on Thule's the 3 stationary GPS track updates, looks like they left their packs and tracker at the top, zipped down and hiked back up then moved on. Wonder if they have to climb back up in bike shoes.

Dec 5, 2013 1:55 AM #

Tecnu is listed in 6th place behind Quasarlontra and Merrell. Is this a software error related to TA4's location? Time out vs. time in?

Dec 5, 2013 1:56 AM #

Bash, didn't a team use the Atlantic for the same thing in Ecomotion Brazil?

Dec 5, 2013 2:01 AM #

And I think the ocean proved handy in Tasmania too.

Tecnu tracked at the TA at 19:14 but their arrival is listed as 19:34. They are still in transition. I think the leaderboard may have a glitch since they should be in 4th, I think. But they've got company in the TA. Go, go, go!

Dec 5, 2013 2:11 AM #

Yeah...the leaderboard seems to keep grabbing their latest time in that geofenced area. I posted on the Tecnu FB page that they were in the TA at 18:34, now it states 19:34, so looks like the leaderboard will reflect time out of TA's. Tecnu must be recuperating right now....eager for them to head out again!!!

Dec 5, 2013 2:14 AM #

Looks like our U.K. Attackpointers are sleeping on the job so the rest of us will need to do some extra cheering for GD44 on Team Endurancelife. ;)

Easy to remember, Gary is on Team 44. They are nearing the start of the mangrove paddle in 45th place.

Issy Adventure (40) is preparing to return to the mangrove swamp after a big ocean detour.

Team Ducati Bicyles (58) is over halfway through the first paddle, moving cautiously along the shore in the darkness. They're the Lanterne Rouge at the moment - but not in last place due to the three DNFs.

In case you missed it on LosDobos' Breathe Flashblog (which is full of gems), Team La Ruta - Landrovers DNFed when they slept on the first kayak section and failed to tie up one of their boats. Guess what happened.

Dec 5, 2013 2:33 AM #

Leaderboard aside, Tecnu was the 4th team to leave TA4. The 5th-7th place teams are still in transition.

Dec 5, 2013 2:40 AM #

I wonder if Thule is trying to make it to midcamp without a real sleep. They aren't stopping.

Seagate and Haglofs Silva appear to be riding together in 2nd and 3rd place. They're only an hour behind Thule.

Dec 5, 2013 3:04 AM #

Gone to work for 4hrs and come back to this - over 100 new updates! This is crazy and very exciting at the same time! Thanks all for hard work and keeping us up to date:)

Dec 5, 2013 3:20 AM #

I can't believe the great video of Leanimal on the zip line! Thanks for sharing!

Dec 5, 2013 3:22 AM #

Funny how she couldn't scream for a while as the wind took her breath away...;)
And what's with the giggles at the end? ;)))

Dec 5, 2013 3:30 AM #

Yeah, I guess 90 miles an hour does that to you!

Dec 5, 2013 4:09 AM #

Wow...I just zoomed way out on the map...they have so far to go yet!! A lot of racing left.

Dec 5, 2013 4:11 AM #

Looks like 3rd place Haglofs Silva is napping a few kms after the zipline. Their tracker hasn't moved in over an hour.

4th place Tecnu is almost at the zipline. 5th place Merrell is about an hour back. I think Tecnu napped last night but they must be tired after that long paddle. Can they make it to midcamp without sleep or will they stop like Silva? They'll be getting new maps at midcamp so Getawaystix and Tico 3.0 will not get much sleep there.

Dec 5, 2013 4:18 AM #

Where the heck is team #6 going? Just got home to see their updated track. You'd think I was navigating that section for them. Oops.

Dec 5, 2013 4:21 AM #

I see Untamed Canada is about to be Mangroved out. Argh...

Dec 5, 2013 4:24 AM #

#6 Grifone

Looks like they ran into trouble where everybody was getting confused with multiple channel options south of 14. They decided to play it super safe and go all the way around. WOW! I would not be happy. Looks like they have just about found CP 15 after the long trip around.

Dec 5, 2013 4:29 AM #

Over an hour ago, Untamed Canada and another team reached the point where top teams were mangroved out between CP16-17. Looking forward to their next track. Maybe they're sleeping and hoping for higher tide? HIgh tide is 3:30 a.m. so it will be a long time until it's possible to mangrove-whack to 17.

The team right behind them on the leaderboard is #6 Grifone, who appear to have located CP15 after taking a circuitous route.

They've been passed by a handful of teams including Slice o' Phatty, who are almost at the turn-off for the channel where CP16 is located. If Untamed Canada decides to go the long way to 17, the two Canadian teams may meet.

Dec 5, 2013 4:29 AM #

Curious who was the last team to make it through the CP16-17 shortcut before the Ebb tide?

Dec 5, 2013 4:35 AM #

#2 Ecuador Explorer is the only team to have turned around so far but it seams other teams have gone through since. This goes back to the reason not to follow teams in front of you and assume something because you see the team ahead do it. Like I said though there is a difference when you see Seagate and Silva both doing something as opposed to other teams.

We'll see if Untamed Canada can make it now. Looks like they've slowed, stopped, or turned around.

Dec 5, 2013 4:37 AM #

Okay thanks for all the updates!

Dec 5, 2013 4:40 AM #

Team #40 Issy had a similar problem to #6 Grifone. They got hung up south of CP14 and decided to go around. They started going East (or maybe just checking to make sure they looked in the right channel) and then went west into the Pacific. I think this looked shorter to me. Don't know if paddling out there would be tougher though. Looks like it is taking both teams the same amount of time to get to CP14.

Dec 5, 2013 4:40 AM #

I noticed on LosDobos blog that Eastwind had moved up close to the top 10. That's very impressive as I hadn't seen them in the top 20 previously!?

Just checked and they were 23rd at the last TA and now possibly 13th? Awesome move up!

Dec 5, 2013 4:41 AM #

41 may be doing the same thing without even bothering to try the narrow channels.

Dec 5, 2013 4:44 AM #

Wonder what happened to Gear Junkie? I was a little surprised to see them hanging in the Top 10 but I am a little surprised at how far back they have fallen now. I would have estimated them to hovering in the low 20's.

Dec 5, 2013 4:48 AM #

If you look on the tracking map you can see some shrimp farms near where CP 21 is. Wonder if any teams thought about getting some fresh seafood. Yummm.

Dec 5, 2013 5:05 AM #

More on Eastwind. They did the paddle section in 18.5 hours which appears to be the fastest so far (and 2 hours faster then the leaders Thule). I'm sure the tide played a large part of that but still very impressive jump!

Dec 5, 2013 5:08 AM #

Wow, I stand corrected 6th place Sportovia completed the 2nd paddle in 17:41! Bones also had an impressive leg and completed it in 18:46!

Dec 5, 2013 5:09 AM #

Tecnu is about to pass a sleeping Haglofs-Silva for 3rd place!!

Edited to say unless they are only half way through their zipline.

Dec 5, 2013 5:19 AM #

Woohoo, go Sportovia! (A hat tip to the Polish team, tee hee)

Dec 5, 2013 5:28 AM #

Way to go Tecnu! Wow, third place will get them super stoked and hungry!

Dec 5, 2013 5:42 AM #

Hard to tell if Tecnu has done the zipline yet or not...hoping they have. Looks like there could be a bottle neck at the zipline for some of the teams coming up now...wonder how fast they can send people through it. Think they'll give time credit to teams that have to wait?

Also impressed with Bones right now, they're in the top 10, which is fantastic!

Dec 5, 2013 5:44 AM #

From Bash's earlier post:

- Section 5 is a 101 km bike ride to mid camp, with a brief stop to experience the longest (2km) and fastest (145kph) zipline in the world: the Tirolesa Superman Osa. If there is a bottleneck here, time will be neutralized.

It took Leanimal EDIT: 90secs to zip down, not sure how long till the thing goes back up...

Dec 5, 2013 5:48 AM #

I see from report that cp19 is underwater at high tide. Imagine that in the dark?!

Dec 5, 2013 6:12 AM #

After some concerns were expressed, I think the final decision was that the zipline would not be neutralized. One of the issues may be that teams could take advantage of the free time off the clock, e.g. hang back behind other teams while they get some rest. This became a controversy at a race a few years ago.

Dec 5, 2013 6:19 AM #

Four teams, including two Canadian teams - Untamed Canada and Slice o' Phatty - are at the decision point between CP16 and CP17. Untamed has been there for awhile, possibly sleeping and waiting for the tide. They seem to be about 100 m away from the main route, maybe in a slightly more sleep-friendly location. Slice's team just arrived.

Dec 5, 2013 6:25 AM #

Looks like Tecnu may be sleeping at the end of the zipline, as Haglofs Silva is doing. The 5th-8th place chase pack is at the zipline - Merrell, Quasarlontra, Sportovia and Columbia.

Further ahead, Thule has deviated from the yellow route, maybe to stay on a better road.

Dec 5, 2013 6:52 AM #

Re: yogaslackers. I wonder why, in the many races where I've followed them as a fan, their trackers never seem to work as well or with the same consistency as the other teams. Bad luck? Careless handling, so as not to be tethered by the man? Tactics? Just musings...

Dec 5, 2013 7:11 AM #

Tecnu is off! While Haglofs Silva rests they are forging ahead, now in 3rd place. Awesome stuff!! Hopefully they can push hard to midcamp.

Dec 5, 2013 7:17 AM #

in the battle for 5th place it looks like merrell have been caught by quasarlonta and columbia vidaraid and are now all sort of together. first time we'll see if there's going to be trffic on the zipline.

tecnu are 2 hours clear in 4th

Dec 5, 2013 7:28 AM #

How do you get Tecnu in 4th? They're clearly past Haglofs Silva now looking at the timestamps on their trackers. Unless Haglofs Silva left their tracker where they were sleeping....

Dec 5, 2013 8:09 AM #

Thule look to have been fluffing around for over an hour, east of the yellow line. An opportunity for Seagate perhaps. The next time Seagates tracker updates should be interesting

Dec 5, 2013 9:16 AM #

Thules tracker has been updating, but stationery for about 40 minutes. Maybe they've stopped for a sleep.

Dec 5, 2013 9:48 AM #

Can anyone work out what Silva is doing? They seem to have arrived at top of superman before Tecnu/Merrell/Columbia but have not left... (tracker needs to update / but lots of stop start breadcrumbs at top of superman for them)

Dec 5, 2013 10:42 AM #

I just posted about that. Wild speculation would be welcome in the comments :)

Dec 5, 2013 10:56 AM #

Could they have dropped their tracker mid flight?

Dec 5, 2013 11:03 AM #

that is the current theory. It almost seems more likely than them sleeping again. How ridiculous would that be? If that did happen, it shows how robust the Delorme tracker is, as it has kept updating.

Dec 5, 2013 11:08 AM #

I wonder what's the deal with Gearjunkie/Yogaslackers. Their tracker hasn't updated since yesterday morning.

Dec 5, 2013 11:19 AM #

if that did indeed happen, then the official ARWS rule is
"If a piece of mandatory equipment is accidentally lost during the course of the race, teams
must report this to a race official at the next manned CP or TA. Teams must remain in that
location until a replacement can be delivered"

Dec 5, 2013 11:21 AM #

re yogaslackers. that tends to happen to their trackers so regularly that there is a conspiracy theory going around that they deliberately block it so they cannot be tracked. Purely speculation with no direct evidence. BTW, turning off the tracker or otherwise impeding its performance is a violation of ARWS rules.

Most likely though is that the tracking unit has died and needs to be replaced. One would think this would have happened at CP20 after the swamp...

Dec 5, 2013 11:58 AM #

Most teams seem to be stopping for an hour or two just 2km North of the Superman at that little cluster of buildings. Anyone know what's there? Food, shelter, spa treatments? :-P

Dec 5, 2013 12:06 PM #

maybe a family serving drinks and food to racers?

Dec 5, 2013 12:32 PM #

slice of phat turbolander is approaching cp18, through the worst of the swamp. they stopped to sleep on a small hilllock when they got mangroved out trying the direct route from 16 to 17

Dec 5, 2013 1:13 PM #

silva out. injury :(

Dec 5, 2013 1:23 PM #

Top 5 Update
1 Thule approaching TA5. They took 1 hour of sleep last night but that seems to be it for the whole race. They will have a mandatory 4 hour stop at this TA. Considering they will get maps though they will probably need more time if everyone is going to sleep.
2 Seagate is less than an hour behind. We assume they have gotten a few hours of sleep at the beginning of the mangroves.
3 Tecnu is 3.5 hours behind Seagate. We think they have gotten some sleep at the mangrove put in but they probably will be happy to take more.
4 Columbia is only about 30 minutes behind Tecnu. Their tracker has been out of touch a lot so they may or may not have gotten some sleep.
5 Quasarlontra 30 min back of Columbia

Bones and Addidas Terrex are another hour back

Silva is out due to injury
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/05/brea...

Dec 5, 2013 1:37 PM #

Wonder if Untamed Canada really fought through the mangrove to get to 17. Slice's team which was there around the same time went around

Dec 5, 2013 1:39 PM #

oh nooooo!!! for silva. what a huge bummer.

nice summary mayer22!!

Dec 5, 2013 1:40 PM #

who knows more about Quasarlonta from brasil? they're doing really well in 5th place currently.

from the ARWS rnkings they've only done one event in this cycle - a third place behind columbia and seagate at 2013 ecomotion. can they keep it up over 800km?

Dec 5, 2013 1:40 PM #

Really sucks to hear about Haglofs-Silva having to drop out due to injury. Tough break as they were racing very well.

Dec 5, 2013 1:42 PM #

Any idea of how much sleep the top teams were able to get overnight..if any?

Dec 5, 2013 1:44 PM #

First place Thule has just arrived at the next TA with Seagate about 6km back.

Dec 5, 2013 1:54 PM #

Here is what is up next for the leaders.

STAGE 6. STAGE 6
Discipline :: Mountain Trek (92 km)
Ascent :: 4002 m
Descent :: 4320 m
This is the longest trek leg of the entire race and will push all teams to the limit. It will take teams across the Chirripo National Park, which is located in the heart of the Talamanca mountain range. The crux of this leg will be almost 2.5km of vertical ascent as teams trek from 1343mts to 3820mts in 16km. If it is a clear day, the reward will be attaining the summit of Cerro Chirripo and uninterupted views to both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

While the last glaciers retreated from this area 10,000 years ago, evidence of their presence can be seen by the regions many lakes and U shaped valleys. The paramo regions were believed to be sacred to the indigenous people of the area. It is believed that man did not reach the summit of Cerro Chirripo until 1904. It is also the second highest peak in Central America at 3820metres. Racers will then enter the Cabecar Chirripo indigenous reserve where they will have the opportunity to observe the last indigenous tribes of Costa Rica. There is no road access to this section and helicopter assistance is limited.

From the web:

Caption Text

Keep an eye out for this guy!?
Caption Text

Dec 5, 2013 1:59 PM #

Did we just hit 500 posts?

Dec 5, 2013 2:08 PM #

close...we're at 501

Dec 5, 2013 2:08 PM #

CONGRATULATIONS WILBERTO!!! You are the winner of the 500th poster prize!

Prize: 7 day - All inclusive stay at the Mangrove in Sierpe, C.R. Stay includes fishing rod, rubber boats and all you can eat croc/snake buffet along with their famous mangrove mud shakes. Also comes with free use of Tomcat and a guide to tidal times in the area. Batteries not included..

Caption Text

Dec 5, 2013 2:13 PM #

Ohhhhh I'm so excited! I've heard great things about this place. All kidding aside, who on here doesn't wish they were in Costa Rica right now?

Dec 5, 2013 2:14 PM #

Without a doubt, my favourite place I've been…although my wife would argue that we really haven't been many places. :)

Dec 5, 2013 3:02 PM #

Wikipedia says Chirripo is #5 in central america. I went to the top of the highest, Tajumulco, but unfortunately it was not clear enough to see both oceans. It is also much wider in Guatemala. I imagine that will be pretty neat to see if they do.

Dec 5, 2013 3:24 PM #

question for untamedadventur/Leanimal/Hermes-

is the race organization actually transmitting the Trail Mail from the website to teams in TA?

Dec 5, 2013 3:49 PM #

z:

No, I was just thinking about this Emily -- the Trail Mail isn't being relayed at all. It's a bummer, but I know many teams enjoy reviewing it after a race so it can still be appreciated. I know it's not the same though.

The organizers have their hands full with teams spread from Pacific swamps to the tallest mountain in Costa Rica. If we had internet at TA 5 I could do more but without a printer etc it's too tough.

I *DO* know that each team at TA 5 will do a "race blog" before they depart from the TA. Look for those to start posting online later this afternoon.

Dec 5, 2013 3:54 PM #

thanks, Grant! I know it's hard. I worked a remote TA at a 36hr race a few years ago where we had Trail Mail - I ended up on a sat phone with someone at HQ, verbally repeating the messages to teams as they were trying to TA! nightmare, but really funny too!

I agree about the post-race review, and will continue to post Trail Mail in case someone at a future TA gets internet and has time to relay.

can't wait to read the race blogs!!!

Dec 5, 2013 5:02 PM #

Wow, we hit 500 posts when the first team hit midcamp! Will this be the longest Attackpoint thread ever? (Does anyone know what that would be?)

As many of you know, there is one guy behind Attackpoint - Ken Walker Jr., an orienteer with a young family and a day job, who manages to provide amazing support for this site in his "spare time". Anyone can use AP for free, either to log training or participate in these discussions, but it is largely funded by voluntary donations. A minimum $25 U.S. donation makes you a "pro" user with no ads displayed, highlighting when new messages are posted in a thread, and access to other bonus features but any donation is welcome.

During big adventure races, AP has become an international hangout that brings together awesome, knowledgeable, fun people. I don't think there is anything like it; I hope to meet you all in person some day! When I hang out somewhere, I figure it's nice to buy a coffee every once in awhile so in honour of the 500th post, I made an extra donation this morning. If you would also like to thank Ken for providing us this forum, you can make a donation here.

Now back to our regularly scheduled, obsessively detailed race spectating! :)

Dec 5, 2013 5:14 PM #

Well said, Bash. I just chipped in to help, which is only fair considering the million or hits to the AP server I will be responsible for this week.

Dec 5, 2013 5:22 PM #

hey Barb, that made me want to donate: well put. could you write something like that for Joel and me? We're doing all of this pro bono as well...

Dec 5, 2013 5:44 PM #

Long time listener, first time donater.

Dec 5, 2013 5:49 PM #

just kidding Barb...JP can write us our own appeal. ;)

Dec 5, 2013 6:05 PM #

from facebook....

"If you are confused by the tracking activity at the Superman zip line it is because it has been shut down for a while, there was a half hour hold up, then it was shut for an hour to check the line. (It's still not open so it could take longer.) Teams were told they could wait or move on with a 2 hour time adjustment (the average transition time). The reason is an unfortunate one, Roman Urbina of the La Ruta Land Rover team had clipped a branch and hurt his foot. He is off to hospital for a check up. This has never happened before and the team here are checking everything very carefully before anyone else flies."

Dec 5, 2013 6:36 PM #

Yep, love the AP discussions, the community, the great race coverage and insight that we get from everyone including LosDobos, Leanimal, etc., and all the great AP features for logging and tracking my training. Well worth the donation!

Dec 5, 2013 6:42 PM #

Merrell seems to be heading down the rankings again. They could just be tired after their massive comeback, but I'm concerned they have a mechanical issue with one of the bikes. They lost almost 3h in the first MTB leg to end in 21st place, managed to get all the way back up to 3rd on the paddling & trekking legs and are losing time again on the MTB leg.

Dec 5, 2013 7:23 PM #

Not sure how to import the link, but here are mid-camp interview with Tecnu and also an interview with Silva:

http://www.endorphinmag.fr/video.php

Kyle Peter from Tecnu states that they got 3 hours sleep during the mangrove paddle.

Dec 5, 2013 7:53 PM #

That is such sad news about Roman of La Ruta Land Rover having an accident on the zipline and going to hospital. This is after his team's race ended on Stage 2 after their boat floated away while they napped.

Very sad about Haglofs Silva too. That was a terrific performance in a tough race, and it's a shame to see it cut short. I look forward to seeing them back next time.

Dec 5, 2013 7:59 PM #

@LosDobos, I would definitely like to "buy a cup of coffee" at your cafe too. Your coverage of these races is awesome. Other than buying a digital subscription to Breathe Magazine, which I already have, what else can we do? Can we make advertisers happy by clicking on links and looking at their wares? Should we make a few more comments on the Breathe Flashblog to prove that people are reading it? One thing off the table for me is sharing lots of links with Facebook friends since only some of them are interested in my crazy sports.

Dec 5, 2013 7:59 PM #

Hammer:

....and now for something completely different...

Well somewhat on the topic of navigation and Costa Rica

http://elpeji.com/2013/12/03/study-abroad-gringa-t...

(apologies if already posted here).
What is spanish for Onion?

Dec 5, 2013 8:04 PM #

Raceblogs are up for leaders. Thule is cocky:
57 - Thule Blog
Hi everybody, follow us until the finish line for our new world title Ö.

Seagate isn't very chatty:
team 1
test

Dec 5, 2013 8:05 PM #

Come on Carbon, you know (knew) how to say "no onions, no mushrooms" in Spanish :)

Dec 5, 2013 8:41 PM #

Only Thule and Seagate have started The Big Trek after midcamp. Each of them spent 4.5 hours at midcamp. Seagate started half an hour behind Thule, and it doesn't look like much has changed in the past couple of hours.

3rd place Tecnu will be wrapping up their time at midcamp at 3 p.m. CR time. Their bike split was faster than Thule's or Seagate's although they did have the benefit of more daylight. 4th place Columbia Vidaraid arrived just 18 minutes behind Tecnu with an even faster bike split but according to Tecnu, Columbia were exhausted when they arrived and went to sleep immediately. I've always been advised to eat, change and re-pack before sleeping at a TA unless I'm incapable of doing anything but sleeping.

Merrell Adventure Addicts, who were 5th at the start of this stage, seem to be having issues. They've been overtaken by Quasarlontra, Adidas Terrex Prunesco and Bones, all of whom are moving toward midcamp.

If navigation on the trek is tricky, maybe this is the leg that will split up the top 10 more significantly? Given the type of vegetation in many parts of Costa Rica, I wonder if this will largely be a physical challenge on trails, in which case the top teams may not separate that much if they stay healthy.

Dec 5, 2013 8:46 PM #

Oops, I forgot Sportovia, who were in 6th behind Merrell after the Mangrove Monster. Their tracker hasn't updated since 4:17 a.m. but we may well see them on the leaderboard as the next (5th) team to arrive at midcamp.

Dec 5, 2013 8:48 PM #

Btw midcamp is not where the TA is shown on the tracking map. It's due north of that symbol where the green track makes a 90 degree turn to the right.

Dec 5, 2013 8:51 PM #

Nice racing by Adidas Terrex Prunesco who appear to have moved from 10th to 7th on this bike stage. (Or even 6th, if tracker-less Sportovia has dropped back further than I'm guessing.)

Dec 5, 2013 9:03 PM #

Top Canadian team Untamed Canada is around the mid-20s in the rankings, and they're in the area of the zipline now. The Endorphin Mag video didn't indicate any major issues for them. Only two more hours of daylight so it looks like they'll be riding through the darkness and arriving at midcamp in daylight.

Dec 5, 2013 9:06 PM #

crazy how fast the top 10 are...there are still TWENTY-SIX teams in the mangrove monster. some of those have got to be defective trackers (GJ/YogaSlackers..) but still. dang.

Dec 5, 2013 9:08 PM #

Team Slicelandphatso is approaching the end of the Mangrove Monster after what looks like an eventful day. It looks like they slept several hours last night at the "decision" point between CP16-17. They may have run into Untamed Canada there. They seem to have had high tides with poor visibility, as they ended up going around the long way. Until the past few hours, their mangro-navigation had been going well but their track has had a few diversions in the last few hours. They're going to be glad to hit the TA after more than 30 hours. I hope all these teams travelling in the midpack and further back were carrying lots of water in this heat.

Dec 5, 2013 9:21 PM #

You can find some photos of Tecnu at transition:

http://www.endorphinmag.fr/evenement/photo_arwc201...

Dec 5, 2013 9:29 PM #

Here's the word, Bash:
We don't have any visible sponsors for this race. To make comments is the best way. Maybe to make general comments on their own pages about how good this coverage is and that this is the future of race coverage.

That from editor in chief JP.

Thanks :)

Dec 5, 2013 9:30 PM #

Endorphin Mag has some great info although translations can be interesting, e.g. "Josefina has lost their shoulder."

Dec 5, 2013 9:33 PM #

LosDobos, when you say "comments on their own pages", do you mean blog posts or Attackpoint log entries, i.e. links that Breathe Mag can refer to?

Also comments on your blog posts, I assume. And the digital subscription.
http://shop.breathemag.com/products/subscribe

Thanks to you, Leanimal, LaFemme (soon) and JP for your hard work!

Dec 5, 2013 9:35 PM #

The tracker for GD44 and Team Endurancelife hasn't updated in awhile but they should be in the CP16-17 decision zone now.

Dec 5, 2013 9:44 PM #

According to the leaderboard, top Canadian team is SXM. Whodat?

Dec 5, 2013 9:52 PM #

Both Tecnu and Columbia are back out on the course, just leaving the TA, and tackling that first brutal climb that both Seagate and Thule are still on. Looks tough.

Dec 5, 2013 9:54 PM #

Hmm, SXM is listed as a Canadian team, although that seems strange since it appears that the 3 men are French, and the woman is Russian. (Based on googling their race results, which may or may not be accurate.) They are still 1.5 km ahead of Untamed Canada.

They are: Bruno Rey, Cyril Margaritis, Jean-Baptiste Calais, Irina Safronova

[EDIT: After the race, we learned they are, in fact, a French team that was listed incorrectly on the race website as a Canadian team. So Untamed Canada was the top Canadian team throughout the race, and SXM got a lot of extra cheering from those of us who thought they were fellow countrymen. :) ]

Dec 5, 2013 9:55 PM #

Nathalie of Untamed Canada has raced with a couple of the guys before.

Dec 5, 2013 10:00 PM #

maybe the sponsor is Canadian? After all, look at Thule.

Dec 5, 2013 10:00 PM #

Team Issy Adventure (40), who went out to sea last night to go around a big peninsula, spent about 12 hours overnight in the same small area on the outside of the peninsula. Maybe they stayed on the beach? Or maybe they headed to the Eco Lodge 1 km away from where their tracker was broadcasting.

They haven't made much progress today; they're only a few kms from where they spent the night, although they did a little exploration further inland, then turned around. They had been doing pretty well in the first stages of the race, starting the Mangrove Monster in 30th place. But 33 hours after picking up their kayaks, they are much closer to the start of the mangroves than the finish. For their sake, I hope they did visit the Eco Lodge and get some drinking water because they have another 24 hours left in the mangroves if they decide to keep moving forward. It would be much shorter to go back to the put-in if they decide not to continue, and it looks like they may be heading back that direction.

Dec 5, 2013 10:00 PM #

We've raced against SXM before (RTNX 2011, ARWC 2011, and a few of them were EADS at RTNX 2003 Atikokan), but they usually raced under a French flag (or didn't they even have some Caribbean Island flag at ARWC 2011?)

Dec 5, 2013 10:05 PM #

Captain Bruno Rey is from the French part of St. Martin so they may have raced under a different flag.

SXM...Maybe Sirius XM Canada, i.e. satellite radio.

Dec 5, 2013 10:13 PM #

Well, puts another maple leaf on the leaderboard, so GO SXM!

Dec 5, 2013 10:26 PM #

Tecnu has left mid-camp and they are trekking on The Big Trek, about 0.5km in front of Columbia. Seagate is another 5-6km up the trail, and Thule leads everyone another 5-6km in front of Seagate.

Dec 5, 2013 10:31 PM #

Team 40 Issy Adventure is heading north into the mangroves again. Onward!

Dec 5, 2013 10:38 PM #

No word on Sportovia so Adidas Terrex Prunesco *did* move from 10th to 6th place on that bike ride. Well done! And Merrell passed Bones again before midcamp, arriving in 7th place. So right now we have:

On The Big Trek:
1) Thule
2) Seagate
3) Tecnu
4) Columbia

At Midcamp:
5) Quasarlontra Kailash
6) Adidas Terrex Prunesco
7) Merrell Adventure Addicts
8) Bones
9) BMS Multisport

Tracker not updating but should have been in this group of teams:
Sportovia

Dec 5, 2013 10:48 PM #

Yes Bash, I think it was the St. Martin flag that SXM raced under at ARWC 2011.

Dec 5, 2013 10:49 PM #

Untamed Canada seems to be on the move again after spending several hours around the zipline. It has been speculated that food and drink may be available, as many teams have taken breaks around that group of buildings. It is getting dark now but it looks like they'll be biking all night with relatively easy navigation so it wasn't a waste of daylight to take care of themselves when they had the opportunity. (Assuming we are guessing right about the refreshments!)

Dec 5, 2013 10:55 PM #

Phat Slice o' Turbolander has finished the Mangrove Monster in 30th place, which is about the same as their pre-Mangrove ranking. (Remember to subtract 1 for Ducati Bicycles, currently shown in 30th place.) They were out for 33 hours, including a long nap last night.

Dec 5, 2013 11:02 PM #

Legendaryrandy has posted some nice photos of midcamp. Hey, there's Relentless! :)
https://www.facebook.com/randy.ericksen/media_set?...

Dec 5, 2013 11:12 PM #

spent some tense hours trying to direct relentless from wherever he was to mid camp via email. glad he made it:)

Dec 5, 2013 11:41 PM #

Great pics! That Canadian racer looked way too clean! :)
Team "Running Clean"?

Dec 5, 2013 11:41 PM #

thanks to whoever hid the first 525 messages - no more scrolling 38 screens to get to the bottom :)

Dec 6, 2013 12:04 AM #

Yes, quite handy and appreciated!

Dec 6, 2013 12:21 AM #

Is it weird that Sportovia "Go Poland!" Trail Team has posted 10th at the bike-to-trek, but their tracker has updated quite recently all the way back near the zipline? Feeling uncharacteristically patriotic here, so they're my other-other horse in this race. :) Mainly I'm just surprised that Poland has a most excellent AR team, I guess!

Dec 6, 2013 12:24 AM #

z:

Sportovia has been issued a different tracker -- but the tracker ID might be mixed up. No internet at mid-camp means it's a 2k walk to/from the internet connection, so 4k roundtrip to sort through each iteration.

We'll resolve it, though. Thanks for your patience :)

Dec 6, 2013 12:28 AM #

Oh wow, such response time! :) Thanks for the info, Untamed!!! And your work in general.

Dec 6, 2013 12:43 AM #

z:

Sportovia, by the way, came in to TA 5 tired but smiling. They cracked open a couple cans of Costa Rican "Imperial" beer and chugged them down in just a couple minutes -- I think the first time I've seen a team racing in the top 20 of a WC introduce beer into their race nutrition system :)

The member of the team with brown straight hair (not sure his name) was consulting with race physicians about his inability to keep food down. He explained he was overheating and laying down in rivers to cool off along the bike ride. He's also the first one I saw swigging the beer, so I can't think he's that bad off.

Dec 6, 2013 12:46 AM #

I see Tecnu dropped to 4th....are they just about to tackle the biggest peak of the race?

Dec 6, 2013 12:54 AM #

I don't think Tecnu dropped back. I'm looking at the earlier time stamp on their tracker vs Columbia, and the fact that they aren't many reasons for them to stop right before a knoll/crest. We'll see when their trackers are more current together.

Dec 6, 2013 12:57 AM #

z:

Doug Judson just had a fit, suggesting Tecnu has dropped back -- I see in the raw data the Tecnu tracker is ahead, about the same distance as always. The public-facing website just hasn't updated.

Dec 6, 2013 1:10 AM #

Ok, ok...calm down everyone....sorry Doug, didn't mean to upset you! ;)))) For a bit they were showing behind Columbia. I will not assume things from now on ;)

Dec 6, 2013 1:15 AM #

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5909378809...

wonder what the chat was here? Thule and Seagate trekking together!

Dec 6, 2013 1:26 AM #

Is FB racing on Sportovia cause that sounds like one of his moves! Either way he'd be as impressed as I am.

Great updates from everyone today, thanks! Feel bad for Issy Adventure and great to see the Cdn flag SXM doing well.

Dec 6, 2013 1:28 AM #

Doug will freak out form time to time...the last few hours the trackers weren't updating at all. But, they're back on now. Not much has changed at the front of the pack.

Dec 6, 2013 2:08 AM #

Thule is nearing the peak.

Regarding Columbia and Tecnu in close proximity:
I don't believe it has been mentioned but Marco from Columbia raced on Tecnu for two years. Him and Kyle raced and trained together a lot and became good friends. "Marcocopuff" actually raced with Bob and Kyle when they won Costa Rica last year.

Not sure exactly what prompted the switch but Marco has since found a home on Columbia which is probably a better fit as he was born and raised in Brazil. He speaks English as a second language which I know was a barrier at times but he is a strong athlete and a great teammate. He currently lives in San Diego which is how he hooked up with Tecnu.

Dec 6, 2013 2:11 AM #

ok, WHAT are these: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6606198506...

Dec 6, 2013 2:24 AM #

attach two boats?

Dec 6, 2013 2:46 AM #

Hahaha - that's a Polish team alright.

Dec 6, 2013 3:04 AM #

I think Joe might be right. But why would they make it a double hull? I would think that might be slower. You could only paddle on one side and twice the "frontal area".

Are they for portaging maybe?

Maybe they are the special mangrove whacking portage wheels? I don't see any blades on them though.

Dec 6, 2013 3:06 AM #

Aerodiva stopped at the ATM at 2049.

Dec 6, 2013 3:36 AM #

who is going to tell Doug...Columbia's tracker has been ahead of Tecnu for a few km now.

Dec 6, 2013 3:39 AM #

they must be sleeping...

Dec 6, 2013 3:53 AM #

I think the leaderboard has misplaced Merrell Adventure Addicts. They were reported to be in 7th place at midcamp but now they're shown in 9th place. Their breadcrumbs show that they arrived before 16:00 so they should be out on The Big Trek now that it's 21:45 in CR. Their tracker is stuck at 19:01.

The next tracks will tell the story but Adidas Terrex may have navigated their way past Quasarlontra into 5th place on their way up Chirripo. The tracks are only a few hundred meters apart at the same time so the teams may even be in contact.

Moving further up the mountain, I'm afraid Earring Doug will need to sit down because Columbia has passed Tecnu to move into 3rd place. They slept at midcamp - no sign that they've slept on this trek. Seagate should be on the summit now, and Thule has moved on.

Dec 6, 2013 4:01 AM #

I suppose the leaderboard ranking could be correct if Merrell has not left midcamp - but the recorded 19:01 arrival time is still several hours after they arrived so it is probably just a small data glitch.

Dec 6, 2013 4:03 AM #

I'm very impressed with Adidas Terrex move back up the rankings after a rough paddle through the Mangroves. They are right with Quasarlontra battling for 5th place beginning the huge ascent up Chirripo,

Dec 6, 2013 4:13 AM #

Is this big trek on a trail or is it a bush whack?

Dec 6, 2013 4:35 AM #

The little bit of info we've seen suggests mostly trails. Here's the race map from midcamp to the summit of Chirripo.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/05/race...

And here's the race book for that section.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/05/race...

(Thanks, LosDobos.)

Dec 6, 2013 4:37 AM #

Normally I would consider "Stream" to be too non-specific as a control description but compared to the two control locations described as "Contour", it actually sounds pretty good. ;)

Dec 6, 2013 4:40 AM #

Thanks! The map one came out while I was at work and I missed it!

I love those contour checkpoints… you just look for that line on the ground.

Dec 6, 2013 4:44 AM #

most interesting race to follow with all your help, thanks , keep it up, Go Moreorless 2!!

Dec 6, 2013 4:48 AM #

Speaking of that team, it looks like they took 2-3 hours to rest and regroup at the kayak/bike TA, and they should be arriving at the zipline right around now.

Dec 6, 2013 4:51 AM #

It looks like Untamed Canada may have stopped for 45 minutes along the bike route - perhaps a quick nap before the final push to midcamp. They're biking steadily now.

Dec 6, 2013 4:53 AM #

I think I remember from the O-100 course* you shouldn't place controls on nondescript contours. :P

I've also learned that you AR folks are very forgiving about CP precision!

* The Canadian orienteering beginner course for officials...

Dec 6, 2013 4:56 AM #

Clean, please don't start. O-100 was right about that. :)

Thanks to whoever hid the first 525 messages - no more scrolling 38 screens to get to the bottom :)

That's the kind of feature Attackpoint Ken sneaks in because he's a user too, and he gets it. Also, I'm liking today's new "There are new messages" prompt that pops up if you're looking at the last message in the thread or working on a comment.

Dec 6, 2013 5:10 AM #

Some good pictures of Tecnu in the last TA on sleepmonsters (after about the last 3 to 6 photos). Kyle looks remarkably fresh in one of the photos just after pulling into the TA.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_photos.php?event_i...

Dec 6, 2013 5:15 AM #

Looks like the fastest time of stage 5 so far is around 13-14 hours (In order, Columbia (13 h 40 m), OpavaNet (14h 35 m), Adidas Terrex (14 h 44) and Tecnu (15 h 13m)).

Dec 6, 2013 5:24 AM #

Meanwhile, back at the mangroves, Team 6 Grifone is probably at the kayak/bike TA, based on their track an hour ago. Their time for this leg will be over 40 hours. Bet they sleep at the TA after all their explorations.

However, they've been outdone by the creative explorations of Team 40 Issy Adventure, who are on the right track now as they take the long way around to CP17. Their time for this leg is at 40 hours so far with a couple of CPs to go. Bet they never want to see mangroves again!

Dec 6, 2013 5:37 AM #

Just looked for first time in a while. Tecnu slowed down, didn't they? Not just that Columbia was faster, though I'm sure they were that too. I hope the climbing with the mashed feet didn't become a problem.

Dec 6, 2013 5:40 AM #

Mashed feet?

Dec 6, 2013 5:44 AM #

Comment from Sleepmonsters about the bike nav before midcamp. Sounds like I underestimated it.

"From then on there were plenty more hills to come as the route wound its way across country into the mountains that run down the centre of Costa Rica. Some of the navigation was tricky as not all the roads were on the maps and in places there was a maze of rough tracks to find a way through. In the night we came across the Japanese team East Wind asking directions from some bemused locals. There were plenty of people around to ask as there were many homes and villages, most of them now decked out in Christmas lights."

In the same article, they mentioned that Merrell decided to spend extra time at midcamp to rest, so this may explain the drop to 9th place.

Dec 6, 2013 5:52 AM #

Team Dark Horse dropped CPs 15, 16, 17 & 18 in the mangroves, taking the shortest route to T4. There was some talk of this being a score-O section but we haven't seen many teams skipping CPs so it has looked like a "visit CPs in any order" section.

"Dark Horses said they too tied up to sleep. They were afloat when they did so, but woke up on a big mud bank as the tide had gone out, and they had a tough time getting out of the mud.

Dave Darby said they’d “made a tactical choice” to miss several of the CP’s in the swamp and gone directly to the transition. “We wanted to stay in the race, and there is nothing to cut after this. We knew if we went for all the controls we’d never make it, so it was an easy choice to make.” He added that CP19 was underwater when they got to it."

Dec 6, 2013 5:53 AM #

re: mashed feet...I remembered a recent photo of the feet of some Costa Rica racer at a stop on FB, and they were the typical pruned up, skin-bunched up feet of someone who's been hiking and biking with wet socks/shoes. I know those guys are extremely experienced, but still...

Dec 6, 2013 6:01 AM #

Sleepmonsters quoted Karen at midcamp, saying Tecnu had good feet. The caveat is that the article was written by their team manager, who would not be inclined to broadcast any issues the team may have been having. :)

Dec 6, 2013 6:04 AM #

Those feet seeeeemed to be Tico's. But the comment from Doug was that they look great! I just shrugged because I have no idea what "great" is supposed to look like!

Re: the possible score-O - is that why Ducati is still ranked having skipped the mangroves? Or is that a leaderboard glitch?

Dec 6, 2013 6:12 AM #

Ducati also skipped the trek to the start of the mangroves so they are definitely unranked. (Leaderboard glitch.)

I must confess that I'm cheering for my friends on Tecnu, and I am currently very worried. They've moved about 7 km in the last 5 hours. Columbia is at the summit after passing Tecnu earlier in this trek. I'm sending healing vibes. Clean and Afsheen, you may be right on the money about the feet. :(

Dec 6, 2013 6:15 AM #

Has Seagate made their move? It kinda looks like they've taken over the lead on the descent from Chirripo.

And Adidas Terrex is in 5th place after passing Quasarlontra on the trek.

Dec 6, 2013 6:18 AM #

By tracker time and distance, I'd say Seagate has officially passed Thule...

I'm also getting worried about Tecnu. This is very frustrating.

I'm glad my beer-guzzling countrymen&lady are on their way, though!

Dec 6, 2013 6:20 AM #

It seems that Columbia is closing the gap with the two front-runners in a big way on this trek. I hope they can keep this up. I'd like to see them beat at least one of the 2 favorites, almost as much as I'd like to see Tecnu beat the favorites. I've been a fan of theirs since Gold Rush 2012 when I saw one of their teammates puking hard under a 100+ degree F sun (37+C for the non-US racers) during a big climb on the first day, and the rest were just kicking it waiting for him to get over it. Then see them just rocket to a big victory later. Well I didn't see them, they were so far ahead of us. That was the year of this big fire that forced all the teams to divert, except for Columbia who was so far ahead, and Team Sole who just pushed through, alongside the fire I think.

Dec 6, 2013 6:20 AM #

Clean's beer-guzzling friends sure are doing well! 10th place. And Merrell Adventure Addicts are on the trek in 9th after taking some extra rest.

Yes, Columbia is flying!

Dec 6, 2013 7:09 AM #

Here's the FB photo of Kyle's feet. Having looked like that myself, I think those feet would have dried out and felt fine after resting at midcamp. Tecnu seems to be having some other problem. Maybe altitude? They're at 3600 m and still climbing. Or maybe someone's stomach doesn't feel right.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5909215942...

Over the summit of Chirripo:
1) Seagate
2) Thule
3) Columbia (gaining on Thule)

Approaching the summit:
4) Tecnu
5) Adidas Terrex (gaining on Tecnu)
6) Quasarlontra or maybe Bones

Good night!

Dec 6, 2013 7:47 AM #

Thanks Bash. There is definitely something wrong with Tecnu's pace tonight. I hope that whatever it is, they can recover by tomorrow.

Dec 6, 2013 7:50 AM #

dirtylilrunner:

@LosDobos Any YogaSlacker sightings or news?

Dec 6, 2013 7:59 AM #

z:

I've got the midnight shift tonight at TA5. It's dang cold in the jungle, if you get enough altitude. TA 5 is at 1,500 m (roughly) and it's cold here. Up higher it must be freezing, to he honest.

Dec 6, 2013 8:03 AM #

there is no interwebs at midway camp, which probably explains why the mandatory team 'blogs' are probably been typed up by someone on a nearby hill after being uploaded via semaphore.

Thule - 57 - Thule Blog
Hi everybody, follow us until the finish line for our new world title Ö.
Team 1
Team #1 Seagate: Tough course! All feeling much better after some rest and ready to do our stuff on the big trek. Thanks everybody for all your support!
columbia vidaraid

Team 5
Thanks for all the support guys, we are on the running right now chasing the front pack. Love you all
Team 8
Team#8 Bones: Feeling strong. Love to all who all are following! Your support keeps us motivated.
Team 62
Team #62 Tecnu: From Karen, we are happy where we are, and battling the course, shout out to all my friends in Big Bear, and To Cat. Love you guys! From Garret, love to mom and Dad and a shout out to Silverado Power, thanks for all your support, Always be closing! Celebrated my bday in the swamp, fun times in the muck. From Kyle to Tommie, love you mom, this course is brutal, we are loving it. Thank you to Mike Miller for scheduling all those heavy pack hikes, they were worth it. From Bob, thanks to everyone watching in North America. We are feeling good, and excited to be going on a real hike after 3 days of racing. Thank you to Tecnu, adventure medical kits, survive outdoor longer, Brooks, Leki, Light & Motion, Headsweats, Champion Systems, 2XU, Julbo USA, Kinesys, and Acce/Endurox R4, we hope we are doing you guys proud.
Adidas terrex - Team #3
This is the stage we’ve all been looking forward to. Have slept will run as much as we can!
quasarlonta
Team 64
Team #64
Amamos comer Aventura, e o qu noscemos e fomos treinodos para foyer.
Amamos correr em provas de Aventura, é o que nascemos para fazer treinados para fazer.
We love adventure race and that is what we were born to and practice

Team 14
Team 14 BMS Multisport: Epic race. Team going well. Neils still strong as hell dragging the team around. Slowly making some progress through the rest of the field.

Dec 6, 2013 9:13 AM #

:) It almost sounds like Bob is the one thanking sponsors in that blurb. Almost.

Thanks for grabbing these!

Dec 6, 2013 10:53 AM #

Wow, there is still so much race left! Wonder how much the organizers have adjusted their finish time expectations and how racers are managing food, gear and their supplies to last longer perhaps? Any thoughts?

Dec 6, 2013 11:15 AM #

team 6 = 41+ hours for the Mangrove Monster section
the horror.....the horror

Dec 6, 2013 11:34 AM #

oh...WOW. my first-thing-in-the-morning check of the tracker reveals Seagate, Thule, and Columbia all clustered together on a secondary peak of Chirripo. granted, the timestamps are 30min apart on each of the teams but seems like Columbia has put themselves firmly in the hunt for a podium spot!

Tecnu has summited but are about 6-7km back from that group. their breadcrumbs don't reveal any sleep spots either - just a slower pace. i really, REALLY hope that is the pace they are employing by choice and not by necessity.

no sleep for Thule, but Seagate looks to have stopped for 90min on that secondary peak. hope their rest was productive and it wasn't too cold (based on untamedadventur's comments).

Dec 6, 2013 11:52 AM #

best guess is that the altitude is affecting someone on Tecnu. The good thing is that it goes away as soon as they descend below about 2500m
Seagate stopped for a sleep until Thule caught up
now they are all taking different routes down to 32 - exciting shit

Dec 6, 2013 11:54 AM #

yeah! it's like ridge roulette...who will pick the right one?

Dec 6, 2013 11:59 AM #

for brilliant insights click below

below

Dec 6, 2013 12:04 PM #

hmmm...not different route choices, Seagate is simply following the trail and Thule cut straight across to pick up the descending trail to 33

looking at the map, there really is only 1 route to take

Dec 6, 2013 12:07 PM #

ohhhh i see. there IS a trail on the race map (not shown on the tracking map). smart move by Thule!

Dec 6, 2013 12:41 PM #

fave post so far:

click me

Dec 6, 2013 1:20 PM #

After coming into the Mangrove paddle in 10th place It took AXA -Adidas 44hrs and 49 minutes to get to the next TA. That is over a full day longer than some of the fastest teams in that section. Crazy!?

http://www.axa-adidas.com/?p=10503

Dec 6, 2013 1:26 PM #

damn, it's a pity that AXA didn't track in the mangroves.

Dec 6, 2013 1:28 PM #

Exactly what I was thinking shebeen. It will be interesting to see how quickly they recover and whether they can play some catchup.

Dec 6, 2013 1:30 PM #

This has to be one of the better pics I've seen. Now that's a teammate!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/109259580@N03/1121360...

Dec 6, 2013 1:34 PM #

Has anyone heard from Hermes or Leanimal since they planned to climb Chirripo yesterday? Curious to hear their thoughts on the climb and the terrain.

Dec 6, 2013 1:34 PM #

Oh my, paddles and all.....!

Dec 6, 2013 1:45 PM #

If you go out in the water today, you're sure for a big surprise...

Caption Text

As always some amazing pics from Andreas Strand -http://www.andreasstrand.se/2013/12/raceday-2-and-...

Dec 6, 2013 1:51 PM #

The racers will have nightmares about those Mangroves for a really, really long time....I bet Bob will appreciate canoeing in Ontario so much more now....hehehe

Dec 6, 2013 1:52 PM #

After what appeared to be a few tough hours for Tecnu it appears they have almost caught back up to Colombia! The trackers for Thule and Seagate haven't updated for a while so I expect they are a few kms ahead.

Dec 6, 2013 1:59 PM #

Tecnu has closed the gap :)

Dec 6, 2013 2:01 PM #

WOW Seagate's tracker finally updated and they are only 3-4 kms ahead of Colombia and Tecnu.

Dec 6, 2013 2:41 PM #

Munching on some AXA Sportmusli (we have a Swede in the house...) for breakfast and wondering what 45 hours stuck in the mangrove must have been like....

Dec 6, 2013 3:03 PM #

Looking at the live tracking and it looks like:

Columbia has passed Thule! (Unless this just appears this way due to trackers updating at different times?)

Tecnu has reached the summit!

Exciting battle in the top 4!

Dec 6, 2013 3:24 PM #

Thule's tracker hasn't updated for three hours now so good chance they are well ahead but you never know! Tecnu hasn't updated for 90 minutes either so will be interesting to see how everyone is grouped.

Adidas-Terrex and BMS are making their way over to CP32 and appear to be making very good time. Not too far behind them are Quasarlontra and Merrell who round out the top eight. Bones and Sportovia are making the huge ascent up Chirropo right now in a battle for 9th and 10th. By the looks of it Bones banked 3-4 hours before the big climb and started again as the sun came up.

Dec 6, 2013 3:25 PM #

Ah yes, gotta figure out how to check the tracker update times. Thanks DD11!

Dec 6, 2013 3:29 PM #

mouse over the team icon and that will usually popo up the tracking data
or
click on the team in the team list and a window pops up with all the tracking data, including breadcrumbs

Dec 6, 2013 3:43 PM #

That ridge hike between 31 and 32 must be amazing in daylight.

Dec 6, 2013 3:43 PM #

Thanks to Breathe for posting these maps as we can see there is a building at CP32 (Shelter) which teams may using for a quick pitstop. CP33 is located at a stream.

Caption Text

Dec 6, 2013 3:46 PM #

Once again thanks to Breathe we can see the top team's trek from CP32-CP33.

Caption Text

Dec 6, 2013 3:54 PM #

After about 3.5 hours Thule's tracker just updated and it shows them about 3-4km ahead of Colombia (Seagate and Tecnu's trackers haven't updated for a while).

Dec 6, 2013 4:15 PM #

A couple cool pics of the trails leading to Chirripo from a tourist last week.

Caption Text

From last year..
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Guaranteed we will be hearing about this. Look how chewed up the trail gets from the horses using it?!
Caption Text

What lies ahead..
Caption Text

Dec 6, 2013 4:19 PM #

Meanwhile back in the Mangroves…Team #42 Issy Adventures has FINALLY made it to the TA after being out in the Mangroves for 50 hours, 51 minutes. CRAZY?! Hope they are resting and re-hydrating now.

Dec 6, 2013 4:28 PM #

The bottom pic is from the Pacuare River paddle, close to Siquerres. I paddled it Monday-Wed this week (here for my honeymoon, coincidentally). Stopped for a couple nights at Pacuare Lodge for some hiking.

That narrow passage is called "Dos Montanas" and is one of only a couple flat spots on the river. It's mostly a gentle class 2 run.

We put-in at Turrialba and took-out at Siquerres. Nothing more than class IV here, mostly 2-3s, and decent water level. Granted, the guide we had just returned from the New Zealand rafting world championships, and works the river for years, but there were only a couple possible screw-ups/portages and they were short. No forks/turns to miss.

A few days before we put in on Dec 1st, the river was closed for 2 days due to high water with the heavy rain fall. I spoke with a couple professional kayakers/playboaters and they did Not paddle when it was closed. These are hardcore tico badass paddlers who race internationally.

Watch the forecast/conditions. This could alter the race if heavy rain returns at the right/wrong time.

Veteran adventure racers like Rebecca Rusch, Shane Sigle and Jeremy Rodgers know this river very well, having raced and worked there over the years.

Lastly, I can vouch for how cold it is in the mountains here in Costa Rica. The combination of heat exposure during the day and hypothermia at night in the same day will nuke some teams, especially around Chirripo and the Cordillera Talamanca.

Also, it goes without saying that the trails can be very technical. Deep mud and roots everywhere. High risk of injury, especially at night and late in the race, under load.

I predict a sky-high "casualty rate" in the 2nd half of the race.

MAYBE 15 teams will do the course.

Looks like a true world championship course! Point to point with tough navigation/strategy choices and gnarliest terrain possible.

Gracias, Senor de la Rosa! This course is TUANIS y Pura Vida, for sure.

Sean
DART-Nuun

Dec 6, 2013 4:32 PM #

Sounds like a wonderful honeymoon. Congratulations, Sean! :)

Dec 6, 2013 4:32 PM #

Great update Sean, thanks!!

Dec 6, 2013 4:34 PM #

Great pics DD11!

Dec 6, 2013 4:39 PM #

The top 3 teams - probably still Seagate, Thule and Columbia in that order - haven't updated in 2-3 hours. Tecnu recently updated on the secondary peak of Chirripo. They are being chased by Quasarlontra, BMS Multisport, Adidas Terrex and Merrell; the closest teams are within 2 km behind them. Start that descent *now*, Tecnu!

Dec 6, 2013 4:41 PM #

Unfortunately, Tecnu seems to have stalled again as their tracker just updated after 2.5 hours and they remain at CP32. Hope everyone is okay and the possible issue that they had earlier hasn't resurfaced or gotten worse.

Dec 6, 2013 4:44 PM #

Go figure..Tecnu is back on the move again!

Quasarlontra is about 2km back of 4th place Tecnu with BMS, Adidas Terrex and Merrell right behind them.

Dec 6, 2013 4:45 PM #

finally turning my attention to my fellow Canucks on Epic Endurance, Untamed, and Boundless 2 (I can say their name...it's not like saying "Voldemort")

Dec 6, 2013 4:46 PM #

But they'd really rather you don't.

Dec 6, 2013 4:51 PM #

If I were racing and someone posted this I'd probably tell them to go shove it. :)

I am sure that's the case here, and that we are not sitting just past the CP on the mountain and losing time to the front-runners. I will check in at HQ and have them login and check the tracker and see where they are at, and let you know soon, but I am not worried.

Just saying..

Dec 6, 2013 4:56 PM #

Brazil/Quasarlontra's Tessa Roorda on Quasar Lontra raced with us (DART) back in 2008 at a couple races, and we trained together quite a bit in Los Angeles when she was at UCLA briefly. Awesome to see her at the sharp end of the field! She is one of the sport's best, and flies under the radar as she's pretty quiet. Awesome attitude, super-experienced expedition pro and unbreakable.

The course definitely favors the Brazilians and others familiar with jungle racing.

Dec 6, 2013 4:58 PM #

Quasarlontra is sitting in an impressive 5th place so anything is possible over the 2nd half of the race (or are we even at that point yet!?).

Dec 6, 2013 4:58 PM #

Always tough to discern if Tecnu's sponsorship manager Earring Dougie is putting out real intel or misinformation. But that's his job, and he's very good at it.

Dec 6, 2013 4:59 PM #

Tecnu has been on that peak for 3 hrs at around 3600 m. If the problem was altitude, this would not be helping. However, the symptoms of altitude sickness are symptoms of other problems typical in adventure racing, so it can be hard to know. Also, if someone is really not feeling well, it can be hard to get them to a lower altitude just to test the theory. I think they stopped to give a teammate a chance to rest and hopefully feel better. They wouldn't sleep away daylight hours by choice, especially so soon after midcamp.

Dec 6, 2013 4:59 PM #

FB:

or spell it funny so it doesn't get googled .... like Bowndlesse Tu
... sorry, need to distract myself... I'm a little distraught about Tecnu's current situation?!?! :-)

(wow, take a second to post and a dozen new posts pop up and mess up your context)

Untamed seems to have found their groove.

Dec 6, 2013 5:00 PM #

Based on the recent update Thule is about 2km from the "stream" CP33 CP and approx 2/3 of the way through this massive trek leg. No updates from Seagate or Colombia for a while now.

Dec 6, 2013 5:07 PM #

Another update from Tecnu on that secondary peak. :(

Dec 6, 2013 5:07 PM #

From Sleepmonsters relative to the Mangrove Monster CP's-

"The answer is simple enough – any team, cutting any checkpoint is unranked, and all the unranked teams will be classified together. “I have seen so much confusion in the past as teams who are unranked argue about who did more of the course and which unranked team is higher than another as a result. We are not doing that, the fact is they didn’t do the whole course and so they are unranked, and that is the end of it.”

All points mandatory.

Dec 6, 2013 5:14 PM #

FB:

I like that philosophy

Dec 6, 2013 5:23 PM #

Quasarlontra and BMS have reached CP32. Tecnu just updated and is still there. :(

Dec 6, 2013 5:23 PM #

I wonder if everyone understood that the score-O was all mandatory. This quote from Dark Horse doesn't sound like a team that just decided to unrank themselves. A "tactical choice"?

Dave Darby said they’d “made a tactical choice” to miss several of the CP’s in the swamp and gone directly to the transition. “We wanted to stay in the race, and there is nothing to cut after this. We knew if we went for all the controls we’d never make it..."

Dec 6, 2013 5:24 PM #

Seagate has just updated and they are where Thule was 45 minutes ago so think it's safe to assume Thule currently is leading with Seagate 2nd and Colombia somewhere close by.

Dec 6, 2013 5:25 PM #

And just like that, Tecnu has moved back to the trail, heading toward the descent. Fingers crossed they're feeling better!

Dec 6, 2013 5:28 PM #

Looks like Quasarlontra and BMS are a few minutes ahead of Tecnu. Looks like Tecnu is still in a competitive mood despite whatever problem they've had, which is awesome.

Dec 6, 2013 5:29 PM #

Yes, I like the system of requiring that all checkpoints be visited, i.e. the race course is the race course, plain and simple, no opting to just drop parts of it.
That said, I'm okay with a team choosing to go unranked if they really aren't aiming to be competitive and want to choose which parts of the course they spend their time on.... as long as it doesn't somehow interfere with the ranked racing.

Glad to hear that Tecnu is on the move again.

Dec 6, 2013 5:33 PM #

Yes, I like that kind of race course too. I'm not keen on the "optional checkpoint" AR format, particularly if maps are distributed on course since there is too much random guessing involved.

Dec 6, 2013 5:46 PM #

Worried about Tecnu :( Wonder what's been going on....my guess would be altitude issues...not the feet. If you asked me, those pics didn't make their feet look to bad, didn't see a single blister, and there's easy ways to dry out.

Update on Yogaslackers. Their tracker suddenly appeared at Midcamp...so, guessing they're back in the mix!

Dec 6, 2013 5:48 PM #

My latest guestimate based on recent tracking.

1. Thule (should be arriving at CP33 anytime now)
2. Seagate (recent update had them about 30-45 minutes behind Thule assuming they are still moving).
3. Colombia (haven't updated for 45 min but should be right behind Seagate)
4. Tecnu (stopped for a few hours beside CP32 but appear to be moving again)
5. Quasarlontra (Just arrived at CP32, curious to see if they spend some time here like the teams ahead)
6. BMS (right beside Quasarlontra)
7. Merrell (recent track has ~1km away from CP32)
8. Adidas-Terrex (right beside Merrell)
9. Bones (~6km behind 8th place)
10. Sportovia (tracker hasn't updated for 3.5 hours so good bet they are somewhere ahead of this position).
11. Salomon-Suunto (just passed the Chirripo Summit and making good time since last TA)
12. Opavanet (right beside Salomon)
13. Mountain Hardware (Climbing up to CP31)
14. Bivouac Colts (just a few 100m behind Mtn Hardware)

15th-19th
Aerodiva, Trangoworld, Ecuador Explorer, Eastwind, Selva

20th-21st
Toyota, Banano

22-23
SXM and Tropico Extreme have recently left the TA and are starting the big climb up Chirripo.

Just noticed that Gearjunkies tracker is actually almost up to date and they are sitting at the mandatory rest stop along with Untamed Canada, Jeep and AXA-Adidas. AXA Adidas must have had an awesome MTB because they had a tough paddle.

Dec 6, 2013 5:49 PM #

I assumed the "tactical decision" of dropping points was to avoid getting on the short-course-bus later in the race rather than to try to place higher.

Dec 6, 2013 5:50 PM #

wow, DD11! awesome recap and awesome pics earlier! really helps give perspective of the trail conditions. that mud looks horrible.

Dec 6, 2013 5:54 PM #

"short-course-bus" yet another great new phrase to come out of this race thread! :)

Dec 6, 2013 5:59 PM #

Thanks for the guesstimate summary DD11, that's great!
I'm excitedly watching Adidas-Terrex to see if they keep moving up through the next few positions...

And impressed with AXA's return. They must be drained from so many hours in the mangrove, and probably got low on food and water.

I wonder if Tecnu got some sleep while they were stopped, or would this not have been a logical place to sleep? If they got some sleep, that could come in handy in the next day or so with other teams not far away....

Dec 6, 2013 6:00 PM #

"Would you rather: be short-course-bussed or mangroved?"
;)

Dec 6, 2013 6:10 PM #

Mid-day seems like a funny time to sleep but perhaps they're not worried about trail-based navigation at night, and this location seems to be a good one to rest at.

Dec 6, 2013 6:15 PM #

I assumed the "tactical decision" of dropping points was to avoid getting on the short-course-bus later in the race rather than to try to place higher.

Maybe, but "tactical" sounds like a word you would choose if you were thinking about staying in the race rather than choosing which sections of the race course you'd like to do for fun as an unranked team. Granted, they are choosing their words in a sleep-deprived haze so it doesn't make sense for me to focus on semantics so much! :)

Dec 6, 2013 6:30 PM #

5:30 gap from Seagate back to Tecnu now. Don't tell Doug.

Dec 6, 2013 6:44 PM #

That's 5 minutes and 30 seconds, right? :)

Still, I'd be pretty proud to be within 6 hours of Seagate...

I think I was within 6 hours of Seagate at ARWC2011.... on the first day :)

Dec 6, 2013 6:49 PM #

FB:

We beat Nathan in RTNX Nfld (1)... rumour has it he had open heart surgery the week before the race :-)

Dec 6, 2013 6:51 PM #

Yay, Tecnu's next track is definitely downhill. Although they'd moved over to the trail, they were still on the peak at the last track so I wasn't 100% sure. Quasarlontra, BMS and Merrell are on different parts of the peak now and will likely hang out for a little while, based on what the other teams have done.

Dec 6, 2013 6:52 PM #

Heck, his whole team was afraid to show up in Newfoundland when we signed up for ARWC2004 ;)
(or some convenient excuse about a wedding... c'mon, what racer lets a wedding be scheduled near an important race?? :)

Dec 6, 2013 7:02 PM #

FB:

Exactly... Darin moved his own wedding when RTNX dates changed one year... btw, he doesn't race anymore :-)

Now back to your regularly schedule race-mania...

Dec 6, 2013 7:05 PM #

Well, I've NEVER raced against Nathan, so clearly he is terrified of me.

Dec 6, 2013 7:06 PM #

Tecnu! is moving! again! after having arrived at the secondary peak about 0745, they are now trekking off of the "hill"top at 1219 and 1239. onwards!

Dec 6, 2013 7:07 PM #

If the top-3 trackers would suddenly all update, I think we'd see all3 within 2 km of each other

Dec 6, 2013 7:09 PM #

A few splits (best/worst) for the first few legs:

Leg #1 - Mountain Bike (95km)

Fastest:
1. Thule 8:44
2. Seagate 9:17
3. Silva 9:17
4. AXA Adidas 9:23
5. Quasarlontra 9:23
6. Tecnu 9:48
7. Colombia 9:50
8. Trangoworld 10:04
9. Gearjunkie 10:05
10. Adidas Terrex 10:22

Slowest:
1. Ducati 29:36
2. Tropico 27:19
3. Get No Sleep 20:18
4. Coast to Coast 20:08
5. Kinesium 19:48

Difference between fastest to slowest: 20:52

Leg #2 - Paddle (65km)

Fastest:
1. Seagate 11:42
2. Merrell 12:34
3. Thule 12:39
4. Silva 12:47
5. Tecnu 13:04
6. BMS 13:04
7. Colombia 13:06
8. Banano 13:22
9. Quasarlontra 13:33
10.Selva 13:41

Slowest:
1. Ducati 38:57
2. Hyundai 25:16
3. Hombres 25:13
4. EnduranceLife 23:57
5. EpicEndurance 23:51

Difference from fastest to slowest: 27:15

Will post the 3rd and 4th legs in a bit.

Dec 6, 2013 7:11 PM #

Looks like Thule has stopped to take a little break at CP33.

Dec 6, 2013 7:14 PM #

Have had a few back and forths with Doug regarding Tecnu. He is saying that trackers will report wrong locations and then suddenly jump to the right location, which I personally haven't seen once this race. I've just seen them not report for hours at a time. Plus, their last few tracks make sense in that they're moving forward, just slowly.

Anyone noticed wrong GPS reporting?

Dec 6, 2013 7:17 PM #

Thanks for the splits DD11! Love it!

Most of us are terrified of racing against Los Dobos. The few times I have had to race against him, I was motivated to run as fast as I could ;)

Now, given all his great race insight, I'd be slowed down by looking for internet cafes, checking if he has shared any info on the web...

Dec 6, 2013 7:19 PM #

Leg #3 - Trek (27km)

Fastest:
1. Thule 5:16
2. Seagate - 5:33
3. Merrell - 5:33
4. Silva - 5:36
5. Colombia - 5:40
6. Adidas Terrex - 5:46
7. AXA Adidas - 6:07
8. Tecnu - 6:15
9. BMS - 6:35
10.Peaklife - 6:35

Slowest:
1. Dark Horse - 13:58
2. Baba - 13:45
3. Great Langdale - 13:34
4. Aquitaine - 13:19
5. Papacara - 13:14

Difference from fastest to slowest: 8:42

Dec 6, 2013 7:19 PM #

FB:

Someone tell Doug that Tecnu is heading back to the start of the trek... I want to see if I can hear the 'POP!' from Canada... :-)

OK, that wasn't nice... :-)

Dec 6, 2013 7:24 PM #

FB:

Looks like Merrell is first off the "peak" in pursuit of leaders... I thought is was going to be BMS

Dec 6, 2013 7:25 PM #

@NormalAndrew: No, in this race I've only seen trackers do that in a couple of cases where the race organization gave a team a new tracker, and the transition wasn't smooth.

I'm a Tecnu fan so Doug and I are on the same side. However, I find it frustrating that his cheerleading is so optimistic that it sometimes includes misinformation. It would be nice to think that I could go to the Tecnu FB page to find trustworthy news about my friends - even at times when the team is going through a low.

Btw we used these Delorme trackers for the first time at Wilderness Traverse this year, with Untamedadventur's support, and I was really impressed compared to SPOT (which, of course, is the type I own - sigh).

Dec 6, 2013 7:35 PM #

Leg #4 - Mangrove Paddle (65km)

Fastest:
1. Sportovia 19:12
2. Bivouac Colts 20:03
3. Bones 20:25
4. Thule 21:12
5. Silva 22:35
6. Mtn Hardware 22:47
7. Seagate 23:01
8. Toyota 23:06
9. SXM 23:17
10. BMS 23:43

Slowest:
1. Issy Aventure 50:51
2. Peaklife 46:31
3. AXA Adidas 44:49
4. Grifone 41:16
5. Hyundai 40:53

Difference from fastest to slowest: 31 hrs, 39 min.

-A few other notables- (Merrell (14th) Quasarlontra (15th),Tecnu(16th),Colombia(23th),Adidas Terrex(26th)

- Istill can't believe how long it took AXA Adidas and to see how well they are doing now is awesome!

-It appears there were at least three teams who are shown as having finished the paddle but didn't get all Cps so as we have determined they will go unranked (Coast to Coast, Get No Sleep, Dark Horse, Epic Endurance are who I saw)

-Kinesium could still be on the first paddle but their tracker hasn't updated since yesterday and they aren't shown as being finished that leg on the leader board.

-Hombres de Maiz appear to be the only ranked team left on the paddle and unfortunately for them they are "mangroved in" at the point where many other teams were forced to turn around.

Dec 6, 2013 7:48 PM #

Leg #5 - Mountain Bike (101km)

A total of 27 ranked teams (not counting Haglofs-Silva) have finished so far. There are about 22 ranked teams (not counting Kinesium and Hombres who are possibly still paddling) currently on leg #5. So far here are the fastest/slowest splits:

Fastest:
1. Colombia 13:40
2. Adidas Terrex 14:44
3. Tecnu 15:13
4. Seagate 16:19
5. AXA Adidas 17:17
6. Thule 17:18
7. Opavanet 17:51
8. Quasarlontra 18:25
9. Bones 18:29
10.BMS 18:52

Slowest:
1. Selva 29:57
2. Jeep 27:55
3. Ansiltia 27:43
4. Banano 24:58
5. Untamed Cda 24:14

Difference from fastest to slowest: 10hrs, 34 min

I will try to update this again later after more teams have completed the bike.

Dec 6, 2013 7:49 PM #

Great stuff, DD11!

Dec 6, 2013 7:50 PM #

FB:

Awesome DD11! .. some interesting results there

Dec 6, 2013 7:55 PM #

Wow, nice gain on Leg #5 by Tecnu versus top ranked teams like Seagate and Thule!

Yes, I prefer to let Tecnu's results speak for themselves. The hype and marketing can detract from the facts when it is too over the top. Oh well, maybe I'm just jealous that I don't have someone working the sponsorship angle for me.
Still, it's nice to see a team simply go in quiet and finish strong.

Dec 6, 2013 8:12 PM #

Interesting that Merrell are only ranked in the top 10 fastest times for 2 out of 5 legs (the 'easy' first paddle & hike legs) yet are still racing up in positions 5 to 8.

When is the dark zone analysis going to start?

Dec 6, 2013 8:20 PM #

Pretty cool video of the hike up and around Chirropo. It's long so I just skimmed through it to avoid the annoying soundtrack.

http://vimeo.com/35567240

Dec 6, 2013 8:37 PM #

Thanks for the vid, DD! Nice to see what they're seeing.
Holy winds at the top. And the rocks.

Is attack by adorable nibbling goat on the list of dangers in this race?

Dec 6, 2013 8:58 PM #

Colombia's tracker just updated and it shows them at CP33. Thule's hasn't updated in 2 hours, Seagate's in 1 hour and Tecnu's about the same time.

Dec 6, 2013 9:01 PM #

According to Tecnu's latest FB update it is now pouring rain at mid camp so things just got even tougher for teams leaving to climb Chirropo.

Dec 6, 2013 9:02 PM #

Meanwhile back in the Mangrove, Hombres de Maiz have made it through from CP16 to CP17 so the worst of that section is likely behind them!

Dec 6, 2013 9:05 PM #

Limitless Also is about to hit mid camp. Huzzah!

Dec 6, 2013 9:13 PM #

According to LosDobos, there is bad news - especially for Clean. A Polish racer (on Sportovia, I assume) became badly hypothermic, and the race sent a doctor who evacuated him/her from the mountain.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/06/poli...

Dec 6, 2013 9:14 PM #

LOL. While the rest of you make useless boring lists like how long it took teams to finish legs (thanks, DD!) at the end of this I will compile my top ten list of secret-team names.

p.s. Limitless Also yay!

Dec 6, 2013 9:14 PM #

Wonder if it's too soon to start backtracking projections from the paddle dark zone cut off to see which teams can make or break?

Dec 6, 2013 9:16 PM #

I *know* Clean was LOLing the message before mine.

Dec 6, 2013 9:17 PM #

Yep... daaaaang....

Dec 6, 2013 9:17 PM #

My head hurts from all this useless number crunching. I may need a few beers before I can start guessing on the dark zone cutoffs! :)

Dec 6, 2013 9:23 PM #

As good a reason as any to start the weekend! Please keep the lists coming. And thanks, cause if I weren't already pulling an all-nighter/soon-to-be all-weekender for work, I'd being doing this crazy number-crunching too.

Dec 6, 2013 9:24 PM #

"Limitless" checked into the TA6 with a split of 22:33. Perfect timing as it sounds like the rain just started to come down for their 4 hour mandatory stop. Good on them as they currently sit 29th place!

Dec 6, 2013 9:26 PM #

Brilliant work putting those lists together, is it start to finish of leg or does it include the transition times? Some teamns have slept in transitions so that can sometimes explain quick times.

Dec 6, 2013 9:28 PM #

The Breathe Flashblog has added a "Donate" button to help fund their ARWC coverage, which isn't sponsored. I can't get Paypal to send them money using Chrome on a Mac, even though my Paypal donation to Attackpoint went through OK yesterday. LosDobos test-donated to Breathe using Firefox and Windows 7, and it worked. If anyone else makes a donation to Breathe and it works (or doesn't), it would be of interest in trying to track the problem down, i.e. maybe it's just me. I guess I'll just hand LosDobos some cash the next time I see him! ;)

Dec 6, 2013 9:29 PM #

That I don't know shebeen. Maybe Losdobos can let us know whether the splits shown on the team's pages reflect transition time for the previous leg or if it's added to the following leg? I'd love to be able to see a breakdown of TA times cause it always seems like the top teams run through them.

Dec 6, 2013 9:30 PM #

Hey Bash. I made a PayPal donation earlier today from my MacBook and it worked.

Dec 6, 2013 9:32 PM #

Chrome? When I get to the Paypal login screen, I enter my password and get taken to a Breathe screen that asks me to complete my purchase. I clicked that a few times and kept getting brought back to the same screen. So I've either donated 6 times what I intended to, or nothing at all!

Dec 6, 2013 9:35 PM #

Some tracker updates for the lead teams. Thule is about 4-5 km ahead of Columbia. Seagate hasn't updated but they'd be 1st or 2nd.

Tecnu is shown 1-2 km ahead of Quasarlontra but their track is 50 minutes more recent so it's not clear if they're 4th or 5th.

Dec 6, 2013 9:37 PM #

Based on the latest tracker update, it appears Thule is about halfway between CP33 and CP34. Seagate hasn't updated for 1.5 hours so they have to be close to Thule while Colombia's recently updated and they are a few km past CP33.

Quasarlontra's tracker hasn't updated for 45 minutes and assuming they are still moving they are likely right with 4th place Tecnu. Merrell is likely also right with them as their tracker hasn't updated in about an hour.

Both trackers for Adidas Terrex and BMS haven't updated for a while now either. First guess is they are still at CP32 as other team's have taken a break but they could be heading towards CP33 as well. Bones updated more recently and is sitting at CP32.

Daylight is quickly fading for the teams so it will be another interesting evening in the jungle!

Dec 6, 2013 9:38 PM #

Sorry Bash. Forgot you said Chrome as I am just using Safari on the Mac.

Dec 6, 2013 9:39 PM #

Still, it's good news that other people are able to donate.

Dec 6, 2013 9:40 PM #

Seagate just updated. They're in 2nd, halfway between Thule and Columbia.

Dec 6, 2013 9:46 PM #

I was able to donate with Chrome, but it gave me some issues for awhile. I may also have inadvertently donated multiple times in my haste.

Dec 6, 2013 9:48 PM #

Guess I'll try a different browser. Nice that people are supporting the Breathe crew!

Dec 6, 2013 9:51 PM #

Merrell just updated - still a few kms behind where Tecnu probably is. Hoping for an update to see whether Quasarlontra is ahead or behind Tecnu.

Dec 6, 2013 9:52 PM #

A few more teams are approaching mid camp - Tierra Viva and Leki 50.

Keep in mind the leader board is a little out of whack as it still lists teams who missed CPs in the Mangrove as ranked. Unfortunately, Dark Horse and Coast to Coast shouldn't appear on the list at this point.

Dec 6, 2013 9:55 PM #

Bones who continue to have a great race have left CP32 likely in 7th place (although the trackers for Adidas Terrex and BMS haven't moved in a while). I still think they are in the shelter which keeps the GPS hidden.

Dec 6, 2013 10:03 PM #

Very impressive 2nd MTB leg for Team #44 Endurancelife finishing it in 17:29! That split is good for 7th which is awesome considering they had a lot of trouble on the first paddle finishing it with the 2nd slowest time in +25hours which put them near the back of the pack! Not anymore!

Tierra Viva also came in around the same time and are currently sitting in 31st overall!

Dec 6, 2013 10:04 PM #

Nice job, GD44!

Dec 6, 2013 10:16 PM #

....I think there will be a record with more than 1000 hits on this page....:)
If the prize for 500 was a 7-day all inclusive stay in Mangroves, I am terrified to think what the winner will get this time.....

Dec 6, 2013 10:34 PM #

i know i'm a bit late to the party, but I was able to donate to Breathe without issue using Chrome.

Dec 6, 2013 10:51 PM #

z:

Dark Horse made the decision to skip mangrove CPs intentionally, seeing it as the only part of the course that wasn't linear. They're fine being unranked; their pref is to see as much of the course as they can and have a blast pushing their limits.

Dec 6, 2013 10:55 PM #

Can't blame them for that Untamed. Good to know and glad they will be able to enjoy everything else.

Dec 6, 2013 10:58 PM #

Makes sense!

Dec 6, 2013 11:22 PM #

Here are few teams who's trackers have been dormant for a while:

Adidas Terrex - Last update 1:11pm local time (last update was in top 10, likely resting near CP32)

BMS Multisport - Last update 12:52pm local time (last update was in top 10, likely resting near CP32)

Sportovia - Last update 8:56am local time (unfortunately, I think they will be continuing unranked if they do keep going because of a team member being removed)

SXM - Last update 3:37pm local time (on the ascent up Chirropo so could be resting)

Agrocontrol - Last update 12:18pm local time (should be getting closer to mid camp if they've been moving)

Alquamistas - Last update 11:40am local time (Should be getting closer to mid camp)

Great Langdale Bunkhouse - Last update last night at 10:31pm (They had been racing pretty well so hoping they are somewhere mudpack)

Kinesium - Last update yesterday morning so assume they are on the bike somewhere. Still unsure if they finished the Mangrove paddle.

Any one have any further updates on these teams??

Dec 6, 2013 11:26 PM #

Meanwhile back in the Mangroves…

Hombres de Mais continue to work their way through the last of the epic mangrove paddle. They have reached CP19 and are in the homestretch to the TA.

Not sure how many volunteers would be waiting for them at this TA but kudos to them for sticking around! I think the first team to pass through this TA was almost 44 hours ago!

Dec 6, 2013 11:42 PM #

Does anyone know which backpack the racer is wearing in one of the banner pictures by Andreas Strand on the live.arcostarica.com/tracking website? It's the photo right after the AXA adidas kayaking photo. It looks like a hard shell pack and looks interesting.

Dec 6, 2013 11:44 PM #

Grt Langdale Bunkhouse have been reported as starting stage 5. Not sure if that means they are sleeping or have actually started the hike - if they latter, they made good time after the 2nd (?) longest swamp trek.

Dec 6, 2013 11:46 PM #

Sleepmonsters now has a dark zone breakdown. It's not the best, but hopefully should make sense.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

Dec 6, 2013 11:50 PM #

Thule has reached CP34! Just two more Cps until the next TA! Seagate and Colombia are still breathing down their necks. A few hours behind them Tecnu, Quasarlontra and Merrell make their way to CP34!

Dec 6, 2013 11:51 PM #

z:

The Untamed Canada team on the bike -- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5546129346...

Andreas Strand captures the grit and determination of this sport so well!

Dec 6, 2013 11:54 PM #

Fuddam - Stage 5 is the bike which is where they are being shown. Hopefully they are being reported as starting the 6th stage! If they aren't there yet they must be close!

Great analysis of the Dark Zone on Sleepmonsters! Thanks for posting!

Dec 7, 2013 12:12 AM #

Three more teams just reached mid camp/TA6.

33- Racing Denmark (time of last leg, 20:44)
34- Freemind (time of last leg, 23:36)
35- Raid74 (time of last leg, 22:54)

**Leaderboard is still showing Darkhorse as ranked higher but they are continued unranked.

A few more teams should be into TA6 soon!

Dec 7, 2013 1:20 AM #

Wha whoooooo! Although the leader board hasn't officially posted it, Hombres de Maiz have finished the Mangrove paddle and are the final team to come in. Hopefully they get some rest, food, water and keep on moving!

Further ahead, Walhalla Specialized has just completed the 5th leg and arrived at Midcamp. They completed the leg in 22:05.

Dec 7, 2013 1:28 AM #

Looks like Adidas Terrex has now overtaken Tecnu? Also....starting to look like other teams will soon as well...feeling for Tecnu. Really wondering what has happened to them. They've been moving super slow even after getting down off the mountain.

Dec 7, 2013 1:29 AM #

Seagate and Thule are now racing back and forth for the lead as Colombia has dropped back a few km but are about to check into CP34.

Adidas Terrex continues their HUGE comeback as they have passed Tecnu for 4th place. Tecnu have likely fallen about 30 minutes back but continue to remain in front of Quasarlontra, BMS and Merrell who are gaining quickly. Bones continue their strong race and are alone in 9th. Impressively there are about 8 teams all getting close to CP32.

Dec 7, 2013 1:30 AM #

NormalAndrew - It's tough to watch BUT still lots of race left. I just hope that whatever is hindering them disappears quickly.

Dec 7, 2013 1:34 AM #

Everyone looked and felt fine leaving mid camp, but all it takes is one wrong step to wrench a knee or sprain an ankle. Hope it clears up and they get to race to their potential.

Dec 7, 2013 1:35 AM #

z:

Jari with Adidas Terrex team was downright fiesty this morning in TA 5 - all so happy to be rid of the kayaks & "racing" again after some food & rest. That Terrex team is built for success the longer/wilder the race goes.

Dec 7, 2013 1:39 AM #

After witnessing Fiji and Borneo I swore I would never race in jungle. I have now added Tomcat to that list of absolutes.

Dec 7, 2013 1:46 AM #

Colombia is the 3rd team to reach CP34. Only two more Cps for them until the next TA!

After a 3 hour break at CP32 Opavanet has left the CP and could be in 10th place. There are a few teams behind them who's trackers haven't updated recently so tough to tell. Either way it's been a great leg for their team.

Dec 7, 2013 1:50 AM #

is it just me or are they going to blitz that 35 hour estimate for fastest time?

Dec 7, 2013 1:54 AM #

z:

On pace to crush the 35 hour early estimate, you think?

Dec 7, 2013 1:55 AM #

z:

Good thinking LosDobos!

They're due for beating some of those early estimates,

Dec 7, 2013 1:59 AM #

no...they're not. Just did the math.

Dec 7, 2013 2:11 AM #

Enigma Selva has just finished the 2nd bike leg to reach mid camp. They seem to have had their struggles on that leg as their team was 2nd slowest so far at 28:53.

Dec 7, 2013 2:23 AM #

Back at TA4, it's official that Hombres de Mais (current Lanterne Rouge competitor) finished the Mangrove leg in 49:25. Only Issy Aventures spent more time in that swamp!

Dec 7, 2013 2:59 AM #

Well done, Hombres!

At the other end of the race, Seagate appears to be leading Thule but not by much. Columbia is a few kms behind. The leaders look to be < 15 km from the trek/bike TA now.

Tecnu is shown next near CP33 with a recent track but their nearest competitors haven't updated their tracks in awhile so we don't know everyone's rankings in the very competitive 4th to 9th place crowd.

Dec 7, 2013 3:02 AM #

What awaits the leaders in the next leg? They make this sound so easy..maybe it actually will be??

STAGE 7. STAGE 7
Discipline :: Mountain Bike (40 km)
Ascent :: 1610 m
Descent :: 1530 m
This leg is a relatively short bike ride across sugar cane and coffee plantations in the area of Turrialba.

1600+ meters of climb in 40km is no easy feat though. They will be aiming to get there for the end of the dark zone.

Dec 7, 2013 3:06 AM #

Blog about Mountain biking in the next area.

http://www.serendipityadventures.com/blog/2012/07/...

Dec 7, 2013 3:24 AM #

Reposting the dark zone info
Teams will receive the final set of maps at TA8. This transition is also the only Dark Zone. Any teams arriving after 1400 will have to wait until 0430 next morning for daylight to continue. Furthermore, the Dark Zone will extend into the ensuing 89km paddling section, and teams who make it onto the water have to stop at 1730 and camp for the night until the Dark Zone lifted. The Dark Zone will be strictly enforced using the race trackers and teams were warned the penalty for being on the water late would be disqualification. (They were also told not to sleep beside the river,as it is full of crocodiles. Sweet dreams.)

Dec 7, 2013 3:31 AM #

So the way I read it you can get a 3.5 hour advantage by starting the raft right at 1400.

Everyone stops at night though no matter what section you are on.

The next way to get an advantage would be too make it off the long canoe paddle just before the 1730 cutoff. Teams behind you will have to stop even if they only have 100 m to the finish. I wonder if portaging along side the river with the boats at night is allowed.

There is only 13.5 hours of daylight so if the time estimates are right everyone will camp out at least once on the river.

Dec 7, 2013 3:32 AM #

z:

I should also add that race staff at the start of the final paddle have clear instructions to keep tracking devices oriented above other gear to allow a clear signal.

Dec 7, 2013 3:32 AM #

Glad to hear that, Untamed. :)

Dec 7, 2013 3:35 AM #

At the last update, Seagate has a 1.5 km lead on Thule.

Also, it looks like Tecnu has retained 4th place - unless BMS passed them. BMS' track hasn't updated but all the others in the area have. It is very close though.

Dec 7, 2013 3:35 AM #

If the top teams all make it in the first half of the day I would assume that the dark zone won't have a significant effect. Good for the lead racers but takes some of the excitement out of it.

Not sure if I worked this out right or not.

Dec 7, 2013 3:35 AM #

That is unless the time estimates are incorrect.

Dec 7, 2013 3:39 AM #

Looks like the top 3 may get to the rafting early and have to wait a bit but only an hour or 2. I guess that may be enough to allow some teams from that huge chase pack to catch up though.

Dec 7, 2013 3:39 AM #

Oh and I have been working on eastern time. Add an hour to that.

Dec 7, 2013 3:41 AM #

My guess is the lead teams will get to TA8 just as the dark zone is lifted.

Dec 7, 2013 3:42 AM #

Ok time for someone else to chime in so I don't look crazy for having a conversation with myself. Ok?

Dec 7, 2013 3:42 AM #

That should make it exciting! :)

Dec 7, 2013 3:42 AM #

Ok!

Dec 7, 2013 3:42 AM #

Oops, I meant the dark zone lifting as the lead teams arrive, not your crazy conversation. ;)

Dec 7, 2013 3:46 AM #

OK, all the chase pack has updated. Tecnu is in 4th for sure. Probably Adidas Terrex in 5th about 1.5 km behind Tecnu although they may be trekking with Quasarlontra and BMS Multisport who are very close. Merrell is only 1.5-2 km back in 8th, then it's a few kms back to Bones in 9th.

Dec 7, 2013 3:50 AM #

Yikes, those are some scary good teams breathing down Tecnu's neck....

Dec 7, 2013 3:54 AM #

wait, no more "Meanwhile, back in the mangroves..." posts?! sad!

Dec 7, 2013 3:55 AM #

Maybe they should do a head count, just to confirm that no one is still stuck there.....

Dec 7, 2013 3:56 AM #

Meanwhile, back in the Mangroves... Darn, I miss being able to say that. No one is in the mangroves. I guess that is a good thing.

It looks like "Limitless Also" is taking some extra time at midcamp like Merrell did. Their last track was still at midcamp 6 hours after they arrived. It was pouring rain earlier in the day - not sure what the weather is like now. Untamed?

Untamed Canada is probably a couple of hours away from reaching the summit of Chirripo but they haven't tracked in awhile.

Our adopted Canadians SXM should be stepping onto the summit any minute now.

Dec 7, 2013 3:57 AM #

Haha, Silkychrome... You and I were thinking the same thing at the same moment!

Dec 7, 2013 3:59 AM #

If I follow all of this breadcrumb technology correctly, looking at Seagate's latest track, you can see that they've been moving perceivably faster than Thule (based on greater distance between the dots, which I presume plot at a regular time interval). Cool.

Dec 7, 2013 4:03 AM #

@Bash oh yeah!! great minds!! while there may not be anymore MBITM discussion, we can stay entertained with a great mayer22 monologue (monotype?)

Dec 7, 2013 4:05 AM #

That Mayer22 guy is absolutely crazy. Did you hear him talking to himself? ;))

CO, I was just looking into that because I was thinking the same thing. Thule is now where Seagate was 45 minutes ago. I think Seagate must know what Mayer22 has been saying, and they are running downhill to the TA so they can get to that paddle as the dark zone lifts. Or even earlier so they can nap a little!

Dec 7, 2013 4:08 AM #

Looks like they are supposed to plot every 20 min but sometimes its every 23 min or 26 min it seems or 40 min (2- 20 min intervals) Not sure how it works but unfortunately I think the spacing may not be as accurate as you want it to be. I could be wrong though.

Dec 7, 2013 4:08 AM #

It was nice to respond to another person that time. Thanks CO

Dec 7, 2013 4:09 AM #

Hopefully all of the front teams that are battling closely can get to the paddling put in with enough time that none of the battles get affected by dark zones, but we'll see....

Dec 7, 2013 4:11 AM #

ok mayer22, here is the benefit of living in central time - it's just past 2200 here. that means that Seagate has appx 6.5hrs to cover the remaining 6-7km in The Big Trek before the dark zone lifts at 0430. they should be able to do that, no? with time for a short sleep?

i have no experience in multi-day racing so have to idea what a reasonable pace to expect from a team at this stage in the race.

Dec 7, 2013 4:12 AM #

I'm here for ya, M22!
Heck, I may be the one talking to myself as I make comments about "hope the dark zone doesn't interfere with the lead battles", and then I can't remember how long the paddling section is and if it can be done in a day anyway...
I haven't done my homework as well as many of you.

Dec 7, 2013 4:14 AM #

oh wait. ha. talk about not doing my homework...after the TA they still have a 40k bike! this race won't quit!

Dec 7, 2013 4:17 AM #

Silkychrome or anyone: are Seagate on a trail or bushwhacking in this section? 1 km an hour should be quite doable for them unless it was really dense bush. They will probably get to the put in early. I'm guessing there is no time credit? So they'll have to make the best of it by sleeping, eating (nice, when you have your TA bin right there for better food than you might carry if you had multiple things to pick from...unlikely when you are so limited by weight restrictions), or working on new maps - they get the rest of the maps here, don't they? So, some extra time would not be a waste.

Dec 7, 2013 4:19 AM #

Okay, thanks to Silkychrome's mix up, I retract my analysis. Squeeze a 40 km bike ride in there, and that pushes the times back more....

Dec 7, 2013 4:19 AM #

The biking is estimated to take 3.5-6 hrs so it should be all good. Maybe not much of a nap but the rafting is estimated at 4-5 hours so they have lots of daylight. [Edit: But then there is the little matter of the 89 km kayak section that is also subject to the dark zone.

Dec 7, 2013 4:21 AM #

My comment about how it's nice to eat right from your TA bin if it provides additional options still holds true though :)

Otherwise, eating from your teammates' packs also often provides additional options....

Dec 7, 2013 4:22 AM #

i know, i'm so ashamed! but, looks like there will be no front-end dark zone affecting the top teams at the put-in.

AR Rule #64: the best food is the stuff your teammates are carrying

Dec 7, 2013 4:24 AM #

CO, it doesn't look like anyone gave LosDobos a photo of this part of the race map but the satellite map seems to show road/trail options all the way to the TA.

Dec 7, 2013 4:25 AM #

(Although we don't know where CPs 35 and 36 might be.)

Dec 7, 2013 4:29 AM #

Looks like Seagate will do The Big Trek in about 35 hours, which was the RD's estimate for the fastest team. Impressive. (Not Seagate - the RD. We already knew that Seagate was impressive!)

Dec 7, 2013 4:29 AM #

LosDobos has race maps and instructions. LosDobos has been asleep...

Dec 7, 2013 4:37 AM #

Who gave you permission for that?!?

Dec 7, 2013 4:38 AM #

He's now rolling in sponsorship dollars and sleeping at posh hotels :)

Dec 7, 2013 4:38 AM #

I don't always sleep. But when I do, I don't ask permission.

Dec 7, 2013 4:39 AM #

He's especially grateful to the sponsors who clicked the Donate Now button six times for some reason....

Dec 7, 2013 4:42 AM #

Shebeen is logging on from south africa, many thanks to the night shift. I wonder if a three person team can use two rafts or if that is game over for them?

Dec 7, 2013 4:44 AM #

CO - thank you, and there is something weird going on with Paypal or the other bit. It works fine for most people (I donated to myself to test it out) but Bash couldn't on a Mac using Chrome. What OS/Browser are you using?

Dec 7, 2013 4:45 AM #

i just paddled this (Pacuare River) earlier this week. Portaging next to the river is not an option. Steep dense vegetation and/or rock on both sides 90% of the way. There is a place or two you could get out on the West side of the river, but it would be a very long portage on the roads.

Dec 7, 2013 4:46 AM #

Shebeen, I don't think the issue is the guided rafting section - just the Tomcats. Because, you know, those boats would be too slow with only one person paddling. :) Having said that, the RD seems keen to let people experience as much of the course as possible so given that the 3-person teams are unranked, I'd hope something could be worked out.

Dec 7, 2013 4:47 AM #

@LosDobos, I think CO was talking about me. :)

Dec 7, 2013 4:49 AM #

Go Getawaystix, Tico, Beantown and Super-K.... I hope you guys are still doing okay.

And go Team "It's like eating a Limitless pizza one Phat Slice at a time"... :). Looking forward to seeing you blast out of mid-camp well rested and ready to attack the mountain!

Go Untamed!

Dec 7, 2013 4:51 AM #

And go SXM! Our fellow Canadians, whoever you are!

Dec 7, 2013 4:58 AM #

going through the sleepmonsters projections, great stuff was starting to mentally do it myself.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0Aq1XG...

am i right in saying that the dark zone on the river extends all the way to TA9? essentially you can't paddle on the indigo blue section between 5pm and 5am?
the dark blue section where it is flatter is A-ok anytime of day?

the reason why i ask is that there's about 5/6km of flatwater from the gorge to TA9, even passing under the (32) highway - drops 20m vertical. would be very harsh to get stuck there for 14 hours(or is it 12 hours)

Dec 7, 2013 5:05 AM #

From reading this, I get the impression that the dark zone lasts until TA10 - although it seems strange.

"Teams will receive the final set of maps at TA8. This transition is also the only Dark Zone. Any teams arriving after 1400 will have to wait until 0430 next morning for daylight to continue. Furthermore, the Dark Zone will extend into the ensuing 89km paddling section, and teams who make it onto the water have to stop at 1730 and camp for the night until the Dark Zone lifted. The Dark Zone will be strictly enforced using the race trackers and teams were warned the penalty for being on the water late would be disqualification. (They were also told not to sleep beside the river,as it is full of crocodiles. Sweet dreams.)

- Section 9 is the long 89km down-river paddle mentioned above."

Dec 7, 2013 5:20 AM #

Adidas Terrex and BMS Multisport passed Tecnu shortly after CP33, probably still accompanied by Quasarlontra, who had been with them but haven't tracked recently. So they are now 4th-6th. A sad moment for Tecnu fans. The team has clearly had some sort of issue for the past 24 hours but they've been pushing on like troopers. :(

At the front of the race, Seagate should just be arriving at the trek/bike TA. Thule is about half an hour behind them, then it's another 1.5 hours back to Columbia.

Dec 7, 2013 5:22 AM #

Thanks for posting the map of this last part of The Big Trek, LosDobos. Yep, they're on trails and roads.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/06/race...

Dec 7, 2013 5:26 AM #

speaking of Breathe, here is an awesome comment on the sad going-ons of Team Tecnu. http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/07/tecn...

from Shawn: "There must be something wrong as Tecnu has stopped three times in the last 10K/ It looks like all three of the teams that just past them have all slowed while they were with them and then took off like they were checking on them."

interesting observation and theory. we NEED a report when they get to TA!

Dec 7, 2013 5:28 AM #

i see the dark zone as having two targets.
moving backwards from reaching TA9 by 5pm is first prize, because then you can drop the guide off and continue on the 'down river paddle' into the night. this is the dark blue section, and is about 35km, which drops 40m to the sea in that time, so while it is down river i'm sure it is tidal for at least the last 10/15km.(obviously the next consideration to project who gets a lucky dip there)

going backwards, you probably need to get to TA8 by 12pm/noon to get out the gorge by 5pm.

second prize is getting to TA8 by 2pm so you can at least start.

third prize is a booby trap, getting piled up at TA8. expect a huge pack here, bigger rest than midway.

so who's in line for what - arrival times at TA8?
first prize -
seagate 5am
thule 5am
columbia 6am

using a thumbsuck of an optimistic seagate based 10hours from CP33 to the end of the trek, the chasing pack will probably all get second or third prize. there's big incentive to get there earlier so maybe in daylight a team or two will make a huge push.
BMS, adidas terrex, quasarlonta, tecnu and merrel all in this bag.

i see a big parking lot at TA8

Dec 7, 2013 5:32 AM #

I assumed from that description that the dark zone ensues for the entire paddle (Sections 8 and 9). No one can be paddling on section 8 or 9. The reason for the cutoff at the start of section 8 is likely so teams dont get stuck on the rafting section. They dont want guides to have to camp out. Some teams may not raft it quick enough though and have to camp out at the end.

Sounds like clarification might be helpful though.

BRO: are you commenting on stopping alongside the rafting (Section 8) or the canoe (Section 9). I think you are talking about the rafting. It is more likely that someone like Seagate might get stopped a few miles from the end of the canoe section and want to trek there. This area looks much more feasible to portage alongside. The rafting section you said you just did has steeper sides.

Dec 7, 2013 5:32 AM #

It looks to me like Tecnu stopped around CP33. They're not moving slowly. They've been in almost the same place for over 2 hours. They don't need to nap yet since they had a good rest mid-day. This isn't what they would do with a sprained ankle. It's what they would do if someone is feeling under the weather and they're hoping that some rest will make them feel better. Sending "get well" vibes.

Dec 7, 2013 5:33 AM #

Based on my assumptions as long as you make it to the rafting before 1400 and dont get stuck 100m from the end of the paddle you wont get too screwed.

Dec 7, 2013 5:37 AM #

sounds like the altitude got Kyle

Dec 7, 2013 5:38 AM #

Right after I wrote that, Tecnu took off in pursuit of the 3 teams who just passed them. They're probably 30-40 minutes behind.

Did you hear from someone who spoke with the team?

Dec 7, 2013 5:41 AM #

(Because Kyle's Mom is reading this thread, ya know.)

Dec 7, 2013 5:43 AM #

I remember Tecnu getting stopped by a dark zone very close to the end of a paddle in last year's ARWC in France. I didn't think they were allowed to hike out that time, although maybe teams just camped because the terrain was too difficult to portage.

Dec 7, 2013 5:44 AM #

Tecnu about 8 hours behind Seagate now

Dec 7, 2013 5:46 AM #

Shannon told me via text that KP looked strong but complained of being dizzy, which sounds very much like acute mountain sickness. he'll be fin now that they are back down, just might have bee unable to keep anything down for a few hours so needs to recover from that. I'm not worried about his health at this point, just their pace

Dec 7, 2013 5:51 AM #

Dizziness at 3800 m is really common. I'm sure he's not the only racer feeling off.

Dec 7, 2013 5:54 AM #

it's the most likely and most optimistic explanation I can come up with. Still lots of time to recover and claw their way back up

Dec 7, 2013 6:13 AM #

Right now, it looks like Tecnu is part of a group of teams within half a kilometer of one another. If someone on Tecnu was feeling really bad, the other teams would have gotten away. Fingers crossed they're doing OK.

8th place Merrell has been resting west of CP33 for over 1.5 hours, as has 9th place Bones who are 5-6 km behind Merrell. This is the 5th night of a tough race that isn't over yet, and the weather reports haven't been good. It's not so crazy to take a break.

Dec 7, 2013 6:19 AM #

Meanwhile, back at Midcamp, "Limitless Also" started climbing Chirripo 3 hours ago. They took an extra couple of hours to regroup, probably a great idea in this weather.

Dec 7, 2013 6:52 AM #

Interesting... Seagate stopped about 2 km before TA8, and they've been there for about an hour. Either conditions are nasty or they're thinking they can nap better where they are than at the TA. So they may not arrive in 1st place.

Dec 7, 2013 8:18 AM #

I think the ta is not exactly where shown on the map. again.

Dec 7, 2013 8:44 AM #

Doesn't make sense to have dark zone on section 9/ 89km. Why would they not paddle on the sea, cut off would be transition.

Dec 7, 2013 9:34 AM #

I am fairly sure the dark zone on the long flat paddle is gone. Just on the rafting. There was something on sleep monsters about a captains meeting on the start line with this.

Dec 7, 2013 10:42 AM #

the Dark Zone hour of 0430 race time is upon us! Seagate is still on their bikes (Section 7) about 7-9k from the start of the rafting (Section 8, rafting, light blue).

despite all of the comments above I'm still a little confused about how the Dark Zone works (applies to Section 8 rafting or Section 9 paddlng?) so just gonna leave it there.

Thule is another 7-9k behind Seagate on their bikes.

Columbia 10k behind Seagate, having gotten on their bikes just recently.

TECNU HAS RECOVERED! (at least i hope so, their breadcrumbs have some space between them now) they are still on The Big Trek, about 20k remaining, but their last tracker update was 90min ago so they likely have less ground than that to cover before being reunited with their bikes.

Dec 7, 2013 1:24 PM #

Hi gang,

We are just getting up in a hotel about 20kms from the TA at the end of the trek waiting to see when Tecnu might be getting closer so we can be there to meet them. I will let you know as soon as I can how they are doing. Tough night for them.

Also, I am pretty sure the dark zone applies only to the rafting section. If you make it, you are good. If not you are stuck there. No other dark zones on the water. I believe that was made clear at the captains meeting. Slice clarified that for me before the race.

Hope all is well with Tecnu and I did see Slice's team yesterday and they were in great spirits. A little bummed about no zip line but they were all smiles and laughs. I wonder if that is still the case?

Dec 7, 2013 1:36 PM #

Hermes:

Correction...Kyle did NOT look dizzy and only that he mentioned he was dizzy from trying to pop his ear drum. In fact, KP was up and ready to go after a quick 5 min ( literally....timer and all) rest. The summit was nasty through the night and no doubt the weather took a toll on everyone...

Dec 7, 2013 1:50 PM #

Thanks for the updates, Hermes and Leanimal!

Dec 7, 2013 1:58 PM #

thanks Brie - just posted on Breathe

Dec 7, 2013 2:15 PM #

LosDobos just pointed out that only the top 3 teams will raft before the dark zone, which will create a big gap back to 4th fairly late in the race. If the leaders finish the race (and that is never assured), the podium is probably decided.

Dec 7, 2013 3:06 PM #

they will also start the rafts in intervals, (i would imagine). pretty narrow river. If the water level is same as earlier this week when I paddled the pacuare raft section, there will not be a ton of sustained paddling...not much flat water. nice mix.

Dec 7, 2013 3:12 PM #

This morning we have Adidas Terrex in 4th, Tecnu in 5th, BMS Multisport in 6th Quasarlontra in 7th, and Merrell in 8th spread out over about 10 km of trail in the last part of The Big Trek.

Dec 7, 2013 3:23 PM #

trek may be closed as of now...not official

Dec 7, 2013 3:28 PM #

A great shot of Getawaystix (Bob Miller). His fiancée Hermes wrote that he went from maps to sleep in seconds but only had a 5 minute nap. I'm trying to find out where she took this pic since Tecnu is still finishing the trek so it had to be further back on the course. And since Bob's light is on, it was probably not midcamp nor the lodge on the secondary summit of Chirripo.

Dec 7, 2013 3:29 PM #

Btw adventure racers, does this photo make you edgy like it does me? Quick, turn off his light so he isn't wasting his batteries!

Dec 7, 2013 3:40 PM #

Just confirmed that this photo was at the summit of Chirripo, which makes sense because it was dark then. Looks like there was a nice building to rest in.

Dec 7, 2013 3:41 PM #

I suspect that only Leanimal's Facebook friends can see these photos but you never know. She has taken some spectacular pics of the trek and some of the top teams. Let me know. If others can't see them, I'll upload a couple.
https://www.facebook.com/muellerleanne/media_set?s...

Dec 7, 2013 3:55 PM #

4th place Adidas Terrex is about 4 km ahead of Tecnu now. BMS Multisport is about 2 km behind Tecnu. It looks like 7th and 8th place teams, Quasarlontra and Merrell, met up at CP34 where both of them are showing tracks from half an hour ago. Bones and OpavaNet are very close together in 9th and 10th place. Good show by OpavaNet to catch up.

Based on the times of the top teams, Adidas Terrex should reach TA7 in the next 2-3 hours.

Dec 7, 2013 3:57 PM #

Looks like Untamed Canada took a little nap at the summit of Chirripo. They are now on the secondary summit and have been moving well.

Dec 7, 2013 4:07 PM #

Yep, each time I look at g-stix's photo, I want to reach in and turn off his headlamp.

Racer OCD....

Dec 7, 2013 4:08 PM #

Glad it's not just me! :) Speaking of Untamed Canada, here's Leanimal's pic of Jackson5 (Alex Provost) working on maps. He's so clean that I wonder if this was taken pre-race!

Dec 7, 2013 4:09 PM #

arthurd:

Re: the 1-hour stop just before the end of the trek - finally found this again: http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/05/race...

There's a 1-hour mandatory medical stop at the CP before TA7.

Dec 7, 2013 4:09 PM #

It'll be a bummer if some opportunities for good competition get overridden by the separation by a dark zone....
Oh wait, I already said that long ago.

Dec 7, 2013 4:12 PM #

Good catch, Arthurd!

Dec 7, 2013 4:15 PM #

Looks like Team "Limitless Also" didn't spend much time at the main summit of Chirripo. They have started the trek over to the secondary summit. This is a good sign that weather, altitude, fatigue and injuries aren't affecting them too much. It would be tempting to take a longer break indoors as some other teams have done but they're wise to use these daylight hours for trekking as long as they're feeling OK.

Dec 7, 2013 4:16 PM #

If several teams hit the raft put-in in a short span of time, I wonder if they will have enough rafts and guides for everyone? It would be a shame if they got into the mess of time credits, etc., some teams resting off the clock.

Dec 7, 2013 4:17 PM #

Go Unlimited Phat Slices!!

Dec 7, 2013 4:17 PM #

FB:

everything looks so clean in that pic of Jackson 5 that it must be pre-race.

Glad to see them moving well and apparently healthy!!!
Now I want to see them blow by SXM (the Cdn imposters) :-)
... I actually don't know what country two SXM members are from... and we could accept Ciril as an honourary Canuck if req'd :-)

Dec 7, 2013 4:26 PM #

Great photos by Leanimal! Eerie fog and teams coming off a wet trek.

And a great one of a Seagate(?) racer racing in his pajamas....

Dec 7, 2013 4:26 PM #

When I googled, the 3 men on SXM came up in race results as French citizens (with one from St. Martin) and the woman came up as Russian. But that is just Google talking. As Wilberto said, we'll cheer for anyone who wants to represent our country!

Dec 7, 2013 4:31 PM #

Maybe Nathan would like another passport?.... :)

Dec 7, 2013 4:34 PM #

And a few teammates? :)

Dec 7, 2013 4:39 PM #

The top 3 teams are rafting. Seagate's tracker hasn't updated in over 2 hours so they are probably getting near the end where they will switch to their wonderful Tomcat kayaks for the next 89 km. Oh goodie.

Dec 7, 2013 4:40 PM #

Sleepmonsters has a photo of Seagate on the rafting section
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6321936934...

Dec 7, 2013 4:40 PM #

Btw Columbia (3rd) is much closer to Thule (2nd) than Thule is to Seagate.

Dec 7, 2013 4:42 PM #

And a story about AXA Adidas' decision to withdraw. It hasn't been a good ARWC for Swedes....
http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

Dec 7, 2013 4:42 PM #

Nice rafting photo! Half the teammates look worried; the other half look zoned out.

Dec 7, 2013 4:45 PM #

From LosDobos re race status. In such a tough race, I'm surprised to see the numbers so low after 5 days. Great job.

The Leaderboard has just updated to reflect all 9 retired teams.

Haglofs Silva
AXA Adidas
Agrocontrole - MACO - Specialized
Enigma Selva Aventura
Hyundai Costa Rica Spirit
La Ruta Landrover
Rios y Canoas Colombia
Sportovia TRAIL team
Tropico Extremo

4 teams are continuing the race unranked:

Ducati Bicycles
Dark Horse
Hombres de Maiz
Kinesium

Dec 7, 2013 4:48 PM #

Something I've been wondering about... People talked about neutralizing time around the zipline when it had to be shut down - or giving time penalties to teams who skipped the zipline instead of waiting. I haven't heard anything about this since, and I'm wondering if it's been forgotten or if there will be adjustments to the leaderboard. I hope not.

Dec 7, 2013 4:52 PM #

Oh yeah,.... And didn't they say they would hold teams before the finish line so that they cross the line in proper physical order?

Dec 7, 2013 4:55 PM #

I believe so - although it's hard to know since some of the written instructions were superseded by captain's instructions that we may or may not have heard about.

Dec 7, 2013 5:04 PM #

Untamed Canada stopped for about 2 hours on the secondary summit but they are heading into the valley now.

The chase pack is fairly evenly spread out with 2-5 km between teams: Adidas Terrex (4th), Tecnu, BMS Multisport, Quasarlontra, Merrell (8th).

Then there's a big space before Bones and OpavaNet in 9th and 10th. And it is possible that I should be saying OpavaNet and Bones in that order. We'll need another track to be sure. They may be trekking together.

Dec 7, 2013 5:07 PM #

The chase teams know they're going to be caught by the dark zone and will get lots of R&R time. Given how short the next bike ride is, there's no point pushing too hard now.

Dec 7, 2013 5:08 PM #

Seagate is pulling away! Looking at the bike section splits:
Seagate 5:14
Thule 6:02
Columbia 7:03

Wow, put the pedal down!

Dec 7, 2013 5:22 PM #

But Columbia had a much faster trek from CP27 to CP37 than Seagate or Thule (about 2 hours faster), and Seagate about 2 hours faster than Thule.

Dec 7, 2013 5:23 PM #

Seagate is done the rafting and onto the next paddle section

Dec 7, 2013 5:37 PM #

I trekked up Cerro Uran and then followed and filmed Seagate from Cerro Uran to CP 34 and then with Columbia from there to the bike transition. It was incredible at CP 32 to watch all hell break loose when Columbia showed up there - Seagate was out the door an hour earlier than planned (I think partially because it was very cold in the hut) and Thule (who, when they arrived, literally dropped their packs, laid on the floor and went to sleep) busted out of there once Columbia showed up.

I walked out the door of the CP at Cerro Uran with Seagate and it took them nearly an hour to find the right trail in the clouds/fog. Lots of nav difficulties for Seagate from CP 32-34 including a ~160m very steep scramble up from the first river crossing only to not find the trail, then back down to the water to talk to the staff there (who were indicating where to go) and then a scramble back up, but higher.

The trek itself is quite tough with continuous steep ups and downs with a few small exceptions) and quite muddy in sections. Feet were were wet for a big part of the section. About 90% or more was in thick vegetation, sometimes where you couldn't see down to your feet because of all of the growth. Seagate were quite composed and looking strong - just frustrated with the maps and a few unlucky nav errors. Columbia also seemed to be in good shape and moving relatively well with a few nav challenges of their own.

My next filming mission is to follow the 3 lead teams on the next 3-4 hour trekking section, which I'm told is a mud and snake-fest!. Should be interesting... I'll send along any updates if I can.

Dec 7, 2013 5:41 PM #

Wow, great information. Thanks, Relentless! I'll bet you got some amazing video.

Dec 7, 2013 5:41 PM #

Cool update Relentless! Can't wait to see the films!!!

Dec 7, 2013 5:42 PM #

Exciting that the top teams are seeing each other (and getting a bit startled by it) so far into such a long race!!
Thanks for the report Relentless!

Dec 7, 2013 5:42 PM #

FB:

IMHO that was the coolest update yet (or ever)
Awesome relentless!

Dec 7, 2013 5:43 PM #

I picture FB cracking a beer to celebrate :)

Dec 7, 2013 5:44 PM #

I just looked it up and confirmed that Cerro Uran is the correct name for what we've been calling the "secondary peak" of Chirripo. It's the 7th highest peak in Costa Rica. Chirripo is the highest.

Dec 7, 2013 5:47 PM #

I love how nonchalant Relentless is about "following" the top AR team in the world on what sounds like a very tough trek while doing extra work to film them. Sure, he's probably slept a little more than they have this week but still...

Dec 7, 2013 5:48 PM #

I was thinking the same thing! If I managed to "keep Seagate in sight for 3 minutes", it would become my new Facebook status ;)

Dec 7, 2013 5:52 PM #

And then I would comment, "Was it tougher than that time we climbed a mountain with Conrad Anker?" :)

Dec 7, 2013 5:52 PM #

Btw OpavaNet has passed Bones to move into 9th place. It's been kinda looking like that for awhile but we finally got the tracker data to prove it.

Dec 7, 2013 5:54 PM #

I trekked with the race maps and they are not easy at all - for the most part there's one or two trails marked on the maps that are labeled with something to the effect (in Spanish) that the marked trail is "approximately" where it is indicated. What it doesn't say is that there are dozens and dozens of trails everywhere that are not on the map. For the most part it was basically "try to stay on the main trail" kind of navigating.

Dec 7, 2013 5:56 PM #

Oh no! Andreas Strand is retiring/taking a break! :(

Best photographer I have ever seen and he is so great at capturing the moods, emotions and experiences of AR.

http://www.andreasstrand.se/2013/12/raceday-6-and-...

Dec 7, 2013 5:57 PM #

@Relentless: That explains why a few of the tracks looked so different on a trek that was supposed to be all on trail.

If you're still there, how was the weather when you were out there?

Dec 7, 2013 5:57 PM #

Bash: we totally left Conrad Anker in the dust on that climb!

Dec 7, 2013 6:00 PM #

CO, that *is* sad about Andreas Strand. I just posted a "thank you" comment on his blog (awaiting moderation). I met him at The Apex Race - such talent.

Dec 7, 2013 6:05 PM #

FB:

CO... I would have, but I have to coach my girls (hockey) in a couple hours... I'll raise one to relentless afterwards :-)

Dec 7, 2013 6:16 PM #

Just checked the RD estimates for the upcoming sections.

From the place where the chase teams will be held for the dark zone, the time estimate (excluding TAs) is 37-59 hours.

The time estimate for the trek to the rafting put-in plus the rafting was 4-5 hours. So the winner could reach the finish line on Sunday evening. Uh oh, could be a late night.

Dec 7, 2013 6:17 PM #

The chase teams should start finishing on Monday evening.

Dec 7, 2013 6:21 PM #

@Bash, up top at Cerro Uran it was cold and windy the entire time with clouds blasting through regularly to block all visibility. I would guess it was probably ~5C, overnight. Not all that pleasant. As I mentioned, Seagate was planning a 3 hour sleep and just before Columbia came in, I could hear them all saying they were cold and that maybe they should just get up... Then Columbia showed up and finalized that plan :-).

I'm finally down to lower ground where there's some warmth and sunshine.

Dec 7, 2013 6:27 PM #

Thanks! Must be so hard for racers to change climates so many times in a week.

Watch out for snakes, OK?

Dec 7, 2013 6:43 PM #

Salomon-Suunto Nutrend and Aerodiva are now just 2 km behind Bones, the 10th place team on the tracker. Antioquia Trangoworld hasn't updated in awhile and had been close to these teams but I suspect AT is resting at CP32 where the last two tracks appeared.

Dec 7, 2013 6:47 PM #

Yeah, there's a massive difference between Chirripo and Uran vs being just about anywhere else. Very hard on the body no doubt.

I've got my knee-high gaitors ready to go for the next trek.

Forgot to mention the toll of the last hike on my gear!
1. Ruined a nearly new pair of shoes
2. Tore a big hole in my tights
3. Tore a hole in my rain pants
4. Snapped a clasp off of a literally brand new pair of gaitors

... and technically I wasn't even racing!

Like I said, it was a tough hike. I won't be surprised if this trek breaks a number of teams. I think CP 36 (medical assistance) is going to be a busy place...

Dec 7, 2013 6:54 PM #

FYI - CP 32 is a large mountain hut with foam mattresses and a few blankets, along with CP staff who are providing hot water to teams, so I wouldn't be surprised if most teams sleep there or stay a while. The only downside is that overnight it was actually colder in the building (with the wind blowing up from under the floorboards) than outside... oh, and the CP staff were periodically running a gas generator INDOORS for power in the evening. The smell/exhaust and the noise were terrible - not to mention the carbon monoxide. Not pleasant or safe, but otherwise a good place for teams to take an extended break

Dec 7, 2013 7:02 PM #

Thanks these on-the-ground updates, Relentless! Really paints a picture. I'm always impressed with photographers/videographers who have to put up with most of the hardships of the athletes - with a camera in hand, and few accolades. :)

Dec 7, 2013 7:05 PM #

Is Seagate's 5th teammate in the rafting photo a river guide?
Duh, n00b.

EDIT: what I'm actually saying is that I would not have thought that teams don't just have to figure it out on their own.

Dec 7, 2013 7:13 PM #

Glad you made it, Relentless! Thanks for the updates.

Dec 7, 2013 7:28 PM #

It's common for ARs to provide rafting guides for class IV-V, as most racers aren't sufficiently skilled to handle any trouble that may arise. Although... last year's ARWC in France went through big water without guides. I can't remember the class.

Dec 7, 2013 7:31 PM #

Thank you!
I hope Tecnu gets that dude that BRO described, the dude coming off a world champs of his own just now. :)

Dec 7, 2013 7:39 PM #

900 posts in this thread. Ken, if you're out there... what is the longest-ever thread on Attackpoint? Not that we're competitive or anything.

Dec 7, 2013 7:41 PM #

The second best is now last year's ARWC thread, at 640.

Dec 7, 2013 7:42 PM #

Geez, that took you almost 30 seconds to respond. I'm *always* complaining about the customer service on Attackpoint. ;)

Dec 7, 2013 7:42 PM #

P.S. Wow. I hope this doesn't cause you any trouble re server traffic, etc.

Dec 7, 2013 7:45 PM #

I wonder how many 'hits' this page got so far?

Dec 7, 2013 7:48 PM #

All I know is that just before 500 posts, Ken added a couple of new features to make it easier for us to manage long threads.

It would also be interesting to know how many individuals have visited this thread and where they're from, although I have no idea if that can be tracked.

Dec 7, 2013 7:54 PM #

All good. This is great stuff guys, keep it up. I have been lurking around most of the week to make sure the new stuff was working properly. But now I'm here because of all the great updates :)

I do have those kind of stats somewhere, I can post a summary a bit later.

Dec 7, 2013 7:58 PM #

Phew! OK, back to our regularly scheduled program. :) Some inside observations from lead team Seagate on The Big Trek.

Chris Forne said, “It was good to navigate using contours and not trails for a while, and we passed Thule one time when took a sneaky line, but we did have our disasters and lost some time as well. It was good to navigate through some forest too and see some of the wildlife.”

The teams didn’t get the best of the views after 2 nights on the summits, but Nathan Fa’avae commented, “We did see some of the city lights below when the cloud cleared, but didn’t really encounter any of the native tribes people. Except for one who knew we were coming and had some food laid out, which was welcome.”

Dec 7, 2013 8:05 PM #

4th place Adidas Terrex has officially completed The Big Trek in 42.5 hours. The original race summary estimated this trek at 33-65 hours. Their track just appeared but they've been in for over an hour.

Dec 7, 2013 8:06 PM #

So Adidas just finished the trek ahead of Tecnu. Now that everyone will be dark zoned, how much can these teams afford to relax a bit? Will they leave the dark zone at the same time, or according to how soon they arrived initially?

EDIT: has this been answered already, and I'm too dense to understand the neutralization/non-neutralization?

Dec 7, 2013 8:14 PM #

Some great updates since I was last on, thanks all! Awesome to hear Relentless' first hand experience with the lead group. Sucks to hear about the "broken" gear.

COME ON TECNU! Let's finish this SON OF A !?#?! TREK.

Dec 7, 2013 8:15 PM #

I haven't been able to follow closely, but it seems like Bones gave up a bit of time on the big trek. Hope nothing too serious. If they (and Tecnu?) suffered AMS, I can see an altitude bed or two in people's' future.

Dec 7, 2013 8:17 PM #

bash - where did that quote come from?

Dec 7, 2013 8:17 PM #

nevermind...found it

Dec 7, 2013 8:19 PM #

Happy Birthday, DD11!

@Clean: They have lots of time to sleep, eat and treat injuries before and after the 40 km bike ride. It will be disappointing for them to confirm that the 3 lead teams all made the dark zone but they've undoubtedly suspected that. The chase pack will be able to race faster tomorrow after taking care of themselves - which is good and bad news if you're in the chase pack. :) When someone has the energy, it will be interesting to start guessing where the line in the sand will be drawn, i.e. how many teams will leave TA8 between 5:00 and 14:00 tomorrow. That's not really a big window.

Looks like there is a 4 km road run from TA8 to get to the rafts so teams will probably sprint to the water's edge at 5 a.m. Organizers normally implement some kind of interval start when teams are restarting after a dark zone, e.g. rafts leave every 2 minutes based on order of arrival. They may still do that but it may be based on order of arrival from the run to the water, not the order of arrival at the dark zone.

Dec 7, 2013 8:21 PM #

z:

World Champs are in Ecuador in 2014; we raced there twice and personally felt the crush of 16,000+ ft (5,000+ meters for our non-American amigos). I think Kyle Peter was saving for a Gamov bag or another altitude sleep sack last we spoke about 2014 already

Dec 7, 2013 8:21 PM #

Hey Untamed, are you taking Bob's place, now that they need an American navigator? ;)

Dec 7, 2013 8:23 PM #

Sleep high, train low is the best for altitude training, but it's good to do some training at altitude so you get to know how your body reacts.
look at us, already discussing tactics for next year :)

Dec 7, 2013 8:25 PM #

@Afsheen, I wouldn't worry too much about minor differences in pace for the chase pack over the past half-day. They can either take one big rest during the dark zone or they can ease off on the pace and arrive at the dark zone a little less tired. There's no point in racing too hard right now so we're probably just seeing different strategies.

Dec 7, 2013 8:25 PM #

z:

Better get me a jet pack if I'm to keep up with Tecnu!

2014 it's still allowed 1 racer from a diff nationality, I think. 2015 is all single-nationality for the official result

Dec 7, 2013 8:26 PM #

Oh, that's right! Good, you have more time to train.

Dec 7, 2013 8:28 PM #

Thanks Bash.

Interesting to hear estimates for top finishing times. After a few really long legs it's nice to see a few "quicker" legs…well at least for some. I wonder how that final long MTB will be.

Dec 7, 2013 8:34 PM #

You guys are amazing thanks. Go team Moreorless 2.

Dec 7, 2013 8:35 PM #

Good point, Bash.

Dec 7, 2013 8:39 PM #

Tecnu has officially come in off the 2nd Trek in a time of 47:08. Hopefully they are able to get some medical treatment (if needed) and rest. Still lots of race left for 4th!!!

Dec 7, 2013 9:04 PM #

And still maybe a race for the podium because anything can happen. Remember Haglofs Silva seemed to have a lock on the podium before a minor bike accident!

Dec 7, 2013 9:09 PM #

Hope Tecnu can recover from whatever slowed them down on the big trek. Can't wait for details about their experience up there.

Dec 7, 2013 9:18 PM #

Adidas Terrex and Tecnu didn't waste any time after their mandatory medical check-ups near the end of The Big Trek. Looks like both teams just assembled their bikes at the TA and took off. They should arrive at TA8 in 5-6 hours (around 8-9 p.m.), and they'll be able to rest, review the final set of maps, and take care of themselves until 5 a.m.

It will be good to hear from Hermes and Leanimal after they've talked with our friends on Tecnu. They've had a good day - nothing obviously worrisome in their track, and they've been moving as well as or better than the other teams in the chase pack. So it probably was some kind of altitude or stomach issue that has improved. If it were a physical injury, they wouldn't have been able to come back this well. Go Tecnu!

Dec 7, 2013 9:35 PM #

Untamed Canada is a little more than halfway to CP33 from Cerro Uran, one or two teams behind our Canadian-French-Russian friends, SXM.

"Limitless Also" is just arriving at Cerro Uran.

GD44 of Endurancelife is a quarter of the way across from Cerro Chirripo to Cerro Uran.

Meanwhile, back at Midcamp, they are probably awaiting one last team - the Canadian squad and current Lanterne Rouge, Epic Endurance.

Dec 7, 2013 9:36 PM #

Is Epic Endurance still ranked? I have them as being unranked but can't recall if that was a result of the mangrove paddle.

Dec 7, 2013 9:58 PM #

Good job guys on all the updates, I go to work for a few hours and return to see a new world unfold!
Come on Tecnu!!!!

Dec 7, 2013 10:19 PM #

DD11, I had thought Epic Endurance was unranked a long time ago too, but they didn't appear on the recent list of unranked teams on the leaderboard. They had their tracker replaced before the mangroves, and there was some confusion when the tracker's car trip appeared on the map. I think someone said they were unranked because it appeared that they'd been driven to a later TA but that turned out to be just their tracker, not the team. From a cursory glance at their mangrove track, it looks like they visited all the CPs. The leaderboard doesn't have their mangrove split yet though.

Dec 7, 2013 10:30 PM #

they are ranked to the best of my knowledge

Dec 7, 2013 10:30 PM #

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/07/tecn...
Thanks LosDobos

Dec 7, 2013 10:30 PM #

Thule and Seagate might not be too far apart...
Thule's dot on the map is actually a little ahead of Seagate's right now, but of course that can be because they update at different times. But if you check the update times, there is only a 10-minute difference: 16:10 versus 16:20. So.... They might be quite close, i.e. less than 10 minutes apart??!!

Dec 7, 2013 11:08 PM #

Thule's tracker update is now at 17:00 versus 16:30 for Seagate, showing Thule a bit more ahead of Seagate with that difference in update time....
Looking forward to a more comparable set of update times to try to figure out if the two teams are really close.

Dec 7, 2013 11:24 PM #

Here's Los Dobos' note on Breathe about Thule and Seagate
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/07/seag...

Dec 7, 2013 11:30 PM #

Another story by Los Dobos
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/07/some...

Dec 8, 2013 12:05 AM #

The leaderboard is not quite up to date, as it has Yogaslackers still on the bike, not through mid-camp and on the monster trek as we know they are. Not sure of other teams.

Dec 8, 2013 12:26 AM #

This thread makes me feel like AR isn't dying after all! And how incredibly awesome that we are back to the roots of AR with the super challenging course in CR!!!

Dec 8, 2013 12:36 AM #

This race sooooo deserves to be covered on TV!! What battles we have underway: first and second may be neck and neck, or are Seagate so good that they are just toying with Thule and know that they will pass them on the coastal paddle and/or bike section; first, second and third place catching and seeing each other at CPs and rushing each other out of potential sleeping spots; a massive battle for fourth place about to launch tomorrow with several excellent teams; an incredible race course with the already-notorious mangrove, huge elevation, some mega-slog bike push sections, ...
... Is there anything this good on TV these days?! (No)

Dec 8, 2013 12:37 AM #

This is very close.........................Awesome

Dec 8, 2013 12:40 AM #

Nothing even close to this on current TV. Hey, producers, are you listening?

Dec 8, 2013 12:45 AM #

The "Limitless" producers should devote several episodes to covering this race. They should also grab as much footage as they can from the race organizers and others. If the race organizers and others are wise, they would give them all the footage they have in the interest of getting even more exposure for their sponsors.

Dec 8, 2013 1:32 AM #

Hmmm... Seagate's dot is a little ahead of Thule's dot, but 31 minutes later (19:11 upload versus 18:40). So Seagate may not be in the lead.... Yet. (Just sayin'...)

Dec 8, 2013 1:42 AM #

Wild Racers is also there doing a TV show of the event and did excellent 2hr episodes of 4 ARWC races last year. They have had some trouble getting distribution in various markets and are on a obscure channel in US (MavTV)

Dec 8, 2013 1:50 AM #

Yeah, we never saw that coverage in Canada. We kept waiting. Any chance you know how to get a copy of it?

Dec 8, 2013 1:50 AM #

Several new posts on Breathe
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/category/arwc-2...

Dec 8, 2013 2:01 AM #

this would make great TV... looking for Thule to pass Seagate at the finish line, awesome......Go MoreOrLess2 great following everyone her ... maybe someday ill paddle the mangroves :-)

Dec 8, 2013 2:03 AM #

Just checking in from Tortuguero (Transition from paddle to trek). What an amazing place! We got here by water taxi, which consisted of a 40-year boat taxi veteran hammering into the corners of the river bends like he was driving a race car. It was very impressive and a little scary.

Does anyone have an estimate on when the lead team should arrive at the transition to the trek? I need to know what time I need to wake up so I can be there on time to film them and you guys seem to be on top of things better than anyone else!

Dec 8, 2013 2:05 AM #

thanks for the breathe link

Dec 8, 2013 2:05 AM #

Mangroves: the next suffer-travel destination. Along with bat poo caves in Borneo and leptospirosis river swims in Fiji. :)

Dec 8, 2013 2:06 AM #

Oh, and do we want to talk about Tomcats again?... :)

Dec 8, 2013 2:10 AM #

Thule's tracker has not updated for a long time, making it look like Seagate is several kilometers ahead

Dec 8, 2013 2:16 AM #

Relentless, if you have the race maps, Seagate is now on the part of the paddle that runs parallel to the coast in a northwest direction. They've gone about 5 km since (almost) hitting the coast. I'll see if I can figure out what that translates to in terms of time.

The catch is, Thule may be ahead, and they haven't tracked recently.

Dec 8, 2013 2:17 AM #

Relentless, if my understanding is correct:
The kayak section is 89 km, yes? If these teams are able to do about 6 km per hour, that would take 15 hours. Thule left the TA about 6.5 hours ago; Seagate was probably similar (after their nap). On the tracking map, they appear to be about halfway through the kayak section. So I would guess they will arrive in 6 to 8 hours??? My confidence in my guess is medium to low, but it gives you a starting point to work from.
(Posted at 7:20 pm Alberta time (mountain, one hour behind central)

Dec 8, 2013 2:19 AM #

We'll see what Bash estimates, and compare. That may help us zero in on an estimate a little better.

Given the battle that is happening, I can confidently say we are probably going to witness speed records for Tomcats! :)

Dec 8, 2013 2:27 AM #

I was going to say something similar. The organizers estimated 16 hours for the fastest team but if they don't sleep, I think they may be faster than that. I'd guesstimate about 40 km more of paddling, and it looks like it took Seagate about an hour to do the last 5 km. Thule may be half an hour ahead of them but that may not last, given Seagate's paddling abilities.

Bottom line, I was going to suggest that you're probably safe to sleep for 6-ish hours. Based on the route on our map, you should see them going past to get a CP, then they'll return to the TA. If you've got race maps, you can probably figure out how to watch for them.

Dec 8, 2013 2:27 AM #

Relentless, do you want us to text you to wake you up? ;)

Dec 8, 2013 2:29 AM #

Make that 5-ish hours of sleep to be safe since that should be plenty for a guy like you. :)

Dec 8, 2013 2:30 AM #

Just want to note how awesome it is, to have people from around the world connected on AP, sending positive vibes to the teams, making funny commentary here....I am learing so much:) Thanks for being here and keeping me company:)))

Dec 8, 2013 2:31 AM #

So... Now that the big trek over the mountain has been closed, teams will be short-coursed. Do they get taken to the rafting put-in? If so, my next question is: will they start with the rest of the teams in the morning? What if they get in the way of the battle for fourth place? If so, they should start the short-course teams in a second wave, with enough time for the full-course teams to move out of the way.

Dec 8, 2013 2:37 AM #

Myra, I couldn't agree more! After spending days "with" all of you, I feel like we should go out together to celebrate the finish. FB would suggest beers....

AP is awesome!

Ken, should we be letting Facebook and Breathe readers know that we have such amazing, insightful discussion going on here? Not sure if you are keen to have more traffic on AP or not.

Dec 8, 2013 2:40 AM #

And I love that when I go to sleep, someone on another continent is keeping track and commenting. When I wake up, I can scroll through and re-live what I slept through. It feels like an awesome team effort!

Go Team AP! :)

Dec 8, 2013 2:46 AM #

Ken anticipated this. :) From the Attackpoint Facebook page on Dec. 1:

ARWC 2013 begins in less than 24 hours! Looks like we will have great coverage again this year...but will it be the biggest discussion thread ever?

And yes, I am loving this. This is the first time we've had so much interaction with people at the event, which is really cool. And big thanks to the "night shift" who add news to this thread while we sleep in North America.

Dec 8, 2013 2:46 AM #

If teams get short-coursed to the start of the rafting, there is still a looong way to go to the finish and less experienced and less competitive teams will not be as fast as the top teams in the tomcats. It will be interesting to see if any of those teams will need close to the maximum allowed time to finish the race.

Dec 8, 2013 2:47 AM #

Thanks AP'ers. You guys are awesome. I don't yet have the race maps for this section, but that gives me an idea of when to expect the teams. Bash, thanks for the offer to text me - I should be alright. It's quite warm and about 100% humidity and I'm in a little "motel" room with only a small fan and sweating my butt off, so I doubt that I'll be sleeping much anyways ;-)

Dec 8, 2013 2:48 AM #

I agree with Bash and CO. If I can't race, what better place to be than here on AP?!

Dec 8, 2013 2:51 AM #

Whoever may be awake tonight, let's try to keep this thread updated with the leaders' locations in case Relentless wakes up in a sweat and decides to check his phone.

Dec 8, 2013 2:55 AM #

Way to go lantern rouge team Epic Endurance and Andrew Fairhurst (of Full Moon in June AR, and Sinister7 ultra). They just made it to mid-camp a while ago. Rest up, eat well and keep fighting for that finish line!

Dec 8, 2013 3:01 AM #

Will somebody PLEEEEEEEEASE smack the "update" or "refresh" button on Thule's tracker???! This is killing me! :)

Soon it will *look* like Columbia has passed Thule....

Oh well, keeping it a mystery until the first team hits the TA.... Kinda like if you were there in person waiting at the kayak take-out. Kinda like the dark ages before AP...

Dec 8, 2013 3:02 AM #

Carbon, I do not know how to get a copy of the Wild Racers and it almost impossible to find MavTV on any service providers in the US. It seems they plan on holding the episodes until they exhaust all their potential distribution deals and if I recall they plan on showing the episodes in the US over a 2 year span. Hopefully, they will release to DVD because they are excellent. I know people in Australia really enjoyed seeing the races.

Dec 8, 2013 3:07 AM #

team 46?

Dec 8, 2013 3:17 AM #

Looking at the tracking map, it looks like the Cornmen (Team 46) have taken a wrong turn and gone way off course on the mountain bike leg that precedes mid-camp? Like about 20 km to the west? They may be stopped at a river crossing that really doesn't match where they expect to be.... Maybe trying to figure out where they've ended up...

Dec 8, 2013 3:18 AM #

Team 46 Hombres de Maiz are unranked but not yet retired, according to the leaderboard. I think they were the last team to finish the mangrove paddle but they didn't do the bike ride afterward since their check-in time at midcamp (00:10 today) shows a 4.5 hour bike split on a section that took Seagate over 16 hours. They are probably being transported forward on the course - or maybe they are retired since they haven't started tracking on the course again.

Dec 8, 2013 3:20 AM #

Oh wait, they're on highway 243 (the highway is the line on the map that i thought was a river they they were intersecting). Itlooks like they may be trying to take good roads for as much of the distance as they can to get close to the end of the bike leg, and then cut across to the TA.

Dec 8, 2013 3:23 AM #

I think 46 took good roads because they were in a truck. :)

Dec 8, 2013 3:24 AM #

14 seems to be off course as well...

Dec 8, 2013 3:26 AM #

Last tracked breadcrumb for 46 was yesterday night.... So it's anyone's guess! Hope they're okay.

Dec 8, 2013 3:27 AM #

Thanks cortelmcm. The race in tassie sure was fun and when ee ran into the camera crew he mentioned we were in it. I just have to be patient for a few more years before I get to see it I guess :)

Dec 8, 2013 3:27 AM #

That's interesting, Myka. #14 BMS Multisport was on the right course, then they turned around to head west on roads. I wonder if they're heading toward those villages in search of food and a dry place to nap before their 5 a.m. start. Maybe nicer than hanging out at the TA?

Dec 8, 2013 3:28 AM #

Ha, yes Bash's comment ties it all together and was my next thought.... Hombres de Camion :). (Truck Men)

Dec 8, 2013 3:29 AM #

I'm afraid Thule's tracker may have been taken by a crocodile.

Dec 8, 2013 3:31 AM #

Re: team # 14 and others:
Yes, I can't help but think that if you are spending the night at the TA, waiting for the dark zone to lift.... Why not just find a hotel nearby and have a better quality sleep, then be able to race even harder the next day? Especially if it is a mass restart, essentially a tie. (Oh no, I'm I giving away too much strategy that I may want to use in my next race?! :)

Dec 8, 2013 3:31 AM #

Yikes, don't say that! Maybe it was just a monkey!

Dec 8, 2013 3:34 AM #

Columbia is only about 5 km away from encountering the crocodile! But it sounds like it is already full....

I keep poking Thule's tracker on the screen, but it won't wake up. Come on!!
My iPad has a dent in it now....

Dec 8, 2013 3:34 AM #

The question is, what respectible hotel would take them, in their '6 days of racing' condition?

Dec 8, 2013 3:38 AM #

BTW, we are 13 posts away from 1000.....I so want to be 1000th hitter! ;)

Dec 8, 2013 3:38 AM #

1 US dollar = almost 500 Costa Rican Colon right now....

Si señor, bienvenido!

(Translation: your dollars and stinky friends are welcome at my hotel. I won't ask why you all dress the same in those silly numbered shirts....)

Dec 8, 2013 3:39 AM #

How many dollars do you think they carry?

Dec 8, 2013 3:39 AM #

Myra: you already saw the discussion about the prize for 500, therefore what would the 1000 prize be??! :)

Dec 8, 2013 3:41 AM #

Oh, I am so excited.....you have no idea CO! I like surprises....

Dec 8, 2013 3:43 AM #

I've always carried $20, each of my teammates usually does, but I will probably carry more in the future. I also carry a credit card "it's everywhere you want to be"

Dec 8, 2013 3:44 AM #

I just did a search in the Torrent engine I use for 'Wild Racers' and came up with 1 hit, started to download it and figured I had better check it out before wasting bandwidth. Good thing I did! it was a Japanese Car Racing flick, not in english, no mud, no trees, no water but shiny cars and skimpy clad women! (at least on the cover of the screen shot!). Will keep searching...

Dec 8, 2013 3:45 AM #

The slight lull makes me wonder if everyone is counting the posts since Myka said "13 to go" and getting ready to send?!

Maybe we do need to think of a cool prize....

If the winner gets themselves to Calgary soon, we can show you what -30Cis like....

Dec 8, 2013 3:46 AM #

How about 1000 Costa Rican Colons? ;)

Dec 8, 2013 3:46 AM #

thule just updated

Dec 8, 2013 3:47 AM #

For my 1000th post prize, I want to see Thule's tracker wake up!! :)

Dec 8, 2013 3:47 AM #

The Wild Racers AR short videos are all on Vimeo, but I'd like to see what they put together for the TV show.

Dec 8, 2013 3:47 AM #

made you look

Dec 8, 2013 3:48 AM #

sorry for distracting you, CO....;)

Dec 8, 2013 3:48 AM #

Thule just updated? I checked again and it still showed me 18:40 as their last update time. Are you able to see something different?

Dec 8, 2013 3:48 AM #

JOE!!!!!!!!! ....not nice!
and you gave CO a heart attack...

Dec 8, 2013 3:49 AM #

good one Joe :) Congrats

Dec 8, 2013 3:49 AM #

I think Myka got number 1000 while I was distracted and tricked! Or maybe I got it on my reply!????!

Dec 8, 2013 3:50 AM #

can someone recount all the posts? Joe?

Dec 8, 2013 3:50 AM #

We must be past number 1000? Who got it? And what's the prize?

Dec 8, 2013 3:51 AM #

1 2 3..

Dec 8, 2013 3:51 AM #

This is 1008. Count back

Dec 8, 2013 3:51 AM #

Sorry, this is now 1010

Dec 8, 2013 3:52 AM #

I think it was Myka's "apology" that got 1000. Dirty.

Dec 8, 2013 3:52 AM #

wait, Joe is counting....

Dec 8, 2013 3:53 AM #

you can always delete comment 998

Dec 8, 2013 3:53 AM #

NOOOOOO, I think it was Joe's "made you look". Even dirtier! The dirtiest of the dirty!

Dec 8, 2013 3:54 AM #

filthy me. what do I win?

Dec 8, 2013 3:54 AM #

Yep....How can we find him? ....to give him the prize, of course! ;)

Dec 8, 2013 3:54 AM #

I should add I am watching Dirty Dancing at the moment.

Dec 8, 2013 3:55 AM #

I definitely have enough of my own comments available to me to delete in order to manipulate the score, but I can't bear to delete any of my wonderful input. Each one is like one of my children....

Dec 8, 2013 3:55 AM #

I am a patient woman, will wait for my 2000th prize

Dec 8, 2013 3:56 AM #

Well, CO's comment over there goes with your movie's subject

Dec 8, 2013 3:56 AM #

If Thule's tracker will update, I'll get us to 2000.
If Thule's tracker doesn't update, arrrrrrrgh, stress, complain, rant,.... I'll get us to 3000

Dec 8, 2013 3:57 AM #

If I were Joe, I'd definitely be hiding the confession about the movie I'm watching

Dec 8, 2013 3:57 AM #

THULE, WAKE UP...please!!!!

Dec 8, 2013 4:12 AM #

Now that the system is hiding the first 1000 comments, it appears that Joe's "made you look" may have actually been comment 1001...

(Yes, I'm still fussing over this.... Like I said earlier, OCD.... Gotta go, gotta make sure I turned off the oven....)

Dec 8, 2013 4:13 AM #

Now that CO has given away his race hotel secrets, it appears that BMS Multisport was merely taking an alternate route to the TA, which is where they are now. Looking back, it appears that other teams have done the same thing while we weren't paying attention to that part of the map.

Dec 8, 2013 4:15 AM #

Hmmm, not much to talk about with Thule's tracker being asleep....

....look at Seagate go.... In the lead.... Or not....
.... Look at all the racers sitting at TA8.... Still sitting.....

Okay, time to look for some teams that are moving and follow them. Or maybe now is a good time to bank some sleep for tomorrow.

Dec 8, 2013 4:15 AM #

Bank some sleep? Before we figure out what's going on with Merrell Adventure Addicts who haven't started the bike ride for some reason?

Dec 8, 2013 4:16 AM #

Oh man, those teams are following AP and scooping my secrets!
(Still not as dirty as Joe's trick...)

Dec 8, 2013 4:18 AM #

Merrell having a couple of hours sleep before heading out on the bikes? No need to get to TA8 too soon.

Dec 8, 2013 4:21 AM #

I guess there are several teams on the big mountain trek to follow online tonight. Oh man, I thought I was going to get some sleep. Anyone got any caffeine pills?...

Dec 8, 2013 4:25 AM #

So... we have the top 3 teams (Thule, Seagate, Columbia) or (Seagate, Thule, Columbia) at least halfway through the 89 km kayak paddle.

At TA8, waiting for the dark zone to lift at 5 a.m., we have Adidas Terrex, Tecnu, BMS Multisport and Quasarlontra. Tecnu is actually ranked in 4th ahead of Adidas Terrex but Adidas' time at TA8 looks wrong. Regardless, Tecnu caught up with Adidas on that ride and finished it within a few minutes of them. They've recovered nicely.

The 8th place team is Merrell, who had been with this chase pack but hasn't started the bike yet. Bike splits have been 5-7 hours so there isn't *that* much time left before the 5 a.m. start, especially considering that they have to take their bikes apart and put them in boxes.

Bones and OpavaNet are in 9th and 10th and should be arriving at TA7 (end of The Big Trek) soon.

Dec 8, 2013 4:28 AM #

True Bash, it's getting a bit late for Merrell to not be hurrying to TA8 yet....

Dec 8, 2013 4:29 AM #

wow, spent all day away from the 'puter and look what happens, 1000+ comments! AP is awesome! thanks for the recap Bash and now i can't wait to see how this all shakes out, it's like a whole new race for 4th! dig deep!

Dec 8, 2013 4:29 AM #

Omigosh, look whose symbol is hiding underneath Merrell's. Team Aerodiva is at TA7 too - in 9th place. They've passed Bones and OpavaNet. Wow!

Dec 8, 2013 4:31 AM #

Looking at Unlimited Phat Slices' (17) breadcrumbs, I wonder if they almost descended the wrong ridge, but noticed they were heading in the wrong direction?

Dec 8, 2013 4:33 AM #

Silkychrome: yes, some exciting competition.... at AP! And some okay competition at ARWC :)

Dec 8, 2013 4:35 AM #

Right now it is 6.5 hours until the dark zone lifts. As of half an hour ago, nobody was on the bike leg between TA7 and TA8. So I'm thinking that only 4 teams will be at the start when the dark zone lifts tomorrow at 5 a.m.

From 5 a.m. to 2 p.m., teams can leave TA8 - BUT they have to be off the rafts by 5:30 p.m. The top teams have taken about 5 hours from TA8 to TA9. So realistically, any team that doesn't leave TA8 by noon is probably going to be stuck behind Saturday night's dark zone somewhere before TA9.

So... how many teams will get through?

Dec 8, 2013 4:39 AM #

where was the medical check?

Dec 8, 2013 4:40 AM #

Man, more dark zone cut-off excitement tomorrow!

Dec 8, 2013 4:40 AM #

Aaaaaaaaand morning shift logging on from sunny south africa. With the parking lot at ta8 it's time to look further down the field for juicy stories

Dec 8, 2013 4:42 AM #

Shebeen, so glad you're here. We can sleep easier now. :)

Dec 8, 2013 4:43 AM #

Joe, the medical check was at CP36 shortly before the end of The Big Trek. Here's the link from Breathe Mag.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/06/race...

Dec 8, 2013 4:43 AM #

The control description was "Hospital". :)

Dec 8, 2013 4:44 AM #

Merrell still hasn't left TA7.... (Is this where the medical check is, with the mandatory 1-hour stop? Still, they've been there for 3 hours... Come on guys! If they leave very very soon, maybe they could be putting rafts in at the same time as the others battling for fourth!)

Dec 8, 2013 4:45 AM #

Ah, if the medical check was at CP36, then this isn't part of their 3 hour stop at CP37 / TA7

Dec 8, 2013 4:46 AM #

Hmm, sounds like the dark zone lifts earlier than 5 a.m. at TA8, and teams will be allowed to walk down to the water together like civilized folk. This is from Tecnu's Facebook page.

"We passed the team halfway to the next TA as its only a short 4-5 hour mt. bike ride, and they were having fun cruising along in single file. They hammed it up for our cameras, and then we split off. They looked great, and will get to the transition area, do their gear, eat, and get a long overnight sleep. They will be the most well rested team there, and will be ready to rock for the 4:30 a.m walk down to the rafting section. They should have 4-5 teams there with them ready for the race start at 5 a.m. We will walk down with them in the morning to start the rafting section. The teams mildly upset to not be up in the top three and be ahead of the dark zone and still racing, but I am sure they will enjoy the semi rest day, and the race for the top 4 at the World Championships."

Dec 8, 2013 4:47 AM #

CO, if you look at Merrell's track (and everybody's track), there is usually a 40-minute stop at CP36 - 3 little dots.

Dec 8, 2013 4:47 AM #

Yes, shebeen, keep an eye on Merrell (I'm sure you would anyway :)
Trying to figure out what's going on with them.

And at the front of the race course, we don't know where Thule really is because their tracker isn't updating. Somewhere close to Seagate but not sure who is in front. The TA at the end of the kayaking may be the first confirmation.

Dec 8, 2013 4:48 AM #

I'm sure Relentless will enjoy the surprise.

Dec 8, 2013 4:57 AM #

It took the top teams 7-8 hours to get from CP34 (the last marked green CP on the trek map) to the end of The Big Trek.

The bike ride (including time at TA7) has been taking 5-7 hours.

So I'd estimate that any team that hasn't reached CP34 by now will be caught somewhere behind Saturday night's dark zone - at the TA or along the river. And given that these teams aren't likely to move as fast as the top teams, some of them who are past CP34 may get caught anyway.

Dec 8, 2013 4:58 AM #

Aerodiva just left TA7, moving into 8th place. Merrell tracked at the same time, still at the TA. Wish we knew what was going on. They've had such a great race till now.

Dec 8, 2013 5:00 AM #

Wow busy night on here despite the dark zone!! Nice to see! Did anyone else find Relentless comment about the hotel humorous? One night he's with the lead team in freezing temps on top of the mountain, the next he's hot humid sweaty hotel room. That's AR for you..

Has Thule updated yet?? :) What's going on with Merrell?? Good on Aerodiva for the big move up the leader board. Haven't seen anything on Untamed Canada, how they doing?

Dec 8, 2013 5:09 AM #

Untamed Canada is moving along on The Big Trek, just ahead of Gear Junkies/Yoga Slackers. It looks like they've been stopped in their current location for a few hours for a nap. They're only 2 km from CP33 where Tecnu stopped last night so I guess they're running about a day behind.

Dec 8, 2013 5:11 AM #

Leanimal has posted some more beautiful photos, mostly of Tecnu on the trek and in the medical check. Not sure if you need to be her Facebook friend but give it a try.
https://www.facebook.com/muellerleanne/media_set?s...

Dec 8, 2013 5:11 AM #

If you haven't checked out AP's legendaryrandy's pics on FB, make sure you do. He's got some great shots from his travels.

Caption Text

Smile!

Flying monkeys!
Caption Text

One of the Mangrove Cps.
Caption Text

Dec 8, 2013 5:12 AM #

Thule just updated

Dec 8, 2013 5:14 AM #

Wow looks like Thule is about 5km ahead of Seagate. Not sure how close they were the last time their tracker was up to date.

Dec 8, 2013 5:14 AM #

Simon, you're a master of suspense! :) Holy crap, Thule is 7-8 km ahead of Seagate. I wish I had Relentless' phone number handy.

Dec 8, 2013 5:15 AM #

Yay! Thule updated! Yes yes yes OMG OMG!

Dec 8, 2013 5:17 AM #

Actually, I think Relentless should be fine based on our estimates. But still. Wow.

Dec 8, 2013 5:17 AM #

So excited I almost forgot to mention that Legendaryrandy's full set of photos is here.
https://www.facebook.com/randy.ericksen/media_set?...

Dec 8, 2013 5:22 AM #

Based on their next tracks, I'd estimate Thule and Seagate to be 6-7 km apart. Nobody passes Seagate on a paddling section. Amazing.

Dec 8, 2013 5:25 AM #

Meanwhile, back in the Mountains, Team "Limitless Also" spent over 5 hours on Cerro Uran. I wonder if someone was feeling the altitude. Unfortunately, Cerro Uran is pretty high so it isn't a great place to recover, even though racers wouldn't have much choice if they were feeling bad. They are now on their way down into the valley so all seems to be well.

Dec 8, 2013 5:28 AM #

Merrell has left TA7! Hopefully they just decided it was a better time and place for them to sleep.

Dec 8, 2013 5:29 AM #

Or was Thule always in the lead (because of Seagate's nap before the kayak?)?
Still, super impressive to hold off Seagate like this, and even increase their lead, I think.

Wow, I'm such a biased Seagate fan that I figured it was just a matter of time until they took their "rightful place" in the lead, but it looks like Thule is just as deserving!

Dec 8, 2013 5:32 AM #

Brilliant deduction, Watson. Yes, at the earliest tracking point I can find on the paddle, Thule was about 15 minutes ahead of Seagate. But still, they have been gaining.

Dec 8, 2013 5:32 AM #

Super glad to hear that Merrell is on the move. It will be interesting to see when they get to the rafts! Their sleep will be a little less recent than the teams ahead of them.

And Seagate has Thule cornered in a situation where I don't know when Thule will feel like they can stop to sleep. It's like chess!

They've got me cornered too; with all this action, I feel Ike I can't go to sleep either!

Dec 8, 2013 5:36 AM #

Bash aren't you heading to Burlington early morn?? :)

Dec 8, 2013 5:37 AM #

I checked this half a dozen times because I could hardly believe it. Thule passed Seagate's current location 80 minutes ago.

Dec 8, 2013 5:37 AM #

DD11, yes. Aren't you?

Dec 8, 2013 5:40 AM #

Looks like OpavaNet will finish The Big Trek in 10th place - not that a small lead over Bones will make much difference with the dark zone ahead. But great trekking by OpavaNet regardless. And Aerodiva too - good stuff.

Dec 8, 2013 5:41 AM #

Wow, am I allowed to have two biases? (Two favourite teams). 80 minutes ahead of Seagate on a paddle??? They may have gained an hour??!
This race is awesome!!

Dec 8, 2013 5:42 AM #

Very impressive by Thule. Gonna be a great end to this tomorrow night!

Yes - Bash! See you in the morn!

Dec 8, 2013 5:45 AM #

From Wild Racer's (thanks Breathe).

http://vimeo.com/81299186

More nightmares of mangroves coming for me.

Dec 8, 2013 5:47 AM #

Looking ahead to tomorrow's dark zone, if my guesstimate was close, the top 15 teams will finish the rafting by sunset on Sunday. I think that on Tuesday at 14:00 (Day 9 of the race), they start bussing teams forward to the final couple of stages. Forget the racers... these race organizers have a lot of endurance.

Dec 8, 2013 6:04 AM #

Great video to help visualize the terrain!

Here's an interview Legendaryrandy did with Nathan Fa'avae at midcamp. (Thanks, LosDobos.)

Dec 8, 2013 6:16 AM #

If you're checking this, Relentless, Thule will likely arrive first. They're still about 20-25 km away at midnight your time, and it doesn't look like they're doing much better than 5 kph in those lovely Tomcats. Enjoy your hotel awhile longer.

Over to you, Night Shift in New Zealand, South Africa and wherever else you may be. If you can keep Relentless updated about when he needs to get up to film the 1st place team arriving off the kayak section, that would be great - thanks!

Dec 8, 2013 6:58 AM #

A bit worried about Seagate. The last update looks like they may have taken a wrong turn on the paddle. Hope they sort it out quickly.

Dec 8, 2013 7:16 AM #

Looks like they're back on track now and heading back to the correct channel. More time lost to Thule though.

Dec 8, 2013 7:18 AM #

....it actually looks like they've corrected their first mistake and now heading up another wrong channel. Must be tough out there!

Dec 8, 2013 7:41 AM #

Seagate are now back on track but look to be 8-9kms behind Thule now.

Dec 8, 2013 7:45 AM #

just got sent to the shops, came back with amongest other things - some costa rican coffee. kettle is on, will update on the aroma of mangrove brown stuff shortly.

state of the race for spot 4 as I see it on the trackers - 9:30 am central african time, 1:30am costa rica time. looks like we will have 6 teams lining up for a 'restart of sorts at 5am.

at TA8 having a snooze
BMS, (arrived at 22:00)
Quasarlonta (22:00)
Adidas Terrex (19:30)
Tecnu (19:30)

on the bike section, with ~three hours to go scheduled to pretty much arrive on time to go straight onto the rafting
Aerodiva (about 2 hours rest at TA7)
Merrell Adv Addicts (about 6 hours sleep at TA7)

at TA7 - should be able to get through the rafting today
Bones
Opavanet

Dec 8, 2013 7:49 AM #

at the real front end...it looks like thule have about 6kms on seagate who have 6 km on columbia vidaraid...watch this space!

Dec 8, 2013 7:50 AM #

I'm glad Merrell timed their TA7 sleep well, hoping they are going to have a solid rafting section with Tecnu/Adidas & Co. then smash the 89km paddle, my money is the them to arrive at TA10 in 4th... (and hold it to the finish :-) )

Dec 8, 2013 7:54 AM #

ok, seagate have just made a little whoopsie. they are paddling in the dark, and went up an inland channel instead of the sea tracking one.

thule came and went at 22:30 and hit the right channel dirrectly.
seagate arrived 23:30, so were effectively an hour behind, BUT they basically took 2 hours to get into the right channel, so are now 3 hours behind thule.

it's at a campsite called GVI Jalova from the GE satellite description..looks quite a spot.
https://plus.google.com/106613163697474586109/abou...

Dec 8, 2013 8:53 AM #

Almost 3am local time here in Tortuguero and I'm just waiting for my boat taxi to the Boat/Hike TA. It just started pouring rain here a few minutes ago, so it may make for an interesting hike (and paddle). Thanks again for all the info!

Dec 8, 2013 9:46 AM #

Sickman:

Still anyone's race. Remember Seagate got at least 2 hrs sleep before the paddle. Thule will need to sleep or they will slow down.

Dec 8, 2013 10:06 AM #

Agreed, but looks like Seagate might have a problem. They have been stopped in the same place for around 40 minutes.

Dec 8, 2013 10:57 AM #

Thule will finish the paddle with almost a 3 hour lead. Unthinkable at the start of the paddle, but that's AR. They will surely have to sleep some before the end of the race. Right?...

Dec 8, 2013 11:14 AM #

You'd think so. But I've been thinking the same for 2-3 days now and they keep smashing it! My guess is that Seagate will have one more sleep too as I can't imagine teams getting through the 156km bike ride (which appears to be flat on open roads?) with tired eyes.

Dec 8, 2013 11:22 AM #

what say we start a petition to Canadian broadcasters to air Wild Racers? I'd sign in a heartbeat.

Dec 8, 2013 11:25 AM #

Spare a minute to say goodbye to AR photographer extraordinaire Andreas Strand, who is "retiring" after the ARWC.
http://www.andreasstrand.se/2013/12/raceday-6-and-...

Dec 8, 2013 11:45 AM #

Hello World?!? Wakey, wakey! There's a race to watch here...

Dec 8, 2013 11:53 AM #

I am here at the TA waiting for Thule to arrive. The crew filming them have just left again to follow them into the TA. They said Thule was looking really rough last night, taking turns paddling and sleeping and swerving all over the place. Not sure if they will sleep here or not, but it sounded like they were pretty wiped. Just had a huge downpour about 10 minutes ago that I would not have wanted to be paddling in! Clearing up now looking like a beautiful day ahead. From the maps and the information I have it sounds like there is a really sketchy 18km hike on an old abandoned road (or trail). Strange thing here is that we have not seen any TA staff or anybody connected to the race, so not entirely sure what is up with that. Will try and update again when Thule come in if they decide to sleep and if I can get online again. Otherwise I will be heading out with them.

Dec 8, 2013 11:55 AM #

Not sure if the tracker was updated recently for Seagate, but the film crew said that where Seagate was located 10 minutes ago on the tracker was where they filmed Thule 4 hours ago.

Dec 8, 2013 11:57 AM #

putting my money where my mouth is, and started a petition to air AR on tv again.

Click Me!

Dec 8, 2013 12:01 PM #

Just stepped out for a quick sprint O race, but now I'm ready to "watch" Merrell dominate this paddle! :)

Dec 8, 2013 12:05 PM #

Looks like Merrell will be getting on the water about 45mins behind Tecnu & co. - they won't be making up any time in the rafting section, but it will be interesting to see whether their early-race paddling pace returns on the 89km river paddle.

Dec 8, 2013 12:07 PM #

STERKTE!! (whatever that means, it's directed at the Addicts)

Dec 8, 2013 12:11 PM #

thule are almost at ta10 - it looks like there's a CP beyond there at the Turtle conservancy, and then you double back to TA. very hard to tell where checkpoints are, TA9 was labelled PC41, and TA10 is PC410? if the leaderboard is anything to go by, then it should be PC43

They are right there now, and if they will be wondering if they'll see seagate when they head back south to the transistion. That's not going to happen. Seagate are at a spot that Thule was at 4hours ago. they lost about another 90minutes either at a sleep or going round in circles at what must have been a checkpoint. Thule didn't battle at the same point, but CPs in the dark are never easy in a paddle. is that the race?

columbia are sitting pretty in third about 2 hours back, miles ahead of fourth..is there some huge gamble they can try in the final legs?

aerodiva seems to have stopped two thirds of the way to TA8, so haven't got onto the rafting yet. Merrell have timed it quite well and got onto the rafts just behind the pack of four. it's spreading out a bit but this is a fast stag and then the huge 89km paddle.

yup, still getting my head around 89km in a tomcat.

Dec 8, 2013 12:28 PM #

Sounds like we could have let you sleep longer, Relentless. The combination of Tomcats and sleepy racers in the dark... What do you mean by "sketchy" for the next trek?

Dec 8, 2013 12:29 PM #

Big thanks to the night shift!

Hoping for a healthy day shift too since a few of us regulars are going orienteering today.

Dec 8, 2013 1:09 PM #

Your last 3 posts indicate a little over 6 hrs of sleep for you Bash. Not good for your average....

Dec 8, 2013 1:29 PM #

CheersSA:

LosDobos - sterkte is a way of saying good luck in Afrikaans. Directly translated it means strength.

Dec 8, 2013 2:04 PM #

@Jay, 5.5 but who's counting? Oh right, I am. And you too, apparently. :)

Dec 8, 2013 3:21 PM #

Good morning (Bash: 9 hours for me last night, and 10 hours the night before. Look out, I've been banking sleep for later in the race and you might not he able to hold up....)

Dec 8, 2013 3:31 PM #

Thule are on the trek and have already covered some good distance. Seagate are probably at the kayak CP at the turtle sanctuary about now.
So Thule would have done that little out and back paddle section without seeing Seagate, and gained a bit for knowledge of at least how much lead they have on Seagate (maybe could have estimated a 30 minute gap or so as a minimum?). This might give them a little idea of how much sleep they can afford to stop for.

There is also another little out and back at the end of their current trek / beginning of the next bike, so they'll have another chance to look behind themselves. Maybe that one will give them a chance to observe a bigger gap.

Wow Thule, so impressive! (Can you sense a new bias blooming?)

Dec 8, 2013 3:40 PM #

very hard to tell where TA10 is actually located on the map - i see the description is 'hut'.

it's probably at this lodge - http://www.mawamba.com/
tourist vid here, a different sort of holiday to ARWS http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

"Can I arrive in Tortuguero by car?
No, there are no roads to get to Tortuguero. "

so who knows where the boats are staying nce they arrive!
there's no box or anything there..straight onto your feet, for what sounds like a not so straightforward trek.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/08/upda...

thule had 20 minutes in the same spot, but i guess it's just dump the boats and go. maybe some food from the lodge restaurant if you want to scrounge. then it looks like you have to cross the river twice, i'm guessing that's by swimming.
seagate are there now, so the lead is 3 hours.

Dec 8, 2013 3:40 PM #

That out and back at the end of the trek / beginning of the bike is pretty big. Could be 2 hours combined? This might let the teams see each other. (Oooooh, I wouldn't want to be the target of that stare from Nathan... Then again, I guess there may have been a similar stare given by Nathan to Thule at ARWC2011 Tasmania when Seagate was held at the last TA to sit out a 4 hour penalty, while Thule passed through. I think Thule then got about a 1 or 2 hour head start on that final biking section, knowing that Seagate would be rested and furious!
If you ever wondered what a frightened rabbit dressed in spandex might look like....!

Or,.... If Thule does that big out and back without seeing Seagate, they'll have a lot of info about how big their lead might be....

(Have I already said how awesome this is?! Already signed LosDobos' petition to say that this stuff should be on TV. Maybe they'll get LosDobos as the broadcaster (maybe that's his plan!). Hmmm.... Not just reading LosDobos, but now having to look at LosDobos...
For the hockey fans: picture Coach's Corner, some tall tall shirt collars and bad suits...)

Dec 8, 2013 3:47 PM #

Meanwhile, the rafting excitement is underway!

Dec 8, 2013 3:50 PM #

Actually finished the rafting and onto the kayaks:
QuasarLontra
Tecnu
Adidas
Almost too close to tell who is leading

Then BMS

And Merrell transitioning to kayak

Dec 8, 2013 3:51 PM #

just got up here in the ottawa valley, thanks for the updates, this is so exciting....hmmm i smell breakfast.....

Dec 8, 2013 3:52 PM #

Looking at breadcrumb tracks:

Quasarlontra
Adidas
Tecnu

Dec 8, 2013 3:53 PM #

Aerodiva and then Bones on the rafts (9th and 10th)

Go Mari!!

Dec 8, 2013 3:54 PM #

z:

I know there's plenty of racing left, but right now it looks Seagate may have been out paddled & out navigated? I know it's heresy to suggest it, but Seagate's biggest strengths have been where they've given up the most time to Thule this race.

This trek that Thule is on is the 30 cm of mud route, if I'm not mistaken, where it's deep mud the whole way (according to what race organizers told me)

Dec 8, 2013 3:56 PM #

MoreOrLess has a lot of company, which they will find comforting and exciting .....a lot of stories from this one I'm sure... battle on for 4th also

Dec 8, 2013 3:57 PM #

Untamed and gearjunkies appear to be trekking together.
Team 48 may be descending the wrong ridge?...

Dec 8, 2013 3:59 PM #

Untamedadventur: I was thinking the same things,but almost couldn't bring myself to say it!

30 cm of mud for the whole trek? Man, the epic sections never end!
And I wonder if the biking nearby will be similar?!

Dec 8, 2013 4:03 PM #

Sleepmonsters piece on the restart. Sounds like Adidas will be glad to not be on there feet.

Dec 8, 2013 4:04 PM #

Wow, the three dots in the battle for 4th are too close to call right now, even looking at breadcrumb tracks and upload times.
Maybe they've agreed to pace line in an attempt to catch 3rd place....

Dec 8, 2013 4:12 PM #

Thanks Ifor!
If Adidas' feet are swollen badly enough, it might even be a bit painful to push hard on the bike pedals, but probably still better than walking. That is, IF the biking section is rideable....

Dec 8, 2013 4:22 PM #

Putting the biking shoes on may be the real problem... How oversize do you go with the kit? Looking at the tracks I think they are dropping back in the tomcats anyway so it's may just be a case of trying to finish rather than racing for 4th.

Dec 8, 2013 4:22 PM #

Is Seagate falling further behind? It looks like they haven't moved much, while Thule has.

Dec 8, 2013 4:23 PM #

Quasarlontra is definitely ahead of Tecnu on the paddle

Dec 8, 2013 4:29 PM #

Looks like Mountain Hradware and East Wind are racing to get though the rafting before the cut-off

Dec 8, 2013 4:46 PM #

Looks like Seagate are paying the lodge an extended visit. A good Breakfast I assume. They will have Columbia for company if they don't get going soon.

Dec 8, 2013 5:10 PM #

Man, Thule has made the big righthand turn toward their bikes and Seagate still isn't off the paddle.
Can someone tell me how often the trackers leave a breadcrumb (when they are working)? Thule is about 14 breadcrumb tracking dots ahead of where Seagate is. That must add up to quite a few hours...

Dec 8, 2013 5:12 PM #

every 20 minutes when they are running smoothly

Dec 8, 2013 5:23 PM #

Yikes, so that's about 5 hours of breadcrumbs that Thule has ahead of Seagate? (Although Seagate's tracker was about 30 minutes behind on updating when I last checked)

Dec 8, 2013 5:28 PM #

btw, you can also see the timestamps on the breadcrumb dots if you click them.

Dec 8, 2013 5:28 PM #

Seagate looks like maybe they're having trouble finding the CP! And Columbia are on their way!

Dec 8, 2013 5:30 PM #

Thanks Ken! I'm sure others discussed some of these details long ago but I've been too wrapped up in following the race to do all the background work including reading race section descriptions etc.

Dec 8, 2013 5:32 PM #

Go Marco! This is shaping up to be quite the battle between Seagate and Columbia again! Hopefully the slowdown is due to problems finding a CP rather than injury or illness.

Dec 8, 2013 5:37 PM #

Yes, Marco is having an epic year! Wow, to be in the hunt with Seagate and Thule!

Dec 8, 2013 5:40 PM #

Marco is defending champion of this race...

Dec 8, 2013 5:43 PM #

Good point wilberto, I forgot that!

Dec 8, 2013 5:43 PM #

the CP is at the Laguna Lodge Hotel. It can't be hard to find. Something strange is afoot.

Dec 8, 2013 5:44 PM #

Oh no!

Dec 8, 2013 5:46 PM #

the race slider just above the map is a cool tool,I just selected the 10 teams around team MoreOrLess and watching the race develope... I know there have been some frustrations , but this has been one of the better races that I have followed....thanks gang..... Slice is nice!!!!! :-)

Dec 8, 2013 5:47 PM #

hmmm Slice is also one of the defending champions :-)

Dec 8, 2013 5:50 PM #

I was just thinking that - we have all 4 defending champs of the Costa Rica race here.... But on 3 different teams!

Dec 8, 2013 6:04 PM #

the Tomcats are inflatable...Seagate may have punctured

Dec 8, 2013 6:10 PM #

You put a big smile on my face CO

Dec 8, 2013 6:17 PM #

Just catching up. Looking at Seagate and Colombia's position, there must be a CP further up from the TA correct? That's a HUGE lead for Thule now especially given the conditions of that trek!

Dec 8, 2013 7:44 PM #

Wow, the world changed while I went orienteering!

1) Thule
2) Columbia

Both are on The Snake Trek. Thule is nearing the TA (or maybe at the TA - they haven't updated in awhile). Columbia just started.

3) Seagate

According to official race Twitter, they are still in the TA and are having problems with foot blisters. That doesn't explain their trouble on the paddle but it would sure be important for this mucky trek coming up.

I assume Relentless is trekking with the leaders, i.e. Thule this time instead of Seagate. Looking forward to his next update!

Dec 8, 2013 7:46 PM #

Seagate now out. Race for 4th just became race for third!

https://twitter.com/arcostarica/status/40976929702...

Dec 8, 2013 7:48 PM #

WOW!!! And that's why the race for 4th was always so important. I'm sad for Seagate; they are such strong competitors and nice people but it's been a really tough race, and sometimes these things happen.

This pretty much guarantees a night with very little sleep...

Dec 8, 2013 7:49 PM #

wow. going to be a fun race to watch for that 3rd spot on the podium.

Dec 8, 2013 7:50 PM #

The tracking site just got a whole lot less useful - no timestamps when hovering over team-names and I can't seem to get the breadcrumbs anymore. Am I missing something?

Any idea what the time gap is now between Columbia and the chase pack? Surely a lot less than the 15h dark zone by now?

Dec 8, 2013 7:52 PM #

refresh the page, the timestamps went away when they added the analysis feature, but I asked them to put it back, so just reload the tracking page and you should be ok

Dec 8, 2013 7:52 PM #

It's still working for me.

It looks like Quasarlontra is in 3rd with Tecnu right behind them. Adidas Terrex is not far back in 5th, and BMS Multisport is 2 km behind them in 6th. It's anybody's bronze. (And of course, gold and silver aren't wrapped up yet either.)

[Edit: just updated all the rankings because I was still counting Seagate out of habit!]

Dec 8, 2013 7:53 PM #

well, i officially just cleared my schedule and called in sick to work tomorrow. I have ordered extra coffee delivered to the house. This just got really interesting.

Dec 8, 2013 7:53 PM #

What analysis feature? Sorry, I foolishly went out and enjoyed some fresh air. Your parents say hi, LosDobos. ;)

Dec 8, 2013 7:54 PM #

bugsInTeeth:

From what I could tell it still looks like the chase pack is ~15 hours back.

Dec 8, 2013 7:55 PM #

Looks like Merrell have in fact lost a bit of ground (or water) on the paddle so far - currently 60-90mins back from the other 4 teams.

Dec 8, 2013 7:57 PM #

Thule just starting biking.

Dec 8, 2013 7:58 PM #

bugsInTeeth - indeed... the length of that coastal stretch is deceiving. It's easy to forget that they're paddling tomcats from the comfort of my chair :)

Dec 8, 2013 7:58 PM #

well, i officially just cleared my schedule and called in sick...

And Ken has gone off to upgrade the server. ;)

Dec 8, 2013 7:59 PM #

They only have 3-ish hours of daylight left so the chase pack could run into some of the same nav issues that Seagate did.

Dec 8, 2013 8:00 PM #

Just got back from running some errands with Carbon, and Wow! So sad to hear the news about Seagate....

What an incredible race!

Dec 8, 2013 8:03 PM #

Shrek Feet:

Wow. This is crazy. Let's go Tecnu...3rd is yours to get! Also...being that I had the honor to race with the very nice Marco this year...go Columbia!!

Dec 8, 2013 8:04 PM #

Two of the top teams out! Wow, what a race. This must be a hard withdrawal for Seagate. I can't help to think that something else but blisters was the problem. Maybe someone is sick.

Dec 8, 2013 8:05 PM #

Regarding the tracking page, you can keep the old version as long as you don't leave/reload the page. Likewise for the full-screen map page that somebody linked to long ago.

Dec 8, 2013 8:06 PM #

Or if you have refreshed, just replace the link with: http://live.arcostarica.com/tracking/index.cfm

Dec 8, 2013 8:07 PM #

Seagate is out of the race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keK7sGO7V4U

Grabbed off Sleepmonsters on FB, not mine :D

Dec 8, 2013 8:11 PM #

Wow fuddam, that perfectly captures how I feel!!

Dec 8, 2013 8:15 PM #

Ah, thanks Stijn, I didn't notice it was a different url. and it looks like the menu link is fixed to go to the right place now.

Dec 8, 2013 8:15 PM #

Just realized the teams on the coastal paddle won't know Seagate has withdrawn until they get to the TA.

Dec 8, 2013 8:17 PM #

I know they are racing hard for 4th but I imagine they'll have another gear for the podium.

Dec 8, 2013 8:17 PM #

Yes M22' that will give the quite a jolt, 1) to realize that they are battling for third, and 2) to wrap their heads around why the top team in the world had to pull out.

Dec 8, 2013 8:17 PM #

wow that's wild

Dec 8, 2013 8:18 PM #

Have I mentioned that this is an incredible race???!!!

Dec 8, 2013 8:18 PM #

pic of Seagate off boat: http://pic.twitter.com/Y4PFczr1s5

Photog says some of them could barely walk. Kayak had exacerbated the problems.

Dec 8, 2013 8:19 PM #

Tecnu now in 4th place

Dec 8, 2013 8:20 PM #

I wonder if Columbia knows that Seagate has withdrawn? There might even be a possibility that Columbia never saw Seagate, and only learned that they are in second place when they got to the TA at the end of the kayak.

Dec 8, 2013 8:22 PM #

Whoops, did anyone catch my Freudian skip about "Seabate" before I edited it? :)

Dec 8, 2013 8:22 PM #

W O W. Sorry to hear about Seagate as they have gutted it out this far but must have been pretty serious to have to drop out. Gonna be a crazy finish for third!

Dec 8, 2013 8:24 PM #

I wish I could yell loudly enough to let Tecnu know that Seagate is out. That might put some extra fire into their paddle.

Dec 8, 2013 8:24 PM #

I also booked off tomorrow :-)

Dec 8, 2013 8:24 PM #

OMG, just looked at the tracking map and four teams are stacked on top of each other in this battle for third!!

Dec 8, 2013 8:25 PM #

I'm checking my calendar for tomorrow..... Not going to get much else done!

Dec 8, 2013 8:25 PM #

The chase pack will be blown away. Even though all those teams are telling each other, "Anything can happen", nobody thought anything would happen to Seagate.

Good point, CO. It seemed to me that the announcement of Seagate's withdrawal happened shortly after Columbia departed.

Dec 8, 2013 8:39 PM #

FB:

Wow... this has been such an awesome race to follow! I'm so upset I couldn't race it and at the same time so happy I didn't race it?!?! :-)

I hope Seagate (and all the other teams) are O.K. I recall having breakfast with a group of racers back in 2005 or so... (Mexico I think)... Nathan was saying that he didn't like the way AR seemed to be going, all the RD's trying to 'one-up' each other by making the courses ridiculously tough... to the point where it sucked the fun out of racing for the experienced racers and kept new people out. It was no longer 'as important' who was fittest, most skilled, most well prepared team - it was becoming a matter of who is prepared to suffer the most... and RD's seemed to be going out of their way to make racers suffer for the sake of suffering.
... That was the basic premise of the discussion and we didn't (or at least I didn't) see Nathan for a few years after that... I'm sure there were other factors involved.

When the best racers in the world start getting 'worn out' by the course WOW (acute injuries are different). These people know how to take care of themselves.. and I'm not just talking about Seagate. I hope there's not too much more carnage.

....of course personally I like the races to be as heinous as possible because fitness, skill and preparedness were never my strong suits ;-)

Dec 8, 2013 8:45 PM #

Curve ball.
Really is Thule's race to lose now.

I'm sending the news telepathically to team merrell, just incase they can increase their effort from 110% to something a bit higher. ;-)

Third spot is going to be really exciting now, BUT only really because a dark zone brought them together. Mixed feelings on that one to be honest.

Dec 8, 2013 8:46 PM #

Good point about ridiculous difficulty, but equally, now have the opposite situation in some races where the RD says the course isn't difficult - only will be hard for the front runners, since they try harder.

Am not fussed with the ARWC being crazy. The ARWS can be less harsh, but the ARWC should be tough for the elite.

Dec 8, 2013 8:49 PM #

Interesting perspective FB. I just read a post from South African AR Reporter Adventure Lisa mentioning that she felt the Tomcat's were a huge factor in why this race has been as tough as it has. Essentially saying RD's should have used more of the countries other attributes rather than forced long paddle leg's. It will be interesting to hear what the racers have to say once they've recovered.

Dec 8, 2013 8:52 PM #

Talking of news getting to the racers,I wonder if my fellow countrymen in merrell adv addicts have learnt of Nelson Mandela's passing? It goes without saying that it's inspirational (just incase they needed any extra motivation after Don's video message) and has been amazing to see the world's reaction to the news and the overwhelmingly positive reporting from all corners.

Dec 8, 2013 8:53 PM #

Meanwhile, back in the Mountains, SXM (the team we're proudly claiming as Canadian) should be arriving at the trek/bike TA any time now. They've were on The Big Trek for about 52 hours, and they're doing *well*. Columbia was fastest in 35 hours.

Untamed Canada is on the final stretch of The Big Trek after CP34 and will probably arrive at the trek/bike TA in the 8-10 p.m. range. This means they will not be stuck behind Monday's rafting dark zone. If all goes well, they'll arrive just at first light. (Although they will probably want to sleep in there somewhere.) Looks like they had 4 hours of rest in the valley last night.

"Limitless Also" is halfway between CP33 and 34, moving steadily. They were on Cerro Uran for over over 5 hours last night so hopefully got some rest as well. They're about 5 hours behind Untamed Canada, which means they can make Monday's rafting dark zone if all goes well and they don't sleep too much before then.

Dec 8, 2013 8:54 PM #

ok late to the flaggergasted wagon (was out running) but WOWWWW!!! Seagate! love the link fuddam. wow. and with the extra sleep the chase pack teams got from the dark zone - the race for 3rd is going to HURT.

Dec 8, 2013 8:56 PM #

@Shebeen, all of Canada has been thinking and talking about South Africa this week. Much respect and admiration for a life very well lived.

Dec 8, 2013 9:09 PM #

3 hours now since Thule's tracker updated. Do we know if they are on the bikes?

Dec 8, 2013 9:11 PM #

Colombia stopped for about 45 minutes on the trek but are moving once again.

Dec 8, 2013 9:12 PM #

Yes, Thule is biking.

Ref: Race organization Twitter feed, about 2 p.m. local time

Dec 8, 2013 9:13 PM #

@DD11- the Pacific and the Caribbean seem to be some pretty significant attributes in CR, not sure what else Lisa would have wanted. I agree in respect to the boat choice being a poor solution however. 5k/hr, there must be something better.

Dec 8, 2013 9:14 PM #

Just noticed that Mountain Hardware's track hasn't updated for 4 hours. Do we know if they finished the whitewater paddle?

Dec 8, 2013 9:15 PM #

Here is the link to Lisa's article. I had the same reaction as Jay. "What? Water is not a major attribute of Costa Rica???!!!" But she does say that different boats would be an option too.

http://www.ar.co.za/2013/12/arwc-into-night-7/

Dec 8, 2013 9:17 PM #

I think the RD's wanted to show the team's as much of the country as possible. From one bordering country then ocean to the other ocean and bordering country is amazing.

Dec 8, 2013 9:19 PM #

One quote from Lisa's article regarding the kayaks: "...the craft really are not suited to anything other than the 33km river rafting section that the front teams have completed."

That may be true - although that is the one paddling section where the Tomcats were not used. :)

Dec 8, 2013 9:21 PM #

9th place Bones just finished the whitewater paddle leg with ~10km lead over Opavanet and EastWind.

Dec 8, 2013 9:23 PM #

Agreed, DD11, this race course will be one that people will talk about ten years from now. And we'll hear more afterward but it seems to be running amazingly smoothly. We're not hearing stories of wildly misplaced CPs or 3-hour time credits because teams had to wait for their gear boxes. It would be impossible to put on a race this complex without some things going wrong but we usually hear a lot more about it through the race reporting and team interviews.

Also, the time range estimates for the different stages have been unusually accurate. That would be really hard to do with such a long course, especially since organizers have to guess at the paces of slow/fast teams. Weather plays a role in that too.

Dec 8, 2013 9:25 PM #

Oops - Quasarlontra seems to have missed a turn and have just arrived at the ocean.

Dec 8, 2013 9:28 PM #

Get No Sleep and Dark Horse appear to be out as they're heading towards San Jose, very quickly according to the breadcrumbs.

Dec 8, 2013 9:28 PM #

I did the Bimbache Extrem this year (badly, lol) and had to short course it. Anyway, was run by Antonio de la Rosa, who is course designer on this one. Very smooth helm, no issues at all despite the original RD running away with the cash a day before the start. His time estimates for the Bimbache were all pretty good - a bit too fast, if anything, for some stages, but overall bang on the money.

:)

Dec 8, 2013 9:31 PM #

Only 2 more hours until the rafting section is closed for the night.

Looks like OpavaNet and East Wind should make it onto the kayak section in time (10th and 11th place). Bivouac Colts, Toyota Racing Team and Banano de Costa Rica (I think) have just started rafting so they will be camping along the river - but not too close, due to the crocs.

Dec 8, 2013 9:36 PM #

Adidas Terrex seems to be paddling well as their recent track has them slightly in front of Tecnu for 3rd place. With Quasarlontra headed in the wrong direction, BMS has moved into 5th place and Merrell is about 1.5 hours back in 7th place. Aerodiva are all alone in 9th place about 2.5-3 hours behind Merrell.

Dec 8, 2013 9:38 PM #

Quasarlontra must be very, very tired. Two kilometers in a Tomcat is a long time to not notice that your compass is pointing 180 degrees in the wrong direction. Oh wait, we've all made the ol' 180 degree error - but we were lucky enough not to have the world watching, and we'd probably slept recently, and it didn't mean paddling 4 extra kms in a stupid Tomcat.

DD11, based on tracker time, I think Tecnu is still in 3rd ahead of Adidas. The next track will hopefully clear that up.

Dec 8, 2013 9:39 PM #

Still a really close battle for third...
As Stijn pointed out, has Quasarlontra made a wrong turn? Or are they choosing to paddle along the Caribbean? Is that allowed? If so, are they confident they can get back over to the inland channel when they want?

Dec 8, 2013 9:40 PM #

Ocean is off-limits.

Dec 8, 2013 9:40 PM #

If they wanted to reach the Caribbean, there is a more direct route by the airport. Looking at the map, I think they thought they were at the Y junction where they needed to go right, so they did - but they were 1 km too early.

Dec 8, 2013 9:41 PM #

In another potential no-no, LosDobos reports that Toyota started rafting even though they apparently got 'zoned by 22mins. Hmmm.....

EDIT: you'd think they wouldn't give them a boat and a guide if they had really missed the official time...

Dec 8, 2013 9:43 PM #

Adidas was complaining of poor feet not too long ago and are probably not looking forward to the shoe-sucking trek up next.

Dec 8, 2013 9:47 PM #

LosDobos reported that Seagate (presumably some portion thereof) had "badly infected" feet. Sophie Hart is a physician so they would be pulling out with an informed medical opinion.

Dec 8, 2013 9:49 PM #

@Clean, it's a common occurrence in adventure racing that not all race volunteers/staff are equally informed about race rules and other information. It is a really hard thing for an RD to ensure this, I know. Also, some volunteers may think they're being "nice" without understanding the unfairness of bending rules. It's possible that Toyota was directed to the river by a volunteer at the TA, then the hired rafting guide assumed it must be OK.

Dec 8, 2013 9:52 PM #

Btw here is the race map (the lower one of the two maps) in the vicinity of Quasarlontra's wrong turn. They went into Laguna Caldera by mistake. They're on their way out now.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/07/race...

Looks like Adidas and Tecnu are paddling neck and neck - and they don't even realize it's for a podium spot.

Dec 8, 2013 9:56 PM #

Yup, I getcha.

Gosh, paddling together for that entire course will be so exhausting. I don't know how head-to-head teams find that sixth gear to keep trying to outrun the other guys.

Dec 8, 2013 9:57 PM #

Here is a link to a 45 minute Wild Racers Show on ARWS Australia race this year.

http://vimeo.com/79950630

It looks like all the videos become downloadable after it is shown in a specific region. They have the best quality and story telling for AR since Eco-challenge (but with 1/2 t 1/3 the program duration.) One great thing about the old Ecochallenge was the amount of airtime allowed them to show the course in depth that it is immersed you into the event and you feel the distance of the course and also they also showed distance between the lead teams and back of the pack teams to remind you of the difficulty. A race like this will show quite well with all the drama and I hope it finds broad distribution.

Dec 8, 2013 10:00 PM #

From the time Thule started biking (Sunday around 15:00 local time), organizers estimate 13-22 hours to the finish line, not counting any big naps. So that means 4 a.m. local time is the earliest predicted time for a finish - but (have we heard this before?) anything can happen.

Dec 8, 2013 10:01 PM #

Nothing But Shorts told me their AR series was being sold for TV distribution, in Europe IIRC. I was nagging them for the DVD release, but obviously they said it would have to wait. Agreed on the quality of their productions.

Dec 8, 2013 10:08 PM #

z:

Dark Horse's race ended due to altitude sickness (Tom Smith, I think) -- they're OK now that they're lower down in elevation. They might be heading around by car to do the rafting or other parts later in the course; it's about an 8 hour transit by car from TA5 to the Atlantic side of the race course, with the route passing through Cartago which is close to San Jose.

Dec 8, 2013 10:13 PM #

Quasarlontra has made it back to the main river now, and they've dropped to 6th place. Merrell should be an hour behind them now in 7th.

Dec 8, 2013 10:15 PM #

Seagate: http://t.co/4fFaJjDATR

Dec 8, 2013 10:17 PM #

That's tough to see. Poor Nathan looks like he's sleeping on his feet behind them.

Dec 8, 2013 10:22 PM #

That looks like navigator Chris Forne - which is something I wondered about when they made nav errors in the night.

Dec 8, 2013 10:25 PM #

9th place Bones has started the long kayak stage after 2-3 hours of rest.

Dec 8, 2013 10:28 PM #

What do you use for a reliable sleep alarm? I mean, you pretty much need to raise the dead, it seems! And do batteries last? Do you need a constant resupply of things like fully-charged watches in the TA boxes?

Dec 8, 2013 10:30 PM #

FB:

Last tracks I saw had Tecnu approx 1.985 km ahead of Adidas with 13 additional minutes on their clock... so they should be slightly ahead.
... and I wasn't trying to say anything negative about the event organizers with my previous post... and although I have only had little contact with Antonio over teh years I've always thought a lot of him as being both a 'stand up guy' and a very knowledgable racer/RD.
Just when I heard about Seagate's 'fate' that was the first thing I thought of and thought it might be of interest to those on this thread.
The second thing I thought of was John Howard (probably my greatest AR 'hero') getting his feet trashed (Fuji??) and essentially saying ' this is just stupid' after so many years of dominance :-( ... I don't think he ever raced again.

Dec 8, 2013 10:31 PM #

Mountain Hardwear finished The Big Trek in 12th behind East Wind, which I expect to be the final team to make it through the raft section before dark today. Their last track shows them most of the way through the bike leg with plenty of time to spare but they haven't appeared at the TA according to the leaderboard (which may just be reflecting tracker data so this may not be independent information). So there may be one more team on the final kayak stage tonight.

Dec 8, 2013 10:33 PM #

@Clean, I've always just used a Timex Ironman watch - with a separate alarm set by every team member. I can't wear the watch on my wrist since I won't hear it; I need to put it somewhere near my face.

Dec 8, 2013 10:42 PM #

do you think Thule stopped to rest on the out and back section? it makes sense to wait there until another team comes and when they do you have a decent idea of how far ahead you are.

Dec 8, 2013 10:44 PM #

Being behind may be the best spot. They are about to get to the spot where Seagate had fun overnight. Should still be some light which will help.

Dec 8, 2013 10:44 PM #

"approx 1.985 km" - could you vague that up for us a bit FB?

Dec 8, 2013 10:47 PM #

Aqui-something Trangoworld's tracker stopped just before they finished the trek. They likely made the dark zone and finished the rafting. Further back, Ecuador Explorer might also have made the dark zone.
Strange - these trackers were bulletproof reliable at WT, but that was only for 36 hours...

Dec 8, 2013 10:48 PM #

FB:

Untamed and Phat Slice o'?? seemed to be moving at a steady pace up until the last transmission Untamed spacing looks a little greater but not sure who's terrain is tougher right now. Bet they're anxious to get off their feet for a while!!

Hopefully they'll get to hang out before the paddle start in the am.

I also noticed that Adidas and Tecnu flip flopped from my last post :-)

Too many stories to follow, I can't even keep up with the canucks I know!!

Dec 8, 2013 10:54 PM #

Adidas's and Tecnu's trackers refresh 7 minutes apart with Adidas having the more recent track. And they have been showing up about 600 meters apart, which seems like a reasonable distance to travel in 7 minutes in a Tomcat. So I think they are racing hard together. The two navigators (Bob and Nick) get along well outside of races so they might even work together to drop the other teams.

Dec 8, 2013 10:56 PM #

Which, by the way, they are doing!

Dec 8, 2013 10:58 PM #

@LosDobos, good point about those other missing team trackers. Last night it looked like 15 teams should make it through today's rafting section, and I was thinking that a couple might be missing.

Dec 8, 2013 11:30 PM #

Looks like Seagate is still in high spirits despite having to drop. Those feet look bloody blistered.

Dec 8, 2013 11:32 PM #

The leaderboard has been rearranged:

Full course:
34 teams (impressive)

Short course (many variations):
14 teams (I'm subtracting Dark Horse, now retired)

Unranked:
1 team - Hombres de Maiz (not tracking, probably retired or on short course)

Retired:
11 teams - including top 10 contenders Seagate, Haglofs Silva, Sportovia and AXA Adidas

Dec 8, 2013 11:44 PM #

FB: I thought of the same thing - it reminded me of John Howard stopping for the first time ever, and how the shock almost brought other racers to a halt because they had so much admiration for this idol.
Wow.

Now I have the EcoChallenge music running through my head....

Dec 8, 2013 11:45 PM #

Some folks shared some Vimeo links for some Wild Racers episodes. Does anyone have any links for the ARWC 2011 (Tasmania) episodes?....

Dec 9, 2013 12:04 AM #

Really happy to see Seagate smiling in that photo, even though they had to stop.

Dec 9, 2013 12:14 AM #

As Los Dobos points out, our Canuck friends on Untamed are almost done trekking. Over 50 hours! Hunnngggggry!
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/08/unta...

Dec 9, 2013 12:20 AM #

hey, has anyone raced in those plastic tandem sit on tops? I think they used them for arwc in Tazzie. how do they compare with the Tomcats?

Dec 9, 2013 12:25 AM #

Yep. Much faster than the Tomcats. They can be tippy in shallow stuff, whereas the Tomcats just get hung up.
I think the hard plastic ones would be just as tough (or tougher - they wouldn't puncture)
But maybe easier for the race organizers to transport a boat they can deflate.

Dec 9, 2013 12:25 AM #

There must be some food, like Papaya's, Mangos or Bananas hanging off the trees in a place like Costa Rica....

Dec 9, 2013 12:26 AM #

Still, I think the sit on top kayaks would have been a good choice for this race.

Dec 9, 2013 12:26 AM #

Ang, apparently Nathan is quite the scavenger, so if you're not near the front, there wouldn't be much left :)

Dec 9, 2013 12:27 AM #

How would it feel sitting in a sit-on top kayak for 21 hours. I wonder.

Dec 9, 2013 12:28 AM #

21:26 that's how long it took Columbia to cover the last kayaking leg.

Dec 9, 2013 12:30 AM #

Costa Rica must still be a better place to scavenger food on a trek even if you are behind Nathan as compared to Maine USA...those blueberries are just too small!

Dec 9, 2013 12:30 AM #

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Thule's tracker, please wake up!

Dec 9, 2013 12:31 AM #

it wouldn't take 21 hours on a sit-on top, is my point
coconuts everywhere, but hard to crack open. bananas are either green or eaten by monkeys
the only thing I saw in abundance was those star fruit things

Dec 9, 2013 12:32 AM #

Scavenging food in Canada: maple syrup... Calorie dense and it grows on trees.
(When that doesn't work, there is a Tim Horton's donut shop on every corner of every town)

Dec 9, 2013 12:32 AM #

With the board updated, how come Thule still "hasn't finished the trek"? They were in the same spot as Columbia 7hrs earlier.

Dec 9, 2013 12:32 AM #

Lots of plantains as well which I wasn't too fond of but I'd probably be less picky out there when hungry.

Dec 9, 2013 12:33 AM #

I'm partial to wild apples while orienteering in Ontario. (Today they were unfortunately rotten/frozen.)

Dec 9, 2013 12:51 AM #

Is GD44's Endurancelife the current holder of the Lanterne Rouge? They were close to fellow UK team Great Langdale Bunkhouse a few hours ago and about half way through the Epic trek. Good on them!

Dec 9, 2013 1:12 AM #

Clean - the leaderboard uses geofencing to update itself. thule's tracker still hasn't reached the end of the trek as far as it is concerned

Dec 9, 2013 1:17 AM #

So it's come to this. We're leaving it all up to the machines. ;)

Dec 9, 2013 1:17 AM #

Half a dozen teams are in or near the raft/kayak TA including all 3 teams who were supposed to get off the water at 17:30. Bro Jackson mentioned that the last part of the raft section is flat water so maybe the rule was changed. This makes it even luckier for Toyota Racing that they were allowed on the water after the deadline.

Dec 9, 2013 1:18 AM #

@Clean, no machines at Wilderness Traverse. We'd like to have you with us at Race HQ instead. :)

Dec 9, 2013 1:20 AM #

:) You're too kind. I will be flying back in from orienteering in the arctic just in time.
No machines - just detailed real-time updates from a crew of fabulous volunteers.

Dec 9, 2013 1:23 AM #

And unhealthy snacks. And too much coffee. :)

Dec 9, 2013 1:25 AM #

Columbia has finished the trek.

Tecnu and Adidas Terrex may be together in 3rd, or perhaps Tecnu is a little ahead. It took Thule 5 hours to reach the TA from Tecnu's current position.

Dec 9, 2013 1:34 AM #

Bash I bet you were relieved to see that there are no teams left to sleep on the shores of the whitewater paddle.

Where or where is Thule…kind of takes away from their big finish when we have no clue where on the bike they are! :)

Dec 9, 2013 1:41 AM #

Right now it would be worse if one of the chase pack disappeared. We can count on the race Twitter feed to let us know if anything significant happens to Thule. But yes... it sure would be nice to follow their dot!

Dec 9, 2013 1:42 AM #

Thule has been on the bike for at least five hours judging from that picture of them biking and smiling at 14:30 . So they are probably somehwere close to the Nicaraguan border. Maybe their tracker will update once they get to the next TA?

Dec 9, 2013 1:43 AM #

It looks like it won't update at the TA because the machines have won. :D

Dec 9, 2013 1:49 AM #

There's a Dark Zone Party happening in Tres Equis.

Dec 9, 2013 1:53 AM #

Here is a photo of Trevor Voyce's feet that shows some of the problems:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015201854...

Also, some good photos of various teams on the current paddle section in their main photo album.

Dec 9, 2013 1:57 AM #

Thanks for the link cortelmcm.

Ouch!?!?! :(

Caption Text

Dec 9, 2013 2:04 AM #

A couple of quick splits from the monster trek section.

Fastest splits:
1. Colombia Vidaraid - 35:09
2. Seagate - 36:29
3. Thule - 38:20
4. Aerodiva - 42:24
5. Adidas Terrex - 42:34

Slowest splits:
1. Salomon-Suunto - 59:34
2. Bivouac Colts - 57:12
3. Mtn Hardware - 55:19
4. SXM - 54:08
5. Bones 52:52

**Will update more later once the rest of teams have completed it.

Dec 9, 2013 2:06 AM #

gotta love technology :-)

Dec 9, 2013 2:10 AM #

Bike Leg #3 Splits -

Fastest (so far):
1. Bivouac Colts - 4:20 (very impressive after the 2nd longest trek time so far and to make that dark zone with little time to spare).
2. Toyota - 4:46 (they were also on the Trek for over 50 hrs but hammered the bike to get onto the paddle)
3. Tecnu - 5:01 (one of the reason's why I think they take 3rd place)
4. Banano - 5:03
5. Seagate - 5:14 (even more impressive after you see the condition of their feet)

Slowest (so far):
1. Opavanet - 10:13
2. Merrell - 9:16
3. Aerodiva - 9:01
4. Adidas Terrex - 8:43
5. Quasarlontra - 8:22

**These splits are a little misleading as some teams choose to sleep earlier in this leg when they realized they were going to get dark zoned at the next TA.

Dec 9, 2013 2:11 AM #

lots of good shots of our friends on Tecnu in that nasty-foot album...start here.

Dec 9, 2013 2:14 AM #

So far a few teams have been affected more than others because of the whitewater dark zone. Times below are the actual paddle plus wait time.

1. Tecnu - 13:16
2. Mtn Hardware -10:34
3. Adidas Terrex - 10:29
4. BMS - 10:21
5. Quasarlontra - 8:08

Dec 9, 2013 2:20 AM #

I thought to myself, I want to see how bad these feet were to make Seagate drop out of the race. Then, I reconsidered. The photo above confirms that I was right to not want to see. Ugh, that looks terribly painful. Yikes! Hope he heals up ok.

Dec 9, 2013 2:22 AM #

How will they heal? On their own or with treatment?

Dec 9, 2013 2:26 AM #

that red is either a fungal or bacterial infection - they'll need some type of basic treatment

Dec 9, 2013 2:26 AM #

Additionally, the photo was taken 21 hours prior to them withdrawing.

Dec 9, 2013 2:29 AM #

Harps may be a good reference relative to treatment.

Dec 9, 2013 2:36 AM #

Here is a photo of you-know-who, presumably off the mangroves.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015201165...

Dec 9, 2013 2:37 AM #

For the racer who has no more room for gear:
Breathe Coffee Table Book

Dec 9, 2013 2:40 AM #

Harps commented earlier that after Eco-Motion Brazil this year he was put on Morphine before they started to work on the feet which helped. Amazingly he said that it got better after a few days.

Dec 9, 2013 2:50 AM #

Wow. Awful! It must feel even worse than it looks. But...that's AR! Foot mgmt in wet races is king. How many people have said "my feet are fucked but let's keep going. I'll just put on fresh socks at the TA". (which is 30min or 30 MILES away). Irrational choices can lead to disaster.

Dec 9, 2013 2:51 AM #

It looks like Adidas and Tecnu should finish the paddle in about 2 hours.

Dec 9, 2013 3:02 AM #

From Twitter:

Team Thule is closer than you think. Soon very soon we will have a winner.

Dec 9, 2013 3:03 AM #

and this from sleepmonsters facebook page

All being well the best guess by the organistion for the arrival the leaders at the last TA for the canopy/rafting stage is 2-4am local time. (The leaders tracker is not working.)

Dec 9, 2013 3:07 AM #

Right on schedule for the fastest estimated time for these final sections.

Dec 9, 2013 3:11 AM #

What's the last section? Canopy? And then rafting to the finish?

Dec 9, 2013 3:14 AM #

Back into the real world for a few hours... We followed Thule on the last paddle CP early this morning. It was awesome to see them "run" into the ocean for a few steps and they seemed genuinely excited to dip their feet in the ocean - a great morale the entire time I saw them today. That small channel they paddled leading into the TA was absolutely amazing! Our boat driver pointed out the many birds and caymans as we passed by them. I also did the next trek with Thule - Unbelievable how strong they were still going - jogging at least 2/3 of the road rash section - it was a brutal 15km or so on gravel roads and because I didn't have a map and there were many turns to make, I had to make sure to keep up.

The "snaky" section at the start of the trek was actually relatively short (2-3 km I think), but super muddy - I was very regularly calf-deep in the mud. The trail was quite wide but muddy right across in most places. After following Thule for the whole trek, I got sent back to the trail/road intersection to hike back through the mud until I met Columbia very close to the Paddle/Trek TA and then followed them back to the road. Then I did the same for Seagate, only to find out after trekking back from the road all the way to the boat/trek CP that Seagate had dropped out.

Dec 9, 2013 3:17 AM #

Columbia have left on their bikes.

Dec 9, 2013 3:19 AM #

Thanks, Relentless, what an adventure for you too. Very cool to hear how Thule were doing. At least with their amazing performance, their (anticipated) win won't have an asterisk.

Dec 9, 2013 3:20 AM #

Can't wait for the photos/videos, Relentless!

Dec 9, 2013 3:29 AM #

Getawaystix:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015202098...
And... I had no idea they use a pin-punch!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015201786...

Dec 9, 2013 3:37 AM #

So the teams only had to do the mucky, snakey part of the trek once. Relentless did it 4 (or 5) times + did the rest of the trekking section with the race leaders while carrying a video camera and trying to capture exciting footage. Just another day at the office, ho hum.

Dec 9, 2013 3:38 AM #

Hey, I know this really great site where you should log all that training of yours. ;)

Dec 9, 2013 3:39 AM #

looks like Tecnu and adidas TERREX are going to paddle into TA10 in the next hour or so. maybe then they will learn the sad news of Seagate? and realize that the team they've been paddling with for several hours may take the final podium spot?

BMS had dropped off a little bit in the paddle, they look to be about 4k back. then Quasarlontra another 8k back from BMS. Merrell 8k back from Quasar.

Dec 9, 2013 3:48 AM #

Tecnu and Adidas Terrex have either been paddling at the exact same speed for hours because they're well-matched and competitive, or else they've been working together - drafting, comparing notes on navigation, etc. Whichever it was, it's been all good. The teams they started the day with have fallen behind. If they were working together, they always knew it would eventually turn into a race again. The news about Seagate will just make the end of the race more exciting for them. *Way* more exciting.

Dec 9, 2013 3:48 AM #

Wonder if secret-spy-team is actually getting to the bike TA around now to catch the next rafting session, as they haven't tracked in 5hrs. It's a 5-6hr walk + the medical check. Even with a bit of rest, they could make it.

Dec 9, 2013 3:52 AM #

Hmm, a rare track at the same spot for Adidas Terrex and Tecnu. And Adidas Terrex is 10 minutes ahead. Tecnu looks like they've gone ashore but the tracker could be off.

Dec 9, 2013 3:53 AM #

So the "good" news is that we get to do today all over again tomorrow with Eastwind. We will follow them from the last paddle CP to the boat/trek TA and then I'll hike in the mud with them - but thankfully not on the road.

Looks like I will get to film Thule crossing the finish line in a few hours. They want me to run the last 100m behind them to the finish line to film them crossing the line. Should be very cool to get that bird's eye view.

Unfortunately, the footage that I'm filming is for a Japanese video - following the lead 3 teams and Eastwind, and profiling Seagate. So I don't know if I'll be able to get my hands on the video eventually. But if I do, I will certainly find a way to share it. There are about 12-15 crew or more from what I can tell filming for the Japanese movie - complete with guys on bikes and 4-wheelers, as well as drivers to take us from place to place - seems like a huge budget!

I may get to film in the canopy tomorrow as well, which would be super cool!

I'm off to get a few hours of shuteye before heading to the finish line.

Dec 9, 2013 3:55 AM #

Sleep tight, Relentless. Thanks so much for the updates. :)

Dec 9, 2013 3:58 AM #

Sounds like a very cool experience and glad to see other countries are putting money into filming AR. Hopefully it continues to build up again.

Dec 9, 2013 3:59 AM #

I'm really happy to see Eastwind having a great race. They've got some big and rough history. Remember the EcoChallenge (Australia?) where their female couldn't walk, so they carried her on their back on the massive trek, up and over the biggest mountains on the race course?! Determination like that makes you want to cheer for them!

Dec 9, 2013 4:03 AM #

I wonder if Earring Doug or any of the other Tecnu support are on the other side of the Tortuguero shores shouting to them about the bad news regarding Seagate.

After that longgggg paddle, it is amazing to see that Adidas, Tecnu and BMS stayed pretty much together the whole time. They widened the gap over 6th place Quasarlontra and Merrell are a little way back of them.

Sounds like it should be a fairly nav easy trek coming up so hopefully the teams can rest their brains before the big bike leg towards the finish.

Dec 9, 2013 4:04 AM #

Are those the same team members as in Eco?

Dec 9, 2013 4:09 AM #

The captain of Eastwind, Masako Tanata, is the same. No idea about the others. He formed the team in 1996. Imagine that - an adventure racing team with a 17 year history.

FB and Urthbuoy may be able to match that with Team Spirit Canada.

Dec 9, 2013 4:10 AM #

Wow according to Breathe's last update, Thule is likely an hour from the end of the bike! Then a quick whitewater paddle into the finish! Hurry Relentless!

Dec 9, 2013 4:12 AM #

Organizers estimated the final section - canopy trek and whitewater rafting - to take 2 hours for the fastest team. Still, Relentless had better hustle his tired, muddy butt over there. ;)

Dec 9, 2013 4:13 AM #

At 21:51, Untamed Canada is heading out on their bikes for the dark zone TA. They didn't stop for long at the end of The Big Trek so they must be feeling decent. By the time they get their bikes back into the boxes, there won't be much - if any - time until the dark zone lifts.

Dec 9, 2013 4:13 AM #

Oops forgot about the canopy trek!

Dec 9, 2013 4:17 AM #

Colombia's tracker just updated and they are passed the trekking junction. Based on Thule's last spot they are about 6.5 hours behind them. I believe Colombia has about a 10-11 hour lead over 3rd place.

Dec 9, 2013 4:19 AM #

Am I new or did the feature on the Live Tracking site to "Replay The Race" just appear? Very cool little option.

Dec 9, 2013 4:20 AM #

Gah! What's with Tecnu? The Sea Turtle museum is probably closed at this hour, guys. ;)

Dec 9, 2013 4:20 AM #

Tecnu took a short break from paddling before the final out-and-back kayak CP. Adidas Terrex went ahead to get it. Looks like BMS may have passed Tecnu. So it will be a 3-team explosion of energy when they get to the TA and hear the news about the open podium position.

Dec 9, 2013 4:22 AM #

No, no breaks allowed! Too stressful! Like, you know, for us.

Dec 9, 2013 4:22 AM #

I've always been a fan of Team Spirit. When I started adventure racing (2000), Team Spirit seemed to be winning everything in Canada, on Raid the North courses that no one could finish. Sometimes there were only 1-3 finishers!

Dec 9, 2013 4:27 AM #

Now is not the time to move like turtles. Kidding aside…this would be pretty amazing to see.
Caption Text

Dec 9, 2013 4:27 AM #

Okay, now the leaderboard gremlins are really hard at work. Showing Thule 2nd, but having finished the trek at 11:10 to Columbia's 19:50. And showing Adidas in 3rd, having finished the paddle. I think Adidas tripped the wire on the TA "geofence" mumbo jumbo.

Dec 9, 2013 4:31 AM #

Adidas's Team page is showing the recent paddle split being 13:04? Is that correct? If so, they did that paddle 9 hours faster than Colombia??

Dec 9, 2013 4:33 AM #

That's what the leaderboard says although they don't seem to have quite arrived yet. They did a lot more of their paddling in daylight, plus they had a nice rest at the dark zone beforehand that the top teams didn't have.

Dec 9, 2013 4:34 AM #

Colombia's recent track has them well north of where they should be on the "Suggested" route.

Dec 9, 2013 4:35 AM #

We have an answer to one of Clean's earlier questions. Team Limitless Also just tracked at CP34 at 22:00, the same place they were 6 hours ago. It's 7-9 hours from there to the end of The Big Trek. They still have a chance to make tomorrow's dark zone if they leave soon.

Dec 9, 2013 4:38 AM #

Columbia also had an ocean-side rest for ~4hrs.

Dunno what they're trying on their bikes right now!

Dec 9, 2013 4:39 AM #

Tecnu on the move again.

Dec 9, 2013 4:39 AM #

Eek, Limitless should really leave now if they want to finish rafting. Hope they're just snoozing.

Dec 9, 2013 4:41 AM #

Wow, turns out Tecnu had already gotten the CP at 21:52, and were back down the channel when they were making me nervous. :)

Dec 9, 2013 4:42 AM #

run up the beach?

Dec 9, 2013 4:47 AM #

Maybe. Tricky!

Dec 9, 2013 4:50 AM #

Oh man, I hope someone gets a photo of their faces when they hear the news.

Dec 9, 2013 4:57 AM #

In the meantime, here are some photos of Tecnu's faces at the rafting put-in at 5 a.m. today. Plus two pics of Jari Kirkland from Adidas Terrex.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.59185111...

Dec 9, 2013 5:07 AM #

Why did Columbia get off the road? They're kind of even off the map that LosDobos posted on Breathe. There's no shortcut trail in there, just the river.

The only possible explanation: their tracker has been stolen by a monkey. Like in those Visa commercials.

Dec 9, 2013 5:08 AM #

Wow Tecnu already out of the TA and on the trek!

Dec 9, 2013 5:11 AM #

Yup... the leaderboard would like to respectfully disagree though. It's got both Adidas and BMS ahead of them. The tracking times would pretty much confirm Tecnu in 3rd.

Dec 9, 2013 5:14 AM #

The TA isn't where it is shown on our tracking map. (This is one of the reasons we got Relentless out of bed earlier than we needed to today. The paddle was longer than we thought.) No question Tecnu is 3rd right now.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/08/race...

Dec 9, 2013 5:16 AM #

Did Adidas Terrex just make a wrong turn enroute to the TA?

Dec 9, 2013 5:17 AM #

Ohhh! I should look at these more often! Thanks for the reminder, Bash.

Dec 9, 2013 5:21 AM #

Enhancement request to Breathe Mag for the Next Big Race: It would be great to have the maps in a separate place where we could reference them. I guess as a workaround we could have set up a separate AP thread with nothing but links to the maps.

Dec 9, 2013 5:22 AM #

Just did some exploring on Bing Maps of the area that Colombia is in. There are a number of small little roads north of the main suggested route and I'm guessing that they aren't marked very well. Most of them end up in dead-ends. Colombia has a HUGE buffer but the more mistakes they make the more energy they will burn. There is a CP below them they must get before they head up to the border.

Dec 9, 2013 5:31 AM #

For anyone interested, it looks like Colombia is on a connecting road which doesn't show up on the race maps. You can see it on the following link: It heads west above the route marker for #247.

http://binged.it/1f0MsKN

Dec 9, 2013 5:43 AM #

The 3 teams who should have been dark-zoned on the rafting section according to the original rules are still at the raft/kayak TA about 5 hours after they arrived. Maybe they all just decided to sleep but is it possible that their dark zone "penalty" is being imposed now? If so, it would kind of miss the point.

Dec 9, 2013 5:50 AM #

Looks like Untamed Canada may be riding with Selva Kailash and Tierra Vida on their way to the dark zone TA. They should be there around 3-4 a.m., just when the other teams are starting to get up to go rafting. Canadian-ish team SXM arrived at the TA around 22:00.

Dec 9, 2013 5:51 AM #

Good eye, DD11. The Bing map is much more detailed than the tracker map.

Dec 9, 2013 5:57 AM #

Strange... Adidas Terrex has done some back and forth near the entrance to the channel leading to the TA. BMS Multisport has now passed them. If Adidas is having trouble finding the route, you'd think the other team's headlamps would guide them in.

Dec 9, 2013 6:03 AM #

Is Tecnu portaging now? BMS looked like they had gained on them, but I guess it's the difference in pace paddling vs. carrying those dreadful things. Is that right? A thin blue line is not navigable?

Dec 9, 2013 6:05 AM #

Adidas may soon get caught by Quasar...

Dec 9, 2013 6:15 AM #

Tecnu tracked at the same location 3 km from the kayak/trek TA twice in 20 minutes. I've been waiting for their next track before starting to speculate. They're 30-40 minutes from the TA so if they stopped there, it was something that couldn't wait. BMS Multisport is less than 2 kms behind them. I believe they're paddling this, not portaging.

Dec 9, 2013 6:23 AM #

Bivouac Colts finally started kayaking so there is no dark zone-ish thing happening at the raft/kayak TA. Good.

Dec 9, 2013 6:46 AM #

LaFemme (Nicky Cameron) is now at ARWC reporting for Breathe Mag. News snippets about Seagate, Untamed Canada and Gear Junkies/Yoga Slackers. Lots of mud and the comment that one member of Seagate refused to have his feet checked at the mandatory medical.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/09/deta...

Dec 9, 2013 7:01 AM #

I dislike these trackers.

Dec 9, 2013 7:02 AM #

Update from Legendaryrandy with some info on Thule:

Another in my series "Things I Didn't Think I would Ever Say".
I spent most of the evening in a thatched roof bar, in Costa Rica, on the Nicaragua border with a bunch of cool people waiting for the next AR world champion to get on a 18 foot ferry boat at 10 pm.

Dec 9, 2013 7:17 AM #

Awesome photos of Chirripo trek from Legendaryrandy.
https://www.facebook.com/randy.ericksen/media_set?...

Dec 9, 2013 7:26 AM #

Spectacular photos by Aaron Johnson of Days 4-6, mostly Tecnu. These give a great glimpse into the racers' experience.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.59170148...

Dec 9, 2013 7:40 AM #

River crossing by Thule:

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/09/vide...

Dec 9, 2013 7:52 AM #

Hi everyone - I've been keeping half an eye on the posts here. Sooo much to keep up with - definitely not good for productivity with anything else.

Shebeen - On thursday night I was up with news of Mandela passing came through. I sent through a note to LosDobos, who passed on to people on the ground to let the team know.

As far as the water/boats go...

I've been to Costa Rica and it is MAGNIFICENT. I ran in the inaugural Coastal Challenge in 2005 (West coast - from North to South) and so yes, the ocean (on both sides) is a HUGE part of Costa Rica. And then there are the rivers - loads of them. Costa Rica is a big time white water location.

So... here's the thing...

You plan a race in Costa Rica with rivers and sea and mangroves. Super divine. And then you give them Tomcats! And they're not even used for the purpose for which they are built - white water!

This is like putting doing trekking legs with both legs tied together at the ankles so that you have to hop!

The attraction of Costa Rica are the water opportunities and the jungle. BUT, if you've only got Tomcats, then why, oh why, do you have 65km flat water (Section 2), trek with paddle gear and kayak portage (Section 3), 65km kayak-trek-mangroves (Section 4), 89km down-river paddle (at 4-5km/hr... not very 'down river')... Really? Really?

There's adventure racing and there's slog-fest... Personally I'm more into adventure racing. A hard physical challenge utilising skills acquired and practiced with the element of technical navigation and bringing in strategy too. Hours and hours in unwieldy inflatable rafts most suited to white water and people who don't know how to paddle... not my idea of World Championship level.

Boats are often contentious because they're a huge expense to race organisation. And different types of water really demand different types of boats.

There used to be that 1:10 ratio rule (or there abouts?) when teams took their own boats to races (or hired from local providers). It gives the opportunity for teams that have put in the work and effort to improve their proficiency the chance to race in boats suited to their abilities - likewise with novices needing stable craft. For sure, there are issues here with costs, weight of craft etc

There too is the appeal of boats being provided by race organisation (best option) and there being a level playing field - everyone has the same craft. But you can't take a racing kayak on the ocean, nor a surfski down white water...Plastic sit-on-tops are probably the most accommodating (river, flat water, sea). Inflatables, like racing kayaks, are on the edge of the curve - only really suitable for what they're made for - and that's not flat water...

If you can't provide craft suitable for the water offered, keep the section short, use more water that the boats are suited to or leave the unsuitable sections out and do something different with the course.

Dec 9, 2013 7:56 AM #

I was getting worried about Columbia Vidaraid, but it seems like they figured out where they need to go, using the river as a backstop.

Dec 9, 2013 7:57 AM #

as a huge Tomcat fan I could not disagree more with Lisa's commentary. I have sat in a Tomcat and they are wonderful, in fact...oh I can't do this anymore, the Tomcats suck balls. They should only be used downriver with some rapids.

Dec 9, 2013 7:58 AM #

ha!

Dec 9, 2013 8:03 AM #

hahahaha ;)

Dec 9, 2013 8:04 AM #

I agree regarding watercraft. The more logical choice would have been canoes. They are used in the local rivers there. They can even be bought locally for the race, then sold to Ticos after the race, likely near cost. The bigger deal would have been transport, but making teams shoulder some of the responsibility, and a semi-truck for longer transport on the larger roads. (I will not call them highways, because those roads are awful. Truly they suck as bad as Tomcats on flat water)

Dec 9, 2013 9:10 AM #

Excellent collection of images made into a video, by Andreas Strand http://vimeo.com/81365299
Thanks Lisa.

Dec 9, 2013 9:14 AM #

Not wanting to be a total party-pooper over these boats, which I think are totally unsuitable for the type of water presented in this race, I thought I'd look into the Tomcats (we have Arc Crocs here) to see what users have to say about them:

- plenty of room for gear for 8 days
- one member of our party's first introduction to whitewater and he handled the boat fine
- [our boat] piloted primarily by my 16 year old daughter and her 11 year old friend
- this boat can easily handle class III-IV water in the hands of the right 16 year old
- multiple lash points allow dry bags and paco pads to be tied in easily
- the cheetah chairs it comes with are very comfortable, and even have a lumbar support adjustment
- the skeg really helps this flat bottom boat track better on flat water, as it is very much designed for stability in white water and not speed and tracking on flat water
- ran some big spring water with it, no problem
- I love it. I use it for pond, lake and slow river fishing.
- This thing just plowed through the waves [rapids]. Easy to control for its size. On flat water it will get sideways at time. Wind really affects on flat water also, but it does handle well.
- I highly recommend the Tomcat for beginners and families looking for an affordable, quality, entry level IK.
- This is a great, stable boat with a lot of load carrying capacity.

... ;)

Dec 9, 2013 9:35 AM #

Enough about boats... can we talk sleep? Any idea just how much sleep Thule has had? Me thinks not much. Did a see a tally somewhere of something crazy like 6-8hrs from start until now? And they're pushing through this next mtb leg and aiming to get to the end without sleeping. They must be feeling worse than zombies right now...still night. Columbia probably in a similar state.

I recall a certain Southern Traverse, I think it was (Or Eco Challenge NZ), when Nathan Fa'ave almost walked off a cliff. They were doing the no sleep thing. Kathy Lynch hauled his butt back to safety.

Dec 9, 2013 9:43 AM #

Looks like Tecnu has now been gapped by both BMS and Adidas Terrex. Did they have a longer transition (with some shut-eye?) or are they just moving slower on the trek?

Dec 9, 2013 9:44 AM #

Using the breadcrumbs, it looks like Tecnu spent nearly an hour in transition, while BMS flew through in 20mins.

Dec 9, 2013 9:47 AM #

Same with Adidas Terrex - looks like about 25mins in transition.

Dec 9, 2013 9:53 AM #

briangardner:

Tecnu have been ahead almost the entire hike, but looks like they have stopped to sleep, allowing BMS and Adidas to pass. Tecnu's tracker is updating in the same spot for the last hour or so...

Dec 9, 2013 9:55 AM #

Ah yes - well spotted Brian. Glad I'm not talking to myself anymore ;)

Dec 9, 2013 10:00 AM #

briangardner:

Merrell are off the water and on the hike! Go get 'em Team!! I think this could be a tight one for 3rd place...

Dec 9, 2013 10:01 AM #

Pity we can't see Thule now - although this Adidas Terrex / BMS / Tecnu interchange is a lot more interesting.

I'm holing my breath for Thule. Surely not much further to go now... Twitter should tell us when they get to the last transition.

The splits on the leaderboard... if they tell us what I think they do, then it took Thule 5:21 for the hike and took Columbia 6:13.

Dec 9, 2013 10:02 AM #

It's 4am there now... Sunrise is at about 5:40.

Dec 9, 2013 10:15 AM #

What a fascinating race this has been! I was up at 4am, just to check my dots. I still can't believe Seagate withdrew, especially so late in the race and with foot problems on a paddle leg, of all things. I saw some mention earlier of Eastwind carrying a team member - I wonder if Seagate couldn't have carried Trevor Voyce on an improvised stretcher over the last 20k of hiking. Even if it took them days, they'd still be in the race. The cycle is relatively flat so they could have towed a lot of it. Then just a bit more paddling and bob's your auntie! Doable, from where I'm sitting!
Anyway, GO MERRELL!

Dec 9, 2013 10:16 AM #

barring major catastrophes, Thule and colombia have pretty much tied up first and second places.

The fight for 3rd place is far from over, with 5 teams in with a shout. Naturally I'm rooting for Merrell to sneak in a late charge from here on.

It's a bit hard to see from colombia alone what the final bike leg entails. but we're onto day 8, and it's 189km long. The three hour gap from terrex back to merrell could concertina anytime.

Dec 9, 2013 10:20 AM #

greatescape - I think seagate were there for the win, coming third is as bad as coming last.. (They could have used their tomcat trolleys too?!)

Dec 9, 2013 10:30 AM #

Shebeen, good point about the tomcat trolley - would have been ideal! What is it with these elite teams that only want to play if they are winning? You hardly ever see a top team's uninjured members continuing unranked or with one member down and now it seems even a lower placing ain't good enough anymore.

Dec 9, 2013 10:43 AM #

Greatescape: Agreed. Comes down to why one enters, I suppose. No criticism, though.

In EcoChallenge Australia, East Wind carried one team member over trackless terrain over the highest mountain section. Epic. :)

Dec 9, 2013 11:04 AM #

ok, discussion over elite team objectives and boats seems to have reached consensus!

I’m peering over the maps used and can only imagine some of the frustrations as they don’t appear to be that detailed. Can't expect a RD to redo the maps, but a satellite print out here and there would have been handy I reckon.What’s more I wonder why the suggested route is highlighted. I prefer to see checkpoints and out of bounds only.

But that’s just a little gripe, it has been an epic race to follow and a real world champs.

Dec 9, 2013 11:16 AM #

Nice post on Sleepmonsters Adam - http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

I've been glued to my computer day and night since Monday afternoon - last week!

Even though tracking sometimes goes wonky, I've found it to be very good to follow this race. Without it we wouldn't have a clue. Being able to follow the dots and pick up the breadcrumbs... it really is crucial to spectator support. We speculate, we predict... and just from the trackers. Wonderful!

Dec 9, 2013 11:21 AM #

The physician on Seagate may have felt it unwise for Voyce to continue that much longer on feet that were so badly infected, whether or not they could find a way. A friend of mine was very ill in hospital after making it through an AR with team help. Maybe elite team goals were only a factor in making the right decision hurt a little less.

And yes,Tomcats suck. Love the quotes, Lisa.

Dec 9, 2013 11:25 AM #

And love your article, Adam!

Dec 9, 2013 11:31 AM #

Looks like Merrell are within 10min of Quasarlontra, who took a small detour. Looking solid on the hike. I hope their feet are OK! Or if not, that Hanno brought his tomcat trolley along:)

Does anybody have any clue where Thule are?

Dec 9, 2013 11:31 AM #

Thanks, Bash. A bit gushy, but sincere :)

Dec 9, 2013 11:51 AM #

Yep, great article Adam! And good point Bash, about Voyce's feet and the possibility of serious harm. It's just a race after all, easy to forget that! Seagate still rock.
On a lighter note, definitely looks like Merrell are overtaking Quasa.

Dec 9, 2013 12:17 PM #

Merrel are now 2km from BMS, who are having a roadside snooze. I wonder if Merrel will get to see them before they wake up and hit the trail again.

Dec 9, 2013 12:25 PM #

Of the chase pack for 3rd to 7th, it looks like only Tecnu and BMS took any sleep last night. It cost them about 2h of their lead over Merrel/Quasarlontra, but may make a difference on the long bike to the finish.

Dec 9, 2013 12:52 PM #

I have only just got online today, 3pm here in SA. Catching up here has been great.

I agree with Lisa, the strong paddling teams would have been able to gain much more advantage with better suited boats. But what a mission to organise your own boats. Big balancing act for RD.

Anyway... GO MERRELL!

Dec 9, 2013 12:54 PM #

Haha - how long until North America wakes up to start defending Tecnu? Right now, we've got a great SA party happening here ;)

GO MERRELL!

Dec 9, 2013 12:58 PM #

I'm in NA and I'm rooting for Merrel. But Tecnu too, of course.
Go Gteawaystix (or whatever Bob's handle is)!

Dec 9, 2013 12:59 PM #

Eco:

Go TECNU !!

Dec 9, 2013 12:59 PM #

Looks like Tecnu and Adidas made it to the bike transition. It will be interesting to see where Merrell/Quasa meet them on the to/from road to that transition and what the effect will be.

GO MERRELL!

Dec 9, 2013 1:17 PM #

Blister infections can be s.e.r.i.o.u.s. trouble. More than just painful, you can die from the infections.

John Vonhof - author of the foot book 'Fixing your Feet' - put out this post on 3 Dec about exactly this - infections from blisters. In this post there are other references to other articles that he has written on this topic. And infection is even more of a risk in nice hot, tropic, watery environments where blisters can get seriously infected.

http://fixingyourfeet.com/blog/2013/12/infections-...

Dec 9, 2013 1:35 PM #

Good morning, thanks for all the updates....awesome info

Dec 9, 2013 1:50 PM #

conga-line on the out-n-back to TA11...who's inbound and who's outbound

and have we given up hope on Thule's tracker updating?

Dec 9, 2013 1:59 PM #

looks like Slice team moreorless not tracking also...been nothing since last nite same as Thule...what kind of tracking devices are they using, i'd like to learn more... thanks and this is a great site for updates

Dec 9, 2013 2:02 PM #

I think most of us have a soft spot for Merrell, racing this week in honour of Donovan and Madiba.

But hey, everyone is responsible for cheering on their own teams here so get going! ;)

Dec 9, 2013 2:05 PM #

Onallumette2, that team was spotted making a 6-hr (or longer) stop at CP34 on the trek, then their tracker stopped. They should reach the end of The Big Trek this morning, I hope.

Dec 9, 2013 2:05 PM #

Very busy on the rafting right now. Looks like 15 teams going down.

Dec 9, 2013 2:07 PM #

thanks Bash...

Dec 9, 2013 2:08 PM #

Have been a fan of Merrell for quite a while (okay, I'm sounding like a broken record with all the likes), and Donovan's situation just makes you want to cheer for them that much more. And yes, the world feels the loss of Mandela and what he represents.

Dec 9, 2013 2:10 PM #

Delorme tracking, I believe. Worked great at last years Untamed 24 hour.

Dec 9, 2013 2:10 PM #

Looks like Adidas are taking the Columbia route which looked bad. Will soon see what Tecnu do.

Dec 9, 2013 2:11 PM #

Speaking of soft spots, we saw Adidas Terrex win Tierra Viva 2013 just as our team was heading out on a 24-hr trek. Although we'd only met once before, Nick came over with his map and shared some helpful info that wouldn't have been obvious.

Dec 9, 2013 2:12 PM #

I really really hope Tecnu gets third place! I feel they got short changed with the neutralization at the raft dark zone and didn't really get much/any recognition for the hours of lead they had to give up. Yes, the dark zone was known and understood, but still....
Given that they have raced so close (or faster) with the teams around them since they got moving again, and then considering that they would have been hours ahead if it weren't for the dark zone....

Dec 9, 2013 2:17 PM #

Thanks Joe will google the product...Delorme tracking

Dec 9, 2013 2:19 PM #

The Delorme trackers worked really well at Wilderness Traverse this year too. I believe Untamedadventur is back in the U.S. so we can't beg him to run one out to Thule. :)

There is another possibility that we've seen a couple of times at the lead of a race. A sleepy team can leave a tracker behind, and then they incur a penalty. The fact that the last track was near a TA makes this an option - although usually paddling is involved when that happens.

Dec 9, 2013 2:21 PM #

I don't think Tecnu got any more short changed than Adidas by the dark zone. They came off the long trek 40 minutes behind Adidas and were the same time checking in after the bike but I expect teams not to of pushed this bike leg. They will of known the situation and been looking for a good feed on route if I know anything about Adidas they are very keen on there food stops.

Dec 9, 2013 2:23 PM #

Looks like the Columbia route is the obvious one as Tecnu are following Adidas that way about a 20 minutes gap at the moment.

Dec 9, 2013 2:24 PM #

Good case, Carbon. On that basis I'm sure that any teams that find themselves ahead of Tecnu will graciously wait to let them through at the finish and claim that deserved 3rd spot.
Must say that I enjoyed watching Tecnu do their thing at EA this year, I'm a fan myself.

Dec 9, 2013 2:29 PM #

Ifor: you made me go back and revisit the leaderboard and you are right, both Adidas and Tecnu had the same situation, and times were essentially the same. So it does seem like a fair fight now that they are both leading the battle for third on the bike section.

Dec 9, 2013 2:30 PM #

I want to race against greatescape.... I like his/her generosity ;)

Dec 9, 2013 2:30 PM #

Just read Adam's article....awesome:) I couldn't agree more with 'We are With Them'....I mean, most of the day I keep thinking what are They doing? How much more They can endure? I feel almost guilty endulging in food and sleep and comforts of my home, knowing that They are cold and hungry and very, very tired....I think pretty much every night, I have dreams of adventure racing and then waking up, I am trying to figure out where I am.... ;)))
And of course, everyone here is part of Them too....this is awesome! And I feel privilaged too...

Dec 9, 2013 2:31 PM #

Ditto ditto, hear hear!

Dec 9, 2013 2:34 PM #

Who are you, Greatescape? No name or country on your profile - which is half the fun of meeting new people on this forum. ;)

Dec 9, 2013 2:35 PM #

When I was racing in Wilderness Traverse this year, it felt so great to know that we were being watched and followed and thought about by our friends at homes and HQ --- I felt safe and protected ;)

Dec 9, 2013 2:36 PM #

Not gushy at all Adam, simply spot-on!

Dec 9, 2013 2:36 PM #

I may have missed it in a previous post but the leaderboard is not showing that Tecnu punched in at CP43....was this due to technical glitch (at the CP or with the leaderboard?) or something else??

Dec 9, 2013 2:37 PM #

Myka, that's because we were watching your dot obsessively at Race HQ - very proud of our former volunteers doing their first 24-hr AR!

Dec 9, 2013 2:39 PM #

The leaderboard updated automatically last night based on geofencing - and it updated long before any of the chase pack got to the kayak/trek TA, which is not in the place shown on the tracker map. So the geofencing must have been reacting to a different location that Tecnu didn't happen to pass through. So far, no humans have intervened to fix it but that will happen eventually.

(Either that or Tecnu is still biking with their Tomcats...) :)

Dec 9, 2013 2:40 PM #

Looks like Adidas is a little ahead of Tecnu

Dec 9, 2013 2:42 PM #

Wow, look at all those TAs completed on the leaderboard! It feels like not so long ago (and so long ago at the same time) that only a few were completed!

Dec 9, 2013 2:43 PM #

Sleepmonsters just tweeted that Thule is expected at the zipline very shortly!

Dec 9, 2013 2:46 PM #

ahh! that was JUST the question in my mind! like exactly this photo: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4503406584...

Dec 9, 2013 2:49 PM #

Thule at the Nicaragua border. Really, it's only interesting for about a minute starting around 1:45. They are quizzing the camera man to find out who else is on the bike ride and when they started. They are "knackered" and would like to know the gap so they know if they can risk sleeping.

Dec 9, 2013 2:50 PM #

Ha! This "where is Thule?" situation is creating some good suspense, a surprise finish. Have I mentioned that this would make a great TV broadcast??! ;)

Dec 9, 2013 2:56 PM #

Columbia seemed to bobble a little just before getting back onto the recommended route. Interesting to see how Adidas and Tecnu make out there.

Dec 9, 2013 2:56 PM #

Adidas Terrex's and Tecnu's tracks just popped up 3-4 km from CP46, travelling along the route that (finally) worked for Columbia. Looks like they found their way more easily in the daylight.

Columbia (who just left the Nicaraguan border) was at this spot about 7.5 hours ago. [Edited... forgot the time zone.]

Dec 9, 2013 3:02 PM #

this live tracking is driving me crazy, think I'll get more coffee....and how someone shot a video in a remote are of costa rica , in the dark, uploaded it ... just incredible....

Dec 9, 2013 3:06 PM #

At the last track 25 minutes ago, Quasarlontra, Merrell and BMS were all at the trek/bike TA. They arrived in that order within a 15-minute timeframe. Looks like a 2-hour ride from the TA to the current location of Adidas Terrex and Tecnu.

Dec 9, 2013 3:07 PM #

I reckon Adidas and Tecnu could see Columbia's fresh tracks. That plus daylight. By the time the others get there that will be the new highway.

Dec 9, 2013 3:09 PM #

mdar:

Onallumette2 - Costa Rica is very well covered by 3G Networks.

Dec 9, 2013 3:11 PM #

Quasarlontra has started riding. They're almost back to the road junction with the previous trek.

Dec 9, 2013 3:11 PM #

That rafting section looks jammed-packed! Wonder how much space they give each other....is there a rule?

Dec 9, 2013 3:12 PM #

Yesterday they started the rafts at 2-minute intervals. After that, I imagine the rafting guides have their own safety guidelines.

Dec 9, 2013 3:13 PM #

love it, never thought about the fresh tracks, interesting

Dec 9, 2013 3:14 PM #

It looks like Bivouac Colts, who made a successful dash to beat the dark zone last night, may have moved into 10th place!. Mountain Hardwear may be in 11th. The wild card is Eastwind since they haven't tracked for 1.5 hours but I don't think they could be ahead of these two teams.

Dec 9, 2013 3:16 PM #

Tracks can help - or not. It looks like Bob and Nick (Tecnu and Adidas Terrex navigators) ignored any tracks they may have seen when Columbia made its wrong turn.

Dec 9, 2013 3:18 PM #

Oh, and Aerodiva (8th) and Bones (9th) are nearing the end of the kayak. Aerodiva has a 2.5-3 hour lead.

Dec 9, 2013 3:32 PM #

keep hitting refresh, just to see if Thule is zipping or drinking champagne

Dec 9, 2013 3:38 PM #

Confirmed - the young Bivouac Colts are #10 with Mountain Hardwear close behind in 11th. They are about 6.5 hours behind 9th place Bones, all still paddling toward the Turtle Sanctuary.

About 1.5 hours back are 12th-14th place teams Eastwind, Ecuador Explorer and Toyota Racing. Another 60-90 minutes back is Banano de Costa Rica in 15th. Those are all the teams that have reached the coastal waterway, unless I'm forgetting someone with a broken tracker.

The big loser in the past 24 hours was OpavaNet, who had been battling closely with Bones and had moved into the top 10 for awhile. They are now back in 17th, at least 2 hours from the coastal waterway.

Dec 9, 2013 3:38 PM #

Big move by Tecnu

Dec 9, 2013 3:43 PM #

I am assuming they know Seagate is out?

Dec 9, 2013 3:44 PM #

Here is another dark zone clarification, for all of us scratching our heads yesterday:
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/09/dark...

Toyota et al. made a legal move.

Dec 9, 2013 3:48 PM #

Recently tweeted..Sounds like Thule had to stop and take a break as one of the team members (Mimi) is sick....finally getting some sleep and still on the biking leg.

Dec 9, 2013 3:48 PM #

Adidas Terrex are a few minutes behind Tecnu and have taken the same turn, it appears. I wonder what they know that we don't know from looking at the race map. Columbia got through this section so quickly that we don't know where they went. And, of course, Thule is invisible.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/09/race...

Also, CP46 is apparently not where the tracking map shows it.

Dec 9, 2013 3:53 PM #

Yup, just saw that. They're only now getting close to 46.

Dec 9, 2013 3:55 PM #

No, they visited it awhile ago. It isn't on the recommended route. :)

Dec 9, 2013 3:56 PM #

Oh you're right! I'm confusing my yellow squiggles. That is so confusing! :)

Dec 9, 2013 3:57 PM #

Holy crap, that went fast. Look where Tecnu is now. I'm sure Adidas is hot on their heels.

Dec 9, 2013 4:01 PM #

Quasarlontra is way off the recommended route but it may just be a non-optimum route choice. BMS Multisport and Merrell aren't far behind so any wrong turns matter a lot at this point.

Dec 9, 2013 4:09 PM #

Any way to find out where 47 and 48 are? Maybe one of them at the ferry?
Are the race maps available somewhere, or did LosDobos have to flash his press pass to get them? :)

Dec 9, 2013 4:10 PM #

The only official short course deadline of the entire race is coming up in 4 hours at 14:00 at the start of the rafting section. It was incorrectly reported somewhere as happening on Day 9 of the race (tomorrow) but the race instructions say Dec. 9 (today).

We don't know where Limitless Also is since they haven't tracked since 22:00, at which time they'd been resting at CP34 for 6 hours. If they got moving again soon afterward, they'll make the cut-off for the full course. They probably needed about 12-13 hours from that point.

Attackpointer GD44 of Endurancelife won't make it. Any team not biking from The Big Trek right now will be too late. No team is shown on that leg but a number of trackers are showing old times. Some teams may drop out after The Big Trek and turn off their trackers so we also need to watch the leaderboard and other news sites.

Dec 9, 2013 4:13 PM #

C'mon Limitless -make it to the rafts!!

Dec 9, 2013 4:13 PM #

I am interrupting this broadcast for a big THANK YOU to this international round the clock team of reporters! It is SO GREAT to pause every now and again to read through what I've missed. Thank you all!

Dec 9, 2013 4:13 PM #

LosDobos had been promised the maps by the race organization but they failed to come through. He has been posting photos of the map sent by friends in the race. I haven't looked for 47 and 48 but I think he has all the maps so far. The problem is, you have to scroll through all the Breathe Mag updates to find them. But no complaints - it's way better than not having maps.

Dec 9, 2013 4:16 PM #

Still here, with fresh pot of coffee

Dec 9, 2013 4:17 PM #

Gotcha. In that case I eagerly await the next map, if he can conjure it. (Looks like "leaving 46" are the last ones.)

Dec 9, 2013 4:20 PM #

Interview with Phatty at start of trek:

http://www.endorphinmag.fr/video.php

Dec 9, 2013 4:21 PM #

Found 'em further back. Here's the bike toward CP47, which is on the Nicaraguan border.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/08/race...
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/08/race...

Dec 9, 2013 4:25 PM #

Nice work, Phatty - media interview in French!

He was estimating 50 hours for the trek but said it was really difficult to know because the map had lots of trails that may or may not represent reality, and the weather wasn't great. He knew the lead teams had some trouble with navigation, and said that as a humble 25th place team, he expected difficulties too. He also talked about maximizing daylight hours and sleeping at a hut when it was dark.

Dec 9, 2013 4:26 PM #

Excellent. So next stop is the ferry.

Dec 9, 2013 4:26 PM #

Wow, Phatty is so French! Tres bien!
Weird to recognize Phatty but then hear him beginning to speak, entirely in French!

Dec 9, 2013 4:27 PM #

*Almost* entirely in French. I don't think "humble" is a French word. But it is oh so Canadian of him.

Dec 9, 2013 4:28 PM #

Looks like Untamed Canada didn't spend much time at the bike/raft TA. They started the trek to the boats around 8 a.m.

The other Canadian team SXM has finished rafting and is in the early part of the looooong kayak section. (Not to be confused with the other, *longer* kayak section in this race.)

Dec 9, 2013 4:28 PM #

Tres belle ballade.

Dec 9, 2013 4:29 PM #

Is there some reason the French don't have a word for humble?.... ;)

Phatty is awesome! Putting in an awesome race, must be SO tired, and still giving a substantial interview generously and graciously in a second language! Wow, I feel humbled! I couldn't do that!

Dec 9, 2013 4:30 PM #

z:

TA staff didn't attach external battery to Thule's tracker -- that's resolved now. Look for them at the canopy (and near the finish!) on the live track map soon.

Dec 9, 2013 4:31 PM #

Yes!

Dec 9, 2013 4:31 PM #

Yahoo!! Thanks for that, Untamed.

Dec 9, 2013 4:32 PM #

Agreed, CO. Phatty seemed just as cheerful, gracious and friendly as he always seems on a full night's sleep - and he did it in a language he's still working to learn. Well done.

Dec 9, 2013 4:35 PM #

Oopsie, that *was* a wrong turn by Quasarlontra. Not much time lost but they are behind BMS Multisport now and very close to Merrell. Not much distance between these 3 teams currently in 5th to 7th place.

Dec 9, 2013 4:35 PM #

In other competitive news, another challenger has moved into top 5, and is chasing down 4th place: Carbon's Offset on the all-time AP Discussion scoring. (wow, and in a fairly short time on AP.... I obviously talk too much.... but it was hard to stay quiet during this incredible race and fantastic coverage/discussion!)

Dec 9, 2013 4:40 PM #

And how about DoubleDown_on11 in 3rd place after just 2.7 years on AP? (Not that this is a cumulative thing like log hits but he went from zero to ACTIVE pretty quickly.)

Dec 9, 2013 4:43 PM #

Tecnu and Adidas are SO close, too close to call right now. Adidas' dot is about 600-700 m ahead but also posting about 12 minutes later, so Tecnu is probably a couple of km ahead

Dec 9, 2013 4:43 PM #

Merci Phatty !!!

Dec 9, 2013 4:44 PM #

I've got Adidas Terrex 10 minutes behind Tecnu right now, which is nothing.

Dec 9, 2013 4:44 PM #

Do I dare ask what the prize is, CO, if you win? ;)))

Dec 9, 2013 4:44 PM #

Yes DD11 is definitely earning his Gold status, especially with his excellent splits and other technical updates and insights!

(only AP is generous enough to give three gold medals ;)

Dec 9, 2013 4:45 PM #

and Thule is tracking!!! at the zipline but not sure if they're starting or finishing. probably starting.

Dec 9, 2013 4:46 PM #

7 minutes ago, the organizers' Facebook status said Thule was going to start the zipline. From here, they had originally estimated 2-4 hours for teams to get to the finish line. That will be a 7-day winning time!

Dec 9, 2013 4:47 PM #

Yikes, Myka, don't get us started on these horrendous prizes! Unlimited hiking with Seagate?? Non-stop biking with Thule after not having slept in about 3 days? or the worst prize of all: sitting in front of a computer staring at dot #57 not moving, for hours and hours! Torture!

Speaking of prizes: post # 1500 coming up soon!

Okay, back to watching a moving dot #57!

Dec 9, 2013 4:47 PM #

Finally 57 is on the screen, thank you technology!!

Dec 9, 2013 4:47 PM #

Wow, 7 days for the *fastest* race time! Ouch, what a race course! Epic!

Dec 9, 2013 4:48 PM #

Way to go ARWS!! Mark "who"? (...."Burnett"....) ;)

Dec 9, 2013 4:49 PM #

Ha, Thule's amazing new track shows them literally flying right over the finish line (and beyond)!

Dec 9, 2013 4:51 PM #

Only one more block left for Thule to fill in on the Leaderboard! :))))

Dec 9, 2013 4:53 PM #

what a place to put a zip line

Dec 9, 2013 4:55 PM #

lots of new Tecnu photos on their facebook page...https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.59230268...

they were RUNNING to TA11, the start of the bike. in transition with Adidas. now the two teams are several hours up the road but wow...RUNNING!

Dec 9, 2013 4:58 PM #

CO Double Ouch !

Dec 9, 2013 5:01 PM #

Tecnu looks to be slightly ahead of Adidas Terrex on the bike but they should be in sight of one another, racing hard. BMS and Merrell appear to be together in 5th and 6th place with Quasarlontra falling to 7th after their nav error, although not too far behind. They're approaching the area of CP46 now - the one on the race map, not on the tracker map.

Dec 9, 2013 5:02 PM #

Silky: Yeah, unbelievable to be running after all that! They are impressive machines!

Dec 9, 2013 5:03 PM #

Bash: I can only imagine how much Adidas and Tecnu are killing themselves right now if they can see each other!

Dec 9, 2013 5:09 PM #

I don't think any of them will be taking a nap....

Dec 9, 2013 5:09 PM #

Yes how long when they [62 and 3] arrive at canopy roughly I have to go into town quickly thanks

Dec 9, 2013 5:10 PM #

onallumette2 love that you are planning your errands around the race! true race fan!

Dec 9, 2013 5:12 PM #

You've got lots of time Onallumette2! Thule left the Nicaraguan border at 10 p.m. and just got to the canopy a little while ago. Teams 3 and 62 are not at the border yet.

Dec 9, 2013 5:14 PM #

yes that makes sense, im not thinking... such a pleasure being here, its almost like being there...this race isn't over by a long shot

Dec 9, 2013 5:15 PM #

Interesting to see the Tecnu photos. All 4 team members are carrying their own packs. No sign of tow ropes on the long road run. They're carrying their paddles, PFDs and sails, and Kyle seems to have a small nuclear missile strapped to his back. They are smiling a lot, the shots of Bob's feet look pretty good (and there is no trekking left anyway), and I recognize the excitement and competitiveness in Bob's facial expression.

Dec 9, 2013 5:16 PM #

Wow, they've still got a long night ahead of them, and as Myka pointed out: neither will want to stop to sleep. But it may be wiser to take a nap when you really get tired and slow. Man, that will be a tough decision to make...

Dec 9, 2013 5:22 PM #

This is fun to watch from here, though I think I might be the only one on this island cheering for Tecnu...

Dec 9, 2013 5:23 PM #

They look so happy because they said goodbye to Tomcats!

Dec 9, 2013 5:23 PM #

Hansel:

Any guesses on what that thing is on Kyle's pack?

Dec 9, 2013 5:24 PM #

Quasarlontra, Merrell and BMS appear to be piled together in 5th. Fifth place gets prize money doesn't it? I remember in Tasmania, it came down to a tie-breaker shootout, riding a lap around the velodrome in Burnie, to decide who got 5th and who got 6th. (crazy, after 6 days of racing!)
I wonder if how this grouping will shake out...
Still lots of riding left though...

Dec 9, 2013 5:24 PM #

air pump for those damn tomcats

Dec 9, 2013 5:24 PM #

Is the missile on Kyle's pack a pump for the Tomcats?

Dec 9, 2013 5:26 PM #

I think falltl4 chimed in just in time to be the 1500th poster!! I think we're about *double* what we hit on the huge thread for last year's ARWC!
(show that to your sponsors Ken! :)

Anyone want to tell falltl4 what he's won? ;))

Dec 9, 2013 5:28 PM #

Hi Todd! Of course, as an American living in the U.K., you're aren't exactly typical of "the island".

Dec 9, 2013 5:28 PM #

Hansel:

The race organization isn't providing pumps for the boats?! Or they just wanted to carry one with them just in case?

It's a funny looking pump...

Dec 9, 2013 5:28 PM #

falltl4....scroll up few posts and pick your prize, any prize...:)

Dec 9, 2013 5:30 PM #

I think falltl4 has "won" the right to "broadcast" to this thread during Monday night. The chase pack battle will be really interesting overnight.

Dec 9, 2013 5:30 PM #

z:

Todd, I wondered if/when you would join! You win a free trip to the Untamed New England Expedition Race next June! Congrats!

Dec 9, 2013 5:30 PM #

As a volunteer, I'll bet... ;)

Dec 9, 2013 5:31 PM #

Oooh.... good choice of prizing Bash! Like :)

Dec 9, 2013 5:32 PM #

....still, a FREE trip, *ground* accomodations included, plus some gels and other highly nutritious snacks!

Dec 9, 2013 5:36 PM #

You should know, Myka. You've logged more AR volunteer hours than almost anyone!

Dec 9, 2013 5:37 PM #

Yep, the experience is priceless! :)

Dec 9, 2013 5:40 PM #

Some photos of Thule at the zipline. They haven't taken their tracker along for the ride, which is probably a good idea. They look half happy, half zoned out!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.55670528...

Dec 9, 2013 5:42 PM #

Well, I have to justify the two screen setup at work for something
@Grant, are the black flies included, or do I have to pack my own?

Dec 9, 2013 5:43 PM #

No idea how hard the biking is but Columbia looks to be 40-45 km from the zipline. Perhaps Thule had a sleep last night; the teams are closer together than they were.

Dec 9, 2013 5:43 PM #

wonder how long the zipline is....perhaps they can have a nap during the flight?

Dec 9, 2013 5:45 PM #

Good that the staff are taking care of Thule's harness for him! They do look "out of it" (understandable!).

The zipline looks pretty tame after the big Superman flight!

Dec 9, 2013 5:46 PM #

Seriously. It looks like a clothesline in the photos - but I'm sure it gets better.

Dec 9, 2013 5:49 PM #

Yes, Columbia is still pushing hard, probably faster than Thule on this bike section, they do seem to be closing the gap (but it's probably too late.... oh wait, did I just say that about AR?.... ;)

And Tecnu appears to be extending their lead over Adidas... (about 5 or 6 km ahead, but their dot was 7 minutes more recent. Still, a decent gap starting....)

Dec 9, 2013 5:51 PM #

Yep, Adidas's dot is now 13 minutes more recent than Tecnu's, but still about 400 metres behind.

Dec 9, 2013 5:55 PM #

Shrek Feet:

My money is on Tecnu for the last podium spot! Goooo KP, Bob, GB and Karen. You guys have got this!!!! What a race...

Dec 9, 2013 5:57 PM #

Ian Adamson's quote (paraphrasing) "the team with the most sleep always wins in a sprint to the finish" keeps resonating in my head.

Dec 9, 2013 6:04 PM #

FB:

I'm afraid to say anything... seems every time I do I put a jinx on the team I'm talking about... not that I'm superstitious, 'cause that would be stupid... and being stupid is bad luck :-)

When was the last seven+ day winner in a ('big') race that was less than a 10 day cut-off?!

EC '96 (B.C.) was 7.5 days for Eco-Internet (or maybe 8.5?)

Dec 9, 2013 6:05 PM #

For the South Africa contingent, a shot of Merrill on the "snake trek":

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5923135208...

Dec 9, 2013 6:06 PM #

Thule has started on the final rafting leg! can't find the course summary just now, anyone have an idea on projected finish clock time?

Dec 9, 2013 6:08 PM #

oh just found it here, http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/11/30/cour...

looks like we might have a new world champion very soon! the race organization's estimated fastest time is 2 hours total for this section, that includes the canopy zip-line too.

Dec 9, 2013 6:10 PM #

JayXC: great quote, I haven't heard that one before! Totally makes sense (being able to dig deeper, etc, regardless of your fitness before the race).

Early in the race, it seemed like Seagate was taking several opportunities to get some good sleep. It seemed like they were making sure the bank account was in good shape if it came down to a finishing sprint.

Dec 9, 2013 6:11 PM #

Merrell also carrying their own packs, smiling and with no sign of tow ropes.

Dec 9, 2013 6:11 PM #

so the race for third looks to be about 4 hours behind Columbia. Which means once the second place is in, everyone rests easy for a couple hours, right?

Dec 9, 2013 6:13 PM #

I'm estimating that Tecnu is about 15 minutes ahead of Adidas.... (looking at tracking and counting for different update times)

No resting here....

Dec 9, 2013 6:14 PM #

I will not stop being anxious until Tecnu's result is official!

Dec 9, 2013 6:15 PM #

From Work4Justice: I am interrupting this broadcast for a big THANK YOU to this international round the clock team of reporters! It is SO GREAT to pause every now and again to read through what I've missed.

That reminds me... I said to my husband yesterday. "I just want to check the computer. After all, this race won't watch itself!" He answered, "Well actually, it will." Thanks, all!

Dec 9, 2013 6:15 PM #

Good article on Sleepmonster regarding Thule's arrival at the zip line:

It was a long wait at the final Transition for Team Thule Adventure to arrive, they were hours longer than expected and were obviously having some difficulty. Just how much was revealed when they rode in with Jackie Boisset supported between two of his team mates, and Mimi Guillot in floods of tears.

Jackie didn’t look as though he was aware of what was happening around him and Mimi confirmed that there had been times when he didn’t even recognise his team mates. That he would not know her (they are a couple) was distressing, and they have been through many tough races and situations before, but have never been pushed to this extreme.

Dec 9, 2013 6:16 PM #

Oh wow. Leanimal got a great photo of them earlier in the race where she was towing him.

Dec 9, 2013 6:17 PM #

The article also estimates the rafting portion to be about one hour, after the ziplining is done
http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

Dec 9, 2013 6:18 PM #

Leanimal's photo, and the latest status of Thule's members, show that anything can change at anytime. It takes a whole team to be great, and leave the egos at home.

Dec 9, 2013 6:20 PM #

Here's the photo. If people who aren't Leanimal's Facebook friends can't see it, let me know.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015355582...

Dec 9, 2013 6:22 PM #

Would you agree that Tecnu and Adidas are travelling faster than Columbia, and closing the gap?

Dec 9, 2013 6:25 PM #

Tecnu is riding along the Nicaraguan border about 7-8 km from the ferry so they are about 4.5 hours behind Columbia. Adidas is not far behind. I wonder if there is a wait for the ferry - or whether the ferry will wait for both teams - wouldn't that be fun? ;)

Dec 9, 2013 6:26 PM #

comparing breadcrumbs, Columbia was near the Nicaraguan border about 0730 this morning. Tecnu recently arrived so I'd say that camp is about 4.5 hours.

Tecnu started the bike leg about 0700 this morning. Columbia started it about 1800 last night. yes...the gap has shrunk quite a bit.

Dec 9, 2013 6:26 PM #

Yes, Jackie put a lot of work in during the race. Pushing Stu Lynch's bike up the big hill to superman zip line and also towing Mimi and I believe Stu at times. I think Mimi was quoted during the final kayak stage that this race was "too tough". They have exhibited toughness and team work that is worthy of a multiple world champion team.

Now if Tecnu could finish and allow me to enter the real world again. Has this race been more suspenseful than ARWC Africa?

Dec 9, 2013 6:26 PM #

To be fair to Columbia, they didn't have any big reason to race when they were doing this section. If Thule dropped out of the race, Columbia would win. And they probably knew approximately how far back the chase pack was.

Dec 9, 2013 6:27 PM #

yeah Bash! if the ferry waits for both teams, i will cry.

Dec 9, 2013 6:28 PM #

heheh, I found the final hours of Exped Africa to be the litmus test for all future races. That was some insane stuff, just when things seemed so cut and dried!

:D

Dec 9, 2013 6:28 PM #

Cortelmcm, this race has been (and will continue to be) amazing but I'm not sure anything could match the suspense and, at times, fear as I watched that final cliff in Expedition Africa.

Dec 9, 2013 6:31 PM #

I went outside for few minutes.....what a *bore*! Much more exciting here, with you guys! :)

Dec 9, 2013 6:33 PM #

Meanwhile, back in the Mud, it looks like 8th place Aerodiva is at the kayak/trek transition, ready to take on the snakes!

Dec 9, 2013 6:34 PM #

Oh no, I hadn't even thought of the potential neutralizing effect of the ferry.... after all that work to get a few minutes ahead. Or maybe the first team will get to go, and the next team may be delayed by waiting for the ferry to return, thereby increasing the gap.

Oh man.....
about 7 km to the ferry? about half an hour? 20 minutes? less?

Dec 9, 2013 6:35 PM #

CO is going to faint....

Dec 9, 2013 6:36 PM #

good point CO. if Adidas gets delayed at the ferry, i will cry too!

Dec 9, 2013 6:37 PM #

Tecnu was 7-8 km away from the ferry when they tracked 25 minutes ago. So they should be there now.

Dec 9, 2013 6:38 PM #

Still no word from Limitless Also since 22:06 last night. I hope Hermes and Leanimal will find Internet soon and share what they know.

Dec 9, 2013 6:39 PM #

Nope, not there yet. Tecnu tracked 3 km from the ferry 5 minutes ago.

Dec 9, 2013 6:39 PM #

If *either* Tecnu or Adidas gets delayed at the ferry, I will faint (I'm such a fan of trying to let the race run without being affected by other things).
A World Champs race should really have 2 ferries! :)
Heck, 3 ferries for when Quasarlontra, BMC and Merrell arrive!

Merrell's tracker hasn't updated in a while, so there is some extra suspense there...

Dec 9, 2013 6:39 PM #

Was thinking the same thing Bash...

Dec 9, 2013 6:40 PM #

Tecnu should be at the ferry about now??!! OMG, where is the google "Live Satellite" so I can zoom in and see what is happening?!

Dec 9, 2013 6:41 PM #

less than 3 km away??

refresh.... refresh.....
refresh....!

Dec 9, 2013 6:42 PM #

I thought they were riding on a good road but - silly me - it turns out I thought they were riding on the Nicaragua/Costa Rica border - a nice thick line. :) Google Maps shows the road ending and maybe turning into a track, which could explain their slower speed as they approach the ferry.

If anyone else is watching Bing Maps or Here.com, maybe they would have more insight.

Dec 9, 2013 6:44 PM #

Thule is about halfway through the final rafting. Maybe half an hour from being crowned the new World Champion?

Dec 9, 2013 6:45 PM #

CO will need a new keypad after this race....;)
Just noticed Tecnu carrying a sail on their trek, after paddling....wondering if they got to use it?

Dec 9, 2013 6:46 PM #

MRAPhil:

Can't see the photo of Thule, please post else where.

Dec 9, 2013 6:46 PM #

Here is some information from Tecnu Team Manager:

When I asked them how they were doing they said all systems were a go. they said they had lost their pack on the kayak leg, and wasted an hour having to go back and get it. Tecnu's Kyle Peter said they had heard Seagate dropped, and that they were excited to go for the podium. They said they made the decision to sleep last night for an hour to bank it for reserves today so they didn't make any sleep deprived errors on navigation.

Helps explain the end of the paddle.

Dec 9, 2013 6:47 PM #

Bing's is completely cloud obscured and pixley.

Dec 9, 2013 6:49 PM #

Myka: in any of the photos, I haven't seen anyone with sails up, and it didn't look windy....
But I'm guessing everyone brought them, in case.

Dec 9, 2013 6:52 PM #

This is from Face book , a word from Nathan Fa'ave:

"Hi Friends,
Thanks heaps for the support! it means a lot.
We're okay, lots of positive things to take from the race.
In the end the cost / benefit of finishing the race didn't add up, we'd be out there for more days and give our bodies monumental problems to recover from. The concern of subjecting ourselves to longer term injury/illness was a factor.
We came, we raced, things were looking great, then things took a turn for the bad, that's the dynamic nature of our sport.
Thanks to the good people of Team Thule and the other teams for making it a competition and testing each other through this epic course.
It's a shame Silva had to withdraw also as they would have been a major contender to the end.
Time for a few showers and sit down meals, xmas, family holiday and then get excited about GODZone Adventure.
Nathan"

Dec 9, 2013 6:53 PM #

I wonder if anyone has every tried a sail while on the bike.... If you had it in your gear bins anyway....

Bash: in Patagonia perhaps? or would you end up in the Atlantic, thanks to the Patagonian winds?! ;)
(I remember seeing some Tierra Viva or Patagonia Expedition Race footage where racers were getting thrown off the road by the winds!!)

Nah, sounds like too much of a recipe for disaster. It would have to be a fairly direct tailwind to help, and then you would just sit up.
Sometimes it has felt like the jacket has worked as a bit of a sail while riding....

Dec 9, 2013 6:53 PM #

Yikes, more on Thule from the Sleepmonsters article. His poor Mom.

The transition was just as hard for Jackie’s mother and father, who had been waiting for them almost 12 hours, worrying and wondering what was happening. His mum just kept repeating ‘be careful, be careful’, and then she had to turn away, unable to watch any more.

Dec 9, 2013 6:54 PM #

Don't bring Moms to races ;)

Dec 9, 2013 6:55 PM #

Wow, Nathan's note is "so Nathan", "so Seagate". Classy, humble, great ambassador for the sport :)

Dec 9, 2013 6:56 PM #

My tracker map shows 3 and 62 on top of each other although the time stamps are separated by 13 minutes. Tecnu has been in the same spot since 12:32. Hope they aren't waiting for the ferry.

Dec 9, 2013 6:57 PM #

Let the stress begin....
refresh, refresh....

Dec 9, 2013 6:59 PM #

Tecnu! just tracked on the opposite side of the river! Adidas' latest timestamp still 15min old.

Dec 9, 2013 6:59 PM #

Merrell is just slightly leading the battle for 5th, ahead of BMS. Quasarlontra has dropped back a little.

anyone have a ferry schedule?.....

Dec 9, 2013 7:00 PM #

Waiting to see if Adidas caught the same ferry or not...
(refresh...)

Dec 9, 2013 7:02 PM #

Did Columbia just go off the main track?

Dec 9, 2013 7:02 PM #

I can see this almost ending up like Adidas in Tasmania, separated by seconds on the finish line! Nightmare stuff when you're so tired

:D

Dec 9, 2013 7:02 PM #

Their tracks are 6mins apart, so I'm thinking unlikely that Adidas covered that distance and got ferried in that timeframe.

Dec 9, 2013 7:05 PM #

from the video of Thule crossing, there doesn't look like there's room for 2 teams at once...

Dec 9, 2013 7:06 PM #

i agree Dobos, didn't the last person aboard for Thule have to ask his teammates to move their bikes to make room for his?

Dec 9, 2013 7:06 PM #

This latest refresh seems to be taking forever....

images of 62 and 3 are going to be burned into my retinae....

Dec 9, 2013 7:07 PM #

Maybe if Adidas asks Tecnu really, really nicely...

and offers them bacon.

Dec 9, 2013 7:08 PM #

haha CO probably because everyone waited til 1306 (Adidas' tracking interval) and then all hit refresh at once!

maybe we need 1 designated refresher-button-clicker for this group.

Dec 9, 2013 7:10 PM #

Here's Leanimal's pic of Thule. I think it's on the trek up to Chirripo.

Dec 9, 2013 7:11 PM #

for those counting down, here's distances marked out in km from the finish, along the last paddle

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6154959

Dec 9, 2013 7:12 PM #

CO seems to have mastered that skill...plus he won't give away his refresher-button-clicker powers to anyone else....he should be IT

Dec 9, 2013 7:13 PM #

With Thule tracking at 8.2km back from the finish

Dec 9, 2013 7:14 PM #

please alert FB when they are 1.985km from the finish.

Dec 9, 2013 7:15 PM #

(approximately)

Dec 9, 2013 7:20 PM #

falltl4: sweet distance countdown! Now can you superimpose Thule's tracker dot?
and some live video?

Dec 9, 2013 7:22 PM #

Adidas is across the river now. But with how the dots overlap, I thought Tecnu had disappeared off the map
(envision massive, massive panic here)

Dec 9, 2013 7:23 PM #

Technu and Terrex across the ferry.

Dec 9, 2013 7:24 PM #

I'm guessing Tecnu caught the first ferry and Adidas caught the second one.
I hope this didn't impact their relative positions too much.
There's still a fair bit of riding left, so these minutes may not matter much in the end.

Dec 9, 2013 7:27 PM #

Untamed Canada is the only team still shown on the rafting section, and they are almost finished. However, there are a couple of teams with silent trackers, including Limitless Also, who could still be rafting - or racing for the cut-off. The official short course cut-off is in a little over half an hour at the bike/raft TA.

Dec 9, 2013 7:28 PM #

Look at all the traffic just ahead of Untamed, on the beginning of the next kayak section!! wow!
I sense a Tomcat drag race coming on!! groan...

("drag" is probably a key word there....)

Dec 9, 2013 7:29 PM #

Any idea which team currently has the Lanterne Rouge? With today's cutoff it will change things for a few teams but curious to know who's been out there the longest. So tough to tell when so many trackers haven't updated for a while.

Come on Limitless!!

Dec 9, 2013 7:30 PM #

How come Columbia is off the trail?

Dec 9, 2013 7:34 PM #

Surely Thule must be done. info?

Dec 9, 2013 7:35 PM #

Watching and waiting and tracking... Can't go to bed until Thule is in... and maybe need to wait to see who gets to the ferry first - Merrell, BMS or Quasar... and then maybe need to watch my team heading for home... Perhaps between ferry and finish I can sleep?

Dec 9, 2013 7:36 PM #

They're not making Jackie paddle to the finish. :)
http://instagram.com/p/htgfaBzfxS/#

Dec 9, 2013 7:37 PM #

That's great that they're letting Jackie rest :)

Dec 9, 2013 7:37 PM #

They look to be doing about 1k/10minutes, so, 30minutes, depending on a whole lot of stuff?

Dec 9, 2013 7:37 PM #

The first place Thule's finish will be announced will probably be Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ARcostarica

Dec 9, 2013 7:37 PM #

Thule's tracker is overdue for an update....

Dec 9, 2013 7:43 PM #

From Twitter:

Total distance between 1st team and 10th team is approximately 205km.

350km separate the leaders from the back of the pack! WOW!

Dec 9, 2013 7:45 PM #

Columbia is tracking in the right direction and their latest breadcrumb looks fast, so I think they're going the right way (even though it doesn't match the suggested line on the map)

Dec 9, 2013 7:46 PM #

Looks like Tecnu has hammered away from the ferry, putting 2 kms between themselves and Adidas Terrex. For both of these teams, navigation is a huge strength but there is virtually no navigation left now. It all comes down to who has more energy, who is in less pain, who slept more, who works best as a team on the bikes...

Dec 9, 2013 7:47 PM #

Looks like Columbia will meet up with that little tail of highway 506 that we can see sticking up to the north on the race website tracking map

Dec 9, 2013 7:52 PM #

Anyone else want their turn to be the one to say they wish they could poke Thule's tracker and make it update?....

Dec 9, 2013 7:53 PM #

1613th post... I wonder if we'll hit 2000? Many of us still have good friends out there, after the top few teams are done...

Dec 9, 2013 7:54 PM #

What do you think? I HAVE to win some prize......;)

Dec 9, 2013 8:00 PM #

I cannot find Limitless on the map anymore. Was hoping it had updated and they were on the paddle but they aren't showing up anywhere.

Dec 9, 2013 8:02 PM #

:( Showing retired on the board!

Dec 9, 2013 8:03 PM #

Oh no.....:(

Dec 9, 2013 8:05 PM #

FB:

:-(

Dec 9, 2013 8:06 PM #

Crap. I hadn't checked the leader board yet. Hope they are all okay and resting well now. I guess we'll see what happened soon enough.

Dec 9, 2013 8:08 PM #

Harps:

noooooooo!!!! gotta be feet!

Dec 9, 2013 8:08 PM #

Adidas are tracking 6mins behind Tecnu, but about 5km back on the yellow brick road. Let's hope Tecnu's snooze can result in them pulling away more and more.

Wish I knew where CP48 was!

Dec 9, 2013 8:09 PM #

Oh no, no more Limitless? No more Phatty, Slice, Turbo, Zoolander? :(((

Dec 9, 2013 8:12 PM #

Interesting that Adidas won a sprint finish for 4th place at the ARWC Tasmania and beat their current teammate Jari Kirkland (racing w/ AXA in 2011) by 2 seconds. This time a sprint would be for the podium and make for a hard raft paddle.

Dec 9, 2013 8:13 PM #

The race site is incredibly slow now (for me at least). Probably so many people checking for the winner's finish...

SuperKen, can you do anything to fix their site? :)

Dec 9, 2013 8:16 PM #

Maybe... I will change the batteries on Thule's tracker while I'm at it ;)

Dec 9, 2013 8:16 PM #

Cortelmcm: I hadn't thought of that yet: rafting isn't the most conducive to sprinting. (maybe you would be faster if you had your Tomcats with you (wow, did we ever think we'd hear those words? ;)

However, the zipline may also result in one team getting a good head start on the rafts if they got to the zipline at about the same time.

Hmmm... would make me a little frustrated if the zipline is just the clothesline that we saw... (i.e. fun if you aren't being pressured, but frustrating if your race position depends on it)

Dec 9, 2013 8:18 PM #

I knew Ken was out there. Sometimes you forget he's there, sometimes you wonder if he's listening, but then he shows you that he's always there, always watching.

God, is that you?....
;)

Dec 9, 2013 8:18 PM #

But seriously, this site has been my church. This race: my religion.
Glorious!

Dec 9, 2013 8:19 PM #

Oh man, still 13:03 on Thule's tracker update....

Dec 9, 2013 8:19 PM #

Columbia has just about arrived at TA

Dec 9, 2013 8:20 PM #

I frantically ate a quick lunch, thinking "I'm missing the finish, I'm missing the finish".
When I got back to my computer, it felt like waking up from a race nap and feeling the relief of learning that the team behind you didn't catch you while you slept.

Dec 9, 2013 8:21 PM #

Limitless stopped tracking at 22:00 last night at CP34, 6 hours into a rest stop. If they started trekking soon after that, they should have arrived at the medical stop around 5-9 a.m. With the 14:00 short course cut-off looming after the rest of the trek, some rest, bike assembly, and a 40 km bike ride, it would have meant another push. If someone wasn't feeling great, that might seem like a reasonable time to call it a race.

Turbo has done very little - if any - adventure racing before. To get this far on such a tough course is a spectacular achievement. He is a strong athlete whose specialty is trail running - and he's accustomed to getting some sleep at night when he races. And we don't even know whether his lack of experience was holding him back in any way. He looked great in the only photo I've seen of him.

Dec 9, 2013 8:22 PM #

Someone commented earlier about when last did it take so loooonnnggg for even the first team to finish... Remember Eco Challenge Fiji in 2002? Teams were getting maps bit by bit so they didn't know where the end was. Day four passed. Day five passed.Day six passed. And still they were going.
The front teams had paddled out to an island and there they got more maps for a tough hike and then that still wasn't the end. Buff (Spain with Emma Roca) were b.r.o.k.e.n. I think they pulled out there. Feet too. Couldn't continue and get through the hike. I'm sure they'd been in the lead.
I think after the hike there was more paddling and then only the end.
I think that was 8 days for the winning team...

Dec 9, 2013 8:24 PM #

Yes, I was surprised how good Turbo looked (anyone would look worse at that point). They've done really, really well. This race course has been a monster, and they've persevered through so much of it!

Dec 9, 2013 8:24 PM #

CO, keep in mind that if Ken thinks an AP discussion thread may have caused you to lose your mind, he has the power to cut you off. ;) Liability reasons, you know.

Dec 9, 2013 8:25 PM #

Wow, the fine balance between frantically begging him to not cut me off, and appearing calm, rational and in control to convince him I am sane...

Dec 9, 2013 8:26 PM #

sorry - race maps now up on Breathe

Dec 9, 2013 8:26 PM #

"convince him I am sane"
Contrary piece of evidence, exhibit #1: I adventure race....

Dec 9, 2013 8:26 PM #

Don't worry too much, CO. Ken has kids. He's used to it.

Dec 9, 2013 8:26 PM #

Well, time for me to head off from work. Need to do my own running so I can beat Grant from Untamed in that little 5k race in June.

Dec 9, 2013 8:27 PM #

and...nevermind

Dec 9, 2013 8:27 PM #

Thule JUST updated. Virtually on the line :)

Dec 9, 2013 8:28 PM #

Thule updated 1mile out from finish twenty minutes ago?

Dec 9, 2013 8:29 PM #

Photo approaching finish line.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6332967967...

Dec 9, 2013 8:29 PM #

Tracker has them about 1 mile out at 14:04

Dec 9, 2013 8:30 PM #

Is there anything more anticlimactic then watching a dot for seven days straight and knowing they've crossed the finish line but having to wait till it's officially confirmed. Gotta be a better way to spectate for this sport (other than being there in person of course). :)

Dec 9, 2013 8:31 PM #

With the short course cut off done, Untamed may be the Lanterne Rouge. They have a recent track at the raft-to-kayak, so the only team left who for sure made it but hasn't started on the paddling.

Teams further back whose trackers have been stuck since last night:
Leki & Racing Denmark's trackers have been stuck at med check, so could have easily made it under our radar.
Motley Crew were at the previous CP at 4am, so they were iffy to make it.
Ansilta and Endurancelife were even further back, and also probably would have been cut-off.

Dec 9, 2013 8:33 PM #

Thanks for the summary Clean! My guess is after they make the Champs official they will have time to clean up some of the other rankings.

Dec 9, 2013 8:33 PM #

Adidas seems to be gaining ground. Now when they update they are ahead of Tecnu. I think the last couple updates have put them just behind Tecnus last dot.

Dec 9, 2013 8:33 PM #

Untamed Canada is in 25th place. Great job. Keep it up!

Dec 9, 2013 8:34 PM #

lol, Thule updated again. Sooooooo close. :)

Dec 9, 2013 8:35 PM #

I feel like we're all going to need a cigarette afterward. Except I'm pretty sure none of us smoke. ;)

Dec 9, 2013 8:39 PM #

from Sleepmonsters' Twitter: "Team @ThuleAdventure has to carry their boat 200m to the finish line, surrounded by journalists. It's going to be emotional."

they have to carry the boat!?!?!

Dec 9, 2013 8:39 PM #

Tweet from SleepMonsters: "Team @ThuleAdventure has to carry their boat 200m to the finish line, surrounded by journalists. It's going to be emotional."

Dec 9, 2013 8:41 PM #

They have to carry their boat? Just one more possibility to add to a possible head-to-head sprint to the finish.

Tonight I need to work on my raft-sprinting skills...

Dec 9, 2013 8:42 PM #

LOL. Yes, that is a new surprise discipline

:D

Dec 9, 2013 8:43 PM #

Looks like it's going to be 7 days and 45 minutes of racing.

Dec 9, 2013 8:45 PM #

Maybe the race organizer is making them portage the raft on purpose, to finish with an appreciation and preference for the Tomcats...

In the photo, Jackie doesn't exactly look ready to carry a raft...

Dec 9, 2013 8:46 PM #

South Africans, you need to keep a closer eye on Merrell. They last tracked over an hour ago, and they were going the wrong way. Hope BMS and Quasarlontra didn't sneak past.

Dec 9, 2013 8:49 PM #

Bash - eeeekkk... I'm hoping it is just a technical glitch and not a real track...

Dec 9, 2013 8:49 PM #

Tecnu leading Adidas Terrex by maybe 2 km on the bike, which is about the way it was before the ferry. The zipline may be another matter though. Getting 4 teammates across a zipline takes time.

Dec 9, 2013 8:50 PM #

@ThuleAdventure have crossed the finish line, music playing "We are the Champions", Seagate there to congratulate them #ARWC2013 - from SleepMonsters on Twitter. Yay! Well done Thule ;)

Dec 9, 2013 8:51 PM #

Congratulations, Thule! What an incredibly tough event! Well earned victory. And nice of Seagate to be there too.

Dec 9, 2013 8:51 PM #

@Lisa, we haven't seen a lot of random tracks in this race. It could have been a clever route choice by Merrell.

Dec 9, 2013 8:51 PM #

Hey, I'm back in time to not miss Thule finishing! Awesome, but how can they not be finished yet? And Bash is right, Merrell seem to have drifted off course - aaargh! Were they ahead of BMS / Quasa?

Dec 9, 2013 8:51 PM #

When you zoom in on the race map near the finish (and near Thule), at one level of zoom you can see the banks in the town..... Thule is racing toward the money :)

And when you look to the west, there is a hotel where they can rest. It is also conveniently across the road from the cemetery.... ;) (hopefully no one needs to take advantage of this)

Dec 9, 2013 8:52 PM #

@Greatescape: Yes, they were.

Dec 9, 2013 8:53 PM #

Oh they are (as I typed) - brilliant effort by Thule. Superhuman in fact. Deserving winners.

Dec 9, 2013 8:54 PM #

Congratulations Thule! Wow, what an epic race, what a tough race course! Ouch.
Thule has really earned this one, and no one will say "oh, but it was because Seagate had to pull out. IF Seagate had still been in it...."
No, Thule won this one. Bravo!

Dec 9, 2013 8:55 PM #

Thanks for the update Bash. Damn I hope they haven't let that slip

Dec 9, 2013 8:55 PM #

Columbia Vidaraid has arrived at the zipline. So barring major disaster, the only podium position open is 3rd place. Go Bob, Kyle, Garret and Karen!

Dec 9, 2013 8:56 PM #

You mentioned that before CO. I don't think anyone should say that, even if Seagate had been in the lead. That is all a part of adventure racing. It is unfortunate but it is something you have to manage and mitigate. Maybe Seagate pushed too hard at times or didn't stop soon enough to change socks like Bro Jackson mentioned.

Dec 9, 2013 8:57 PM #

It's not like Seagate didn't race.

Dec 9, 2013 8:58 PM #

They couldn't get to the finish line faster than Thule.

Dec 9, 2013 8:59 PM #

Yep, and I'm a huge admitted Seagate fan (and Thule fan, etc etc!)
Very stoked to see so many teams at the top of the sport! Keeps it exciting for sure!

Dec 9, 2013 9:01 PM #

Brilliant by Columbia as well. For a 2nd placed team, they were actually pretty low profile on this forum, due to the lack of drama I guess. They were never in any danger of overtaking or being overtaken for the last few days.

Dec 9, 2013 9:01 PM #

My ARWC page just crashed.

.... trying to stay calm ....

Dec 9, 2013 9:01 PM #

Bash - I'm going glass-half-full on this one... ;) I've got square eyes. Off to bed for me shortly. Optimistic that when I wake up Merrell's track will be the perfect one - ahead of BMS and Quasar (although Merrell's biking has not been great this race and they've lost ground each time). Still... a girl can dream ;)

Dec 9, 2013 9:03 PM #

Merrell are now well back from BMS/Quasa. Costly nav error.

Dec 9, 2013 9:05 PM #

FB:

doah! so much for sweet dreams for lisa :-(

Dec 9, 2013 9:08 PM #

*sigh* The leg isn't done yet... ;)

Dec 9, 2013 9:10 PM #

Site has crashed for me too. Did Merrell track again more recently? The off-course track was quite old (13:36).

Dec 9, 2013 9:11 PM #

Lots of finish line pics on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ARcostarica

Dec 9, 2013 9:12 PM #

At 14:56, Merrell are back on the yellow track, but quite behind.

Dec 9, 2013 9:14 PM #

Yes, Merrell's dot updated about 14km behind Quasa who are about 4km behind BMS. That's a lot to catch up. But this is AR.

Dec 9, 2013 9:18 PM #

Just got tracking back. Ooopppsss... we did take a bit of a less desirable route... Well, the section is definitely not over... I'm hopeful ;) I'm hoping that they'll be driven and determined to make up for the oops and that they catch BMS and Quasar. See ya'll in the morning (my morning time) ;)

Dec 9, 2013 9:20 PM #

A few of us will take the SA night shift of cheering for Merrell. :)

Dec 9, 2013 9:20 PM #

in the race for 5th...merrell seem to have hit a whoopsie. can't get their breadcrummbs to load up, but BMS and quasar lonta are now up the road by an hour or two.

Dec 9, 2013 9:21 PM #

Yup, they went offtrack to the east of the recommended route. They were in 5th at the time.

Dec 9, 2013 9:25 PM #

re: Merrell/BMS/Quasar

try selecting these three teams in the "replay the race" link. http://live.arcostarica.com/tracking/analysis.cfm

then watch Quasar go off course, then Merrell.

Dec 9, 2013 9:26 PM #

Untamed have gotten on the water.

Dec 9, 2013 9:29 PM #

Thanks for keeping an eye on Merrell for us - we know they're in safe hands until we check back in tomorrow! Out.

Dec 9, 2013 9:32 PM #

G'night. :) Tecnu is running a little over 4 hours behind Columbia at their current location. Columbia arrived at the zipline around 14:30. Tecnu and Adidas have been gaining on Columbia. So they should hit the zipline around 18:00-ish? Whichever team hits the zipline first has probably secured the podium position - unless somebody trips somebody. ;)

Dec 9, 2013 9:32 PM #

Thule has issued a press release announcing that their team won the 2013 ARWC. http://www.thulegroup.com/en/Press/Press-Releases#...

That was fast!

Dec 9, 2013 9:36 PM #

Aaaaah... maps for CP 48, south of the mountain/hill thingy they are biking around.
north of 48
48 itself
from 48 to zipline

Dec 9, 2013 9:44 PM #

BMS is across on the ferry.

Dec 9, 2013 9:45 PM #

Greatescape, you are correct that Columbia has been a little overlooked on this forum and they have run a brilliant race and are in line for a strong second place finish. They will add to their already great season including a victory over Seagate earlier this year in ARWS Brazil. Certainly happy for Marco as a defending champion of the ARWS Costa Rica while racing with Tecnu last year and who is based nearby in southern California.

Dec 9, 2013 9:47 PM #

Speak of the devil - Columbia are on the water!

Dec 9, 2013 9:49 PM #

Good point about arriving to Zipline first. I am sure they have realized that already.

The gap between 2 and 3/4 is closing but not enough race to catch Columbia. Might have been more exciting if the darkzone was earlier in the race and had less of an effect on the final results. This is somewhat of a testament to the power of sleep and rest whether you are forced to take it or you choose to.

That being said I am sure Columbia hasn't been pushing quite as hard as Tecnu and Adidas.

Dec 9, 2013 9:51 PM #

Yes, an amazing performance by Columbia! This is definitely solidifying their reputation as a very top-ranked team! They've had a fantastic year.

Dec 9, 2013 9:54 PM #

It looks like Tecnu has gained some ground from the last time I checked.

Kyle and Garrett sprinted past my team at the end of a long race last year at USARA Nats. We were about 5 min ahead and made a poor route choice. They made the right one and blew by us to get to the rappell which was only a ~5mi road bike from the finish. That little push got them 2nd place. I am sure they have that same mentality now.

Dec 9, 2013 9:59 PM #

If any corporate marketing types happen to wander by here, a shout out to those companies like Thule, Columbia, Seagate, Tecnu, Adidas, Merrell and many more that see the value in supporting the sport through sponsorship of teams at the highest level and on down. We do notice and I hope if these top teams morph into Team France/Sweden/New Zealand/Canada/South Africa etc. on the front of the jerseys, they will still see the value of associating their brands with this sport.

Dec 9, 2013 10:00 PM #

Well said, Wilberto!

Great race by Columbia. They were also 2nd to Adidas Terrex at Tierra Viva in March.

Dec 9, 2013 10:00 PM #

Walhalla Specialized have embarked on their bike ride down to the rafts - I guess that's the easiest transport point.
Behind them is Great Langdale Bunkhouse still chugging along towards the med. check.
The other dots are old, so no idea who is where.

Dec 9, 2013 10:01 PM #

I got a text from Bob's fiancée Hermes on her way to the zipline. She said Leanimal and LaFemme were planning to meet Limitless Also at the medical clinic but she hadn't heard they were out of the race so couldn't offer any further news just yet.

Dec 9, 2013 10:03 PM #

Walhalla has to ride to the bike/raft TA in order to do the official short course. From there, unless something has changed, they'll be transported forward.

Dec 9, 2013 10:03 PM #

so there is hope?

Dec 9, 2013 10:03 PM #

Re: corporate marketing:
I went to Thule's site to see the messages they posted about their team. I was hoping to find something I could click on to show that I "Like" it, but couldn't find any way to show my interest.
Maybe the traffic to their site will count for something.
So maybe I'll visit it several times. Once this race is over, I'll be in withdrawal and wanting to hit the refresh button on something.

Dec 9, 2013 10:04 PM #

That's so cool that Bob gets to see his fiancée at the zipline :)

Dec 9, 2013 10:05 PM #

Still such a close race for Tecnu and Adidas....

Dec 9, 2013 10:05 PM #

@Myka, no, I don't think there is hope. Hermes is now travelling separately from Leanimal so she hadn't heard any updates on Limitless.

Dec 9, 2013 10:06 PM #

It's especially cool given that Bob *proposed* to Shannon in France a few days after last year's ARWC. :)

Dec 9, 2013 10:09 PM #

Not sure if any of the top 5 teams would be eligible to race in their current configuration in 2015. Thule will not be able to defend their title next year since they represent 3 countries.

Dec 9, 2013 10:09 PM #

For discussion:
So.... Thule beat Seagate in 2011, but partly due to a penalty (call that one a tie?)
Seagate beat Thule in 2012
Thule beat Seagate in 2013
So.... who do you consider to be the best?....

Dec 9, 2013 10:09 PM #

Adding cortelmcm's latest comment to my comment above, that does highlight the fact that Seagate is all NZ....

Dec 9, 2013 10:15 PM #

BMS is pulling away from the border nicely, while Quasar is taking their time getting to the ferry...

Dec 9, 2013 10:16 PM #

Hoping Bob is getting them close to CP48 now!

Dec 9, 2013 10:19 PM #

Also, broadens the discussion regarding top AR racers during the ARWC era. Jacky, Myriam and Stuart join an impressive list with 2 titles each:

1. Ian Adamson
2. Mike Kloser
3. Michael Tobin
4. Nathan Fa'avae
5. Chris Forne
6. Stuart Lynch
7. Jacky Boisset
8. Myriam Guillot
9. Richard Usher
10. Monique Merrell

Dec 9, 2013 10:20 PM #

Tecnu have slowed down a bit getting to the CP, but then again so have Adidas, I think.

Dec 9, 2013 10:20 PM #

Wow, nice fast pull of stats cortelmcm!

Dec 9, 2013 10:27 PM #

One of Nathan's issues was that AWRC seemed like "just another race". Keep the AWRC as an epic 800 km monster, put the regular AWRS as 300-500 km with 3-4 winning times, and does AWRC seem like just another race?

Dec 9, 2013 10:28 PM #

Too fast, Ian was not on the Nike 2007 Team in Scotland. So, 10 people tied with 2 wins each. Maybe next year, Nike will have to come out of retirement to try to get a 3rd win.

Dec 9, 2013 10:28 PM #

Some great shots of Tecnu on the final bike leg.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.59231539...

Dec 9, 2013 10:30 PM #

There hasn't been a peep out of Endurancelife's tracker since 3 a.m., more than 13 hours ago. They should be off the trek, and they probably couldn't have made the short course cut-off. They're not shown as retired. Where are you, GD44?

Dec 9, 2013 10:31 PM #

How does this look for a 500m sprint finish:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5568451510...

Dec 9, 2013 10:32 PM #

Thanks gang I'm still here... great reading and so proud of Team Limitless effort, Stay Strong... lots of great racing yet....love all the input and effort put forth by everyone!!!

Dec 9, 2013 10:33 PM #

Jacky's feet:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5568412877...

Dec 9, 2013 10:33 PM #

Tecnu and Adidas Terrex just tracked at virtually the same location, and Tecnu was 14 minutes ahead. They're at the place where Columbia made its alternate route choice. Let's see where these two great navigators go...

Dec 9, 2013 10:35 PM #

I'd guess they are 1.5-2 hours away from the zipline now, depending on how much faster they're riding than Columbia. It's a sprint now. Imagine - a sprint after 7 days of doing what they've been doing.

Dec 9, 2013 10:44 PM #

Wow, Jacky's feet look like they've shed the skin right off the toes. The medic looks to be suffering, and Jacky is just used to it by now.

Dec 9, 2013 10:46 PM #

Yes, 500 m sprint carrying a raft, and I think they may be in their bike shoes? Or are those paddling shoes?

Then again, if my feet were that bad and all I had left was a zipline and a paddle, I wouldn't want to mess with a shoe change. Unless they made you carry a raft 500 m.
Apparently the race director let them put the raft down after 200 m when Mimi was almost getting crushed by it.

Dec 9, 2013 10:53 PM #

Quasar stopped for close to an hour ahead of the ferry. They're across now, but Merrell have gotten very close.

Dec 9, 2013 10:53 PM #

wow, Merrell has caught right up to Quasarlontra. Both at the ferry, with Q already across. Good speed!

:)

Edit: ah, I got the time stamps mixed up. Pity :)

Dec 9, 2013 10:54 PM #

Aerodiva is at the trek-bike TA.

Dec 9, 2013 11:06 PM #

Addidas may have just passed Tecnu

Dec 9, 2013 11:09 PM #

Yup, uh-oh. On top of each other, with Adidas 7mins behind on the clock. EEK

Dec 9, 2013 11:10 PM #

Yes, it looks like Adidas is ahead.
When I looked previously, it did look like Adidas was closing the gap, or Tecnu was slowing down.

Wow, what a battle!

Dec 9, 2013 11:11 PM #

It really comes down to who gets to the zipline first,.... and they are getting close to the zipline!

Dec 9, 2013 11:11 PM #

This was in the area of the CP though. So now that they've both (I assume) hit it, maybe the pace will pick up again.

Dec 9, 2013 11:12 PM #

Good point Clean!

Dec 9, 2013 11:12 PM #

Wonder if Columbia isn't close to done. Sticky tracker.

Dec 9, 2013 11:13 PM #

Here's how "fun" it is to portage a raft after 7+ days of hard, hard racing....
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6333641100...

Dec 9, 2013 11:14 PM #

awefull location for a zip line....well strategy will play a big part...

Dec 9, 2013 11:17 PM #

I think Tecnu is still ahead as of their 16:53 track. They're at most 2 km behind Adidas on the tracking map but they tracked 13 minutes earlier. If you assume even 20 kph, then 13 minutes should put them 4-5 km ahead of where they are now at 17:06 (Adidas' tracker time).

Dec 9, 2013 11:19 PM #

The guide should help them portage too...

Dec 9, 2013 11:19 PM #

Yep, Tecnu clearly (?) ahead.

Dec 9, 2013 11:20 PM #

Hmmm... not sure. My latest look at the map shows Tecnu less then 2 km ahead, but with an extra 7 minutes (17:13 vs 17:06)

Dec 9, 2013 11:22 PM #

Columbia has reappeared 1-2km out from the "sprint finish chute".

Dec 9, 2013 11:23 PM #

Merrell is making a great comeback after a slowdown from Quasar! They're more-or-less together. Ish.

Dec 9, 2013 11:24 PM #

Mimi. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1020259255...

Dec 9, 2013 11:25 PM #

BMS has also put on a good pace since breaking away at the ferry.

Dec 9, 2013 11:25 PM #

SOOOoooo cool for Columbia!

And great to see Merrell back into the action!

Dec 9, 2013 11:27 PM #

Do they have to pack their bikes prior to doing the zip line?

Dec 9, 2013 11:27 PM #

Yup CO, that 17:13 track is not so good for Tecnu. They should be further along.

Dec 9, 2013 11:27 PM #

The caption under Mimi's photo (in Portuguese, I think), translates to: wordless
(I think we all get it)

Dec 9, 2013 11:29 PM #

Good question, Mike.

Dec 9, 2013 11:29 PM #

Spare a thought for Relentless. Team Eastwind is a couple hours away from the kayak/trek TA, and Relentless will be doing The Snake Trek *again* tonight. What is that... 5 times? Maybe more with the back and forth from the road?

Dec 9, 2013 11:29 PM #

i think its 5:30 there is darkness an issue

Dec 9, 2013 11:30 PM #

Adidas just made a good jump :)

Dec 9, 2013 11:32 PM #

I think Adidas and Tecnu must be pretty close together right now - final sprint. Aieee!!!

Dec 9, 2013 11:33 PM #

Onallumette2, they didn't say there was a dark zone for this rafting section so the rapids must not be as big.

Dec 9, 2013 11:34 PM #

RacingDenmark has re-blipped at the raft-to-kayak TA. Working backwards from their last track last night at the medical checkup, they could still be legal for the full course. So, perhaps the new candidate for Lanterne Rouge.

There is also Leki who have not tracked since then and may also be in the full race.

Dec 9, 2013 11:35 PM #

Wow, I hadn't thought of whether they have to pack their bikes before the final rafting...

I envision expensive equipment getting jammed into bike boxes as fast as possible! Pull the skewers, probably lose them in the grass without bothering to notice until you get home, drop the frame in, shove the wheels in, who cares about the derailler hanger - you can buy a new one after the race (when you go to buy new skewers), leave the pedals on, so what if the box gets wrecked, it has done most of its job....

Oh yeah, and paddle and portage in your bike shoes

Dec 9, 2013 11:36 PM #

Thanks well i'm not going anywhere just wish I could see it

Dec 9, 2013 11:37 PM #

Now the Adidas dot is a little ahead (4km) but waiting for an update from Tecnu to balance the 13 minute difference somewhat....

Dec 9, 2013 11:38 PM #

Maybe they're holding hands and have agreed to tie for third place....

(dogs and cats living together..... yeah, right)

Dec 9, 2013 11:38 PM #

TRACK, TECNU!!

Dec 9, 2013 11:42 PM #

Adidas didn't slow down as much as Tecnu through the CP, and have now restarted at a faster pace. Hope Tecnu can match it!

Dec 9, 2013 11:45 PM #

Tecnu just tracked but I don't think they are ahead once you do the math

7 minutes, about 1 km ahead

Dec 9, 2013 11:46 PM #

Columbia are, um, swiftly, gently and I'm sure very gracefully heading down the finish chute with their boat right about now (or are finished.)

Dec 9, 2013 11:46 PM #

Tecnu is about 1.5 km ahead, but 7 minutes later

Dec 9, 2013 11:46 PM #

Wow, Tecnu is still in front - ?
Who is drafting who?

:D

Dec 9, 2013 11:47 PM #

Columbia is about *500 metres* from the finish....
(portage....)

Dec 9, 2013 11:47 PM #

it's a dead heat. gonna be crazy at the canopy tour and rafting

Dec 9, 2013 11:48 PM #

I think Adidas has moved ahead. Hermes texted to say she just saw them. I'm awaiting further details. (Well, really only *one* detail.)

Dec 9, 2013 11:48 PM #

Fuddam, my guess is that Tecnu is just a litte behind.... barely.... This must be grueling to watch....
We really need footage of this....

Dec 9, 2013 11:49 PM #

Aackk! Next track is in from Adidas. It looks like they're together again. Hermes, text me back!!!

Dec 9, 2013 11:50 PM #

To break up the tension...
Great Langdale Bunkhouse has finished the monster trek! Yay for them!

Dec 9, 2013 11:50 PM #

I wonder if Tecnu being ahead helped Adidas find the CP?

Dec 9, 2013 11:51 PM #

Yay, Great Langdale Bunkhouse! :)

Adidas is 5-6 km from the zipline. There is no time for *anything* to go wrong.

Dec 9, 2013 11:51 PM #

Sweet dreams, South Africa, Merrell is definitely quite a bit ahead of Quasar!

Dec 9, 2013 11:51 PM #

lol, another jump by Adidas - gotta laugh

Clean: how do you know about Adidas?

Dec 9, 2013 11:52 PM #

It's getting dark now, their lights will be easy to spot.

Dec 9, 2013 11:52 PM #

I would kill for synchronized trackers right now

Dec 9, 2013 11:52 PM #

Sitting on the trainer and my cadence just picked up. Sending energy your way Tecnu

Dec 9, 2013 11:52 PM #

How do I know what about Adidas? :)

Dec 9, 2013 11:53 PM #

Columbia 2nd. Congrats!

Dec 9, 2013 11:54 PM #

Yay!!! What a strong, consistent race. Great job moving up through the pack and staying there. It can be hard to race by yourself for that long.

Dec 9, 2013 11:55 PM #

Text from Hermes... Tecnu and Adidas are together!!!!!!

Dec 9, 2013 11:56 PM #

sorry, getting foncused. Meant GLB :)

Dec 9, 2013 11:56 PM #

YIKES!!! Thats nuts

Dec 9, 2013 11:57 PM #

It took Columbia around 2:20 to do the rafting section. I bet this will be the hardest they have ever paddled in rafts and that sprint will be brutal.

Dec 9, 2013 11:58 PM #

@fuddam - their tracker simply shows that they've slowly but steadily arrived at the trek-to-bike TA. So a bike ride down now and then transport to wherever the shortcourse resumes. (?)
They may not be the last team off the mountain though (still a bunch of sticky trackers earlier along the route.)

Dec 9, 2013 11:59 PM #

Merrell has definitely passed Quasalontra - woot!

I'm a saffer, after all

:D

Dec 10, 2013 12:03 AM #

Columbia Vidaraid at the finish.
https://twitter.com/adventurenet/status/4101964249...

Dec 10, 2013 12:05 AM #

Eat some food, Tecnu! Keep the fuel to the engine going!

Dec 10, 2013 12:06 AM #

Separate interview with Jacky and Mimi:

http://www.endorphinmag.fr/video.php

Dec 10, 2013 12:07 AM #

Adidas' next track will be very soon, and it will be at the zipline. Watch Twitter. I'm hoping Hermes will have time to update me but she may be occupied.

Dec 10, 2013 12:08 AM #

Thanks for bracing us for it, Bash. ;)

Dec 10, 2013 12:09 AM #

Oh, wow, this thread was amazing to catch up on. A day at work took me away from following. Amazing accomplishment by both Thule and Columbia. And the heated battle for third is crazy! They both deserve the podium equally after this! Thanks everyone for the coverage while some of us had to work. I so wish there was TV coverage of this too. That would make me buy cable!

Dec 10, 2013 12:11 AM #

Welcome back, Carbon! I'm refreshing the leaderboard too, in case geofencing tells us when they get there.

Dec 10, 2013 12:11 AM #

It would certainly make me rent cable for a week. :)

Dec 10, 2013 12:15 AM #

Just wanted to chime in on an earlier post about top adventure racers. I think some women are worthy of that top 10 list too. There have been may, many strong women in the sport over the years.

Okay, back to the refresh button!

Dec 10, 2013 12:16 AM #

wokitoki:

Not sure if it's been said, but what's the likelihood that Tecnu and Adidas agree to finish together?

Dec 10, 2013 12:17 AM #

I was thinking exactly that as I typed my comment about them both deserving the podium!

Dec 10, 2013 12:17 AM #

Not one chance in a million.

Dec 10, 2013 12:17 AM #

The zip may separate them though and the question is if they would wait for the other team.

Dec 10, 2013 12:17 AM #

probably slim to none, wokitoki. It's a nice thought and it might happen, but I would be very surprised. Then again, stranger things have happened.

Dec 10, 2013 12:18 AM #

Can Hermes clarify whether Tecnu and Adidas are together *by choice*?

Dec 10, 2013 12:19 AM #

There was a famous combined finish for the win at Primal Quest the year a racer (Nigel?) died.

Dec 10, 2013 12:19 AM #

Hermes isn't talking. I'm sure they're at the TA now, and she is busy.

Dec 10, 2013 12:19 AM #

I think by the post-CP pace, they are racing like crazy. :)

Dec 10, 2013 12:20 AM #

from Randy
"This morning they only had 4 harnesses at the zipline. If that holds,and it might,kind of a low rent zipline, the first team in will win. It takes about an hour."

Dec 10, 2013 12:21 AM #

Ken, could you please deal with Adidas' tracker? And then get the organizers to tweet something?

Dec 10, 2013 12:22 AM #

:)

Dec 10, 2013 12:22 AM #

Since they don't wear their packs for the zipline, their trackers could end up lying face down in a pile o' gear. We may have to rely on other sources of info.

Dec 10, 2013 12:23 AM #

Carbon, i agree with your statement regarding a number of great women racers over the years. The list was not in any particular order and simply listed the individuals who have won multiple ARWC Championships which includes 2 women (Monique Merrill and Myriam Guillot) and now 3 of the 4 winners this year.

Dec 10, 2013 12:25 AM #

Text from Hermes: "They are off on the zipline."

I'm clarifying "they". :)

Dec 10, 2013 12:25 AM #

"Ladies first, then the guys together".

I wondered if that might happen! So it'll be a rafting race.

Dec 10, 2013 12:25 AM #

could she be any more specific???!!!!....this is crazy!

Dec 10, 2013 12:26 AM #

I am sure they're all wide awake now....;)

Dec 10, 2013 12:26 AM #

Seriously!!! Freak out!

Dec 10, 2013 12:27 AM #

"In less than 30 minutes, they will be paddling."

Dec 10, 2013 12:29 AM #

Okay, that's extremely cute.

Dec 10, 2013 12:30 AM #

They want a fair fight to the finish.

Dec 10, 2013 12:31 AM #

So they essentially put them on and off the zip at matching times? I guess that's the only fair way, if they show up at the same time.
Crazy! What a race!!

Dec 10, 2013 12:31 AM #

how very noble of them....;)

Dec 10, 2013 12:31 AM #

Meanwhile, even the tracking technology is holding its breath, as no one has updated on the entire map in forever.

Dec 10, 2013 12:31 AM #

Better put dinner on hold...

Dec 10, 2013 12:31 AM #

So we can stop watching *their* trackers for 30 minutes. BMS is still 5th with almost a 1.5 hr lead over 6th place Merrell, who have a small lead over Quasarlontra. However, their tracks are all about an hour old.

Dec 10, 2013 12:37 AM #

Are you serious Bash? Is that how they really are sending them across? That's very cool!

Dec 10, 2013 12:38 AM #

I had wondered if they might alternate members of different teams, and Hermes confirmed it. But what will they do next? I guess it will be a race to see who can get their PFDs on and run to the water's edge the fastest? It's usually hard to pass on rafts. Or it could come down to a guide's error. Eeeks.

Dec 10, 2013 12:38 AM #

From Sleepmonsters:
Hot off the press: Adidas Terrex & Tecnu are going through the zipline TOGETHER. It will be a rafting race finish! #ARWC2013

Dec 10, 2013 12:40 AM #

That may have come from Attackpoint. Fuddam is reporting for Sleepmonsters. :)

Dec 10, 2013 12:44 AM #

Hard to keep sources straight! The leaderboard has Adidas Terrex in first, but I never trust those numbers as they seem to auto-update. Wondering how it will finish....I know I'd just want to share 3rd....but, that's why I'm not out there right now ;)

Dec 10, 2013 12:50 AM #

Trackers finally updated! Merrell looks to have pulled away a little further from Quasarlontra. BMS is still well ahead though.

Dec 10, 2013 12:51 AM #

Ansilta has re-blipped alongside Leki at the end of the rafting. Given their last track on the mountain, it's juuuust possible that they are still on the full course. That would put them at the back of the pack.

Dec 10, 2013 12:57 AM #

The question is, did Jari or Karen get on the line first? One team will have all members off the line first, and thus run towards the rafts first...every second counts.

Assuming the guides take the same exact line, it all boils down to which team paddles best AND has the most fuel in the tank for HARD paddle to the finish. I hope they shoved down some fast energy like gels or Vitargo down while they could in the last hour.

Dec 10, 2013 12:57 AM #

rafting race then a sprint to the finish for 3rd...Bob must be having deja vue

Dec 10, 2013 12:58 AM #

Oh man, you are right!

Dec 10, 2013 12:59 AM #

I wonder if guides will feel the same pressure....

Dec 10, 2013 1:02 AM #

It could be like when people lose Amazing Race because of a taxi driver's error.

Dec 10, 2013 1:03 AM #

the tension mounts

Dec 10, 2013 1:03 AM #

Maybe it will be a guides' race for pride as well. I'm sure they know each other well and will relish the competition.

Dec 10, 2013 1:03 AM #

We had guided rafts at The Apex Race, and our guide was competitive. It was great!

Dec 10, 2013 1:05 AM #

Barring disaster (and it's never safe to do that), Aerodiva has started the bike ride in a secure-looking 8th place, and Bones should be on the road rash section of The Snake Trek in a secure 9th place. There is a tight battle for 10th among Bivouac Colts, Mountain Hardwear and Eastwind with the Colts probably in the lead.

Dec 10, 2013 1:05 AM #

Why deja vu for Bob? If only someone could Ustream the finish line...

Dec 10, 2013 1:07 AM #

Was that Primal Quest Utah? He was in a battle for 3rd, rafting to the finish, then running up to the finish line onshore. His teammates' raft got caught in a whirlpool and they ended up placing 4th, 30 seconds behind 3rd (Robyn Benincasa's team, I think).

Dec 10, 2013 1:08 AM #

yup, PQ Utah with the McMahons and ScoFo

Dec 10, 2013 1:08 AM #

Aaaaaand it's come to this: we've crashed the Breathe Liveblog.

Dec 10, 2013 1:09 AM #

Bandwidth Limit Exceeded

The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit. Please try again later.

Dec 10, 2013 1:10 AM #

Hang in there, Ken! Hold 'er together! :D

Dec 10, 2013 1:10 AM #

awesome!

Dec 10, 2013 1:10 AM #

Clean, you were the one who poked fun at the machines. Now they come with their revenge...

Dec 10, 2013 1:11 AM #

and also CRAP!
I just messaged JP, maybe he can light some fires under some nerd asses and get us up and going again

Dec 10, 2013 1:11 AM #

When the machines rise, I'll be the first up against the firewall.

(Sorry, that's teeeeerrrible.hahah)

Dec 10, 2013 1:14 AM #

Bash, did you compare real adventure racing with Amazing Race??? Now *that's* terrible!! With all your AP seniority points, I expect much better! ;)

I can hear all of our co-workers and friends chanting "you should do Amazing Race!..."

Dec 10, 2013 1:14 AM #

Just sent Ken a bandwidth relief package donation, just in case!

Dec 10, 2013 1:15 AM #

CO, I literally get that all the time. Mantracker too. (Although I don't think orienteers are eligible for the latter!)

Dec 10, 2013 1:16 AM #

I get that all the time too, and I roll my eyes. What I meant was that a competitor's fate could depend on the skills of a third party outside the competition, regardles of the type of competition. Amazing Race is *nothing* like adventure racing, and I would hate all the city stuff.

Dec 10, 2013 1:17 AM #

If we all had a nickel for you should do the amazing race, or what not...but back to the race...I just refreshed and saw Adidas in?

Dec 10, 2013 1:18 AM #

The trackers have updated at the zip line. They don't take their packs (or trackers) on the zip line.

Dec 10, 2013 1:19 AM #

Tecnu's tracker seems to be on the move south to the river though...

Dec 10, 2013 1:19 AM #

Ha, yep, Mantracker too! Lawrence Foster (former Team Subaru Canada, Team Schick Extreme Canada etc back in the Borneo, Fiji days. Course designer for ARWC 2004 Newfoundland Canada) is the course designer and cameraman for Mantracker. He has told us that if we wanted to get on the show, we would have to hide the fact that we are adventure racers! Probably the same for Amazing Race

Dec 10, 2013 1:19 AM #

*Mantracker* would be fun - but two of the cameramen are adventure racers we know well, and they've assured us that we'll *never* be selected.

Dec 10, 2013 1:20 AM #

This race just keeps getting better and better!!!!

Dec 10, 2013 1:21 AM #

Ha, CO! Great minds. The other adventure racer cameraman is Mike "Shifty" Schaffel, whom we've raced with several times. He says that Mantracker episodes get boring if contestants are good at bushwhacking.

Btw Lawrence Foster is in Costa Rica. I've seen a few pics of him, probably filming teams like Relentless and Legendaryrandy.

Dec 10, 2013 1:21 AM #

ok, BreatheMag is back up :)
hurray for nerds

Dec 10, 2013 1:22 AM #

Has Merrell gained some on BMS?

Dec 10, 2013 1:23 AM #

Merrell is about 1:20 behind, going by BMS's tracker time.
BMS seems to be taking "the other" route down from CP48

Dec 10, 2013 1:25 AM #

Harps:

Turbox told me Lawrence was the cameraman for "Limitless"; none of the usual camera guys could keep up especially in something like AR.

Dec 10, 2013 1:27 AM #

Ah, that makes sense. Cool! :)

Dec 10, 2013 1:29 AM #

Leki has joined Ansilta and RacingDenmark at the raft-to-kayak. They're currently last on the full course. (It's my assumption that if they're there, they're still good. Not sure where the short course resumes, and can't find official info on the race sites.)
The only other MIA's now are Motley Crew, Endurancelife, and Freemind, but I don't think they would have made the cut-off.

Dec 10, 2013 1:32 AM #

Still a big traffic jam on the kayak section

Dec 10, 2013 1:35 AM #

They should get a paddling song going. I wonder over how many kilometres you could stretch the sound of a single song if you tried to sing together.

Dec 10, 2013 1:36 AM #

Great idea Clean! ....what, like 'Row, row, row your Tomcat'?

Dec 10, 2013 1:42 AM #

Haha. As if the Tomcats weren't driving them all to madness already.

Dec 10, 2013 1:46 AM #

no one has mentioned Nick Gracie's borrowed bike story? just saw the post on Sleepmonster's facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6334455833...

Dec 10, 2013 1:47 AM #

From Hermes: Tecnu and Adidas started rafting at the same time.

Dec 10, 2013 1:48 AM #

Story on Sleepmonsters facebook page that Nick Gracie's bike broke and he borrowed one from a farmer and rode it to the finish. Here is a photo:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6334455833...

Dec 10, 2013 1:49 AM #

Opps overlapped a post.

Dec 10, 2013 1:49 AM #

OMG! Re: the rafting start!

And Nick Gracie's amazing ride on the heavy bike!

Dec 10, 2013 1:49 AM #

Somebody put a live cameraman on that river!!!!

Dec 10, 2013 1:49 AM #

that's a great photo , and what a story

Dec 10, 2013 1:50 AM #

I am sitting outside the hockey rink considering not playing hockey. Wtf...

Dec 10, 2013 1:51 AM #

a river cam...would be nice where's google earth when you need it

Dec 10, 2013 1:51 AM #

Thule and Columbia took 2.5-3 hours for the rafting. You've got time for a game - although it will be interesting to follow their progress.

Hermes says they were all surprisingly with it - chatting away, not zoned out, etc.

Dec 10, 2013 1:51 AM #

Simpy, you've got a little time. Play for a while, then have a mysterious injury...

Dec 10, 2013 1:51 AM #

cramptonite:

Reminds me of the borrowed shoes at WT. I'm sitting in O'Hare hoping my flight is delayed more...

Dec 10, 2013 1:56 AM #

Why are THEY making is so difficult for us?!

Dec 10, 2013 1:59 AM #

Since we're getting buttkiss from the rafting trackers, could someone corroborate the fact that BMS may be having trouble finding CP48? While Merrell is chasing? I feel like they might have gone too far west.

EDIT: or maybe they've hit it and are just taking the westerly route down? Kind of slowed down the pace though.

Dec 10, 2013 2:02 AM #

My resident Yiddish expert says you mean "bupkis". ;)

Dec 10, 2013 2:04 AM #

Ah, zwracam honor. (He can look that one up!)

Also, BMS are doubling back east!

Dec 10, 2013 2:04 AM #

Can't...stop...refreshing...can't stop checking AP...oh! A new message!

Dec 10, 2013 2:06 AM #

I don't think they missed it, but they started down the western route and seemed to have thought better (worse?) of it and turned around. They should get back to the CP and head south again on a different route

Dec 10, 2013 2:07 AM #

Great catch, Clean! Wow, Merrell has put lots of time into Quasarlontra. Since our South African friends are asleep, I'll say on their behalf: "Yay, team! Go go go! Sterkte!"

Dec 10, 2013 2:08 AM #

satellite image shows large chiquita banana plantation to the east of finish area...my geography lesson for the day

Dec 10, 2013 2:09 AM #

I think Tecnu and Adidas may be going harder than this:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015202413...

Dec 10, 2013 2:10 AM #

OMG, that made me literally lough out loud.

Dec 10, 2013 2:11 AM #

yah, Thule were utterly trashed

Dec 10, 2013 2:12 AM #

Sorry, no disrespect to Thule. I just mean in the context above.

Dec 10, 2013 2:13 AM #

Didn't someone say that the battle for third may be decided by the guides?

Dec 10, 2013 2:14 AM #

no guide in the picture

Dec 10, 2013 2:14 AM #

Couple of photos of Adidas and Tecnu on the zip line while we wait:

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_photos.php?event_i...

Dec 10, 2013 2:15 AM #

C'mon Merrell!!!!! Maybe maybe maybe

Dec 10, 2013 2:15 AM #

We are just a few posts away from *tripling* the longest-ever Attackpoint thread - which was 640 posts for last year's ARWC.

Dec 10, 2013 2:16 AM #

I thought the guide was the only one in the photo who is sitting up and paddling?....

Dec 10, 2013 2:16 AM #

from the photo the guides are wearing helmet cams... should be some interesting photos coming up from this finish i hope...

Dec 10, 2013 2:16 AM #

Joe- The guide is the only one paddling.

Dec 10, 2013 2:16 AM #

There was a guide in this photo.
http://instagram.com/p/htgfaBzfxS/

Dec 10, 2013 2:17 AM #

yes, that's the guide paddling up front...

Dec 10, 2013 2:17 AM #

So yes, in that case, the guide *really* does make the difference :)

Dec 10, 2013 2:17 AM #

Grrr...second post in a row someone beat me to the point. Sharp crew here.

Dec 10, 2013 2:19 AM #

suffering from a long day in front of the screen.

Dec 10, 2013 2:20 AM #

blip from Adidas, none from Tecnu yet.

Dec 10, 2013 2:21 AM #

ok john sit up and take notice

Dec 10, 2013 2:21 AM #

@Jay, don't feel bad - it takes a village to tell Joe off. ;)

Dec 10, 2013 2:22 AM #

Btw for those who don't know, Onallumette2 grew up with Slice's Mom, and it is cool that he's become enough of an adventure racing fan to follow her races and to stick around even after she's out of a race!

Dec 10, 2013 2:23 AM #

Oh man, Merrell is within 1km+ of BMS, who are still milling around in the neighbourhood of CP48.

Dec 10, 2013 2:24 AM #

Here is the second preview video from Wild Racers for viewing pleasure while waiting for Tecnu and Adidas to update:

http://vimeo.com/81452778#at=17

Dec 10, 2013 2:25 AM #

It took Columbia 2 hours to reach the finish from the place where Adidas updated at 20:07.

Dec 10, 2013 2:25 AM #

thanks Bash

Dec 10, 2013 2:26 AM #

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6334546200...
worst feet I've ever seen

Dec 10, 2013 2:31 AM #

Up at the Turtle Sanctuary, Bivvy Colts have been snoozing for the past 3hrs. Toyota and East Wind are leaving the channel ahead of them.

Dec 10, 2013 2:31 AM #

Go Merrell! Great comeback.

Dec 10, 2013 2:32 AM #

agree! awesome stuff Merrell!!!

Dec 10, 2013 2:33 AM #

Valhalla Specialized is on the bus to the short course - curious where their next stop is - maybe the trek-to-bike up north? Anyone know?

EDIT: unless they're just knocking back a few in Tres Equis while they wait for the bus. :) I don't know why I'm still characterizing this as a party town. I just am.

Dec 10, 2013 2:34 AM #

Maybe just the bike since you need a water taxi to get to the start of that trek?

Dec 10, 2013 2:35 AM #

It took Tecnu 2 hours to reach the zipline from where BMS is now. Merrell is 2-3 kms behind them. So they just need to ride a *little* faster over the next 2 hours...

Dec 10, 2013 2:35 AM #

Yup, that's what I think, just let them off at the bikes again.

Dec 10, 2013 2:38 AM #

Btw we tripled the Attackpoint thread record about 10 posts ago. And we haven't even *begun* to hear the stories from the Attackpointers who raced, worked and volunteered at the event. That's always fun - when they tell us where we were right and wrong in our speculation.

Dec 10, 2013 2:40 AM #

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/please-air-wild...

Dec 10, 2013 2:40 AM #

It's been 1.5 hours since Tecnu's tracker updated. Beantown? You brought it this time, right? ;)

Dec 10, 2013 2:42 AM #

Not nice!

Dec 10, 2013 2:42 AM #

Haha! I forgot about that Bash....Gee, I hope he did!

Dec 10, 2013 2:43 AM #

that's too bad.. had hoped to see the trackers going head to head...not to be,

Dec 10, 2013 2:44 AM #

weren't Columbia's and Thule's trackers unreliable in the rafting section, too? maybe a weird bermuda triangle area. thankfully no nav left!

Dec 10, 2013 2:44 AM #

Bivvy Colts just got the wake-up call. Moving out of the channel with a bunch of teams in a toss-up for 10th.

Dec 10, 2013 2:45 AM #

Gosh Jay, you don't see the humour in that? ;) At Wilderness Traverse, we thought at first that Tecnu's tracker had been left on a pack that got put into a drybag. It's easy to do when you're tired and in a hurry. (Check, and check.)

Dec 10, 2013 2:47 AM #

nice Barb.

Dec 10, 2013 2:47 AM #

I really think BMS have screwed up! They're going back up! They're about to get into a head-on with Merrell!

Dec 10, 2013 2:47 AM #

Oh man, I just looked at Los Dobos' link to the photo of Jacky's feet! I can't believe he was able to keep going on those!

Dec 10, 2013 2:48 AM #

You got my hopes up Silkychrome but when I checked, the tracking for Columbia and Thule on the river was pretty much flawless - every 20 minutes. :(

Dec 10, 2013 2:49 AM #

Wow, this is crazy with BMS and Merrell!
Merrell's back in the battle for top 5! Wake up the South Africans on AP!!!

Dec 10, 2013 2:50 AM #

Maybe Hermes can do some drive-by reportage from that road beside the river???

Dec 10, 2013 2:51 AM #

When Merrell sees BMS, hopefully the excitement of what is possible gives them extra energy!

Dec 10, 2013 2:51 AM #

hmmmm, maybe i just wasn't hitting refresh often enough!

Dec 10, 2013 2:52 AM #

Hermes has gone to the finish with champagne on ice.

Incredible re BMS and Merrell!! We should have gotten phone numbers to text the South Africans in case of emergency.

Dec 10, 2013 2:52 AM #

These "blind" (we can't see the tracking) battles are a killer!

Dec 10, 2013 2:54 AM #

I know! On the bright side, I could get something else done over the next hour. Or at least I *could* have, until this battle for 5th heated up.

Dec 10, 2013 2:54 AM #

supercool facebook message from LosDobos to Don...he's awake and cheering! go Merrell!

Dec 10, 2013 2:55 AM #

I'm so hungry. I haven't left work and haven't eaten. I may die here.

Dec 10, 2013 2:55 AM #

heheh, I had to get up again. It's now 2:55am here in the UK

GO MERRELL!!! HAMBANI MANJE!!!!

lol, this is flipping unreal

:D

Dec 10, 2013 2:55 AM #

Oh super-like, silkychrome!

Dec 10, 2013 2:57 AM #

Where is 28 going?....

Dec 10, 2013 2:58 AM #

@Myka - that's the route everyone else took too. There are some invisible paths in there.

Dec 10, 2013 3:00 AM #

The CP is not where it is on the tracker, it's east of the top of the "M" shape of the tracker line.

Dec 10, 2013 3:00 AM #

Oh...ok:)
Untamed has a lot of room around them, on that paddle but at least everyone in front of them scared the crocs away (hopefully)

Dec 10, 2013 3:01 AM #

Clean: just like racing, there will never be a good time to stop and eat or sleep, you'll just have to make what you think is the most strategic choice and stick with it.
As for eating, I plan to carry lots of high energy snacks in pockets that I can easily reach so that I don't have to stop to eat, and graze continuously to keep my energy up. Now is not the time to bonk.

Dec 10, 2013 3:01 AM #

Just got home..anything happening? lol..

Clean - didn't you grab some apples from Tyandaga the other day? They were plentiful. I cannot believe how close this race for 3rd is and WTF is the Tecnu tracker not working…not funny Bash btw re Beantown. :)

Dec 10, 2013 3:02 AM #

Thank goodness the iPad can walk around the house with me. Still managing to get ..... one thing done in the last hour or so.....

Dec 10, 2013 3:03 AM #

I was supposed to put up the Christmas tree today....had to tell my kid we HAVE to postpone it till after the race :)

Dec 10, 2013 3:03 AM #

Adidas tracker just updated. still no Tecnu ping.

Dec 10, 2013 3:04 AM #

LOL @ CO!! I'm not prepared for this race at all, hahaha. Amateur!

(I am, however, about to call in the pizza delivery order.)

Dec 10, 2013 3:04 AM #

BMS going north

Dec 10, 2013 3:05 AM #

Where is the message from LosDobos to Don? Don's page?

Dec 10, 2013 3:05 AM #

It's official: Merrell is 5th.

Dec 10, 2013 3:06 AM #

They still have to find this stinky CP in the dark though.
I think BMS might be backtracking to figure out where they went wrong. Feel bad for them in the pitch black.

Dec 10, 2013 3:07 AM #

if a guide is paddling on one boat, I wonder if the other team's is as well, and if both steerers (k amd jari?) have equal skill...and comms with the tico guides...

Dec 10, 2013 3:07 AM #

@Bash https://www.facebook.com/donovan.sims.39/posts/102...

Dec 10, 2013 3:09 AM #

while we wait, i think this link of Mimi's post race interview was already posted, but any French speakers want to take a stab at giving us a general recap?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl39jcv7ttw

Dec 10, 2013 3:09 AM #

OK, OK, I'm sorry Beantown. :) In fact, it is obvious from the photos taken over the past 24 hours that Beantown is still incredibly strong - pulling the pace line on the bikes, carrying extra paddles, etc. Obviously a big factor in getting the team to this point.

Dec 10, 2013 3:10 AM #

Thanks Silkychrome for posting that!

Dec 10, 2013 3:11 AM #

I was saying thanks for posting the message to Don. I'm not volunteering to translate Mimi's interview. :)

Dec 10, 2013 3:12 AM #

even if some of the SA crew is sleeping, i think Don counts for a million!

Dec 10, 2013 3:12 AM #

I'll give it a shot later, busy going nuts with everything else right now. also, lots of background noise makes it hard to understand her...I'll let you know what I come up with

Dec 10, 2013 3:13 AM #

Yes, Beantown must be rocking it! They all must be!

Dec 10, 2013 3:14 AM #

Thanks for both of those, Silkychrome. I was going to suggest LosDobos for the translation too. It was much easier to understand Phatty because he was speaking French at my pace!

Dec 10, 2013 3:17 AM #

It's 5:15 a.m. in Johannesburg. Our "night shift" will be back with us soon. Fuddam from the U.K. barely left!

Dec 10, 2013 3:19 AM #

If Adidas is paddling at the same pace as Columbia, they'll be at the finish in under an hour! Where, oh where, is Tecnu?!?!?

Dec 10, 2013 3:22 AM #

From Earring Doug:

We saw them on the bike battling with Addidas, back and forth, and caught them on a paceline as a team of eight. . The 2 teams came into the transition area of the canopy section together and traded on going down the zipline. They then ran down to the waters edge together and got into the rafts for the final two hours of this epic race. It's going to be a photo finish

Dec 10, 2013 3:23 AM #

I am yelling at my screen… TRACK!!!!

Dec 10, 2013 3:29 AM #

It's tracking!!

Dec 10, 2013 3:29 AM #

Tracker shows Tecnu being a few kms ahead but 9 minutes ahead on update!

Dec 10, 2013 3:30 AM #

tried that...doesn't work...people in the cafe give you strange looks

Dec 10, 2013 3:31 AM #

Tecnu tracking ahead of Adidas and with time to spare on tracker

Dec 10, 2013 3:31 AM #

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec 10, 2013 3:31 AM #

It's tracking!!!!!

Dec 10, 2013 3:32 AM #

From Colombia's breadcrumbs, it appears Tecnu is 48 minutes and 23 seconds from the finish.

Dec 10, 2013 3:32 AM #

Tecnu is truly leading

Dec 10, 2013 3:32 AM #

Oh my gosh! They are ahead!

Dec 10, 2013 3:32 AM #

Dig deep. Empty the tank.

Dec 10, 2013 3:33 AM #

WOW new update Adidas officially 11 minutes behind!! Tracked as same spot!

Dec 10, 2013 3:34 AM #

Meanwhile, BMS is coming back again slowly, and Merrell has really slowed to find that pesky CP. It's a battle of navigators here. And Quasar is closing in.

Dec 10, 2013 3:34 AM #

hallelujah! I stand corrected: it DOES work!

Dec 10, 2013 3:34 AM #

Holding my breath...but not sure I can last for 48 minutes. Gooooo Getawaystix!

Dec 10, 2013 3:36 AM #

Tecnu 11 minutes ahead with tracker dots on top of each other!

Dec 10, 2013 3:36 AM #

In other words, Tecnu was already there 11 minutes earlier

(Yay, trackers, the machine are cooperating)

Dec 10, 2013 3:37 AM #

the CP should be obvious: it's on a bridge, isn't it? follow the river on your left, take the first bridge and there you go. In theory...
talking bout Merrell again

Dec 10, 2013 3:40 AM #

11 minutes??!! 7.5 days of all-out racing has come down to a battle of 11 minutes??!!

Dec 10, 2013 3:41 AM #

That was post #2000!

Dec 10, 2013 3:41 AM #

You mean there's still a CP and they have to pull over and punch the thing??

Dec 10, 2013 3:41 AM #

yea

Dec 10, 2013 3:41 AM #

Damn, just when I thought I might have time to wash the dishes... AWESOME!!! :)))))

Dec 10, 2013 3:42 AM #

You have 45 minutes, Bash....;)

Dec 10, 2013 3:42 AM #

sorry Myka, you should have been the one to scoop the 2000 prize.
Okay, Jacky's podiatrist, tell them what they've won!

Dec 10, 2013 3:43 AM #

No! Because now there is a *race* to watch!

Dec 10, 2013 3:43 AM #

Bash, throw the dishes in the garbage. Done.

Dec 10, 2013 3:43 AM #

How bout 2000th poster gets to give poor Jackie a pedi? Yikes..

Dec 10, 2013 3:44 AM #

Were you it, CO?

Dec 10, 2013 3:44 AM #

Brilliant, DD11!

Dec 10, 2013 3:45 AM #

Love it, DD11! Right on.

Dec 10, 2013 3:45 AM #

There's always the Bandwidth Preservation Fund. We've been using our share and then some!

Dec 10, 2013 3:48 AM #

Yep, I was number 2000. Did you see the look on the face of the medic who was working on Jacky's feet? Don't want to be that person, no thank you!

I'll take the cash prize instead....

Dec 10, 2013 3:49 AM #

thanks Ken! :)

Dec 10, 2013 3:50 AM #

Ha, no substitutes! You take the prize, CO...you've earned it :)

Dec 10, 2013 3:50 AM #

Perimeter-challenged to boot!

Dec 10, 2013 3:50 AM #

Love the BPF Bash! All the dots on AP always work... Good payback on investment!

Seriously, I think I'd be more devasted if AP went down now than the race website!

Dec 10, 2013 3:53 AM #

I agree, CO! as nice as the trackers are, the info on AP is wayyyyy better.

Dec 10, 2013 3:53 AM #

Whaaaat? Is Quasarlontra closing some gap on Merrell and BMS?!

Dec 10, 2013 3:53 AM #

I think Merrell is on top of that CP, they just gotta hit it. BMS is still way up the road.

In other news, my life-saving pizza has arrived.

Dec 10, 2013 3:55 AM #

Way to improvise Clean!

Dec 10, 2013 3:56 AM #

Hermes says all the press has moved down the road to see Tecnu and Adidas as they approach but she is staying at the finish line and is very proud indeed. :) Maybe this means we'll get some photos and tweets with news from race media but I'm not holding my breath.

Dec 10, 2013 3:59 AM #

I guess it's safe to declare Getawaystix, Beantown and Tico 3.0 (prescient choice of number) the top Attackpointers in the race.

Dec 10, 2013 3:59 AM #

I'm guessing the text from Hermes will be our first news. Unless she is very busy and distracted....

Dec 10, 2013 3:59 AM #

Isn't Marcocopuffs on AP?

Dec 10, 2013 4:00 AM #

Are any of Thule on AP? Or any other Columbia members?

Dec 10, 2013 4:00 AM #

You may have to reward CO with a differnt price as he is not all that great with icky medical stuff (and I bet ugly feet would be included)....he fainted when visiting me in the hospital recently :).

Dec 10, 2013 4:00 AM #

Enjoying your pizza, Clean? :)

Dec 10, 2013 4:00 AM #

I'm making the call that Tecnu will be hitting end of paddle in 23 minutes, 22 seconds. DO NOT GO TO BED!

Dec 10, 2013 4:01 AM #

I don't mean on AP right now ;), just members
But if any of them are, can you please tell us who is in third? :)

If it was Bash, she'd be texting while paddling ;)

Dec 10, 2013 4:02 AM #

What would he rather choose? Dealing with crocs and snakes or icky feet?

Dec 10, 2013 4:02 AM #

If Marco is on AP, he hasn't provided his surname, which is pretty easy to search (Amselem). Anyone know? This is a hotly contested category, obviously.

Dec 10, 2013 4:03 AM #

Yes, Marco is on AP

Dec 10, 2013 4:03 AM #

Ken, do you have any way of seeing how many people are viewing this thread? I've seen a lot of names and "met" a lot of new people. It's awesome how big the AR community is!

Dec 10, 2013 4:04 AM #

What's his handle?

Dec 10, 2013 4:04 AM #

It used to be cocopuffs

Dec 10, 2013 4:05 AM #

Sleep monsters reported Tecnu with a 10 minute lead 31 minutes ago.

Dec 10, 2013 4:05 AM #

Marco is VRaid, but he is second to Stuart lynch who is Stuart L

Dec 10, 2013 4:06 AM #

I think Sleepmonsters got that estimate from Breathe, and Breathe may have got it from here ;)

Dec 10, 2013 4:07 AM #

cocopuffs, gogogo. won Costa Rica last year with Tecnu of course.

Dec 10, 2013 4:07 AM #

Adidas' dot is ahead now, but need to check update times

Dec 10, 2013 4:08 AM #

LosDobos (Breathe) can read dots as well as any of us!

Dec 10, 2013 4:08 AM #

Bender:

I haven't been on AP in a while ...so, what's going on?

Dec 10, 2013 4:08 AM #

UPDATE CHECK IT OUT!!

Dec 10, 2013 4:08 AM #

Tecnu is in the finish chute!

Dec 10, 2013 4:08 AM #

Tecnu is behind

Dec 10, 2013 4:08 AM #

ahead?

Dec 10, 2013 4:09 AM #

Tecnu running into the finish!!!!!

Dec 10, 2013 4:09 AM #

Adidas ahead at 21:48, Tecnu still behind at 21:57

Dec 10, 2013 4:09 AM #

Got it. Vraid didn't provide any name or location, and he only logged training data for Jan/Feb of this year. I do remember referring to Marco as "Cocopuffs" at last year's Costa Rica Adventure Race but had never seen him active here.

Dec 10, 2013 4:10 AM #

And with Adidas quite close to the finish....

Adidas might have done some incredible paddling recently

Dec 10, 2013 4:10 AM #

Squirt:

shout-out to LosDobos for sure. the breathe live blog was great, just enough commentary that you if you left for a few hours you could catch up without spending hours.

Dec 10, 2013 4:11 AM #

I think your page hasn't updated CO..Tecnu is on the ground..should be running into the finish!

Dec 10, 2013 4:11 AM #

Adidas have cut that lead a lot...too close to call

Dec 10, 2013 4:11 AM #

What?! They swapped positions that quickly?!

Dec 10, 2013 4:12 AM #

Hermes! What's going on!

Dec 10, 2013 4:12 AM #

Now Tecnu's dot jumped ahead on refresh. Gotta check times again

Dec 10, 2013 4:12 AM #

Leaderboard update. Tecnu comes in 3rd according to the robot! What an awesome race for them and Adidas!!!!!!

Dec 10, 2013 4:12 AM #

FB post says it's Tecnu....

Dec 10, 2013 4:12 AM #

Tecnu's dot was 15 minutes ago. They have to be finished.

Dec 10, 2013 4:13 AM #

YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))))))))) So proud of them.

Dec 10, 2013 4:13 AM #

Wow, same update times 21:57 Tecnu, 21:48 Adidas, but Tecnu dot jumped ahead. Looks like it is Tecnu!!

Dec 10, 2013 4:14 AM #

Facebook where?

Dec 10, 2013 4:14 AM #

tecnu 3rd on leaderboard

Dec 10, 2013 4:14 AM #

Yep, leaderboard shows Tecnu in at 21:57

Yeah!!!!! You did it Tecnu!!!

Dec 10, 2013 4:15 AM #

21:57 was their last on-the-ground track, but not at the finish. Maybe the "wire got tripped"?

Dec 10, 2013 4:15 AM #

Sleepmonsters reported a raft carrying race. We don't want to be fooled by geofencing. Do we have a reliable report?

Dec 10, 2013 4:16 AM #

tie.....

Dec 10, 2013 4:16 AM #

FB post

Dec 10, 2013 4:16 AM #

Tecnu and Addidas agree to tie for third. Cross finish line together. Epic!

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=...

Dec 10, 2013 4:17 AM #

Leaderboard shows Adidas at 22:08

Dec 10, 2013 4:17 AM #

WHAT? OMG, who called that earlier????

Dec 10, 2013 4:17 AM #

I love it. I totally love it.

Dec 10, 2013 4:18 AM #

fb says they walked across tied for 3rd...the leaderboard time gap was back at the geofence perimeter

Dec 10, 2013 4:18 AM #

Didn't I say they were holding hands??? Scroll back!

THAT has to be worth a prize!

Dec 10, 2013 4:19 AM #

That is so fitting. It's amazing.

Dec 10, 2013 4:19 AM #

Amazing! Congrats to Tecnu and Adidas!

Dec 10, 2013 4:19 AM #

Tecnu said they were tied

Dec 10, 2013 4:19 AM #

Kyle's Mom has been following this thread and asked me to thank you all for the comic relief!

Dec 10, 2013 4:20 AM #

The only prize left involves icky feet, CO.....think twice :)

Dec 10, 2013 4:20 AM #

Holy crap!!! What an absolute insane finish! Congratulations Getawaystix and Tecnu as well as Adidas! You guys are so deserving of this podium finish. Unbelievable to be fighting head to head like this at the end of such a tough race!!!

Dec 10, 2013 4:20 AM #

yes congratulations to both teams, epic racing.....

Dec 10, 2013 4:20 AM #

I want to see 8 of them squeeze onto on podium square :). If they can do that, give it to them.

Epic, epic race!

Dec 10, 2013 4:20 AM #

I believe Wokitoki first asked about it and got laughed at. Good call man!

Great way to end the race for both teams. I love it. Maybe it would be different if they were racing for 1st but this just goes to show how much class and sportsmanship both teams have and looks great on the sport. Sleep well Tecnu and Adidas and thanks for such an amazing race for all of us to follow.

Dec 10, 2013 4:21 AM #

Wonder what the bookies would have given you for a tie when you called it back on the kayaks. ;)

Dec 10, 2013 4:21 AM #

I wonder if they decided this at the zipline....?

Dec 10, 2013 4:21 AM #

A.D.R.E.N.A.L.I.N.

:D

Dec 10, 2013 4:22 AM #

They may have decided it well before the zipline as they were close for the last few hundred kms. Can't wait to hear their recaps.

Dec 10, 2013 4:22 AM #

After such a long race they will have not problem to all fit on the podium! They must have lost quite a bit of weight!

Dec 10, 2013 4:22 AM #

What an incredible battle that must have been! Well done G-Stix and Tico! And Beantown and Super K. And Adidas Terrex!

Dec 10, 2013 4:23 AM #

I think they made a gentlemen's/gentleladies' agreement not to kill the race on the zipline, but after that I'm sure it was fair game. How does their rafting split compare to Columbia?

Dec 10, 2013 4:23 AM #

Was thinking the same, Carbon

Dec 10, 2013 4:24 AM #

Rafting split is identical to Columbia. Much faster than Thule. :)

Dec 10, 2013 4:24 AM #

Now, let's help cheer Merrell to the finish...and of course the rest of the chase pack.

Dec 10, 2013 4:25 AM #

And I think Merrell may be in fifth, but need a more recent update on quasarlontra's tracker to be sure

Dec 10, 2013 4:25 AM #

Well, based on the photo we saw, Thule wasn't really paddling....;)

Dec 10, 2013 4:25 AM #

total respect for both teams! just think, way back to Meanwhile in the Mangroves...adidas TERREX got through while Tecnu had to paddle around. then Mr. Gracie has to pedal that one-ton bike for what sounds like a long time (anyone know when the derailleur explosion happened?). tons of fight from both teams, never giving up, both deserving of the podium spot! GO TECNU AND ADIDAS!

Dec 10, 2013 4:26 AM #

Let's not forget Untamed either....:)

Dec 10, 2013 4:28 AM #

I've been saving this list:

Here is 10th place onward (full course, please correct if they're not):
10. & 11. Toyota & East Wind
12. & 13. Mountain Hardware & Bivouac Colts (who have banked 3hrs sleep each)
14. & 15. Banano de Costa Rica & Ecuador Explorer
16. & 17. Antioquia & Opavanet
18. SXM
19. Salomon/Suunto
20. Selva Kailash
21. Tierra Viva
22. Gearjunkie/Yogaslackers
23. Jeep
24. Untamed Canada
25. Get No Sleep
26 / 27 / 28. Ansilta / Leki / RacingDenmark

Dec 10, 2013 4:28 AM #

Great thanks Clean!

Dec 10, 2013 4:29 AM #

To push that hard down the stretch and then miss out on the podium would be crushing. I like that they decided to squeeze over and make room for both teams on that third step. Epic.

Dec 10, 2013 4:30 AM #

Respect. Tecnu and Adidas Terrex were at the dark zone together Saturday night. They appeared to work together on the kayak leg starting mid-day yesterday in order to pull away from the other chase pack teams, and then they crossed the finish line together today. I don't think they decided this too early on but that's a long time to race side by side and then feel good about winning by a minute. So proud. :))

Dec 10, 2013 4:33 AM #

The bronze medalists.
https://twitter.com/adventurenet/status/4102639544...

Dec 10, 2013 4:34 AM #

Merrell has broken away and is heading quickly for the canopy tour.
I feel terrible for BMS still stuck there looking for the CP.
Quasar has slowed as well, but is so close.

Dec 10, 2013 4:34 AM #

One day, photos like that will have Smell-O-Vision. For the moment, I'm glad they don't.

:D

Dec 10, 2013 4:35 AM #

^ haha. Now they just have Adorable-Vision.

Dec 10, 2013 4:36 AM #

When I met Nick Gracie for the first time at Tierra Viva this year, he mentioned that he and Bob ought to race together some time. They sure did! :)

Dec 10, 2013 4:37 AM #

BMS might not be far behind Merrell. Could be quite close, tho Quasar are definitely (?) not in contention with them

Never can say, lol.

Dec 10, 2013 4:39 AM #

ok, new refresh for BMS. No chance unless mechanical for Merrell.

Dec 10, 2013 4:40 AM #

Great list above btw, Clean. Lots of work!

Dec 10, 2013 4:41 AM #

@Clean, i bet it won't be Adorable-Vision when they take off their shoes!

Dec 10, 2013 4:42 AM #

@Bash - I was bored while waiting for something to happen up front! :P

Dec 10, 2013 4:45 AM #

Merrell just jumped ahead - Viva!

Dec 10, 2013 4:45 AM #

Hermes says lots of smiles and tears at the finish, understandably. More news tomorrow.

Dec 10, 2013 4:46 AM #

Go Merrell! Wake up, Lisa!

Dec 10, 2013 4:49 AM #

I'm thrilled for Merrell's leap ahead, but heartbroken about BMS wandering in the dark aimlessly. Just find that CP!

Dec 10, 2013 4:49 AM #

Team south africa logging on. Looks like not much happened!

I wonder if the trackers have two way com's. Would be nice to change the refresh rate now for third spot

Dec 10, 2013 4:51 AM #

I could be totally wrong here, but they may have mixed and matched the teams...to from each team in each raft. Curious to see...

Dec 10, 2013 4:53 AM #

Good morning! Awesome show by Tecnu and Adidas!

Oh, and GO MERRELL!!!

Dec 10, 2013 4:56 AM #

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/09/bett...

Dec 10, 2013 4:59 AM #

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

mixed teams from the zipline :)

Dec 10, 2013 5:01 AM #

oh my god... I think my eyes are bleeding!!! just incredible! way to go Tecnu and Addidas! just awesome!

Guess I and better let the dog out! she has been looking at me for the past 30min, even though I am 15min behind the news I just couldn't stop reading!

The question was asked about 1000 posts before about Thule and sleep, but I don't think anyone answered.. so, I'll ask again...

Anyone know how many hours of sleep the top 4 teams had? Should be some interesting stat's... give Clean, CO and DD11 something to dig into!

D

Dec 10, 2013 5:03 AM #

heard that Thule had 8hrs proper sleep, plus mico-naps - according to their press release.

:)

Dec 10, 2013 5:04 AM #

Wow, I was totally wrong. They had already decided to finish together earlier.

Dec 10, 2013 5:05 AM #

@osteo - uh-oh! Time for me to drive *home from work* and log some sleep myself. :)

Anyone want any pizza?

Dec 10, 2013 5:08 AM #

yo...pizza! :)

Dec 10, 2013 5:09 AM #

Sending out positive vibes to Bones. I hope they have an uneventful and successful bike stage.

Dec 10, 2013 5:12 AM #

That is awesome. It explains why Earring Doug reported a paceline on the bikes so close to the zipline.

Dec 10, 2013 5:13 AM #

Quasarlontra has taken a big wrong turn.

Dec 10, 2013 5:29 AM #

going to be controversial here. I don't like the mutual decision to take tied third.if the zipline affected the race timing, then you race to it.

moving on, great show by merrell to pull out the fifth. I asked it about 1500 posts, but the two brazilian teams were probably going into unchartered territory beyond day 5. lots of ARWS finishers on adidas,tecnu and merrell

Dec 10, 2013 5:35 AM #

Two teams, one raft.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5569517677...

Dec 10, 2013 5:39 AM #

Quasarlontra's wrong turn is getting worse and worse.

Dec 10, 2013 5:44 AM #

Nice shot of Tecnu after the finish. Looking pretty good. That pre-dark zone sleep makes a difference!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5790193655...

Dec 10, 2013 5:48 AM #

Merrell have had a tough race: 21st after the first MTB leg, all the way up to 2nd before CP17 in the Mangrove Monster, slipping down gradually to 10th over the MTB leg and mid-camp and now fighting their way back to 5th place just before the finish.

Bring it home, boys (and girl)!

Dec 10, 2013 6:05 AM #

At the zipline now!

Dec 10, 2013 6:09 AM #

Poor Quasarlontra has been heading the wrong way - in a straight line - for 85 minutes.

Dec 10, 2013 6:33 AM #

Goodness - so many posts to catch up on. What a 'night' you've had!
And to wake up and see Merrell cruising for 5th... Just wonderful ;) Now to follow them in - perfect start to the day ;)

Dec 10, 2013 6:58 AM #

morning, Lisa :)

Dec 10, 2013 7:01 AM #

QL turned around when the road started climbing, they are back with BMS,who look like they have stopped to sleep rather than wandering around like zombies
Hope they both find the CP soon and bring it home

Dec 10, 2013 7:08 AM #

Morning Peter. What a lot of action there has been. Very exciting. And my team on the home stretch. Pity that they're rafting at night - it's probably a really stunning section of river.

Dec 10, 2013 7:46 AM #

Top of the morning to you all! Have you taken good care of Merrell?

Dec 10, 2013 7:48 AM #

As Merrell cruises downriver to the finish, BMS and Quasar are having a really bad time of it. Looking for a CP? BMS has lost hours - at least four. At this late stage in the race... arrrggghhh... my heart goes out to them.

Dec 10, 2013 7:54 AM #

Ha, I see you've taken very good care of them!

Dec 10, 2013 7:56 AM #

Greatescape - the night shift did a great job. Loads of excitement coming through from the comments with Columbia and then Tecnu and Adidas coming in. And also excitement when Merrell jumped ahead of BMS and Quasar. Great posts to read ;)

Dec 10, 2013 8:27 AM #

Looks like BMS found the CP. They're progressing. Quasar sleeping?

Dec 10, 2013 8:32 AM #

Looks like BMS has searched for this CP for about 7 hours!

Dec 10, 2013 8:48 AM #

Merrell get 5th. Leaderboard has them in 02h37. Soooo proud ;)

Dec 10, 2013 9:09 AM #

BMS are pretty much at the TA now. Quasar still stationary.

Seems like pretty much everyone is asleep. Not even any pics of Merrell coming out.

Dec 10, 2013 9:17 AM #

briangardner:

From the Merrell Facebook page:

UNSUNG HEROES
THEY DID IT!!! 5th place at Costa Rica AR World Champs! Never have i been so proud. My heart is swollen, my eyes won’t stop watering! Merrell you are amazing!
They negotiated there way through mangrove swamps. Got dehydrated, sunburnt and freezing cold. They have fallen asleep on thier bikes and woken up in bushes, battered and bruised. They have walked up and down mountains in a trek that took over 45 hours in weather they can’t describe. They have had swollen feet and have ached from blisters and “special spots.” Their bodies have been so fatigued that each step has felt like ten. They have shared what little food they had or what little food they could stomach. They have seen crazy images from sleep deprivation. They have pushed and pulled each other, carried each other’s packs and told jokes to keep the spirit up. They have sung songs to pass the time on paddle legs they thought would never end. They have spoken to each other without speaking. They have thought about all the important things in their life, imagined loved ones. Together this amazing team of 4 have conquered more than most could even imagine. They have mentally and physically pushed their minds & bodies to indescribable new heights. They have experienced emotions and pain that they themselves can’t explain. Today they crossed the line after 180hours20minutes of nonstop racing. No big lights, no big fan club. THEY ARE South Africa’s UNSUNG HEROES. Today we stand up, we raise our glass and we toast this incredible team and what they have achieved. They are our inspiration! Tweet, Smelly, Farmer Brown and Soozie – “We salute you! We are so unbelievably proud of you...” Over and out. Hobs. xx PS. Simsy – they did this for YOU

Dec 10, 2013 9:24 AM #

Bye for a while. I'm off to a lunch.

Dec 10, 2013 9:25 AM #

Woohoo! Well done Merrell!!! :)

Dec 10, 2013 9:31 AM #

so proud of the merrell team. can only imagine the spanish/portugeuse expletives on BMS right now.

Dec 10, 2013 10:41 AM #

I took advantage of the rewind/analysis feature to do a highlights package.

basically a video running through the race from the tracker perspective, looking at the teams battling for 3rd and ultimately 5th position. Bit of a pity that haglofs and seagate are taken to the bottom the tracker system - so didn't actually have them in at all! I've got a seriously rough cold, so excuse the voice over! first time i've done this, so comments welcome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNA2owBZRg

Dec 10, 2013 11:22 AM #

Well done Merrell, this has been exciting!

Dec 10, 2013 11:51 AM #

Unbelievable comeback by Merrell. Just goes to show nothing is ever certain in AR. Well done Tweet, Smelly, Susan and Craig! Absolutely brilliant!

Dec 10, 2013 12:22 PM #

Steve - superb video - busy watching. Gonna link on www.ar.co.za too ;)

Dec 10, 2013 12:38 PM #

After some sleep, Quasarlontra is still looking for that elusive CP48... ouch.

Dec 10, 2013 1:02 PM #

@ Fuddam - thanks!, that is crazy!

@ Briangardner - thanks for posting, my bleeding eyes almost shed a tear! sure does sum it up nicely.

@ Shebeen - will watch your video soon. I haven't even tried looking at any other source than AP, you guys all have done/are doing such a great job of compiling everything. I'll watch the video shortly and start poking through the various pictures soon..

Dec 10, 2013 1:08 PM #

shebeen, that is sooooo cool!!! also cool to hear the "voice behind the AP handle". well done!

Dec 10, 2013 1:08 PM #

Great video, Shebeen! Excellent, consistent finish for Merrell. :)

Dec 10, 2013 1:23 PM #

Attackpoint podium (as best as we've been able to figure it out so far):

1) StuartL
2) Vraid (Marco)
3) Getawaystix, Tico 3.0, Beantown

No idea if any Adidas teammates are on AP so this may be incomplete. Of this podium group, Getwaystix and Tico 3.0 log their training here, although GStix goes missing occasionally. Tico is very faithful and detailed about it so if you want to see what it takes to hit the podium at ARWC, check out his log.

Other Attackpointers are still out there or have retired from the race. More on them later on.

Dec 10, 2013 1:44 PM #

And that's why I don't gamble. Never figured a tie. Congrats to both teams.

Dec 10, 2013 1:50 PM #

Another day of racing left, and soon we'll start hearing from the racers so please stick around! It's always fun to hear the real stories behind the dots.

Thanks, all, for making this so much more fun than watching the race alone. There's so much information available that crowd-sourcing is an excellent way to stay on top of the complex story as it unfolds - especially when the crowd includes experienced adventure racers, people who understand maps and trackers, people in Costa Rica, people who know the racers personally, people in different time zones, race media, etc. It's been great getting to know you all better. I love the respectful, supportive, witty tone of this thread - very civilized by Internet standards! I only wish we could all meet to raise a glass and put faces to names.

Thank you, Ken, for providing this space for adventure racers and fans around the world to build community. Thank you, LosDobos and Breathe Magazine, for funny, insightful live coverage. Please consider thanking both Attackpoint and Breathe Mag by sending e-mails, making comments on the Breathe Flashblog, and by making donations (search "donate" or "donation" higher up in this thread).

Thanks also to Untamedadventur for managing the tracking system so well that we always had lots to talk about.

I'm sure I'm forgetting to thank someone so someone else can take care of that - crowd-sourced thank yous!

Group hug. :)

Dec 10, 2013 2:05 PM #

Just had a few seconds to check in to AP before heading to work. Fantastic finish by Merrell!!! Congratulations! What an incredible race.

Great videos and photos posted in the most recent posts. Thanks all.

Can't wait to hear some feedback from the racers!

Just like Bash, I'd like to thank Ken for making this type of discussion possible and for providing a space for us to keep track of all that we do on a daily basis. AP is the place I visit the most on the WWW.

Dec 10, 2013 2:13 PM #

Beware of checking Tico's log for ideas of how to train for the podium at ARWC. The training volume is huge! He sure put the work in!

Dec 10, 2013 2:17 PM #

SOOO happy that Merrell got top 5!!! What a comeback! What heart!

Dec 10, 2013 2:19 PM #

Thank you Ken, I love this place! :)

Dec 10, 2013 2:23 PM #

You're welcome. What you all have done here is very cool.

Dec 10, 2013 2:37 PM #

I'm wondering when Tecnu and Adidas started working together, and how much of a laugh they will get when they read about us frantically trying to figure out which of the leapfrogging dots is on the lead?.....

I'll have to use the tracker replay feature.... (or I invite anyone to beat me to it)

Dec 10, 2013 2:39 PM #

Lots of teams trekking from the kayak to the bike. I wonder how many are grouped up and travelling together, and how many are still competing for positions?

Dec 10, 2013 2:41 PM #

They got together at CP48. I win :)

Dec 10, 2013 2:42 PM #

" Warren Bates explained what happened at that final biking checkpoint. “Tom found it and they arrived too, and it as a bit awkward. What do you do? We’ been in this position before in Tasmania and won a race off, and we really didn’t want to do that again! We told them we had 100% record in tight finishes so not to take us on!”

So the two teams agreed not to race to the line, took the canopy zip lines altogether and broke the teams up two and two in the boats. They crossed the line with Karen Lundgren and Jari Kirkland in front – arms raised in celebration and finish 3rd equal."

Dec 10, 2013 2:44 PM #

I was just posting a comment on Breathe, and one of the advertisements on the sidebar was for a zipline kit. Yes, a big handle with pulley rollers, and a bunch of steel cable. I guess the ARWC audience is the right market for that :)

How long was the Superman zipline? My office is about 2 km from my house,..... downhill :)))

Dec 10, 2013 2:45 PM #

And a great upper body workout on the way home from work....

Dec 10, 2013 2:48 PM #

Has anyone seen photos of Merrell at the finish? Endorphin Mag's camera battery was dead, so nothing from them. Any others? Was everyone asleep (except us here in South Africa - and the UK)? Twitter etc were dead quiet too.

Dec 10, 2013 3:03 PM #

Brian, thanks for sharing the wonderful words from the Merrell Facebook page. Love it! (And I see LosDobos has shared it via Breathe too)

Dec 10, 2013 3:07 PM #

I'd really like to hear exactly what went down with that last CP on the bike ride, how those 2 teams in a hurry managed to miss it and then spend hours looking for it. A gut wrenching story. I see Quasa is on the home straight now. They'll be glad to be done.

Dec 10, 2013 3:12 PM #

I have looked and looked for photos or video of Merrell at the line. If anyone finds any, please let us know - gracias!

Dec 10, 2013 3:14 PM #

Pretty heartbreaking for Quasar :(

Dec 10, 2013 3:23 PM #

morning update: 1st-6th places decided. congrats, teams!

i *think* these teams should be finished before midnight tonight, it all depends on their sleep reserves and nav!
7th: Quasarlontra about to start the final rafting leg
8th: Aerodiva a few hours remaining on the bike, they have not yet approached the freaky-deaky CP48
9th: Bones approaching the Nicaraguan border but haven't gotten to the ferry yet
10th: Mountain Hardware several hours back from Bones
11th: Bivvy Colts, maybe a few hours back from Mountain Hardware
12th: Eastwind just started the final bike a few hours ago

who else is still full course at this point?

Dec 10, 2013 3:31 PM #

Search my full course list above, posted shortly after the Tecnu/Adidas celebrations. I had 28 teams on the full course then.

EDIT: I had Get No Sleep in the wrong spot, as I missed the fact that they hadn't tracked in forever.

I'm not 100% sure that all of these teams were still on the full course. Some of them were missing TA's on the leaderboard, but I think that's because they hadn't been tracking, and the board is fed by the trackers.

Dec 10, 2013 3:42 PM #

I saw a pic of a racer with an IV line, and the team was still on the move! I didn't know that was allowed. If so, a team can bring their own bags and hydrate and race if they have a medical teammate.

Dec 10, 2013 3:46 PM #

It was a photo from a FB friend who shared from Alejandro Castro's FB photos of the race.

Dec 10, 2013 3:52 PM #

oh yes. thank you Clean!

so remaining on the full course we have
Ecuador Explorer (#2) (outbound from TA11)
Banano de Costa Rica (#27) (inbound to TA11, past the right-hand turn)
Opavanet (#34) (inbound to TA11, past the right-hand turn)
Antioquia (#19) (inbound to TA11, at the right-hand turn)
SXM (#38) (about half-way thru the snake trek)
Salomon/Suunto (#35) (still tracking on the paddle but that was from last night)
Selva Kailash (#65) (just starting the snake trek)
Tierra Viva (#9) (paddling! almost way past the tortugero CP!)
Gearjunkie/Yogaslackers (#63) (still tracking on the paddle, but that was from last night) (who else is surprised they have an unreliable GPS?!)
Jeep (#22) (paddling, not quite to the long straight channel)
Untamed Canada (#16) (paddling, except their latest pings have been up on land?)
Get No Sleep (#47) (paddling, last track was from last night)
Ansilta (#11) (paddling, not quite to the long straight channel)
Leki (#59) (paddling, not quite to the long straight channel)
RacingDenmark (#36) (paddling, not quite to the long straight channel)

Dec 10, 2013 3:53 PM #

vlin:

ARWS Rule 6.4: Intravenous Fluids (IV) may only be administered by approved event medical staff. Any administration of IV fluids by anyone other than event medical staff is prohibited.
Rule 6.4.1 Administration of IV fluids by approved event medical staff will normally incur a time penalty and the competitor may be removed from the race at the discretion of the medical staff and Race Director

Dec 10, 2013 3:53 PM #

that was the hypothermic sportovia racer being taken off the mountain by the doctor

Dec 10, 2013 3:56 PM #

Thanks guys.

Dec 10, 2013 4:33 PM #

Just got a pic of Merrell via Costa Rica AR FB page. Link to the photo.

http://goo.gl/mbzMl2

Dec 10, 2013 4:36 PM #

Merrell at finish
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5571592476...

Dec 10, 2013 4:38 PM #

Same photo, Lisa beat me to it! :)

Glad we found a finishing photo of Merrell! I can only imagine how much that means after what they went through, and with Don in their hearts and minds :)

Dec 10, 2013 4:41 PM #

The Merrell photo is also now scrolling along the right-hand side of the ARWC race homepage...
http://live.arcostarica.com/index.cfm
(as if you don't already have this link....)

Congratulations South Africa! :)

Dec 10, 2013 4:43 PM #

Getawaystix!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5569517710...

Dec 10, 2013 5:09 PM #

FunRun:

Thank-you so very much to all you AP reporters... definitely one of my go to places for AR updates, analysis, and excitement :-)

Dec 10, 2013 5:51 PM #

The short-course (post-cut-off) is actually all the way at the end at the zipline/rafting. Great Langdale Bunkhouse has been shuttled there and are presumably enjoying the canopy tour right now.

Walhalla Specialized have retired instead of taking the short-course.

Dec 10, 2013 5:55 PM #

RacingDenmark should be the full course Lanterne Rouge, but just behind Leki on the ocean-side paddle.

Can someone remind me what the final course cut-off is? Is it another 2 days to complete? (Go go go!)

Dec 10, 2013 5:58 PM #

Exciting times for Aerodiva (28), who have just slowed down to find CP48, the nighttime bane of BMS and Quasarlontra. I'd love to see their next blip be well south on the trail!

Dec 10, 2013 6:00 PM #

Quasar very close to the end of the raft now! should be finishing very soon!

Dec 10, 2013 6:00 PM #

Mountain Hardware have put about 3hrs of biking on Bivouac Colts, who had a hard time finding CP46. Bivvy Colts are getting chased by East Wind now.

Dec 10, 2013 6:06 PM #

Still lots of exciting racing going on! Teams pushing to get a few more spots!

Dec 10, 2013 6:20 PM #

not sure about the finish line cutoff, but it is tomorrow on dec 11th at some point...maybe at 1400?

Dec 10, 2013 6:22 PM #

Ayeeee. That rearguard had better get a move-on. I'm really rooting for Untamed to finish. The 3 teams that stuck around before heading out onto the paddle will have a tougher time...

Dec 10, 2013 6:27 PM #

Come on Untamed, come on Alex! Keep pushing!

Dec 10, 2013 6:28 PM #

Anyone have any further news about our friends Limitless Slices of Phat? i.e. how they're doing now, and how their race went (i.e. any inside story yet?)

Dec 10, 2013 6:29 PM #

Eek - Aerodiva IS having trouble at CP48 and have back-tracked. They have a 3.5hr cushion against Bones (8), so I hope they resolve this quickly in the daylight.

Dec 10, 2013 6:31 PM #

Oh no! Aerodiva is the top local team, aren't they? Very cool to have a local team in the top 10. Big local party when they hit the finish line! Now they have to get going in the right direction!

Man, we need some photos and descriptions of this elusive CP48! I may plan my next vacation around it. I hope they leave the CP flag there as an AR tourist attraction...

Dec 10, 2013 6:34 PM #

Put up a plaque there in honour of confused navigators! Still really sad for BMS.

Banano de Costa Rica have just made the same funny south turn as Quasarlontra did on the bike to CP46 (which is 2-3km north-east of where it shows on the tracker).

Dec 10, 2013 6:48 PM #

From where Untamed are right now, it took Tecnu 27hrs to finish, with only one 1hr-ish stop. It took Merrell 26hrs to finish with 2 1hr-ish screw-ups.

If Untamed can have a clean go of it and basically very little rest, they can finish this thing. But it will be very tight. (Assuming the course closes at 14:00 tomorrow.) They currently have 25hrs.

Dec 10, 2013 6:50 PM #

Oh no, something is up for Aerodiva, looks like they are out.
They are now on a road, but it's hard to tell if they are riding to the finish, or being transported. Sad to see so close to the end.

Dec 10, 2013 6:52 PM #

Banano de Costa Rica are digging themselves deeper... Please correct soon, guys.

p.s. Helloooooo? :D

Dec 10, 2013 7:02 PM #

aerodiva might be taking the "highways" to get to the zipline...

Dec 10, 2013 7:04 PM #

i'm with you Clean!

Aerodiva is indeed way off the yellow line. i wonder if they get CP48 and are taking the long way to the zipline? i hope that they are still on full course. if they are, might not be a bad way to go.

Dec 10, 2013 7:06 PM #

Very interesting! In that case, I hope they re-blip on the west-bound Hwy#4!

Dec 10, 2013 7:06 PM #

Or does it look like Aerodiva is just heading straight to the finish line? (skipping the zipline and paddle?)... or maybe just taking the highways around as you say...

Dec 10, 2013 7:07 PM #

If they ride close to the finish line on their different route, they may trigger their electronic geo-fencing finish before the other two TAs...

Dec 10, 2013 7:09 PM #

I was just thinking that. :) Thank goodness for real humans who eventually fix this stuff.

Dec 10, 2013 7:09 PM #

then will the robots' heads explode?

Dec 10, 2013 7:09 PM #

Very interested to see how the times compare if they are simply choosing to do a different route....

Dec 10, 2013 7:14 PM #

Aerodiva tracked again closer to Sarapiqui but not sure if they are stopping or just riding thru. leaderboard robots have not noticed yet...

Dec 10, 2013 7:15 PM #

Their speed is consistent with riding, not being in the back of the sag wagon, although who knows what the afternoon traffic around the sprawling metropolis of Sarapiqui is like, haha. Hopefully they'll reemerge north of the whitewater in another 20mins. Neat! Wonder if anyone else will come up with this idea.

Dec 10, 2013 7:18 PM #

You would think the top teams would have considered this,.... but imagine if it turned out to be faster! Especially for some of the tight battles!

Dec 10, 2013 7:25 PM #

yes! Aerodiva continues westbound on the paved road!

Dec 10, 2013 7:26 PM #

also interesting, Tecnu's tracker has re-pinged north of the zipline and west of the yellow line. a little post-race recovery spin?

Dec 10, 2013 7:30 PM #

Maybe looking for those lost skewers from having to pack up the bikes so quickly at the TA while in a dead tie... ;)

Dec 10, 2013 7:30 PM #

Or maybe another photo op for the 8-person third place team

Dec 10, 2013 7:31 PM #

Yes, Aerodiva's are heading west on highway 4!

Dec 10, 2013 7:32 PM #

While team 45 travels east on the short-coursed rafting. It will be amusing to see the two dots pass head-on

Dec 10, 2013 7:33 PM #

Huzzah! Good call, guys. Sorry for the heart-attacks to Diva fans.

However, Banano de Costa Rica is going deeper into the heart of darkness. Something's got to stop them. Hope it's not that giant river!

Dec 10, 2013 7:33 PM #

i hope they wave!

Dec 10, 2013 7:34 PM #

Ha, Silky, I just posted the same "wave" comment on Breathe...

we've all been spending too much time together lately :)

Dec 10, 2013 7:36 PM #

no such thing as too much time on AP!! (btw, I haven't made my "THANK YOU KEN" post yet but...THANK YOU KEN. you are awesome. AP...just...works!! amazing.)

maybe Banano has had enough and is going straight to the finish line. i hope this route choice is intentional!

Dec 10, 2013 7:46 PM #

It started off as the same mistake Quasarlontra made there. I think if they wanted to quit, they could have radioed for a pick-up from one of the highways near Cariari. I guess we wait and see. I like guessing though! :)

They've hit the river, on which CP46 is located about 10-15km away. If they are off-course, maybe that will catch them.

Dec 10, 2013 7:48 PM #

FB:

Sure hope untamed can make it. Alex and Nat r awesome and so deserve it... Don't know the other two but sure the same applies.
I'd think limitless is trying to stay as low pro as possible to save it for the show(s)??

Dec 10, 2013 7:54 PM #

Ahhhh... good point, I'll quit digging and talking about limitless.
(just once more: good job limitless!)

Dec 10, 2013 8:17 PM #

Bones is almost to CP48! they have daylight still! go Bones!!

Dec 10, 2013 8:25 PM #

For fellow fans of Limitless Also, here are Facebook photos from Leanimal and LaFemme at the medical check-up and at the end of their trek, which may or may not have been the clinic. Everyone looks pretty good so we'll just have to watch the show and find out what happened. :)

Dec 10, 2013 8:26 PM #

Thanks for the pics! :) Can't wait for the show.

Dec 10, 2013 8:26 PM #

I think we may need to plan a party around it. :)

Dec 10, 2013 8:28 PM #

Aerodiva: 2hrs 20mins - on the highways via Sarapiqui in the daytime
Tecnu / Adidas / Merrell: 1hr 20mins each - on the "preferred route" in the dark

There you have it.

Dec 10, 2013 8:29 PM #

Quasarlontra also had to borrow a bike to finish the race!

https://twitter.com/adventurenet/status/4104999748...

Dec 10, 2013 8:34 PM #

Wild - what nice people the Costa Ricans are.

Dec 10, 2013 8:36 PM #

Opavanet is another victim of CP46, and they've been caught up by Raid74 (short-coursed).
Bananas have gone back north, I just hope they know where they are now.

Dec 10, 2013 8:41 PM #

This may have changed but a newsletter sent to teams prior to the event said that the finish line would close tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Dec 10, 2013 8:45 PM #

Great! I really hope Untamed doesn't have unplanned adventures, because that gives them a decent but not spectacular amount of time. Maybe even enough time for Ansilta/Leki/Denmark.

Dec 10, 2013 8:50 PM #

Canadian flag team SXM is at the trek/bike TA now, and Untamed Canada is nearing the turtle sanctuary. Looks like they'll get to do The Snake Trek in the dark but so far all those deadly, nocturnal snakes have shown remarkably good manners. Bob told me about a trek they did in last year's Costa Rica Adventure Race where snakes showed up all over the place. Apparently Kyle is not a snake fan. :)

Dec 10, 2013 8:55 PM #

Hermes texted last night to say that Bob was blown away to hear about the interest in the race, especially upon learning there were over 2,000 messages in this thread. After past races, he's read through all the Attackpoint comments and enjoyed re-living the race through our observations and speculation. He says a lot of the time the collective AP mind is very good at guessing what's going on behind their dot. Other times, of course, we are totally out to lunch. :)

Dec 10, 2013 8:57 PM #

Bash, I think GStix, Tico and other the ARWC APers need to do a Q&A session here on AP once they're home and recovered. Make it an event and let us debrief them properly :)

Dec 10, 2013 9:01 PM #

Good idea. I think the minute any one of them has the nerve to post here - which should be really soon - they will be inundated with questions! :)

Dec 10, 2013 9:02 PM #

separate thread and let's get that one over 2000 too!

Dec 10, 2013 9:11 PM #

Find some interviews with Tecnu at the finish:

http://www.youtube.com/user/endorphmag?feature=wat...

Dec 10, 2013 9:31 PM #

Hi everyone. As the mother of Slice of Team Limitless, I am a big fan of adventure racing. Over the years, I have spent many sleepless nights "watching" my daughter slog through some wilderness somewhere. In this race the information vacuum was outstandingly stressful...for all the reasons previously mentioned. I just want to say thanks to everyone here for the stellar reporting job. Even though there were very few crumbs of info about Slice and her team, following this thread has been lots of fun and somehow made me feel that I was not alone.

Dec 10, 2013 9:41 PM #

Mary! So nice to hear you were following the race here. Although we haven't met, I "see" you a lot on Facebook. Kyle's Mom was watching this thread too. Perhaps next year we'll have to actively promote this thread to the "Mom demographic" since I know my own Mom has a lot of questions when she "watches" my races online. I'm sure we'd all be happy to help with that.

Dec 10, 2013 9:46 PM #

Thanks so much for that and for the warm welcome too! It means a lot.

Dec 10, 2013 9:49 PM #

Current standings on the full course, with 3 teams not tracking, so I've based it on their last known relative positions:

8. Aerodiva
9. Bones
10. Mountain Hardware
11. East Wind
12. Bivouac Colts
13. & 14. Toyota & Ecuador Explorer
15. Opavanet
16. Banano de Costa Rica
17. Antioquia
18. SXM
(19. Salomon/Suunto, not tracking)
20. Selva Kailash
(21. Get No Sleep, not tracking)
22. Tierra Viva
(23. Gearjunkie/Yogaslackers, not tracking)
24. Untamed Canada
25. Jeep
26. Ansilta
27 / 28. Leki / RacingDenmark

Dec 10, 2013 9:50 PM #

Also thanks for posting those pics of Team Limitless.

Dec 10, 2013 9:51 PM #

Gotta say, Slice looked pretty fresh in those photos. After 7 days of racing, her hair looked better than mine does today. :)

Dec 10, 2013 9:52 PM #

@pyeinthesky i just sent your post to my mom, too. i've not done multi-day races but even after the 30hr ones she expects the "we finished, i'm alive, details later, love you" text.

Dec 10, 2013 9:55 PM #

@ silky... I completely get that ...haha

Dec 10, 2013 9:59 PM #

@ bash...I don't know much about what happened in this one but I think she got more sleep than she normally does. She sure does look good to me.

Dec 10, 2013 10:07 PM #

Hark! What's this? The short course teams are now colour-coded red on the map. Except for the ones that haven't tracked since before the rafting cut-off.

Dec 10, 2013 10:11 PM #

whoa! neat!

and Banano has recovered, not once but twice...and might need a third!

Dec 10, 2013 10:13 PM #

Bones has found the ever-elusive CP48 and is now riding towards the zipline! Go Bones! 9th place!

Dec 10, 2013 10:41 PM #

East Wind left the ferry but have come back (why?) - so the Bivvy Colts have for now jumped to 11th. Hope EW are okay. They have Toyota and Ecuador Explorer approaching the ferry.

Dec 10, 2013 10:43 PM #

Bananas are off on another south-western adventure, returning to the spot they were at 3hrs ago. Yikes.
They've been passed by Antioquia, who are chasing Opavanet.

Dec 10, 2013 10:44 PM #

Woohoo for Canada!
SXM has re-blipped well on the bike route, while Untamed have found the channel to get to the trek.

Dec 10, 2013 10:49 PM #

From the point that Untamed are in now, Tecnu/Adidas/Merrell took 23hrs, while Columbia 28hrs.
Cut-off is in 25hrs. Hurry, hurry!!!

Dec 10, 2013 10:57 PM #

I may have missed something up above, but why is Tecnu listed as 7th on the leaderboard? 20 hour penalty?

Dec 10, 2013 11:01 PM #

Their tracker was still live - it apparently travelled out to the zipline area, then I saw it travelling back on the road to the finish. The leaderboard is powered by a geofencing system that gets tripped when a tracker is in range. So now Tecnu has finished the race for a second time, in 7th. Don't you love technology? :D

Dec 10, 2013 11:05 PM #

Thanks for these updates, Clean! I haven't been able to check the tracker much today so I'm watching the race through you and LosDobos.

Dec 10, 2013 11:07 PM #

What a coincidence, I also shouldn't have been able to check the tracker today. :D

Off to write a final I haven't studied for! No reason.

Dec 10, 2013 11:14 PM #

Ha! Good luck. :)

Dec 10, 2013 11:15 PM #

Wow, so much has happened since I went to work! Awesome job APers and congrats Merrell! :)
....maybe it's a silly question, but since Tecnu and Adidas tied for 3rd, wouldn't that mean Merrell gets 4th place?

Dec 10, 2013 11:16 PM #

no, because Merrel was the 5th team across the finish line :)

Dec 10, 2013 11:16 PM #

Love the photo of G'stix and Hermes!

Dec 10, 2013 11:18 PM #

I get that LosDobos, physically yes but when it comes to World's standings? Still 5th?

Dec 10, 2013 11:19 PM #

....so Tecnu gets 3rd and Adidas gets 3rd but Merrell gets 5th?

Dec 10, 2013 11:26 PM #

That sounds right to me. And I assume the two teams would lump the winnings from 3rd and 4th places, then divide them as equally as possible.

Dec 10, 2013 11:28 PM #

Was there monetary prize for 4th?

Dec 11, 2013 12:50 AM #

Good to see Untamed still on the full course! :)

Dec 11, 2013 1:17 AM #

I thought there were winnings through 5th place. It could be my feeble mind playing tricks on me. Of course, who in their right mind would go into AR for the money.

Dec 11, 2013 1:18 AM #

You do it for the bragginig rights:)

Dec 11, 2013 1:55 AM #

FB:

Maybe if we get some more 2 and 3 way ties Untamed can crack top 12 or 15 :-)
... sorry couldn't help myself

I don't know how much Alex is suffering on the course right now, but I can tell you this... he'd be suffering MORE if he could see his habs right now getting crushed by LA... much to my delight.... sorry Alex!! (not really) :-)

Tecnu 3rd, Untamed looking good, habs getting crushed... I hit the trifecta.. gotta run out for lottery tix!

Dec 11, 2013 2:02 AM #

FB, is this the race you were supposed to do with Will?

Dec 11, 2013 2:05 AM #

FB:

yep... glad we didn't... would have been a tough first expedition for him... he is fitter than I am right now though, so he would have enjoyed my suffering! :-)

Dec 11, 2013 2:06 AM #

It would have! Is he following online? Does he think he could do it?

Dec 11, 2013 3:00 AM #

So... after a 45-minute rest, the Bivouac Colts are riding to the zipline a little ahead of Mountain Hardwear in an attempt to secure the final place in the top 10. But is there any possible way they could have visited the mysterious CP48 at night, based on their track?

Dec 11, 2013 3:00 AM #

FB:

Oh yeah. He's been following. He's looking forward to his first one. He's been on the ground watching about ten expedition races. (He celebrated his 5 th bday at the finish of RtNE nfld 2001!) So he's been able to witness the best and worst of what to expect.... But as mike(the genius) Tyson once said 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face'. :-)

Dec 11, 2013 3:15 AM #

No way Bash. They have buggered it up a bit

Dec 11, 2013 3:19 AM #

Hmm... It looked like Mountain Hardwear had visited the CP but they've turned back in that direction. It looks like they were with the Bivouac Colts for awhile when they were both on the wrong track. Anyway, the Colts are heading back up that way too. Amazing that the top 10 teams have still not been decided 30 hours after the winners crossed the finish line!

Dec 11, 2013 3:24 AM #

That is a very true point Bash. Anyone who finishes top 10 in a world champs race is amazing, but I think the teams finishing in top 10 of this race are especially awesome!

Dec 11, 2013 3:29 AM #

This is just like last night all over again... Will Mountain Hardwear and Eastwind meet each other head-on while looking for CP48?

Dec 11, 2013 3:30 AM #

And oh yeah, this means that Eastwind is now part of a 3-way race for 10th.

Dec 11, 2013 3:36 AM #

FB:

Awesome to see Eastwind doing so well. They may have the longest standing name in AR!! And they always push soooo hard!!!

Dec 11, 2013 3:42 AM #

1996. How about Team Spirit Canada? When did you start?

Dec 11, 2013 3:42 AM #

P.S. I'm just catching up on Breathe Mag coverage after being out, and I now see that LosDobos was already all over this top 10 wrong turn thing. I should always check there first! :)

Dec 11, 2013 3:59 AM #

How about what Bananarama and Opavanet have been up to at the border? As with one of LosDobos's photo caption - sometimes it just hurts to watch.

This bike nav seems absolutely brutal. I'm hoping Untamed can hold it together because they have a very small cushion for this sort of thing. :/

Dec 11, 2013 4:01 AM #

Where is SXM going?

Dec 11, 2013 4:11 AM #

Another perfectly reasonable question. They strayed west, and have turned north again. No idea how obvious the "official" trails are in real life as sometimes teams have gone back to the yellow line but then gone right across and back into the woods.

Dec 11, 2013 4:13 AM #

Hoo boy, these are some tired puppies after 8.5 days of racing non-stop! Looks like Bananarama and OpavaNet have now awakened enough to remember that west is 270 degrees, not 90 degrees. Onward to the ferry!

Dec 11, 2013 4:16 AM #

Mountain Hardwear is heading for the zipline now after (apparently) finding CP48. So barring a mechanical or sudden need for sleep, they should get 10th place.

Dec 11, 2013 4:17 AM #

One piece of good news! :)

The Colts on the other hand are on an east-west road, and if they could just short-cut northbound right now, they'd go straight to 48. Or they can ride out to where Hardware are and go north on the yellow brick road, if that thing is findable in the dark. Oy.

Dec 11, 2013 4:19 AM #

Wondering when was the last time Untamed slept....? Hope they have enough strength to make it by the cutoff...

Dec 11, 2013 4:20 AM #

The video of them on Breathe is really swell. They sound coherent! But that was T minus 26hrs from the finish cut off.

Dec 11, 2013 4:20 AM #

Hey racers, once you've rested up enough to read 2,000+ posts about ARWC: What's the deal with CP48??

Dec 11, 2013 4:21 AM #

hope they can keep those spirits up! :)

Dec 11, 2013 4:34 AM #

Roy Malone of Bones cracked a rib on the first stage of the race! Great 9th place performance.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/10/bone...

Dec 11, 2013 4:51 AM #

Although it is not yet reflected on the leaderboard, organizers have reported that GD44 (team Endurancelife) completed the official short course.

Dec 11, 2013 5:14 AM #

I don't want to comment anymore on what's going on down south, so hey! Bananarama is across the ferry!

Dec 11, 2013 5:17 AM #

At this point, it will be more efficient to just discuss the teams who *aren't* lost. Anyone else besides Bananarama? ;)

Mountain Hardwear has reached the zipline in 10th place.

Dec 11, 2013 5:18 AM #

Oh, I see SXM has rejoined the yellow route again. I wondered if Untamed Canada might take over the top Canadian spot!

Dec 11, 2013 5:22 AM #

Yes, Bivvy Colts, north along the ridge!

Anyone else feel like the Greek gods in Clash of the Titans?

Dec 11, 2013 5:37 AM #

Okay, so I'd posted the story of the tie for 3rd on fakebook, and one of my running club friends made some comments, and also asked about the race format... I gave some sample race leg descriptions, along with the gruelling times it took to complete them... His response:
"Sigh... I miss adventure racing."

Dec 11, 2013 5:37 AM #

Oh man first time checking in today. I can't believe that the 10th team still hasn't checked in. What's up with CP48?? Those poor teams! Come on Untamed Canada!!!

Dec 11, 2013 5:39 AM #

Thanks for the updates ladies (Clean and Bash). Helped me catchup quickly..well with a little speed reading of course.

To confirm teams have until 6 pm local time tomorrow night to cross the finish line or get a DNF?

Dec 11, 2013 5:48 AM #

Haven't had much chance to comment today, so this comment relates to some comments much earlier today:

Oh my goodness, there are Moms on here??? Nobody told me that!
;)
(Kidding. I get to see lots of great Facebook comments from Slice's and Tico's moms, two of the worlds biggest AR supporters! Race Moms are the best!

.... Ad I'll still stand behind my advice that maybe it's best to not be at the TAs and seeing how rough the racers look.... :)

Dec 11, 2013 5:52 AM #

DD11, I saw tomorrow's 6 p.m. cut-off in a schedule in a newsletter posted on the main AR Costa Rica site. The newsletter went out in July though. I'm not sure if anyone has independent information on it. LosDobos' post on Breathe Mag may be based on my post based on its timing.

Dec 11, 2013 5:54 AM #

Who will be the first to get 48? Ecuador is close right now.
CP48: The Great Equalizer of 2013.

Dec 11, 2013 6:05 AM #

Untamed Canada should be at the trek/bike transition now. Myka asked when they last slept. Good question since they've been hurrying for a long time now. It appears that they took a 3-4 hour break near the corner where the twisty inland river reaches the coastline and turns northwest to follow it. Remember they arrived at the dark zone shortly after daylight so they didn't get to rest there like the teams ahead of them did. Looks like they got moving again around 4 a.m. this morning.

Dec 11, 2013 6:07 AM #

Times from trek-to-bike TA to finish:
Tecnu: 15hrs
Merrell: 18hrs
Columbia: 20hrs
Aerodiva: 21hrs
I'm getting nervous. 19hrs left.

Dec 11, 2013 6:09 AM #

Not much time left to nap. They looked great in the video LosDobos posted. Sending good vibes to Untamed Canada!

Oh, those poor teams in the area around CP48. Will the Colts ever find their way back to the road?

Dec 11, 2013 6:12 AM #

After reaching the Nicaraguan border and turning east instead of west, OpavaNet has realized it's time to nap, now that they've returned to the main road.

Dec 11, 2013 6:14 AM #

New verbs born from ARWC2103:

Being mangroved
Getting Tomcat'ed
Getting 48'ed

Dec 11, 2013 6:19 AM #

After Bones' bad luck with the broken rib and what must have been a rough experience (a bit ironic, given their team name?), remind me to also never call a team "Derailler", "collarbone", "ACL",....

Dec 11, 2013 6:21 AM #

Ha! In addition to your verbs, we ignored all the stage numbers and just gave them names - sometimes multiple names per leg.

The Big Trek
The Mangroves
The Snake Trek
The Turtle Sanctuary
The Secondary Peak

Dec 11, 2013 6:25 AM #

Fascinating interview with Mimi and Jacky from Thule on Sleepmonsters. A few key excerpts:

Mimi was... animated and tearful as she explained exactly what happened.

“We were stuck because Jacky wanted to do nothing and we were close to pulling out of the race 25km from the finish. He didn’t want to ride or move, and at first we just thought we should rest for 30 minutes. But he was no better and was saying strange things and we were more concerned.”

Jacky added, “I don’t remember anything about it. I was confusing reality and a nightmare. I thought I was at home in bed and having a nightmare about being in the race.”

Mimi continued, “I asked him if he knew where he was and who we were, but he had no idea and was still saying strange things. He wouldn’t pedal and we began to try anything we could to move to the finish as we knew we had a good lead. Stuart even tried to carry Jacky on his bike and ride his bike! We tried everything we could think of, pushing him on his bike, walking with him, towing him, but he wouldn’t pedal.

“We were moving 10m at a time and tried to sleep again, but it was cold and rainy. I was talking to him all the time, trying to explain the situation, to remind him it was his dream to win the World Championship again. I was afraid we would pull out and of the disappointment he would feel when he recovered and understood what had happened.

“We managed to move maybe 5km and he recovered a little bit, enough for us to get him on his bike and start moving with the 3 of us supporting him, but he still wouldn’t pedal! We worked together as a team to look after him and it was enough to get us to the transition and to complete the race.”

_______________________

“It was too much, too hard,” they agreed. “Everything in an adventure race is hard, there is so much to overcome and organise, so many challenges, and in this race there was more than necessary. Stages were a bit too long and extreme. The long trek was in nice mountains and forest but there was 20km on gravel roads at the end. On the first stage we carried the bikes for hours and it was too much. On the trek between the paddling stages we had to carry all our paddle gear and the bags were really heavy and we couldn’t enjoy the trek. We would understand if the course was in wilderness and we had to carry everything to continue the route, but all the time race vehicles were passing us as we walked along the road. It was crazy – they could have taken the paddling gear.

“It must be tough but you want to enjoy where you are and what you are doing. When we go home and explain what we have been doing people cannot believe we want to do it, and other people will not want to do it either. It is not normal to have a portage up a steep hill, no one wants to do that”

___________________________

“We are so motivated for that race [ARWC 2014 in Ecuador],” said Mimi. “We have raced there before and it is an amazing country plus we know and trust the race organisation to put on a good event.”

But then came the cloud on the Thule Adventure horizon.

“But it depends on the new nationality rules,” said Mimi. “We have an international team and that is because we race with people we know and like, and want to race with. They are our friends, and it does not matter where they were born or live. To race well you have to be with those you trust and think of as family and if we lose that in our sport it will be bad – it is the most important thing. We don’t want to race with someone just because they are French and so are we.

“I think if you asked Nathan Fa’avae why he races with his team it is not because they are all from New Zealand, it is because they are all friends and get along well.”

Jacky added, “If teams have to be from one country we are not sure we can even continue in adventure racing – it adds too much difficulty to a sport that is already so difficult.”

It seems the future for Thule Adventure is uncertain, in adventure racing at least, though they are committed to multisport racing in China where they have been very successful and Jacky told me he plans to try obstacle racing next year.

Dec 11, 2013 6:26 AM #

Bash: Ha! I know exactly what sections you are referring to, and yet I have no idea what the section numbers actually are!

Dec 11, 2013 6:28 AM #

Carbon's Offset - hehe, we raced as "Fifi and the Rear Derailleurs" at the Bull of Africa 2008 :)

However, it was Neil's freehub that failed, not his derailleur, on the long MTB leg...

Dec 11, 2013 6:29 AM #

Oh no, Jacky plans to try obstacle racing??! :((

Dec 11, 2013 6:30 AM #

Stijn: still, a free hub is near the derailler....

Wow, what did you do? That's not exactly something you can fix on the race course, is it?

Dec 11, 2013 6:30 AM #

At least *Jacky* knows enough not to call it "adventure racing"!

Dec 11, 2013 6:32 AM #

I smell a team effort at CP48.

Thanks for the interview, so illuminating.

Dec 11, 2013 6:38 AM #

Okay, I'm outie. Hoping not to see any of 2, 7, 20 or 49 come morning!

Dec 11, 2013 6:40 AM #

Me too. Wishing good luck to the 4 teams looking for CP48. G'night!

Dec 11, 2013 6:40 AM #

We tried cable-ties to secure the rear-cassette to the spokes, but these all snapped as soon as any power was put into a pedal-stroke. Eventually Neil figured out that very steady pedaling in a specific gear seemed to get the splines to bite - that and occasional towing got us to the end of that leg.

Dec 11, 2013 7:02 AM #

Just got back in the door at home in Canada. I can agree that the word on the ground in Costa Rica was that the race was unnecessarily difficult in some places. One example - making the teams carry their rafts 200m uphill from the takeout near the finish line before allowing them to walk the last 200m to the finish. There was absolutely no point or logistical need for teams to have to carry their rafts from the takeout point part of the way up the road. It was painful watching Columbia struggle to carry their raft while dozens of us walked all around them and a vehicle very easily could have picked up the boat at the pull out.

To comment on the interview with Mimi and Jacky - I was filming at the zipline when Thule came in there yesterday... Brutal. Mimi was in tears (understandably) because it was clear that Jacky had no idea what was going on. They just basically walked him over the zipline and put a harness on him and helped them as best they could through the zipline course, and then laid him in the raft to paddle to the finish. I've never seen anyone like that before - his eyes were open, he had a sort of dazed smile on his face, but really for all intents and purposes was not "there".

Dec 11, 2013 7:04 AM #

Wow, scary!

Dec 11, 2013 10:16 AM #

I'm looking forward to Merrell's race report, they usually do one where each team member gives his or her take on the whole race. Also the Tecnu and Adidas reports. There's no denying that overall it was a brilliant race, but it'll be interesting to see if this theme of "unecessary toughness" is common throughout. It was rather absurd to see teams having to hike with paddles, pumps and so forth sticking out of their packs. These other things like gravel road treks, unecessary portages etc that Thule mention must be taken note of by race directors to improve future races. I really see no point in making things arbitrarily tougher with these punishments - it's not in the spirit of AR. We don't race to see how much we can suffer or to satisfy the sadistic whims of a race director, then they may as well have the race on an athletics track and everybody has to carry a bucket of bricks for 7 days.

We race to travel through wilderness and see things and do things that one would never do if not for AR. We race for enjoyment and satisfaction.

Dec 11, 2013 10:58 AM #

I'm chatting to Tweet this afternoon (SA time). Will put out a podcast tonight. I'll post link when done (I'm going out for dins inbetween interview and posting so will probably only be later tonight that it is up).

Dec 11, 2013 11:03 AM #

Greatescape - I'm with you on course planning elements.

1) There's the boat issue I was on about days ago - if you don't have mostly suitable boats for the type of water presented, keep the section short or leave it out and do something different.
2) Unnecessary carrying of gear - like the rafting equipment. It requires a re-think of the course and logistics. I read in that interview that course vehicles were driving on the same road as they were lugging all the gear. Just silly.
3) I thought some of these legs were too long. Long leg after long leg. While there definitely should be a long leg or two, it changes the pace and 'raciness' of the course. I like short and punchy early on and then stretching out a bit and then speeding up - both for racing and watching.

Mmm... Time to go run ;)

Dec 11, 2013 11:05 AM #

Ah... FYI - lovely note posted by Merrell Adventure Addicts on their FB page. Posted about 5hrs ago. They had a good 11hr sleep after they came in and were off to sleep more ;)

Ok, so we finally emerging from the haziness that takes over an Adventure Racers mind during a race. Your whole focus and being becomes about getting to the next checkpoint, next TA or to the finish. It is about maintaining yourself, maintaining your teammates, maintaining your equipment. Surviving to the end. Oh and also trying to get there quicker than the other teams.

We finished late last night after 180h20m of racing. It was tough. The paddle legs and mountain trek where long and brutal. The conditions where hot and humid with rain showers during some parts of the day. It was freezing cold on top of the mountain. The mud was unrelenting at times. The navigation was tough with route options, map errors and the need for continual concentration in order to not lose time on other teams.

We had a great race, though at this stage it is all still a blur and over the next few days it will become alot more clearer as to what we went through and achieved.

We had a great consistent race. After a disastrous route choice on the first mtb leg that put us near the back of the field, we had an awesome leg 2,3,4 and managed to pull back into the top ten and be back with the teams racing for the top spots. We again didn't have a great leg 5 on the MTB. Entering mid camp, we were content with our time behind the teams in front of us, though in truth we realized we where getting too far behind the leader. The Mountain trek was long and brutal and at the end we were only 3-4 hrs off 4th place and we knew with the Dark zone at TA8 we would be able to start with all the teams ahead of us the next morning. We were all broken and extremely exhausted at the end of the trek and made a strategy call to sleep at TA7 and not immediately push onto TA8. We felt the sleep would benefit us more at TA7 than trying to bike immediately and then sleeping at TA8. By the end of leg 9 & 10 (paddle & trek) we had managed to catch the two brazilian teams and was about 2 hours behind 3rd and 4th. We pushed hard on the final MTB leg, initially getting a gap on the two brazilian teams but then losing around 2 hrs to them when we made a nav error. Qasarlontra then had a bike mechanical which allowed us to catch and pass them and we finally caught BMS as they battled to find the final MTB CP. This put us into 5th for the final few hours to the finish.

We are extremely happy with our 5th place result and the way our race panned out. We are all still strong and seem in good shape compared to some others that we have seen.

Snoooozie did fantastically, considering it is only her second expedition adventure race after EA earlier this year. Farmer Brown was a machine looking after his sister throughout the race. The consistent stable Hanno was a rock of consistency throughout and keep us all going at the correct pace and ensure we did not get carried away in the "moments".

More news and reports to follow in the next few days. Back to bed now for us.

Dec 11, 2013 11:24 AM #

Fantastic. Thanks for posting, Lisa

Dec 11, 2013 12:19 PM #

Bivvy Colts have now been in the area of CP48 (including looking for it and sleeping) for nearly 11h... wow that must be demoralizing this late in the race! Here's hoping they find it soon.

Dec 11, 2013 12:27 PM #

more on the Bivvy Colts, from Sleepmonsters:

A policeman arrived at the finish in the middle of the night saying he'd found 4 New Zealanders who didn't know where they were or what they were doing and he wondered what was going on! He was told where the the Bivouac Colts should be going and will hopefully point them in the right direction.
https://www.facebook.com/SleepMonsters/posts/63405...

Dec 11, 2013 12:28 PM #

CP48 is supposed to be a log bridge, shouldn't be that hard in theory. It's probably the spot with almost no bike tracks (not that they know that) as BMS et al pretty much churned up everything else in a 10km radius.

Dec 11, 2013 12:32 PM #

Any questions that you'd like me to ask Tweet (Merrell Adventure Addicts) when I speak to him at 15h30 (SA time)?

Dec 11, 2013 12:38 PM #

that was post 2345! cool.pointless, but cool.

Dec 11, 2013 12:39 PM #

Mountain Hardware finished 10th!

TOYOTA finished just moments ago in 11th place!

who was betting less than 10 teams would complete the full course? glad they're wrong! this is an amazingly tough field.

teams still biking in the vicinity of CP48:
Bananarama (check out their breadcrumbs! again with the route choice!)
Bivvy Colts (after the CR police encounter)
Antioquia Trangoworld
OpavaNet

EastWind has retired although they are still tracking??
https://www.facebook.com/SleepMonsters/posts/63405...

Dec 11, 2013 12:40 PM #

then we have SXM that should be across the ferry and biking south. they are all by themselves, no teams within hours on either side. maybe they will get to CP48 while there's still a party going on.

Dec 11, 2013 12:46 PM #

Untamed, Selva Kailash, Jeep, and Tierra Vivia all sort of close together still near the beginning on the bike leg.

Ansita in TA11 (trek to bike...aka The Snake Trek to The Big Bike)
Leki 50 nearing the end of The Snake Trek
RacingDenmark trekking

Salomon-Suunto, GJ/YogaSlackers, Get No Sleep all still shown paddling but their last track is very, very old.

Dec 11, 2013 12:46 PM #

On the subject of the tied third, I thought I'd dig up the info on the Tasmania race which ended in a real sprint finish on a cycling track (other interesting thing, for what it's worth is the 6 day finishing time, 2 less than Costa Rica). Here is the report from Adidas Terrex:

Here we knew we had at least 30 minutes on AXA and pushed the pace on the beach to try and extend this. Rocky terrain and runnable paths led through a few controls to Sisters Beach, a very posh looking resort. Here there was just one control to the end of the leg. Not long we thought – how wrong we were.

Climbing the last hill, we were on the lookout for a stream crossing, with the control being a simple 25 metres upstream, sounds easy and it would have been, if there had of been a stream, or even a stream bed. At 1:30am with undergrowth and little visibility is was impossible to find. We looked for an hour before AXA turned up, then together we searched for a further 3 hours, trying various methods to find the elusive stream. With the heavens opening and a heavy downpour we retreated to some flat ground and put up our tent until daylight.

AXA had done a similar thing, and once it was light we resumed our search – it took less than 10 minutes to find it in the light. By lining up the hill tops and being very creative with our imaginations we found the control. In an act of sportsmanship we told AXA where it was.

After this we were not sure of what AXA’s intentions would be – would they want to race, or consider this bad form after us finding and showing them the control?

We decided to not wait and see and pushed onto the end of the run and were quickly on the bikes. Lack of food and drink really hurt us here and we did our best, always keeping an eye out behind for the Swedes.

Then finally with 12 km to go, they caught us. We managed to get on their wheels and sat in. As we cycled a marshal explained that the finish was a lap and a half of the velodrome track ... not what you want after nearly 6 days of racing !

We quizzed AXA about their intentions and team captain Michael Lindnord said that they wanted to race. As AXA were a faster biking team, we were fully expecting that we would loose out to them, then we thought, no way is that going to happen. We will beat these guys. We have to beat these guys.

So for the remaining 12 km we just sat behind them and let them do all the work, which they seemed happy to do. We believe they thought that we would not be able to hold on. Once we arrived at the track the plan was for us to sit behind for the first half a lap or so, then go past AXA to take the flag.

Hitting the track there was some jostling and then we were speeding round, AXA leading it out just trying to ride away from us, perfect for us and we couldn’t believe they were not being more tactical.

With a lap to go, we pushed on passing the bulk of the AXA team and isolated Michael at the front. Having three adidas TERREX riders on his shoulder was too much pressure for him and our fresher legs took us to the line first, then Sonya came in between the AXA riders to secure our 4th place by about 2 bike lengths or about a second. Probably the closest finish ever to an Expedition Adventure Race !

We were elated and over the moon. AXA were very generous in defeat, Michael saying he preferred to come 5th in a race than joint 4th – and I think he was right – it was a brilliant end to a great race, though we probably would be saying different things if we had lost !

Michael was astonished that we beat them on the bikes, but we just explained that you don’t take the Brits on at Track Cycling!

(full report here http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?race_i...)

Dec 11, 2013 12:54 PM #

just caught up on Breathe...Ecuador Explorer in 12th!!

if the word on the deflated finish line is true, that makes me angry. full finish line royalties should be available to all teams finishing before the final cutoff. unless it was raining and they deflated the arch to protect the generators from electrocuting everyone. but still, give the teams some cowbell at least?

Dec 11, 2013 1:01 PM #

sorry, adventurelisa, for burying your supercool request in a flurry of morning updates. i think it's awesome you are taking questions! everyone else, think up some good ones!

"Any questions that you'd like me to ask Tweet (Merrell Adventure Addicts) when I speak to him at 15h30 (SA time)?"

my ideas:
were there snakes on the snake trek?
how many times did you run out of food based on overly long legs?
how much sleep?

Dec 11, 2013 1:45 PM #

just posted post-race interview with Sophie and Nathan

Dec 11, 2013 1:54 PM #

I'm so sad for Eastwind! Their poor girl fell off the bike and was knocked unconcious for a while, and it took them out of the race. A real bummer. This race has been so tough on teams. On that topic, I do like the idea that this race was a bit more like the old school races with long sections and a touch course in general, but like many of you have already pointed out it seems to have gone a little too far on the tough and unnecessary side.....this of course coming from the comforts of my couch so it will be interesting to hear what more racers have to say about it (we already know Thule's take).

Dec 11, 2013 2:01 PM #

watching the Colts is painful right now. They will learn a lot from this, but I'm dying for them to finally get it done

Dec 11, 2013 2:04 PM #

FB:

Say it ain't so!! The Eastwind 'homestretch curse' has struck again. Bummer

@Bash... I think we started racing as Team Spirit (Canada) in '97 or '98 and I thought Eastwind was in B.C. in '96 ....I knew for sure they were in Aus in '97... were they dnf'd on the final ocean paddle after the long trek (carry) :-(
.. that was the 'birth of the curse'

Dec 11, 2013 2:06 PM #

talk about curse...two of their team-mates drowned earlier this year while kayak training. XPD was their first race since that tragedy, and they finished it. Lanterne Rouge to boot

Dec 11, 2013 2:23 PM #

Silkychrome: I agree strongly that the finish line should stay "up" for all racers that push that far, ranked, Unranked, etc. and the race staff should put as much enthusiasm into greeting all teams that push this far.

Dec 11, 2013 2:23 PM #

FB:

They lost a teammate kayak training years ago?!! Did this really happen again or has the story grown?!

Dec 11, 2013 2:24 PM #

no, sadly they lost 2 team-mates this year before XPD. there was a start line memorial ceremony :(

Dec 11, 2013 2:25 PM #

FB and Bash: Carbon and I recently re-watched EcoChallenge BC (video on the Internet) and Eastwind was there, with the same captain as always.

Dec 11, 2013 2:26 PM #

And on a more fun/funny note, in the Eco BC '96 footage, Ian Adamson is sporting a nasty looking long hairdo.

Dec 11, 2013 2:29 PM #

Can't imagine Ian with a mullet :)

Dec 11, 2013 2:30 PM #

What's happening with 15? Where are they going?

Dec 11, 2013 2:43 PM #

several teams have made that mistake - they all caught it after a few kms.

Dec 11, 2013 2:51 PM #

Oh yeah, I see them backtracking now....phew! :)

Dec 11, 2013 3:04 PM #

Team EastWind was formed in 1996. I was curious about Team Spirit Canada!

So sad for them in this race. That is a heartbreaking ending for Relentless' film.

However, unless they race under another name sometimes, they didn't lose any teammates this year. It was the Japanese team Real Discovery who lost two teammates to a kayaking accident this year.

Dec 11, 2013 3:05 PM #

yes - you are right Bash. I had the two confused.

Dec 11, 2013 3:07 PM #

You should really get more sleep. ;)

Dec 11, 2013 3:12 PM #

Questions for Lisa for Merrell:

Please tell us your story around CP48. Why is it giving teams so much trouble?Did you realize you were in 5th as you rode to the zip line?

Dec 11, 2013 3:55 PM #

Untamed must be feeling pretty strong as it seems they're passing some teams on the approach to the border...:)

Dec 11, 2013 4:21 PM #

Yeah, go untamed!!!! Make us proud!

Dec 11, 2013 4:26 PM #

Untamedadventur probably asked them to hold back a bit so they would be in the news for a few more days. ;)

Dec 11, 2013 4:27 PM #

Great photos of Tecnu and Adidas at the zipline and getting into the raft. Hermes must have been laughing at my texts informing her of "Tecnu's" progress. :)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tecnu-Extreme-Adven...

Dec 11, 2013 4:29 PM #

Go Untamed! Probably pushing extra hard to make the cutoff. That can be so rough - needing sleep but feeling like you can't afford the time; if you sleep, you may miss the finishing cutoff,.... so you keep pushing, with the plan to sleep as soon as you finish.
(I'm trying to find the photo of Carbon after the finish of ARWC2011... :).... at the "Finisher's Lounge" of 4 chairs, laying on the floor sleeping and using her chair to prop her feet up)

Dec 11, 2013 4:30 PM #

Oh, I remember that one. We were all admiring the Leukotape job on her feet; it stayed on pretty well.

Dec 11, 2013 4:32 PM #

Ugh, during their race, Tecnu tracked at the same place where Untamed Canada just tracked. Untamed has 7.5 hours left to get to the finish line, assuming that the cut-off is 18:00 as rumoured. It took Tecnu 10 hours. :(

Dec 11, 2013 4:34 PM #

Noooooo... :(
To go through all this, and not be able to finish sucks :(

Dec 11, 2013 4:39 PM #

....and they still have CP48 to find......

Dec 11, 2013 4:40 PM #

Man, that is rough news.

Dec 11, 2013 4:40 PM #

on the bright side, it looks like Bivouac Colts just got CP48.

Dec 11, 2013 4:41 PM #

No matter what happens, they will be HEROES in our eyes! :)

Dec 11, 2013 4:44 PM #

Untamed might not finish officially ranked, but the will finish the whole course, and that is an enormous feat

Dec 11, 2013 4:45 PM #

Yes, I'd still want to finish, regardless of being official or not, after all they've been through.

Dec 11, 2013 4:46 PM #

Did Bananarama skip 48 after their roundabout route down?
Did the Colts get outside help (the police?) to find it? Or did I read that wrong?

Dec 11, 2013 4:46 PM #

That's a good point LosDobos. More than the majority of teams. perhaps Bivouac Colts left a trail of cookies all the way to CP 48 to help untamed...or maybe that police officer is still there to guide them right and they can make up time on other teams that way.

Dec 11, 2013 4:50 PM #

We'll see if this links to the photo of Carbon enjoying the Finishers' Lounge
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HYsijh5Nkq_Z...

Dec 11, 2013 4:53 PM #

FB:

our pics form that lounge all seemed to involve beer or the hugely swollen leach that Urthbuoy pulled from behind his ear shortly after we got our Pizza :-)

Dec 11, 2013 4:56 PM #

doesn't link, CO
post your pictures FB!

Dec 11, 2013 4:59 PM #

Oh, poor Colts! They were 7 km by road from CP48 15 hours ago!

Dec 11, 2013 5:03 PM #

I really hope Untamed gets to finish the whole course. Unfortunately, organizers could cut them off before the rafting section if the course is closed - or earlier, depending on their speed relative to Tecnu's speed.

Dec 11, 2013 5:07 PM #

Or the guides might go on a strike (seeing how teams just fall asleep in them) :)...wonder how hard is it to paddle a raft on one's own?

Dec 11, 2013 5:09 PM #

Oh my, Untamed is really pushing it! :)))

Dec 11, 2013 5:18 PM #

A couple of great maps posted by LosDobos showing some of the CP48 woes. I look forward to hearing the story.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/11/the-...

Here's some of the Colts' tour - and this wasn't the end of it.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/11/4km-...

Dec 11, 2013 5:23 PM #

From Bob re CP48:

Road shown on map is very old and overgrown through farmers' fields. It's a totally different style of road vs. the rest of the race course. The last part of the trail to the CP is totally overgrown.

Doesn't sound like a fair CP, especially for tired racers who may be coming at night.

Dec 11, 2013 5:24 PM #

Hopefully it's not so overgrown now....as so many teams had passed :)

Dec 11, 2013 5:29 PM #

Thanks for letting me know Myka, I'll keep working on getting the photo of Carbon's use of a chair...

Dec 11, 2013 5:30 PM #

Go Untamed! Probably across the ferry crossing by now? Their tracker shows them at the crossing about 12 minutes ago

Dec 11, 2013 5:32 PM #

As a reminder, here's the CP48 map from LosDobos' Breathe Flashblog.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/11/race...

As a navigator, I wouldn't have been too worried about finding this one - lulled into a false sense of security.

Dec 11, 2013 5:34 PM #

Interesting post-race interview with Nathan and Sophie of Seagate - from Endorphin Mag.

Dec 11, 2013 5:36 PM #

From Hermes: Tecnu is doing a post-race debrief right now. Bob feels fine and felt fine right after the race. He's sleepy and has a bottomless pit. :) Lots of people are hobbling like WW2 soldiers but Bob and team seem to have gotten away with good tootsies!

Dec 11, 2013 5:43 PM #

Mystery Canadian team SXM stopped tracking at 2 a.m. near the place where Untamed Canada is now. The leaderboard shows them on the full course but doesn't show them at the zipline yet - although maybe the humans haven't had a chance to update it. Another possibility is that they could be caught in the vortex of CP48. They are the only Canadian team with a chance at an official finish unless something has changed regarding the course closure deadline. Sorry, Untamed. :(((

Dec 11, 2013 5:44 PM #

Good to hear:)
I remember the party after WC in Newfoundland....I couldn't believe racers were dancing after so many days on their feet! ...well, maybe not so much dancing, as swaying they hips to the music - it was funny to watch :)

Dec 11, 2013 5:45 PM #

about Bob, not Untamed...:(

Dec 11, 2013 5:45 PM #

Btw doing the math... Tecnu took 9 hours from Untamed's current location. Untamed has 6.25 hours. Tecnu was racing hard against Adidas, and they found CP48 without much pain so there wasn't much slack on this leg.

Dec 11, 2013 5:59 PM #

Wow, I'll be interested to hear what Tecnu did differently re: feet, to finish in better shape.

Dec 11, 2013 6:03 PM #

Myka, I remember the post-race party for the 2004 AR World Champs in Newfoundland very well! You and I were much younger then. And I guess I really liked stripes. But I don't remember the name of that guy with us.

I *do* remember the name of this guy I had a beer with. He had a pretty good race. :)

I must have gone to bed before the dancing but I remember the Screeching In ceremony where the racers had to kiss the cod.

Dec 11, 2013 6:10 PM #

Haha, blast from the past:) His name was Bryan....that's all I know.
And I remember dancing with the guys from team Dirtworld, they were so nice, one of them, Ryan, sent me a t-shirt with their logo after the race...still have it:)

Dec 11, 2013 6:11 PM #

looks like about 17 teams will finish the full course....better than the 10 Untamedne and me were predicting back at the Mangrove Monster

Dec 11, 2013 6:18 PM #

ahh, back in the mangroves.....;)

Dec 11, 2013 6:28 PM #

Teams who will finish soon (already at zipline or on rafts):

Banano de Costa Rica [EDIT: they appear to have skipped two CPs]
OpavaNet
Bivouac Colts (phew!!)

The question mark is their ranking. 12 teams are confirmed with a finish time on the leaderboard. We haven't seen a track from SXM or Antioquia Trangoworld for a long time, and they could/should be ahead or in the mix.

Also U.S. team Gear Junkies/Yogaslackers is still shown on the leaderboard on the full course but hasn't tracked since midway through the oceanside kayak leg. They were 3.5 hours ahead of Untamed at that point. Anyone heard any news?

Dec 11, 2013 6:49 PM #

LaFemme, Leanimal and Lawrence Foster are making their way across Costa Rica by public transit in order to reach the finish line, which will close soon after they get there. Tomorrow morning, everyone will be transported to the official event hotel in San Jose for the post-race festivities.

Dec 11, 2013 7:01 PM #

Here is the photo from the Tasmania finish lounge: https://twitter.com/rachellemcmahon/status/1341730...

Dec 11, 2013 7:02 PM #

Are you really only wearing a blanket from the waist down?

Dec 11, 2013 7:10 PM #

Ha! No, there are bike shorts under the blanket too. Double I believe :)

Dec 11, 2013 7:16 PM #

A Gold Rush AR facebook post suggests Yogaslackers crossed the finish line recently. Any word on street about that?

EDIT: ok, I got excited and mis-read the post. They don't know anything either. Nevermind.

Dec 11, 2013 7:28 PM #

In terms of ranking, I'm also pretty sure Bananas gave 48 a miss. Does that sound right?

Dec 11, 2013 7:37 PM #

Bananos looks like they missed 46 and skipped 48

Dec 11, 2013 7:41 PM #

RacingDenmark (36) seems to be gunning it hard on the local highways, so probably just trying to get to the finish, knowing they're way off the official finish timeframe.

Dec 11, 2013 7:42 PM #

I'll add an edit to my post above. They took a crazy route to the zipline. Strange - they had time. I wonder what the story is.

Dec 11, 2013 7:45 PM #

If the Colts got outside help / hints about CP48 (there was some talk of the cops pointing them in the right direction) - is that a legal thing in AR? I'm totally glad they're out of there, just curious!!

Dec 11, 2013 7:50 PM #

No, it isn't, given that the cop got his information from race organizers. We don't yet know whether the Colts found CP48 on their own or with help. It is legal to ask a local for directions to the highway or even whether they've seen a CP flag. But if the cop directed them to a CP after getting guidance from organizers, that would be verboten. (Although I'm inclined to think that the Colts have been punished enough!)

Dec 11, 2013 8:03 PM #

Denmark actually probably got a ride to the finish, judging by their speed. Hope they're all okay, just calling it a day (week). Maybe Leki was with them? Haven't tracked since the last TA.

EDIT: Ah, I get it - these two teams didn't go to the finish, they got a short-course ride to the zipline.

Dec 11, 2013 8:09 PM #

Which teams are still out there? I hope they don't have a finish ceremony while teams are still out there somewhere. Isn't the ceremony at 6 p.m.?

Dec 11, 2013 8:37 PM #

re: the Tasmania finish photo:
The blankets were draped over the finishers' chairs to make them appear more regal. It looks like Carbon took mine (or maybe I gave it to her),

....and Sean is schooling us on how we could improve our navigation next time ;)
(Kidding. This was Sean's first and only adventure race, the ARWC! Revy, on the far left, is our navigator, and I assure you he's *okay* at the task....;)

Dec 11, 2013 9:06 PM #

No insight on remaining teams, but CO moved up a spot.

Dec 11, 2013 9:12 PM #

Ang, I hadn't heard about any ceremony tonight - just the closing of the finish line. I think the awards would be presented at the post-race event in San Jose tomorrow evening. Anyone heard different?

Dec 11, 2013 9:12 PM #

@Mr. W. Haha! Catch me if you can, boys. :)

Dec 11, 2013 9:13 PM #

Head-shaking update on Canadian team Epic Endurance from LosDobos. Also the comment that CP48 is closed but no details on what that means. Anyone reaching CP48 at this point could not finish the entire course within the time limit so maybe teams are just being waved along the road.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/11/epic...

Dec 11, 2013 9:18 PM #

I was just looking through their website again and it says

"The Final Ceremony for the #ARWC2013 will be today at 6:00lm at the finish line, in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí (at the soccer field). See you here!"

If it's at the finish line than maybe it will last all night long and teams coming in after 6 p.m. will be greeted!

Dec 11, 2013 9:27 PM #

Carbon, are you sure you were on the floor because you were tired?.....I see some empty wine glasses on that table.....;)

Dec 11, 2013 9:27 PM #

Ah thanks, Ang. Sigh... I've been one of those people who has arrived during or after the awards ceremony at an event - including that race I did with you where we won the women's category but they forgot about that and gave away the entire prize table before we got there! :) As you say, this ensures a nice crowd to cheer for the final teams who come in.

Dec 11, 2013 9:33 PM #

Hmm, Bananarama has been given a finish on the leaderboard, and the official race Facebook page has congratulated them as "another Costa Rican team in the top 20". OpavaNet is ranked behind them in 14th and doesn't appear to have skipped the CP(s) that Bananarama did. Controversy!

Dec 11, 2013 9:35 PM #

@Myka: yep, there was champagne at the finish line.

Carbon: care to post an RTNX2011 photo showing how much you love champagne?

Dec 11, 2013 9:37 PM #

@Mr W:
wow, this is akward.... Of all people, to be congratulated on your move up in the rankings by the person you just passed. Shouldn't we zipline together, raft together, and take turns posting comments, one for one?

@Bash: you can keep your crown, I enjoy my sleep too much :)

Dec 11, 2013 9:37 PM #

I suspect their FB page is going by the leaderboard, which in turn is only powered by the TA trip-wires. It will be a burst of a bubble for their fans, but they obviously completed a short course.

Dec 11, 2013 9:42 PM #

Yes, I hope they continue to allow finishers as the party continues. I've seen that done at several races and think it's great (including RTNX 2003, with everyone at the party getting status updates as Team Persistence was found and fetched from the woods by float plane before the party was over. Unfortunately, when the very hungry racers got to the party, the food was all gone. They had to open up their gear bin and continue to survive on race food....)

For everyone's info, Team Persistence included someone we call Carbon, and someone we know as.... LosDobos :)

Dec 11, 2013 9:50 PM #

Haha! but I am sure it wasn't funny then....

Dec 11, 2013 9:53 PM #

They got a huge ovation when they walked into the banquet, straight off the race course.

Dec 11, 2013 10:01 PM #

Direct from the RD: all full course teams will be allowed to finish. Short course teams will be shuttled home.

:)

Only caveat is that buses leave for San Jose directly after the prize giving, so.....

They expect last full course teams tomorrow morning.

Dec 11, 2013 10:02 PM #

YAYYYYY!!!!! GO UNTAMED CANADA!!!!!

Dec 11, 2013 10:03 PM #

Woohoo!

on the other hand, oh no! That means they've still got to get through the Bermuda Triangle. :)

Dec 11, 2013 10:03 PM #

And CP48 is not closed after all, according to LosDobos. Just a rumour.

Dec 11, 2013 10:04 PM #

Hey, there's another name for a section of the race course that will be easier to remember than CP48 over the long term. Yes, Untamed is on its way toward The Bermuda Triangle.

I do hope they were informed about the change in race rules somewhere along the line. It would stink if some of the full course teams rode directly to the finish because they thought they were too late.

Dec 11, 2013 10:06 PM #

In fact, they've probably entered The Bermuda Triangle. They are about 6 km from CP48.

Dec 11, 2013 10:07 PM #

Very cool that they will get to finish, after all they've put in!

Fingers crossed for a good experience with "Area 48"

Dec 11, 2013 10:07 PM #

The triangle is already claiming another victim: Tierra Viva is following in the tire treads of Toyota, Ecuador, etc...

Dec 11, 2013 10:07 PM #

Re the course being too long: I know Seagate and Thule thought it should be shorter, but this is a lot of teams to be finishing the WC within the time frame of 6pm. Not bad, so.....depends how fast you want to race, I guess.

Dec 11, 2013 10:08 PM #

Area 48! Yes! THAT'S IT.

Dec 11, 2013 10:08 PM #

Bash..not sure if SXM is from Canada because when you look at their team photo...the flag on the left sleeve or on their bike isn't a Canadian one.....I also don't recognize it

Dec 11, 2013 10:13 PM #

I think they do have the St. Marten flag on their jersey...

Dec 11, 2013 10:22 PM #

Gryphon, we looked into their origins much earlier in this thread because some of their names were familiar but as near as we could tell, the men are French citizens (one from St. Martin) and the woman is Russian. Then someone pointed out that they may have a Canadian sponsor, which could make them a Canadian team - like Thule, which is a Swedish team that has no Swedes on it.

So we've been politely accepting them into the Canadian fold based on their nationality listed on the race website. You're right though - that isn't a Canadian flag on their sleeve!

Dec 11, 2013 10:24 PM #

Aieee, I think The Bermuda Triangle (aka Area 48) has messed up Jackson5's usual impeccable nav. Untamed Canada is heading north where others have gone before them.

Dec 11, 2013 10:28 PM #

As Canadians...we will accept and cheer them on regardless.....Go Untamed too!!!

Dec 11, 2013 10:34 PM #

Biv Colts story up on Sleepmonsters :)
http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

Dec 11, 2013 10:54 PM #

Bash thanks for forewarding the limitless photos, my internet was down all bay yesterday and just back on this PM, just getting caught up... thanks for ALL the info updates and if you guys are ever in the ottawa valley [gods country] we are on the shores of the mighty ottawa river just across from pembroke on allumette island love to see you....

Dec 11, 2013 11:01 PM #

revy:

Thanks everyone for the play by play. You all made the long drawn out sections seem way more exciting than I am guessing that they actually were:)

I am curious to hear what Bob and others say about the navigation. It seemed it was challenging but not necessarily because there was lots of options but rather because roads and trails didn't match up on the map. Personally I don't love that sort of nav since chance can play a bigger role than you'd like. Hopefully someone can chime in about this in the post race recaps.

Also big kudos to all the racers who survived this course. having paddled Tomcats in an expedition race I can attest to the mind numbing slog that they make paddling sections. How long did teams spend paddling on this course? A couple days at least I think. Too bad they couldn't have paddled something like the feathercraft Gemini.

http://feathercraft.com/sit-on-tops/gemini/

Easy to transport and put together, much faster, but way more expensive... Where is the corporate sugar daddy sponsor when you need them;)

Also thought it was great that the course was linear (looks like the racers saw a big chunk of the country!) however I think that does increase the likelihood of sections that are slogs simply because you are trying to get to the next highlight of the course. Can be minimized by a good design but if there aren't enough highlights then can't avoid the slogs in between. I agree with Nathan about race length - big difference between 5 day winning time vs 7.5.

Realistically though there are only so many locations in the world that would offer the ideal race course - that was the beauty of Ecochallenge since they could say "where can we put the race this year" rather than being tied to a certain country, etc..

Dec 11, 2013 11:19 PM #

Acadien:

Thank you everybody for the great report and awesome stories from the past, I am reading this sinse the begining but didnt take a chance to chat since my english is not the best but now that i know `` Untamed Canada `` is going to the finish, I had to get in .....Youhoooo!!!!!!! so proud of you guys...Go..go go!!! this is a tought race.

Dec 11, 2013 11:21 PM #

Interesting Revy.... loved the racing and the updates , the one thing that drove me crazy were the trackers or lack of trackers... other that that it has been a blst,, oh not being familiar with snakes and crocks, were there any reports of incidents and do the teams have anti snake venon or some sort of emergency kit for that? how poisonous are they, and if I visit Costa Rica which we are planning should I be aware of the hazards.. we are birders and spend a lot of time in the bush.....thanks

Dec 12, 2013 12:03 AM #

Here's a hazard in Costa Rica to avoid: Area 48 :)

And the mangroves...

Dec 12, 2013 12:16 AM #

Photo of SXM at the finish
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6343352199...

Dec 12, 2013 12:18 AM #

Just read Colts' story....truly amazing that they kept going and were determined to find their way back!

Dec 12, 2013 12:57 AM #

They sure didn't get any unfair help from that police officer. Quite the opposite!

Dec 12, 2013 12:58 AM #

Yogaslackers soon to arrive at the finish per Breathe/LosDobos!

Dec 12, 2013 1:03 AM #

The last time they tracked was more than 2 days ago, partway through the long kayak. But they're arriving on schedule.

Dec 12, 2013 1:11 AM #

Onallumette2, you sure live in a beautiful place! I've only ever done one adventure race where a snake bite kit was recommended gear but I tend to avoid tropical races so I don't know if teams would carry one in Costa Rica. They definitely wouldn't have anti-venom.

I checked the mandatory gear list, and it says that the basic first aid kit would be provided by a sponsor so racers may have had some items that we wouldn't carry in Canada. Nothing like that is on the list of items they recommend in addition to the kit.
http://www.arcostarica.com/CostaRica/gearlistv2.pd...

We haven't heard any reports of medical emergencies, and hopefully we won't. I'm sure the race reports will include some snake and spider sightings though. Here is an article on some of the creepy crawlies in Costa Rica. Some of them are deadly.
http://www.therealcostarica.com/living_in_costa_ri...

You'll add a lot of species to your lifetime list on a birding trip to Costa Rica!

Dec 12, 2013 1:14 AM #

Didn't LosDobos posted something about a caterpillar bite?....what the heck???!!! :)
They bite??

Dec 12, 2013 1:17 AM #

Bienvenue, Bruno! You may be sorry you spoke up. While you may worry about your English (which is just fine, by the way), it turns out that our French is much worse. If you're able to give us some idea of what Mimi of Thule said at the finish line, that would be awesome. :)

Dec 12, 2013 1:19 AM #

Yes, someone got a caterpillar bite on the final zipline! I don't think *our* caterpillars bite.

Dec 12, 2013 1:21 AM #

Untamed Canada's track disappeared an hour ago in The Bermuda Triangle. Our sleepy friends are looking for CP48 in the dark. Godspeed!

Dec 12, 2013 1:26 AM #

Untamed, you can do it! Slow and steady....

Dec 12, 2013 1:27 AM #

Bash, I'll not look at any catelpillar the same way again.....will think twice before picking them up!

Dec 12, 2013 1:28 AM #

z:

Untamed team speaks:
https://twitter.com/Untamed_Adv/status/41094241596...

This isn't a hoax -- they've been informed they can continue

Dec 12, 2013 1:29 AM #

505 posts so far for me...you guys kicked my butt. loved popping on here to see all the chatter. you turned out to be quite a good source of race information.
Pura Vida!

Dec 12, 2013 1:33 AM #

Their spirits are high!-good sign

LosDobos, the only thing I won't miss when the race is over....is your overuse of 'Pura Vida'!!!!!!! ;))))

Dec 12, 2013 1:34 AM #

you have no idea Myka...they use it ALL the time in Costa Rica. I was being restrained

Dec 12, 2013 1:35 AM #

Congrats on the 505th post, btw...you sure are a chatterbox.;)

Dec 12, 2013 1:38 AM #

http://www.mobypicture.com/user/untamed_adv/view/1...
love the image on that tweet Grant!! awesome team mojo! GO GET CP48 UNTAMED!!! woooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps i think Pura Vida is awesome and i wish i was in CR so i could say it all the time!

Dec 12, 2013 1:40 AM #

Cool!

Dec 12, 2013 1:40 AM #

Great image! Thanks for posting Silkychrome:)

Dec 12, 2013 1:48 AM #

@Untamedadventur, that is awesome!

While we're waiting for Untamed Canada to find the CP, what might their ranking be? We know the leaderboard currently includes teams that didn't do the full course, and there is also the slight possibility that a team did not find CP48 even though they were in the vicinity. There are also other teams, like SXM, Salomon-Suunto and Gear Junkies/Yogaslackers whose routes have not been tracking recently so we don't know if they visited all the CPs.

I think the teams below should be moved to the short course on the leaderboard, even though they're shown as having finished ahead of Untamed.

- Banano de Costa Rica
- Leki
- RacingDenmark.com

It looks like Selva Kailash moved ahead of Untamed. It's hard to tell but they're *this* close to a top 20 finish! :)

Dec 12, 2013 1:49 AM #

Awesome for Untamed. I raced with Alex at WT, and he was a great all-around racer and teammate.

Dec 12, 2013 2:39 AM #

More from the Colts, as per LaFemme via LosDobos. What a crazy experience this young team had!
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/11/news...

Dec 12, 2013 3:04 AM #

Untamed are moving!!!!! They're out of Bermuda Triangle!

Dec 12, 2013 3:06 AM #

Now I have to stay up late, to make sure they crossed that finish line:)

Dec 12, 2013 3:08 AM #

Yeah, that's one loooong bike leg in 20mins! I hope 48 was found somewhere in there. :)

Dec 12, 2013 3:08 AM #

Doesn't look like they had any problems finding CP48 either.....

Dec 12, 2013 3:14 AM #

Back to the B-Colts for a second, everyone is saying they are a young team, but I haven't been able to find their ages? How old are they?

Dec 12, 2013 3:17 AM #

Here is their team page:
Bivouac Colts Team
No ages provided, but you can infer their youth from their bios.

Dec 12, 2013 3:17 AM #

arthurd:

This says they are all under 26: http://sykose.com/2013/09/13/budding-young-adventu...

Dec 12, 2013 3:19 AM #

Might explain the name Colts! ;)

Dec 12, 2013 3:20 AM #

z:

Untamed sent through another message -- confirming they're to go to the Canopy. That is the case (right)? as far as you know here? I realize how peculiar this situation is...

Dec 12, 2013 3:21 AM #

Whaaa? Have they got 48? Looks like they zipped right through that area.

Dec 12, 2013 3:22 AM #

They are allowed to finish the course and rank, yes?

Dec 12, 2013 3:22 AM #

I hope so....

Dec 12, 2013 3:26 AM #

z:

It's not a chatty interface over satellite (takes like ~20 mins to transmit), so I didn't get into details. I told them to stay on the full course as they know it, but I thought you all might know better as I'm not really following that closely at this point

They asked:

"So. We go to. The canopy?"
-----------------------------------
Team 16-Untamed-Canada sent this message from:
Lat 10.467632 Lon -84.111285

Dec 12, 2013 3:30 AM #

Right, yes, but they should get 48 first. :) I hope that's what they meant - we got 48, so we should do the canopy, not just go to the finish. I dunno, does that make sense?

Dec 12, 2013 3:31 AM #

z:

Yes; I'll ask them about 48 -- who knows

Dec 12, 2013 3:32 AM #

Those coords they sent from are just north of the canopy.

Dec 12, 2013 3:34 AM #

Gee Clean, you're fast....:)

Dec 12, 2013 3:37 AM #

I think I was post 2500! ....that must count for something....?! ;)

Dec 12, 2013 3:41 AM #

Haha, yup, 2500. The prize table is looking a bit thin though. All the good stuff is gone: lancing blisters, 1 week in the mangroves.... what's your pleasure?

Dec 12, 2013 3:42 AM #

Clean, they had time to get CP48. Their breadcrumbs in that area were more than 3 hours apart.

Yes, they're supposed to stay on the full course according to the RD as long as they're not going to miss the bus to San Jose tomorrow morning. And they won't.

Dec 12, 2013 3:45 AM #

..hmmm, 7-day, all inclusive with man-eating caterpillars?

Dec 12, 2013 3:46 AM #

Oh geez, you're right - I didn't check the times. There was a huge tracking gap. Phew. Sorry, sorry! :)
This is what happens when I leave to write another exam. (rolls eyes)

Dec 12, 2013 3:46 AM #

Not too long for the Untamed....they're almost *home* :)

Dec 12, 2013 3:47 AM #

Yes! You win a colony of man-eating caterpillars, complete with aquarium and little trees and leaves to walk around on. You won't need to buy them food either.

Dec 12, 2013 3:48 AM #

I'll have nightmares tonight....

Dec 12, 2013 3:50 AM #

Another exam tonight?! Poor you.

Dec 12, 2013 3:51 AM #

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE....as a bonus, I'll get a Tomcat - I've heard a lot of good things about it....ahhh, PURA VIDA!

Dec 12, 2013 3:52 AM #

For Untamedadventur from the official race Facebook page:

I've just spoken to Race Director Pongo Baker and he told me all full course teams will be allowed to finish and the last ones to arrive will probably be tomorrow morning. (Maybe during the prize giving.) The final final cut off is that buses leave for San Jose after the prize giving. Teams not on the full course are being brought in to finish.

Dec 12, 2013 3:52 AM #

Myka, you are overusing the phrase "Pura Vida". ;)

Dec 12, 2013 3:55 AM #

don't tell LosDobos :)

Dec 12, 2013 3:56 AM #

She won 2500th post, she can use it all she likes. ;)
Ha, it would probably drive me crazy if I heard it all the time.

Dec 12, 2013 3:56 AM #

Here's a little cheer for Kinesium, maybe the last team (visible on the map anyway) to enter Area 48. Best wishes to them!

Dec 12, 2013 3:57 AM #

how about, I can say it 2500 times?

Dec 12, 2013 3:58 AM #

I wonder how the teams who bypassed some CPs due to 6pm cutoff will feel about this extension?

Dec 12, 2013 4:12 AM #

That is always the problem with changing a rule on the fly, even when the new rule is better. Organizers should have told teams no later than the trek/bike TA. By then, they knew how long the lead teams had taken on the last part of the race course.

Let's hope the teams that bypassed CPs were ready to drop out...

Dec 12, 2013 4:12 AM #

Woohoo - they're at the canopy, and then the Lazy River (what I've come to call the last rafting section, no offense!) and then finished. Yay!

'K bye!

Dec 12, 2013 4:13 AM #

Well done, Untamed!!! Amazing performance. :)

Dec 12, 2013 4:21 AM #

Well done indeed:)

Dec 12, 2013 4:27 AM #

I think Untamed will be the last full course team...Lanterne Rouge!

Dec 12, 2013 4:38 AM #

Yes well done Untamed... Awesome!!

Dec 12, 2013 5:05 AM #

Sleepmonsters article with some post-race reflections.
http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

Amongst other things, it confirms that Team SXM is actually French as our research suggested, not Canadian as the race website said. So our cheering for them as a Canadian team was all for nothing. ;)

Excerpt:
...all of the French teams I’ve spoken to have been quite critical; of the communications with teams, muddled rules, the length of the course and the course design. Pascal Bahaud, last year’s ARWC Race Director felt there was a lack of consideration for the teams and after the welcome his team had received on the course was not so impressed with the welcome at the finish.

“There was nobody here to meet us,” he said, “The Race Director should welcome the teams and there should at least be some food and drink for teams. I don’t understand how that can be.” There was food available in the hotel the race is using just across the road, so it’s been more of an issue for teams finishing in the night, when the hotel and shops are shut. Last night Team Mountain Hardwear didn’t even have an inflated finish arch to run under either.

Bahaud added, “I think the winners time should be around 5 days otherwise it is too long for most of the teams to finish.” That too has been a common theme, but it looks like the race will get around 20 full course finishers, which is a lot more than finished Raid in France last year, and a high percentage finish rate for a world championships.

That last point is something I've been thinking. There has been a lot of discussion about whether this race course was too hard but in spite of that, the finish rate was surprisingly high for an ARWS event.

Dec 12, 2013 6:39 AM #

Per the Yogaslackers facebook site sometime recently:

Yogaslackers racing team reporting safe and sound after 9 days of constant racing in the ARWC. World Championships are supposed to be tough and this one was no exception....and our first ever, so we were a bit wide eyed. Now we are just thrashed. Cleared the whole course, just awaiting final results. Not many teams cleared it, maybe 20 out of the 70 to start. Big props to the team. More to come

Dec 12, 2013 7:28 AM #

Some blathering from a not-so-young US athlete that only started AR in 2009, after years of single sports: I don't have the experience others have, I picked this sport up later. But whenever I hear people talk about how a race should look like and how long or hard it should be, I am turned off. I understand those athletes who want a controlled race, with set parameters like distance and miles/kilometers and elevation gains and losses. But that is not what AR is for me. AR is challenge and exploration and route finding and remote locations. I can understand that for the professional or semi-professional athlete, a course with known parameters is better. They can train for that, they can plan for that, and the Better teams can consistently place/win. But with races like this one in Costa Rica, only the Best-prepared teams can make the podium. I can't argue that Silva and Seagate, two of the top three favorites, aren't amazing in this sport. They obviously are. Seagate's reputation is legend already. But they weren't ready for bad trench foot, maybe they didn't recognize it and didn't have experience with it, and their team suffered for it. Thule got lucky that the race wasn't a little longer, because they had dug themselves into such a deep sleep-less hole, that one teammate really suffered. I'm not sure Jacky would have suffered as much if they had slept more, like the other teams at the top.
If you always know what to expect at an AR competition..."Ok, it's 5 days to win, elevation gain is this much, always 50 km of paddling"...is it still AR?
I am glad that this race was difficult. I think that it provoked a lot of thought, and I hope that the factions within the highest level of the AR community don't forget that AR's are hard, they don't always go as planned, and that it's ok to really challenge athletes to their limits. I acknowledge that this race had issues that other RD's can learn from, but I am not sure that this sport can or should become more structured.
And how come AR is one of the hardest sports in the world, and hardly anyone understands it? And since Triathlete's, single sport athletes, even duathletes in the right arena, can make more money than an international adventure racer, and since prize money is not really involved in most AR athletes' decision to race, let the races be true adventures, let them stay un-commercialized.

Dec 12, 2013 9:28 AM #

Hi everyone...
It's like I had solar flares here yesterday while trying to talk to Graham Bird (aka Tweet) from Merrell Adventure Addicts! Between two computers some of the interview didn't save... but I've used the pieces that did to compile this chat with Tweet. In it he talks about their feet, sleep, that last bike leg, CP48 and what they did right in this race.

Here's the link. Total time is 10 mins.

http://www.ar.co.za/2013/12/interview-with-merrell...

Dec 12, 2013 11:26 AM #

I’ve taken a break from the constant tracking, basically ignoring the midpack part of the field where I would be with some serious dedication. BUT once again, this race has shown how great our sport is. Looking forward to Expedition Africa 2014, you can follow my upside down triangle there.

Dec 12, 2013 11:46 AM #

right there with ya, afsheen. i don't have much to stand on with a short AR resume, and i understand that the few teams/athletes who make a living from the sport need to be able to race to their potential, but the too long/too hard argument doesn't sit right with me.

if the tomcats were different and carrying extra portage gear was removed from this race, would it be the best ARWC ever? curious to know what people think?

Dec 12, 2013 12:00 PM #

another thought...if the tomcats were different and the carrying extra portage gear was removed, would that have also sped up the race to be more like a 6-6.5day winning time for Thule?

Dec 12, 2013 12:19 PM #

Acadien:

@ Bash, What i can understand from Mimi interview..

--When the video start it seem she is talking about another team, that she knew it gone be very hard for the girl of that team...She didnt name the team but the reporter said they are expecting them wednesday night...

--She said since yesterday 10 pm Jackie really scared them, didnt know where he was or what he was doing....

--She pointed a Journalist that follow them and was checking on Jackie since this happen.....

--She is saying that it was a Crazy race, The section was not very hard but always too long...The long trek, Going up the mountain was Magic...going down into the jungle to the river was Magic but after that it was just too long it should stop that trek at the river....

--She is talking about unnecessary danger like just before the last CP ( Probably CP 48 ) on the bike they had to cross a big river on a very narrow and slippery wooden bridge....You had to risk your life...you dont need that kind of danger that late in a race....

Dec 12, 2013 1:53 PM #

Thanks very much bhache1!

Dec 12, 2013 1:58 PM #

Afsheen, I agree with your points re: not boiling it down to a recipe (swim 3.9 km, bike 180 km, run 42.1 km.... We already have that set formula somewhere else, for a different purpose). Maybe there's a balance, with many people feeling this race was just a little too much, but let's not start developing guidelines like "always have a bike section this long, etc". Like a few people said earlier, really play to the highlights of an area.
Those are a couple of the great characteristics of AR: the element of the unknown, and the chance to send racers through an amazing exploration of a country.

Dec 12, 2013 1:59 PM #

SOOOOO excited to see the Tweet from Untamed! As was said, that is such a great image: the dot on the map tweeting to ask if they can keep going! Love it! Go Untamed!!

Dec 12, 2013 2:01 PM #

Do we know if Untamed finished? I see them tracking at the zipline last night at 10 pm. Not sure if there were staff to take them through the zip line or rafting at that time of night....

Hope they catch the bus (or another bus)

Dec 12, 2013 2:16 PM #

they finished around 0300

Dec 12, 2013 3:18 PM #

Awesome great to hear....Thanks

Dec 12, 2013 3:19 PM #

if only there was a costa rican TV station broadcasting the awards this morning at 11

Dec 12, 2013 3:43 PM #

Yay, Untamed!! :)

And thanks, Bhache1. Interesting to hear Mimi's immediate reaction after finishing the race.

There has also been a discussion about race difficulty on LosDobos' Breathe Flashblog. One comment resonated with me: at a world championship, the disciplines should be tough in the way those disciplines are meant to be tough. So unless absolutely necessary, paddling shouldn't be done in toy boats, paddling gear should be transported with the kayaks, CP locations should be fair based on map quality (no exceptions on this one), long road runs to bike transitions should be minimized, etc.

That last one can be hard for course designers so I have some empathy there based on our Wilderness Traverse course planning. A bike transition area needs to be large enough to lay out all the bikes and gear boxes without interfering with other users of the area. There has to be room for a big truck to turn around. Drinking water should be available, and probably washrooms too. For a race this long, it's nice if volunteers have shelter. So that may mean some trekking on roads.

Dec 12, 2013 3:53 PM #

good point, Bash. i really like that perspective about disciplines should be tough in the way those disciplines are meant to be tough. that comment was made by a Czech dude, http://ar2.palonc.org/, which is awesome because it shows Breathe is really a global hub for ARWC coverage!

relevant post: http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/11/too-...

Dec 12, 2013 4:01 PM #

theorangedot:

hope you have enjoyed the web portal, we have enjoyed reading some of your comments.. the orange dot has nearly finished its work for this event. Feel free to post your feedback - be good to hear.

note - tracking devices was untamed - we took a feed from his devices and did the trickery on the website with the leaderboard / tracking / replay as well as pulling in reports and other reporting feeds.

James & Rob

Dec 12, 2013 4:17 PM #

Thanks for that link, Silkychrome. (I'm on my phone so was lazy.)

I do think it's OK for different ARWS races to be difficult in different ways and to last a different length of time. Adventure racing has always resisted the cookie cutter approach. There are things you can do in Costa Rica that you can't do in France and vice versa. Some people hate roller blading in AR so (thank God) it only appears in some races. Some teams are stronger in a particular style of racing so there will be years when different teams may excel. Some races favour teams who are better in heat or cold. It's like Olympic cross country skiing where some years the 50K race is classic, and sometimes it's skate. Except this is an adventure sport so variety and unpredictability are part of it.

Although I loved the longer format, I know that as someone who had planned to volunteer there, it made things complicated. Racers have been away from family and work for at least 2 weeks now. It's good that most ARWS races are shorter since this kind of time commitment excludes many people from being able to sign up. My heart loves a 9-10 day race but the practical side of me knows that it's better for the sport if most of the ARWS races are not that long.

Dec 12, 2013 4:24 PM #

I think it makes sense for the final ARWC championship to be a bit more epic (longer, and a bit more difficult) than the ARWS series qualifier races. Something like 4-5 day winning times in the ARWS qualifiers, and 5-6 days for the ARWC (for the leaders)

Dec 12, 2013 4:25 PM #

Great to hear that Untamed finished!
In time for the buses, but not in time for much sleep ;) Looks like that will happen on the bus and in San Jose. Man, they will be stiff getting off that bus!

Dec 12, 2013 4:28 PM #

Yay for Untamed!!!! :)

Dec 12, 2013 4:34 PM #

That is me in that picture kissing that cod! Wow. I was maybe 19 years old. I volunteered.

Dec 12, 2013 4:36 PM #

Seriously?! And hey there, Tico!!!! We've been talking about you. (Now *there's* an understatement.) Congratulations on a job really, really, really, really, really well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How are you?

Dec 12, 2013 4:40 PM #

you guys got a bit of reading to catch up on...

Dec 12, 2013 4:42 PM #

I thought that looked like a young Tico in the photo but wasn't sure if he was at ARWC2004.
Ha - Tico 0.0? :)

Tico, great to hear from you, looking forward to the stories! Fantastic race!! Very, very well done!!!

Dec 12, 2013 4:47 PM #

Tico, that was a great performance for you and your team! Congratulations, Tecnu. I've really enjoyed following this race, and your work throughout this race. I had a hard time following you guys through the monster trek, as it was difficult to watch you guys slow down going up and over the tall peaks when I know how strong you are. I am looking forward to any stories you want to share, and those you don't want to share too.

Dec 12, 2013 4:51 PM #

Tico, please pass on our huge and excited congratulations to the rest of your teammates as well! Enjoy the podium, and we look forward to hearing from all of you when you put your feet up and scroll through more than 2500 posts.... :)

Dec 12, 2013 4:53 PM #

TICO!!! now there will be about 100 additional posts to read now that you've posted. so stoked for you guys on an awesome performance. can't wait to hear about it all, or at least the parts you remember. wooooooooo Tecnu!!

Dec 12, 2013 5:32 PM #

Thanks to TheOrangeDot for introducing yourselves. So cool that you've been following this discussion! In that case, you've already received lots of honest feedback on your race website.

First of all, even though there have been occasional complaints about race trackers not updating or the leaderboard not being current, I couldn't help thinking of comedian Louis C.K.'s comments on air travel.

'I had to sit on the runway for 40 minutes.' Oh my god, really? What happened then, did you fly through the air like a bird, incredibly? Did you soar into the clouds, impossibly? Did you partake in the miracle of human flight and then land softly on giant tires that you couldn't even conceive how they f**king put air in them?...You're sitting in a chair in the sky. You're like a Greek myth right now.... People... say there's delays on flights ...New York to California in 5 hours. That used to take 30 years to do that and a bunch of you would die on the way there and have a baby. You'd be with a whole different group of people by the time you got there. Now you watch a movie you take a dump and you're home.
http://www.beholders.org/good-news/suggestionofthe...

For those of us who have "watched" adventure races when there was nothing to see but an infrequently updated leaderboard - or a TV show 12 months later, or nothing at all - it is absolutely amazing to have the luxury of quibbling over minor changes we might like. Thank you - and thanks to Untamedadventur - for doing such a great job of making this a spectator sport.

A few specific comments - and I'm sure others can add more:

- *Love* the different colours for short course vs. full course teams. There is usually a point in a race where it becomes a nightmare to follow the trackers because it takes so much work to figure that out. Thanks.

- Your hints and tips for using the tracking map were a good start. To make it easier for people's families to watch them, maybe you could hire LosDobos to write something along the lines of "Introduction to Race Tracking" and "Advanced Race Tracking Tips". We are lucky here to have the collective Attackpoint mind and experience to watch and analyze the tracks but people's Moms may be watching the race alone, and it's not easy. (#1 tip for Moms: If the tracker stops moving or stops tracking entirely, your child is not dead. If he were, it would already be on Twitter. ;) )

- I prefer it when breadcrumbs for one or more teams can be shown on the main race tracker map rather than in a pop-up box. It's easier to compare the progress of teams. Because I have rural Internet, I didn't spend much time with the analysis feature but it is very cool and does address that need. I'd just like to do that without leaving the regular tracking map.

- Someone on this forum found the link to display the tracking map full screen. It would be nice to have that easily available as an option from your site too. I'd guess that most of us had at least the tracking map and leaderboard open in separate tabs during the race.

- If Ken (Ken at Attackpoint.org) is OK with the idea, i.e. if the extra traffic wouldn't create a problem, I think a link to this Attackpoint discussion from the main race website might have been interesting for race watchers alongside the links to Breathe Mag, Sleepmonsters and Endorphin Mag. We've been lucky to have interaction here among racers, online and onsite spectators, volunteers, race film crew, Breathe Mag, Sleepmonsters, Adventure Lisa, Pinnacle Tracking, and many others - and now you guys managing the official race website too. So amazing!! :) The best post had to be Untamedadventur's question to this forum after receiving the text from team Untamed Canada out on the course asking whether they could continue racing after the time cut-off. Very cool that he knew he might get a reliable answer here sooner than he might be able to reach race management during the party.

Dec 12, 2013 5:33 PM #

...how he non-chalantly 'strolls' in here, with his casual comment....
Congrats Tico! What an incredible race to the podium Tecnu had! :)

Dec 12, 2013 5:43 PM #

Btw is it just me? I can't find a way to play Lisa's interview with Merrell.

Dec 12, 2013 5:49 PM #

vmeyer:

In my browser, there is a black box and when I mouse around in the photo, I get a start button, and there is also a start button in the top third of the box. I sent you a photo of what I see.

Dec 12, 2013 5:55 PM #

Tico, thanks for many hours of bleary-eyed staring at the screen. Loved every minute of it, following you guys! Can't put into words how impressive you were- unbelievable job.

Dec 12, 2013 5:58 PM #

Rob and John - love your AP handle btw - you guys are a couple of legit tech-wizards who also thanfkully "get" AR. I love how quick you are to respond when I report a gremlin or ask about a feature. Big fat huge kudos to you both!

Dec 12, 2013 6:02 PM #

Speaking of wizards... Valerie is here! :) I might have known that you just *had* to peek at an AP thread this long. Thanks for sending that image. I guess it really *is* just me who can't see that Merrell interview. Sometimes my poor Mac just overloads, particularly with our slow-ish Internet. Maybe it'll work later.

Dec 12, 2013 6:04 PM #

Bash, well said re: TheOrangeDot. Yes, loved the tracking and leaderboard! So many positives. If I think of any improvements, I will suggest them, but I think you've already captured the first ones that come to mind.

Yes, I was very appreciative of the distinction between regular and short-coursed teams. Someone at TheOrangeDot understands and was on it!

And I too was doing a lot of back and forth between about multiple different windows in order to follow everything: AP, Breathe, leaderboard, tracking map, Sleepmonsters, team facebook pages, twitter, etc. If there were some way to tie all the discussions together, it may increase traffic (good!) for everyone, unless too much traffic is a problem (bad?) or anyone has issues with sharing the traffic - i.e. not sure if anyone would feel like they are surrendering any ownership of the coverage.

Dec 12, 2013 6:12 PM #

Good news from Andreas Strand. "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."
http://www.andreasstrand.se/2013/12/a-long-break-n...

Dec 12, 2013 6:16 PM #

He returned from the dead already!!!!

Dec 12, 2013 6:18 PM #

Thanks, guys. Busy eating and sleeping. WIFI is limited and I just am on my phone. Really cool to see how closely everybody followed the race. I'd love to share stories from the high peaks, but I have no memory as I was completely out of it. I had a text book case of the 'umbles'. Team rallied behind me and we pushed through. Beast of a race and I'm so thankful for my training especially in regards to the paddling and heavy pack trekking. We only ran for 15k on the last trek leg. Otherwise it was all grunty hiking with heavy packs. We slept a ton, bob's nav was solid (only time lost was in searching for loosely mapped trails which was a crap shoot for everybody), everybody stayed healthy (we raced really conservatively with lots of washing with fresh bath wipes and frequent sock changes and sport slick lubbing, and more later. Thanks for the support. This race will have stories shared about it for years!! We had a party last night. Awards soon and a bus ride back to the city after that. I'll be home Friday night.

Dec 12, 2013 6:26 PM #

Bash, if you are having problems with the embedded player, you can download an mp3 of the Merrell interview here:
http://adventurelisa.podomatic.com/enclosure/2013-... (~10MB)

Dec 12, 2013 6:51 PM #

http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/12/memo...

Dec 12, 2013 6:54 PM #

Thanks, Ken! (Not enough issues with Attackpoint so you have time to help us with other sites. Nice.)

Dec 12, 2013 7:22 PM #

Tico, everyone figured something had happened to you guys. The umbles? Like bumble, mumble, stumble?

Dec 12, 2013 7:47 PM #

In wilderness first aid, the "umbles" are a classic sign of hypothermia. In Tico's case, there were probably some altitude issues in there too.

The patient first stumbles, then fumbles and grumbles, and later mumbles.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=2DUKdSBUwuUC&pg=PA...

Dec 12, 2013 7:50 PM #

Just checked, and "umbles" can also be a sign of altitude sickness.
http://www.treksafe.com.au/medical/documents/Altit...

Dec 12, 2013 8:04 PM #

New cover photo on the Untamed Canada Facebook page, taken after the last kayak section. Congratulations to the top Canadian team in the race! (Now that SXM has been "deported" to France.) Their rank remains uncertain since they are still shown behind teams who did not complete the course - Banano de Costa Rica, Leki, RaceDenmark, etc. Not sure about Jeep Adventure or Get No Sleep either.

Dec 12, 2013 8:23 PM #

Thanks Bash. Hadn't heard of the umbles before, but I like it already as a wilderness medicine quick fact. I'll remember that one.

Dec 12, 2013 9:13 PM #

From the Untamed Canada Facebook page several hours ago, and it sounds like it came from the race organization:

The top 10-12 placings and times are essentially official and will not change. However, further down there will be adjustments due to time credits (such as time spent waiting for the Superman to reopen) and time penalties (such as 2 hours for deciding not to wait for the Superman to reopen), as well as some possible re-classification due to missed CPs.

We are not sure when all of this will get done, hopefully this afternoon after the awards ceremony. We will notify you all once we receive word that the results are official.

Dec 12, 2013 9:33 PM #

actually, it came from me and is not official... :)

Dec 12, 2013 9:42 PM #

Ah, it sounded rather authoritative. Too bad, I was hoping for some acknowledgement from the race organization that the results are bogus from 12th place on.

(Just realized that I missed a couple of your Breathe posts earlier today.)

Dec 12, 2013 10:37 PM #

Lawrence Foster's Facebook status (one of Canada's best adventure racers a few years back and a cameraman for Limitless Also):

100km up to and over 11000ft. Great climb and traverse. Many people suffering from altitude but luckily no HAPE or HACE.
Calf deep mud for 8 km dropping 2500m on decent through Indian trail. Visited local Indian communities eating oranges and guava when not able to stand the thought of another bar. Met costa rica's famous ultra runner Andreas who lives 16hours from this village but walked over to see racers and give them a thumbs up. Local teacher played host and allowed us to sleep in the school house for a couple of hours before heading out on the last 30 kms. It is amazing how happy these people seem. It goes to show that happiness comes from community and friendship.
After 60 hours of walking with only a few hours of sleep I feel pretty lucky to have had the chance....and to be done.
Look out buffet!

Dec 12, 2013 10:42 PM #

Not sure what Lawrence's privacy settings are but he posted some excellent photos, including a few of Limitless Also.
https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.foster.752/posts...

Dec 13, 2013 1:43 PM #

Here are some of my videos from the race. Some have been on the Breathe blog.
http://www.youtube.com/rderunner
and here is a ton of pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/randy.ericksen/photos_alb...

Dec 13, 2013 4:00 PM #

Thanks Randy, really appreciate all the videos and photos.

Dec 14, 2013 5:12 AM #

Race report by Nathan Fa'avae of Seagate, the 2012 World Champions who DNFed at ARWC. Very honest and a little self-critical. An interesting view of what happens on the other side of "the orange dot".
http://www.sportzhub.com/news/adventure-racing-wor...

Dec 16, 2013 5:03 AM #

Final Results - most likely. Looks like organizers gave credit for the full course to teams that might have completed the course if they had realized the original finish cut-off had been moved back. However, they're ranked behind teams that completed the full course. Team Leki wasn't pleased and has commented about it online; I expect there were several protests about changing the rule on the fly.

Congratulations to Untamed Canada on finishing 20th in the world!

Dec 16, 2013 5:13 AM #

Way to go Untamed! Great result!

Dec 17, 2013 4:47 AM #

Legendaryrandy's video of Team Thule's finish, starting with the end of the bike ride to the zip line where two teammates are supporting Jacky on his bike.

Dec 17, 2013 4:52 AM #

Race report from 2nd place Columbia Vidaraid, courtesy of the Breathe Flashblog.
http://www.breathemag.ca/flashblog/2013/12/16/race...

Dec 18, 2013 5:33 PM #

Another story from behind the orange dot - Stuart Walker of Team Great Langdale Bunkhouse.
http://www.sleepmonsters.com/v2_races.php?article_...

Dec 19, 2013 2:03 PM #

Team Merrell race report - each person wrote their own perspective! cool!

http://www.doitnow.co.za/content/adventure-racing-...

Dec 19, 2013 7:18 PM #

And here's the report from Beantown of Tecnu.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/192566699/ARWC-Costa-Ric...

Dec 19, 2013 9:54 PM #

Thanks for the report Beantown, great to hear the stories from inside the race!

Now, to read the other reports...

Dec 20, 2013 12:08 AM #

Hi everyone! Wow, well it took over 3-days of on & off reading to get through the thread....it felt amazing reliving the event with all your support! And I'm impressed how well you surmised what was going on by noting time differences on the trackers, very cool. If anyone has any specific questions, feel free to ask away, or maybe start a new thread.

As you guys noted things went a bit sideways for us on the big trek. First we slowed with Kyle dealing with what we think were altitude related symptoms, that may have set us back a few hours, but the main issue for us was luck in finding the right trails going out the valley. On 5 occasions we found ourselves back-tracking and messing about for hours trying to sort the best way through. After the 3rd episode with this it became clear we'd miss the rafting cut-off the next day. We then hoped the 3 teams ahead perhaps faced similar troubles, but when we found they were 12 hours ahead at the end of the trek it was disheartening to say the least.

Racing back & forth with Adidas, BMS and QL for the rest of the event was great fun. The scenario around the tie for 3rd was unreal. As you guys know, the trails/roads around CP48 were messy. What looked like a nice road on the map was actually some cow/horse tracks through paddocks & fields. We'd been in the area for maybe 20 minutes trying to sort where the trail went when we heard some english accents in the distance........at that moment we'd returned to a noticeable trail at a fence crossing and hoped it was the right way and started riding with A LOT more focus.:) We rode through a few more fields then came to a dead-end on the cusp of the river the CP was on (at least this is what we'd figured given our distance traveled and general bearing). When we looked back across the field I noted a house and there was one shown on the map NW of the CP. Unfortunately we'd ridden a bit too far SW of the house so we back-tracked to look for more trails and just then Adidas showed up. It was a bizarre scenario, since I was kinda sure I knew where the CP was, but didn't really want to lead them down there, so we stood about waiting to see what they'd do. Tom G., the Adidas navigator almost immediately headed in the proper direction of the CP, which made my stomach sink a little. I mentioned to Kyle I thought he was going the right way, so we followed him. Upon reaching the river Tom (who was now ahead with his team behind) acted as if he was still hunting for the CP (but he'd already seen it), then I noticed it. It was hard to spot on the opposite side of the river across 3 big logs, but the foliage was thick on either side, so there was a chance we thought he hadn't seen it and I think he was hoping we didn't see it too. We stood at the crossing point hoping they'd back-track somewhere else, but it became clear after a few minutes neither of our teams were leaving the area so I fessed up about the location and Tom admitted he'd also seen the CP. So now, what do we do? We could have raced, but it seemed silly with the way this race ended with a canopy tour followed by rafting. It would have been hard to race through those elements. We were all pretty tired and ready to be done so the thought of not racing and enjoying the final elements together was very appealing and I think that lead us to pretty quickly agree on finishing together (assuming no one else caught us along the way). The two teams also share many good friendships as we've been racing against each other for ages and I think those friendships helped us come to that decision. I think the outcome would have been different if we'd been there with another team, or if the course finished with a simpler bike, trek, or paddle to the finish.

I'm working on a race report that will explain some of our other trials and tribulations, but figured these were the two issues people would be most interested in.

Thanks so much again for all the support, it really means a lot reading and knowing people are following along while we're out there.

Dec 20, 2013 2:53 AM #

thank you Bob for that... it was a pleasure :-) watching you guys.. congratulations

Dec 20, 2013 3:35 AM #

Thanks, Bob - for making us unproductive and keeping us up late at night! ;) Maybe you could tell us about what happened in the channel between CP16 and 17. Did you see Seagate coming out? If so, did you think they were just taking an overly conservative route choice to 17, and you were going to try to get through?

Dec 20, 2013 4:47 AM #

Thanks, Bob! And what Bash asked. Geez, it seems forever-ago that we were wondering about that one! :)

p.s. Forgot to say I shivered a little when actually seeing the video of the Thule triple-bike.

Dec 20, 2013 3:43 PM #

Haha, Oh yes, we saw Seagate and Silva paddling back out the channel from CP16, and yes I was kicking myself for not following them. We discussed the options after seeing them, but in our "sticking to our own game-plan" scenario and knowing we'd have tried the channel through to 17 if we hadn't seen them, we pushed on. We didn't know how long they'd been in the vicinity of CP16/17, since we'd run into Columbia enroute to CP14 and they told us they'd recently seen Seagate messing about in those channels. The tied was also coming in at that time and we thought it may have come up enough to get through. Not long after 16 we ran into Merrel who had also been with Seagate/Silva and they were waiting for the tied to come up (after some rest), so things were sounding positive when we saw them and they said we were already past where Seagate/Silva had made it in the channel. Once we got further in there, we ended up in mud and mangrove roots (no chance to drag, or portage) and it appeared the tied needed to be at full flood before we'd get through. There was still 3 hours til full flood and we still didn't know 100% if we'd get through, so we made the call with Merrel to paddle around. At that time Columbia showed up and I don't think they'd slept much yet, so they decided to wait it out & sleep. We'd already slept 3 hours the past night (2 hours before starting the mangrove paddle, and 1 hour while waiting for a strong ebb tide to flush out before going to CP16), so that further influenced us to keep paddling.

Dec 20, 2013 10:48 PM #

I don't know if you knew this or not, Bob, but that channel we were poking around in, was NOT the channel anyways!!. Once high tide came and Columbia awoke to see that our channel wasn't paddle-able, they backtracked and found the mapped channel a few hundred meters earlier to the right (as one would be paddling back out).

Dec 21, 2013 12:19 AM #

CheersSA:

Thanks Bob! It was amazing following you guys. As the navigator, it must be tough keeping your focus for that length of time. This might not be the forum to divulge but what tricks do you use to keep your focus?

Dec 21, 2013 3:03 PM #

Interesting Tico, I thought I also read some teams couldn't find the way through there even at high-tide....I wonder if the proper channel was where we pulled over the tree on first entering that area, since there seemed to be a channel to our left (on the way in) there. I bet it all looked totally different at high tide. Keep in mind, what was mapped in those mangroves didn't always match what we experienced, I was just checking google earth photo's and things don't match up everywhere, especially up the channel to 14 where a lot of teams got mixed up since the map indicated you should go up a north channel, but the way through was a big jog east, then north.

Dec 21, 2013 3:10 PM #

Hey CheersSA, no real tricks, I'm just continuously reminding myself to stay focused and aware of our precise location. Of course I lose track at times and then look at the bigger picture for a big landmark that lets me re-affirm our location. I also do the big picture thing on sections where I won't look at the map for 10-20 minutes of easy nav to afford a break. I also take the time to close my eyes and lay down any chance I get when the team might be doing something like fixing a bike, or going to the washroom, basically any few minutes I can sneak in.

Dec 22, 2013 9:04 PM #

Hi all

What a great race that was! Team Endurancelife didn't manage to complete the long course but we finished as a team of 4 and completed the short course including the long trek.

For those of you that are interested, I have completed a log of our race in my training profile which includes a download of the tracker log. Enjoy.

Dec 22, 2013 9:09 PM #

Thanks, Gary! And congrats on your short course finish. Here is the link to Gary's adventure, fyi.
http://ar.attackpoint.org/viewlog.jsp/user_6793/pe...

Jan 6, 2014 10:11 PM #

jackson5:

Thanks to all for following our team during the race, I just finished reading all your posts ! Awesome to feel you guys cheering for us! We really wanted to get to the finish on the full course as it became evident early in the race that only reaching the finish line would be a real challenge. We are happy with our result and we are looking forward to race again in 2014 at Untamed New England.

Race recap to come soon ! - I have been saying that for some times I know, but it's on the way and I will share it on AP as well.

Jan 26, 2014 7:49 PM #

just couldn't leave it at 2599
:)

Jan 28, 2014 12:16 AM #

A little OCD?

Jan 28, 2014 2:15 PM #

FB:

.. now he has to add 99 more....well, 98

Jan 28, 2014 6:24 PM #

97

Jan 28, 2014 8:05 PM #

FB:

I'm out :-)

Jan 28, 2014 9:13 PM #

jackson5:

Here is our race report if you want to know a bit more about our experience in Costa Rica: http://advracers.blogspot.ca/2014/01/mud-heat-subm...

Jan 29, 2014 3:56 PM #

FB:

Great report Alex. Crazy that a team would hide the CP in the water!! I finally understand the need for the mandatory 2 inch blade... so you can let the air out of some jerks boat in the middle of a mangrove paddle! :-)

Jan 30, 2014 12:50 AM #

Thanks for sharing, jackson5 - congrats again, on finishing the whole course:)

Jan 31, 2014 1:56 AM #

Great recap jackson5. Congrats once again on a great race and thanks for sharing with us!

Feb 21, 2014 7:31 PM #

http://vimeo.com/85500636

Feb 21, 2014 7:48 PM #

Cool! Thanks for the link KP!

Feb 27, 2014 8:45 PM #

Team Tecnu's video...21 mins so slot this into your Netflix line up...

http://vimeo.com/86245201

May 7, 2014 2:37 PM #

At last! Monday night on the Travel & Escape Channel in Canada, we can see the first of two episodes of team Boundless at ARWC 2013. We'll get to see Simon, Turbo, Phatty and Slice in action. Looking forward to it!

Canadians who don't get the channel can check the Travel & Escape website a day or two after the show.

American viewers will have to wait longer but Season 2 of Boundless will be shown on the Esquire Network.

Preview (I could only find a Facebook version):
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4981954536132...

May 7, 2014 10:37 PM #

So looking forward to this!

I might have to re-read the 2600 posts in advance to take myself back into the crazy mangroves, massive mountain treks, long paddles in tomcats, and long bike rides with trackers that always seemed to be leapfrogging each other!

May 7, 2014 10:38 PM #

And we're allowed to call them Boundless now, aren't we? (Phat Slices of Turbo Zoo?)

May 14, 2014 4:41 AM #

We sure can! The highly entertaining Episode 1 is now online - probably only available to Canadians and to people who can make themselves look like Canadians on the Internet.
http://www.travelandescape.ca/shows/boundless/

May 15, 2014 4:52 AM #

"Eh"

May 15, 2014 11:15 AM #

Anybody outside Canada been able to get access to the footage via http or VPN? I tried last night but failed.

May 15, 2014 1:12 PM #

I'm in the US and I was able to access the link above. You need to use a software that hides your computer IP number and makes it look like you are in Canada. I use a software called TunnelBear.

May 15, 2014 1:23 PM #