Dark Horse AR November 2012

Race: Dark Horse

Date: 17 November 2012

Location:  South of J’burg

Team: Bloed en OMO

Almost missed this one.  In fact some unknown person entered Bloed en OMO and we felt obliged to pay the fees and pitch up.

As always the Tshwane  AR club team did not disappoint.  There was blood, there was mud and there was beer. And almost some kicking and gauging and busting of heads. But no boy named Sue - although there were some mean looking characters who gave us a run for our money.

What is the attraction of AR over other endurance sports?  

On the one hand it is, aerobically, low tempo. On the other hand you can never relax as one is continuously aware of the repercussions of missing the next CP because of some stupid navigation decision.

Tshwane AR Club always get this mental pressure right.

I still can’t believe we found the CP up the river bed. And we’ll forgive them for the CP that was described as being on the SW top of a hill when it was actually on the E flank of the hill.

They also always manage to add a some reckless  -Jackass the movie -type stage. In past years this included jumping off a 8m boulder at midnight into a pool of unknown depth and rockiness; or paddling up a turbulent river in thick mist – again at midnight. This year it was a joll down the “raging” Klip river on a R 140 plastic “inflatable” in a hot, mad dogs and Englishmen sun.  

And, I almost forgot, we saw some great wilderness on the way – all within a few stone throws of the city. 

This is not all. Wait for it:  we were fed egg and bacon rolls on the course and were also treated to a meal and drink at the finish.

 It may have been a mini AR but I was still stiff and sore on Sunday. Always a good sign of a weekend well spent.

Thanks guys.

Abel van der Merwe