Mark Webber Challenge- Day 3 - Team Rexona No Quit

Day 3: Salamanders Bay. 

Half way through the Mark Webber Challenge. If you thought Day 2 was going to be the toughest day of the race, you were going to be in for a surprise.
I would like to start by acknowledging Eric and Glenn as they were shattered, did not get much food, sleep and had to race the entire day in less than ideal conditions as I was at the hospital. Legends.

After a coastal run and an easy paddling start in a protected bay, teams had to get off to sea in a massive swell.  Glenn and Eric’s kayak was apparently taking water, either because of Eric’s deck not being waterproof or from a compartment not properly closed. Either way between the kayak taking water, the massive swell and Eric that could not really paddle with his shoulder, Glenn got frustrated that they were both not moving fast enough and getting hammered by the waves. The rescue boat took ages to come and help them pump the water out of the kayak. For Eric and Glenn, this leg was definitively the low of the race, the kind of leg that tests you and makes you want to give up.   

Team Ironhouse battling the waves

  

Eric and Glenn against the swell

On my side, despite not having gotten much sleep, I am decided to get back on track and ask the doctor and nursing team to help me out with this. Joy, a wound expert comes and does a fantastic job. Our team will live up to its name: “No Quit”.

Bruce takes me back to where the epic kayak battle took place and it is just dead flat.

Difficult to imagine that a few hours ago several teams gave up and decided not to do the kayak leg due to the terrible conditions. Back at the camp in the afternoon, I concentrate on the maps for day 4 and 5 and plan as much as I can in advance to fast track the preparation and give Glenn and Eric as much resting time as possible. Team Rexona No Quit crosses the finish line among the last ones after a really tough day, where several teams suffered heat strokes. Both Glenn and Eric are shattered and I can feel the tension between them. They are both happy to see me and to have me back in the race, even if it is only for the paddling.

We are now fourth with Qantas starting to take a big lead on us (1 hour and 30 minutes). The podium looks very difficult to achieve now. I can feel that this is a make or break moment for the team. For the rest of the evening and until the end of the race, I will be working on the team spirit, supporting them, and taking every opportunity I get to psych them up. Strategy is now becoming critical. We need to not lose time, and choose the right checkpoints to get time credits and not waste energy getting “useless” checkpoints as Glenn and Eric will be doing most of the racing (unlike team Qantas which can swap three racers). Good news for the evening, we can all have a good night’s sleep in my cabin.

Video highlights of the Mark Webber Challenge Day 3:

Rexona No Quit Top Tips:

• Your sleep is extremely important, if required, get a cabin for the entire team, which will be much better than sleeping in tents.
• Use your iPhone and GPS to plan the next day and clearly identify the shortest/best paths on the maps. Not during the race, it is forbidden.
• Sleep with your compression gear every night, drink heaps of fluid and stretch!