Fusion IX Adventure Race

So there is a bit of drama happening on the local front and civilians are urged to stay indoors. 

So instead of engaging in something a little more productive than absentmindedly flipping through social media to the enraged public venting about the obvious political unrest, I'm unloading my phone of a haphazard collection of random photos.

A dominant presence in my Whatsapp albums seems to be that of my most recent running race. Ah yes, Fusion. We do have a love-hate relationship with each other.

In short, it's an all day adventure race commencing at 4 am and usually wrapping up around 5 pm. Competitors must be part of a 4-person team that stays together at all times and there are time penalties if the group becomes separated. Even by a few feet. Another twist that determines final placement is the use of quizzes and brain teasers that are pretty freaking hard to do when you're already mentally and physically exhausted!! 

I've definitely seen better days hahah

In past races, the race is divided up into 3 legs. The first and last legs are usually all running. I've done this race once before in 2013 and there was a swimming element then, along with the dreaded 'Fusion Friend', a PVC pipe filled with sand. It's pretty heavy and cumbersome to run with. For the second leg this year, the team was split into 2 runners and 2 riders where each party had to complete the stage together and the times of both legs added up at the end to result in one overall time.

I've been part of the +One a Week Running Group since 2012. Before I joined, I could not run a mile without stopping multiple times. This year I had the honour of being the Captain of my team, +OAW Monstah Whinahs. Talk about a humbling experience...

The event was held in the Lopinot Valley this year. It's a beautiful place with a terrible history (which we had to study for in case it came as test questions in the race).

My phone took the liberty of editing my picture for me. I think it did a pretty good job.

Long story short, Charles Joseph Compte de Loppinot who was a French knight, came to Trinidad in 1800, acquired land and lorded over a sugar estate.

For those unfamiliar with sugar plantations, they were terrible terrible places to be a slave in. I won't go into detail, but torture and ruthless killings were both common and stomach turning. It is alleged that there was a well used 'hanging tree' close to the estate house (the white house in the picture above). It's no wonder that the valley is said to be haunted by the ghost of the Compte riding his horse in the light of the full moon.

Trinidadian folklore also boasts of the existence of a soucouyant in the Lopinot area. A vampire-like spirit who take the form of an old lady by day, and sheds her skin to become a ball of fire at night.

Amazing that such a scenic place could be one of deep beauty and yet still hold memories of a tragic past.

I had no idea the torture that I myself was in for.

The full team with Tara our Manager at the start of Leg 1

With Derrick and Dexter, the best coaches on the planet

At the start of Leg 3. We had no idea what lay ahead

This next picture is hilarious. That's my rear end, smack dab in the middle of the frame. Thanks much Fusion photographers -_-

Caught on all fours!!

Seems like a harmless rope net right? WRONG. This was so heavy after scaling 2 mountains.

Last picture I promise!! Here we are, 5 mountains later. Survived the brutality that was Fusion IX. And placed 3rd overall female!! This is possibly one of my proudest moments as an athlete since I struggle with running the most.

That is one trophy I will keep for as long as I'm able.

Bring it on Fusion X!!

(Here are just a few piks of the elevations. Twas in no way easy.)

Leg 1 @ 8km with a 590 metre ascent

Fusion IX - Leg 2 Cycle. The hardest cycle leg of Fusion to date, 2 persons from each team had to cycle from Lopinot to Brasso Seco and return via the same route back to Lopinot covering a distance of 27.5km with a total elevation of 1,753 metres

The next photo is of the Leg 2 run. I was a biker so I did not do this leg. I do feel it for my teammates that did do it though!!

Fusion IX - Leg 2 10km Loop from Lopinot to Caura

This. Was. HELL. The dreaded Camel Back.

Fusion IX - Leg 3 aka the "Camel Back" was a technical course that tested teams ability in ascending and descending. The first "camel hump" was a 506 metre (1,653 feet) ascent and a very daring descent. Teams then went onto the road where most would have thought that it was the end of hills... but it wasn't... Teams then had to ascend the second "camel back which was taller at 552 metres (1,809 feet) but wasn't as aggressive as the first, however, the descent was also as technical as the first downhill