Have any CR's done any of the AROC Paddy Pallin events before?

On the 19th April, MissZ, myself and another triathlete friend are entering the Lake Macquarie race.....is there anything we should know!? Any hits or tips from CR's who have done this sort of thing before would be greatly appreciated!

Is the navigation hard? Do we need to be seasoned orienterers to do well?

I went for a MTB reconnaissance of the area this morning and was relieved to find the trails all very ridable even with my limited MTB skills! There was only one section I could not ride due to very bad rutting and sand.

Hi Pug,

I haven't done one of these so I can't help with any specifics, but I would absolutely love to try it one day! Hope you have a great time and good luck with it.

Cheers
Carmen

Hiya LBP,

I've not done an AROC event but have met the AROC people a few times at various rogaines around Australia. My understanding is that most of their events are designed to get people out there and have a good time - they are specifically to raise the profile of adventure racing in Australia by allowing people to experience the sport without finding themselves totally out of their depth.

For this reason I suspect you should be able to use a map and compass, but basically you are not likely to find it too tricky. If you need some help with map and compass I'm sure there are many internet resources, but I can personally recommend the VRA's "Which Way's North" booklet available at vra.rogaine.asn.au, as I wrote part of it and assembled most of it It is a complete novice's guide to rogaining, but has a section on map and compass work.

Have a great day out, whatever you do!

sol

Hey ho,

I'm flying down with my usual Qld team mate to compete with my best mate in Sydney.

Having not done an AROC event before I may be leading with my chin, but the shorter ARQ and MaxAdventure (Brisi and Royal Nat Park) events are typically not a difficult nav. As there's a larger spread of skills in the shorter events, you'll normally find the harder nav stuff in longer events or Rogaines. Of course you'll need to watch the map to minimise wrong turns or reading the topography wrong, but you probably won't need to do detailed compass work. If you can nav a street directory and know how to read a rough bearing (eg NorthEast'ish) off the map and compass, then your well on your way. Be careful blindly following another team, they may have no idea what they're doing! Who ever is nav, get them to call out the features/distances so that the entire team can read the landscape to help minimise errors (eg keep going about 250m till the 2nd creek crossing, then up the hill to the right...). Don't ride down a hill till the nav says so, otherwise nav has to chase you down the hill to give you the bad news. If you don't have a map board on the bike, try to make one (10cmx20cm plywood or real estate plastic signage, 3 cable ties, 6 drilled holes, and 4 bull dog clips is very crude but very effective). Protect the map (contact or a map case or something) , do NOT NOT NOT lose the punch card, and keep the team within distance (usually 100m maximum).

Make sure you've got your kit of goodies.... pens, highlighters, map measures, contact or zip lock map cases, compass, safety whistle (supermarket party whistle minus tassels works well!), first aid kit, spare tubes, watch, plenty of fluids, food, sun cream, hat, table and chairs, post-race clothes and shoes, post race fluids, towel, ....

If stuck don't be afraid to ask another team for help. They won't lead you to the CP (and try not to ask questions along those lines) but generally will give you enough information to push you in the right direction. Have fun, say hi to other teams, and finish with a smile.

I think our team name for this event is '2 Geese and a Wingman'. I've got the nav duties so am Wingman. Am looking forward to the race.

Thanks sol and JeffP (and Carmen )

We are all fine with directions and street directories etc, and know how compasses work, which way is north etc, so it sounds like we'll cope!

I like your team name JeffP! Our team is the Pulsettes (from Pulse Triathlon Club) and I'll wear my CR hat, so make sure you say Hi!

We've got a team entered in the Lake Macquarie one as well. I don't think I'll have CR colours on display as our team are all wearing Torpedo7 shirts and I don't have a CR cap.

Your team captain should already have received an e-mail detailing what the compulsory items are - whistles, mobile phone etc.

On the Friday night there's a orientation night at Raffertys Resort for beginners - this is highly recommended for first-timers as they provide a lot of handy information and tips and a brief overview of the course for the next day.

can second JeffP's comments having done 3 AROC events this season...

you'll have a great time!

Question for those of you who have done these style / AROC events......is it best to wear your MTB shoe & pedal combo or just wear your running shoes on flat pedals, what do the majority of teams do? It appears that there is lots of transitions and running / mtbing combos.

I've been told by previous competitors to wear running shoes and flat pedals but I've also been told that you'll make up (or lose) more time with your orienteering skills than you will by being faster than the other teams - obviously being significantly fitter/faster will be a big advantage, but for us mere mortals the majority of the time lost is through not being able to find checkpoints.

This should mean that riding with MTB shoes, you'll probably make up the transition time anyway.

I think we've entered 4 teams with 6 of the people having never done one of these before. I believe all of us are wearing running shoes on flat pedals.

Have done a few AR races - they are super fun. The AROC ones are run very well. make sure you read all the info in the info pack, as it is self explanatory and helps.

Some tips:

Last year the event started with a mad scramble around Rafertys answer some questios before getting enough points to jump on the bike and go. The bike legs early are steep, good on quads.

On race day get there early for early rego, that way you then get your maps and can then mark out the route - it is not real hard. Take plastic laminating film to laminate the map after marking - then you don't worry about getting it wet.

Carry water bottles on bike, full with one water, the other powerade, etc.

The transitoion from bike to run is usually after a few CP's and then it is running along tracks, with the CP's usually hidden a little. if you ae not up front, keep an eye on the muddy tracks others leave.

Wear runners - there are too many transtions and too much on foot to use bike pedals. Use straps - nealry as good as cleats.

There was an orinteering section at caves - lots running and picking out points to answer.

The paddle went acroos lake mac to wangi - about 15 mins each way and oveer there another few CP's - we just bahsed thru bush to race the clock.

It is fun, can be long but I know you are fit - just give it a good shot. be careful not to miss a CP, if yopu do it can get frustrating and then it comes to decision time - lose a CP and get going, or get booked time??

No matter how good, it takes a few hours, up to 6, so take drink, food, etc. There are plenty taps near Swansea, Caves, where yuo can fill up, but no food - take your own. Be careful of sun, etc, and if it rains - get wet and MUDDY like last year.

My user id picture is me climbing out of water trap at last years event. Take gear that you know will be ok if getting wet - bags that can float/dry easy.

Some events actually check your bags for the essential items - and you lose if you don't have them. Take the smallest gear - lighter.

If you need soem more tips just let me know.

I am going to the Fat Ass Hellgate, but was loking to enter but our team is not in it this year.

Thanks otisr!! And Jander

Great help!!

Hi ARCRs (adventure racing cool runners)

Thanks for all the replies, some great advice in there. Thanks to sol for the link to the VRA website, thats an excellent resource.

I am getting very excited about my AR debut. Our team has great endurance credentials but no paddling or nav experience, so it'll be really interesting to see how we go.

You shall enjoy the AR. It is really good fun. The paddling is not a big issue - just take it easy and pace. You don't lose too much time on the paddle. The checkpoints are usually a little out of the way off the track, so be prepared for one member of the team to do the bush bashing (best not the person with the compass).

Stray around the finish for bbq, etc, and giveaways. Murray's Beach is a nice area, great tracks in the area for biking, especially the single track to finish along the shore. I hope to be at Hellgate, otherwisw I would be chasing up a team for the AR as well. You might get the AR bug after this race - many more out there.

The event has 220 teams! Looks like it's going to be great!

Our team came 2nd!! Out of 29 women's teams We had a blast!

I am amazed at MissZ's navigation skills whilst MTB-ing! It was a fantastic day, and very well run event. It was hard work too!

It was very nice to meet Jander also, hope your torn quad gets better soon.

Well done Little Black Pug. I watched a race like this in January at Avoca Beach and loved the concept and would like to have a go one day.

cheers Plu

Heaps of fun but bl**dy hard work too - harder than I expected. How does 20k mtb, 10k running and 4k paddling add up to 5 and a 1/2 hours racing? Fortunately, we were powered by LBP's amazing vegan Mayan Wonder Bars, so all was good.

The paddle was the hardest part for me and I have a sore neck and shoulders today. There was a LOT of mud and I have spent half the morning today cleaning my bike. Lack of navigation skills was a bit of an issue for us, we lost some time on the earlier orienteer sections trying to find checkpoints. But I am really keen to do some rogaining and improve that aspect. Can't wait for next year with the Pulsettes.

We saw another CR hat there too, not sure who that was...hope you had a good race.

That reminds me! The recipe is on it's way ASAP MissZ!!



I am signing up with the local orienteering club to learn!

I was impressed by the organisation of this event. These types events would be much harder than a normal triathlon to organise. Its an awsome spot also.

Is anyone entering this event this year?

I'm trying to get a team together for this.
My first taste was in Jan with MaxAdventure & it has me hooked !

Would love to try an event like this, but it clashes with Canberra weekend.
If there are other dates and someone needs a team mate i would love to give it a go.

paigebaby, 2 really important tips for these events is prepare to be out there for the maximum time allowed, and make sure your mountain bike is well serviced and up for the task too.

At this particular event last year my team really noticed people didn't cope with the duration, 5.5 hours in this case, and because it was muddy+ people's bikes were failing. People also didn't seem to have prepared for a lot of bike fitness for this event either, which is a huge bonus. You need to be able to use your head while your body it tired, and if you are too tired and not using gels and hydrating properly, your brain stops working and then it's no fun. But if you know what your in for it is great.

The AROC guys really know how to put on a good event and this one is fantastic!

Here is an example of the mud from last year!

omg i love the mud, that looks heaps of fun.
Thanks for the advice on the time duration and the bike fitness, gives me 12mths to prepare.

Yep, I'm in. Love this stuff! Team "0055 slap me" (it's a long story!) with my regular AR mate Kim and our new teammate gun navigator Sue. Trying to do well in the all-women team ranks, though really the aim is always to finish smiling! In the last race (Canberra, Feb), we had a major bike drama, so took it in turns to run the bike legs (about 20km total), so it ended up being a total PW of over 6 hrs. So, it's worth having good equipment you can rely on. It was still great fun, but!

One tip I'd add (to follow on LBP's comment re nutrition) is to allocate one team member the job to remind everyone to eat something once an hour and to keep drinking. It's really easy to forget when you're caught up in the thrill of the checkpoint-chase!

Are you in?

billybob, if you're looking for team members, you can try the forum on www.sleepmonsters.com.au (if you don't already know this). Good luck.

I am so glad I posted here. Thanks for the advice guys.

Yep, I'm in. In a team with two boys. This is our first attempt and we're really looking forward to it. We're "Off the Rails".

Keep the tips coming. They're much appreciated.

Only a few more sleeps till the big day.......

Just spotted you on the team list this morning. First team out of the gates. Way to go.

Will you be in CR gear on the day? If so, I'll keep an eye out. I'll be in my cap as always. Hope tyo see you there.

Thanks for the tip, rrrach!

The team is assembled & raring to go...I have roped in a couple of newbies (says me, with one race under my belt).
We are in the first 9:40 start also.
Best of luck Rrrach & Solace...I will keep an eye out for you.

Woohoo... team 269 Jailhouse Rock.

They've gone back to having an ocean leg this year as well

Big congrats to rrrach and her team who took out the women's team title. WTG!

My team and I were just pleased to have finished! It was an awesome day but so much more challenging both physically and mentally than we were expecting. We struggled, but we did it.

Bring on the next series!!

Good work Solace and team.
Yondi