28 May Rogaine (team navigation sport) vid and pic’s

Terry checked out some of the country you’ll all be running/tramping/mountain biking over in our up-coming Ardgour Rogaine. Hopefully we’ll have just as beautiful weather on the 28th! (Scroll to the bottom for the MTB vid)

And for those considering the MTB optional 6hr category – here’s a wee preview of some of the riding to be had. On the whole, much more rideable than Bendigo, we peddled for 1hr continuous climb averaging 9km/hr (just one short push) then some of the nicest down-hill and traversing you’ll find anywhere…

Click here for the full 5min version.

FREE STUFF!

Come along to our navigation team sport event known as ‘Rogaining’ and get yourself some free stuff!!

If you’ve Rogained before and know how much fun it is then we would like to challenge you to ‘spread the love’ and bring a newbie Rogaining,  if you do we will give you a merino beanie and give your newbie mate(s) a Brunton Clasic compass (these are very cool wee compasses, ideal for Rogaining).  To be eligable for this deal you must enter before 16 May so we can order all the stuff.

If this is the first time Rogaining for you and your whole team then you will ALL get a compass. Rogaining is a team sport so there must be at least 2 and up to 5 of you.

Everyone is up for prizes from MITRE 10 Wanaka – the main sponsor of this event and everyone will get a great hot meal at the end of it all.

Either 6 or 12 hours of adventure out in the hills with your mates – what is there  not to love??? And because it’s in winter and the later part is in the dark you get to use all your best gear!! Bring layers of merino, that fancey seam-sealed, jacket and your headlamp and finally put them all to good use!

Click here to sign yourself up now. See you on the 28th May.

Terry and Ed

Last years Half Marathon and 10k results here…

Results from 2010 Southern lakes half marathon and 10k

Men Half

Women Half

Men 10k

Women 10k

Beautiful Day on Saturday for the ‘BIG EASY’

Weather conditions were perfect. Feedback from the MTB competitors was overwhelmingly positive. A few ‘teething’ issues with our new results software slowed the prize-giving down but we will be sorted before our next event!

Full and correct results can been seen here.

More photos on our facebook page can be seen here. (Feel free to add your own).

We will need to change the date next year due to a clash with the Challenge-Wanaka iron distance triathlon.

2012 January 28th – note it in your diaries and tell all your mates.

Enter the BIG EASY MTB or Marathon before January and get a FREE pair of sun glasses.

Everyone entering Either the BIG EASY MTB ride or MOUNTAIN MARATHON before January will get a FREE pair of these in their race pack. Colour shown is ‘smoke’ but we will have ‘amber’ ones as well.

I’ve been wearing a pair for a couple of months now and they do the trick just nicely.

New Sponsors on board for Big Easy

What’s the BIG EASY mountain marathon surface like?

The trail is ‘high country 4WD’ tracks of mixed terrain.  Mainly good off road running surface with some small sections of loose rock.  I wouldn’t describe any part of this course as particularly steep. A good steady climb to the Pisa summit then a long gradual decent with a few wee ups over 20kms to Luggate. The last 12km are ‘low land’ gravel roads and 4WD tracks – no mud here.

I would definitely recommend a proper ‘off road’ shoe like the La Sprotiva Crosslite http://www.marvelox.com/pdf_talk_cards/La_Sportiva/Crosslite.pdf, (my currant fav off roader).

A shoe with good support,grip and good toe protection would be ideal.

Fingers crossed you will not have to run in wet feet until about 1km from the finish where you may have to cross the Cardrona River (at this time of year it’s more of a creek than a river).

All predictions are for a long hot summer so expect to be running in close to 30′ C for the last 12km of flat running. On the mountain it will be cooler and last year was quite cool due to cloud/fog that sat on the top of the mountain. You will be required to carry minimum gear of two layers of polypro plus a seam sealed (waterproof) jacket – that will keep you warm if the temp is in the single digits – which it could well be for the first 15km or so – however it is more likely to start in the low teens and get into the low 20′s by time you’re off the mountain.

This is a measured course of very close to 42.2km Exact distance will be confirmed on Friday when I go over the course again with a GPS and a measuring wheel.

Why the name ‘BIG EASY’???

Well, mostly it’s because Terry just loves the name ‘BIG EASY’ but here is my rational for the name.

1. It is BIG – although the distance is not huge, over 40km of rough terrain is worthy of a ‘BIG’ effort and at over 1900m above sea level Mt Pisa is worthy of ‘BIG’ mountain status.

2. The fact that we start from a ski field 1500m above sea level is the easy bit. If we made you bike/run from the bottom of the Cardrona valley to the top of Pisa that would definitely NOT easy.

However, for most people this MTB ride and marathon will not be that easy. The terrain is rocky and rough, there are 4WD ruts to ride in (aprox 50cm wide) and the weather could turn it into a real Adventure!

Please make sure you turn-up well fit, with all the gear and extra fluids/snacks that you would normally need for a few hours in the mountains.

Terry.

Big Easy Course from Luggate to Albert Town

Ed went for a bit of a cruise down to Luggate on his bike and came back along the course for the Big Easy.  The Luggate to Albert Town section.  After you go under the road there is quite a wee steep pinch up onto the top of the terrace.  The course follows through Lloyd Ferguson’s farm then onto Meg Pawson’s property, mainly farm tracks. Incidentally these two properties are working farms and under no circumstances are you allowed to go on practise rides through this private land, doing so will put the race in jeopardy.   It is about 9kms.  There are some nice wee downhills and a few wee niggly ups, nothing to seasoned MTBers.

“The Lil’ EASY” MTB Ride

“The Lil’ EASY” MTB    28 January 2012. 17km

Brief Course Description: Start at Lake Mckay woolshed doing an easy loop on farm tracks around the Station then joining in with the Big Easy heading to the Albert Town Tavern going under the main road (stock underpass) then towards the Clutha River for about 500m from there a short climb up onto the upper terrace following a farm track to Stevensons road, turn left onto Stevensons road travel 500 then turn left over farm tracks to Halliday Rd. follow Halliday Rd. to the crossing of the Cardrona River follow around the edge of the Clutha River to the Bridge then up to the finish at the Albert Town Tavern

Click here for a google map to the start of the ride.

Entry fee’s- $45 Adult, Family $90 (1 or 2 Adults and 1 - 3 children,  ) includes race pack goodies

Ride Start 12.30pm at Lake McKay Station Woolshed Luggate

Registration from 11am -8pm on Friday 27 January at the Albert Town Tavern

Prize giving 2.30 at the Albert Town Tavern

Basic repair kit including a spare tube, two top layers plus a good quality water proof jacket, warm hat/hood you can fit under your helmet and gloves.

Bike Inspections:  We are not requiring proof of bike service, however we expect that all bikes will be of a high standard for this type of terrain, as organisers we reserve the right to have a bike mechanic to inspect bikes randomly for race worthiness.  If any problems with a bike cannot be rectified by the mechanic the bike will be withdrawn from the event.

Click here to sign up as a single adult.

Click here to sign up as a family.

Click here to sign up as a single Junior (12-15 not riding with a parent)

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