Team Moshtarak

Team Number: 26

Race Position: 15

View Race Mail | Route taken

This will be the first expedition-length race for all of us, but over the years we’ve variously competed in Open 5s, 12s and 24s, Ace Races, Rat Races, Questars and others, so we think we’re coming at this with our eyes open.  How long we’ll be able to keep them open for as we wend our way to and fro across the Lake District is another matter....

All of us have been focused on the adidas Terrex since the end of 2009, but we live at opposite ends of the country, and one of us has spent quite a lot of the year in Afghanistan, so training together has been hard to organise.  Various mishaps including a 70mph crash on the M25 and gastroenteritis haven’t helped either, but we’re now all fit and keen to take on the challenge that lies ahead.

Our objectives are to complete the full course, have fun along the way and share what we hope will be an epic journey together.  Beyond that, can we be properly competitive.....who knows?

Individually we bring a good mix of abilities.  Kevin is a strong all-rounder – good on foot and especially on the bike and an astute tactician and decision-maker, Dan is just as much of a powerhouse, runs adventure races for a living himself so knows his way around a course, and is an outstanding navigator, while Sam could be the fittest of all of us, as well as being a highly experienced and competent racer and the heart of our team, in charge of morale and random conversation topics.  Martin’s provides the grey hair on the team and having spent a lot of time in the Lake District over the years should be able to help pick good lines and routes, along with providing plenty of ballast if it turns out to be windy on the kayak stages.

And why Moshtarak?  It’s Afghan for ‘working together’.