Team OrionHealth Adventure

Latest news from Brent is that he is back in hospital on a drip.  The infection was not responding to the antibiotics originally provided.  He is still hopeful of catching the plane home with the rest of the team early Sunday morning.

Anyway, the much anticipated post race relax on the beach is not happening for him.

I the frustrating thing is that at the time we withdrew we were 95% of the way there, and in the lead, about 1 hour up on Blackheart who spent a bit longer in a dodgy part of the map than we did.

Anyway what has happened if one of my numerous leach bites suddenly became hugely infected and swollen, this in itself probably wouldn't have stopped me, but it was in a location near my Achilles tendon and the swelling completely immobilised the ankle joint.

We bunked down for a few hours in the leach infected rain forest hoping that the swelling would reduce enough to carry on.

 Unfortunately by morning if anything it was worse and a decision was made that we needed to get some treatment ASAP.

So after a visit t the Cairns Hospital I am now on a concoction of antibiotics that will hopefully do the job of clearing up the infection.

This is not a one off case, as it seems that half the teams I have spoken to have at least one person with a bad infection. Fleur is also been on antibiotics, as well as Shane from Alpine Epic.

Here are some showing the extent of the swelling. 

Blackheart have won XPD 2010, reaching the finish in Cairns at 8.55pm last night. They deserve congratulations on a well constructed race.

Unfortunately OrionHealth have been forced to pull out half way through the final leg due to an injury to Brent. They got medivaced out and were at the finish to greet the winners. The circumstances of the injury are unknown at this stage, I guess Brent will fill us in in due course. Last night he was off to the hospital for scans on a swollen and hot ankle.

A number of other Kiwi teams were also on the DNF race incl Alpineepic who were up with the leaders for several days. Out there still are Nga Rakau in about 8th, and MacPac Girls on Top.

This race is one of the most exciting I have followed, a titanic battle going on for the lead between two very good teams as they start the last leg, a 60 km trek back through the rain forest towards the finish in Cairns.

At this end of the race extra factors enter the equation.  In addition to strength and skill, the results of strategic decisions made several days ago start to appear.  Who managed their sleep properly, who looked after their bodies, especially their feet.   The videos on the live race website show two teams at the limit.  To me the Orion team looked in worse shape than Blackheart and there were some pretty grusome blister pictures. 

Still, all we can do is hope and catnap all night beside the tracker website.   Stu tried some educated speculation last night, tonight I'll stick my neck out and predict a finish at 5pm tomorrow afternoon (NZST).  I hope someone thinks of finish line treats.  Pizza and ice cream.