2-4 May 200912:15am: This is AROC HQ signing off....hope you've enjoyed the stories. Look forward to seeing you all again next year...sleep well, you've earned it.
23:49pm: Well the last 3 teams crossed the finish line over an hour ago now and we've been packing up ever since. Sleep is beckoning but just uploading the final leaderboard shortly. The weather is still stunning as it has been all weekend. It sounds like we were all lucky to be out of Sydney. The Southern Cross is almost directly overhead. Thanks to Lucas for keeping HQ entertained tonight with some great harmonica tunes. The quote of the night was Karen of Dog Determined 2..."If I see another waterfall I'm going to be sick" or was it "This must be tougher than climbing Everest" or was it "why do we keep ending up back at Echo Point?". Thanks to all The Wilderness Society volunteers for giving up their weekend to assist you all through the course! Thanks to our staff who are absolute stars. Thanks to the First Aid crews who you will be able to call next year on 133300. Thanks to Blue Mountains National Parks. Now go to bed.
9:23pm: After 37 hours and 11 minutes, team Are we there yet? finally found an answer to their question: YES! Big time! Congratulations!
7:20pm: Four Legged Friends are the highest fundraisers to date with just over $6,000 raised. You can add to the fundraising for any team by following the link from the main page. AEMC & some are in!
7:18pm: The Four Legged Friends have hobbled under the finish arch. Their injured comrade, Ken, who had to withdraw during the last leg with knee troubles joined them. That leaves four teams out along the cliffs south of Katoomba on the way to the finish. It looks likely that they will be in before midnight.
7:00pm: Apologies to the supporters of Mighty Mice, they ave long finished, at 6.23pm, they were elated crossing the finishing line! 5 + 1 are now in too and the Funky Munkyz. Luckily there are boxes and boxes of bananas left that they can tuck into.
6:09pm: Team Attunga Capital have also just crossed the finish line still extremely happy but not with quite as much spring in their steps as Greenwave. They enjoyed their past night where they took some time out (12 full hours!!!!!) to go get a proper dinner and some sleep before returning to the task at hand: finishing the 2009 WildEndurance event!
6:06pm: All five team members from Team Greenwave who started out on Saturday morning, have just come running across the finish line at Katoomba Oval. They were looking very happy and so fresh that they could do another 100k!
5:00pm: While there is a gap in the teams coming to the finish we have managed to put together a small selection of photos from Day 2 of the WildEndurance. There are plenty of photos which will be put direct on the event website next week but here is a little taste of what is to come.
4:25pm: The Bullants and Mallee Bulls finished within 2 minutes of each other at just after 4pm. World Expeditions have now just crossed the finish line having moved only on Friday from the 50km relay event to the full 100km course. Thanks to World Expeditions for supporting The Wilderness Society yet again. They are one of our biggest supporters.
4:00pm: Maree Breese from Cape Hawk Trekkers has finished the full 100km. Now so have lots of others but Maree has Rhumatoid Arthritis and is not one for big hills. It only kicked in today and today was the day with lots of ups and down and lots of stairs. There were tears and pain but she finished. What an inspiration!
3:45pm: fANZastic Walkers and Dog Determined 2 have both left checkpoint 3 and are on the way to the finish. Checkpoint 3 is now closed with all remaining teams on the last leg to the finish.
The Cape Hawk Trekkers have finished the 100km with all original 6 team members - one of the few teams to do so. A big congratulations. With them was Martin Newcombe, the last remaining member of the TriHards.
3:34pm: As some more teams have crossed the finish line. Slow 'n' Steady, Minor Planets and One Step at a Time. The later finishing with just 2 of the original team.
3:05pm: The leader board has been updated! 9 teams have come into the finish in the past couple of hours. Great Lakes Gorgeous Gallopers crossed the line in tears of hopefully joy and not pain. Unfortunately Tianne had to withdraw at the 95km mark - so close.
12:11pm: Walkin not Talkin, Outcrop and Sore Feet have all just come in in that order. All three teams were running and laughing. All three teams were also complete with all members completing the whole course. It just proves once again that happy teams always stick together.
12:00pm: Funky Munkyz have just arrived at CP3.
11:45am: Team 16, CripTrippers have finished!
11:29am: Team 53, Western FP's, Team 23, Greenwave and Team 1, 5 Plus 1 have arrived at CP3 in that order. Octopus of Pain have left CP3. There is patchy cloud starting to form and the temperature has dropped a little up here at HQ. Here comes a team into the finish... it's team number 29, Next stop the pub with the 3 team members. This is their second WildEndurance! Well done guys. Finished at 11:34am.
11:00am: Update at CP3! New arrivals at CP3 are Team 30, Octopus of Pain and Team 44, The Bullants.
10:43am: The following teams have arrived at CP3 and are currently still there; Sole Deception, ANZ Hawkesbury, The four legged friends. World Expeditions and Mallee Bulls have left CP3 and are heading towards the finish. The next 8 teams due in to the finish in expected order are: Marohi Toa, Peckers, Walkin not Talkin, Sore Feet, Crip Trippers, Outcrop, Next stop the Pub and ACT Old (The not super old but fairly old and still fast ACT orienteers/rogainers).
10:15am: Peckers have just finished!
9:54am: Crazy Turtles have finished!
9:30am: Leader board is up to date. CP3 is only waiting on 15 more teams to arrive. The weather is still beautiful. A few more teams have left CP3. They are Wild Garvan, Save the W's1, International House and Minor Planets.
9:20am: Team Marohi Toa have just finished!
9:14am: Stay tuned, in the next 5 minutes there will be an update to the leader board for the first time since 6am.
9:00am: Updates from CP3. The following teams have arrived and already left CP3. They are in the following order; Great Lakes, Cipais, Cape Hawk, TriHards and One step at a time. Team Slow n Steady arrived at CP3 at 7:42 but have not yet checked out. Other teams at CP3 and resting there still are Adventure Training 1, Sold Deception, International House, Save the W's1, Wild Garvan, World Expeditions,Minor Planets and Mallee Bulls. Team Four Legged Friends, the highest fundraisers as of the event start are the next team due in to CP3.
8:52am: Team 21, Go Hard have just arrived at the finish.
8:43am: Team 34, Rock Wallabies have just arrived at the finish.
8:27am: Team 28 just phoned. They are at the 66km mark and Helen needs a lift from the course due to a nasty case of shin splints. Parish's first aid crew are heading up from Bedford creek to collect her so the team can continue on.
8:13am: Team 51 have crossed the line very happy. Enjoyed the course very much but will do more training next year.
7:44am: We have just had 2 teams cross the line. Firstly Team 25, iRun came in at 7:42, then team 105, OOCL did a sprint across the line at 7:45.
7:28am: Team 100, Adventurers have just crossed the finish line. Traveling with them was Gabrielle Williams, the sole remaining member of Team Geeves who had soldiered on alone.
7:05am: News in from CP3. Four more teams have arrived in time for breakfast. These are: A Good Idea at the Time, International House, Save the Wimpisedes1 and Wild Garvan. Save the W's are now down to 2 just team members who are traveling with International House.
6:48am: Team 47, The Jackals have just finished hot on the heals of SX on legs. Well done guys. The weather is still fine.
6:46am: Team just in to the finish is team 35 (SX on legs). Leeanne Coghlan who had withdrawn at the 33km mark last night was here waiting for the team. She managed to go the last 30m with the team to cross the line on her newly acquired crutches and cast on her ankle and foot. The weather is still fine here.
6:38am: Welcome to event HQ. Dawn has broken for another beautiful day in the mountains. The sky is completely clear right now but showers are forecast for later in the day. Lets hope the forecast is wrong. Diane from AROC has been going nuts on the updates overnight at HQ. Good on ya DIane -thanks. Tom taking over now.
6:10am: All teams have now left checkpoint 2 which means that the courageous The Wilderness Society volunteers who have been up all night will now be able to go and get a rest!
6:08am: More whooping means one thing: another team is in view of the finish: the Phantom Torsos are in!
6:02am: Team Blood, Sweat & Tourettes celebrated their finish by singing under the finishing arch!
5:51am: Team Endorphomaniacs just pulled into Katoomba Oval and finished at 5:51am with an outside temperature really chilly now.
5:48am: No teams in view for now... Coffee time.
5:03am: Two teams just jogged into the finish area just a few minutes apart from each other: Training Peaks and AddVenture Training 2 finished respectively at 5:00am and 5:02am.
4:38am: Team S.A.S. had to withdraw at CP3.
4:29am: A game of hacky sack has started in front of the finish arch as the dew is thickening on the grass and volunteers' breaths are getting foggier with the temperature dropping significantly in preparation of the dawn to come in a little over an hour's time.
4:08am: A quick refill of fuel for the event hub generator which just gave out: I wish there was something as efficient to get me going again... I am fading fast...
3:51am: Master of ceremony Mal is now entertaining the few remaining souls still awake in the dead of the night with games only he seems to understand...
3:45am: Whether at the finish or at checkpoints 2-3, volunteers all seem to be enjoying the relatively warm temperatures in the mountains.
3:03am: Another 3 headlamps in the distance and there they are, the Krazy Kats, finishing 3 minutes ahead of Greta and the goats.
2:59am: Team Booty reported withdrawing at CP2.
2:43am: WildEndurance veterans Wild Women On Top did it again! WWOT 1 finished the 2009 WildEndurance course with the same enthusiasm and energy (it seemed!) as last year! These women are just unstoppable! Well done for their performance of 18 hours and 38 minutes!
2:26am: "Third? We're third?" are the first words uttered by the 3 ecstatic running members of Happy Feet who were met by their other equally psyched team mates! Yes, Girls, you are third overall and this is an amazing achievement, so congratulations!
1:58am: The purring sound of the generator is luring me to sleep... Am fighting the urge to slide into my sleeping bag...
1:51am: Team SustANZe had to pull out at CP2.
1:39am: The officials for checkpoint 2 just called in to report that all remaining teams are now in. A lot of the teams who just came in decided to take a bit of a snooze and get back on the track tomorrow morning.
1:33am: Is it wishful thinking or reality? The support crew for team Happy Feet is expecting their team in at the finish before 2am... That would certainly be a fast last leg, let's hope they make it!
12:55pm: Unfortunate news from the field, some teams are starting to withdraw: the BBBs at CP3, the Young, Old and Ugly at CP2 (they are one of the best fundraising teams so far, so a good effort on their part!).
12:35pm: Looking very fresh and extremely happy, team Sydney Marathon Clinic arrived in 16 hours and 30 minutes! Well done to the team!
12:27pm: The emergency phone is ringing off the hook with team members being picked up by the emergency crews who probably won't be getting much sleep tonight!
11:28pm: And there you have it: the first finishers for the 2009 WildEndurance in the relay team category: team Taxi in 15 hours and 28 minutes! Congratulations team for a job well done! Sydney Marathon Clinic is said to be 15 minutes on their heels, stay tuned!
11:16pm: Hey Everyone, Diane here taking over from Dave, reporter-extraordinaire-turned-taxi-driver! Yes, that's right, a brand new taxi service seems to be getting really popular in the Blue Mountains tonight: the Blisters-R-Us Special Service! Dave and Josh are on duty right now picking up people left and right!
10:30pm: It's definitely getting cold but the masses at HQ are being kept energised by the estimated imminent arrival of the leading team, not to mention the Coleman heater keeping the marquee warm! It seems some people didn't realise they were entering a 100km event and are calling HQ looking for a lift out when getting tired!
10:05pm: Teams are beginning to feel and pinch and searching for a taxi ride home! We'll have a change of web reporter with the lovely Diane stepping up to the Mac. Fresh from tucking into a beautiful bowl Mac & Cheese from race sponsor Fantastic noodles she is pumped up and ready to go.
9:33pm: After a bit of phaffing about from those in front of the computers the results at 9.10pm are now up!
9:03pm: We have updated the results with those through CP2. CP3 will be up very soon.
8:40pm: We have our first team withdrawal at CP2, Save the Wimpesedes 2 have heard their beds calling (or maybe the pub!) and called an end to their wilderness adventure. The wimpesedes, whoever they may be, are now looking to their first team to keep the cause going.
8:33pm: It sounds like CP2 has become a nice spot to stop take a breather and get some warm food into the engine. Many teams are taking advantage of their support teams' very impressive set ups and having an extended break. Taxi were in fact the first team leaving CP3, not taxi as previously stated!!. The last section is a beautiful walk from the hospital along the Overcliff and Prince Henry Cliff walks. Maybe the teams should slow down so they can appreciate the view in the morning!
8:27pm: As the organisers get stuck into some dinner the action is hotting up on the trails. Relay team Taxi have taken the lead from Sydney Marathon Clinic. A few more teams are calling in with minor ailments such as cramps or blisters but all remain in good spirits. More details on the leader board soon.
6:55pm: Attunga Capital and Bullants have reached Checkpoint 2 and have headed back to warm beds for a few hours before they embark on Leg 3.
No full teams have withdrawn but there are a few people that have fallen by the wayside: These include a few minor evacuations but everyone is fine. Here is a list of people safely withdrawn from the course:
Amanda Heath-Ogden
David Collins
Megan Newell
Kurt Vaca
Chad Alpert
Steven Law
Leeanne
Coghlan
Richard Old
Troy Smith
Lindsay Wu
Alex McDowell
Ben Hargraves
Chantal Bailley
See some great photos from Day 1 - click here
6:10: Teams are now arriving into Checkpoint 2:
Training Peaks
Addventure Training 2
Endorphomaniacs
The Jackals
Team Booty
Happy Feet
why Not
Greta and the Goats
BBBs
Blood, Sweat and Tourettes
Team Geeves
SX on Legs
Krazy Kats
Chad from iRun is suffering cramps and is being picked up from Kedumba pass (approx 45km mark) by the search and rescue crew. His team will be continuing on.
5:15pm: Get your thermals on - it is getting chilly.
See Wild Women on Top in action - they did 24 hours last year and are hoping to break their own record this year.movie
4:45pm: It is still light and all teams have come into Checkpoint 1!! Some are having a little rest but great to see everyone still doing well.
Into checkpoint 2 we now have Training Peaks, Addventure Training 2, Endorphomaniacs and The Jackals. The Jackals have really moved up. They were the 12th team to Checkpoint 1.
4:15pm: Wild women on Top are certainly in form having just arrived at Checkpoint 2. The sun is still shining but the cold is starting to descend. Teams will need to start rugging up for a crystal clear but very crisp night.
3:50pm: The Funky Monkeys have come into Checkpoint 1 with cheers and whoops of joy. And the funky monkey is enjoying the ride around one of the team members necks.
3:40pm: They are still trickling in to Checkpoint 1:
AEMC
Great Lakes Gorgeous Gallopers
Cape Hawk Trekkers
Sore Feet
Save the Wimpesedes 1
Are We There Yet?
The Mighty Mice
World Expeditions
Greenwave
The Four Legged Friends...
3:19: Team Taxi - a relay team have just arrived at Checkpoint 2
3:06: Leaders, Sydney Marathon Clinic are into CP2 @ Queen Victoria Hospital on the Kings Tableland. They must be feeling good as they left the checkpoint raring to go one minute later. The sun continues to shine bringing a glorious day to the Blue Mtns
3:00: And some more teams into checkpoint 1:
Pecker
Malle Bulls
Adventurers
Cipais 100/2
OOCL
Sole Deception
One Step at a Time
Wild Wise Women
Wild Garvan
We Did It
2:15: Lots of teams now through Checkpoint 1:
Why Not
Happy Feet
Blood, Sweet and Tourettes
Attunga Capital
Marohi Toa
Go Hard
iRun
Rock Wallabies
The Bullants
Save the Wimpesedes 2
A Good Idea at the Time
Walkin' not Talkin'
Brookville Hillbillies
UNSW Outdoors Club Anaconda
Addventure Training 1
International House
Octopus of Pain
S.A.S.
Cripp Trippers
Outcrop
Next stop the Pub
The Phantom Torsos
TriHards
Crazy Turtles
ACT Old
1:15: Teams passed the Golden Stairs:
Peckers
One Step at a Time
OOCL
Adventurers
Sole Deception
Cipais 100/2
Wild Garvan
Wild Wise Women
We Did It
12:55: Why Not, Happy Feet and Blood, Sweat and Tourettes have come into Checkpoint 1.
Team Sydney Marathon Clinic are nearly at the 35km mark having gone down the hill and crossing Leura Falls Creek. Another 10km and they will hit Kedumba Pass - a big 700m climb up to Checkpoint 2.
Team Sydney Marathon clinic head out on Leg 2.
Wild Women on Top
12:40: A steady flow of teams have come into Checkpoint 1 in the past 30 minutes:
Training Peaks
Addventure Training 2
Endorphomaniacs
SX on Legs
Team Geeves
Krazy Kats
Greta and the Goats
Teams that have gone down the Golden Stairs:
Marohi Toa
Go Hard
Save the Wimpasedes 1
iRun
Good Idea at the Time
Walkin' not Talkin'
Addventure Training 1
Bullants
Brookville Hillbillies
UNSW Outdoors Club Anacondas
Octopus of Pain
International House
S.A.S.
Rock Wallabies
12:09: Team Booty is into Checkpoint 1.
12:06: Go the girls!! Wild Women on Top are the 3rd team into Checkpoint 1.
11:50: Team Taxi are the 2nd team into Checkpoint 1
11:50: 6 more teams have gone down the Golden Stairs - BBB, Greta and the Goats, Why Not, Blood, Sweat and Tourettes, Attunga Capital, Happy Feet.
11:45: The first team has come through Checkpoint 1 - Team Sydney Marathon Clinic. All are in fine form.
11:30: All teams are now through the Tarros Ladders.
11:22: In no particular order and all together, the following teams have gone down the Golden Stairs: Taxi, Wild Women on Top 1, Team Booty, Team Geeves, Training Peaks, Endorphomaniacs, Adventure Training 2, Save the Wimpisedes 2, Krazy Kats, The Jackals, SX on legs.
10:45: Team Sydney Marathon Clinic are the first team to reach the Golden Stairs at the 21km mark. These stairs take them down to the Federal Pass Walking Track. From here they will go through the Landslide, under the Scenic Railway and then up the hill to Checkpoint 1.
The Greatlakes Gorgeous Gallopers (all the way from Foster - in fact one of 6 teams from Foster) have their own cheer squad and team song which they promise to sing at at least every checkpoint.
10:00: At least 40 teams have come through Tarros Ladders at the 10km mark. We should see the first teams through to Checkpoint 1 at Katoomba Oval and 25km into the race within the next hour.
It is off and going. It was a beautiful morning at Dunphys Camp, the sun out, the view magnificent.
A swarm of over 300 people making up 72 teams headed up the heart starter hill at 8:10am. Not accounting for the hills, the first big challenge of the day will be the Tarros Ladders taking them up to Narrow Neck.
The Start at Dunphys Camp
