NTU Odac Adventure Challenge

I teamed up with KC today for the NTU adventure race under the Mixed Open category (there was only that for non-students). We were flagged off from Sengkang Compass Point, 6 teams per 10min, so we had to wait until the 4th wave (40min!).



It was a mostly running race. Getting to checkpoints was all on foot, unlike other races where one might cycle to the next checkpoint. As such, the race route was contained within the Sengkang-Punggol region. First checkpoint was the jetty about 3-4km away. Enroute, there were activities, like getting into mud water and crawling up a muddy slope. Then there was a mud crossing to retrieve a puzzle piece. Only 1 member needed to wade across, KC kindly volunteered.

The weather was super hot in the morning, and our running pace was quite on-the-ball. ie. KC easy run while I chased.... The main checkpoint was kayaking. The kayaking route was near the shoreline, hence very susceptible to waves and currents that kept sweeping us off. We were not very coordinated, I kept hitting KC's paddle. Oops, my fault.

The next major checkpoint was the cycling segment. To get there, we had to run along the coastal line, again with random activities thrown in. Had to wade across a 'river' that was about waist deep. Then more running. Trail cycling was more sand cycling. The route was all sand and I was really tensed on the ride. Every time the wheels hit a deeper patch of sand and skidded a little, I was reminded of my Desaru fall. At certain sections, it was faster for me to run and push the bike, than to peddle! We had to look for a picture along the route - I was totally focused on riding and missed it. Luckily KC spotted it. Whew....

Hot hot hot, the ice cold water at the various checkpoints was a welcome relief. Next up was rock climbing. This was one race where participants were not allowed to bring our own gear - harnesses, crabs etc. Everything was provided for, and I must say, the equipment was quite brand new. The rock wall was in Edgefields Primary School. Only 1 member had to scale the wall, so I offered. I underestimated the wall, thinking that it was 'primary school'. It was tougher than I thought. There was a small concave section and a slight overhang. It was easy in that the wall was 'real rock' that one could smear or pinch. Yet it was challenging because the handholds were small, not like the giant jugs at Yishun Safra. Maybe that was why it was a primary school wall - for tiny hands! Haha. The climb was tricky, because if you 'fell', you would have to restart from the bottom. Two tries and the team would suffer a time penalty for incompletion. I hung on to the wall for dear life! Whew, made it to the top. Retrieved another part of the puzzle.

More running... along the way we overtook many teams that were walking or slowing down. But KC did not look like he was ever going to need a break! Continued chasing lor... The next checkpoint was piecing together the puzzle using the pieces we collected along the way. It was like those childhood game where we had to form a square with the pieces. Took a bit of brain work, and it was done.

Last checkpoint was abseiling from a multi-storeyed car park about 4 storeys high. The sky was darkening and a light drizzle began. Again, we grabbed the equipment, geared ourselves and ran up to the abseiling deck. Because we were going down storeys, there was a tendency for the participant to swing in in-between the floors. Some hit their legs on the ledges during the swing. Ouch... That was it, the end of the checkpoints and the last stretch was returning to the start/end point to report. By then, the rain had gotten heavier and we were totally drenched when we returned.

We went to a friend's house nearby to shower and have lunch, before returning to the race site to collect our bikes. Just in time to hear the results being announced. We came in 1st! :)) Totally unexpected but what a pleasant surprise!