Story
You've made it this far so here's the low down....
The Why
In 2003 I was fortunate enough to spend a day with wild gorillas up on a mountain in Rwanda. From first hand experience this made me appreciate the importance The Gorilla Organisation AKA The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund plays in protecting these animals from extinction.
Many of you will have recently read of the civil unrest in this region of Africa. Several gorillas in the area I visited were recently shot by rebels and this has spurred me on to do my second fundraiser for this worthwhile charity (having completed the Great Gorilla Run through London a few years ago dressed as a gorilla).
The What, When, Where and Race Day Report
On the 1 February 2009 I spent just over 2hrs 35mins stumbling, swimming, shivering, climbing, jumping, falling and every now and again running my way around the ToughGuy SAS Type Assault course for my charity the Dian Fossey Gorilla Organisation (www.gorillas.org). If you have already sponsored me please find below the race day report and links to pictures and a video as promised. If you haven't yet sponsored me, it is not too late!
It was clear from the moment we entered the parking area / paddock to the sight of people huddled in cars trying to keep warm, that this was perhaps one day when staying indoors was a good option.
Once parked up I attempted to coax my camera lady (and fiancée) Kate out of the car by dancing around in the sleet in shorts pretending it wasn't as cold as it looked. When Kate eventually fell for my ruse and stepped out of the car I quickly closed the door and confiscated the car keys. Remember Kate, "For better or for worse"!!
We then headed past many strangely enthusiastic people on the way to the start area where I dropped off my gear in some random barn and joined my allotted group at the back of the starting pack. We were scheduled to start the race 10-15mins after the front group to spread out competitors over the course and this gave me time to observe people in various states of undress including Tutus, Mankinis (think Borat), Himalaya body armour, suits and in one case rubbish bags.
Around 11:15am we got the ready-set-go combo and headed off to start our adventure. Once over the first hill it was clear that the 4,500 in front of us had turned what was once nice paddock into muddy bog holes. I took this as a welcome bonus for it disguised my snail like running pace whilst heading down the starters straight past spectators and media.
The first half of the course was a 3km plus run over rambling farmland. I hit massive 15min queues at the first big obstacle called The Tigers (think 2 x 40ft "A" frames separated by an area with dangling electric fences). I can confirm the electric fences are live after being a bit complacent and getting a nasty zap. I can also confirm it is best to avoid getting stuck behind Mankini men heading up the "A" frames.
We then headed on another 3km run that included a steeplechase, 8 or 9 slaloms up and down a steep bank where I made up some places and then went through what seemed like 10+ crossings of a stream where each time the water was progressively deeper, banks higher and getting in and out harder and harder. By the end of this most of us could not feel our legs due to the cold and already elbows and knees were scratched to bits. A couple more dunkings and I was back at The Tigers for a second time and entering the main staging area for obstacles at which point camera woman Kate started getting some video and pictures. To see this please go to www.quixal.com and select the photos tab.
Was my two and a half hours on one of the coldest days of the year worth a donation towards my chosen charity? Rest assured I fronted my own costs including the entry fee, transport etc so any donations you make do not subsidise my participation.
Scott Henderson
"Yohimbe"