Eco-Challenge Fiji 14 - Against the Wind
Eco-Challenge Fiji:
World’s Toughest Race
Thursday, September 19th - Friday, September 20th
Spoilers: None
The Eco-Challenge Fiji ocean leg team informed Team US Military that due to some unexpected trouble teams were having on the water, they needed to be at the CP prior to the finish before 1800 or they would be dark-zoned for twelve hours on an island. They had set off at 1140 on day ten and they said it was taking teams six and a half hours to get to the CP—it would be close.
Team US Military paddled with a vengeance for a few hours, but the headwind was so strong it became evident that it was impossible to beat the dark zone. There was a safety boat running alongside the military team and its crew informed the team that the next island or one a little further down had facilities on it. The team decided to stop at the first island at 1500 to get some information on the winds.
The team paddled to the beach of Serenity Island, which happened to be a very small island with a 23-room resort. The team looked like shipwrecked travelers as they pulled up to shore in front of the astonished tourists.
The team looked like shipwrecked travelers as they pulled up to shore in front of the astonished tourists.
Joshua made a beeline for the front desk and asked the bewildered receptionist for a weather report. Caitlin went straight to the bathroom to clean up, and then directed herself to the bar. Joshua shared the weather report with the team--the winds would change at 1900. Joshua opened up the radio. He questioned the Eco-Challenge Fiji race management team, asking if his team could advance to the next island at 1900 when the winds changed. They gave Team US Military the okay.
Team Khukuri Warriors paddling their outrigger canoe
After the call, the safety boat came over and an Australian gentleman asked Team US Military’s plans. When he was told that they were given permission to advance after the winds changed at 1900, he said the team could not be on the water after 1800. He then proceeded to make some calls back to Eco-Challenge Fiji ocean leg team and it was finally decided that Team US Military could not be on the water after1800. The team was dark-zoned until 0600 the next day.
The guys had been trying to figure out how much cash they had to scrape together for some food—the team, planning on finishing the race that day, had a very limited supply. When Caitlin told them she had a credit card (two actually), there were instant cheers from the team. You never know when you might be stranded on a tropical resort island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean...
With little time to fight the wind to the next island, Team US Military decided they would stay put and finish the race in the morning. Team Tierra Viva had never stopped to check the wind, and had advanced to the next Island, solidifying the Argentines’ place. Given the vicious headwinds in the ocean and the resort on the island, that was a position the military team was willing to give up.
The military team was lucky and secured the only room available at Serenity Island Resort—one under maintenance that did not lock from the inside. After assuring the staff that the lack of a lock was completely fine, they took showers and cleaned up. The guys had nothing to wear, so they put on the resort bathrobes and slippers. Team US Military had a dinner date at the resort’s restaurant among all the other well-dressed guests. The receptionist gave Caitlin Fijian clothes to wear that actually fit rather well, so she graciously wore them to dinner with her robed dates. Each of the racers had two entrees and beautiful desserts—a stark contrast to the accommodations of the previous night.
You never know when you might be stranded on a tropical resort island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean...
After their kingly, multi-course meal at the Serenity Island Resort restaurant, the military team was in bed by 2100 and enjoyed a generous EIGHT HOURS of sleep—it was high quality and would represent over a third of their total sleep time during the race. Team US Military came alive to a beautiful sunrise and were ready to go. Walking out to the beach at 0550, the team was geared up and eager to finally finish. Spangler shouted “Good Morning, Fiji!!" at the top of his lungs. After their $400 USD “campsite” (worth every penny), they were refreshed and ready to get back on the ocean as their dark zone ended and the race resumed.
The Eco-Challenge Fiji ocean crew safety boat was waiting for the team and at 0600 sharp gave them the signal to proceed. Winds were favorable and Team US Military passed the final paddle mostly by laughing about what must have been the most plush team sleep in Eco-Challenge history. That, and listening to Joshua light-heartedly mock Team Science Winning as he did on just about each of the five race segments. He adopted a crude Russian accent and remarked about the science of winning being found somewhere in those 80lb packs. It was all in good fun, but the team really did want to know what was in those packs...
After five hours paddling between small Fijian islands in the southwest Pacific, Team US Military arrived at the finish line. It was a surreal finish for them--on day eleven, and they could not have been happier. The sun was out, and the weather was warm as the team landed ashore, exiting their ocean canoe to make their final steps toward the finish line.
Joshua Forester, Caitlin Thorn, Jesse Tubb, and Jesse Spangler of Team US Military arrive at the finish of the World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji!
The finishing stage was set on an island paradise. Coconut trees lined its beaches, white with deep sugar sand bleached by sun. Two rows of torches burned and marked the team’s final pathway. Flags of each of the thirty competing countries circled the stage and flapped in the breeze as the military team walked hand-in-hand towards the platform. Camera crews lept into action to get into position for the final interview as the four racers--teammates and now dear friends--climbed the stairs. Bear Grylls was there, waiting to congratulate the team on attaining what would become a lifetime achievement for them.
As Kate’s husband saw her, a relieved smile appeared on his face; her presence was easing. She embodied the respite he had been so far from for eleven grueling days: home.
Spangler’s wife Kate was there as well. While her eyes showed concern for what condition he might have put himself in to get there, she was smiling as brightly as the sun with pride in what he had accomplished. As Kate’s husband saw her, a relieved smile appeared on his face; her presence was easing. She embodied the respite he had been so far from for eleven grueling days: home. The two embraced in silent glances, reunited in the midst of the happy chaos of finishing. The team popped champagne bottles and celebrated the end of their epic onstage.
Overall, The World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji was an amazing and incredible experience with a truly incomparable ending. It was without a doubt the hardest race any of the members of Team US Military had ever done. It was also the most unique, with the immersion in the Fijian culture being a very special aspect of the race. Team US Military finished in 29th place out of 66 teams from 30 countries. Considering the field was among the best in the world, brimming with world-famous endurance athletes and adventurers, there was a good deal of pride amongst the team in how they performed and what they accomplished together.
Caitlin Thorn is a guest blogger here. Caitlin Thorn is an accomplished endurance athlete, with numerous accolades as a distance runner, Olympic and half-Ironman distance triathlete, and adventure racer. Caitlin is a Track and Field Division I NCAA All-American, with numerous finishes in the half-marathon and marathon distances. She has been adventure racing for three years and has earned podium finishes at over 6 races and qualified for the 2019 USARA National Championship. Caitlin enjoys world travel and hiking, and when not pursuing outdoor adventure she serves as an active duty officer and engineer in the U.S. Air Force.
Caitlin can be followed via Facebook @caitlin.aub
Eco-Challenge Fiji never promised to be an adventure race. Its claim was “The World’s Toughest Race”. Despite the lack of navigational challenges and jungle whacking (which was anticipated to be the hardest part of the race), Eco-Challenge Fiji was still the hardest race the members of Team US Military had ever done. The biking was tough, with incredible elevation gains and losses, and the weather added to the suck factor. This course tested the limits of racers’ mental capacity and their will to finish. Traveling across and along rocky rivers was tedious and broke some of the hardest people down. Continually slipping on rocks and banging up shins and feet tested the bounds of human fortitude and willpower.