Five CSG Employees 'Race The Sun' - October 2010
Last month five of our bravest employees decided to take up ‘Race the Sun’ Challenge which involved a cycle (50 miles), climb (3,116ft) and canoe (2.5 miles) challenge starting at sunrise and attempting to finish by sunset – racing the sun!
The team, consisting of Karl Bell, Chris Holder, Daniel Peat, Lee Butcher and Paul Brame raised a fantastic £2,300.
Below is a first hand account of this gruelling challenge with all it’s twists, turns and mishaps as seen through the eyes of Chris and his team.
‘After several months of intensive training and early starts it was time for the main event.
We travelled up to the Patterdale Hotel on Friday 3rd September, all excited and full of expectation with talk of the course record being broken. Having arrived first at the Hotel Paul and myself claimed the Penthouse Suite leaving Karl and Danny with bunk beds.
Later that evening we travelled to the start line in Penrith to register the team. This is when the excitement turned to fear as the hills we had trained on were mole hills in comparison to the lakes. Finishing was now going to be an achievement. At this point our fifth member Lee advised that he had broken down and may struggle to make the registration.
We sat in the Great Hall of the University watching the clock tick by when suddenly with 11 minutes to spare Lee jogged into the hall and the team applauded and high fived in a manly way.
Danny and I talked of the need for a pint and Karl anxiously monitored matters to ensure a session did not commence on the eve of the challenge.
Having registered successfully and Karl managing to negotiate an early start we retreated to the hotels for some rest before the 4.30am wake up call. The alarms went off after what seemed to be minutes of sleep due to a screaming child in the room below and we began to assemble our clothing and safety gear for the day ahead.
Paul handed out the no fear energy drinks and we began to feel energised and bit strange from the excessive sugar rush.
We arrived in convoy at the start point only to miss our slot by 10 minutes. The organisers frowned but agreed we could go with Team 10 so we joined the line. At this time we were jovial and full of life and stories of success.
Off we went sticking to our plan of taking it steady for the first 22 miles, 6 minutes later and we had been passed by 5 teams therefore after a brief discussion we abandoned our well thought out plan and began to pick up the pace recovering the places that we had lost.
When we reached the off road section where again we seemed unprepared for what was in store but in our usual manner we set off full steam ahead. 5 minutes in Lee decided he wanted to swim diving head first off his bike into a large puddle. We told him to stop acting the fool and return to his bike which he did after losing his outer layers of clothing only leaving his mankini and ruck sack. We could not retrieve his water bottle but managed to get the first aid kit which was not much use if anyone had a serious accident. As punishment for laughing at Lee, Danny, Paul and myself took it in turns at going over the handle bars whilst attempting to compete the off road section. The doctor patched us up as the first aid kit was still a little damp and Paul removed all the remaining mud from his person.
We eventually reached the base of the mountain after 2 hours and 25 minutes and changed in to walking boots whilst Lee looked in lost property for some dry clothing. We took this opportunity to take on some liquid and snacks, with Danny finding it hilarious to test my phobia of bananas but generally taking our time only for the organisers to remind us that the clock was still ticking thus we quickly began to climb the mountain. The route that had been chosen was not amusing and the real pain began to kick in with us eventually reaching the summit after 2 hours. We stopped for a photo at this point and rang our families to say we regretted our decision to undertake the challenge and we loved them very much and we hoped to see them again.
The descent was just as difficult with everyone stumbling and losing their footing. We eventually after time 1½ hours reached the base of the mountain and took a breath realising that there were two further stages to the challenge. We quickly changed and were off again on the bikes travelling a further 3 miles to the start of the canoeing. We expected this to be refreshing and a relief from the torture thus far. Whilst travelling to the lake the teams ahead were coming back towards us having completed the challenge and in a sarcastic manner were saying good afternoon something we did after our challenge which felt great.
We arrived at the lake and donned our life vests and began the 2.5 miles trip around Thirlmere lake. After precisely 23 seconds the realisation hit that this was not a gentle row experienced on Pugneys in Wakefield. The wind was gusting, the waves were high and with every stroke we were covered in freezing water and the cramp began. This became the most painful and tortuous time of the day. On occasions Karl asked if I was crying but I said it was water from the lake and the painful wails were the calls from the local wild life not me. After what seemed to be hours but was in fact 41 minutes we reached the shore. As we approached the shore the photographer was snapping away to which I requested that she did not take any shots of me or I would commence legal proceedings, so instead she took flattering pictures of the other 
members.
Paul also found himself requiring first aid as Danny had clipped him round the ear a couple of times with the oar whilst bird watching.
We slowly approached the bikes with water from the lake and not tears streaming from our face and we began the final 26 miles on the bikes. This surprisingly after 8 hours of constant exercise was not the extreme pain we anticipated and although there were no longer practical jokes we began to reflect on the day’s events catching and passing several teams towards the finish. Eventually we re-grouped a mile from the end. Karl reached into his pocket for the last jelly beans and even though they were stuck to his glove we devoured them enjoying the last of the rations and passed the finish line as we had started collectively as a group, completing the challenge in 10 hours and 41 minutes and in 34th position.
We quickly threw down our bikes and Danny who looked like Casper The Ghost went to the gents to freshen up. We retuned to the Great Hall for food and drink and to check we were still alive. Karl whilst jogging on the spot congratulated the team for our respectable time and suggested we rode back to the hotel. We politely declined.
We returned shattered to the hotel and thus our plans of several pints and a night of celebrating were cut short, first with me being ridiculed for retreating to bed at 8.30pm only to find the other members of the team 15 minutes behind.
The following morning we were able to communicate and appreciate our achievement and after 8 courses to our breakfast we were back with the living returning as heroes to our families.
As a team our achievement was fantastic and a lot harder than anticipated and we very much appreciate the support shown from CSG and all our colleagues as it was for a very worthy cause and although the challenges may continue in the future I am not sure as to whether or not it will be so extreme.’
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