Practical AR kit choices

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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 13:28

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Practical vs Sentimental

by Lisa de Speville

People are magpies, indiscriminately hoarding items that may be of use. And when they pack for races, they tend to do the same, throwing in this and that ‘just in case’. I asked a number of adventure racers to reveal the unusual items lurking in their backpacks and crates, whether practical or sentimental.

To eat or to share

Tasty treats offer comfort to both the provider and the recipient, who may be the same person. Team Cyanosis’ workhorse, Clinton Mackintosh, has a thing for Sally Williams Nougat. “I pack at least four,” he says. “I normally use them for rewards. I set a goal and when we reach it I have a nougat.”

George ‘THE BARON’ Forder, an experienced racer, guides ARinKZN (www.arkzn.co.za) and presents a number of events. His treats vary and if you’re in a bad way he’ll probably share with you.
“My special comfort snacks are for myself or for anyone deserving – someone with a real need,” the Pietermaritzburg resident explains.

For others, treats are not just gastronomic delights - they’re a way to communicate with their teammates. Navigator Clinton Hardenberg is the brains behind Pretoria’s weekly Dark ‘n Dirty mountain bike rides. He uses his sweets to slow down the pace so that he has time to think. “I always carry a packet of jelly babies - they’re especially important for those really dark nights or conditions of thick mist. When I stop the team and say, ‘Let’s sit down and eat some jelly babies’ the team knows that I am actually saying that we are really lost and that I need time to find us on the map again.”

And after days of bars, gels, treats and sandwiches, reward your ivories. “I’ve got one of those small airline toothbrush and toothpaste kits in my pack,” says Garry Morrison, Adventure Racing Club’s orienteering captain. “A session of dental hygiene mid-way through a race always leaves me feeling great.”