2006 Primeal Quest

Story from the race - Monday, July 31, 2006
It's not often that you come across a company that will bend over backwards to help you out but I can say with hand on heart that nuun are one of the rare breed that care about those who use their product. How do I know this you may ask, well let me tell you a story about a little race called Primal Quest and a team called Irish AR\Inov 8....
On a hot dusty day just outside Moab we (IrishAR\inov 8) were collecting all out kit for Primal Quest and as luck would have it one item seemed to be amiss. This item was a box of nuun, which was going to be our crucial electrolyte supply. We of course thought it would turn up and after a little investigation we found out the stuff had been delivered and so must be some where. Alas our package never turned up so we contacted nuun to check on details of the delivery. I think we actually talked to everyone in the company all of whom were equally concerned about us and where we going to get more electrolyte.
Not only did nuun offer to replace the missing package but Laura from nuun was actually going to Fly to Salt Lake city and drive to Moab to deliver it...Madness but it proved that we were dealing with people who cared.
Now knowing that we were in a bit of a fix all sorts of solutions were considered, one of which was delivery of the nuun to our kit box out on the race course. After a brief discussion with the race organisers this was shot down and we were sent to Moab to frantically find some sort of electrolyte product, which we did. It looked like we would be ok for the race but this still did not stop nuun. Once out on the course in the heat of the race we started to come across supplies of nuun at transitions and check points. And it was a most welcome and tasty relief from the tasteless electrolyte water we were consuming. A miracle we thought that there would be supplies on the course. It was in fact the good people at nuun who not being able to provide us with product decided to give e

Done and Dusted(literally) - Friday, July 14, 2006
Primal Quest has come and gone and the team were one of only 28 teams to complete the full course. Battling with blisters, sand that filled shoes in seconds, heat that cooked pizza on a rock(I swear), never ending roads, epic climbs, hugh rappels, amazing mountain biking, amazing mountain ascents, scary canyon squeezes and all the other good and bad stuff. But we made it and I hope to post all the gorey details in the coming weeks....

6 days to go - Monday, June 19, 2006
Well the bags are packed we're ready to go.....well not really but we are leaving on a jet plance on Wednesday. Still waiting for some of our stuff to arrive but we are in good shape all things considered. At this stage everyone has an itch to get going so all the waiting is nearly over.

ha ha ha ha ha......GULP! - Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Latest news from PQ HQ has us all raring to go. Here is an extract from the Waiver we have to sign.
From PQ;
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT WILL BE AN EXTREME TEST OF MY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL LIMITS AND CARRIES WITH IT THE POTENTIAL FOR DEATH, SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY, ILLNESS AND PROPERTY LOSS.I understand most of the race is in hot, remote and often inaccessible areas. I understand the Organizers/Producers have chosen the location of the race route and the race activities because of their inherent interest and physical challenge. Accidents or illness may occur in remote places without immediate appropriate medical or emergency help and may be aggravated by exposure to temperature extremes or inclement weather. I understand such conditions may impair or prevent the timely rescue of race participants and may aggravate my injuries or illness. I understand most of the race route is across inherently dangerous terrain and steep canyons which will expose me and other competing participants to a variety of unmarked and uncontrolled hazards and conditions that may cause me serious bodily injury, illness or death, including by way of example but not limited to: general exposure to extremes of heat; water hazards; flash floods; drowning; injury from steep, slippery or otherwise treacherous terrain; collision with objects, including those submerged below water surfaces; injuries arising from equipment failure or defect; falls from heights, objects and/or equipment; falling rocks and objects; canyons; cliffs; encounters with animals including poisonous snakes, bears, and mountain lions; collision with other participants, spectators and others; loss oforientation (getting lost) in remote areas; exhaustion, dehydration, fatigue, over-exertion and sun or heat stroke; and risks arising from evacuation and rescue activities in remote areas. I acknowledge the foregoing is not an exhaustive list of the risks, hazards and dangers I will be exposed to

Cork and Kerry training - Tuesday, June 06, 2006
A spectacular weekend of Sea Kayaking and mountain work for the PQ team. Probably the last big weekend before the race. A special thanks to Jim of Atlantic Sea Kayaking who gave us some training and the use of a Necky kayak for Saturday. Perfect weather meant we could practice our dehydration and heat training in the Kerry Mountains. A good weekends training and learning for all the team. Top tip, always make sure you bladder is closed properly..

Inov-8 Trial - Tuesday, May 30, 2006
We recently recieved our Inov-8 kit. Deciding that a team evaluation session was best we went running for a few hours in our ROC Lite 285's. Super light and super grippy, they inspire confidence whether going up hill or down. We also gave them a go on the sand, as we will be racing in the desert, and they again performed flawlesly. The Inov-8 socks, caps and mesh shirts were also excellent. The mesh shirts are already ear marked as our race shirts. Keep an eye out for pics over the next few days.

Update - 2 - Monday, May 15, 2006
More good news for the trip state side. Brandon Hotels have come on board as a sponsor. We couldn't be happier with the news.

Update - 1 - Saturday, May 13, 2006
42 days and counting till the beginning of PQ. Withe the Team Name now up on the PQ website as IrishAR/Inov 8, those of you with a few brain cells to spare will have realised that Inov 8 are our primary sponsor. We are overjoyed to have them on board and look forward to using thier excellent equipment.

Team Announcement - Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The 2006 Primal Quest Team has been assembled. The team members will be Eoin Keith(captain), Vanessa Lawrenson, Barry Minnock and Evan Ryan.