Super fit Bedwyn GP Dr Anne Woods from The Old School Surgery in Great Bedwyn and her partner, Royal Artillery Lieutenant Colonel Alex Freeborn came runners-up in the gruelling and tough ‘Questars’ Adventure race across the Brecon Beacons.
This Questars Adventure Race in Wales was organised for the Royal Artillery as part of a series of races that take place throughout 2017 in different locations across the UK.
The most recent race was held in the rugged Brecon Beacons a couple of weekends ago, and consisted of a trail run, kayaking and mountain biking across extremely challenging terrain. The race is as much to do with tactics and brains as it is fitness, with selection of fastest routes and achievable checkpoints combined with sharp navigational skills vital for success. Teams are given a 5 hour window in which to complete the event and have the ability to do each discipline in any order they choose, select longer harder routes or easier depending on fitness and experience levels. In the end Anne and Alex covered a total of 60 miles gathering some top points from some of the toughest check points.
Preparation is key and Anne could often be seen mountain biking to the surgery each day, covering up to 15 miles before the start of a busy morning surgery, and then the same again on her way home. Weekends were then dedicated to kayaking and running with Alex.
With over 30 participants taking part in the challenge, Anne and Alex put in a fantastic performance, to come runners up in the mixed team category.
They were presented with their well-deserved trophy by Olympic Double Gold Medallists Major Heather Stanning (Royal Artillery) and Helen Glover, who also took part in the challenge.
If anyone wants to know more about Questars Adventure Races then go to their website www.questars.co.uk. It’s a great event and truly open to all ages, abilities and fitness levels and you may just get to compete alongside Olympic champions competing at the same level.