Yellowknife (July 14/04) - The weekend may be over, but for 34 people who competed in the toughest Yellowknife Multisport race ever on Saturday, the pain is likely still lingering.

Those 34 intrepid athletes joined up on 12 teams to tackle the Paddle, Peddle, Piddle Adventure Race.

Teams had to battle mosquitoes, bogs and the clock during the race. Chris Tucker of Team Northern Bush finds a bearing for a point on Walsh Lake, while teammates Lisa Lowman (left) and Aaron Whitfield (background) lend support. - Lisa Scott/NNSL photo

Pain from mosquito and horsefly bites, from the yoke of a heavy cedar canoe, from a bike pedal jammed into a calf during a spill in the woods, and probably the worst pain of all -- becoming "geographically embarrassed," a catch phrase from the guys on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

With CERT at various checkpoints ready to administer first aid and an emergency helicopter on call, the participants mapped their UTM coordinates and hopped in canoes.

They faced 40-60km of bush along the Yellowknife River, Walsh Lake and around Berry Hill -- armed only with compasses and their wits.

Winners Craig Machtans and Robin Johnstone biked through The Racquet Club finish line just after 5:30 -- eight and a half hours after they began. The duo held the lead the whole race, meeting checkpoints well before they were expected.

It wasn't an easy walk in the woods though, according to Machtans. "It (the bush) was so thick you could throw yourself at it and you would just bounce back," said Machtans, while relaxing on the deck of the club with a beer.

The crowd on the deck sent thanks out to organizer Chris Carthew, who spent months setting up the route and carrying gear to checkpoints on the course all day long.

An awesome team of volunteers, some of whom spent 12 hours at their checkpoints, got a big thanks, too.

A warning from Carthew at the start that teams would be facing a $1,000 bill if they needed a helicopter evacuation pushed the team to finish, which they did at 10:02 p.m., after a 9 a.m. start.

Liked the stinky bogs

"The best parts were the water crossings. They were the funest," said Chris Tucker, whose team Northern Bush liked the stinky bogs so much they crossed them four extra times.

While Northern Bush and others relaxed their tired muscles in the hot tub at The Racquet Club, the day's memories seemed to soften slightly.

War stories were tossed around as teams filed in throughout the night, some separated by five hours.

The final tally for the day was 11 out of 12 teams finishing with some damaged bikes and egos, but mostly intact.

Look for the full results in Friday's scoreboard and on the Yellowknife Multisport Web site.