Cross Island Classic - Bahrain 2012

It is not every country where it is possible to run from coast to coast in an afternoon, an hour and fifty four minutes to be precise, in Bahrain it is.The format of the race is that we drive to the finish, park our cars next to the yacht club at Al Jazair Beach, board a bus to transport us to the other side of the island and run back...easy.

The bus trip on board an Indian Ashok Leyland school bus (complete with 1970s BL badge on the radiator grille) takes the less direct route, passing Al Areen wildlife park, the elegant stands of Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain University before heading south along the narrow winding road that takes us to the East coast. The road crosses oil and gas pipelines that dive down beneath the surface and re-emerge on the opposite side. The desert is  punctuated by ‘nodding donkeys’, the oil pumps, and more and more pipes as the bus moves into the oil fields proper. To the South a rocky outcropping, said to be Bahrain’s only mountain, hardly a mountain at 300m but the highest point in Bahrain with giant golf ball to prove it. Past more oil company compounds, signs are everywhere saying Camping Prohibited right next to clusters of tents. The 'Tree of Life' stands alone on the sand and has done for over 500 years according to local history, planted by the Portugese during their time of global domination. Another walled compound punctuated by sentry towers marks the Air Base and the start of the race. The buses stop and disgorge over 200 competitors. The azure blue sea glistens to the East where it is not quite possible to see neighbouring Qatar and a cool breeze prevents us from overheating as we wait for the start vehicle to arrive. A few minutes later, the race briefing, a few photographs and we are off! Back up the road to take a left turn after the first kilometre to follow the course marked by orange flags.

The briefing made reference to the first part of the race being the hardest and boy! they were not kidding, soft sand...feet sink into the surface, legs labour to keep moving at a steady plod and shoes fill up with sand, the field spreads out at competitors try to find better purchase but it is the same for all of us. First obstacle, cross a pipeline, no jumping over the pipes but a stop and clamber over or under. The ground is rising steadily and the going is tough through more soft powdery sand punctuated by areas of shale.
A rough road is a welcome change in terrain and the pace quickens, the smell of oil hanging firmly in the air as the race encounters what resembles the set of a Mad Max movie, the deep roar Harley Davidson motorcycles on the road mixed with the buzz of quad bikes moving across the sand as the locals make their entertainment. The vehicular traffic becomes more pronounced as a steady stream of cars and 4x4’s joins in the parade. Running becomes easier as adrenalin kicks in with an audience (even a mainly uninterested one). The road climbs steadily to what sounds like the Thunderdome, as the smell of oil mixes with burning rubber and the flinty smell of airborne dust, augmented by the sound of engines and squeal of tyres as the kids practice donuts inside a fenced compound.

The road turns to the right and heads over a rocky outcropping, the air clears and the sea becomes visible on the west coast where it is not quite possible to see neigbouring Saudi Arabia in the distance. The dark zones near the horizon being the Al Areen Wildlife park a very marked distance away. Gradually descending on rough tracks, shale and more of the soft sand through gated zones patrolled by the National Guard, on to the Bahrain Endurance Village where Equestrians are preparing for an international event on the following day, watched by curious Bahrainis, the run heads back to the highway and a struggle to clear the crash barrier. Back on the road it is all about the finish, eventually turning the final turn to be welcomed by the sight of the final orange flag, smiling faces and a huge adrenalin rush as the pace builds to a sprint and it is all over! Totally spent but immensely satisfied, forgotten how to walk for the moment but what an awesome race!