After completing the caving section and shuffling into PC 27, Team Fairydown Fleet CookieTime [go to Team Bio] had only five kilometers remaining before the trekking portion of the race was over. But, barely able to walk, the pre-race favorite and champion of Eco-Challenge 1999 had had enough.

"My feet just got too bad to walk," Howard said. "I think the decision was made for me. My feet said 'no.'"

Even Howard, 44, was a bit surprised by the outcome. "Usually I don't even get one blister," he said.

The adventure racing legend attributed the race-ending problems to wet tropical conditions, explaining that he was unable to dry his feet. "As soon as you got into the jungle, you got blisters," he said. "Your feet started basically falling to pieces."

John Howard "I don't think we enjoyed it. We all had sore feet. It was too hot. I think my teammates were quite happy (that the race was over)." Go to Video // One Step at a Time

Known for his mental strength more than physical, Howard, who's team was never able to move into the top three, seemed disappointed but accepting of the rare DQ. They were in fourth place when the self-imposed disqualification occurred.

According to Howard, a part-time window washer from Christchurch, New Zealand, his teammates were also suffering. "I don't think we enjoyed it," he said. "We all had sore feet. It was too hot. I think my teammates were quite happy (that the race was over)."

After calling race headquarters, Howard and his teammates were shuttled by truck from PC 27 to PC 23, where they received medical attention.

Howard said that he thought he could've finished the race, but at great expense. "I would've still been out there, doing a half-kilometer per hour," he said. "It wouldn't have been good for me or for my teammates."

"I'm never going to race in the tropics again," he added. At the 1999 Elf Authentic Adventure in the Philippines, Howard won first place, but also suffered from painful foot problems.

Howard took third place at Eco-Challenge Maine 1995. Since then, he's won the event three times � in 1996, 1997 and 1999. Last year's winning squad was identical to the team Howard brought to Borneo this year. Howard has also won the Raid Gauloises three times.

His teammates on Fairydown Fleet CookieTime include Andrea Murray, Keith Murray (husband and wife), and Neil Jones.


Go to Feature // Team Fairydown Suffering