There's nothing quite like an inter-office challenge ? camaraderie, team-building, and more importantly, bragging rights for the winners.

Primedia Online has a history of such challenges. The Big XTERRA duel of 2007, when I was humiliated by our former Head of Content, Tim Gane, or the big Action Cricket Test of 2009 in which I fared far better, spring to mind.

The latest in our history of the extreme was the Totalsports Challenge Terra Firma where two teams of Primedia 'athletes' went head-to-head in a battle for the ages ? the Primedia Predators (led by yours truly) and the Primedia Head Bangers (led by Alan 'EPO' Cameron).

The Terra Firma is made up of four disciplines: the road bike (50km), the road run (13km), the mountain bike (25km) and finally the beach run (9km). Some mental cases do all four individually. Being of sound mind, however, we decided to take the option of a four-member team.

How they lined up:

The Primedia Predators:
Rob Peters (road bike)
Meriza La Key (road run)
Zunaid Ismael (mountain bike)
Vanessa Kungwane (beach run)

The Primedia Head Bangers
Alan Cameron (road bike)
Amanda Louw (road run)
Carl Blacker (mountain bike)
Nikki Cockcroft (beach run)

Ego takes over on the road

Alan and I got things started on the road. An early-morning start for a 50-kilometre jaunt from Gordon?s Bay to Kleinmond.

Now, I have not been on a road bike in some 20 years. The last time I did so, I was seated on my mother's old Raleigh, complete with sheepskin seat (it was the 80's so all is forgiven). So, this time around I was forced to borrow the bike of Primedia Online CEO Nikki Cockcroft, armed with the knowledge that crashing out would not only hurt me physically, but would also jeopardize any chance of a promotion over the next ten years?

No pressure then.

It's not the longest route, and the scenery was truly superb, but the wind did make things a little trickier? as did my total ineptitude at race tactics. Alan (ever the sportsman) seemed happy to work as a duo, but my ego took over around 25km in. Not happy to work with the other riders I instead chose to trigger a breakaway on the hills. Problem was, nobody followed, and I was forced to work alone. Not the smartest choice and I paid the price.

Alan, along with a group of around eight other riders, caught me 10km out of Kleinmond and promptly left me in their dust? no doubt all mentally giving me the finger for my arrogance. They surged into the transition point four minutes ahead of me.

First point goes to the Head Bangers then?

Road run through a desert:

Junior Business Editor, Meriza La Key, and Online Campaign Manager, Amanda Louw, took over for the Predators and Head Bangers respectively for the road run. Both were champing at the bit as Alan and I rolled in? the rising temperatures may have been the cause of that. I was just happy that I did the first event ? it was turning into a scorcher!

Meriza had some time to make up after my blowout on the road, but Amanda proved to be more than up for the challenge. Despite the attempts of Meriza to reign in her free-running opponent, the heat simply proved too much for her?

"Saturday morning's weather conditions seemed perfect for the run. If only I knew what awaited me?" said Meriza.

"A slow jog through the suburbs of Kleinmond was nice and easy as spectators cheered us along the way. However, by the time we hit the tarred road the sun had no mercy and the only thought that kept me going was the next water stop!"

"An off-road run through the woods was excruciating, hot, and scary with no one in sight. I kept going mostly out of fear that someone could be hiding in the nearby woods!

"If the sun had its way we would have been reduced to lumps of coal before reaching the finish line, but it was plenty of fun and I can?t wait for next year!"

Amanda cruised into the transition looking composed, while Meriza came in eight minutes later. Thankfully heat exhaustion had not got the better of her, and no woodsman kidnapped her either!

Amanda recalled her frantic start.

"I woke up Saturday morning with such a fright as my alarm didn?t go off and I had five min to get ready and meet my fellow teammates!" said Amanda, who was less composed before the run apparently?

"I suppose that played a role in kick starting my adrenaline for the run. I was so surprised at how quickly Alan finished the 50km cycle. I didn?t even prepare myself to start the run, but I kept a steady pace. About 5-6km into the run, it started getting unpleasantly hot, but thanks to my awesome team mates jumping out of their cars and running after me to give me a much needed bottle of cold water I kept my pace."