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Pre
Race
A drive into Canada is a common occurrence. With our new
team of Tom, Paul, Dave, and Rick we felt this time would be no
exception. We learned quickly that in AR you must expect the
unexpected. Tom, Paul, and Dave drove Tom's minivan to
Syracuse to pick up the rest of the team. In Syracuse Tom
noticed the vehicle inspection was past due. In fear of
getting rejected at the border Tom hustled to every imaginable
mechanic in search of the elusive inspection. Luckily we
found one and made our way to the race start.
Race Details
This race was Tom's second but the first for Dave, Paul, and
Rick. Later we would discover that Adventure Racing is much
different than 1 day hikes and paddles or even weekend
excursions. This is Adventure Racing and fitness is a
necessity. The first part of the race required a mass jog
from the start line to the guided rubber rafts. As expected
the group sprinted for the 2 mile to the rafts. Tom did his
best to keep an eye on the other 3 teammates. Within a few
minutes Tom lost Paul. After a great deal of searching Tom
saw Paul as the very last racer. He was walking.........Tom
slowed and waited for Paul. Tom asked Paul what the problem
was and almost fell over when Paul said he had shin splints and
could not run. Tom kept his cool and encouraged Paul to keep
moving. However, deep inside Tom was thinking what a wasted
summer of money and training.......We were only 10 minutes into a
24 hour race and we already had fitness problems. As a team
we paddled hard, had a good guide and managed to pass about 8
teams. A slight mental boost. After the raft TA we
started trekking. We found the first CP behind a hill on the
edge of a pond no problem. The second CP was tougher.
We followed our beeline compass reading. We met some teams
along the way who started following us. We were not sure why
but figured we looked like we knew what we were doing. As a
dried up stream crossing the teams who were following us continued
North along the stream bed. Tom did not think this was the
right way. They continued East. Great decision.
We hit the CP in the next 100 meters. We all had a
sense of confidence. We followed a trail along the edge of
the lake. We reached a small but deep stream. As we
approached we saw a couple teams standing by the stream
contemplating how they should cross. They were pulling out
their PFDs and preparing for the worst. Tom without
hesitation jumped into the chest deep stream, and walked
across. The fearless attitude sparked the team and the rest
followed. Soon we made our way along the shore and down a
very steep bank. The bank was so deep we had to shimmy down
a small sapling. Not ideal but effective. Next we hit
the river swim. Tom looked across and again with little
hesitation jumped in leaving his teammates behind. In
hindsight Tom should have waited or the rest of the team.
Paul, Rick, and Dave stuck together, like they were supposed to,
and went slightly up stream to enter at a less risky spot.
We all regrouped at the bike TA. Paul again showed his lack
of fitness and lost ground at each slight incline. None the
less we made it back to the TA where we would get our harnesses
and start the trek section. Race rules permitted bikes to the
ropes. We arrived at the ropes just fine. In an effort
to make up time Tom decided to ascend the expert rope at the same
time the others ascended the basic route. Big mistake.
Tom was the last one to the top and wasting a great deal of
valuable energy. In hind sight a valuable lesson was
learned......the path of least resistance is preferred in a long
endurance race. After the ropes we remounted our bikes and
headed to the trek transition. Tom did a poor job or
choosing the flattest route. Instead we took the straightest
route and paid the price. The hill climb was so steep we had
to leave our bikes. Again lots of valuable time
wasted. Darkness was setting in. During the night trek
many teams could not find CPs. After hearing the horror stories of
many unsuccessful teams we decided to turn back without even
attempting the troublesome CPs. While trekking back to our
bikes the sleep monsters began to hit Tom. He began
hallucinating that we was stepping on white rocks and thought he
saw floating picnic tables. During a college Fraternity
party, not so unusual, but during an Adventure Race, very
strange. As the captain Tom tried to maintain his Ego and
not tell the team he needed some rest. Again looking back
another very valuable lesson. Finally Tom broke down while
Paul suggested we stop and rest. With his famed Mountain Dew
in had Tom sat, with his pack on, rolled over on his side, and
began snoring before his head hit the ground. According to
Dave and Rick, who witnessed the entire feet, Tom entered REM
instantly. After about 20 minutes Tom and Paul awoke with
new energy and the team continued on. We returned TA at 2am.
At the TA Paul wanted to take another nap, this time in his
sleeping bag. Sounded good at the time, but in hindsight a
major mistake. Once in the sleeping bag Paul through in the
towel. Nothing we could say or do would convince him to
leave his cozy bag and continue the arduous race. All in all
we nursed Paul along for a good 17 hours. Our goal for the
next race was to finish.......
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