I just got back from supporting the
Goldrush race and in my post-race delirium (and not wanting to go to bed at 7:30pm on a Saturday night), I thought I'd try to be a bit productive with a report of the event. I was looking forward to racing this with 2 of my morning run friends Jon & Tim, but due to my foot injury I had to withdraw. One of Jon's normal teammates Michelle was thankfully able to make the trip from NC to complete the team. I then shared the support crew responsibilities with Di.
The race started Friday at 12:15pm, with 3 waves 15 minutes apart designed to spread apart the field. This wasn't an entirely bad idea, but the groups were not seeded according to ability, thereby giving competitive teams starting in the first wave a 30min advantage with daylight - a key element in the very nav-focused race. If I remember correctly, favorites Enduraventure and Litespeed were in the 1st wave and Rock Creek Outfitters, Odyssey AR, as well as my team Liteweights, was in the 3rd. Another, NADS/Cycleworks, was racing as a 3-person male today and therefore not a real factor in the co-ed elite division (although they certainly pushed the pace!)
Racers began with running a few miles to the boat launch, then continued on with a heinous paddle across Lake Allatoona. Sustained winds must have easily been in the 20mph range, with gusts topping 30. To say the lake was choppy was an understatement. Whitecaps broke over the bow soaking those inside. Not a fun way to start the race, esp with ice-cold winter water! After a 2mile portgage, my team met me at the first TA, where they transitioned to a trekking section. I had my own adventures getting here, as the road had turned into a mudpit. I was driving Jon's wife's Jeep Liberty and was slip-sliding all over the place... did get my heart beating fast. While my team started 30 minutes later than the frontrunners (with 20 teams in all racing), we were the 3rd to come into transition. Nice work! The aforementioned favorites filled the top 6 I believe.
Crews then had the opportunity to meet our teams at an assisted CP (#8), to refuel as neccesary - and it might be if teams chose to swim a portion to save time. This was a nice area at the Macedonia Cemetary, although shaded so we got chilled (and I couldn't run around chasing frisbees with others in the field - where burial plots were available for a mere $500. :) Neal, Pilar and I huddled in the front seat with heat blasting every so often. Enduraventure & Litespeed were the first to arrive (with Litespeed's crew not being present, so I filled their empty water bladders and donated some bars to their hungry tummies. Sure, they're competitors, but I guess I just believe in helping when needed, esp with something essential like this). Rock Creek came through 30min later, then my team about 30 min later looking good - they opted to take a longer route onfoot around the swim portion (only a handful of teams decided to swim, including 1 that stripped down to the skin, putting their clothes in their drybag for protection. a great idea, but not one I'd choose in the winter!). Then Shelley arrived to help Neal support Blazing Saddles (starring Sam, Norma & John) and brought gifts of hot pizza that hit the spot - we gave some to the CP officials and in exchange I scored some homemade banana bread (yum!).
Next up was assisted CP 10 at the Stamp Creek Game Check Station. Night fell and the temperature continued to drop (although the crystal clear skies were a bonus). As expected, Enduraventure was the first in and out, but Rock Creek surprised us sneaking in 2nd place, with Litespeed coming in 1 hr later. Then Odyssey & NADS came in, with us just a few minutes behind. (great race so far!) They continued on foot while Di & I restocked on hot chicken sandwiches, firewood and cold beer. On to TA2 at Pine Log WMA. We arrived to find a bonfire already going, but they were happy for more fuel. Enduraventure flew through the bike section there in 4 hrs (it's practically Lisa's backyard, so they had quite an advantage). While we waited for our teams, we chatted, drank a lil, and tried to snooze. Rebecca and I climbed into the front of the ambulance to escape the cold for a bit (unfortuantely since one of the emts was already snoozing in the back part).
Rock Creek emerged from the WMA in about 5 hrs (putting them I think 2hrs behind first place). Rebecca took off to their next TA and Di & I tried to grab some more winks. (I'm not too good at actually sleeping and consider it a "deep rest", which is better than nothing I guess). Our team emerged next with Odyssey nearby - bothnow in front of Litespeed - yeah! Oh, but they couldn't find some CPs (although we had 1 more than OAR). Now we only hoped Litespeed was missing some also. We then raced to meet our teams at the next TA, where they got their final passport instructions and transitioned to another paddling section. Litespeed followed not too far behind where we learned they had found all the CPS (darn! :P )
OAR, Litespeed, NADS and Liteweight all got into the water within minutes of eachother. This would be a long section, about 18 miles including paddling up Little River - up as in upstream. And this thing had a good current kickin. What sucked though was the low water levels making portaging over sandbars and small rapids a necessary evil. Teams didn't look too happy coming in. We had a few hours to kill here, so Di & I grabbed some bfast at Waffle House then set our chairs in the sun and hoped to get toasty. Enduraventure had already come, gone, and finished the race by the time we arrived. I was surprised to see Rebecca (Rock Creek) still waiting for her team (dan, jim & patsy) to show up. The did soon and claimed 2nd place. NADS was the next off the water, followed by Litespeed (3rd place), Liteweight & OAR. (getting 1st & 2nd in the "Alternate Course" division - which seemed to be made up at the awards ceremony...some new category since we finished with missing CPS. (weird).
The finish of the race (as well as the awards ceremony) was held in downtown Woodstock on the square, where they had a festival and chili cookoff going on... a pretty cool way to finish the race. Lots of average joes were introduced to the craziness we call adventure racing. I'm not sure they really get it judging by the strange looks! But hopefully a few will be intrigued and try out the
Siege race in June! The race was well run, although with only 6 teams finishing the course, it seems that the SE is getting quite a reputation as of late. The only finishing teams this weekend were what I consider among the best in the region. There were many other strong racers out there and while a variety of factors may have prevented them from finishing, many more were capable. It also seems quite discouraging to those new to the sport to see such a high number of DNF'rs... an interesting thing to consider in future races...
Time for my sleep now. It's nice that it is still just Saturday and that I have another day of the weekend to rest and play. Going back to work immediately is not fun! But I suppose missing a day of work on Friday to race (and thereby not getting paid) isn't exactly cool (but definitely fun!)
