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Heading in to the Mt. Snow parking lot, I looked up at the mountain,
full of
optimism. We had done pretty well in the last race (14th overall), and
we
were pretty pumped for this one. Adam and Cassidy had yet to arrive, so
Ali
and I checked in at the Grand Summit Hotel and pulled into the lower
parking
lot to wait for them. I worked on my bike, cleaning/adjusting the
brakes,
lubing the chain, checking tire pressure, but mostly just mentally
preparing
myself for the race.
After everyone met up, we registered and cruised through the gear check.
All our ducks in a row, check, check, check, great! Looks like we're
Team
#9 -- a lucky number! The pre-race briefing was at 7:00, so we went
back to
the trucks to play with the gear (again) and kill some time. We arrived
at
the briefing right on the dot, and quickly realized how different this
race
was going to be. There were a LOT more people this time around, and
everyone seemed...experienced. This time around, position and rank
weren't
going to involve as much luck...
Sunday morning found us waking up at 4:15 (why do I DO this to
myself???).
We jumped in Adam's pickup and drove the 3.5 miles to Haystack, arriving
before almost everyone, including the race organizers. We were psyched
to
have our pick of the spots, and ended up parking the truck right next to
the
starting line. I ate a banana and then jumped on the bike to warm up,
while
Adam and Cassidy took a jog around the starting area. We were feeling
good!
START!
Ali headed over to the starting line at 5:50 to joke and jostle with the
rest of the map-getters. Maps were handed out and Norm began to eye his
watch. Teams began to whoop it up and cheer as 6:00 rolled around...and
they were off! Ali quickly came up to the truck and we unrolled the
quads
and trail maps on the tailgate. Okay...how many do we have? That's two
quads, two trail maps...what are these ones? Hmm, looks like we can use
them later on...okay, first leg, trekking, then canoeing, then biking...
Let's see the checkpoint coordinates. I'll plot them up to the first
TA,
and then we'll take off. Okay, go have these checked by Tracyn...off a
little? Move it this way? Move that one south? Okay, got it. Let's
go!!!
CP1
We began our hike up Haystack, certain that we would find the first CP
in
no-time flat. We were with a group of three other teams...two of which
who
had taken high places in the last race. Wow, are we this good? We
moved
quickly up the slope, to the point where our CP was marked on the map.
Hmm...now, Tracyn said that this CP was more to the right...that's off
the
slope, though...and to the left...that just looks like a wooded area
between
this slope and the other one. Wait!!!! WHERE IS EVERYONE??? The other
teams were gone, and we were alone on the slope. Everyone had headed
into
the woods on the left, and we could hear teams in the bushes. Oh no,
not
again. Not the FIRST checkpoint... But Tracyn said...screw it, let's
cut
across with everyone else, we were probably just on the wrong slope.
We crashed through the bushes and climbed down into a ravine. Hitting
the
bottom, we grunted up the other side and popped out on the next slope.
Not
so bad, only took about 10 minutes. Wow, there are a LOT of teams
here...let's see if we can talk to someone. CP1? Anyone find it yet?
It's
in the ravine??? Okay, let's head back and grab it. DAMN! We're
losing
time already?!!!
CP2
Finding CP1 at the bottom of the ravine was easy, we just followed all
of
the OTHER teams that were climbing up from it. Bummer! Okay, we've got
it
anyway, we can't be that far behind. Now, let's get out of here and
head up
to CP2. At least we know where THAT one is. Unfortunately, we get to
the
spot where CP2 is supposed to be...and it's not there, either. And
there
are NO teams around. I can't believe it. Our plots weren't THIS
bad...what
happened??? Adam runs down the slope to see what the other teams are
doing.
No teams down there. We try cutting over on a small trail. Nothing.
Then,
after about 20 minutes of searching, we spy a team heading up toward a
lift
line...it's risky, but we decide to follow them. Sure enough, there's
CP2,
not even CLOSE to our plot, nor where Tracyn said our plot should have
been
moved... We punch our passport. What place are we in? 42nd?!?!?! Oh
man...we're screwed!!! And we're PISSED.
CP3
We head on up to CP3, determined to gain ground. At least we know that
this
one is at the summit of Haystack. We grit our teeth and climb the slope
to
the summit, and there it is, hanging off the lift deck, swaying in the
breeze. There are a couple teams milling around -- must be taking a
break
or something. We quickly punch our passport and check the map. CP4 is
supposed to be somewhere near here...
CP4
We see a team pop out of the woods behind one of the buildings. They
had
travelled down a path marked "No Trespassing, Watershed Area". Is the
CP
down there? No? Okay, thanks for the tip, we'll look around some more.
We
head on down the ridge trail from the summit, looking for an in
somewhere
along the way. Nothing yet, and no teams anywhere. WHAT GIVES??? I
look
at the map. We're heading toward CP5, and it's REALLY looking like CP4
was
back there...back where those jerks said it wasn't...we turn around and
start running. It takes forever...three teams pass us along the way.
"Man,
that sucks, yep it was right down that trail marked 'No Trespassing'".
Stupid sign...stupid other team...AARRGGHH...there it is, let's hit it
and
get out of here!!!!
CP5
We turn around and head back up the ridge trail. I can't get my legs to
move. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME??? Adam and Cassidy are up ahead,
Adam is
raring to go, trying to get me to move faster. He wants to run. RUN!!!
Just go, I'm moving! I'll keep up! Maybe I need to eat? When was the
last
time I ate something? At the start? That banana? CRAP!!! That was
two
hours ago! I start to chow. I eat two Clif bars and a PowerGel. Man,
this
stuff is sweet, hopefully it will kick in soon. Keep drinking
water...keep
dragging yer ass, dork...
The trail turns to mud. There are footprints everywhere from other
teams
that have already churned up the turf. Cassidy almost loses a shoe.
We're
trudging through a swamp, on the top of a mountain. What mile is this?
Six? The trail looked like seven on the map...That marker way back said
four...man, what if it's 10? What if I misjudged this just like
everything
else so far? My mind is starting to beat on me, and I have to re-focus.
Push. PUSH!!! We pop out at the summit. Okay, we're here. I know
this CP
is right on. All we need to do is find the summit lodge...cause we're
on
the summit...and it should be right here...right? WHERE IS THE LODGE???
WHERE ARE WE???? We spread out, looking for the lodge. Is this even a
summit? Where's the peak??? There's the top of the lift...and there is
the
guy. We run up and give him our passport. He writes in our time.
What's
our position? 45th...lost three spots...wow, not so bad...I figured we
were
in dead last after having to double back.
CP6 / TA1
We quickly look at the map and determine our next line. We're going to
shoot straight down this black diamond trail, and when we get to the
bottom
we'll pick up a snowmobile trail that will take us over to Somerset
Reservoir, CP6, TA1, water, and food. I'm finally feeling my energy
come
back, so I jump in the lead and go. Faster, Matt! We have to get to
the
bottom, make up some time, some position. I'm pulling ahead of Adam and
Cassidy, who are doing their best to keep up. The grass on the slope is
up
to my chest, I'm following a beaten path, focused, determined, and
sprinting. My hiking poles are saving me from falling over and over
again.
Must get to the bottom!!! There are two other teams right behind us,
and I
can see another team at the bottom.
Ah, energy! I'm motoring! Why didn't I eat something earlier? I'm
feeling
guilty for slowing down the team on the ridge. Adam wanted to run the
whole
thing and I didn't have the legs. I need to run more at home. No, I
WILL
run more at home. There's the base trail. Adam and Cassidy are right
behind me. Yes, I can run it, guys, don't worry. I've got energy now.
Let's go! We sprint down the trail, jumping over cut-outs, sidestepping
puddles, crossing rickety, makeshift bridges, and finally arriving at
the transition area and Ali, smiling, cheering, and snapping pictures. God,
I love my wife! We've completed the first leg in 4:06.
CP7
Ali makes quick work of the transition area. She's got food and water
in our bags before we even change our shoes. I relay the story of the
"misunderstood" CPs, as well as the jerks who steered us wrong at CP4.
Yes, yes, water under the bridge, I know, thanks for the reminder, yes
dear...I start to plot out our new set of CPs for the canoeing leg. These are
much easier to plot. We know they're on the shoreline, we know other teams
have already found them. Only four CPs, not so bad. We can do this. I send
Cassidy to get our plots checked out and begin to gather up my gear.
The first plot is off? What else is new...not by much though. It's a little
north of my mark. No sweat.
We portage the canoe down to the water and jump in. We've got two kayak
paddles this time, so we should have a lot more power, with one canoe
paddle
for steering and some extra oomf. We cruise up the shoreline and head
right
to the spot where our plot had been corrected. There are four other
teams
looking for the CP. What's going on? Has someone messed with it? We
scoot
along the coast, hearing the clock ticking. Maybe we're too far north?
No,
we can't be. Let's go up the coast a bit more. This isn't right at
all...WHERE IS IT??? I re-plot the coordinates. It HAS to be right
here.
My plot puts it further south, but it was corrected...right? We spy
another
team looking near my plot...oh man, they found it. They're being subtle
about it. We paddle over and there it is, hanging off a bush. RIGHT
WHERE
I HAD PLOTTED IT. Now I'm really pissed. The profanity is flying from
my
mouth.
CP8
We announced to the other teams in the area that we found the CP and
point
to the spot. We knew it would mean that we'd have them on our ass for
the
rest of the paddle, but it seemed only fair -- we were ALL looking for
it in
the same exact place. Knowing that we'd have to build a quick lead over
them, we began to churn a wake and head for the next CP. Around a
peninsula
and back near the coast would be a small island, and the CP should be
right
there. We scoot around the point and head for the island. Sure enough,
there it is. An easy find!!! We quickly stamp our passport, say "Hi"
to a
team that is pulling up, and head off for CP9.
CP9
Taking a look at the map, we see that CP9 is up a long narrow inlet, at
the
very end of the reservoir. It's going to be a long paddle, but we're
really
making waves with the kayak paddles...until the headwind kicks in. The
wind
is constant, unrelenting, and right in our faces. We make a small
navigational error that puts us in the middle of the channel instead of
along the protected coast, but from the way we can see the other teams
paddling, it doesn't look like it matters. We focus on keeping a good
rhythm and wait for the wind to subside. It doesn't. Finally, we
arrive at
the manned CP9 checkpoint, more tired than we should be from the
headwind,
but happy that we'll now have the wind at our backs for the long paddle
back
down the channel to CP10.
CP10
We push off just as two other teams arrive at the checkpoint, trying to
put
a little distance between the boats. We can see another team up ahead
of
us. Maybe we can catch them!!! The wind at our backs begins to push
us,
and we start to crank down the channel. After about ten minutes of
paddling, however, the wind swings around to our right side, forcing us
to
compensate for our drift. And then, about twenty minutes later, as we
pop
out of the channel, the wind shifts completely into our faces again.
Luckily, we're just about to turn to the left, which will again put the
wind
at our backs. The team ahead has maintained their pace, but we've
managed
to gain a little on them. The extra push is just what we need, and we
shoot
over to another small island and the unmanned checkpoint. We decide to
cut
around to the opposite side of the island, hoping the team in front of
us
ends up taking the long way around. Our bet pays off, and we punch CP10
on
our passport just as the other team arrives.
CP11 / TA2
The last section of the canoe leg is a straight shot back to the
transition
area. We can see another team just ahead of us on the water -- an
all-male
team with canoe paddles -- the other guys are right on our butts. The
wind
shifts all the way around and is in our faces again. We swap the kayak
paddles around a little and Adam, in the back, decides he's better off
with
the single canoe paddle. Cassidy and I focus straight ahead. At this
point
in time, our sole purpose is to provide consistent power for the boat.
Adam
steers and paddles on my second-stroke, shadowing the team in front of
us,
heading back to the transition area.
The team in back of us has become a red speck of a canoe, and we're
gaining
on the team in front with each stroke. They look like they're starting
to
tire from using the canoe paddles. We pull even with them! Cassidy and
I
churn on and Adam is digging deep as we overtake the boat. Yeehaw!!!
The
TA is coming up, and we can start to see some people on the beach. The
guys
pick up their pace, trying to catch up, but this section, this part of
the
race, THIS IS OURS. We cruise to the beach with people cheering us on.
Ali
is snapping pictures of us. We're in! Cassidy grabs the gear, Adam and
I
portage the canoe up the slope and back into the TA. We hand off our
passport, and start to change into our bike gear. We're exhausted, and
the
race is only 2/3 over. I can't feel my butt, and I have blisters on my
hands from the 3:20 that we just spent paddling with hardly a stop.
CP12
I'm shaking, trying to plot the checkpoints. There are none to plot --
we're using a bike trail map this time. Of course, I knew that. I'm
the
captain, right? I'm supposed to know these things. Ali is reading off
the
order of the trail numbers, I'm trying to remember them. Highlight them
on
the map, yes, good idea. I'm the captain, I know to do that. Oh, the
highlighter, right, thanks. My hands are shaking. Drink some water,
eat
something, I follow all the suggestions. I don't want to get on my
bike. I
look at the trail map again. It looks like a plate of colored
spaghetti.
My throat is jamming up. I don't want to make another mistake, we're so
far
back already. I'm not even sure which way to leave the TA. I want to
give
up, throw in the towel, crawl under that car over there, and release
this
stress by crying like a baby until my body runs out of this frickin'
tasting-like-plastic h20. My eyes are watering. Nah, it's just sweat,
really, I'm fine. Is my lip trembling? Probably a little dehydrated, I
just need some more water. I look at Adam and Cassidy with their bike
gear
on. They're ready to go. Okay, Jughead, you've had your little
internal
meltdown. Now suck it up, get your ass in gear, and FINISH this damned
race!!!
We take off back the way we came, almost heading in the wrong direction
right off the bat (easy killer, you can DO this!). We're biking back up
the
trail that we ran down earlier, heading back to the mountain. The trail
is
destroyed, muddy, completely churned up by the 44 teams that have been
through here already. We have to push the bikes over the rickety
bridges
and cut-outs that we sailed over earlier, and it's impossible to get any
momentum going. We're slowing down, we're crawling, this is hopeless.
I
bet all the other teams rode through these tough spots, light as a
feather.
It's just us that are sucking wind. Actually, it looks like it's just
me.
Adam and Cassidy are up ahead, around the bend. God, what is WRONG with
me??? Am I THIS bad??? Push, push, push, can I ride this part? No,
still
can't get going. Get off, push, push, PUSH!!! No, I'm not this bad. I
know for a FACT that I am NOT this bad. I've done harder things, I tell
myself. I've done harder things because I KNEW that I would be in this
very
spot, this CRAPPY spot, and I KNEW that I would need to know that I've
done
harder things than this. That's why Adam and I hiked the Pemi-loop last
weekend. 11 mountains...30 miles...15 hours...right???
I stop for a couple seconds, listening for Adam and Cassidy. They're
still
moving foward, I can hear them just ahead. I've got to catch up to
them.
What's the rule? No more than 100ft apart? Okay, gotta move. I try to
jog
a little with the bike, trying to gain some speed. See, it's not as bad
as
you thought. You can move. You might not be able to get riding due to
this
cruddy trail, but you can move, and that's all you have to do. I hear
Adam
call out. We're almost back to the ski area. I come around the bend,
and
there's the end of the trail. What are you two doing? Waiting for
me?!!
MOVE!!! We spy the manned checkpoint at the base of the lift, jump back
on
our bikes and ride over. Quick stamp, quick gear check, all is good,
let's
go THIS way...no, this feels wrong, let's go...um...stupid
spaghetti-map...okay, let's go THAT way...
CP13
We ride across the mountain on Trail 4. The map says we need to climb,
and
the junction should be coming up. Sweet, everything seems pretty
well-marked, and we pick up speed. Ahhhh, SPEEED!!!! We're moving, and
we're moving FAST! We follow the signs for Trail 4 as it bends around
and
begins to head down the mountain. Wahoo, we're flying! WAIT!!! We're
supposed to be CLIMBING!!! We pull over and check the map. Trail 4,
yes,
we're on Trail 4. But how come it goes up on the map? Huh, go figure,
there's Trail 4 there, going across. Yep, there it is too, going up.
Oh,
wait, there it is again, going down, and it's over there too, but it's
dotted, what does that mean? Whatever it means, we're not on the right
Trail 4. We turn around and push our bikes up the steep slope that we
just
came screaming down. Push, push, push again. Does it ever stop? We
get
back up to the next intersection and see what happened. Ah, yes, Trail
4
goes THIS way, too. How silly of us not to realize this!!! Such
amateurs.
We jump back on the bikes and ride further along Trail 4. It gets
steeper.
We can't ride anymore. We have to push again. I don't want to push
anymore. The trail keeps going up...and up...and up...We feel like
we've
been pushing forever. Are bike shoes made for this? Man, at least mine
are
comfortable. I think I could hike all the way up to the top in these
shoes... We come to a bend and pull over to let some other teams by who
are
coming down from CP14, which is located at the summit. "You guys are
almost
to the top! Don't worry! CP14 is just a little further!" CP14???
What
the hell happened to CP13??? One of the guys explains the deal. Oh,
it's
not where it's supposed to be? Well, where is it then? At the bottom
of
the lift line on the back side? Well, it looks like we've gone in the
wrong
direction again...Do we have to go back down? And then up???
I take another look at the trail map. Wait, we could be good
here...this
bend that we're at...there's a little dirt road, and that goes down a
blue
square trail...right to were CP13 is located at the bottom of the lift.
Okay, let's do it! We climb on the bikes and head down the road. Wow,
a
break, we actually got a break! The blue square trail is wide, grassy,
and
easy. We haul down to the bottom of the lift and punch CP13 on our
passport. And then we look straight up at Trail 19, our next mission...
CP14
We actually have two choices. Straight up the black diamond lift
line...or
the slightly-less steep Trail 19. Adam and Cassidy both want T19...and
I
also decide it's the best way to go. We can't ride it. Maybe some
other
superhuman teams could (and did, we found out later) but we can't. It's
crazy-steep. We push. And we push. And we push more. We're halfway
up
the hill, and we can see four teams arrive at CP13. Push harder guys,
c'mon, let's go! We weren't in front of those teams before, and now we
are.
My legs are shot, but I can't stop now. I keep putting one foot in
front of
the other. One step, two steps, one more step. What time is it? I
said,
what TIME is it? Nevermind, just focus on going up!
Two of the four teams are catching up to us. How's it going? Brutal,
yeah,
I hear ya. I think we're about halfway, according to this ripped up
piece
of paper that used to be a map. No, go on ahead, we're right behind ya.
Each step is exhausting. Does this trail ever end? Oh, of course, it
ends
at the top, AHAHAHAHAHAH!, very funny! Drink some water so I don't have
to
hear you crack yer stupid jokes! FINALLY, we make it to the top. Here
we
are, right back at the summit, same exact spot as 7 hours ago. But we
know
that CP14 is at the lift, and we can smell the finish line. There's the
CP,
and there's the guy manning it. Hi, how ya doing? Oh, yeah, we're
having a
great time, sure. All downhill from here? AHAHAHHAHAHA!!! Funny guy!!!
CP15
We jump on -- yep, you guessed it -- Trail 4 and start to head down the
mountain. At this point our legs are so shot that it's all we can do to
keep good form and hang on for the ride. Adam and Cass have FS bikes,
so I
think they're good. This is Cassidy's second off-road-biking experience
in
her LIFE, and she's doing great. Heck, it's her first time using
clipless
pedals! In ten minutes we're back at the bend where we stopped earlier.
From here, we need to head down a little more and then over to a pond.
Yes,
the CP is at the pond. Yes, I'm POSITIVE. We scream down the trail and
turn
at the intersection. Three more minutes has us at the pond. I ride
around
and stamp our passport at CP15. Two more to go!
CP16
We're almost done and we can feel it. The downhilling is going swell,
although my calves are starting to cramp up from standing up and leaning
back so much. Adam is in front, and Cassidy is still doing great. We
cut
across the mountain on a singletrack trail, which takes us through the
woods, over a small bridge, and out onto another slope. CP16 should be
at
the second lift line...there's the first...there's the second, and
there's
CP16. God, another fast, easy one. It feels absolutely wonderful.
CP17
Okay, CP17 is right before the finish line. C'mon guys, I'll lead, just
keep up. We take off, cutting across another trail, and head down the
slope. I can see it up ahead already. There are some people gathered
around a lift pole, even though it looks like an unmanned CP. We don't
have
time to figure it out. I follow the worn-path down the slope, snaking
through the tall grass. Hey! How's it going?! Yep, what a crazy race!
I
was just saying to these guys that ***BAM***!!!! I hit a hidden
something
and go right over the handlebars. Clean off the bike, somersault-style.
Whoosh! Into the tall grass. Am I okay? Boy, this is nice, just lying
here
for a second, maybe I'll hang here for a whole minute. Wow, look at
those
puffy clouds...such a blue sky today...GET UP!!! I pop up, the guys at
the
CP are laughing. Apparently EVERYONE has done that today. Funny jokes,
guys, funny jokes... We punch the final CP and hop back on the bikes
just
as another team arrives. Now it's a straight shot back to the base
lodge.
CP18 / FINISH!!!!!!!!!!!
We shoot down the slope through the tall grass, picking out the trail as
fast as we can, bumping over hidden things that we couldn't care less
about
identifying. You feel the bump, you hang on, you're past it. Almost
there,
almost there. We're whooping it up with each other, the grass melts
away to
dirt and gravel, and the finish line is ahead. I can see Ali running
toward
us, waving and cheering us on. People are clapping and yelling -- we're
ALMOST there!!! We roll across the finish line together. I'm off the
bike
and hugging Ali, picking her up. My eyes are watering again. It's just
sweat, really, baby. I can't believe that we did this. I can't believe
it!!! (yes, you can, Matt -- you've done harder things, right?). I
turn
around and look at Adam and Cassidy. They're sweaty, dirty,
exhausted...and
smiling. That was awesome! That was awesome!! THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!
The
hugs are flying, cameras are snapping. Norm comes up and congratulates
us.
There are people all around. I feel like we've won...and, in a lot of
ways...we did!!!
Quick Recap
28 miles in about 11 hours. Full course completed, all checkpoints hit.
While the actual mileage for the second race wasn't as much as the first
one, the sheer amount of physical, mental, and emotional stress was
much,
MUCH greater. Our navigation skills definitely need some work when
trekking
-- not necessarily in plotting the points on the maps, but moreso with
locating the CPs AFTER we get to the correct location. I felt that
overall
we did well on the canoeing leg, however a third kayak paddle will help
for
next time. The biking was extremely technical when I was able to really
ride, but very doable if you were willing to hang on and trust your
brakes, tires, and balance through the hairy spots. Finishing near the back of the
pack was a little hard for us to swallow at first, but now we realize
that simply hitting all of the checkpoints and finishing the full course was
a victory in itself -- a challenge that we are proud to say that we were
able to conquer.
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