Well
the Ocmulgee
Adventure Race is Over for this Year.
The
trip started out well, I arrive to pick my Bro up right
on time Friday at 4:00. We had A canoe on top, Two Bikes
on a rack in back and the rear of My Old station wagon packed
with gear. Off to Lake Juliette we went. As we rode down
the gravel/dirt road to Holly Grove to drop off our Bikes
I had a Flat at some point but just kept going until we
reached the pavement to stop and change it. We checked our
Bikes in and changed the flat in no time. Then Off to Dames
Ferry to check in the Canoe and the rest of Our Gear. The
Gear check was a Joke! We had all kinds of stuff we thought
we had to have packed. Flares, medical kit, water purification,
Cell Phone, Dry Bag. The only thing they checked for was
Head lamp, water, and extra batteries. I Duct taped a Red
Bull to the bottom of My boogie board before I checked
it in with Jeff D. I knew I would be needing it by the time
the river swim came around.
After
checking everything in we opted to head back to Macon to
eat at Chic Fil-A. We were back in time for the Raffle.
I won a jug of Hammer
Perpetuem and a Bike Tech water bottle. The time finally
came for us to get our maps. 11:30 pm, I held the light
wile my bro plotted the first few check points (CP's). The
first one was easy, I have been fishing that lake for years
and new exactly where it was. Well at 12:00 am they started
us off to the "prolog". It was a swim across the
Cove to get a password required to get your Canoe and go.
I volunteered to do the swim since my brother was doing
the plotting. There was a short 1/4 mile run to the cove,
I tried to walk across, but it did get over my head in the
middle so I side stroked it thru the sea weed in the warm
water. I have only been doing Pool swimming this summer
so I felt pretty good and was actually passing people there
and back. I didn't feel to great about starting off the
Race with wet shoes and socks, Suprisingly I didn't get
any blisters. After providing the Marshal with the Password
off in the Canoe we went to the first check point. This
was not hard to find there musta been 40 to 50 boats heading
to the same point. Some with three people paddling and some
just single man kyaks. There was a fierce head wind that
was reaking havoc on all the lighter craft making them zig
zag left to right. Our Heavy "Pickle" Canoe just
plowed thru and held straight. Tom ran "Up" the
climb to claim our first check point then off we went to
the next. We were diggin deep with our paddles and keeping
up with the crowd. The next check point was deep within
a cove and most folks were paddleing into it. We decided
to run aground way out at a point that showed a trail leading
about 1 mile inland to the check points. We thought we could
move faster that way. We ran down the fairly clear trail
until we reached the high way then followed it tward the
check points. We must have been in some ones yard cause
we herd some one yell "what yall doin?" Well that
startled Tom and I and we got out of there fast before they
started shootin. Some how in all that excitment Tom dropped
our Punch Card. We spent about 30 minutes looking for it.
Some one finnally found it and yellled out who's looking
for a punch card and we ran to him thanking him and offering
Goo packets and Power bars as a reward. Back on track now
we ran down the road and finnally found check point 2. We
High Fived and were like "this is gonna be cake".
Then we ran all over for about anouther hour looking for
Check point 3. We finally gave up and realized we were spending
WAY to much time and energy on this check point and should
have skipped it. By the time we made it back to our Canoe
there were no other craft in site. They all had either got
the CP's and gone or decided not to waste the time searching
as we did. Well this was a lesson learned the hard way on
our first Adventure Race. We decided to skip the 4th check
point and head straight for 5 witch was the start of the
Biking Leg. We reached the Holly Grove boat ramp right at
5:00 am. Yep we had spent close to 5 hours on that lake.
My Bro was really struggling by now, Not feeling good and
probably dehydrated. I had been drinking and eating goo's
the Whole way. I was feeling good. After resting for a wile
and eating a MET
RX Bar we hopped on the bikes and were off to the Canoe
lauch in Town of Juliette, The site of the River Swim. My
brother's Wal-Mart bike isn't all that easy to ride. He
was having to stop and push it on the inclined gravel road
leading out of Holly Grove. I knew we had a long way to
go so we swapped bikes and he had a little easier time Riding
the HARO.
After gettin there and getting that check point we were
suppose to go on riding to the wildlife management area
for more hike a bike check points. We dicided to just skip
all that and wait for the River swim at 6:30. The River
swim put FU in FUN! I enjoyed it and was actually rejuvenated,
"or mabey that was just the Red Bull Talkin to a Brotha".
The river swim was good for 4 CP's. One when you started,
One you had to find along the way then One when you exited
the River and one when you returned by foot to the in town
Juliette canoe launch. You had to get all 4 for them to
count. We found the one along the way after a little help
then off down the river we went, mostly shallow rocky sections
but also deep wide slow flowing sections. The water was
fairly clear. Not like the mud you see flowing thru Macon.
So any way we had the exit in site. THEN my brother decides
he is no longer having fun and exits stage left up to the
road and proceeds to walk down to the exit. I continue on
and get our punch card punched. The Marshall says she has
to see him swim up and exit the River for this to count.
My brother walks up and says "well I guess this just
won't count". We
didn't get any points for the river swim but I had a good
time. We had planned to try to make it back to the Canoes
in time to paddle back to the finish and scoop up those
final 2 CP's but by the time we got back from the river
swim it was just Too much for us to even think about paddling
back. We packed up and rode our bikes back to the finish
and got there at about 10:30am. We did finish! The results
are not posted yet but I know we did not come in last. There
were some teams that did not make the 12:00 finish cut off
and were disqualified. I'm sore, Tired, Scratched up, and
my arms are chaffed from my life Jaket rubbing as I paddled.
We did good and had a great time, Learned ALOT about Adventure
Racing. I'm proud of my brother for sticking with it. I
know he was Felling sick most of the way.
This
Years Photo's at >> wilderness
adventure photography
Last
Years Photo's Taken By My Bro and Me >> photo
SET 1
photo
SET 2
Well
I woke up still sore from my Cross Country race the other
day. Not a good thing to be, going into a 6 hour MTB race.
I rode up to Dauset with my brother. We pack all the gear
we could into his Ford Focus. We had to leave the table
behind. I assumed we were going to be getting there early
But..... by the time we got there (3 hours before the race)
it was packed! We had to set up my pit in the woods with
small trees under the pop up tent with us. I just made the
best of it. I felt rushed to get everything ready before
the race.
It
was a Lamans start, 1/2 mile run to the bikes then off to
bootlegger
trail. The beginning was all stacked up like one big
group ride. By the time we made it half way around the first
10 mile lap it had spread out a little. My first lap was
nice and steady. My first pit was quick I ate a goo packet
& couple of swallows of gatorade then back out. I felt
great on my second lap. My second pit I sat down ate a Banana
and drank some gatorade. Then back out after only about
5 minutes. I forgot the goo packets. Half way around my
third lap I hit the wall, my legs and back were killing
me. I had to get off and walk a couple of times. I knew
that when I made it back to the pit I was threw. I was only
3 and a half hours into the race! I had just got into race
mode at the beggining and was in too much of a Hurry. I
should have took my time after each lap and ate and drank
more. I just felt rushed the Whole day. But it was my first
attempt at a endurance MTB race. I completed three laps,
pretty sad for a six hour race. I'll learn from my mistakes
and apply them to my next attempt which will be the 4
hours of Pig Trail.
I
really enjoyed my new tires. I was trying to push them to
the limit on every corner. The were even better than my
previous 2.5 MAXXIS Minions. The MAXXIS
Ignitor 2.3 up Front and the MAXXIS
Hansventure 2.3 rear are the perfect combo for my bike.
RESULTS
Today's
Race:
12hrs of Dauset, 47th of 49 Sport 6 hr Solo, 3 laps ~30
Mi, 8.7 avg mph.
Tonight
I ran in the last of the Cross
Country Summer Series. It was a 5k run around the soccer
field, thru the park and woods at Pearl Stephens Middle
School. The series is put on by the Warner Robins High Cross
Country Coach. I was not wearing my camel back for this
one and planned on doing pretty good. There were not as
many runners as last time only 20 total. My niece came in
first place 14 and under girls. She won all three races
of the Summer series. I came in third 20 and over. I got
a T-Shirt this time. I'm looking forward to next summer
to run in all of the Races.
Well
I have been slack on posting as of late. I have had a bunch
going on. I have a lot going on in the next week too. I
have a 5000 meter trail running race this coming Thursday,
Dauset
6 hour race Saturday, My daughters birthday party Sunday,
and The Ocmulgee Adventure Race the Following Friday.
I'll
try to catch up with a few short and to the point paragraphs
starting with today and working back to my previous post.
This
Morning I went out to the Pig
Trail to try and do 4 hours. I felt really good and
did better than I expected. I completed 4 ~7.5 Mile Counter
clockwise laps in 4 Hours. I still felt strong enough to
keep on riding after 4 hours. I drank all 3 liters in my
Camel Bak. That makes me feel good about my upcoming 6 hour
race at Dauset trails next Saturday. I saw some deer and
a bunch of Turtles, One snake, and after my first lap I
was covered in spider webs.
My
Brother and I went out to Lake Juliette for anouther Canoe
Recon Trip. We paddle from Dames Ferry over to HollyGrove
Then Back. With a strong Head wind it took us +3 hours to
get to HollyGrove. Only 2 hours to get back with the wind
behind us. We feel pretty comfortable with the Canoe Portion
of The Ocmulgee
Adventure Race, but as for the rest who knows whats
gonna happen, thats what makes it an adventure.
I've
been riding XC with MAXXIS Minion DownHill 2.5 Tires and
have +1,500 miles on them and only put air in them once.
Today I ordered new 2.35 tires. I'm going for the old school
tread pattern. Any one remember the Tioga Farmer John and
Farmer John's Cousin Tires? Late 80's? I'm getting the MAXXIS
Ignitor Up Front And the MAXXIS Hansventure Rear.
Minion Rear 2.97lbs - HansVenture 1.85lbs
- 1.12lbs savings
Minion Front 2.93lbs - Ignitor 1.74lbs - 1.19lbs savings
Total Rolling weight savings 2.31lbs
I also got a free MAXXIS T-Shirt for ordering
from MAXXIS.COM
Wednesday,
July 12, 2006
I
went out To Arrow Head After work Today. I met a couple
guys I work with out there to do a lap. Jason, on his
wife's bike, and Nathan on a borrowed single speed. After
a lap with them I did anouther lap and took down all the
Marking Tape along the Trail that was left over from Previous
Races. It was a hot day and I ended up drinking all of
my 3 liters in my camel bak.
Today
My brother Tom, my daughter and I hiked the Arrowhead Trail.
We were testing out our backpacks again loaded with gear.
I also wanted to pick up some more Trash out there. My 8 year
old daughter even toted her backpack with some drinks in it
for us. She made it the whole 5 hot miles without complaining.
I was very proud.
My
niece is running cross country for Northside High School this
coming school year. There are preliminary meets before the season
starts for the kids to get ready. Today was one of them and
they let other folks enter as well. My borther and I decided
to enter and run with our backpacks on. This would be the first
time I use my new Camel Bak. It only cost $5.00 to enter, this
was a 4000
meter trail run held at Pearl Stephens Middle School near
Warner Robins High School. We were in the 20 and over age group.
We looked stupid out there with our packs but I did'nt care.
Not far from the start Tom had some trouble with his pack zippers
coming loose and his gear was falling out. I stopped to help
him gather it all up. We started off again and it all started
falling out again about 100 yards later. He just said "Go
Ahead I'll get it" so I took off. My Camel back was full
of Water and Gear. It held Tight and was comfortable even running
hard. Well I just Kept a good pace just wanting to finish. My
time was 23 min 10 sec. I was happy with that. But I did not
expect to win any thing and Sure enough the Prizes were 5 places
deep. I had came in 4th place in 20 and over. I got a medal!
WOW never expected that. Tom ended up not finishing.
Last
Saturday the first of July Mark D., Ryan, and I went out
to Camp Thunder and Marked the Trail with arrows. We did
some raking and Trimmed alot of branches. Our main goal
was to mark the outer loop which we achieved after a Long
Hot ~8 mile Hike. The trail is well marked now and people
should not get lost.
Sunday
Jill, Cassidy and I went to Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
We stayed for two nights at the Jameson
Inn off of I-95. I got Sun Burnt the first day and wore
A shirt the rest of the trip to avoid the sun. I bought
Cassidy a Boogie Board and she had a blast at the Beach
with it. On the way home we visited the Museum
of Science and History in downtown Jacksonville. It
was very interesting with different exibits. A little steep
at $8.00 each to get in though.
oday's
Ride:
Thomson 2.5 laps, 1 hr 28 min, 12 mi, 8.1 avg mph
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