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Adventure racing is much like a triathlon in that there are different events all wrapped into one race with TA (Transition Areas) where you can re-water your Camelbaks, bottles, etc, change from running shoes to cycling shoes, and the like, except there is no outlined course whatsoever – you are given UTM Coordinates and a topographical map and are required to exercise your land navigation skills to find your check points.
The 2008 Gilmore Adventure Race was my first AR event and even though I didn’t finish the race due to an injury, I still had a blast and can’t wait to race again.
My brothers and I made up our 3-man team, sponsored by the family business, Data Doctors, of course. We entered the Long Course: 6+/- miles running, 25+/- miles mountain bike with strategic events scattered about the course that needed completion at each check point.
We started strong, and in spite of plotting our coordinates on the map, we still ran about 2 miles more than the course required in order to reach the first two check points (which were the only running check points, the last 9 were bike check points). Although, prior to even reaching the first check point, I had managed to stumble upon a rock in a dried up stream bed and break my toe. Of all the most painful, yet silly injuries!!! My breakage occurred about 1.5 to 2 miles into the course. I continued on, we reached the first two check points and headed back to the TA to get our bikes and continue the course when I ran through a cactus hidden in a bush. DOH! In all, we ran nearly 8 or 9 miles due to the backtracking and searching for the second checkpoint. We transitioned on the bikes and my knee was really killing me. My break was causing pain in my knee – my body was telling me to get off my foot. But I was stubborn and didn’t want to give up and not compete. After reaching the 1st bike check point, we continued to the 2nd check point where my entire right side of my body was really killing me now and I was having a difficult time keeping up with my brothers. I was seriously lagging behind. We did, nonetheless, reach the 2nd check point where we encountered our first event – using ropes and a platform, we were to fashion a can of water from one point to another without the platform touching the ground or spilling the water and continue the exercise until we had transferred a gallon of the water from point A to B. It took 6 trips and we spilled only once.
The event caused me to stop long enough to realize the pain I was enduring and left me in even more pain than I had realized. After completing the first event at the 2nd bike check point, being the 4th check point in all, we mounted our bikes and took off. This time, in the wrong direction. According to the map, it was correct, but according to the land: washes, over grown thorn bushes, barbed wire fencing, it was wrong. There was a road not clearly marked on the map that we should have taken. It would have led us away from the next check point for a piece, then led us back into it (so it would have seemed like the longer of the two options, but safer). After about 3/4 of a mile into the dense brush and wash area, scratching the skin off our shins, we turned back – we were walking the bikes more than riding and my foot was in BAD shape. We came back upon the 4th check point and this was when I realized that I was holding the team up and was not going to be able to finish the race. I had traveled about 13 miles in all, 11 of which on a broken toe. An official at the CP strongly advised that I NOT continue and he radioed for Fire to pick me up and take me back to the TA.
I haven’t been this frustrated in quite a long time. Training, training and training all to be taken out – and for what? A toe!? C’mon! I am grateful I didn’t seriously injure myself with a broken arm or leg or something, though.
I had so much to give still in that race. After 13 miles, I still had a LOT in me. Had I not broken my toe, I know I would have been able to complete the rest of the race.
I learned a lot from my first AR (Adventure Race) – what equipment I need, what equipment I didn’t need, what to expect, what to prepare for next time, etc. It was a LOT of fun and I am very excited to race again soon! Apparently, toe breaks can take up to 12 weeks to heal – then I’ll need to train again to get back into cardio and bodily shape! I’m looking for yet another miracle – I’d love to heal faster than that!
So thanks to the iPhone 2.0 software release, I can now blog directly from my iPhone.
The photo below is of my oldest daughter and I walking on the beach at Camp Pendleton, CA over the fourth of July weekend.
Wow. So after making a new post to my blog on my iPhone, then seeing it on the computer, I must say, this little iPhone App is a must have!!
5 of 5 *’s
A tribute to my father.
This day in history.
In 1828, Noah Webster published the first English dictionary.
In 1902, Wyoming received the first JCPenny outlet.
In 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg that would sink it by morning of the next day.
And…
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot. He died the following morning.
Good time, eh, Pop?!
Happy birthday. I hope you have a great day!
Uh… I think they need more trains. Or. Something… 
Could you imagine this happening in DC or NY? Right!!!! And I thought the conductors were going to have them STOP shoving – they just get right into it, too! Wow.
… and here I am.
I cannot even begin to describe how horrendously busy I’ve been with work. My last post (less the one posted moments ago about the Double Medal of Honor Marine recipient) was in AUGUST! So, friends, family and whomever else I may be forgetting – which apparently may not be very many others – please forgive me for not being able to keep up with requests or contact.
There have been a number of things I’ve wanted to post about over the past 2+ months but haven’t made the opportunity to do so. Hopefully, over the course of the follow days I will have more opportunity to do so. I have this itching desire to write and draw again. I last left off posting drawings/artwork to a different site. But I think I’ll actually post them here as I scan them. It’s just easier. Then there won’t be cross links back and forth.
But a fair warning (to who, but me of course…), just because I’m back in this right now doesn’t mean my time will be easing at all giving to this hobby of mine here at devCAMP. All it means is that I took the moment to POST something! Ha… I just hope it’s not another 2 months before I can have any of this “speshul” time to express myself like this. We’ll see.
Chat soon…
(bs.)
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