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Team Santa Fe Newsletter
August 2003
Eco-Challenge North American Championships
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| July 20-26, 2003
Carl Gable, Barb Dutrow, Joel Krypel, John Freudenburger Jr.
http://www.ecochallengenac.com
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada
By Carl Gable
Read AR Listserv thread regarding Eco-Challenge North American Championships, Sault Ste. Marie. Ontario CANADA
Have you ever shown up for a marathon and then be told that the race
is going to be 35 miles. That's what happened at ECNA. All the
information provided by EC had indicated that the course would be
350km, with time cutoff commensurate with that distance. The day
before the race, they announced that the course would be much longer,
would you believe 550km long. OK, we can be flexible, we were game,
bring it on.
In the end, only three teams made the finish line in the six days
allotted to the course. Another four teams were awarded 'official'
finish places even though they never reached the finish line. Perhaps
it is more than a coincidence that the race organization chose to
award official finish to seven teams. They advertised that the top
two US and two Canadian teams would receive entries into the next
Eco-Challenge. And, that was how deep they had to go to insure two
U.S. teams finished and could be awarded entries into the TBD, next
Eco-Challenge.
The location, course, weather and events were first rate. We never
felt overwhelmed by what we were being asked to do. It was just too
long to complete in the time allotted.
The race began with a mass stampede across the Agoma River to be sure
everyone got nice and wet right at the start. We then did 24 hours of
world class Canadian bush-whacking. There were few terrain features
to use in the thick forest, because visibility was just to the next
tree. It was simply a matter of setting a bearing and following it.
Forests gave way to marshes to rivers, including abundant mosquitoes!
Our head nets were the prized piece of equipment. Our navigation was
superb; we came out of the forest within one km of our target
location. At this point we were in 16th place. A 16 hour bike leg
followed. Most of this was relatively easy, under power lines on
snowmobile trails and dirt roads. But it did have a four foot deep
water crossing ten minutes into the ride. It was mostly uneventful.
Carl managed a flying endo during the night when his front wheel
dropped into a hole but no harm was done. Some teams managed to get
lost on this leg, but we had no problems. Biking ended at the kayak
put-in, in the heat of the afternoon.
The sea kayak leg began in very fast moving water on a river. Within
a few hours the river opened up and dumped us on Lake Superior. For
the next 125km we experienced conditions ranging from glassy and calm
to thunder squalls with waves from every direction, to a 12km crossing
of a bay that took us 6km from shore in 6 foot swells with whitecaps
and a cross wind. We had tail winds for much of the time and each
boat had a 1.5 sq/m Spirit sail that helped speed our progress. The
sails were key to increasing our average speed. Unfortunately, we
reached CP5 at 77 hours and there was a 72 hour time cut-off. We were
in 14th place but were now told that we were unranked. Only 11 teams
made the 72 hour cut-off. Our option was to be driven to CP8 and
continue on the course or to quit. We, of course, took the option of
continuing 'unranked'. It took the race organization 5 hours to drum
up a 15 minute ride for us, so it was 10pm before we finally arrived
at CP8 and had a chance to eat, change, and gear up for the next leg.
A 24 hour canoe paddle followed. Casting off in the pre-dawn hours
provided amazing fog-filled serenity on the mirror calm waters. The
up-river canoe was broken by a number of major portages over log jams,
the ropes section of the course (400' ascent and rappel), and many
hours of hauling the canoes up a small creek over slippery-as-ice
rocks.
Upon reaching CP10, we knew we did not have time to reach the finish
line, less than 24 hours away. However, after much swaying we set out
on the final bike ride. We kept at it until 7am on the 6th day of the
race when we were pulled from the course because there was no chance
of making the noon race finish.
The water-rich aspects of the course made it a different race, one of
the few adventure races that are easiest on your feet!
Much thanks to our sponsors: Thorlo, Leki, Bolle, Suunto, Seal Line,
AXO, Black Diamond, GoLite, Litespeed, Ortlieb, Petzl, OR, Simon River
Sports, Hind, LP Composites, Terry, Princeton Tec, SofSole, WPC
Brands, Genesis Pharmaceuticals, Dermatone, Platypus, Schrade, Lowe
Alpine, Polar, Seal Skinz, Montrail and CW-X.
Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race
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August 9, 2003
George Broome, Kim Bear, Ries Robinson and Jan Bear
http://www.leadvilletrail100.com
Leadville, CO
Several TSF members made their annual drive from New Mexico to
Leadville Colorado for the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race. This was
the 8th race for Ries, Kim and Jan and Georges 3rd. All finished
under the 12 hours with Ries finishing under the 9 hour cut off
receiving the large belt buckle. Kim, Ries and Jan are anxiously
looking forward to number ten to claim their 1000 Mile belt buckle,
just two more years.
Gear sponsors included Thorlo, GoLite, AXO, Litespeed, LP Composites,
Terry, SofSole, WPC Brands, Schrade, Polar, Seal Skinz, Dermatone,
Genesis Pharmaceuticals, Platypus, Bolle and CW-X. The Litespeed
bikes performed flawlessly, as did Jans new Tomac Ti Revolver. Thank
You.
Leadville Trail 100 10K Running Race
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August 10, 2003
Kim and Jan Bear
http://www.leadvilletrail100.com
Leadville, CO
The next day, following the ceremonies for the Leadville Trail 100
mountain bike race, is the Leadville 10k which is an out and back
running race using the first and last 3.1 miles of the Leadville Trail
100 course. It is the dreaded, never-ending Boulevard which finishes
the 100 mile run and mountain bike course. This 10 k was part of the
Lead series in which entrants sign up to complete all 5 Leadville
events. Kim and Jan were both entered and just needed to cross the
finish line as there was no cut off. It was a nice day and a good way
to work out tight muscles. After the race, it was time to drive back
to Santa Fe for a week of work before making the last trip of the
season for the Leadville Trail 100 mile run.
Thanks to our sponsors: Thorlo, GoLite, SofSole, WPC Brands, Bolle,
Polar, Seal Skinz, CW-X.
Leadville Trail 100 mile Ultramarathon
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August 16 and 17, 2003
Kim and Jan Bear
http://www.leadvilletrail100.com
Leadville, CO
By Kim Bear
This year Leadville offered a new ultra challenge. By signing up and
completing all 5 events, you would earn the Lead man or woman award.
The 5 events were the Leadville Trail 100 marathon and the Silver Rush
50 mile mountain bike race which were in July, and then the Leadville
Trail 100 mile mountain bike race with the Leadville Trail 10K (the
day after the 100 mountain bike race, ending up with the Leadville
Trail 100 mile run which was the next weekend. The legs were to be
tested with little recovery between those last 3 events. At the
mandatory Mountain Bike Race meeting, Ken Chlouber introduced the 7
Lead contestantsonly one was a woman: me. He made sure that the
pressure was placed. Strangers along the route encourage me with Go
Lead Woman! Little did they know that the ultimate challenge was the
100 mile run scheduled for the next weekend. At the mandatory 100
mile run meeting, there were 5 Lead contestants left. Ken introduced
us and again placed pressure on the only woman.
I am not much of a runner, but knew I had made the first 50 miles in
the 2000 Leadville trail 100 and could shuffle along with my pacers.
In 2000, I made the 30 hour cutoff by 7 minutes. I am just generally
slow, so in my mind it really didnt matter that we had done the
mountain bike the previous weekend. This year, I wanted to be 30
minutes ahead of the cut-off times. I took music along to motivate me
to run more.
The race began at 4 am. Jan and I had found a stick as I am pretty
clumsy and catch my toes on rocks making me fall. There was a no
trekking pole rule this year. We started with about 400 other racers
and I knew I wouldnt see Jan until he was heading back from Winfield
(the 50 mile turn around). Right away, I fell 3 times within the
first 3 hours; I dumped my stick. My right side was a little scraped
up and for a little while I thought maybe I broken something in my
right forearm. I was thinking to myself that I would just have Jan
examine it on the way back. Then other aches took over, so I forgot
about the arm. I kept to my plan, ran (shuffled) the flats and was
feeling pretty strong over Hope Pass when runners around me talked
about not being able to make the Winfield cutoff. I was thinking, Oh,
no! Not again. I had felt really good and now I was barely making
it! I saw Jan and he told me I was doing great and I would easily
make that cut off, but I was worried. It was raining. My pacer,
Marce Miller of Santa Fe, was waiting anxiously at the trailhead. She
and her boyfriend, Danny had done the Las Alamos triathlon that
morning and driven up to pace me. Marce realized I was having
thoughts about not making it and I was a little out of it. All I can
remember from her is that we were going to do this! There was never
any doubt. She had always wanted to pace someone and I began to
realize that she was the perfect pacer for me. I made the Winfield
cutoff by 19 minutes; I knew that many of the runners I was now seeing
on the way out would not make it. It was sad to me because I had met
many of them at the training weekend.
Marce and I headed up and over Hope Pass. It got dark, and she helped
me to maneuver the wet trails into Twin Lakes. Marce radioed Danny we
were coming into Twin Lakes and would meet them at the fire station
for a pacer switch. This would be the first time for Danny and me to
meet. It would also be the first time for me to actually sit and
change shoes and clothing. The cut off was 9:45 pm and we were
heading out pretty close to 9:45. Out next cut off was 12:45 am into
Half Moon. Danny was a great pacer, pushing me along and making me
keep hydrated and fed. We came off the trail at 12:15 am. We had 30
minutes to run 1 miles on road. It is always the longest 1 miles. I
made it into Half Moon missing the cutoff by 2 minutes; Oh, go ahead
exclaimed the cutoff official. Secretly, I had already resolved that
it was OK if I didnt make the cutoff. I walked in and out of the tent
at Half Moon. We now had to make the Fish Hatchery by 3 am. I knew
this was the longest 7 miles! I also knew that I was LAST! No one
else came out of Half Moon. Danny handed me over to Marce and she and
I had conversations where I tried to convey how content I was with
what we had accomplished, I didnt want to wear them out, it was OK to
quit, and I didnt know if I could make these cut offs. I think Marce
was all of sudden deaf! Danny radioed that we had 4 miles to go with
one hour left. She said we were easily going to make it. Well, OK I
thought. We race walked 4 miles of road and came into Fish Hatchery
with 15 minutes to spare. (We had the sweep van behind us; they were
shocked as they thought it was over for me. The sweep and I were of
like mind!) Off we went to the next 17 miles which led us up under
the power lines, over Sugar Loaf to Hagerman pass ending up at
MayQueen. We arrived with 5 minutes to spare. I went to check in and
out while my pacers convened, organized supplies, and made a game
plan. I knew I had to make it around the lake in 2 hours so I never
stopped moving. Jan had drilled that into my brain before it was
mush. I knew I had to shuffle quickly. Two hours and 5 minutes
later, Danny and I were crossing the paved road to lead down onto the
trail which would take us into the dreaded- never-ending Boulevard.
Danny passed me off to Marce who said I was a faster race walker than
runner and that is how we would finish. Hand- in- hand we race walked
over the last 4 miles. As we approached the last 1/4 mile, Jan
hobbled out and held the other hand. We shuffled down and crossed the
finish line in 29:52:29 in 206th. I crossed that finish line because
of Danny and Marce. I immediately gave my finishers medal to Danny
and my flowers to Marce and began to cry.
I showered and did not have the luxury of the faster finishers who get
to catch some sleep. I hobbled 2 hours later into the ceremonies as
they start the awards with the last person. I crossed the threshold
and heard my name called as the Lead Woman. I limped up to front to
receive my belt buckle, sweatshirt and Leadville necklace along with a
beautiful glass trophy with LEADWOMAN in recognition of an ultra
achievement engraved on it. I could only beam as I started to hobble
back to show Jan. They called me back up as I was the honorary LAST
ASS ACROSS THE PASS. I received my most cherished trophy ever.the
other half of a mule, the ass.
There would be 4 more Lead awards given out. Another went to Jan who
quietly ran without a pacer always encouraging me, giving pep talks to
Marce, and worrying more about me than him. He inspires.
I could never have done this without my pacers, my CW-X tights and
shirt, Princeton Tec lights, Polar HRM, ThorLo socks, Bolle sunglasses
and my favorite STRYKER hat which has all the cut off times in
indelible ink on the brim. My quads had cramped early on in the
summer, so I refused to train or do any of the runs unless I was
wearing CW-X. I may be slow, but my quads were well supported to the
finish line. Other great sponsors include Thorlo, Leki, Bolle,
Suunto, GoLite, OR, Princeton Tec, SofSole, WPC Brands, Genesis
Pharmaceuticals, Dermatone, Platypus, Schrade, Lowe Alpine, Polar,
Seal Skinz, Montrail and CW-X.
Durango MTB 100, Mt. Bike Race
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Carl Gable, Joel Krypel and Deb Werenko
http://www.gravityplay.com/MTB100/index2.htm
8/16/2003
Durango, CO.
By Carl Gable
The MTB 100 was a mud fest. It had not rained much all summer even in
the high country but the day before and the night before the race it
rained and rained. As we left the hotel in the dark at 5:30am to head
to the start it was cold and raining. At dawn the rain broke, with
dark clouds covering much of the sky. Ninety had registered for the
race but only sixty seven showed up at the start. In the end only
fifteen finished the entire 100 mile course, twenty five finished the
100Km course and the rest dropped out after 50Km. Of those that
finished the 100 mile course, all but three were in the 'Pro/Elite'
class.
I should have known something was up when, the evening before, I spoke
with the race director and asked if he had ridden the course. He said
yes he had, but not in one shot. He had done it over two days. I
asked how long it had taken him. My eyebrows rose when he said he had
taken 13.5 hours. Hmmm, that is 1.5 hours longer than the race
cut-off time. Ah, but they were going to extend the cut-off by 1
hour. It looked like we were going to be chasing another tough
cut-off.
The start took riders up the NORBA XC finals course. A very steep
climb up a ski run. Then to much faster forest service road. The
rain and mud was a factor slowing the pace even on the road. Then
came the swampy bog section. I think that the tire I used without
much tread worked well because when the mud turned to red glue, my
tire held a thinner layer of glue. Chain suck also became a factor.
The mud and water and sand took a toll. Over the course of the day I
slathered my chain with oil I carried at least eight times. Others on
the course had not carried oil. I came across two racers with broken
chains. Late in the race, Joel even slathered his chain with sun
lotion in an attempt to remedy his drive train problems.
Joel made the 100Km mark at 8:23 with 7 minutes to spare before the
3:30pm cut-off to start the final 33 miles but was pulled from the
race because the weather was deteriorating. The cut-off had been
moved up to 3pm!!! Deb was 9 minutes behind Joel and I came in 13
minutes later. Pete Miller, another Santa Fe rider made the entire
100 mile course and finished 8th in 11:22.
The course is spectacular, tough and worth a try. The conditions the
day of the race were a huge factor in the slow times. Maybe next
year.
Much thanks to our sponsors: Thorlo, GoLite, Litespeed, OR, Hind, LP
Composites, Terry, SofSole, WPC Brands, Bolle, Polar, Seal Skinz and
CW-X.
August 22-23, 2003
195 miles; 22:10; 5th mixed, open
http://www.hoodtocoast.com
Oregon
By Barb Dutrow
Running from the highest point in Oregon, Mt. Hood, to the
picturesque Pacific is the course set for the Hood to Coast Relay. In
its 25th year of running, this race brings 1000, 12-member teams from
around the world. The 12,000 runners and their 2000 vans (2/team)
travel along the 195 mile in a whirlwind relay. Each team member runs
about 4-8 miles each of the three rotations (through the entire team);
meaning, you get tight before you run again! To alleviate congestion,
there is a staggered start with your starting time dependent on your
team's projected finishing time. Slow teams begin at 7:00AM on Friday
with the last teams off at 7:30PM, to finish Saturday afternoon.
TSF member Barb Dutrow ran with the New Orleans Track Club team.
Little did I realize what a competitive team that I was on, we had a
7pm Friday start time. Having trained in NM during the summer, the
team decided that I would be best to run the steep downhill at high
elevation at the start. Under gray, misty skies with forty degree
temps and cold winds, I was the lead off runner and began our team's
relay by running Leg 1. Just as the race was to begin and I stood at
the starting line, I noticed that the 'relay bracelet' was not on my
arm. Panic! It must be somewhere, close to where I stripped off my
warm clothes. A frantic sweep of the area ensued with my teammates
telling me to take off with the gun and they'd get me the bracelet.
As if my adrenaline wasn't already high! Starting under the awesome
view of Mt. Hood, it was a steep 2000' drop over about 6 miles to the
first transition. Having started with 20 other fast teams, the
pavement pounding began fast. Fortunately about a quarter of a mile
into the race, a teammate ran up beside me with the bracelet. Whew!
I kept my heart monitor pegged at race pace, and in a mere 35:59,
arrived at the transition for the handoff; the fastest 6 miles I'd
done! (6:03 pace). Then quickly you rush off to the van to move to
the next checkpoint, to get the next runner set, prior to your current
runner arriving. Only then can you change out of the wet clothes and
into your next set of running gear.
About 7 hours later, it was time to run again. We arrived at this
major transition with about two hours to spare. It was impossible to
have six people sleep in a van, so I resting outside between two
parked vans on the gravel for a couple of hours. Legs were tight.
Leg 13 took me through the dark streets of downtown Portland.
Fortunately I arrived sufficiently early the previous day to pre-run
this leg; with six turns and three construction zones, I was nervous
about taking a wrong turn. About 3am I started off again, through a
dark warehouse district, construction, turns and onto the Portland
waterfront. Here the guy ahead of me went somewhere, but not the
right way, and another woman was standing in the street wondering if
she'd gone the right way. I could answer with confidence! The
darkness made it virtually impossible to read your map, or the street
signs; I was very glad that I had prerun this section.
My third leg was a hilly 4 miles over the Coast Ranges in western
Oregon. Daylight came and knowing this was the final leg prompted one
to 'give it all'. (see photo). By this time we had caught up with
other teams, so I passed about 20 people on this leg providing another
great boost!
Once our team finished its rotation, we were onto Seaside to wait for
the other six runners to finish. Showers were taken before the next
van of runners arrived. We waited by the finish line, on the beach,
and all 12 of us ran across the finish line together when our last
runner arrived. To my surprise, we finished 5th in our division;
mixed, open, in a time of 22:10 for an average pace of 6:43 min/mile!
(This includes the time that one runner got lost).
Many thanks to Polar Heart Rate monitors that kept me going, my Thorlo
socks for padding my feet and Princeton Tec for lighting my way in the
dark streets.
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