·Team's Next Race·
We're eyeing a couple different races for the rest of the summer, but in September we'll be racing the 2008
Untamed Virginia adventure race.
·Team Members·
- Sherry Correll (Virginia)
- Joel Jimenez (Virginia)
- Rob Dinterman (North Carolina)
- Grant Killian (Switzerland)
- Jason Reed (Virginia)
|
|
·Latest Team Untamed Adventure Race Report·
The Tidewater Traverse 2008 Adventure Race
Team Untamed Adventure (Sherry Correll, Joel Jimenez, Jason Reed)
“Wait a minute. What road are we on again?,” Joel asked in a panic as he studied the map. “We just turned onto Cobham Warf Road,” I answered. “Ahhhh man, the beach CP1 was back in the park,” Joel shouted as he quickly jumped on his bike and headed back the direction we had just come. The 2008 Tidewater Traverse was underway and team Untamed Adventure was about to tack on an additional 8 miles to the first cycling leg of the race. This early mistake that would provide a little extra motivation that pushed us through the next 13 hours of racing.
The race was scheduled for an 8:00 pm start form Chippokes Park near Surry, VA. We arrived plenty early to get check in behind us and get on with preparing our maps and gear for the 18 hour course that lay ahead of us. After a quick check in process we had our passport and one of the necessary course maps. The passport contained half of the CPs we would visit and the remaining CPs and maps would be given to us on the course. We immediately commenced with preparing our maps. The first five CPs were listed in the passport with NO UTMs but a description of the location (bridge, beach, monument) listed. Knowing where the next TA location was, the prohibited routes, and using a road atlas that Sherry brought we were able to predict the route and location the mystery CPs. An assumption on CP1 location would cost us.
Temperatures were predicted to be near the 100 degree mark with possible thunderstorms through the night. As we gathered for the pre race meeting the sights and sounds of a distant storm reminded us of the forecast. Fortunately, the storms held off but the heat would be an added challenge to the race. Proper hydration was a priority. The race was kicked off with a short scavenger hunt that had teams running throughout the park recording answers to a series of clues. Once all the clues were answered correctly we were issued a pre plotted map for the first bike leg of the race. After a speedy transition the Untamed pace line was trucking down the road towards CP1, or so we thought. After riding 4 miles we realized the CP1 we were headed for was based on our assumptions prior to getting our new maps. We were wrong! Back to Chippokes Park for CP1. We were consumed by the excitement of the start and failed to double check the location of CP1. ARRRGGGGHHH!
The next four CPs went very smooth and we found ourselves at Pipsico Scout Reservation for the first transition area. We were presented with the option of completing the first orienteering course OR completing the single track mountain biking section. We decided to get the riding behind us so it was back on our bikes. This section consisted on some very rough old motor cross trails. It was obvious that the trails had seen very little action, riding or maintenance. The soft sandy surface combined with nonstop deep tire ruts made for an exhausting ride. There were 6 CPs evenly spaced along the loop to keep teams honest. All six punches were required.
At this point, we in full race mode quickly gaining lost ground passing several teams on the single track section. At the TA Mike and Mark warned everyone that the single track would be very rough and Sherry was a little concerned about riding it at night. We decided it would be best to keep her between Joel and I to help light the trail. The next hour and half or so of riding earned Sherry the “toughest chick I know” honors. Between the seat post that would not stay up and a loose stem she must have experienced ten hard crashes but it never fazed her. She was right back on the bike hammering it out after every fall. At some point we along the way we decided to tighten her stem.....obvious right, not so when your trying to make up time.
Next was the Pipsico o-course. We were given 8 CPs, 5 of which were mandatory and any additional would be worth a half hour time bonus each. We knocked them out in the following order; CP5, CP4, CP3, CP2, CP8, CP7, CP6. The forest was very thick moving from CP5 to CP4. At one point we found ourselves crawling on hands knees to find our way out of the thick undergrowth. It’s at moments like this that I think to myself, no matter how many times I describe adventure racing to friends and family they will never truly understand until they are crawling through the woods looking for a flag at 1 am. For some reason I wish I were back there right now! Armed with map and compass Joel quickly lead us to seven of the eight CPs to finish up the first o-course.
Back on the bikes for a short ride we rolled into Chanco Camp and Conference Center. Here we would find a zipline followed by two low ropes type team challenges. We moved through quickly and met up with our support crew for the first and last time we would see them before the finish. Susan and Johnny had everything perfectly arranged so we could eat, change clothes, and prepare for the paddling section. We made a very speedy transition and found ourselves in 5th place hitting the water. Feeling good and excited about the comeback we were mounting we cruised across the James River to the Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area. The sky was full of stars, water was choppy, and we were very happy to be paddling before sunrise and the heat of the day.
At Chickahominy Wildlife Management area we were faced with the second and final o-course. We had CPs 11-17 before a short paddle to the finish. All of the remaining CPs were mandatory and could be punched in any order. We quickly located CP11 (I think) before struggling with CP16 (I think). After sweeping the area, rechecking our bearing, and 10 or 15 minutes of head scratching we rechecked our plot and sure enough we missed plotted. With CP16 correctly plotted we shot a bearing and quickly found it. Joel was dead on navigating the remaining CPs through dense forest and thigh (waist for Sherry) deep swamp mud. Before long we found ourselves back at our boats in third place.
Worried that teams behind us may have an additional bonus CP from the first o-course we quickly transitioned into our boat and made our way to the finish located at the Chickahominy River Front Park Pier. Our goal was to gain as much time as we could on the final paddle to keep the additional half hour bonus from costing us overall places. We managed to finish second behind Team YerSen - To Be Determined by five minutes and hot on our heels only a few minute behind was Team Too Many Kids.
In the end we placed third overall and second in the coed 3/4 person division. Fifteen minutes separated the first 4 places overall providing a very exciting finish. Although never really discussed before the race, I think all three of us came into this race with a win in mind. Who knows, it might have been our chance had we paid a little more attention at the start but overall we raced hard and finished minutes after the first place team. Another example of how things can change quickly in this sport and giving up is never an option.
At the finish we were greeted by our wonderful support crew, hot showers, and a wonderful spread of food provided by the HR staff. For the next few hours we traded stories with fellow racers and cheered on as the remaining field of 35+ teams crossed the finish. Hats off to Pam, Mike, and the entire HRAdventure crew for providing yet another challenging course and overall great weekend!
/Jason and Team Untamed Adventure
|