Training Log Archive: phattyIn the 1 days ending Sep 4, 2010:
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Saturday Sep 4, 2010 #
AR Competition 6:05:02 [5]
shoes: XT Wings S-Lab 2
Logs, Rocks, & Steel (Haliburton Highlands...estimated time) - I got a series of inspirational notes from DeepBakes all week so as to get me mentally pumped for the beating I would no doubt administer to my body at this year's LR&S. My favourite stemmed from his commentary on the weather forecast for race day. The key bit of commentary went something like this: "...it's going to be a muckfest out there with all of the precipitation in the forecast. But you love to race in the slop, don't you?!? You're what they call a 'mudder'..."
Indeed, it would be a slopfest with unseasonable rain hammering down on us. Admittedly, I did like the prospects of these conditions as crap weather tends to be an equalizer of sorts, thinning the 'normal curve' of times per discipline amongst adventure racing types. 'Bring on the slop', I say!
I felt that I was in a race for 4th, and emailed Getawaystix that prediction on Friday before the race (along with my thoughts on the rank of the top 3...which proved clairvoyant, I might add), as Frankenjack, BenoitL, and DrWells are speedsters in these types of races. Lads like me, FB, LosDobos, Tarno, and I figured a few dudes I didn't know would make up the chase pack when all was said and done.
I got out quickly on the run at Getawaystix' call of 'GO!' and hit the singletrack with 5 speedsters ahead of me. I maintained their pace for the first 1 km or so but my loping gait would have me settle into my own pace quickly thereafter. This run was really awesome! We hopped over boulders, logs, waterflows...we cooked downhill...we lumbered uphill...and always had to be on the lookout for pink arrows or flagging tape. I rounded one corner alongside a lake to be scared #$%^less by Luis M, taking shots of the racers. I was going it alone for what seemed quite a bit when I hit a really sizeable hill and saw 2-3 folks right on my 6. SMeyer caught me but I managed to hold him off somehow.
Finally out to the road, I got passed like I was standing still by the 1st place woman. Holy sh!t could she get her legs turned over quickly. So, I gulped some water and gave chase. I would catch her on the up and downhills only to have her pull away again on the flats. I think this game of cat and mouse helped to gap SMeyer...as well as to put my breathing pace through the roof. Gulp! We hit the 'bushwhack' together and after a quick bit of searching for one flagging tape stream, I took off AR styles and never saw her again. I loved this section and had the typical, sweet sounds of 'Last of the Mohicans' theme music going through my head...nothing better!
On the west side of this stuff, I then caught sight of Tarno. "You're mine", I said aloud, and gapped the distance over the next km or so. I was waiting for the water crossing to come and just as it did, we both hit it together. Akin to Baywatch's D. Hasslehoff (less the veritable forest of chest hair and german singing skills), I gave it my best effort to run through the waterway without having to walk. Highstep-highstep-highstep...whoa...falling forward...just about to bail huge...whew, shallower water reached...thankfully, as spectators would have had a nice little laugh at my expense.
Into the TA to paddle, I grabbed STORM's boat, donned my lifejacket, and was off to the first (tiny) lake. It came too early from the look of my map but the little pink arrow said otherwise. I couldn't see the portage on the other side so I just went for the dam and hoped for the best. Sure enough, it was there. I did a little Tarno-check but didn't see him...YES!...only one more ahead for the highly coveted 4th place position. Into Raven Lake, I did some more map checking to make sure I cut off as much distance as I could, hugging this shore, going for that point, etc and then there he was, the mystery man in 4th.
Triceps burning (for some reason...I had only started paddling after all?!?), I dug deeper as I wanted to pass him before the next portage. He was taking a few rests here and there and while progress was slow, I eventually caught him with the portage in sight.
Onto the next set of lakes, this portage was a little longer and techy than the rest. I bailed at one point when my foot sank nice and deep into the mire...thankfully, no bashing the boat...I was being pretty careful as it isn't my craft.
Into the next lake, I saw yet another boat; this one with a raised top...could it be?...DrBill...YES! One had to be very cognizant of where you were on the map for this paddle. There were 7 portages in all and it wasn't readily obvious as to where you had to go next, just by looking around at the end of a portage. Unfortunately for DrBill, he had hammered to a sign across this lake to find an orange sign with a tent on it rather than the yellow sign with Mr. Canoehead on it. I checked my map quickly and gave chase toward what looked like the right direction.
We portaged together and got to the next lake. This next little paddle was really short and seemingly in the direction of a little rock valley/canyon where no portage was visible. Trust the map. Up and over yet another log and sure enough, Mr. Canoehead beckoned us forward...through 50m of unpaddle-able quagmire. My only forward moving technique that seemed to work was skid my feet along the 45 degree angled rock while ensuring that my boat was in the water, giving me balance. I'm really glad I didn't have a skeg to worry about ripping off the bottom of the boat. DrBill's Ruahane would likely have to be delicately handled a little more, so I pushed a bit to get ahead. A few more paddle/portages and he was gone from view behind me...but I knew not for long. I just wanted to keep him back enough so that he didn't blow by me on the bike too early.
On the final lake, the wind was starting to pick up but given the stability of STORM's trusty Paluski craft, I was confident that I would stave off a roll over into the drink - such an excellent combo of stability and speed for this inclement day I figured.
PhattyJR yelled at me to leave the TA but I really needed a Boost and to get some bike shorts on. Never the less, I left with out seeing DrBill and headed into the bike course. Those plucky Frost coursers had a heck of a muckfest to endure on this day. I was on and off the bike again and again and despite new Hutchinson Pythons on my wheels, I created that 'zzzzzzzzzzzz' sound over and over as I tried to negotiate the muddy terrain. However, I knew it would be the same for DrBill.
The Frost bike took quite a while and there were many groups to get past, but I finally hit the split and took off for hopefully, more rideable terrain. Up the 3rd or 4th hill, I could tell that my hamstrings were not too happy, and climbing was getting harder and harder. Oh sh!t...down I go...splat...onto a large boulder...barrel roll to safety...bike behind me..."Hey Pete!"...sh!t. I was cooked now as DrBill whipped past. Okay, 4th it is then...time to defend.
Onward into the raspberry fields after DrBill got away and it was an on and off the bike session with lots of screaming disc brakes. Nearing the end, however, I wasn't alone...yet. DrBill was still just ahead, going almost the same pace as I. Perhaps Getawaystix' racecourse of challenge proved tiring for him too? Each time he blasted ahead and I thought all was lost for 3rd, I'd catch sight of him once again, spurning a few more watts into the pedals.
We hit the last gravel road heading east and while my odo wasn't working just right, my plan was to keep far enough back to not have him blast off at the site of me but close enough so that I could MAYBE give a final push at the last 5 km or so. I figured FB would agree. However, that DrBill is a wily competitor and each time I'd catch a glimpse and hit a steep climb, he'd whip ahead again, out of site, seemingly not able to get as wasted as I was. I called him everything I could think of, yelling at my legs to give me something resembling power into the pedals. I think even Luis M, the cameraman, heard me before he saw me after one particularly hard climb.
Eventually, onto the last ~2km of paved road, I could see DrBill about 400m ahead. While I made up some of that distance, I think he was just toying with me, able to put out the necessary wattage to keep my pitiful attempts at racing him to the line at bay.
So that is how my little tale ends, DrBill took 3rd just ahead of me and I was as spent as I can ever remember being - I really did leave it all out there on the course. Well done, DrBill, you wasted me beautifully.
Quite a day out there in the slop! Bash racking up 1st female...FB Jr staving off Leanimal's attempts for a thrashing...FB and LosDobos battling it out just behind me...and the top spot being contested at the last part of the race. It really was a great course, full of challenge and unpredictability where one's resolve still counts rather than pure fitness. Nice job, Getawaystix!
Indeed, it would be a slopfest with unseasonable rain hammering down on us. Admittedly, I did like the prospects of these conditions as crap weather tends to be an equalizer of sorts, thinning the 'normal curve' of times per discipline amongst adventure racing types. 'Bring on the slop', I say!
I felt that I was in a race for 4th, and emailed Getawaystix that prediction on Friday before the race (along with my thoughts on the rank of the top 3...which proved clairvoyant, I might add), as Frankenjack, BenoitL, and DrWells are speedsters in these types of races. Lads like me, FB, LosDobos, Tarno, and I figured a few dudes I didn't know would make up the chase pack when all was said and done.
I got out quickly on the run at Getawaystix' call of 'GO!' and hit the singletrack with 5 speedsters ahead of me. I maintained their pace for the first 1 km or so but my loping gait would have me settle into my own pace quickly thereafter. This run was really awesome! We hopped over boulders, logs, waterflows...we cooked downhill...we lumbered uphill...and always had to be on the lookout for pink arrows or flagging tape. I rounded one corner alongside a lake to be scared #$%^less by Luis M, taking shots of the racers. I was going it alone for what seemed quite a bit when I hit a really sizeable hill and saw 2-3 folks right on my 6. SMeyer caught me but I managed to hold him off somehow.
Finally out to the road, I got passed like I was standing still by the 1st place woman. Holy sh!t could she get her legs turned over quickly. So, I gulped some water and gave chase. I would catch her on the up and downhills only to have her pull away again on the flats. I think this game of cat and mouse helped to gap SMeyer...as well as to put my breathing pace through the roof. Gulp! We hit the 'bushwhack' together and after a quick bit of searching for one flagging tape stream, I took off AR styles and never saw her again. I loved this section and had the typical, sweet sounds of 'Last of the Mohicans' theme music going through my head...nothing better!
On the west side of this stuff, I then caught sight of Tarno. "You're mine", I said aloud, and gapped the distance over the next km or so. I was waiting for the water crossing to come and just as it did, we both hit it together. Akin to Baywatch's D. Hasslehoff (less the veritable forest of chest hair and german singing skills), I gave it my best effort to run through the waterway without having to walk. Highstep-highstep-highstep...whoa...falling forward...just about to bail huge...whew, shallower water reached...thankfully, as spectators would have had a nice little laugh at my expense.
Into the TA to paddle, I grabbed STORM's boat, donned my lifejacket, and was off to the first (tiny) lake. It came too early from the look of my map but the little pink arrow said otherwise. I couldn't see the portage on the other side so I just went for the dam and hoped for the best. Sure enough, it was there. I did a little Tarno-check but didn't see him...YES!...only one more ahead for the highly coveted 4th place position. Into Raven Lake, I did some more map checking to make sure I cut off as much distance as I could, hugging this shore, going for that point, etc and then there he was, the mystery man in 4th.
Triceps burning (for some reason...I had only started paddling after all?!?), I dug deeper as I wanted to pass him before the next portage. He was taking a few rests here and there and while progress was slow, I eventually caught him with the portage in sight.
Onto the next set of lakes, this portage was a little longer and techy than the rest. I bailed at one point when my foot sank nice and deep into the mire...thankfully, no bashing the boat...I was being pretty careful as it isn't my craft.
Into the next lake, I saw yet another boat; this one with a raised top...could it be?...DrBill...YES! One had to be very cognizant of where you were on the map for this paddle. There were 7 portages in all and it wasn't readily obvious as to where you had to go next, just by looking around at the end of a portage. Unfortunately for DrBill, he had hammered to a sign across this lake to find an orange sign with a tent on it rather than the yellow sign with Mr. Canoehead on it. I checked my map quickly and gave chase toward what looked like the right direction.
We portaged together and got to the next lake. This next little paddle was really short and seemingly in the direction of a little rock valley/canyon where no portage was visible. Trust the map. Up and over yet another log and sure enough, Mr. Canoehead beckoned us forward...through 50m of unpaddle-able quagmire. My only forward moving technique that seemed to work was skid my feet along the 45 degree angled rock while ensuring that my boat was in the water, giving me balance. I'm really glad I didn't have a skeg to worry about ripping off the bottom of the boat. DrBill's Ruahane would likely have to be delicately handled a little more, so I pushed a bit to get ahead. A few more paddle/portages and he was gone from view behind me...but I knew not for long. I just wanted to keep him back enough so that he didn't blow by me on the bike too early.
On the final lake, the wind was starting to pick up but given the stability of STORM's trusty Paluski craft, I was confident that I would stave off a roll over into the drink - such an excellent combo of stability and speed for this inclement day I figured.
PhattyJR yelled at me to leave the TA but I really needed a Boost and to get some bike shorts on. Never the less, I left with out seeing DrBill and headed into the bike course. Those plucky Frost coursers had a heck of a muckfest to endure on this day. I was on and off the bike again and again and despite new Hutchinson Pythons on my wheels, I created that 'zzzzzzzzzzzz' sound over and over as I tried to negotiate the muddy terrain. However, I knew it would be the same for DrBill.
The Frost bike took quite a while and there were many groups to get past, but I finally hit the split and took off for hopefully, more rideable terrain. Up the 3rd or 4th hill, I could tell that my hamstrings were not too happy, and climbing was getting harder and harder. Oh sh!t...down I go...splat...onto a large boulder...barrel roll to safety...bike behind me..."Hey Pete!"...sh!t. I was cooked now as DrBill whipped past. Okay, 4th it is then...time to defend.
Onward into the raspberry fields after DrBill got away and it was an on and off the bike session with lots of screaming disc brakes. Nearing the end, however, I wasn't alone...yet. DrBill was still just ahead, going almost the same pace as I. Perhaps Getawaystix' racecourse of challenge proved tiring for him too? Each time he blasted ahead and I thought all was lost for 3rd, I'd catch sight of him once again, spurning a few more watts into the pedals.
We hit the last gravel road heading east and while my odo wasn't working just right, my plan was to keep far enough back to not have him blast off at the site of me but close enough so that I could MAYBE give a final push at the last 5 km or so. I figured FB would agree. However, that DrBill is a wily competitor and each time I'd catch a glimpse and hit a steep climb, he'd whip ahead again, out of site, seemingly not able to get as wasted as I was. I called him everything I could think of, yelling at my legs to give me something resembling power into the pedals. I think even Luis M, the cameraman, heard me before he saw me after one particularly hard climb.
Eventually, onto the last ~2km of paved road, I could see DrBill about 400m ahead. While I made up some of that distance, I think he was just toying with me, able to put out the necessary wattage to keep my pitiful attempts at racing him to the line at bay.
So that is how my little tale ends, DrBill took 3rd just ahead of me and I was as spent as I can ever remember being - I really did leave it all out there on the course. Well done, DrBill, you wasted me beautifully.
Quite a day out there in the slop! Bash racking up 1st female...FB Jr staving off Leanimal's attempts for a thrashing...FB and LosDobos battling it out just behind me...and the top spot being contested at the last part of the race. It really was a great course, full of challenge and unpredictability where one's resolve still counts rather than pure fitness. Nice job, Getawaystix!