Training Log Archive: WandAR

Event: Frontier Adventure Challenge
 

Amazing race conditions and a great, fun post race atmosphere. Where we could all enjoy, chat and relax after a fun day without having to prepare for a High School Race the next. Don't get me wrong I love the High School Race and helping out. But this after party was way more fun than moving bikes around until midnight 2 year ago.

As for the race. I was a fun course but there were some challenges.
With ear and power bunny rings in tow we run up some great hills to CP1. Then back down to paddle section.
Even though I swore to myself that no matter how hot I was I would put my waterproofs on for the paddle, as Dee always tells me, I didn't...again. And paid the price. We had a slow unsynchronized paddle to the CP2. With 1L barksing "Stroke" to try and sink me, the monkey in the middle, up.
Then we were told we didn't make the cut-off for the advanced paddle. I didn't want to do it anyway as I was chattering fiercely at this point. However, I was upset because we were actually within the 1 hr 15min cut-off. Having started the race at 10:04, we had until 11:19. We left the CP2 paddle at 11:17. 2 Minutes.

So we paddled back. Finally in a great groove and passed atleast 4 teams that made the advanced paddle. Umph!

Then on the bikes. Fun road ride to close to Dyer Memorial, where Amber and I switched into trek shoes. 1L didn't, which was bad as the distances were further than she originally thought.

CP6 was a fun hike through the forest along the river, on an nutty of camber trail. Lots of scrambling.
Fabulous cooling swamp wade after CP7 to get back to the bikes. I had mine and 1L pack and tried to keep the dry, but that was gone I took a wrong step and over may waste deep. At least I didn't loose the SI and passport or my bunny ears.
On the way I thought I lost the passport. Panicked and ran back, then opened another zipper and found it. Phew!

Now a bike to CP8. This was a combo of muddy ATV and some sand.
Twice I pulled my bike out the thick mud, expecting the tires to ripe of the frame. It was great. Because in those spots where it was so thick, when you go stuck you wouldn't fall over. It would hold you upright.

There was also one sandpit section. That made the guy behind me laugh out loud as I fishtailed one way, then the other, then back, finally evening out. He was entertained and impressed I stayed. I was too. :-)

We got to CP8 6 minutes before the 3p.m. advanced trek cut-off. As they said we could go on, I hollered, "Great! 'Cause I didn't carry these trek shoes for nothing." PhatChicks were there and laughed at me.

As we started on the bike to CP9 we saw a number of teams turning back. Bugs in Teeth was one of them. So I asked Rob what was up. He said, it was too much they were turning back.

We decided to see for yourselves. The girls had an alternate route they believed would be less steep over all. And it was muddy and hilly but totally bikable. However, 1L was struggling and soon the bikes were being pushed. We assessed the pace and decided to turn it around. We all really wanted at least to make to CP9. But there was no way we'd be back in time. It was the best choice to turn back for sure. It cost us a 35 minutes though.

Biking past to CP8, I announced to the wonderful volunteers, "Who are we kidding we are not that advanced. We are heading in."
They understood.

So lots of hilly, gravelly road. I was super impressed that I climbed every hill and really accelerated over each hill.

I was flying and the whole team was doing well.
Amber said I could walk a hill. I responded no way, I'd live it down with Getawaystix. After being on Getawaystix towrope (or bitch leash as I affectionally call it), while being pushed by Relentless, I motivated to climb every hill. It felt great!

On the last hill 1L's chain got stuck. We tried to unstick it, but couldn't. I gave 1L my bike to ride up the hill while I ran her bike up. At the top we did a switch, to let 1L coast down. As there was no way I could ride a 29er and she felt like a circus bear (her words not mine) on my small women's specific specialized.
We all came in fast a strong.

Grabbed some food and started on the last 3 trek checkpoints.

Getting CP10 was a gong show. But we felt better as we found more teams in the same boat. Lost a good 30 minutes here.

Last two were snaps and home.

3 hopping bunnies to the finish line, about 20 minutes after the close. Darn it. But in time for dinner.

Fab food after. I ate so much. Good atmostphere, music and company.

Made a big bunny cookie for all the share in the spirit of Speed Bunnies and got some prizes for our costumes, equipped with a poem.

Some of us may have even gone for a polar dip. :-)


Can't figure out how to pics here. So see them on FB or my blog:
http://walkingwandar.posterous.com/speed-bunnies-a...

Additional notes:
Transitions: Super slow. I know after the paddle I'm cold so it's always slower. Need to speed that up.
Food: 1.5l from hydration pack, 350ml bike bottle with nuun, 150 ml gatorade, 3 gels (one was the honey stingers, will never get that one again, too sweet, pure honey), 2 soya bars (from Slovakia), honey stinger chocolate mint protein bar. Total calories maximum 1000. Not alot but didn't feel I need more at all.

Results are up and we were 10 out of 12 female teams, 65th overall. Nothing to write home about. Clearly they were some nav issues on the trek & trying to do the advanced section killed us. As up to and including CP6 we were in first. Wow!

C • polar dip 4

Race simulation
20x90sec loops slow, fast, hill, fast to finish x20

My instructor asked me, "What do you eat for breakfast?"
"Oatmeal." I replied.
"You have got to stop!" He announced. "You go to fast."

After wishing I had taken the bike out this morning on the beautiful day, but having to do some work and still feeling a little dizzy/weak I opted for gravity class. Surprisingly felt great. Even had a little competition going with one of the trainers. Oh my.

Good easy run and the rain held out.

Splitting headache and nauseous feeling all day, finally subsided during the last 5 minutes of the ride.

Super weak today. Not sure what's up. This on top of fainting lately.

Probably just low iron and too much food over the weekend.

C • fainting? 11

Pretty weak, with everything down one level today. But good work out none the less.