Training Log Archive: kensr

Surprise -- final standings have us moved up to 4th Masters. Came across the finish 10 seconds ahead of another team -- must have been them!

C • Way to go! 3

Not used to suburbs like this! Just outside of Tampa, FL; starting a couple hundred meters from office parks and homes: Hillsboro River SPk, another world entirely!

Started on foot, with a short scramble to mix up teams. Then some std o with rogaine quality maps. Had an optional river crossing using a rope monkey bridge -- looked like a slower route so we ran further up river and swam across.

Then a canoeing section, with a long, long passage down thru Hillsboro River wilderness area; river serpentined and dissipated into mangrove swamp; lots of downed trees, portages dragging over, under; lots of mud; where did the river go?

Then a loop back on bikes with a nice mud hole up to my chest.

On foot again; dark, back at rope bridge again. Took it this time. Couple nasty km deep in mangrove swamp. Knee deep mud/water; stumbling over cypress knees. Looking around in darkness for control and saw two red beady eyes looking back just at water level -- alligator!
Picked up a lot of time on this leg as there was an unmapped trail parallel to the one everyone wanted. We relocated early, but others lost hours. But lost time leaving control as our stopping feature -- rough road -- was under water and we kept on going.

Then more mud, palmettos, biking, and some more canoeing with a little mini-o mixed in.

So did pretty well; fine steady effort by Brad and Tracey. Ended up 5th Masters; not sure of overall yet.