Training Log Archive: wilberto

Rafting stage, 2 team members had to paddle across channel (original plan was swim, but 8 deg and raining changed that) and bring back 3 canoes to build a raft. Lash 'em together, use 2 2x12's for frame and plywood on top and all 9 of us set sail with 4 paddles to get 5 CP's. Construction was fun to watch, as their raftbuilding strategy needed a little something, but eventually they had something I was comfortable being a passenger on. Some confusion on misplaced CP's and a wind meant we dropped the far CP and then raced back with FunRun's team to be first team back on the beach and on to the bike transition.

Transition to mountain bikes, serve our time penalties (dropped raft CP and left garbage in bunkie before start) and headed out. When the school first arrived, the teacher handed me a letter from a kid's mother (on stationery from her personal injury law firm...) about him being diabetic and what needed to happen. Thankfully, the kid was great. Checked in with him on his "stuff" from time to time, but he was gung ho almost the whole race. On the bikes, we rode as a team to a junction, where part of the team would ride with the teacher on the standard course (easier cottage roads) and get 3 CP's enroute to the finish at a camp on Glen Bernard. I would ride the challenge course with part of the team and get 3 CP's enroute to the finish on a combination of roads and ATV trails. Nothing too gnarly, but certainly more challenging. My navigator was all about the challenge, but I wanted at least 2 kids with me (1 adult, 1 student alone not a good practice). My diabetic kid had been gung ho all the way, but as we approached the split point, I asked him how he was doing and he said "I'm okay", which I could tell wasn't as strong as he had been before. 2 other strong guys had been riding out front, so I tried to strong arm them into coming and 1 did. Off down the challenge course. Maps had gotten wet over 3 stages, so I lent my navigator my map and map bag to help. When we'd stop, I'd ask him to tell me what he was thinking, but that was just so I could have a quick upsidedown look at the map. We were out first, but soon we had other teams around us. Came to a decision point with a trail that wasn't on the map and 3 other teams chose to make the turn. My navigator was hemming and hawing and his teammate was all ready to follow the crowd. I asked him some questions about what he knew, what he was thinking, and then pushed him to make a decision. He decided to stay on the current trail. Up a hill and 50 m later, the checkpoint. His confidence was sky high and on we went. 2 other teams with more athletic racers came by us and we eventually couldn't maintain contact with them. Out on the roads and I encouraged my 2 to work together and draft off each other, which worked pretty well for a while, although towards the end, they were both out of gas and just grinding along. Finally to Camp Glen Bernard and the finish line. Expected to see the other part of our team, but apparently they had ridden by a CP and had to backtrack to get it, so they came in a while later. Warm shower and warm cabin was nice, although poor 1L had to make a run to North Bay emerg for her wasp stings from the trek on Wed. As I had carpooled with her, I drove her back up Fri am for another IV antibiotic dose and we missed the wrapup.
Fun, interesting event. Bit of a hybrid of AR and school field trip, but fun to be out there and watch young guys challenge themselves.

Race is on! Team had to paddle around Kawawaymog Lake and collect 8 checkpoints. 3 team canoes, plus teacher and I in another canoe. Team realized that they were slowest team, but time penalties for missed CPs meant strategically made sense to clear course, as other teams had dropped some CPs. Last team off the water, but saw another team in transition.

Left transition and up roads to a trail and finally a jump off point to get CP2 on a hilltop. Much discussion and slow progress early as team got used to figuring out what info they had, who was going to be the leaders and how they were going to make decisions. 1 guy had stepped up in prep the day before and wanted to navigate and lead, even though I wasn't sure if the rest of the team had much respect for him. Little did I know he would pull the entire team through the race. They did okay off trail, leapfrogging each other on a bearing, then getting near a big hill that looked like it might be the CP, which it was. Leaving CP2, they decided to head to forego direct bushwhack and pick up trail that went around the back of the hill down to the lake and CP3 at the dam at the end of Loxton Lake. Last leaving the TA, but strong nav meant crossed paths with 3 other teams around 2/3. Back up trail along lake and then offtrail handrailing up to CP4. Discussed with my team the difference between travelling "by the lake" vs. travelling while keeping in contact with the lake. They eventually climbed up on the ridge where it was a little easier going. 11 people tromping through the bush isn't exactly fast and there were some guys who were always at the back, but I was impressed they all kept moving. 1 kid got a wasp sting - little did I know our team got off easy. CP5 was at the end of the lake, then a walk up the river to more trails and CP6. We had another team right with us all the way up the lake and to the trail. As we were leaving the trail onto the road, they were a little back and I suggested to my team that if they could hustle around the bend in the road before they emerged from the trail, they wouldn't have motivation to run us down (and they could have). That lit a fire and we hustled down the couple km's to the day 1 finish at the Smyth Lake Dam in 3rd place, pretty good after being last off the water.

Up near South River to help with the VoyageurQuest EcoChallenge. 60 grade 10 students from the Crescent School come up to have an adventure race experience. 1L and MJ had set the course so us 6 guides did the trek to familiarize ourselves with it.

Rode in the ATV trail with 1L to place an advanced checkpoint.