Training Log Archive: Browner

Day 4 Cowboy Tough Race Report

These graphs are more honest notes to self should I ever decide I want to try another expedition. The race was phenomenal - with incredible scenery, amazing teammates and a well organized race crew. The only thing for me on this race, to be brutally honest, was there just was a lot of suffering compared to enjoyment for a good chunk of the race. It was probably a combination of the elevation up to 10,000 ft combined with what I think was a cold virus that set in at elevation probably from the plane or hotel. I have had fluid in my lungs and a head cold for 2 weeks after the race.

I must admit, I would enjoy a really long hiking trip better, where you see amazing places but still get to stop and enjoy the views, eat and sleep but still give 'er during the day.

But time heals.....and with some more strength/hill training, just maybe....

Day 4 Notes:

For some reason, this ride back was just too long and uneventful. But at least the scenery was gorgeous in the morning hours. As we approached eleven, I just couldn't eat and the water I drank wasn't enough to keep me cool. I think I drank the others water, but it probably was only 2L worth all in in 35C plus sunny dry dusty weather. I bonked hard and couldn't swallow even salt pills. The guys let me dunk in a creek and after that I was able to continue to the end in a quasi delirious state. When we finished, I crawled under a transport truck for the only shade in the area and had a good mini cry before consuming vast quantities of iced lemonade, burritos and hot dogs.

I'm still glad I did it and even more glad I did with with BiT. Best team ever.

C • Cowboy Tough Race Report 3

Day 3 Cowboy Tough Race Report

I think sleep correlates with my sense of well being on a race. After the long sleep day 3 went great for me. I was still sick, with the head cold and cough set in, but I felt better and especially in my own mind, I was able to engage and enjoy the scenery this day. We were off and on the bike a lot and I liked the change of routine. We did part of the end of day orienteering course, which I really enjoyed as much as a zombie can. I was totally impressed with Mikes's ability to navigate around cliffs and mountains and streams in the dark. I remember that we climbed a reentrant to the edge of a cliff where we never did find the CP, but I really really wanted to walk along the edge of the cliff and Chris got very mad at me and made me move away from it. That was again, most excellent sherpa service because I probably would have walked right of that cliff.

Day 2 Cowboy Tough Race Report

Day 2 was weird because we thought we were continuing unranked. I zombies my way through that day and kept feeling quite unwell. I remember that my body wouldn't take anything with sugar that day and since water was scarce - I don't think I took much food in. My bin proves this - 50% of my food was not eaten at the end of the race and I brought one thing for every hour.

I was able to negotiate a 30 minute nap on that road, but only because I thought I could do the end of day orienteering section if I got 20 minutes sleep. I reneged on that offer.

I was terrified for the rappel but it shows up 0% because I was terrified for 60 seconds. Otherwise, the long and windy road ride to end of day camp was pretty but freaky hilly near the end. Near the end of the day when I started feeling pretty grow, the guys took turns towing me up each hill, and they never ended even after darkness set in.....a few hills involved the following: a tow by Chris, a push by Reeder and then a tow by Mike. Eventually I started puking but there was only bile in my stomach. It was pretty gros.

To tell you how long this road was, a lone car passed us close to the 80km mark, and asked us, because they were so frustrated that they had to drive soooooo far, where on earth was the end of day camp?

We got a lot of sleep at that camp, mostly due to my sorry state. I think it may have been as much as 7 hours.

Event: Rev3Adventure Cowboy Tough Multi-Day AR
 

Day 1 Cowboy Tough Race Report

Great start in Buffalo. Beautiful bike in the foothills, short paddle, fun game with flags, and then the hike up to 10,000 ft. We started at 3:00pm and I did not stop walking for hours. I got pretty winded and overheated by end of day. The guys noticed and let me cool off near a creek. After changing my socks, Chris piggy backed me back over the creek so my feet would stay dry....what amazing sherpa service. We past a lot of barf from other teams on that trek, but I kept my food in my belly (this day at least). By sunset I felt normal-zombie mode for most of the night on the rest of the trek. I didn't think I'd make it past day one but I did!

Trot on my old hilly run in town.

Hilton's really ride with Reeder to test out cyclocross tires on mixed terrain.
I was a bit nervous at first, but turns out they are great on all the firm terrain we tried. Should be good for Cowboy Tough.

Quick transition and a short run around Hilton Falls.

Bushwack with Storm around Bark Lake. We found more trails!

Paddle at Bark Lake

Trail run at Horseshoe, then just enough time for 3 hill repeats on the steepest ski hill.

C • ski hill 2