Bluebonnet Adventure Fest Weekend Recap

     What a great weekend! I was lucky enough to have my P-I-C (partner in crime) in tow for the Bluebonnet Adventure Fest in Burnet, Texas for a great escape to chilly mornings, rocky trails, and another great race weekend with what some newly familiar faces.

     The previous week wasn't the greatest. Our house was a bit tense, then sorrowful as we came to the realization that my beloved Corgi, Scooter, was being rejected and therefore targeted by the other dogs. Spats turned to vicious fights, with the poor little guy being on the receiving end far too often. We concluded that the best solution was to find him a home where he could shine as the solo dog. Thankfully, our excellent network of friends and dog lovers came through with the perfect home. He is now responsible for filling three little girl's childhoods with lifelong memories of growing up with a great dog. Much love and thanks to the Boyle family- I hope he brings you as much happiness as he has to me! I'm thankful to say that we've received several messages that his first weekend at the new home has been full of love and joy. Thank you guys so much.

Farewells aren't the easiest. Be a good boy.

     After holding back grown man tears over my little Scooter bud, I knew the only way to keep from slipping into a funk would be to stay busy. Thankfully, Terra Firma Promo was there to help with their highly anticipated Bluebonnet Adventure Fest at Reveille Peak Ranch, a destination I've longed to visit since they opened. With truck loaded and the final confirmation that it was just me and the wife for the weekend, it was time to hit the road. After a far too heavy dose of Dallas traffic, we passed through West, TX, in the wake of  tragedy. Such a huge event will forever rewrite the lives in a small town such as West. Many prayers to all those affected. 

     Upon arrival and with burritos secured, we set up camp and found the registration table under a beautiful pavilion on the water. This Ranch is more of a resort in my opinion, such a great getaway. I was already committed to the Adventure Race, and Candice's eyes lit up when the Xterra 5k was mentioned. We secured an entry for her and made our way back to camp where we propped up at the neighbor's fire and proceeded to make friends with a great crew out of San Antonio. 

     Race morning is one of my all time favorite moments in life. I love the mix of preparation, panic, and adrenaline. And it was an even more enjoyable experience when shared with my wife. It was even better when they announced that her 5k was the running portion of my race, so we would get to run together. 

Chilly morning Race Face

Ready to Rock

     She did great, especially considering the terrain we ran. I had to hustle pretty hard, but caught her in the last half mile to finish together before I took off on the bike leg of my race. Congrats baby, I'm proud of you, and looking forward to doing some more! Despite the frustration I still experience with running, I kept my mind well and put in a great ride. I absolutely love technical, rocky, singletrack trails- and there was plenty to love. The first 2/3 were flowing single and wide track, but the last 1/3 of the ride was just awesome. I counted 18 passes and infinite grins as I focused through all the rocks on some beautiful trail. Jeep road brought us in to camp (where I was easily passed by an older lady- props to you on a great ride and race!), and we ran to the kayak portion. Here's where it got interesting: Terra Firma keeps the field even here by requiring that everyone use their inflatable boats, oars, and pfd's. I'd severely underestimated just how difficult it would be to paddle that thing across the lake. Several curse words flew, and I found myself just laying back as a reminder of how nice the day was. I was immensely relieved when I hit shore again, only to find that we weren't quite finished yet. After a crab walk through the sand and crossing a cove on telephone poles, I finally crossed the finish line with a 2:04. 10th place in Solo Male (and there were more than 10 in the class). 

Don't fall off, don't fall off, don't fall off...

Handsome bald guy finishing strong...ish.

They had great keg beer, she was a happy girl. Post race happy face.

Post race pain face. Easily cured by said great keg beer.

     One does not simply go to Reveille Peak Ranch and sit back for the rest of the weekend. It's a beautiful property absolutely riddled with great trails and views. After a few hours of visiting and recovering, I felt it was time to at least go check out the flow trail. I'd spent a lot of time looking forward to riding this line full of berms, jumps, and other fun features, and today was the day despite my protesting legs. I had a great solo session on the jumps and managed to piece the entire line together with the exception of one booter that required a little more commitment than I was willing to give alone. Whoever built that trail, kudos and thank you! Was so nice getting to step up the speed and air for the first time in over a year! Afterwards I returned to camp, longing for another trail ride but unsure of my body's willingness. Noticing some mechanical issues with the Remedy, I parked it and cruised the hardtail to see if the keg was emptied yet as I abandoned the idea of any more miles. 

     After a perfect beer on the dock, I threw my leg over the bike and subtly opted to go left towards the trails instead of back to camp. What followed was a three hour ride I'll never forget. With map in hand, I took every bit of singletrack I could until I found myself miles from camp. I then pieced together a loop that delivered so many smiles, I'll never forget it. True singletrack with flowing sections, technical rocks, and amazing views. I knew I was living well when I caught myself chasing lizards and running my hand along the quarts veins in the rock slabs. As much as part of me wanted to just get lost and stay all night, I found my way back to camp just in time for sunset and some much needed dinner. Much love to the friendly faces around the campfire that night, it was great meeting you, and I hope we cross paths again!

     In all, the weekend was amazing. More great memories made, some quality time with the lady, more friendly faces, and a wave of peace that Scooter is not only happy, but bringing joy to his new family. Life is good, let's live more of it!

Break time

Selfie to remember youth when I'm old and gray

Fastest lizards I've ever seen. Thanks for posing!

For my love of Time Lapses...

Yosemite HD from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

Another little excerpt...

     "Yet beyond the paucity and the solitude of the surrounding desert, it was an exultant thought that peeled back the veneer of our self-important delusions. We are not grand because we are at the top of the food chain or because we can alter our environment- the environment will outlast us with its unfathomable forces and unyielding powers. But rather than be bound and defeated by our insignificance, we are bold because we exercise our will anyway, despite the ephemeral and delicate presence we have in this desert, on this planet, in this universe."
                                     -Aron Ralston

   

Texas Quest Adventure Race Recap...

     Well... I might be addicted. 

     This past weekend marked my second Adventure Race (Bike, Trek, Paddle), and so far we are 2/2 for having a blast. After getting my first taste, I wanted more ASAP, and a post popped up on the Facebook feed about a Texas Adventure Racing event near Huntsville on the 13th. And here's the kicker... for FREE! I took it as a sign and loaded everything last minute for a blast south. 

     With such late notice, I didn't figure on rallying anyone else into it, so I jumped at it solo for the trip. I typically get an empty feeling in my gut when I do these kinds of things all alone. I've been blessed with so many good friends and a great wife that I'm accustomed to good company at all times. "Happiness only real when shared" was the revelation that Christopher McCandless, a famous solo adventurer, came to. I've been trying to put much more effort into shared experiences in this new chapter of my life. However, the beauty of this kind of racing is that I was only gone for about 24 hours. And anyone that knows me knows that's a pretty common gap if I get obsessive with a task or destination. The other great thing is the Adventure Racing community. Usually the guy with tattoos and a shaved head that shows up by himself isn't the first one invited to share the campfire. But that wasn't so this weekend. 

     The drive south was exactly what you'd expect... traffic in Dallas followed by nothing for a few hours. Solo drives are great for people with no hair- windows down, radio UP. A quick stop and visit at the Chili's in Huntsville (same one I ate at the night before winning the Caney Creek Enduro in 2011), and back on the FM roads that lead out into the woods. Camp and transition area were set up at a great little spot inside the National Forest, surrounded by pine forest except for a perfect little window for stargazing. The fire was already started and the sun was setting, so I scrambled to get camp set and organized. All was well with the exception of my tent, which I've only set up a couple times so far. Some mismatched poles left the sides drooping in to the point that my 4 person tent barely fit one cot (diagonally), but it wasn't bad enough to redo. Soon after I found myself discussing the use of Pop Tarts as heat shielding for spacecraft with a batch of NASA Engineers, Aussies, and marathon runners. Several friendly faces around the fire made for a good time and a reminder that I'm not completely solo. (Shout out to all of you and hope to see you again soon!) Eventually the clock drove us to our tents for the night. 

     Race morning saw a chill in the air and a larger group than expected. I recognized a few of the cars from the previous weekend, but no familiar faces with the exception of the night before. Time to prep the new Camelbak (review coming soon), chow down, and stretch better than last time in hopes of avoiding the rookie cramps. 

     At 9:15, the race officially started with a scramble to the maps, water, and special tests at camp. I opted to save the paddle for last with my hatred for wet socks, and instead took a run at two of the special tests. I love the creativity here, and you locals can expect to see some odd challenges come out after a few backyard beers! Upon completion, it was time to tackle the run/ walk/ modified wobble. I watched the map and soon realized the scale of it was more than I've ever done. I was prepared for 3-4 miles, but somehow made it through 7.5 beautiful pine forest miles. I wished for my camera several times, and especially looked forward to hitting the same loop with wheels beneath me! Huge thanks to the group that ran with me for several miles, and to Kathryn for keeping me company the last couple miles and keeping me from turning this adventure race into an adventure stroll. Coming in from the run, I opted to finish my special tests with a shoe toss and my first go on a slackline (shaky to say the least).

     Next was the bike leg, the part that I'm most comfortable with. Pedal pedal pedal, and pedal some more. I'm not sure the final mileage count, but it was a good ride, especially after the long trek. Several downed trees, fresh trail, and creek crossings kept me huffing and puffing, but I love that winding singletrack in the trees! One of the aforementioned down trees hung me up, but I wasn't aware of the damage until a shift and two cranks grenaded my drivetrain. A broken derailleur hanger had me sitting still until I remembered a little trick. Within a few minutes I was rolling ghetto singlespeed, and managed to finish out the bike leg as strong as I'd started. 

Dear stray branch... if I wanted to ride singlespeed, I would have brought my singlespeed. 

     Hauling the kayak to the water, I felt much stronger than I did the previous week. With the last two checks in sight, I charged the short paddle. After working my way off a sandbar, I threw the boat over my shoulder and hustled in for a 3:35 finish time. 

     

Post Race Death Face

     

     Another great time, and another cold beer reward! I then enjoyed a visit with the main promoter and his family, which included a gorgeous Australian Shepherd that gave me that final push for home that I needed. A few goodbyes and back on the road, I was home in time for dinner and drinks with my people. I'm starting to like this. 

Mighty San Gabriel Adventure Race Recap

So. Much. Fun.

     I've felt a draw towards adventure racing for a while, but never has the time been better than now! Coming off of my injury and trying to steer clear of motorized recreation, it seemed like a great sport to dive into. I like kayaking, hiking, and LOVE to ride my bike, so it made sense to me to give it a shot. I've also been looking for good promotion outlets for Vita Brevis Clothing and a scene where not only I can get involved, but I can introduce my people to something fun as well. This past weekend we jumped right in to one of Too Cool Racing's events and gave it a go...
     Adventure Racing is a sport where you combine some endurance based activities (trekking, kayaking, biking, etc) along with some navigation/ orienteering, and make a day of it. Events can be set up as 3-4 hour sprints, 12 hour adventures, or longer endurance expeditions. They usually combine some unknown activities like rope skills, puzzles, climbing, or who knows what throughout the course as well. Teams of 2,3, or solo participants take off and endure the fun!
     This particular event, the Mighty San Gabriel AR took place in Georgetown, TX the weekend of April 6, 2013. We chose to do the sprint course, which was approximately 1-3 miles paddling, 3-5 miles on foot, and 8-10 miles on the bikes with some special tests thrown in to keep it interesting. I suckered my buddy Brantley into signing up as a solo act after I had entered the race and he saw how excited I was.

     Loaded and ready to go, with no clue what to expect from the race, we made the drive to Georgetown Friday afternoon. We made it to the campsite early and set up camp before we ventured into Round Rock for check in and dinner. 

      With dinner in hand, we headed for camp with the intention of emptying a few good beers in the woods. We were hoping to return to a full campsite with racers from all over hanging out with the same intentions, but instead it was a quiet calm evening with a little wheelie practice and early bed time. Most of the other campers arrived between 9:30 and 10 after we'd lost our steam and decided it was best to get some rest.

     Race morning came to life early as everyone began prepping and others arrived. Per usual, there were some last minute tweaks to be made before the racer's meeting.

      With minimal information and still not quite sure exactly what to expect, we thought it best to snap a before picture.

      Within a few minutes, the race was under way, and I found myself on the most dreaded leg first- the run. Strangely enough, the adrenaline put us much further towards the front than expected as we made our way to the 6 checkpoints laid out for us on foot. I held up better than expected, but was steadily giving ground as I was reminded of all the awful things my leg has been through. A good dose of road running, trail, and good old fashioned bushwhacking got us to all 6 checks, and I got to watch Brantley test his luck as he bounded blindly down a ravine that claimed a nearby competitor's ankle. We spotted a shortcut to the transition area and came in surprisingly well for what I figured would be the worst segment of the race for myself.
     After completing a puzzle, and with a fresh map in hand, it was time to ride! I knew this would be my strong point, so I was excited and cranking. As we dropped into the trail, it grew technical with a nice downward slope and some mean rocks. Having already paid my dues and leaving my flesh on rocks of the same nature in my previous racing career, I made several passes and had a blast pinning it through the terrain. Soon after, the rocks were gone and it was time to spin some miles on the shore to the next two checks. A wrong turn led me two miles off path before recovering, and my curses broke the morning silence for anyone in earshot. With frustration level high and cramping becoming an issue, I struggled to find the checkpoints on what was supposed to be my strongest suit. Chalk it up to rookie mistakes and that stubborn enduro mindset. I soon found myself too ignorant to find a smoother way and mashed my way UP the very same rocks I'd bombed down before. A pedal strike, misstep, and missed tree in a slow corner sent me rolling into a creek bed. I soon recovered, fought through another set of cramps, and mashed my way back to the transition area. Brantley had some issues involving a flat tire, the same missed turn, and a faceplant. None of which won me "friend of the year award" since I had a pump and he'd already spent his CO2 cartridges chasing me.
     Upon arrival, there was another special test involving a seesaw, balloon between my knees, and some car tires. It was a fun change of pace from my frustrated spinning after wasting so much time with stupid mistakes. Next on the list were two paddle checkpoints, just in time for the windiest conditions of the day. Whitecaps abounded, even with all the trees in the water to break them. The wind pushed in our faces the entire time, and the going was snail paced. It was rough enough that I saw a couple flipped canoes, and waves were coming over the front of my kayak and filling it up. At this point, it was all adventure, without much race to be seen. I was struggling to not go backwards. After finding my way to the second check at the end of a wind-pushed cove, I realized the struggle I would face trying to paddle out. Opting to kill my legs and save my arms for the big water row across the bay, I drained my boat and threw it over my shoulder for a hike to the furthest possible point. With the end in sight, I paddled through white caps and trees to the opposite shore and repeated my drain/ over the shoulder routine for the steep uphill climb to the finish. With legs protesting, I made it to the top and found my way to the middle of a supportive crowd. Race is over, where's the beer?
     Brantley struggled with cramping legs and the mental beat down a good endurance event can dish out, but managed to tote his kayak to the top shortly after and find the finish line. It felt great to sit back with that in our past. Recovery drinks would flow and stories swapped as we met several fellow racers from all over Texas. This is our kind of scene, and will most definitely not be our last time at an adventure race. As I wrap up this entry, I can't help but wonder- if we crammed that much into a sprint, how much more could we experience in a 12 hour? Give it a few days for him to forgive me, and present the idea after a few beers when the girls are around. Nobody backs down in that situation.