First Adv Race at WR

My good friend, Kim Chance, was in a bike accident and broke her neck a couple months ago and asked me to sub in for her for some adv races that she was committed to. She and Chris Carlson are teammates and i really wanted to try these races out. It's usually a run, bike, paddle and mystery event. I told her i would try it out if Chris wanted me as his partner. I haven't run at all in two years (except for maybe 100 yards at the beginning of DORBA 4hr mtb races). My first and only run was in a turkey trot that i did a 5K on so needless to say i was skeered to be partnered up with CC! So Chris and i talk and i told him i wasn't a runner, ahem or a paddler but i guess he was ok with it since Kim was out for the race.

Oh yeah.. i forgot to mention one lil detail. He's 6'5" or so... i may be off. Anyway.. in my book he's almost giant material and he's fast as anything on a bike. I heard stories from men and women alike. Men who couldnt hang on to his wheel and women (Kim specifically) who said how scary it was to be tied to his bike. You see, in adv. races- you can attach yourself to someone else by a chord on the riding and on the running-- and altho a bit scary-perfectly legit. SO this was our plan. We decided to go for it in the beginning of the week leading to our weekend and he advised me to go run outside before our race that saturday.

I was at Rich's on Wed and i get ready to go run. Rich laid out a 1.2 mile run that i could do and since he was coping with pneumonia- he couldnt join me on it. My goal was to run the whole time, not stop to walk and have minimal pain after. That would be success for me. I headed out and felt very awkward as soon as i started running. Things were going well up until the last stretch when my left thigh started to charlie horse. I ended up having to stop and walk 3x at the end of my run. NOT GOOD! I rode for a while after i got back from the run to hopefully make my legs feel better but it didn't help. By the end of the night i was limping.

I told Chris the news and he laughed a lil and said we would just make that time up on the bike. I told Kim my running story and she laughed alot.

So Sat came and the race was on. It started with probably a 1.5 mile run, then a paddle, then another 1.5 mile run and then bike and then the mystery event. Kim and Rich were there to cheer me on and volunteer!! thanks guys!!! I was nervous bout the run but it wasn't that bad. It hurt but atleast i didn't have to stop and walk. I'm sure Chris appreciated that. :) We were prolly a funny sight to see. The pic above i promise is not doctored. He looks like a giant and i a dwarf. He probably had to bend half his body to go under that bridge and i prolly didn't move my head. I had a great time. Thanks to Kim for letting me sub for you and Chris for taking a chance and then pulling me the whole time! :) We ended up getting first in Coed and second group overall. Ric Tinney and his friend won adv overall.

Kathy and Scott put on a great race!

The first pic is of the Kim, Chris and i before the start of race. What fun! Can't wait to do it again! Rich and i may team up for a race or two.. or more :)