Cushion Peak Adventure Challenge - Team Not Dead Yet

April 13^th, 2003

We left Pasadena Friday night and headed to Philly to drop off the kids and dog. On Saturday morning, Lisa and I headed to Reading, PA. We found the hotel and then went to the YMCA Summer Camp for an open house. We wanted to check out the site of the race, but were also interested in learning about the camp with the possibility of the girls attending a session this or next summer.

The open house tour left us very impressed with the place and we wanted to attend the camp ourselves. We noticed a lot of red and black arrows posted around the place and found out they were for the race the following day.

We headed back to Reading and checked into the hotel. We went to dinner across the street at the Red Lobster. We both had delicious pre-race pasta dinners.

We hit the sack early and were up for the race at the crack of dawn. It was a little chilly out, but looked like it was going to be a nice day. We packed up and ate some continental breakfast and headed to the race site.

We got there, checked in, got our swag and took out bikes to the transition area. There was a pre-race meeting at 8:00 am and the race started at 9:00.

It started with a short run to space us all out. We started up the hill, ran around the climbing tower, then down and around the roads to the bike area. We transitioned to the bikes and headed out following the red arrows. The arrows took us around the roads then into a boulder strewn woods where we had to pretty much carry our bikes. We lifted the bikes over a stone wall and then hit a trail where we could ride again. This trail took us around the area of the camp. After a while we ended up on the road by the entrance of the camp. At the camp entrance, we turned left and started the fun part of climbing the famous Cushion Peak. The roads and trails there took us up and around and here and there. There was a challenge of lifting our bikes up a seven foot wall. That was pretty fun. Well after lost of riding and pushing and all that, we found ourselves at the top of Cushion Peak. Next we rode back down the mountain and eventually ended up back at the camp and headed to the transition area.

We arrived at the almost empty transition area and transitioned to feet. We headed out following the black arrows now and the trail took us to our first low ropes challenge. After acting like a monkey for about 15 minutes we were back into the woods and on the trails. We followed some of the same trail that we had on the bikes and found ourselves heading back to the "Peak". Around us now were some people that were all suffering from cramps. Lisa herself had an attack as we ran down the hill which came out on the road. We saw a lot of people fighting cramps and it seems to be a major problem affecting lots of racer throughout the day.

The trail (or lack of one) took us to the very steep side of the "Peak". We literally climbed up the side of the mountain which was one huge boulder after another. We climbed all the way to the top and enjoyed the view for a bit before heading back down.

The arrows took us back down and eventually back to the transition area. As we neared the camp we could tell that the winners had already finished the race and we were now running on our "just finish" attitude. We were "Not Dead Yet" as our team named exclaimed.

So we went back to the bikes and started all over again. It was somewhat shorter then the never ending first bike leg. There was not carry through the forest or wall climb, but we still went most of the way up the mountain again and back to the camp.

At this point there seemed to be a problem. I could have sworn that when you came back into the camp the arrows took you into a parking lot, around some of the roads and then to the transition area. We went along for a bit and saw some idiots taking down the red arrows. I know we were at the back of the pack, and you race workers have to take them down sometime, but they could have at least waited until all the racers finished the race. So after some wrong ways and second thoughts, we made it back to the transition area for the last transition to running.

We headed out and ended up at the shooting range. I got two into the target right away and Lisa only had to shoot once. She did great and we were out of there. After another go at some more low ropes, we were at the archery challenge. I had to shoot right handed and only got one of four into the target. Lisa got her first two into the target and we were on our way. The running took us around and up to the race area where we started our orienteering challenge. This went real easy as we found the controls quickly and headed back for the final challenges.

We came down to a race between us and team 33 during the last two challenges. One of their guys had not done the second bike leg, so we considered them disqualified and really didn’t try to beat them too hard. The first challenge was with a golf ball and two half pieces of pipe. You passed the ball along together until you reached the end. Next you had to pass a piece of wood above some string as you climbed under it, not touching it. We went along at this, not really hurrying, as the other guys rushed. Since we were the last, the race guy wasn’t real strict and we finished right behind the other team. Last as usual, but there were four DNFs who were listed after us.

I had a blast, but I think the organizers need to tighten up a few things. Team 33 were listed as official finishers ahead of us, but they shouldn’t have been. I think they should have a passport with CPs that are punched to ensure everyone goes the right way through the whole race.

All in all it was a good race. I had fun and challenged myself somewhat. Next I really want to do a longer race where brains have more to do with finishing than being a young kid who can run until us old people drop and bike like rocket power kids. I may have to go solo, but I will be able to scratch that itch that hasn’t gone away since we saw our first Eco-Challenge on TV.

I love the team aspect of this kind of racing and I think it is very important. I love my teammate and will always enjoy racing with her.

Later,

Joe

Team Not Dead Yet