Unknown Soldier Adventure Race

August 9^th, 2003

Lisa and I did the Unknown Soldier Adventure Race last Saturday. We came in second in the coed division. It was a total blast.

It started out with a bike leg along gravel back roads. We started a little later than planned due to some things and a light fog. We headed down the road, our new light mountain bikes feeling great. We were about the 25th or so person to reach the first CP but the first coed team.

We kept trading places with another team. The guy was a strong rider, but the girl needed help. We got to the next CP where you had to take a compass bearing to a water tower. If you were off on your bearing you would sit a time penalty when you got back to the TA. I took too much time making sure I got it right, but we didn't really lose any places.

As we got to the third CP, there was another coed team with us. Lisa kept riding and I quickly took the bearing and hopped on the bike and took off. I caught Lisa as we got back to the TA.

We quickly got into a canoe and headed across the river and back. As we were getting out, the next coed team was getting in.

We headed onto the C&O Canal Trail for the trail run of three miles. We used a towing system to help Lisa along, and I think it worked good. The second team closed on us a lot during the run and we headed into the canoes slightly ahead of them.

They were strong paddlers and they passed us on the way to the navigation leg.

We got to Ball's Bluff Park and started looking for CP5. We all got real muddy and the map wasn't helping much. (we found out later that they were supposed to give us a second map, but didn't) We found CP5 but didn't have a clue where to start with the others. Luckily we found a trail angle in the park who knew where every plaque was and he guided us to each of them.

We headed down to the river and saw our competition already on the rive but even with us as we ran along the bank to our canoes. We got to it and headed out getting more muddy.

We paddled for the finish, but the others pulled way ahead.

We got back and ran to the finish. We were 5 minutes behind the leaders and took second place in the coed division. We were 13th overall. Not bad at all.

We had a blast.

L8R