Wednesday, December 6, 2017

2017 Alpine Shop's Castlewood 8 by Captain Ahab


2017 Alpine Shop Castlewood 8 by Captain Ahab

After a crazy amount of switching people around on the Team BOR teams (Sorry Emily and Erl), I found myself on a two person male team (Team BOR - Quadfathers) with Paul Frisbee.  Having raced with Paul several times before on 4 person teams I felt like we would have a really good fast race.  The Team BOR teams consisted of 15 members and one Off The Front racer, Lo Mattson.  Team BOR teams listed below.

Team BOR – David Beattie, Amy Crews, Alane Wolins, Jessie Brown – (the Team BOR name always goes to our fastest 4 person coed team, so no hyphen needed.) (– 4PC)

Team BOR – Oh My Quad – Cassie Bart, Robert Bart, John Naas, Tim Johanns (– 4PC)

Team BOR – Oh Quad Why? -  Jeremy Jamerson, Scott Herbst (– 2PM)

Team BOR – Quadfathers – Captain Ahab, Paul Frisbee (– 2PM)

Team BOR – 2Tops Racing – Larry Lazo, Karl Kilthau (– 2PM) Too cool to have quad in the name?

It’s BORing Off the Front – Steve Fuller, Loreen Mattson (– 2PC)

Still Married? – Reanna Person, Kevin Minton (– 2PC) Shouldn’t this be The BOR Minton’s?

                So after all this teammate / team switching I started changing my race plans.  Instead of going easy, I decided Paul and I could go flat out.  I also decided that since the start/finish venue requested no alcohol, I wouldn’t drink before or during the race.  I have been testing different medicines to alleviate the pain in my knees during races.  During training I don’t use any meds and just “listen to my knees.” If they feel good, I go hard, if they hurt, I go easy.  In the last few races I have tried aspirin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol (Acetaminophen), Alcohol, and Aleve (Naproxen).  I don’t consume caffeine at all what so ever, so I can’t try that; mainly because I have a crazy addiction to Coca-Cola.  I also don’t like using Western Medicine as I think Western doctors push too many meds, so at Berryman this year I used alcohol, which worked great removing the pain, but also made me very drunk during one portion of the race.  The effects caught me off guard some, but we still had a very good race.  On the med side everything seems to just dull the pain for a short time and have some serious side effects to the body’s organs, but Aleve has been working the best.  So I decided to pop two Aleve’s and give it all I had.  I also changed my plans of using tows as I didn’t think we would need them, but this decision was a bad one as I will tell later.  I tried to pack as light as possible so I could be the mule and Paul could be Check Point Charlie.  We didn’t really decide who would navigate as both of us can.  We met the Team at Alane’s, plotted the maps, picked a route, and crashed at my house.

                In the morning we quickly showered (separately), dressed, loaded the Jeep, and dropped the bikes off at Castlewood.  We then dropped Paul’s truck at the Learning Center (note: we were the only team that followed instructions).  We got some Mc’Ds and headed to the start.  After numerous pictures and the pre-race meeting we lined up for a team photo (thanks SuperKate).  Paul then made the comment that we should move up in the pack; we didn’t move up far enough. 

                We started running in a herd.  Paul ran like a stallion, breathing effortlessly, legs and feet graceful as if he were dancing.  His backpack small and light clung to his back like a jockey on his race horse, and then there was me, hoofs stomping, breath roaring, snot spewing, sweat dripping.  My back pack bounced around my back like kegs of Budweiser on the wagon, pulled by the old used up Clydesdale they don’t ever let you see.  We moved up the ranks after passing several teams, but that passing was taking precious time away from us.  We finally got into a good pace, well my pace as I grabbed on to and held on to Paul’s pack.  As we passed Mickey, he said, “Oh look, Paul is blowing up Captain Ahab early!” I thought, “Yes, yes he is!” We passed and passed as teams turned off to CP’s 1 and 2.  Our plan was to hit CP4 first to avoid traffic, back track to CP2 and then cut across to CP1, then 3, then 5.  I stopped a little early to look at the map.  Paul said we have to keep going a little to the trail.  I thought, “how does he know that, he has no map.”  I looked at the map and realized Paul was correct. We ran a little farther and could see the CP from the trail.  We ran up the reentrant to it with only one other team.  We then took the trail around to CP2 as planned and ran into a whole lot of BOR’s coming in the opposite direction.  With no time for photos we pressed on to CP1 and saw Lo and Steve. 

We then took the trail to CP3.  I noticed a lot of the teams were moving really quick.  Paul had a zippered glove to stow the passport, but I noticed it took him some time to get it out, unfold it, punch, fold it, and zip it back in.  Instead of taking the single track trail to CP5 we planned to take the asphalt back to single track.  This was a wise decision I think and we caught a lot of teams, but that meant a lot of traffic and we had to slow down in a single file line.  I thought about passing, but I am not a real fast runner, so I stayed behind a team that was running a little too slow for me.  The plan was to recover and then pass.  We picked up CP5 and then ran in the same line to CP6.  From 6 we had a slightly different plan than the others and we stayed on the trail and ran around the woods as most teams ran through the woods.  We ended up at CP7 at about the same time as the other teams.  We bushwhacked to CP8.  I started getting real tired as Paul was moving effortlessly up the hillside.  I asked Paul to slow down and then I grabbed on his pack again.  At least the pack allowed him to tow me some, but I wish we would have set up a running/trekking tow.  We found CP8 then bushwhacked to the trail that led to CP9.  That same trail took us most the way to CP10.  We whacked up the hill to the road, scaled the concrete wall, and then ran the road all the way to CP11. 
All this time Paul was calling out the turns and strategy by memory!  He then tells me he has a semi-photographic memory and I believe him because he is right on the money.  I think I should have let him navigate and I should have been CP Charlie, but as I listen to our breath I realize I still made the right decision.  We stop for a quick photo op at CP11 and move down to CP12.  Paul says, “I don’t have CP11!” I said, “Very funny! You’re f@cking with me right?”  He says, “No.” We head back up the trail and get CP11.  At least it was really close by.  Paul blames it on Emily, I blame it on Paul and tell him he can’t do that again.  We run back down past CP12 and I tell another team that all CPs are optional hoping that us passing it confuses them and they don’t punch it; sneaky right?  Extreme Electrical passes us in the confusion and we lose about 3 spots.  We run to CP13 and transition fairly quickly into the canoe.

                We get into the water and Paul makes a few strokes on one side of the boat and then switches and then does the same again.  I am confused on his technique and ask what he is doing.  He says he is counting 5 stokes on each side.  I ask if he is doing that because he is tired.  We have only been in the water a minute.  I tell him to try 10, 15, 20, 50, 100, the more the better.  The less you switch the more you have your paddle in the water, the more you have the paddle in the water, the faster you are.  I tell him that I am really good at the paddle.  I ask him to trust me.  I ask him not to steer the front of the boat unless I ask him to.  I ask him to never brace, just to J-stroke, and only if I ask him to steer the front.  I ask him to stay in the current at all times and tell him to avoid the “V”’s pointing at you and shoot down the “V”’s pointing away from you.  I ask him to stay in the outer turns as that is where the current is.  I ask him to watch the paddlers ahead, paddle consistently until you see their strokes wain or get sloppy, then their boat will veer to one side, and then we will attack on the opposite side.  I tell him to “hug” obstacles and avoid canoes.  I forget Paul really likes to hug and hug is a bad description of what I am asking.  I say, “hug is a bad description as it implies touching; don’t touch, get close as possible, with no touching, “intimidate” will be our word.”  Paul likes to get really close to the other canoes.  I tell him that is bad when passing as the paddles get intertwined.  I tell him to follow one side of them in their wake and then pass wide, “Shake and Bake Ricky Bobby!” We get our paddling in sync and I tell him that I am the Captain when paddling and he is the Captain in everything else.  We pass team after team and I know we are flying.  To intimidate the other teams I watch their strokes and when I see a weak stroke I tell Paul to attack and I start singing Gilligan’s Island or Jimmy Buffett’s A Pirate Looks at Forty, which I pretty much know the entire song by heart.  I see the teams looking back and as they do their strokes get worse, so I sing louder.  We pass everyone we see!  We are killing it!  I tell Paul that even if he gets tired to keep digging as after the canoe we don’t need our arms again, but to hang on to the bike handlebars.  I tell him to use his core and burn his arms.   Paul is a great sport and did well listening to all my barking orders and my terrible singing, even not being able to understand me saying “J-stroke.”  Another team agreed with Paul that it sounded like I was saying, “Help, joke on the right” (I actually can’t remember what they said I was saying, but I believe them that it was crazy nonsense).  I told him no waving to anyone as it took away a paddle stroke and he smiled and said there is always time to wave at kids.  I said that’s creepy and no waving allowed, but then he caught me waving to a photographer.  We brought the canoe in to Castlewood beach and threw it on our shoulders and walked into transition.  We had passed so many teams that I didn’t want to lose the spots to transition, so I hurried Paul along in changing shoes and eating.  He said he needed to eat and I said me too, but let’s eat while we move.  Larry and Karl were there in transition, Mickey’s team had just landed, and I really wanted to beat both of them. 






                As soon as I we got on the bikes, with a mouth full of food, I realized I missed a CP. Paul’s photographic memory kicked in just as I was finding it on the map and we agreed it was just down the trail and we had barely missed it.  We picked up CP15 and headed to Grotpeter.  I started to follow another team instinctually, but Paul quickly corrected me to go to the trail head.  Here we had planned to go straight up Grotpeter, but being familiar with the trail I decided to change our plan and take the long switch back around.  As we did, I realized it was a lot rougher going uphill as it is going down and thought I may have just made a bad decision and may have hurt some of Paul’s riding power. We climbed to CP16 then descended Rollercoaster to CP17.  We easily found CP18 off the trail junction and took the direct path trail cut off to the road.  I noticed Paul wasn’t moving very fast on the single track, but he doesn’t ride single track often and is more a runner.  I think on the road we will move fast again, but on the way to CP’s 19-24 I notice Paul is struggling and I wish I would have had a tow because I feel as I am moving very slow and have a ton of energy.  I keep reminding him to shovel food in when he can.  I try to hold his bike as I eat and check the map and he punches CP’s.  Our team work is still solid and we are passing teams and not getting passed very often.  I just keep kicking myself for not having a tow.  We move slowly to CP24 and grab the bonus map.  I look at the bonus map and take off.  Paul is getting an Extreme Electrical whisky hand out and he asks if I want some.  I hear SuperKate ask Mickey if he wants to strategize and I tell Paul to move!  I want to get the CPs pretty much in reverse.  I know these trails well and take the trail directly to Cedar Bluff CP42, then CP40, then CP41, then CP39.  I tell Paul to not let me forget CP39.  We see Adam Rybar, a non-racer this year, but a friend, and quickly say hello.  This slight interruption messes me up and I say I don’t want to ride the sand traps.  I say we have to go West to avoid them and Paul looks at me like I am a mad man and says, “you mean East.” I say, “sorry I have my map upside-down pointing in my direction.”  Paul is right again and we avoid the traps and make it back to CP24.  I am confused as whether to stop here or not and they tell me we can move on to CP25.  I had almost lost Paul a few times back in the Stinging Nettle, so I slow down a lot down the Al Foster and curse myself for not having a tow.  Paul falls farther and farther behind and I start worrying that he is bonking.  He says he is cramping up and I tell him to eat and drink and spin until we get back to single track.  I notice he is eating mostly sweets so I give him some salty pretzels.  We move up Rock Hollow to Zombie and get CP25.  Here we had planned to avoid the single track and take Rock Hollow up, but I change our plan to stay on the single track as I don’t want Paul climbing hard at the end of the race.  We hit tons of traffic and Paul drops behind and teams start passing us a lot.  On the way up to CP25 I see teams bikewhacking and tell them riding is faster.  I come around the switch back and their female team mate says isn’t that the guy who just told us it was faster and easier to ride?  I say, “Yes, that was me” as I fly by.  I round the next switch back and giggle as I pass them again and their navigator laughs too.  We ride on to CP26-29.  I can see Mickey just around the switch back, but Paul just doesn’t have the gas to get to them.  I see Larry and Karl and Paul gives them an ass chewing for leaving their bikes behind, since that is the mode of travel.  I listen to Paul and notice a lot of teams don’t have bikes.  We ride on and Larry goes the wrong way, so I know we have beaten them as they are backtracking to a missed CP.  I really really want to catch Mickey’s team and beat them, but Paul is seriously falling behind.  I stop leading and pulling away and ride behind him, thinking it will be better for his mental state.  I keep telling him we are almost done.  One last big hill climb and we are done.  He says, “There is no beer!” He says it and I feel his heart break and his will to race is over.  There is no reason for him to ride hard anymore and I feel his disappointment.  We ride up Rock Hollow and I try to stay side by side with him or slightly behind him and tell him spin until the last steep part and then push until you cross the line.  I get in position and push him up the hill the best I can.  We finish and Mickey rubs it in that he beat us, I congratulate SuperKate, and I think we are the first BOR team in until I see Jeremy laying relaxing in the grass. 

                Paul and I had a great race, but we would have moved so much faster with running and riding tows set up.  Our effort in the canoe got us the third fastest paddle split, with Jeremy and Scott getting the fastest! GO TEAMBOR PADDLERS!  Paul and I made small mistakes, which added up over time.  I thought about if I were a stronger runner, I should have been the CP Charlie, and Paul have navigated and been the mule.  I wish I could memorize the map like he did.  I have never seen someone do that before.  It was amazing!  Our strategy of going to CP4 first seemed like it backfired on us some.  I think going around Grotpeter was a bad decision on my part.  I think Paul’s zippered glove took some time and Jeremy’s retractable lanyard would have helped a lot.  I am thinking of having a mule bag with team gear that can be passed along during different modes of travel.  Paul could have navigated the trek and muled, while I punched CPs, then on the bikes I could have navigated and muled, while he punched CPs.  We should have eaten in the canoe and early in the canoe.  I think the effort we put out in the canoe is what led to Paul’s bonk.  On the bikes, Paul said he never had time to recover from the cramping, and if I would have towed he probably would have recovered.  I know grabbing on to his pack as we ran helped me tremendously.  He probably felt that 220 something pounds latch on to him like a leach, but just holding on steadied my pace.  It was a great race, no navigation really, but fast, real fast!  Writing this is making me want to do it again. 

                We hung around, ate, met our sponsor Dr. Brian Laiderman of Optimal Performance Center, showed him Amy’s butt, took some pics (none of her butt), and cheered our Team BOR teams as they crossed the finish line. 

What great weather, fun race, and great friends!  I skipped the post-race party to go to my wife’s company Christmas Party, got really hammered, got sick, screwed up my recovery massively, and was sore for 3 days after, and contracted someone’s illness and missed a day of work to feeling just plain poopy; so is an Adventure Racers life!  God Bless and I love all you crazy bastards; except Mickey and John…I hate those guys!  – Ahab






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