After almost one year without Adventure Race together the TJ79s were finally back as a 3 male team for the 2020 edition of the DINO CIA 12hr in Lafayette, Indiana (http://www.dinoseries.com/central-indiana-adventure/)
Marc and Matt got Chris to join them for his first AR knowing that he will handle it like it was nothing...and they were right.
As a first, the all team was ready 5min before the start and without map but on kick scooters or long board. At the start bell and as usual, the pink and blue went for a full speed start crossing some patches off grass before jumping on their wheeled vehicles to rush down the main park road direction the visitor center to finally get the race map along the coordinate of the first 2 CPs.
What should have been the strength of the team today with 2 international rowers on the boat became a slow progression in the shallow stream. Clearly not a good day for 3 dudes in the boat, the low level of the stream and the weight of our 3 TJ79s led to the need of jumping out of the canoe too many times and dragging it too often.
The first 2 CPs of this leg were cleared quickly, and after removing the water from the canoe the team continued their slow progression in company of RIB team.
Landing for the 2 next CPs at almost the end of the legs, 3 boats were in front and the team was apparently still in the top 5. Back to the boat, RIB were right in front and landed to the TA for the first trek 2min ahead.
Quick plotting and decision on the way for the next 3CPs, and the boys were now on their legs. After the first CP on the river shore, they passed RIB on the road on the way to the next CPs. The extra map that was given at the end of the canoe leg was used to reach on the top of Prophet Rock. They kept their lead reaching the next CP using the trail system depicted on the extra map, a statue in Battlefied and arrived back at the race start passing 2 other teams before plotting and jumping on the bike for the next leg.
The estimation was that 1 or 2 team(s) were in front, good!!!! The decision was made to go to the north of the map first before heading on the way back for a MTB trail section. The choice was made as the CPs on the MTB trail were plotted on a separate map and right on the trail so no risk other than finding the trail head. This would make the way back easier just focusing on having a nice pace. It also allowed to clear CP12 which had an obvious access from the park, at least more obvious than going the other way.
A bit of hesitation for CP13 as Matt didn’t realize that the county boarder on the map was right on the road going to this CP...after some slowing down and thinking, Matt finally got it and CP13 was cleared. RIB was arriving when TJ79 was living this CP and the lead built during the previous leg was evaporating.
The lead would totally disappear because of a mistake in the scout camp where they went for the wrong archery range. Finally reaching the right one, RIB was already leaving the camp and TJ79 had now to clear an archery challenge. Let’s make it clear, without Chris, Marc and Matt will probably still be shooting arrows all over the archery range at this time. Well Chris made most of the job in less than 10minutes and after getting a last CP just next to the archery range, the team was now heading to the MTB trail. On the way they punched CP16 before some gravel fun going south.
The MTB trail was a blast for the all team, flowy and fast trail with 3 CPs. Back on the road, the TJ79 were on their way to transition again in 4th position for what will be the last leg of the race, a long trek in the Prophetstwon state park.
RIB were leaving when TJ79 arrived and DINO team was plotting....the team realized quickly that the 7 last CPs were already plotted on an extra map they got at the end of the canoe leg and skipped the plotting to save a bit of time. They left the last TA in 3rd position, it was time for a last battle as RIB was approximatively 10min ahead and DINO just left.
The choice was made to head for 3CPs at the east first as the longest distance will need to be covered and as more orienteering was needed, so better doing it when the tanks were not empty. First CP26 then 27 where they caught up with RIB as they had some difficulty to find the CP.
After punching CP27 and seeing RIB getting on their way back to the west by the same trail they came here, the TJ79s went up to the road to try another strategy....it didn’t work, RIB jumped in front of them close to CP25.,,no gain, no loss.
Matt made a right call and aimed almost directly to CP25 exactly when RIB was punching it....one good call for a bad one, as Matt didn’t see the trail going right from CP25 to the west in direction of CP24...Instead the boys were now bushwhacking in a swampy area to get back on another trail..well RIB was still in front and the TJ79s were pushing to keep up and try to catch them.
Almost caught up at CP24 and now the 2 teams were in direction of the 3 west last CPs, 2 minutes of each other.
Once reaching the road, RIB disappeared, clearly they made a different choice for getting those last 3 CPs. It was not the time to worry about it and the team decided to aim for the furthest and obvious CP22 to then punched on their way back CP23 which was also along a trail keeping. From CP23, the TJ79s went down a slope to follow the edge of a cornfield heading to the east end as CP21 was indicated at the extremity of the cornfield...and it was, well 20/30feet from the end but no time was lost looking for it as it was also indicated at the edge of vegetation and meadow.
Back on the top of the slop on the direction to the visitor center, Marc noticed a team running back on the track from the furthest CP....It was RIB also heading to the finish line, but TJ79 was now just a little bit closer to the end and were leading on the west side with no idea where DINO was.
The last 2km were done pushing to keep some distance with RIB and finally finishing the course and clearing it in 10hr54min....but wait, DINO team was not here neither.....Yes!!!! The TJ79s were first, not even 2min after RIB also crossed the finish line...unbelievable to all finish so close after almost 11hr and a full day passing each other. DINO arrived 15min after and the top3 teams (top4 to be exact as Mike Garrison raced as solo along RIB) were done.(http://www.dinoseries.com/storage/results/2020/cia/CIA-12-Results.html)
Big shout out to Brian, the organizer, for again coming up with new ideas and setting up a nice race in an area which doesn’t look like the easiest place for AR.
As always a big thanks to all the volunteers helping and giving some of their time to let us have so much fun.
This course was a first on many points:
- First race for Chris who handled it like a champ....but we had no doubt about it
- First canoe flip....and obviously on a cold day and in cold water
- First scooter/long board leg.....as always Brian the organizer found a new idea to spice up his race
- First time finishing with such a small gap between the first 3/4 teams....it made the whole day intense and fun
- First time clearing a DINO course...one last thing on the bucket list :P
The qualification for USARA National 2021 is done and so the objective was achieved with some extra bonus taking the first place
Great race account!
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