Sunday, June 27, 2010

The juice was worth the squeeze

Final final updates...

Team 20 arrived at the finish at about 12:50 - they were greeted with much applause.

First place: Team 4 Cafe Express
Second place: Team 13 Wild Rose
Third place: Team 3 Pure

Thanks again everyone, it was a great weekend. Congrats Andrew & Brian on an awesome race.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

Final Updates

The finish line is a very fun, busy & happy place to be. All teams are giving this years course rave reviews. Some favorites so far: The paddle, the plane crash, the advanced sections and the final stretch of single track.

All teams are accounted for and only Team 20 Incommunicado remains out on the course. This gutsy team pulled into TA4 3 minutes before the cutoff and then hit the road pronto. Fred at TA4 tells me the team is planning to finish the full course and hope to reach CP14, and then hit the finish line for noon. If any team is up for a sprint to the finish, it's these guys!

RTR Hilarious crossed the finish line at 9:04 - I think they only did 1 advanced section so we'll have to see where the standings fall once we figure out which teams did the advanced course. So far, I only know of Cafe Express and Wild Rose as having completed the full advanced course.

Team 2 Raid the Pantry was a minute behind RTR and Team 6 Louie Lipschitz came in 4 minutes after that. Team 9 Okeedokee and Team 14 Blood Sugar, Sweat and Tears came in at 9:39 and 10:34 respectively.

North By Northwest finished unranked and crossed the finish line shortly after 8 (not sure if they got to CP 14). Team 11 had been racing unranked, but last I heard they were chillin at TA3 and having breakfast with some of our friendly local volunteers.

So there you have it - that will be the final update from me until after the awards (can't leave ya hangin about Team 20).

The official results will be posted early in the week once the Race Directors upload the data from the timing chips and see who completed the advanced sections.

Thanks to all of the racers, support crews and our AWESOME VOLUNTEERS for a wicked weekend!

Below are the unofficial times. Just copy & paste into your browser.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

Other news from around the course

Team 20 Incommunicado has continued to awe and impress with their fantastic attitudes and perseverance. Last night a flat tire caused these guys to pull in last to CP7, where they arrived dog tired but still ready to giver. This morning they pulled into TA3 just before the cutoff and from what I've heard, have been advancing fairly easily ever since. Looking good for a finish.

The elusive CP12 seemed to foil a few teams who were otherwise having a strong race. RTR Hilarious lost some momentum looking for this CP, but have since checked into TA4. So hopefully they will be able to put this glitch behind them and continue on for a strong (advanced?) finish. We also heard from Team 2 Raid the Pantry who got hung up on this CP as well.

Teams 12,16 & 17 are no longer racing as both they decided to discontinue with the race last night/early this morning. That leaves us with 5 teams who are no longer racing (1,12,17,17,18) and 2 unranked teams (10 & 11).

Update from the finish line...

Sorry for the lack of updates, have been busy at the finish line!

7 teams have crossed the finish line:

Cafe Express and Wild Rose are the only two so far to have completed the advanced sections.

Team 19 A Sante Fit was the first team to complete the regular course, followed by Team 8 ETX Systems, Team 15 Hurl, and Team 5 Pure.

Just as I was headed out, I saw Team North by Northwest coming in - they have been racing unranked since TA4 due to an injured team member (another evil knee).

All teams have been in great spirits, and have been happily showing off their war wounds. So far, I think Tom Z of Cafe Express wins for most battered face - but it's still early...

3 Teams Have Crossed the Finish Line

Cafe Express was first across with an amazing time of 22:12.
Since then both Wild Rose and Team A Sante Fit have crossed, dispite major bike problems earlier. Many teams have been trickling past TA 3 and many have passed TA4 recently however, some have continued on unranked as a team of three from this point.

Oh those bike problems

Just heard that both Wild Rose and Team A Sante Fit are in TA4. Both are the teams who had bike problems earlier. Wild Rose is on the advanced course and Sante Fit is on the Regular. Hopefully they're fueling up, and resting up and then will make their way out for the last leg to the finish.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Field Report

I spent the day (7am-8:30pm) at TA2 which was acting as HQ as well. The weather was beautiful. Lots of sun and warm temperatures. As teams came in off the paddle they were in such great spirits. Back in town now for the finish and have these updates.
Cafe Express has won the race, crossing the finish line in Blairmore at the arena at 10:12 pm.
I just recently heard that one team has to get past CP7 and they were last seen pushing bikes due to flat tires.
Team 17 has dropped out as well.
Team 13 has passed CP 13 and will hopefully hit TA4 soon and then on to the finish!
Will be updating the leaderboard shortly.

Cafe Express @ TA 4

They are coming...

TA3 and beyond...

Team 5 RTR Hilarious has completed the first advanced section of the race and checked into CP11a. I hear their support crew is anxiously awaiting them at TA3. So far they are the 3rd team to tackle the advanced section. I hope the juice was worth the squeeze!

Meanwhile at TA3, Wild Rose has successfully found a new bike for Bart (support crews are the best). TA4 has not seen Cafe Express yet, so we're not sure where they are...they've had a flawless race so far, but even a small mistake could give a team like Wild Rose the edge they need.

Team 19 has also made it to TA3 but have not left as of yet - not sure if the delay at TA3 is because they are still trying to find a replacement bike or not.

3 teams down...

Teams 1 & 18 have made it to TA1 but missed the cutoff, so they will not be continuing on in the race. Their accomplishments in this event are huge (trekking for 18 hours!) so I hope that they get some rest and treat themselves to a nice, cold beer at one of the fine restaurants in the CNP tonight, so that they are ready and refreshed for tomorrow's post race meal and awards at the arena.

Team 11 will be continuing on un-ranked as a 3 person team (4th person has an evil knee).

Bike Epidemic

Team 19 has run into similar bike issues - another one bites the dust. Like Team 13, they will have to wait until TA3 to hopefully exchange the dead...er....damaged...bike for a fresh one.

Not sure what size they are looking for yet...

So to re-cap: Both the second and third place teams are dealing with major mechanical issues. They cannot do a legal bike exchange until TA3 as they are not allowed to take anything from their support crews or volunteers until they get to a TA. I don't think Wild Rose had much ground to cover as it sounds like the time of death for Bart's bike was close to CP11a. Team 19 seems to have suffered their mechanical somewhere around CP8 or 9, so they need to push hard to save their race.

Wanted: 1 (carbon fiber) bike, size large

Sources at CP11a tell me that Bart J of Wild Rose will be mourning the loss of his bike - but after the race. For now, he and his team are running his bike to finish up this next section and have asked their support crew to try to find a replacement for the final bike leg...no pressure...

CP 7 & 8 Updates

So the most current updates I have are that 5 teams have passed CP 7:

Team 3 Pure
Team 4 Cafe Express
Team 5 RTR Hilarious
Team 13 Wild Rose
Team 19 A Sante Fit

Out of those teams,3 have passed CP 8:

Cafe Express
Wild Rose
A Sante Fit

Last I have on Cafe Express was their check in at CP11a but I am sure they are long gone from there by now.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

Almost all teams have cleared TA 1

Almost all teams have cleared TA 1, some of these teams were trekking for nearly 18 hours so I'm sure a little bit of love from their support crews at TA1 was very well received. Once teams depart TA1, they can rest those blistered feet whilst enjoying a fast river paddle. The teams we are currently waiting for at TA 1 are: 1,7, 12 & 18.

Meanwhile Team 4, Cafe Express is on track to finish the race in the next few hours...

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

CP 4 Cleared

All teams have cleared CP4.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

Party at TA2

3rd place team, RTR Hilarious has pulled into TA2 and have reported that they are having a great time. 2 members of RTR have had exciting race seasons thus far - Mike Melnick is still picking spear grass out of his feet from XPD Australia a few weeks ago & Sean Verret is racing in his second 36 hour adventure race in 2 weeks.

RTR Hilarious confessed that they may have put some holes in one of their kayaks during the paddle - whether it was accidental,or an act of vengeance, I'm not sure.

TA2 is apparently getting very crowded as support crews are arriving to await their teams.

12 hours in...

12 hours in and all teams are accounted for - I can't hear alot of the radio traffic at some of the more remote CP's so I can't update times, but once I get the details from a relay, I'll update the spreadsheet.

If you aren't hearing much about your team, rest assured that they are still making their way through the course - it's a beautiful day out there! My sources at TA 2 tell me that all members of Wild Rose are "laughing, smiling and loving life" so I really hope that's a good indicator of the general mood out there. On the flip side, we did have to call a tow truck for one support crew vehicle - maybe something they can laugh about later?

I have heard that the paddle has been slightly modified and that teams are coming off the water a bit sooner than originally planned, but that should not have much of an affect on the race.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

Cafe Express continues their rampage...

Have just heard that Cafe Express has cleared TA2. What did they have for breakfast this morning?!

We are still waiting for 8 teams to clear CP4, which is very remote. Once teams clear TA 1 they hit the water for a rolling good time on the West Castle River.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

Updated CP4 Times

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

Just copy & paste the link. Is the link working for you guys out there?

I am still waiting for times for the last 2 teams to go through CP3, but I have been told all teams are now through CP 3.

Updated times

Just copy & paste the link into your browser.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

All Teams through CP2

Will post more details shortly once I can get better radio reception but have just heard that all teams have made their way through CP2 (ropes section.)

Ps. We're not the only race on the radar this weekend - Fast Trax Ultra and Western States are also on the go. Good luck everyone!

Already lovin it...

Have just heard that Team 4 Cafe Express & Team 13 Wild Rose are already battling it out. Cafe Express pulled into CP 1 at 1:08 with Wild Rose on their heels 4 minutes later. These are 2 power house teams - the whole package in terms of what Adventure Racers need to be - solid athletes with nerves of steel who make tough decisions with ease. But it's early and it's going to be a looooong race. And it's a pretty stacked field with alot of veteran teams.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhHRHcmoOeS4dGZDTnZTVloyUWpseG9YaHR2UWNRZUE&hl=en#gid=0

* If link does not work, try copying and pasting into your browsert

Midnight Start at the FMIJ

The racers are off! The moon is shining brightly tonight and I am sure the racers will appreciate the extra light as they navigate their way through this challenging course.

Sweet dreams everyone, I'll try to post a juicy update about tonight's shenanagins in the wee hours once the updates start to trickle in. Video below is the countdown at the start.

Friday, June 25, 2010

FMIJ 2010 - A bit about the course

The sun is shining at Castle Mountain Ski Resort and all teams, except for one (you know who you are) have checked in and registered.

Teams were given their race maps and instructions a few hours ago and have been busy strategizing ever since.

Here's a bit of info about the course Andrew & Brian have put together this year:

The race will start at Castle Mountain Ski resort right at midnight with an epic trek. Let me say that again - EPIC TREK. I am told (gleefully by Andrew and Brian) that Leg 1 consists of lots of elevation gain, some pretty spectacular alpine ridges and some very remote terrain. Many of the racers will choose to bring snow shoes with them for this leg as they'll be encountering alot of deep snow on their adventures. During this (approx) 30km trek, racers will also partake in 2 fixed rope crossings.

Leg 2 will see the racers do a short mountain bike ride to the West Castle River where they will begin the paddling section in inflatable 2 person kayaks. The paddle with be about 10km of winding river in class 1-2 waters, with lots of good rollers, and high "heads up hockey" water. Teams will do 2 mandatory portages in this section.

Leg 3 begins with a mountain bike along the continental divide through various drainages, swamps, old cart tracks and with a few river crossings thrown in there just in case the racers start to dry out too much. Here, teams can make the strategic choice to do an Advanced Section of the race and can ride up the epic Willoughby Ridge. I have been told the Advanced Section involves a whole lot of elevation gain and it's a tough push - "but the juice is worth the squeeze" (thanks Andrew).

Leg 4 is another trekking leg, with yet another opportunity for teams to do an Advanced Section and hike to the historic plane crash, a favorite spot amongst hikers and historians in the Crowsnest Pass. The regular course will take teams through spectacular terrain, including the old burn site of the 2003 Lost Creek Fire.

Leg 5 concludes the race with a final mountain bike section. Racers will be treated to some of the sweet local single track that the Crowsnest Pass is becoming famous for.

The finish will be at the Albert Stella Arena in Blairmore where racers can enjoy a fabulous post race meal, socialize and have the chance to win some draw prizes.

At least that's the theory. Will keep you all updated throughout the next 36 hours! Thanks for reading our blog!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Full Moon in June 2010 Race Blog

This is the official page of the 2010 Full Moon in June 36-hour adventure race. During the race, starting after 00:00hrs on Saturday, we will try and update this page approximately every 30 minutes. Please have patience though - we are working in an extremely remote area and our only contact to the outside world is by two-way radio. No phone, no cell, no wireless.

Check back during the race and hopefully your favorite team is doing something extraordinary!