Wicked Ocean

Wicked Ocean Race Report 10/1/05

This was our first race put on by Wicked AR and our first race on the ocean as a team. We arrived at race HQ, were checked in, got our race packets and vests and then headed up to Cannon Beach to look for a hotel. We had planned on camping but the thought of organizing all of our gear in the rain did not seem like a very appealing thought. So we checked into, I think, the cheapest hotel in the area. The next morning we got up dropped off our kayaks and bikes. We noted that most everyone else had sleek ocean touring kayaks with rudders. The race started on the ocean shore on bikes. Everyone except for a couple of teams rode on the shoreline to CP1. Great way to start the morning, except the sand can play tricks on your drivetrain. After checking into CP1 it was off to TA2 on Highway 101. The route was uphill for most of the way except for a short decline as we made our way to the TA. We dumped our bikes and gear here and then set off on foot. From here we started out on one of the trails in the park, but then quickly headed up a “trail”, really it was a drainage pipeline, until we found an old road. We headed up the road. Only fifteen minutes into the race we were totally alone. On the hill Jared noted that his knee was starting to scream at him. He pulled out some Advil and started popping them like candy. The road eventually came to an end and through the brush we were able to find the trail that we were looking for. Stepping onto the trail was incredible as it was much darker on the trail and such a cool contrast to the more open road. Once we hit the trail there was an important decision to be made -which way to go! The correct way and the way that Jared had us go was counter intuitive as you started out going the wrong direction, however the trail slowly bends around to put you in the right direction. This is where we saw DART coming the other way. We kept going the same direction as Jared was positive that we were on the correct path. Although when the best AR team in the Northwest is going the other direction from the way you are going, you do start to wonder. We continued on the trail and ended up running this section of trail with the eventually wining team Time is on my Side – or should a say solo competitor. She was cruising through this section of the race with a big smile. We eventually came to a road crossing (the one before the 101 crossing) we proceeded to head towards the ocean at this point. This is where we made the blunder of the race. Somehow in plotting out our route we managed to leave out CP2. I think because it really was the third point during the race that you had to acquire ( after CP1 and TA2) so it seemed logical to hit CP3. Somehow in the rush of the morning, we assumed it was for the sport course. Bottom line, we were complete idiots who rushed into a decision. Hopefully we can learn from this mistake . . . but this is not the first time we have made quick and WRONG decisions! We were even told by Team Time is on my Side (the race winner) that the correct way was to stick to the trail. Of course hindsight is twenty-twenty. We did not realize that we had really made a huge error until reaching CP3 and were asked “Did you not hit CP2?” – our response “CP2?!?!?!?” I will say that running on the ocean to CP3 was one of the best sections of the course – especially right by CP3, around Cape Horn, where you were able to duck through the opening in the rocks. We assumed you could get around (to get back to CP4), but we had no idea if we were just running into a cliff. When we first got to CP3 we thought cool we are in second place. Shortly after we got there Team Time is on our Side cruised in – meaning if not for the blunder we would have been right behind her. But you have got to do the race in order so we heading back to CP2. It was here that it was apparent that Jared’s knee was not going to make it. His comment “I have had 6 Advil in the past thirty minutes and the pain is getting worse.” Here is where a tough decision was made. Stay as a unit or finish as a two-person team. Roger was fired up and chomping at the bit to get going and going fast. I am usually the start as a team finish as a team type of person. At Jared’s urging, we decided to finish – heck we did already pay our money, might as well get the exercise! We headed back to CP2 running by just about every team on the course – in the other direction. (I know they all thought we were crazy) We broke off with Jared just above CP2. He walked back to CP2 and then headed back to race HQ. After getting to CP2 we then headed back to CP3 to make sure that we did the course in order – running to hopefully make the cut-off. By this time the short cut by the rising tide was closed so back up past CP2 we went – what a bummer! I took over the navigator role. Our new goal was to finish the race, but to pass every team that did not make the cut-off at CP3. So away we went back past CP2 on our way to CP4. Before we hit CP4 we were able to meet our goal – we had passed everyone who did not make the cut-off. Hit CP4 (which was in a great location) then headed back to TA2. At TA2 I personally hit another small low. When we came into the TA we were right with a two-person team, thus the volunteers thought we were one team. Thus we did not receive an orienteering course map. Roger and I got our bike gear ready, only to realize that we had some more trekking to do. Next I got a race saving tip from our fellow racers that the CP markers on the map were not close to the points - thus I avoided leading us vastly astray. (In my mind I repeated an announcement from the morning meeting – “I put the CP markers of the map away from the points so that you would not lose any topo information”) We hit the CP’s 5 and 7 without much fanfare. After that we jumped on the bikes and hit CP8. We took 101 rather than the forest service road. Which seemed to be the best route as we passed a team that was in front of us. Then it was back to CP1. When we got there the volunteer said that we were only the fourth team to hit that CP. We thought that seemed crazy, but I guess everyone missed it thinking it was time to head back to the kayaks. I guess we were not the only team prone to oversights. (Although after seeing that there was only a half-hour time penalty – we would have for sure skipped CP2 and taken the penalty as we lost at least that much time running back to CP2 and probably 40 minutes more from not being able to take the coast out. Total lost time of over an hour – plus a lot of extra energy was used) Next was off to the kayaks. Jared actually rejoined us for this leg as it required sitting. He was in a one-person kayak and Roger and I in the GI Joe’s two-person. We had a devil of a time keeping the boat straight – weren’t sure if that was due to the currents in the bay or just poor steering. Drunken sailors we were. We battled some nasty tide and basically had to paddle “up-river” for a while. After hitting the kayak CP’s it was back to the TA and what I was thinking off to have a juicy burger. However after checking in, we were given an O-course map (less 3 CPs). I was like NOOOO! But off we went; it took me a little bit to get dialed – in as I was mad that we still had to complete an O-course. But away we went – hit 4 with ease then on to 8 – which after lots and lots of nasty bushwhacking! I have the scraps to prove it! . We meandered through the thick brush for a while, looking for that magical tree with the punch – but no luck. Since there were not any teams coming nearby we assumed that the O-course had been closed. (Which it had been) Thus we thought maybe we should hit the rest and then come back to 8 if time permitted, as we knew that they wanted to have the course clear in time for the awards, raffle and party. The O course was tough as we were both tired. I know I was personally mental exhausted after going through the ups and downs of the day. Plus it started to rain on us at this point. Roger had some serious chaffing issues and was in pain – I won’t go into detail here. (Although I must point out that despite the pain he was much stronger then myself at this point) We hit 1, 7, 5 and 6. Next was off to 2 and then back to 3, which was near the finish. OCP2 had one exciting moment as we were moving North cross-country to find the punch. I climbed over the barbed wire fence and managed to snag my shorts. My new bike shorts (first ever pair!) It brought back memories of myself trying to run through a barbed wire fence at the Beast Race at Rattlesnake Lake. I typically like to bushwhack through things - not around them. After getting OCP2 we then headed to the beach to head over to OCP3. At this point it pretty much was dark and we figured the safest route was to head back into the park and back to HQ and then head over the dune to pick up OCP3. Plus we figure that people might get a little bit worried as everyone was supposed to finish before dark. Good thing as OCP3 had already been taken down! When we got back to HQ Shane was happy to see us and gave us both hugs. Turns out we were the last team in. Everyone was starting to get a little bit concerned. Although we were fine and in good sprits – still a little miffed that we could not find OCP8. Jared was there waiting for us as well. He told us that he knew that we would do everything we could to finish the course. The best part about finishing was there were burgers waiting for us even though everything was being taken down. Big thanks from Roger and myself to all of the volunteers. Especially everyone who hooked us up with food and drinks – those were some great burgers. It was an Epic race for us. Lots of way-ups and lots of low points. I got to navigate most of the course which was good – learned how critical it is to keep a level head as the navigator versus just a racer – as wasted a lot of navigation time just being mad and frustrated – when I should have been navigating. Personally the most difficult race that I have done in terms of mental stress – losing a teammate, navigation, etc., not physical stress as that goes to my first 12 Hour AR where I wasn’t sure I was going to make it back to the finish. The course was just incredible – great job by Shane and his entire crew putting the course together. I heard there were some great raffle prizes. Wicked AR gets two thumbs up in our book.