Keen Adventure Sports Games
Stage Adventure Race
Saturday September 15th 2007
Collingwood, On 7:25:10
A new event for 2007, the Keen Adventure Sports Games was a 2-day event that allowed racers to choose from 6 different races over a 48 hour period. In addition to being able to choose single races, different race combinations were created to challenge those athletes looking to test their limits and push themselves both physically and mentally. The race I chose to enter was the Keen Multisport Stage Race made up of a 10km paddle, a 60km Mountain Bike and a 12km trail run. With the race being held in and around the Blue Mountain area of Collingwood and with Bob Miller designing the course, I knew that this race was going to be one to remember.
The Beaver River Paddling Race
Cold, wet, miserable weather greeted racers as they gathered along the Beaver River to attack a 10km flatwater paddle. Racers paddled a twisty 2.5 km up river to CP1 and turned around to head 5km down river to CP2. 500 m before CP2, racers navigated their way through a short burst of moving water (an added bonus). Not really tricky but a fun little section. Upon hitting CP2, racers turned around and headed back on a 2.5km paddle home to the finish. Most racers chose to portage around the moving water (thus soaking any body part that wasn’t already wet) and then turned on the jets to the finish. My paddle time was 1:27. Not bad considering the only time I get to paddle in on race day (I really need a boat).
Valley to Village X-Country Mountain Bike Race
The 60 km Valley to Village MTB race started at Beaver Valley Ski Club with a lung-busting climb up the mountain. More than 1/2 of the racers resorted to the hike-a-bike method to successfully summit. Once at the top, racers mounted their bikes and began what can only be described as an epic race through some of the gnarliest MTB trails in Ontario. Epic climbs, bomber downhills, awesome singletrack and wicked switchbacks combined with cold rain and the thickest mud I have ever seen challenged the very will of most racers as we pushed across the Kolapore Uplands and through the fantastic Three Stage. The mud was so thick that racers (myself included) would stop on the fireroad to dip their bikes into the standing water ponds that had formed as the rain fell throughout the morning. Conditions began to deteoriate quickly as riders literally tore up the trails as they pushed on to try and survive/complete the race. At about the 45 km mark I met up with my wife Meagan who was riding the 30km race and she had this huge smile on her face and all she said was “This is the best thing ever!” With a shot of adrenaline from her enthusiasm, I pushed on and attacked the final 15km of the course, finishing in a time of 4:38:37 which kept me solidly in 3rd place overall. I made a promise to wait for Meg at the finish so we could hit the final decent into the village together. The two of us were quite the sight as we made our way to the village as we were both covered from head to toe with mud. Upon arrival, we were told that we had missed the final shuttle back to the ski hills to pick up our gear for the run. Fortunately, thanks to 2 awesome friends, we were able to borrow a pair of shoes each and catch the final bus over to Georgian Peaks for the run portion of the race.
CW-X Conditioning Wear Conquer the Escarpment 12km Trail Run
A huge climb up Georgian Peaks was the start of the 12 km trail run that marked the final stage of the Multisport Stage Race. An awesome course combining cool climbs, twisty flat sections and awesome decents challenged those racers who were starting to feel fatigued after a long day of racing. I was personally bolstered by a group of my AHS athletes who were acting as volunteers/marshalls on the course who cheered me on for the final 2 km (with one student running with me for 500m). I finished in a time of 1:18:38 and secured a 3rd place finish overall in the Multisport Stage Race with a total time of 7:25:10.
Shout Outs:
1. My wife Meagan for her awesome effort in her 1st solo race experience (30km bike and 5km run). Great job, I’m so proud of you!
2. Bob Miller for designing a fantastic race course and for bringing the Keen Games to fruition
3. The gang at ARC (Bernie, Jonathan and Jennie) for their tireless efforts over the weekend.
4. My gang of student volunteers from AHS for suffering through the cold and wet to help the athletes achieve their goals.
5. All Team RF athletes who competed over the weekend. So cool seeing you all there!
Can’t wait ’till next year.
Marcus
