Storm the Trent

Race Name – Storm the Trent – Trek Elite

Date – May 10, 2008

Description – 8.5 Hour Adventure Race(Paddle, Trail Run, Mountain Bike)

Location – Warsaw

Race web site – http://www.stormevents.ca

SOLD OUT!

I almost didn’t get into this race as I forgot to register and remembered that I had not registered the week before the race sold out. The fact that the race sold out tells you a lot about the Storm events. There were 3 different race distances, Hike (4 hour), Trek (6 hour) and Trek Elite (8.5 hour). This year the format was changed a little bit from a straight point A to point B Adventure Race. The Trek Elite featured 4 mandatory check points along with 20 optional Controls. The optional controls were unmanned but instead used the SPORTident system. We were given a chip that we placed in a reader at each Control and the reader would download the time onto the chip. The optional Controls were each worth a certain amount of points between 20 and 60, with the more challenging ones being worth more points, also for each minute after the alloted 8.5 hours you woud have 10 points deducted, making it very important to manage your time and make sure to finish before the cutoff. The teams would then be ranked in the order of points they recieve, with teams that are tied on points being ranked by finishing time.

Race Start

To start the race we were handed envelopes that we opened as at exactly 7:30 to start the race. Inside was a map of the town of Warsaw with 3 control points that we had to find on foot. Only 1 team member was required to do this section. I took off towards the closest CP with 4 other people. After about 4km of running we jumped into the boats and headed up the Indian River river towards Warsaw Caves Conservation Area. After a peaceful paddle up the river with Pig (the name my wife and I have given to our Kayak, which tells you alot about it’s performance) I climbed out of the boat checked in at the first mandatory checkpoint and headed out for 7 or 8k marked run that had 3 controls I had to find along the way. The controls were not hard to find, but you had to pay attention to make sure that you didn’t miss any. After finding all three Controls along the marked route I headed out for the 5 that were on the unmarked trails on the other side of the river. After easily finding the 1st one I had a little trouble with the second one that was off the trail in a valley. After reorienting myself I found the Control and easily found the next 3 and headed back to the pig for the return paddle down the Indian River back to the Start/Finish and my bike. Returning to the Start/Finish I had used just under 3 hours on this sectionof the race. I had 5 hours left.

Happy to be on my Bike

The bike started out with a road ride along country roads. The first control was located on the side of a dirt road that was not very far off the main route. After grabbing this 20 point control I headed down to the second mandatory checkpoint. The second bike Control was along an ATV trail that ran off the road. After a few hundred metres of good riding there was a 25 metre slog through some cold mud puddles. After this control the remainder of the course was unmarked. The next Control was just off the the road in a wildlife area. At first I read the description wrong and ended up looking in the wrong place with 4 or 5 other teams, but after looking at it again I realized my mistake and found the Control fairly quickly. I decided to take a slightly longer route to the next Control to avoid the Powerline trails that I have had experience in previous races in this area. Although the trails would be enjpyable to ride, they would be much slower than the cottage roads that I was planning to take. I was starting to wonder if I had made the right decision as the route I choose felt very long, but after riding a short bit of the powerline trail to grab the next Control I was reinsured that I would have been slower and taken a lot more energy to follow that route. The route to the next Control was along some logging roads into the Peterborough County forest. I found the Control fairly quickly but then made a foolish mistake. The instructions said that when the trail split on the map to take the Northwesterly trail. The split on the map was at least a couple hundred metres from the control, but just past the Control there was a trail that headed NW. After thinking about it (and hoping that a team would come along that could help me with my decision) I chose to stay on the main trail that did not head NW. After riding for a few minutes I didn’t see any bike tracks along the trail, freaked out and headed back to the other trail. Riding along the NW trail it felt wrong though. Event though the maps are not very detailed, there was a small swamp that looked like it was on the wrong side of the trail and then the trail started to head due West. I now decided I was on the wrong trail and went back to the original, which when I thought about rationally I realized was obvious as it was the main trail and there was no reason to turn so early. 30 minutes wasted that would come back to haunt me! After easily finding the proper trail I continued on to the next Control. The trails we were travelling were starting to get a lot tougher and technical. After a little back tracking to grab the next Control I started travelling with 2 other teams that were in the MXR qualifier. As the trails deteriorated into hiking trails that were easier and faster to walk and run than bike our pace began to slow. A few minutes into these trails 2 solos I had not seen since the Warsaw Caves portion came up behind me and started to pass the group I was with. Seeing them pass made me realize how much my pace had slowed and I jumped up with them. The next few km’s were more of a hike a bike than a ride. Then we went through a nasty 750m section that we had to bushwhack due to the trail being flooded (I spoke to some people after that stayed on the and they said it was up to their necks). This section left us with cut and bruised shins but luckily despite a few close call we didn’t so any damage to our bikes. After getting back on the trail we were able to ride a bit, but still had to push the bikes some. We finally made it out onto the road and the other 2 solos working together took off. I jumped up to stay with them but a branch caught in my derailler and I was forced to stop and pull it out. After fixing the problem I took off after them. I wasn’t able to close the distance, but stayed close all the way into the next Mandatory Check Point at Crowes Landing on Stoney Lake.

Decision Time

At this point we had a decision to make. We could paddle across Stoney Lake and grab 4 Controls on the other side, or continue on bike to the end. By now it was almost 2pm so we had just over 2 hours to go. The first place Solo had left just as we were arriving adn decided to forgo the paddle and the last 2 Controls on the way to the finish and ensure he made the cutoff. One of the other solos made the same choice and headed home on the bike. The other Solo and I decided to paddle across and grab one Control, which would give us the win if we were able to make it back in time. I carried the pig down to the water and headed out. After a fairly good paddle I reached the landing on the other side, which was located on a river just off the lake. The pull out was in a bend of the river were fast moving water was pouring into the river. Instead of going around I went through the fast water and went for a fun ride as I btough my boat around after punching my chip I tried to pull the same manouver, and looking like a pro in front of the fishermen and Volunteers I managed to swamp my boat and end up in the water. After swimming to the shore I tried to quickly empty the water out of the pig and jump back, and in my haste confirmed that I was a total tool and dumped again. I cannot remember ever dumping myelf in a kayak before, even when I have paddled performance boats. I collected myself and this time took my time. I waved to the fishermen laghing at me as I went by and headed back across Stoney Lake. The other Solo was way ahead by then so I just attempted to cut my losses. The paddle ended up taking my about an hour with the time spent carrying my boat up and down to the water.

Finish

I now had 1 hour and 4 minutes to compete the last section. Having not really looked at the map closely I assumed this section would be mostly fast road and thought I could easily finish in an hour if I hammered. Closer inspection showed us travelling on some more trails. We travelled down a major road to the final Mandatory Check Point where we turned into some more ATV trails. The next Control was on a side trail along this section. I was really worried now about making the cutoff and trying to ride as fast as I could through the trails and began to think that I had gone much farther than I really had. We were now back into the marked part of the course. I came up to a marker pointing a left turn, which was the way I wanted to turn for the control, so I assumed it must be the trail to the Control, in my haste not thinking that the trail to the control would NOT be marked. I rode down this trail for a ways, until it got rocky, then decided I would drop my bike and run to the Control which would not be very far ahead. After running for I don’t know how long I finally realized that I was not on the trail to the Control, I was on the main course. I called myself some not nice names and raced back to my bike, cursing myself again for letting my self wander for so long without coming to my senses. I jumped on my bike and continued along the trail. The rest of the ride was a blur of dissapointment for me. I didn’t have time to grab the next 2 Controls, which were worth 90 points together, and realized that doing the second paddle had been a waste of time. I also realozed that there was no way I would reach the finish in time. After a tough ride, battling my dissapointment I pulled across the finish line 26 minutes past the cuttoff. If I had not made the mistakes I would not have been in this position. I had never done a race of this length on my own before, and usually had Jill racing with me to question all my decisions and make sure they were the right ones. Fortunately my Kids were at the finish line with my parents in law with huge hugs for me to help me realize what I was doing this for. Seeing that I was dissapointed my daughter said to me “Daddy did you have fun?” With a little smile I said “yes”. She said “did you try your best”. With a huge smile I picked her up and gave her a huge hug, then promply put here down as my calf cramped up and my leg almost gave out on me. But of course she was right. I gave it my all and had a blast doing it.

Once again Race Director Sean Roper put on the best Adventure Race in Ontario (and probably Canada, but I don’t have experience outside of Ontario). The course was fun and challenging, and the new format added a twist that allowed everone to do as much as they wanted. The organization was unreal, especially when you consider there were 3 races taking place at the same time, and it was the largest race in Ontario with 450 racers. I cannot wait for the second race from Storm Events, Storm the Ten in September, hope to see you there!

Marcus, I am so ready for Storm the Ten. Can you say 50 minutes!! (well………………maybe 55)