Adventure Race #1

Our first adventure race was yesterday, which was also the worst day weather wise I have seen since we moved back from Kansas. It was pouring down rain and freezing! For those of you who don't know what adventure racing is, it is an outdoor race that combines multiple activities such as running, biking, swimming, canoeing, etc. Each race might be different. Along with the physical aspect, there is also orienteering where each team is given a map and they have to get to and find certain markers on the map by performing the given activity.

Yesterday's adventure race consisted of canoeing 2.5 miles, road biking 8 miles, and running 2.5 miles while trying to find the markers that were placed around Portage Bay for the water part and Seattle for the land parts.

Let me tell you, there are some hard core adventure racers who get all geared up for the event. I told Derek I wouldn't make fun of him for all of his gear anymore considering there were people at this race who looked even sillier in their spandex with shorts over the top, etc. However, considering it was pooring down rain and freezing, by the end of the canoe portion of the race I wish I had those spandex with shorts over the top! It was a ton of fun even though we were completely soaked from head to toe!

For this race, there was down time between the canoe part and the biking/running part so people could return their canoes and switch gear. While we waited for the next part of the race to start we were both sitting in the car watching the rain come down even harder. We finally decided to get out, put on our cycling gear, ride down the parking lot to where the next part of the race was starting, looked at each other, and then turned around and went back to the car! I am sorry, but as much as I love the outdoors and exercise, I am just not that hard core!! Derek didn't mind either because he was pretty uncomfortable as well. This is the first time the both of us have never finished a race or event and normally I would feel bad for quiting, but the heat in the car felt too good!

I don't mind running in the rain, but when your riding a bike at about 15 mph with no sunglasses to protect you from the rain hitting you in the face, no gloves, and you are already completely soaked to to the bone, that just isn't fun anymore!

We have decided though that from what we did experience, we are really going to like adventure racing and plan on doing more this year. We also learned that we need to make a few more trips to REI!!