Having successfully (well, moderately) completed the half distance at GHO's semi annual Raid the Hammer/Rib, the girls decided that it was time to take it up a notch and try out the full length distance of what is billed as Canada's "toughest half-marathon." Teams of 3 have up to 8 hours to orienteer their way through a 25km course complete with great snacks and fun tests like "The Lasso," "In, Over, and Out" and the girls new personal nemesis, "walk the line." Who was the Funderstorm's third? Enter Ursula, aka the Energizer Bunny, who may not know how to use a compass but sure is good at hauling ass through the woods!
Both SP and T/T were somewhat concerned for this race. T/T is not a huge fan of the running, and SP is not a huge fan of getting lost in the woods. Once the race started, however, their fears quickly abated as CPs were knocked down one by one and feet stayed dry for the first five minutes of the race.
With only the most minor of setbacks, the girls whizzed through the first 2/3 of the course, cracking jokes and counting the number of falls into the mud. The fun and games deteriorated however, at "Walk the Line." In this section of the race, teams had to follow a dotted line on the map finding unmarked CPs along the way, and using only the Nature's curves the contour lines for guidance. CPs 18 & 19 were easily located, but 20 proved to be another story. After two times round the course and an unmentionable number of profanities (SP) later, CP 20 was left unpunched.
Things continued to go downhill from there en route to CP21. Things got even sketchier when what appeared to be an innocent water crossing nearly turned into an opportunity to practice swiftwater rescue and the tripod crossing. With morale a bit low, CP 22 was eventually located and the girls headed back to the Rocky Ridge Ranch with only one more CP left to punch.
By the time the race was over for the girls, most of the winning teams had already packed up and gone home. But there was still burgers and cookies left, and many stories to trade with other teams that were pulling up the rear.
Despite the "walk the line" incident, the girls were the first all female team to complete the full course. Minutes later, however, the GHO girls appeared, having not had quite as much trouble walking the line as Funderstorm. Nevertheless, a good time (for the most part!) was had by all and it was definitely a learning experience. Being unquestionably the toughest navigation test that the girls have faced to date, it perhaps did not go so badly after all.
The Funderstorm spirit award (which some of you may know is nearly equivalent to an Oscar, and waaaayy cooler than a Juno) certainly goes out to Ursula, who kept on trucking and saying happy things right through to the end of the race. The girls look forward to teaming up with this speedster again later in the season. T/T definitely took the award for most spectacular falls, while SP was honoured for wearing out the F word in the general vicinity of CP20.
Next week SP and T/T will test their mettle at the Diamonds & Dirt all female adventure race in Michigan. Here's hoping that the lessons learned at Raid the Rib will pay off in Brighton next Saturday!
Both SP and T/T were somewhat concerned for this race. T/T is not a huge fan of the running, and SP is not a huge fan of getting lost in the woods. Once the race started, however, their fears quickly abated as CPs were knocked down one by one and feet stayed dry for the first five minutes of the race.
With only the most minor of setbacks, the girls whizzed through the first 2/3 of the course, cracking jokes and counting the number of falls into the mud. The fun and games deteriorated however, at "Walk the Line." In this section of the race, teams had to follow a dotted line on the map finding unmarked CPs along the way, and using only the Nature's curves the contour lines for guidance. CPs 18 & 19 were easily located, but 20 proved to be another story. After two times round the course and an unmentionable number of profanities (SP) later, CP 20 was left unpunched.
Things continued to go downhill from there en route to CP21. Things got even sketchier when what appeared to be an innocent water crossing nearly turned into an opportunity to practice swiftwater rescue and the tripod crossing. With morale a bit low, CP 22 was eventually located and the girls headed back to the Rocky Ridge Ranch with only one more CP left to punch.
By the time the race was over for the girls, most of the winning teams had already packed up and gone home. But there was still burgers and cookies left, and many stories to trade with other teams that were pulling up the rear.
Despite the "walk the line" incident, the girls were the first all female team to complete the full course. Minutes later, however, the GHO girls appeared, having not had quite as much trouble walking the line as Funderstorm. Nevertheless, a good time (for the most part!) was had by all and it was definitely a learning experience. Being unquestionably the toughest navigation test that the girls have faced to date, it perhaps did not go so badly after all.
The Funderstorm spirit award (which some of you may know is nearly equivalent to an Oscar, and waaaayy cooler than a Juno) certainly goes out to Ursula, who kept on trucking and saying happy things right through to the end of the race. The girls look forward to teaming up with this speedster again later in the season. T/T definitely took the award for most spectacular falls, while SP was honoured for wearing out the F word in the general vicinity of CP20.
Next week SP and T/T will test their mettle at the Diamonds & Dirt all female adventure race in Michigan. Here's hoping that the lessons learned at Raid the Rib will pay off in Brighton next Saturday!
Pre-race photo. All bundled up in preparation for a rainy day.
This is Ursula, still smiling after a long haul (some necessary, some just for the heck of it) through many, many swamps.
