Race Report: UCF Adventure Race 2010

"Duck Duck Goose" before the race


Adventure Racing 101


high ropes course


zip line at end of ropes course


getting our barings


check point


carrying the canoe


our egg survived the race!


Duck Duck Goose is done!

This was certainly an adventure! =) It forced me to go outside my comfort zone a bit, but I got through it in one piece. I'm very proud that we finished the entire course with all check points before the cut-off. There was a 4 hour time limit, after which you'd start losing check points. After 4 1/2 hours, you were disqualified. We finished in under 4 hours, and were not last! Yay! :)  (I'll update when official results are posted later next week.)

Pre Race
We had nice weather, cool and no rain, but the wind was fierce. This made everything far more difficult. Many teams were running late, so we got a late start, but that was fine because the sun was out by then. They had a little Adventure Racing 101 session to teach newbies (us) the basics. There are 2 rules in adventure racing: (1) race your own race, aka don't follow other teams who are probably going the wrong way; (2) if you don't have it, you don't need it -- we were required to have a helmet while on the bike, and a life vest while on the canoe. The rest of the gear (map, compas, water) was helpful, but you could still race without them.

Race Details
The race had 4 legs that each of the 40 teams completed in different order to spread out the field: trekking, cycling, challenge course, canoeing. Each leg began at the Reflection Pond, where you got instructions and the team passport for that leg. Following the instructions given, we made our way through the course to various checkpoints where we punched our passport. After we finished each leg, we returned to the Reflection Pond for the next passport. The first leg was assigned at random, then you got to choose the order in which to do the rest. We also had to carry a raw egg (some teams had to carry a water balloon) through the entire race with us, and got 2 minutes deducted off our final time if it was still intact when we finished.

Leg 1 - Trekking
We rode our bikes to the Observatory, dropped them off, and followed some trails to find 5 check points. As soon as we got there, we had to go off-road a bit to the check point station and show them our egg before beginning the trek. I fell off my bike and got all muddy right away, but was able to go on. Doug was not so lucky---a stick got tangled in his bike and broke his derailleur hanger, so he walked the bike back to the car and met us at Leg 2.

This leg was a bit frustrating for me because I can't run as fast as Jason for as long, so I was always trailing behind and he found most of the check points on his own. But I didn't give up and tried to run as much as I could.

Leg 2 - Challenge Ropes Course
After biking back to the Reflection Pond and getting our 2nd passport, we made our way to the ropes course and met up with Doug. This leg consisted of 5 check points, a "gear challenge," and the high ropes course.  We had to complete the "gear challenge" before gaining access to the ropes course.

The gear challenge consisted of our entire team making it across the "water" (marked area on the ground) by only stepping on 5 discs and carrying the egg, which could not come in direct contact with any of us so we had to hold it between 2 pieces of foam. The 5 discs had to always be in contact with one of us, or we'd lose it. We got into the groove quickly and made it through in no time.

We then had to put on a helmet and figure out, without any help from the staff, how to get the harness on and tie the ropes with hooks to it (I don't know all the technical terms). Once we did that, they checked it was done properly and let us onto the ropes course. The first part of the course was a huge cargo net. I started off well, but the higher I went the more anxious I got.

Once I made it to the top of the net, I fell apart. My brain could not comprehend how I could possibly not fall while standing on tiny cables. I froze and had to pull myself together before going on. With the help of my team mates, and hanging onto the ropes for dear life, I made it through the first section.

I was still a bit apprehensive as we moved along to the other 3 sections. However, since I had conquered the first one without dying, I felt more comfortable and confident I could do this. I got through the others 3 sections a bit quicker, mainly because I wanted to get it over with, but not without ample screaming =P Oh yeah, did I mention the ridiculous cross winds that made this even more terrifying? 

The last section was a zip line to lower us to the ground. That was fun and not as scary as it looked. (See video.) We forgot we were in a race for a moment, but quickly got back into it and found the 5 check points with little trouble.

Leg 3 - Biking
Jason and I rode back the Reflection pond and completed this leg without Doug, who walked backed to Lake Claire to wait for us to return to complete the last leg with us. This leg was not very challenging, except that biking into the wind sucked. It seemed that no matter which direction were rode, we had a headwind. After we found the 4 check points, I rode back to Lake Claire to wait with Doug while Jason rode back to the Reflection Pond to retrieve our last passport.

Leg 4 - Canoeing
When Jason got back, we grabbed life vests and 2 paddles, then walked over a bit to pick up the canoe, and the boys carried it to the dock. There was a check point along the trail way, then we had to canoe around Lake Claire for the other 4 check points. The wind was insane, making it very difficult to paddle. The boys paddled, and I manned the map/passport and prayed we wouldn't tip over. After getting all the punches, we had to return the canoe and tie it back up before getting the final punch. Jason returned to the Reflection Pond to drop off our last passport, then return to "cross the finish line" at 12:34 p.m.

Post-Race
After we checked in and showed that our egg was intact, they recorded our finish time, we filled out some feedback forms, got a raffle ticket and a t-shirt, then ate some yummy Qdoba (chicken, beans, salad and chips). We hung around after lunch for the awards and raffle, then headed home.

I had a lot of fun and would consider doing this race again next year, but maybe I'll put together an all girl team. I felt a little bad because I know I was holding Jason back during the race, and he had to work a lot harder than us, but we made it through without killing each other; I call that progress :) So what's next? Stay tuned to find out =P

View more race photos and videos on Flickr.

Adventure Racing

I've run 5Ks, 10Ks, a 15K, half marathons, and I will run my first marathon in 3 weeks. Last year, I put my cross training and bike communing to good use and ventured beyond running to complete a duathlon (run-bike-run). I went outside my comfort zone, conquering my fear of swimming in a lake, and completed a few sprint triathlons. Tomorrow, I go one step further.

I will be participating with Team "Duck Duck Goose" in the UCF Adventure Race. The OA Annual Super Adventure Race is a sprint adventure race, taking teams about 3 hours to complete, that is fun for all types of racers whether they are seasoned or just a beginner. We don't know exactly what it will involve, but the site says to be prepared for lots of challenges, teamwork, climbing, paddling, navigation and a seriously great time.

I'll get to use my mountain bike, which has been seriously neglected since I bought it. Since there will be running involved too, we (by we, I mean Jason) had to change the clipless pedals so I can ride with regular shoes (see photo mosaic). Since we don't know exactly what to expect, I have no goals for this race other than to do my best and have FUN! This should be a blast and just the distraction we need to fend off taper madness :) I'm excited for the new adventure, and I will post all about it tomorrow night along what crazy adventure I'm considering next ;)

Ladies Night at Track Shack

Ladies Night at Track Shack is a fundraiser for the Florida Hospital Track Shack Cancer Screening Program, which provides mammograms to under-served women in our community. It is the auxiliary event of the Lady Track Shack 5k presented by Florida Hospital. I really wanted to run the 5K this year, but since I'm doing the UCF Adventure race instead, I attended Ladies Night to support this great cause.

The entrance fee was $10, which got you free wine and beer (I really need to acquire a taste for these), lite snacks (fruit, cheese and crackers), 20% off all purchases, and all the goodies you see in the picture below. I think my favorite is the "Tri with Sway" headband! I love wearing headbands when I work out to keep the sweat and hair off my face, and I'm well on my way to a great collection. It's not quite as big as my tote bag collection, but it's growing :)

The event was really very well organized, as usually, because Track Shack never fails to impress. I had a lot of fun catching up with the gals from my Galloway group, and seeing what they look like in the light wearing normal clothes. See more photos of the event on Flickr.

Strength Training - Body Pump Class

I do plenty of cardio -- walking, running, cycling, swimming (soon), and kickboxing -- which has helped improved my fitness, build endurance, and shed several pounds. Even though I am at a healthy weight, I still have a bit of belly fat I'd like to do without, and I'd like my body to be more toned in general. So it's time that I seriously consider a strength training routine because feeding muscle helps burn more fat and will make me stronger. I've dabbled in it a bit with body weight exercises -- push ups, squats, lunges, core exercises, and even yoga -- because I hate lifting weights. These have helped and my upper body is definitely stronger, but it's not enough. I do not do it consistently, and don't know enough to do it on my own.

I joined the YMCA at downtown Orlando a few weeks ago, and got set up in their machines circuit, but I am still at a loss as to the right amount of weight, reps, and sets. I talked to Tim, one of their exercise class instructors and directors, and he recommended Body Pump 3x a week for best results. This morning was my first class, and it went well. It was challenging, but not as hard as I build up to be in my head.

Since this was my first time, I took it easy on the weights while I got used to the exercises. I can probably handle more weight next time now that I know what to expect. I did most of the squats and lunges at the end with just body weight. I mainly want to strengthen my upper body and not tire my legs too much. I may focus on lower body more after the marathon, but for now body weight squats and lunges will suffice.

I'll definitely be back next week. I don't want to add too much too fast, especially now that I am in marathon taper mode, so I'm going to try this once a week for now and see how it goes. I'll build up to 2-3 times a week after the marathon if I can find a way to fit into my triathlon training schedule.

Progress Update on 101 Things in 1001 Days

It's been almost 2 months (51 days) since I started 101 Things in 1001 Days List, and I've already made quite a bit of progress. My goal is to complete at least 30 items on the list in 2010. Some tasks I enjoy doing, but never seem to find the time, so I made them recur every month or every year for the duration for the project. Below is my progress so far.

Completed

1. get down to and maintain my weight under 125 lbs - I've maintained it, and exceeded it, for 3 weeks so far.
2. write a letter to myself to open in 1001
3. run for 1 hour straight (with no walk breaks)

In Progress

1. run a marathon - training done; race on 2/28
2. build a 12 month emergency fund (take home pay) [7.3/12] 
3. read 101 books (including 10 classics I've never read) [3/100] - Books Read
4. learn to change the oil in my car - learned, but didn't finish
5. do 100 full push-ups in a row [20/100]
6. do 200 crunches in a row [50/200]
7. do 25 pull ups [2/25]

Monthly Tasks

1. take a photo for FGR/TRP once a month [2/32] - Jan 2010, Feb 2010

Yearly Tasks

1. blog daily for 30 days each year [0/3] - February 2010 in progress
2. document a day in my life in pictures each year [1/3] - New Year's Eve
3. take a picture a day for 30 days in a row each year [0/3] - February 2010 in progress
4. volunteer at one race each year [1/3] - Disney Marathon - Jan 10, 201

January 2010 Recap

The end of January marks the end of marathon training and the begin of a 4 week taper. I've had a great running season, and I am more than ready to tackle this marathon, then switch my focus to triathlons for a bit. Thankfully, I have 2 races before the marathon to keep me busy and motivated.

I joined the YMCA this month to have someplace to swim, attend exercise classes like kickboxing, and begin incorporating strength training regularly into my workout routine. So far I am loving it -- been to a few classes and done a few machines -- but have yet to make it to the pool.

My running goal for January was to run 100 miles, but a few runs got cut short and that didn't happen. I almost went running yesterday to meet that goal, but realized how foolish it was to risk injury to meet an arbitrary goal -- not to mention that it's 109 when I add in the walking miles. Even at 97 miles, that's 10 more than last month and that's accomplishment enough for me. I also wanted to exercise an average of 1 hour a day (towards my goal of exercising 365 hours in 2010) and I exceeded that. Below are all the details.

January Stats

• walking = 12 miles; 3h 23m (I've been walking to the Y, which 1.2 roundtrip)
• running = 97 miles; 20h 36m (about 1/2 of all exercise hours was running)
• cycling = 14 miles; 2 hrs (includes trainer and spin class)
• swimming = 0
• other = 15hr 27m (includes yoga, core, strength, kickbox, etc)
• total = 123 miles; 41h 25m (avg 1.3 hrs / day)

Accomplishments

• 23 mile long run
• 24.4 mile long run
• Got my weight down and maintained it under 125 lbs for 3 weeks so far

Goals for February

• 02/06 - UCF Adventure Race
• 02/21 - Breast Cancer Marathon Relay 
• 02/28 - Gasparilla Marathon

PS - The photo of the day will be posted later to the 30 Days - February 2010 Flickr Set. I won't always post them to the blog too, so check there if you wan't to keep up with them daily.

Favorite Running Gear

I thought I would kill two birds with one stone by taking a picture of all my favorite running gear and talking about why/how I use each piece.

Race Ready LD Fitness shorts w/mesh pockets - I love these short and wear them on almost every run (I have 2 pairs). Even when it is cold, I'll often wear pants over or under them so I can still have the storage space. The snug fit prevents chafing, and the mesh pockets in the back are perfect to carry everything I need during a long run without bouncing, including my cell phone and nutrition.

Pearl Izumi Seamless Arm Warmers - This is perhaps the best investment I ever made. I love wearing these when it is cool out instead of a long sleeve shirt. Because they fit snugly, they do a better job at keeping me warm and dry by wicking away sweat. When it warms up, I can simply roll them down to my wrists or tuck them into my pockets.

Bondi Bands - These wicking headbands help keep my hair in place and sweat off my eyes, and they are cute too! You often can't read the cute sayings because I usually wear a hat over it. I wear these anytime I work out, whether it be yoga or cycling or anything else.

Garmin Forerunner 305 - Obviously I use this to track my distance, time, pace, etc. I LOVE data! :) I rarely run without the watch, but sometimes ignore the display and analyze the data when I get home instead.

Body Glide - I use this everywhere, especially for long runs or hot days, to avoid chafing.

Nutrition - Last year I ate only sports beans for my half marathons and long runs because I couldn't stand gels, but I quickly grew tired of those. I finally started eating Gu gels this year, and I love how compact they are so I can carry more for the marathon without weighing me down. I usually also bring along a pack of clif shot blocks and mini luna bar to mix things up so I don't get sick of eating gels.

Amphipod RunLite Snapflask 4 Hydration Belt - When I run with the Galloway group, they have water stops so I rarely need to carry my own hydration. However, there are times when we start too early or I'll go run on my own, so I'll wear this. It can hold up to 4 8-oz bottles, but I usually just carry 2. If I position it just right and snug enough, it doesn't bounce around and I barely notice it. I much prefer the extra weight around the waist instead of carrying a bottle on my hand. I also own a Amphipod Handheld 12 oz Water Bottle that I used for shorter runs in the summer, but I try to avoid carrying anything when I run if I can help it.

Spi Belt - I use this as a race belt (using safety pins to attach the bib to it) more than for storage, although it comes in handy to carry keys, ID, and money when I don't want to carry a purse.

Pearl Izumi Jacket (not pictured) - I bought this at the Pearl Izumi outlet for cycling, but it has come in handy for running in the cold more often. It is a light weight wind breaker, but has zippers under the arms to help ventilate when it starts to get warm or you can remove them altogether to turn it into a vest. It is also water resistant.

I am sure I am forgetting some essential piece of gear, but these are the basics. Of course, I also use a good sports bra and tech shirts. What's on your list of essential gear? Do you have any questions about what gear to use for a specific situation? Let me know in the comments!

30 Days of Blogging and Photos

Today marks the beginning of my attempt to blog and take a photo daily for the next 30 days (2 items on my 101 things in 1001 days list). I figured this would be a good time to start so I can document the weeks leading up to my first marathon, and give me something to do while I cut back on running. I also plan to do a "Day in the Life in Photos" on marathon day.

My photo for day 1 is on the right. It's nothing too exciting, but there you have it. I took it with my iPhone while walking to El Coqui to treat myself to some well earned mofongo, only to be disappointed that they no longer sell it for lunch :(

I have no idea what I'll talk about for 30 days in a row, but we'll figure it out. If you have suggestions for topics or questions you'd like to see me address here, bring it on in the comments!

Marathon Training Update = 24 Miles!

This morning I did my last long run of marathon training, and it was amazing -- possibly my best long run ever. I was going to run the full distance in training, but decided to do 24 instead so that the Gasparilla Marathon would truly be my maiden voyage. I felt strong the entire 24.4 miles and had enough left to speed up at the end, finishing with an average pace of 13:07 min/mile, and I could have easily done an extra 2 miles. Read all the details on dailymile.

Now it's time for taper madness! =) I'll be cutting back on running a bit, as well as cross training, but have a few races to keep me busy and motivated. Here's the schedule for the upcoming weeks:

• 02/06 - UCF Adventure Race
• 02/13 - 8 mile run with Galloway group
• 02/21 - Breast Cancer Marathon Relay (5 miles)
• 02/28 - Gasparilla Marathon

2010 Goals and Preliminary Race Schedule

I can already feel that 2010 is going to be a great year. I have very lofty goals, yet I think they are attainable. After reviewing my data from 2009, here's what I've come up with to continue to challenge myself and keep things fun and interesting :)

2009 Goals Update

1. sub-30 5K - No - PR = 33:12
2. sub-70 10K - didn't run any 10Ks
3. sub- 2:35 Half Marathon - No
4. first Sprint Duathlon - YES!
5. first Marathon - training now for Feb 2010
6. (maybe) first Sprint Triathlon - YES!

2010 Goals

1. Complete at least 30 items from my 101 things in 1001 days list
2. Complete my first marathon!
3. Complete my first olympic triathlon
4. Complete the Tri 2010 dailymile challenge - run/bike/swin at least a total of 2010 miles in tri proportions: swim 60, bike 1568, run/walk 382
5. Do a long run of at least 6-10 miles each week during triathlon season (will increase starting in June when I begin training for my 2nd marathon -- WHAT?) This should give me a minimum of 12 - 18 miles per week.
6. Run/walk 700 miles (58/month; 14/week)
7. Bike 1750 miles (146/month; 34/week)
8. Swim 1 mile non-stop
9. Exercise 365 hours - this includes all sports and cross training (1 hour/day)
10. Run a 5K in under 30 minutes or at least a new PR
11. Run a 10K without walking
12. Run a 1/2 marathon in under 2:35 or at least at a new PR
13. Maintain my weight at under 125 lbs

Tentative 2010 Racing Schedule
(this is very tentative and will change, especially the triathlons or anything after May. Items in bold are confirmed.)

• 01/23 - 26 mile Marathon Training Run
• 02/06 - UCF Adventure Race
• 02/21 - Breast Cancer Marathon Relay (5 miles)
• 02/28 - Gasparilla Marathon
• 03/13 - Winter Park Road Race  Distance Dare (10K + 2 mile)
• 04/15 - Corporate 5K
• 05/08 - Muddy Buddy Orlando
• 06/19 - Heartland Triathlon
• 06/27 - Morton Plant Mease Triathlon
• 07/17 - Central Florida Tri Series #2
• 08/14 - Athletes Who Care Reverse Triathlon
• 09/12 - Florida Challenge Triathlon (olympic distance)
• 10/31 - Athens Classic Marathon (in Greece! I hope I can make this happen)
• 11/13 - Urban Dare Orlando
• 11/?? - Space Coast Half Marathon

So that's my plan for now. I'll adjust it as the year goes on and racing calendars are finalized at the various sites. If you have a suggestions for a not-to-be-missed race, or goal I overlooked, post it in the comments.