ok, not technically, because I am just copying and pasting and Eric's email and A member from Team Manny's and not claiming it to be my own. I just couldn't write a better report and I am 30 races, runs, events, breakdowns :), behind in posts. So here goes this but pretty soon out of date events... because I need to tell you how incredible WEMT went.
ok back to the beast report from Tolt (not last weeks) -that I will write myself.
From Eric Bone
BEAST Athletes, Volunteers and Friends,
Kudos to all of you who toughened it out in last Wednesday's miserable conditions, you are true Northwesteners! (except for team Manny's+ who ended up in the bar early, see Marty's didn't-race report below...., sometimes you gotta know when to fold em!)
Tolt-MacDonald Park and the surrounding trails made an excellent, challenging venue for last week's race. The mountain biking and navigation on this course were definitely at the technical end of the spectrum (probably our toughest ever - Eric even made some wrong turns while picking up the markers), but not one of you complained--we are truly impressed.
The race started with an extremely tricky Micro-Orienteering event, followed by a big hill ride then some motalla loops on the bikes to spread the field. After a trekking loop it was all downhill to the finish, where Carol served up some always appreciated BEAST grub, the chilli was again one of the racer's favorites.
now Team Manny's
Report from Marty Couret of Manny's =======
Team Manny’s descended on Carnation with a dream of a gorgeous day and a great race. What was returned to them was 100% chance of rain and a great race? Unlike years past, 2009 is the year of the rain drop.
Mark pulled up in his huge bright orange monster truck got out and looked at Marty and said, “Are we really going to race in this?” To which he responded, “I hate racing in the cold and rain, and after last race I am seriously considering bagging this one.” Kari with her untested Mt bike still on Chips car looked up with hopeful eyes. “I don’t really want to race either.” Chip silently worked on his bike with Colin. Clint comes over with a look of dread on his face. We stand there in the pelting rain. Connie joins the group huddled under her water shedding gortex shell. Memories of last months cold and wet race are fresh in our minds.
We move out of the way for Jill and Dan to park. We tell them we are considering bagging the race and going to get a beer. Jill calls us wimps. Dan looks hopeful that Jill with change her mind. Then Marty does what he does best. He goes to his car and pulls out The Boot. He fills it with a growler of Manny’s Pale Ale and passes it around.
“So what are we going to do?” Kari pleads. “I think Chip wants to race. This weather is why Kara didn’t want to race.”
“I love adventure racing, but I think if I am cold and miserable one more time, I might give up the sport,” Marty replies.
“Clint, what do you want to do?” Marty asks.
Looking like a drowned green rat in his water soaked shell Clint says, “I can do whatever.”
“I am skipping it! I will just be bitter and cold if I race. But I have to wait for David, he was going to race with us,” exclaims Marty.
Eric Bone backs into a parking space close by. Marty runs over and relays his dismay with the weather and his regrets that he will not be racing.
Gary from Oregon’s Team Next Adventure mock us. We all agree that if our team sponsor paid for a van, travel expenses, and entry fees, we would race.
Dan, Jill, Carol, and Robin agree to keep a lookout for David.
“Well let’s get out of the rain,” Kari demands. We are already soaked.
Colin pipes in, “Let’s go to the Roadhouse!”
Eight of us load up into our cars and caravan down the road, stopping David on the way to invite him. He is determined to race.
Check Point 1: The Roadhouse is a fancier restaurant than anyone remembers. Worst of all they don’t have pitchers. That’s ok they have Manny’s on tap. They can’t be that bad. We laugh as we watch squall after squall dumps rain rapidly enlarging the puddles outside. We trade stories and roar as Mark transforms into Super Mark after just two beers. Here’s the line. Here is where he crossed it. Good times.
We all agree we need to do some long rides in the upcoming weeks to get in shape for TRIOBA. But the justification for bailing on the race is easy for us. We are after all, team Manny’s Pale Ale. We need to train our livers as well as our bodies. The Roadhouse has mediocre food and poor service. We excuse ourselves, and the road.
Check Point 2: Tavern. There is no name to this biker bar. Just “Tavern.” It has an eclectic lumberjack motif, guys wearing Harley shirts, UFC in the flat screens that drop from the ceiling, and pitchers of Manny’s. Chip is at home. Having grown up in Fall City, this is his hood. He hits the bar and rolls up to the table with a crisp cold can of Rainier.
The pictures on the wall sell this place. Random most wanted posters with Osama Bin Laden. Framed photos of two guys and their snowmobiles. The topper was a 2x3 foot black and white 1970s picture with 6 shirtless guys in short shorts and cutoffs sitting on a car looking as menacing as possible each cradling a gun. Two cases of Rainier Beer are carelessly set upon the roof. These are men…with guns. Their seriousness is offset by their Village People appearance.
Kari arrives with a pitcher of Manny’s and one of Sierra Nevada. Clint wanting to make a name for himself among this larger than life group of racers quickly downs his first beer. The others break the first rule of adventure racing, “Don’t follow the team in front of you,” and quickly down their next beer as well.
Check Point #3: The rain is finally letting up. We stroll out of the nearly empty bar to a 57 Chevy. The guys take off their shirts and pose with the car, shirtless, cold, happy, and with their own “Gun Show.” (Colin will send out the photo’s)
Overall, a fairly typical race. Chip navigated us effortlessly to the bar. Colin and Connie took pictures. Mark sprinted ahead like usual, and hit Super Mark status early. Marty posed for inappropriate pictures, and convinced others to do the same. Kari supplied the stories that make our lives sound dull. And Clint did what he usually does, lay low then finish ahead of you. To his credit, he was very talkative.
Sorry we ditched you David. Welcome to Team Manny’s!
We will all see you at TRIOBA soon.
On-On
Marty
Team Manny’s Pale Ale
