Our adventure actually began the night before the race at the Walgreen parking lot across from the YMCA where the pre-race meeting and gear check was to be held. We had stopped there to pick up some last minute first aid supplies and to get our required gear in one place when Angie realized she had left her headlamp at HOME!! Luckily we had seen a sporting goods store about 10 miles away and were able to pick one up and get back before gear check closed. We got back to the hotel and got everything ready for the next day. We crashed somewhere around Midnight.

Race day began with the alarm clock going off at 3:30am (who needs sleep anyway right). We had to be at the Reforestation Camp by 4:30am, and we hadn't been there before so we wanted to have plenty of time. We found the camp without issue and situated ourselves in the parking lot (was to be one of two transition areas). The race began at 5:00am with a 2.5 mile trail run...while tied together with a 3 foot rope (we ended up liking the whole rope tow thing that we ended up using for almost every section we were on foot!). The run was rather uneventful and helped get the blood flowing in the FREEZING 40 degree air. During the trail run we received the instructions for the next leg. After completing the trail run we opened the instructions to find the land navigation section. This section was rather simple as all the checkpoints were placed on the trail. We estimate this section being around 7 miles which left our under-trained legs and feet rather sore. After completing the land navigation, we received the instructions for the rest of the course.

Next, we plotted our course for the bike leg and headed out into the unknown. We wouldn't be back to this transition area until the last leg of the race, so we had to pack about 8 hours worth of food and water. When we reached our 3rd CP, we were required to do the monkey bars as a special team event. Luckily, neither one of us fell off, and we were back on the bikes on the way to the next transition area. When we got there, we learned we were to be split up for a while. Angie was to kayak to CP6 while I was to roller blade to CP4, CP5, and then meet up with Angie at CP6. Upon arriving at CP4, I was given two attempts at a marked route on a portable climbing wall. This was a nice break for me, and I cleared it relatively easy. I got to CP6 a few minutes before Angie and had a chance to eat some power bars and recoup a little. Once she arrived we had to get a couple of CPs on foot together. Stupid ME leaves my pack behind and had to go back for it between check points in case of a gear check (any missing gear at a random check would result in a disqualification). Next we had to head back to the transition area, only this time I kayaked and Angie roller bladed. I was really looking forward to this section since I had never kayaked before and I wanted to give my Simon River paddle a run for it's money! I arrived at the transition area before Angie and had a little time to rest up. This was undoubtedly the most difficult portion of the race for Angie. She had only been on roller blades ONCE before, and now she had to go upwards of 5 miles...without any brakes!! Needless to say, she took a few spills, and blew through one intersection through oncoming traffic. When she made it back to the transition area ALIVE, we were given instructions for another mystery event. We were to hike to a nearby rock quarry and see the person there for instructions. Much to our surprise we spotted some canoes and the quarry filled with water. We were given a bearing and told to follow it to find subsequent bearings that would piece together a phrase (which ended up being 'Albino Chickens Need Sunscreen'). This was our favorite part of the race since we both love canoeing and the water was so clear you could see 30-40 feet down.

After completing the mystery event we were back on the bikes to collect the rest of the bike CPs. At CP8 we had to jump back off the bikes and hike a few miles to collect a couple more land nav points. We then headed to CP9 for another mystery event. We were given two buckets and told to fill a large tub with water from a nearby stream. The catch was there were holes in the tub that allowed water to leak as we were filling it (how FRUSTRATING). Luckily, there was enough sediment in the water to clog several holes for us (ha ha). We finally got the last couple of CPs on the bike leg and returned to the Reforestation Camp for the mountain bike orienteering. Unfortunately, the park was to close at 7:30 and therefore the race cutoff would be the same. We were only able to get one of the five bike orienteering points before we had to return so as not to miss the cutoff.

We finished in just over 14 hours! We ended up placing second out of three 2 person coed teams and xxxxxxx overall. WHAT A RACE! This was by far the longest, most fun, and most difficult race we have ever done. Thanks to Team-Enterprise and the Green Bay YMCA for putting on such a great event.