The New Balance Mega Dose
Mega Dose – Just What the Doctor Ordered !
Dawn Taylor-Mann/Odyssey AR / 18.07.2003
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect prescription for eager athletes itching for a good adventure race. This past weekend’s (July 11- 13) New Balance Mega Dose offered a challenging and creative course, a swanky venue, generous sponsors, enthusiastic volunteers and killer weather. Pre-race activities were held at the impressive Natural Bridge Inn, and the race started at midnight under the historic Natural Bridge – a national landmark and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the Modern World. The Bridge was owned by Thomas Jefferson and originally surveyed by George Washington, whose carved initials could be seen as racers walked through. With this magnificent monument as a starting archway, 35 teams lined up while listening to atmospheric music piped in - as if coming from the monolith itself. It was a surreal start to a spectacular race.
The “Dose� was the first Odyssey race with New Balance Athletic Shoes as the title sponsor, and the 35th Odyssey-produced adventure race. The New Balance Mega Dose marked the return of what was previously known as Odyssey’s “big, bad� adventure race. “It’s a kinder, gentler Mega Dose,� assured course designer Doc Wortley. He had shortened the old Mega Dose course from 4-days and 250 miles to 2-days and 150 miles.
Regardless, when 2-man team Cowboy Up were congratulated on their first place finish, Joe Moerschbaecher declared, “It was so hard I was just happy to SURVIVE it!� “I bonked more in this race than I have cumulatively in the past two years,� he added. Teammate Ronny Angell just smiled as he reflected on their 27-hour, 11-minute ordeal.
After leaving the starting line under the Natural Bridge, racers ran along backcountry roads and under a luminous full moon as they completed the New Balance Half Marathon and met their support crews to switch out to bikes. After several hours of biking up and over the Blue Ridge Mountains, competitors arrived at the next assisted check point where they donned fins and wetsuits for a 5-mile river swim through Class II – III rapids.
The ensuing trekking section really started wearing on the competitors who hiked near vertical ascents as they crossed over the Appalachian Trail and moved on to the fixed ropes course. The Dirty Dozen ropes crew furthered their reputation for fun, safe and well-run climbing sites with a rope-assisted ascent, a traverse and a rappel.
After completing the ropes course, racers were rewarded for their efforts with another steep trek over the Blue Ridge Parkway and to Panther Falls where several support crews took advantage of the 80 degree, sunny weather to swim at the Falls. From here, competitors began a 3-point orienteering course in which they were required to get at least 1 punch point, and receive time penalties for any missed points.See All Event Posts
