---

Head to Head Competition

Doug Doyle / 06.10.2005

Five alarms sound out from five different racers at 6:00AM in room 411 of Deer Lodge: it’s a race to the bathroom and to the kitchen over an obstacle course of gear strewn about the floor and hallway: paddles, bikes, shoes, helmets, clothing, water bottles, hydration packs, race plates and open safety pins. “What to wear, what to wear?� frets one of our roomies, a model by profession among other careers and incarnations. In between dressing and eating he gave a hair product seminar and stressed the need for personal grooming before, during and after an adventure race. I might not win, but I’ll look damn good.

Chris and I drive down from Mount Washington to the Cumberland Lake Campground for check in and to find our team mates. Where are Aimee and Rene? Where are the double kayaks? Do we have our required gear? Did Aimee bring cupcakes? I saw friends and fellow racers Tasha, Carol, Bill, the Whole Fam Damly team that I interviewed a few weeks ago and met Dani who was at an adventure racing talk I gave last year and was then inspired to race – what an incredible feeling to know you have influenced someone to take up adventure racing and will be able to see them on the course.

Chris and I finally contacted Rene and Aimee. We set up our double kayaks and sorted out who would paddle with whom: Rene and I agreed to paddle the faster Passat and Chris and Aimee would paddle the slower boat and take advantage of our draft.

See All Stories On This Race