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Fri, Aug 8th - A Rolling Start

Steve Kirby / 08.08.2003

The New Balance BEAST of the East started at 19.00 in the Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. The 47 teams (solos, pairs and fours), set off on a 275 mile course knowing that Don Mann’s course would be tough – his motto is, “Your pain is our pleasure�. They were all looking forward to ropes sections at some of the best rock climbing cliffs in the East and paddling on the historic French Broad River, but the race began with a rolling bike start.

It wasn’t long into the 11-mile, mostly uphill bike section that the lead pack pulled away from the others to set a blazing pace. Wheel-to-wheel, teams New Balance/Odyssey, Litespeed, and Intrepid battled it out as they climbed up the 8-mile long, steep fireroad. When Intrepid slipped back briefly, and Litespeed stopped for a flat tire, New Balance/Odyssey forged ahead.

In an admirable show of teamwork, they set up a “train� with Ronny Angell towing Chris Scott, who was towing Kristen Eddy, who was being pushed by Chris Caul. It was just enough to get them to the bike drop first, but not enough to leave behind the aptly named Intrepid, who breezed in moments later, or Litespeed, who acted as a well-orchestrated pit crew when fixing teammate Jay Curwin’s flat.

These teams switched quickly from biking to hiking as Teams Kinam/Leatherman, soloist Eric Turk, Vulture/Bendon Publishing, and V-Max quickly filed in. Racers then headed out on a 22-mile trek, which will include a 3-point orienteering course and a night-time 400 foot rappel off the famous Looking Glass Rock.

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