Grizzlyman Adventure Race

courtesy of GMAR (me and Brian Miller paddling the easier of the Class III rapids on the Blackfoot River)

I've become an incredibly lazy blogger.  And, I think I will first muse briefly about something other than GMAR.  I had a big jury trial this month (the first where I was "first chair") and it ate every ounce of my brain and body.  It was a tougher test of endurance than any race I've ever done.  You work hard all day, devoting every neuron to fighting the good fight, end the day, prepare for the next and do it all over again.  This was only a four day trial.  Being a runner was my saving grace.  I was able to get up in the morning, shake out the cobwebs, work some problems and jump back in the fray.  Ultimately, I won my trial (with the help of a super fabulous underling), which was a huge relief, but more importantly I realized what I already knew, which is that many things are harder, more important and more satisfying than dragging a sled in the snow or frolicking in the woods for hours on end.  Duh. 

Back to the frivolous stuff.  Yes.  Grizzlyman Adventure Race.  This is a 12 hour event where you map checkpoints on a map and go find them.  At some point you must be on your feet, on a bike and in a boat.  Our goal was to win the co-ed division and qualify for nationals but we were beaten by a couple from Seattle whose strategy was smarter than ours it appears.  Mind you, I did none of the strategizing or navigating, and essentially came along for the ride.  In fact, Friday night while my team-mates Brian and Peter did all the hard work, I went to sleep.  (See the preceding paragraph).  On the heels of my week of insanity, I just needed and wanted to play in the woods.  And play I did.  It was fun.  I definitely want to do it again and enjoyed my first "adventure race."  I am grateful to be a runner.