June 23, 2008

RACE DAY!!!! I know for many of my friends, this would not be exciting, but I find it fascinating that these people want to do this to themselves (I also wonder why people want to climb Mt. Everest and enter the “death zone”). But it was exciting to see all 240 of them getting ready and the strange gear they wear. They are leaving with snow shoes, climbing harness already on, and several had cameras attached to their heads.

The day started very foggy. From my condo, I couldn’t even see the mountain. So I didn’t think we would see much. But by race time, the fog had burnt off. The first leg of the race was a climb up Lone Mountain (I’ve already put a picture of my view of the mountain). It’s not that high at a little over 11,000 feet, but I can tell you, it is one heck of a climb. And the first team went up AND came back down in just 2 ½ hours – so fast the volunteers did have the check-point set up yet.

I’ve got some pictures of the start of the race below. One of my friends said, “Don’t they look energetic – but not for long!!” And that is the truth. The local TV station out of Bozeman is covering as the race goes through the wilderness around the Bozeman area. On Tuesday, the teams had to paddle and swim the Gallatin River, which is very high from the large amount of snow melting. About half way through the teams, Primal Quest stopped the participants and bused them to the next check point, as it was getting too dangerous (and people have been killed on this race). I saw one interview where the woman said the river pulled her down into a “hole” (bottom of a big rapid), and she was screaming for her husband to save her, but of course, he was trying to save himself and couldn’t get to her. Luckily the river threw her out of the hole and she got to shore.

I only wish I was in that good of shape. I’m hiking 4 miles in the morning, 2 miles up the mountain and 2 miles back. At least I won’t be “out of shape” when I return to Georgia. I’ll probably just die from the heat!!!

The Race

Here are some pictures of the start of the race. All 240 people went through the start, with the first teams running (that stopped pretty quickly), and many teams just walking, not ashamed of being in last. It is a 10 day race, and I guess they were taking the Tortoise strategy vs. the Hair strategy. And the guy in the kilt is not a racer – just a strange volunteer.