2001 Coast To Coast - Florida

Team Batteries Plus

While we did place 2nd place in our division of 4 person Female Team we also battled another team called Deer in the Headlights for last place overall. About 20 teams out of 65 dropped out of the race behind us. We definitely made our goal: To finish and have fun.
 
Several people have asked for details so I will try and summarize the race as briefly as possibly. Mileage and order of events is approximate.
 
I must give a very heartfelt thanks to our support crew who were there for us every step of the way! They worked probably as hard as we did to move all of our equipment from transition to transition and had very little sleep as well. Every transition was easy and we had everything ready when we needed when we needed it. They did the impossible and kept 4 tired, dirty, sleep deprived women moving without any problems. Mary, Jean, Debbie, Joann and Tina my hat is off to each of you! We could not have done it without you.
 
Race start:
Race began at 6:00 AM with a run on the beach. It was a beautiful sunrise and the excitement to finally start was very high. We decided that preparation (training and gear preparation) for this race was harder than
the actual race. 
Highlight - It felt so good to finally be on the way!
 
Transition 1:
15 mile kayak. Beautiful morning on the intercoastal waterway and a couple of river segments.
Highlight - Saw 2 wild pink flamingos overhead. A good sign.
 
Transition 2: 
22 mile bike on paved roads. The day had become extremely hot. Started out at swift pace then slowed a bit with the increasing heat. Route changed to some dirt roads and we got our first taste of biking (pushing bike) in thick sand.
Highlight - Finished this segment
Lowlight - Hot Hot Hot
 
Transition 3: 
26 mile kayak. From the hot bikes to the river. We headed straight for the river and jumped in for a quick swim. Back on the kayaks again in the cooler late afternoon. 1st segment of the paddle was an easy few miles.
We hit the swamps after dark. We paddled for hours on the Oklawaha River with the red shinning eyes of alligators all around. Many teams including us got lost in the middle of the night surrounded by gators. It was pretty spooky. After being in the kayaks for 12 hours we hit the next transition at 5:00 AM to a very worried support crew. Slept for 1-1/2 hours after traveling 24 hours. 
Highlight - Beautiful sunset just before the lightning storm hit.
Lowlight - Gators to the left of us - Gators to the right.......................

End of day one.
 
Transition 4:
7.5 miles trekking. Bushwhacked down to Jeep trail roads then down in the swamp land with poison ivy all around along the Oklawaha River. 
Highlight - Trekking along a pretty river and not seeing any gators.
Lowlight - 2 steps away from stepping on a big fat water moccasin.
 

Transition 5:
12 miles Mountain bike. 1st 5 miles on the road then back to the Oklawaha River. 7 miles of bushwhacking the bikes along the river.     

Highlight - Moving swiftly along the river banks with bikes in tow 

Lowlight - In the swamps again in the dark lifting the bikes over many trees and obstacles.
 
Transition 6:
9 miles trekking and orienteering. We were given a compass reading of 220 to follow through the woods and open fields. Made several fence crossing as we navigated through miles of woods and brush. Our navigator Cathy kept us on our compass heading and got up there. On to the transition and a full support stop where we slept for 2 hours.
Highlight - The most wonderful breakfast cooked by our awesome support crew when we woke up.
Lowlight - Once we hit the pavement with several miles to go it felt like our feet were big sausages we had to shuffle along.
 
End of day 2
 
Transition 7:
Short bike ride to the rock quarry where we put on our climbing harness, climbed a rock face and traversed across the quarry along 2 ropes. A fast fun ride in the air. Back to the bikes and headed the wrong way! After finding the right trail we were on our way for a very long bike ride on the trails. Had many stops where the sand got too deep to ride. We had to push the bike through it the remount and bike on. I swear my bike got taller and taller every time I had to swing my leg over the bike. 
Highlight - Riding down some of the most beautiful bike/horse trails under live oaks and Spanish moss. We were in the heart of the Ocala National Forest. It was very awesome.
Lowlight - I bonked on middle of the ride. My body just stopped and had a very hard time getting going again. After realizing I had not eaten in a few hours I ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my pack and I was good to go. I think my mind was suffering a bit from sleep depravation.
Bike on....
 
Transition 8:
After some real sandwiches from the local Subway (we were clued in to take $20.00 and a Visa) and a quick visit with the crew we set out on the kayaks just before dark for a gentle ride down the Withlacoochee River.
It was nice and peaceful with only a few alligator spottings. After getting a bit lost and going in circles we got back on track and pulled up to the next transition.
Highlight - a beautiful night ride under a bright 1/4 moon.
Lowlight - Getting lost again
 
Transition 9:
15 mile bike ride on country roads.
Highlight - It was a very swift, cool, sweet ride. Probably the most enjoyable leg of the trip
Lowlight - None
 
End of Day 3
 
Transition 10:
The last leg of the trip! Team Deer in the headlights were stopped and wanting to sleep before going on. Race officials encouraged them to leave with us. All other teams had dropped out behind us. At 4:00 AM we were back on the kayaks again for the final paddle. Tried to cat nap in the canal but current carried us backwards. So on to the finish line!
Luckily an adrenaline rush came along and we swiftly paddled out of the canal into the Gulf of Mexico! We had to carry (drag) the boats across 3 jetty's to finally paddle into the Crystal River. With the finish line still a couple of miles away we paddled against a strong current looking for manatees. Only saw one small shark and no manatees. Finally the finish line in sight. Along with Team Deer in the Headlights we finished after 78 hours!
 
To summarize: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Luckily for the same reasons I wanted to do this race when many thought I was crazy, it was a really fun race. Completing what seems impossible and working together as a team to reach the goal is like nothing I've ever
done. You really get to see what's deep inside (some of it's not so pretty) that you never knew was there.
 
Asked right after the race if I would do it again, the answer was an immediate yes. But not today.