Team Mighty Dog Rumbles
to Another Strong Finish
(3rd Place, Blue Ridge Mountain AR)

David J. Cook, Colleen X. Pitts & Ardie Olson, supported by Sherry Olson, raced to an impressive 3rd place finish in the 2004 Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race. David got his wish of winning a Blue Ridge trophy! Early this season we all discussed our goals for the year. High on David J. Cook’s list was a BRMAR trophy! The team agreed and we set our sights on the Aska adventure area.

The race started out at Shallowford Bridge with a riddle to solve. We quickly figured it out and received our instructions. With some quick planning we were on our way to an exhausting 6 hour day. Our competition was fierce (Litespeed, Adventures. Anon) and we knew that to do well on this short, high intensity race we would have to be quick on our feet and our noggins. To our advantage, this year’s BR format included some navigation.

On our feet, we raced for the first check point. At this point we had no idea how we were doing because people were going every which way. Instead of worrying about the other teams, we put dug in our claws and high-tailed it to the next check point. CP after CP led us to the lovely Toccoa River. Ardie Olson’s expert river navigation allowed us to pass several teams and come out of the water fast. Ardie weaved our boat through the obstacles of the Toccoa with no mistakes. David was elated because this was the first time he didn’t swim the Aska rapids!

Once out of the water we grabbed our bikes and headed out of the oh so familiar Turkey Farm area. Off to the Green Mountain & Aska trails then back to Blue Ridge middle school. There we traded our bikes for a trot around the baseball field toting Colleen Pitts on a piece of timber.

Last but not least, we headed out of the middle school parking lot in a gallop for town. David was starting to cramp and two more miles seemed like forty at that point. Finally we came to the last and seemingly most evil hill of the race. Slowly we trotted up the hill and the race venue was in sight. What a relief!

We mustered up our last bits of energy and quickly slid over the last greased up obstacle. Colleen gracefully trotted to the finish line as Ardie helped push “all cramped up” David across the line for a third place finish!

Overall, we had a great race and proved ourselves in the “short” race venue.