2009 Palmetto Swamp Fox AR

David-M · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject:

Team GLR-Lite was made up of myself, Chris Bandy (Clemson) and Will Rushovd (Charleston). We had never raced together and this was in fact Chris’s 1st AR as it was mine four years ago. We tried to teach Chris some of the in’s and out’s of adventure racing. I think we did that but some of the things he learned were examples of what not to do instead of the correct way.
The race started out well for us. The prologue was uneventful and we kicked butt on the paddle and caught up with the front teams. We started to follow some of the leading teams including our sister GLR team up Tibwin Creek but about twenty yards into the creek we second guessed ourselves and turned around to go back into the inter coastal waterway along with the majority of the other teams. This was our biggest mistake and I still can’t believe after all the races I’ve done I followed other teams instead of doing my own navigation. Bonehead!! When we realized we had gone too far, we talked about heading back to get the missed CP but the wind was starting to kick up and it would have been a real effort to go back. Fortunately this actually worked out for us in the end because we would not have had time to finish the rest of the race if we had hit the O-course. At the time though we were kicking ourselves in the butt for missing this CP. The other two paddle check points were actually small banners that had a word on them that you had to write down on your passport instead of the usual punch. Simple enough right?...
We transitioned to bikes and hit the trails.
The next CP was out on an island in a small lake. To access this you had to pull yourself by a rope strung across the lake from inside a small kayak. We let Chris do this since he was the new guy. But because he was a new guy we made another bad mistake. We never told Chris he had to take the passport with him and actually punch it at the CP. Needless to say after waiting in line for 5 minutes to get in the boat, pulling himself across the water, running to the CP and coming back he thought he only had to reach the CP and come back. Not his fault at all, this was his first race and we let him down big time by not explaining that to him. Will being the trooper, took the swim option (he was inspired by a female Marine we saw do it earlier) and went and retrieved the CP. Sorry Chris!!
The rest or the race went much better. I got to swim/crawl through the 2nd pond, yuck! Chris did the climb & rappel at the big tree. We bush wacked down an old road bed that was strewn with fallen trees and mud holes. We had good navigation on the foot course where we raced shortly with the other GLR team (Jeff, Jim and Tracy). Back on the bikes we collected the last few CP while maintaining a high speed pace line. We worked real hard and the only rider in sight we didn’t catch was on a cycle cross bike (so much for the Mt. Bike on the required gear list) and we almost got him at the end. We made it to the finish with two minutes to spare. As we we’re cooling down I realized I had screwed up again. We never did write those two banner checkpoints down from the paddle leg! We meant too when we had a quick minute to spare but just never did. Will asked the race staff about it, but we weren’t allowed to get credit for those since the passport was turned in. Very Fair and we totally understood, once again I was a bonehead. So instead of 3rd in the 3 person male category,we got 6th
This really was a great race and I just thought I’d share some of my errors with other racers so you hopefully won’t make those same mistakes. I think it's interesting to hear how each team had it's own dynamics to get the task accomplished. We difinitly had good moments too, like the foot nav and pace line.
I really enjoy the Swamp Fox and I will come back as many times as the good Lord will let me. This is one to add to your 12 hour AR list.
Steve and his crew do a great job and sure there were some little controversies out there but it was still a great challenge and excellent experience.
Dave Montgomery
GLR

Dale Long · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:23 am Post subject:

Results are posted.

http://www.kandoadventures.com/advforum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=388&posts=1
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Chris · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:59 am Post subject:

Did any team clear the course? How many CPs were there? Do we still have any techno nerds that can put the map up on the board.

Oh how I long for the days when Farmer would put those up so I could feel like I did the race.

Dale Long · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:03 pm Post subject:

There were 25 CP's, so no one cleared the course.

I do not have the map, but it was rather large because of the distance they covered. I believe it was about 4 feet by 3 feet dimensions, so it would be hard to scan.

From the reports I heard, they paddled around 10 miles, were on foot for 12 or so, and on bike for over 40.
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MattG · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject:

3 person male Northern Lites cleared the course but was a little late with the new cut off time.

MattG · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject:

Also the CP that was on the water 2TA counted for six CPs as it was an o-course in the middle of the paddle
So teams that missed that point and have 19 CPs cleared all but the "follow the leader" mistake early on in the race.

Rory Avant · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject: Newbies

Just wanted to let everyone know that we took three NEWBIES to the Swamp Fox race and Knado did such a great job they are hooked. They can't wait to do more races. Way to go Steve, you hooked a few more for the sport...

Rachel · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject:

bjb281 · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject:

Jim K · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 5:18 am Post subject: GLR

Want to Thank Steve and all the Kando folks for a GREAT day in the Swamp!! Also Kathy Livingston for all they did with the boats. We did as the instructions stated and the our canoe and all the gear was right where she said it would be. Plus talking with Kathy the 5 bucks went to a fund for birds of prey pretty cool.

We didn't follow the pack and went into TA2. We were wondering where everyone else was going? Racing with Jeff And Tracey made the day. We worked well together. Even with my bird watching and mechanical problems on the bike. Wink

Spent more time than I wanted in the water. I liked the option at the bottle neck with the kayak. Growing up near the swamps of Jersey, I like to swim. Then thinking I lost the passport in the Swamp sucked. My lungs have been telling me all week that they are not real happy with me!

Northern Lights 3 P Coed were our competition and we fed off it. There were times on the course when we chased them and times when they chased us. I had fun all day trying to keep them in the cross hairs. Fun stuff. Congrats on your 1st Place finish

Look forward to next year. Thanks for setting up lodging with hot showers! The discount at the restaurant. The volunteers and the folks of Mc Clellenville. A big THANKS to Dale's son taking care of Shilo!!! See ya in 2010
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LabRat · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:18 am Post subject:

almost a week late i'll just add that i had a blast and its these kind of races that make me want to race every weekend!

Team GLR had a very good day. we much enjoyed the back and forth with Northern Lites. but as it turns out, maybe we shouldn't have returned ian's compass. haha!!!

steve and his team of volunteers were great and we always look forward to kando races.
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jeff papenfus
Team GLR

tclewis · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject:

[quote="LabRat"]but as it turns out, maybe we shouldn't have returned ian's compass. haha!!!
quote]

Ian don't need no stinkin' compass! He's a pro! Smile

Fun and challenging race, great hospitality in McClellanville, cheap cabins and the best dogsitters on the planet!! (many thanks to Dale's boys for looking after Shiloh...the dog slept for two whole days after the race...next time I guess I'll have to bring some recovery drink for him, too).

Jeff rocked the navigation all day and kept us zigzagging with N. Lites. That back and forth made the day so much fun!

Jim, who clearly drinks anti-freeze for breakfast, volunteered for every coldwater swim without hesitation. That made the day so much warmer (for me and Jeff). Laughing

The Francis Marion Forest really is a beautiful and mysterious place - especially memorable were several incredibly huge and majestic old-growth water oaks near the cemetery, the lovely scents along the jasmine-strewn Palmetto Trail and the hidden cypress swamps on the O-course. Constant reminders of why I/we love this sport!

Lowpoint:
the sound Jim made when he realized he'd misplaced the passport during the traverse across the murky canal.

Highpoint:
the sound Jim made when he found aforementioned passport in the back of his drawers after mucking through swamprot for several minutes. Laughing

Like others, I wanted/expected 12 hours of racing, and hated leaving those last bike points out there. But the creole (with shrimp that actually came out of our own coastal seas and not some far eastern spawning trough) kind of made up for that, so it's all good.

For those of you who don't consider these flatland races because they're not in mountainous terrain, just consider:

no uphill grunts = no downhill recovery
constant pedaling = fantastic spring training!

Thanks to all!

Dale Long · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:45 am Post subject:

[quote="tclewis
For those of you who don't consider these flatland races because they're not in mountainous terrain, just consider:

no uphill grunts = no downhill recovery
constant pedaling = fantastic spring training!

Thanks to all![/quote]

You'd be amazed at the West Virginia, Tennessee, and kentuck riders we get in Myrtle Beach to ride that always wonder when we rest. They tell us " You pedal all the time"!!! Embarassed

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Rory Avant · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:45 am Post subject: Ride

Plus you never to to the top of a head wind...on the coast there is always a head wind...

Steve Morrone · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:25 am Post subject:

In every direction! Shocked

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