Hood to Coast 2006

August 29, 2006. As you all know my adventure started by answering a post from Ginger asking if anyone was interested in covering a slot on a Hood to Coast team. I jumped all over it and she put me in touch with the team.

Gina, Ginger's friend, emailed me and then put me in touch with the Capitan, Sara. The team is mainly from Manhattan and New York proper. There is also a return visit from someone that was in my similar situation 2 years ago which has returned for another go at it. She is located in Las Vegas. I flew out to meet the team the weekend before and was very surprised to feel immediately accepted and comfortable with this diverse group.

They were; Jerry, the most incredibly fit 68 year old specimen that I’ve ever met and wish to emulate in my later years, his wife Susanne, did not run but was is the most incredible Den-Mother /Cook that could be. She also happens to be Dean of a Nursing school in New York, as well as a member of various governing boards and such. She took care of getting our gear to and from and getting all the supplies for the beach houses. Tom had recently moved to SFO and was the Proud Father of a brand new 6 month old. Sara was the captain, who did absolutely everything in preparation for the race, she also happens to be on the inside when it comes to the Astor House and privy to all of the current goings on. Gary is her retired Husband. Jim a professional musician, keyboard. Betsy is a producer at Fox. Ginny is a social worker with a background in psychology. Catherine, married, Mormon, and working in Vegas. Gina is a Tec that works with cancer patients. Ann, is currently a house mom of two, which just quit her position and is trying to decide on her next career. Arthur, a Lawyer.

At 38, I believe I was the youngest. As you see, a varied group of professionals which made the group all the more interesting. These were seasoned friends from the Flyers Running Club.

My first inkling as to what to expect was when Sara pretty much made it clear that they were really happy to have me, but to realize that they really didn’t have a choice. I knew right then and there that I was going to fit right in. Also, Jerry, after a full dinner and 2 Margarittas, left for a night run practice setion in prep for reach The Beach. It's a similar race held in NY. These were my kind of people.

At dinner we came to the conclusion that I was the most fit of the group and that I would run position # 5. (if it does not go to page 24 directly check out that page, it’s the course ratings).

So I fly into Portland on Wed. I had Mt Hood directly under me on the right side of the plane, yep, goosebumps.

Navigation at the airport is straightforward. Portland has a light rail system that works perfectly to get you in and around town. We get settled in to our rooms, I bunk with Jim. Half the team was there, the other half came in on Thursday. We did some sightseeing, and then ended up at The Blue Moon for dinner and drinks. Everyone went with a different type of microbrew, the selection was incredible – Beer Heaven. Dinner was followed with a couple of games of pool. We get to bed late but the time change permitted us to sleep in.

The rest of the group came in next day. I went to pick up Renee and Brooke at the airport. By now the place was filled with H2C teams. Yep, Goosebumps again. General Shopping was followed by Dinner at The Veritable Quandary, top notch 4 Star and we went through as many different wines as we did beer the previous night. Our start time was at 10 am the next day so that meant getting up and out the door by 7:30 the next morning. The group again was spectacular. They rehashed the rooms so me and renee could get the one with the Big Bed. I told them not to worry cause we all know that sort of thing weakens the legs.

In the morning, We divided into 2 Vans. Sara, Betsy, Ginny, Jim, Arthur and I, made up van 1, and we were runners 1-6, the others Van 2, runners 7-12. Renee and Susanne got a third car and took all of the stuff down to the beach.

At Hood, the top was Windy, chilly and full of skiers and snowboarders, which blew me away. The view was spectacular and the crowd was incredible. The start was in waves of 20 teams every 15 minutes. The first group of 20 had left at 9:00am. Slower teams started first so as to have a constant flow of participants and to try to keep the spread somewhat close.

It was a potpourri of teams with vans decorated as wildly as their names. We were, Team Manhattan Straight up. Some that come to mind were. No man in this van, 8balls and two dolls, running from our kids, ibepopping ibuprofen, 37 kids and still running, if you want a kick go to the results page and check them out.

The way it would go from here would be like this. Predetermine your water stops beforehand, Take off, reach the relay point – a taped off corral, pass the flex baton that would wrap around your wrist, - into the van to next water stop. Penalties were given for early arrival, meaning not hitting your predetermined time, if you finished more than an hour faster than your expected finish time you were DQ. Relay outside of the area, giving the volunteers a hard time, or drinking alcohol on the course also got you knocked out.

Jim was first up, with perhaps the hardest part of the run because of its steepness, and the fact that there was no van support permitted.

I had legs (5) (17) (29)

leg 5

I was the most intense of the group, at least for this first stage of mine. As you can see in the profile, up and down, finishing with a long uphill. I went at it covering the first 1.5 in I think they said something like 11 min. I had no one to pace against, the field was kind of spread out so it was a set your run and reel them in kind of race. I had caught everyone I had in sight that was in front of me. The last 1/3 was a winding road in the shade, uphill. It was difficult not knowing how much farther you had to run, no mile markers. I had my only real dual towards the end, it was the last maybe two hundred yards when someone had caught up to me from behind. I matched his pace and then beat him in the final sprint to the relay point. We congratulated each other and set off to the next water stop. My first stage was over in 44:07:13.

Nothing really noteworthy on these first 6 stages except for the beautiful weather, breathtaking views, and incredible camaraderie of the participants at large. We handed off the baton to our counterparts at the end of stage 6 and headed to the hotel for something to eat, and a shower. We originally had 3 rooms to overnight on Thursday night. We kept one for this break. Van 2 would use it to overnight after the next exchange. These would be the only comforts we would have until we went to the beach house after the race was done.

Our 2nd set had some really interesting things happen. But its time to hit the sack and I’ll continue the in-depth blow by blow, tomorrow.

How you like it so far?

DeltaBraz

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