Thursday, November 18, 2010

Adventure Race?


Adventure Race in December? Sure why not. I have no physical punishment, or mental anguish scheduled for the Holiday Season……
This week I was offered the opportunity to compete in the Midnight Rush Adventure Race on 11 December 2010. My team mates and I will be representing (not only Trakkers for me) the Army’s 5th Ranger Training Battalion. We’ll be fielding two teams, a two-man (my team), and a three-man male team. The race is a 14 hour sprint race conducted in my backyard, the Chattahoochee National Forest. Even though we are all intimately familiar with the area the race is being conducted, I’m not sure how much of an advantage this will provide as some of the other team members have not ridden a mountain bike since elementary school, and the closest they have come to a canoe is watching the big waterfall scene in the movie Last of the Mohicans…. That alone should be a hoot. Obviously winning is not the motivation for competing…… What is motivating however is the race supports what I feel is one of the most worthy organizations out there. The Lead the Way fund!
Lead the Way Fund, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization established to raise money in support of disabled U.S. Army Rangers and families of Rangers who have died, have been injured or are currently serving in harm’s way around the world. The Lead the Way Fund, Inc. provides assistance for health and wellness programs as well as other services vital to the families of deceased, disabled or active duty Rangers. The assistance offered by Lead the Way is inspired by the courage and character of Sgt. James J. Regan who was killed in Iraq while serving with honor with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Read about James and the LTW fund @ http://www.leadthewayfund.org/sgt-james-j-regan/
Of course I’ll be sure to take excellent notes and make a full race report upon completion as I am sure it will most definitely be an adventure….. Hmmmmmm….now what shoes should I wear

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

SOB 2011


Watch out Race World. I came up with a brilliant idea on the way to Wilmington, NC for the B2B Half.
For those of you not familiar with I-95, just inside the northern South Carolina border lies a little gem of a place known as South of the Border. It's been referred to as many things over the years by travelers, and vacationers. America's Highway Oasis, The Acapulco of the East, South Carolina's Shithole...wait, forget the last one. Anyway....It's been there since 1949, and in my travels up and down I-95 over the years, I've watched this little place grow over the years from a trendy little truck stop to a full blown family vacation destination, kind of like Vegas but without nice casinos, hot dancers, Wayne Newton, or Lion Tamers. I am sure there are probably been a real life episodes of the Hangover made there weekly. Where else on earth can you take an elevator up 200’ inside the world’s largest sombrero, ride a roller coaster, spend the day in the Silver Slipper Arcade, buy rubber dog poop, and view a life size replica of the world’s largest Great White Shark, all in the same day. ….and I was only approached by one person pandering for money….this isn’t your run of the mill truck stop….oh no! So this is when I came up with my idea. Why not hold a triathlon here! It’s perfect! I know there is already a Rev 3 SC but this is kind of like being in Mexico….or its own little country……
Rev3 South of the Border......nah.... Maybe the Rev3 SOB? Perfect.... I'm a genius.... So here is my plan for Rev 3 SOB 2011.
Ok here’s what I was thinking.... Swim location would have to be the Reptile lagoon... although it would have to be pool lap swim who cares.... the alligators and snakes would be a great twist, plus the Giardiasis risk would make you swim even faster.
Transition area is already marked and only a short run from the swim exit. Very little broken glass and I didn’t see one syringe!
The SOB bike course is awesome. I -95 baby, Straight, scenic, lightning fast and already marked nearly every few miles. See?

And naturally the SOB run course would be through the streets and road around SOB and finish between the Rev3 SOB mascots legs! Pedro! The SOB SOB himself! No need to even bring the blow up arch.
After the race spectators would wander for hours around SOB shopping for fireworks and real Mexico souvenirs. New shipments from Taiwan arrive weekly so the shelves are always stocked. Whoopie cushions, boobie mugs, pet rocks, cheesie t-shirts, unlimited NASCAR products….and of course SOB is only a short distance away from Redneck Mecca, Darlington. Knoxville Rev3 has the Sunsphere Tower…. Rev3 SOB has the Sombrero, and Dog Dirt……


Would be an awesome race venue, right?….. Yeah maybe not………..whatever… well if you need gas or rubber dog poop, SOB is the place! Gotta love America!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Get on the Truck

I’ve spent a fair portion of my adult life in charge of people. Groups of people. These groups of people have ranged in sizes from LGOPs (little groups of paratroopers), to a 200 man plus company. Inside of these groups, there were always people who possessed a variety of skills and talents. Some of these talents have ranged from challenged at best, to abilities that far exceeded my own. Despite these abilities of the people in these groups, the success of these groups more often than not hinged on keeping them focused on the mission at hand, and sometimes just getting them there. And despite their skill level, training, experience, talent, performance, good or bad, a substantial portion of my job was saving them from themselves. One of the old sayings most soldiers have heard one time or another is, ” If you’re going, shut the f@(* up, and get on the truck”. Today I was told the get on the truck. Thanks!
13 Days to B2B 2010.