Team Ragged Glory – Adventure Racing, Multi Sport, Friends

OVERVIEW

Another beautiful weather day graced the 2006 Indianapolis Adventure Race, held on September 9. The race is one of TRG’s favorites. Over the years it has evolved to a mid-distance single-course sprint race that is both urban and in the woods.

Thanks to Michael Sapper and Indy Rootstock, who again hosted this race, now in the 7th or 8th year, depending on whom you ask. Greg Arnold originated the race back in 1999.

The race proceeds were divided to equally benefit the American Brain Tumor Association and the Suicide Prevention Network USA. Michael and Indy Rootstock were able to donate a total of around $5500 to the two organizations.

Thanks to the generous race sponsors including: Salomon, Deuter, E-Caps, Hammer Gel, Climb Time Indy, and Nebo Ridge Bicycles. Thanks also to Indy Parks for Eagle Creek, as always.

Adventure Racers for the Environment (ARFE) also attended the race. ARFE offered prizes for the best trash brought in to the post-creek wade checkpoint.

RACE PROGRESSION

Ninety minutes before the race start, the teams received their maps and course instruction sheets and began the planning of their race. Additional information was given at the pre-race meeting sixty minutes before the race start. Race Directors announced that the winning team should finish the course in about six hours.

Race start – 10am Saturday September 9 – Start Line / Transition Area / Finish Line at Eagles Crest, the northwest corner of Eagle Creek Park

Phase I – Open a sealed envelope to find a navigation map with three orienteering courses in three different areas surrounding the reservoir. The Phase I directions were as follows:
– On foot, navigate 1st course: collect 3 controls in the northwest woods section of west side
– Paddle to 2nd nav course– about a mile
– On foot, navigate 2nd course: 3 of 4 controls near 56th St. in the west side woods
– Paddle to 3rd nav course – about a mile
– On foot, navigate 3rd course: Eagle Creek Park east side – 3 of 4 controls
– Paddle back to the TA – about 2 miles
– Portage canoe uphill 1/5 mile

Return to Transition Area

Phase II
– On foot – about two miles on trails and bushwhacking
– Creek slog – 1.5 miles swimming, aqua jogging and wading up Little Eagle Creek
– BuckIt – Use a 3 and 5-gallon bucket to fill the 5-gallon bucket with exactly 4 gallons of water.
– Bike – Mountain bike on main and suburban roads to Indianapolis Colts Practice complex; about 8 miles
– Pass Football 100 Yards – at the Colts practice stadium, advanced the football from end zone to end zone using complete forward passes only; no running with the ball. Dropping the ball meant restarting in the end zone, or at the 50-yard line if you were past it.
– Bike – about two miles to Eagle Creek Dam
– Rappel the Dam, then Jump – Rappel down the 36 foot dam wall with a 24 foot rope; jump the last few feet
– Bike to two more controls in Eagle Creek Park, about three miles
– Bike back to Eagles Crest, about a mile

Return to the Transition Area:

– Hike half a mile
– Tyrolean Traverse: Ride a horizontal rope across a ravine, then ride it back
– Hike the half mile back to the TA and Finish line.

Finish

TOTAL DISCIPLINES AND DISTANCES:

The racecourse included a combined
– 9 plus-mile run/hike
– 25 plus-mile road mountain bike
– 5 plus-mile paddle and portage

MORE DETAILS

TRG’s goals were the same this year: Have fun, stay safe, and finish. Our strategy was to go slow and steady while enjoying the beautiful weather.

Steve’s spot-on navigation helped us move steady through the three o-courses. Our paddling was smooth and the water was wonderfully calm. The racers we met while carrying the canoe up the hill were gracious and gave us the right of way.

After stopping at the TA, a quick change and refilling of food and water, we headed out on foot towards the creek slog. After two miles of wading, hiking, and finding two controls, we walked into the Little Eagle Creek, starting the 1.5-mile trip upstream. The first 200 meters we were swimming with our PFDs (life jackets) on under our packs. After the first section, the depth of the creek ranged from ankle to chest deep. Nancy banged her lower shin on a submerged log and came out with a wicked cut on her leg. It was slow going, but the weather was beautiful and the perspective of the creek was unique. The water kept us cool and the heat of the day passed.

Just before the slog, Steve found an umbrella. During the slog, Steve found a 30-gallon gas tank. He apparently has a gift for finding good trash. And teammates. Nancy and I helped him carry the tank to the checkpoint at the end of the creek, where ARFE was collecting and judging trash collected by racers.

Once we dropped the tank, we were confronted with the BuckIt special test. Steve knew the secret, so we were done in about 90 seconds. Bonnie from one of the Citgo teams gave Nancy some Motrin at the checkpoint and we moved on to the bike section.

We rode to two different neighborhoods to collect the bike navigation checkpoints, then headed to the Colts practice complex. We were able to complete the 100-yard passing drill on the first try. Back on the bikes, we headed to the Eagle Creek dam.

At the dam, we didn’t even have to wait to get our harnesses on and rappel down the 36-foot wall into the water. The rope was only 24 feet long, however, so as we approached the end of the rope, we unclipped, released and fell in the water. It was super fun. After swimming back to the shore, we climbed back on the bikes.

We got back to the TA after visiting two more bike checkpoints. We dropped everything but our mandatory gear and headed to the traverse for our last special test.

One by one, we each clipped onto the rope zipped across the ravine to the other side. After touching the tree on the far end of the traverse, we turned around and zipped back. The race was over. TRG finished in about 7 hours, 54 minutes. We ended up in 20th place out of 48 teams. Not bad for slow and steady.

TRG ended up winning the ARFE trash award for the combo of the umbrella and gas tank. We each received a Smartwool long-sleeve shirt. Nice SWAG. Thanks, ARFE.

Congratulators to the winning team, our friends Planet Adventure (Greg, Jerry, Angelia) finished in 5 hours, 52 minutes.

Doug Theis
www.teamraggedglory.com
September 11, 2006