This brings me to the course design. As everyone knows we make big courses that can not be cleared. This course began at the group campground and the first discipline was a run to the beach to find the boats. Once on the lake everyone had the choice of 5 checkpoints, only two were required. Most opted to paddle the entire lake through lilly pads to punch all five. After punching the paddle CP's next was a trek "O" course that was about 6 miles depending on route choice. Again five CP's were ready, but they only had to get two. Most opted to cross neck deep Raccoon creek 2-6 times, trudge through swamps and scour up and over the famous haunted Moonville tunnel to collect all five CP's. Then onto bikes. Biking also had five CP's ready to be punch throughout the awesome trail system built and maintained by The Athens Bicycle Club. At this point the heat and long trek is taking it's toll on most. A few punched all five and many only punch the required two so they could move on to the ROGAINE finish. At this point racers are checking into the camp and the temptation of quiting won over some. The heat and humidity just was too much. Remember we were moving boats all day. I think the race might have more fun. Back to the race....six teams chose to stop racing and some only punch one CP which means a DNF. 10 teams ended with a DNF out of 27 total. The ROGAINE took racers back to the beautiful forest of Lake Hope that is riddled with many cliffs and scenic ravines and a nice refreshing clean lake... sorry..back to the race. Looking for five CP's after traveling over 20 miles on foot, in boats, on foot, on bikes and back on foot is really gruelling on a 90 degree summer day. Some smart@*@ course setter put one of the last CP's twelve foot up a tree. Who thinks to look up????
BIG Congrats to the only three to clear our Course. The Frogstompers with amazing fast time of 6 hours and 40 minutes, first place team. Drake White, first place solo and The All Terrain Females second place with Capt. Ron getting third place. Rounding out the bottom for last place was The Lifesavers with 120 points.
Now the icing on the cake. This was also a charity event to raise money for The American Cancer Society and The Friends of Lake Hope in honor of our friend Kim Smith who's life was taken by cancer. We organize this event each year in her memory since Lake Hope was her favorite place to ride and race. A portion of the entry fee and donations totaled $600. This was really awesome!! Our goal was $500. Adventure sports people are really great!! Everyones genorosity and positive comments make all the hard work worth it. Thanks!!!!
