Team DART-nuun 2nd Place (4 person co-ed)
Jen VanGorder, Ryan VanGorder, Rick Baraff & Sean Clancy
I stopped racing "full time" in 2010 after the National Championships. This is my only race in 2012. Even though we didn't win this time around, if this was my "swan song" it ended perfecty at the finish line. With friends and loved ones. My focus lately has shifted, but the friendships developed over literally thousands of hours of training and racing are as indelible as the bushwacking scars on my shins. The lessons learned and insight from gritty wins and heartbreaking losses are far more valuable than the last decade's professional opportunity cost. I look forward to applying those for the rest of my life.
I stopped racing "full time" in 2010 after the National Championships. This is my only race in 2012. Even though we didn't win this time around, if this was my "swan song" it ended perfecty at the finish line. With friends and loved ones. My focus lately has shifted, but the friendships developed over literally thousands of hours of training and racing are as indelible as the bushwacking scars on my shins. The lessons learned and insight from gritty wins and heartbreaking losses are far more valuable than the last decade's professional opportunity cost. I look forward to applying those for the rest of my life.
Adventure Races are about the journey to the start line as much as the finish line. I fly, drive or train-hop home from every one of these races feeling extremely blessed to have such amazing friends as teammates. It's a deal breaker for me, actually. I would have stopped a few years ago if I didn't enjoy competing and exploring with these people so damn much!
The morning after the race Team DART-nuun, our buddy Kyle from Tecnu, Michael Kohn and Julian from Racing With Giants and Race Director Yishai Horowitz joined together for what will go down in breakfast history (yes, in our world of Post-Race Caveman Feedings we have breakfast history) as the most epic meal ever consumed.
With endless rolling hills, mountains and Lake Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo is ideally suited for adventure racing. Race Director Yishai's race is the highlight of the season for many and now I know the reasons. Put it on your calendar! Yishai packed quite a bit of racing into just 12 hours, and SLO is one of the nicest towns you could hope to visit before and after your race. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or professional adventure racer; put this race on your "must do" list.
