Another successful year of the Pinnacle Challenge. What a great day we had, perfect weather, and one of the largest turnouts. We had several teams flirt with the ellusive 2 hour mark but as of yet, no dice. We would really like to see that mark fall next year!

A big thank you to all who helped make this event possible with special thanks to the Our Sponsors, all the Racers, Rotary, and PJ & Brian.

PJ, I'm sure I'm missing out loads of people, please fill in the gaps.

[b:c02105ebc3]Race Results are posted[/b:c02105ebc3]: [url]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/race-results3.php?results=23[/url].

[b:c02105ebc3]Race Images are posted:[/b:c02105ebc3] [url]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/gallery.php?query=base&gnav=252[/url]

Thank you for the pictures Julie & Robin.

FYI, I added a new feature to the results that allows you to select individual rows to compare.

Ryan

Thanks to all the racers sponsors and volunteers for such a great event. Volunteers make the difference! Here is a few to add into Ryan's thanks.

Nancy Dickerman was the queen of behind the scenes stuff! 3 cheers to her! She has this raced dialed in. Chris Martin rocked the road Marshal crew (about 7 in all). Ella Casey was food marshall with her crew (another 6)........! Gary Zalucka was head transition guy (with 4 helpers)..... Gurney yelled at people, Josh and Scott out in the woods, Julie with some great Photo's. Chris and Dawn Hastings, Deena and Rick Cota, Jeanine Everett and her daughter, Christie Batista and her Twin Daughters...... And I missed about 10 Rotatians......Thanks to Newport PD and Croydon PD.....as well, and the weather gods.

Thanks To Dana for set-up, take down, and tons of Keene insight. Granite State Timing for their great deal, and dealing with us wackos, while providing us with loads of help and hints.

Currier for always doing too much and his most helpful son, Tyler. Oneill for all the town assistance, ecspecially the berm food...... and Ryan.....with a few more tweaks, you are looking at the greatest 4 miles of Mountain biking in New England. Hats of to you.

A big thanks to the Racers for coming out.....enjoying the day with us and having some fun.

Another great Pinnacle Challenge, as always. This is the part of my evening where I vow to ride more leading up to this race...then go eat some more dessert and call it a night. If anyone finds a pair of Oakley "M" frames with a yellow lens(the Oakley color is "persimmon") on the mountain bike course, let me know, I can get them at the leftover turkey burnah. I had them until after the stairs and I tried to put them in a rear pocket due to fogging. Looking forward to the next Team Pinnacle outing...thanks for an awesome race!

Race Report:

Generally I try to avoid setting goals for this race as I am usually disappointed with the results but not this year. I set what I thought were some reasonable goals for myself and was able to beat most of them but more importantly I was able to PR by over a minute. Some may say the course was faster, shorter, whatever... all I know is I came, I raced, and I set my fasted time, and I am very happy with the results.

All in all it was a pretty uneventful race for me, I didn't cramp getting on the road bike like usual, and I was able to push harder than expected on the road run and mtb. I still can't manage to break that ellusive 10 min/mile on the final trail run but I guess that is what next year is for, that and not cramping on the trail run.

[i:1b6893181e]In retrospect the trail run was longer by 0.15 miles (3.65) due to last minute changes so I did break the 10 min / mile barrier this year.[/i:1b6893181e]

Ryan

I had a fun day yesterday. Adam and I had been talking trash for the past couple weeks, so we each had to put in a good showing, and I think we both did. Unfortunately, Adam was 9 seconds faster.

Having not run in almost 2 months, I knew the running was going to be terrible and it was. The road run just hurt and I couldn't wait for it to be over. To make myself feel better I had to let Adam know he wasn't going to get that far ahead of me. Being an out and back road run, that was possible.

I got back from the road run, jumped on my MTB and headed out. I felt great and was passing lots of people. I saw Dana and he let me know that Adam was not that far ahead. When I made it back to the transition I was told Adam is about a minute ahead. I had a really slow transition to the road bike, turns out it was a whole minute longer than Adams transition time. I need to work on that.

I jumped on my road bike and headed out. I manage to catch up to Adam before Loverin Hill and stared him down as I sprinted by. I heard a couple choice words that were music to my ears. By the top of Loverin I had about a minute gap on him and just hammered back to the transition, swapped my shoes out and headed out for the final leg.

The trail run was absolutely horrible. I skipped the rope, which tuns out saves you about 15 seconds, wish I had known that ahead of time. Finally I made it to the top and started down. As I was going on to Eastside extension, I looked back and saw Adam. @#%%@%#. I started going harder, hoping that I had enough to hold him off. As I was coming out of the woods he was right behind me. We came around the tennis courts, he came up along side me "Hi Ken!!" and he was gone. I tried sprinting with him for about 1/2 second and my legs wouldn't respond.

So, finished under the 2.5hr mark, which I was happy about and Adam and I managed to put on a good show for Hugh, Jessie and the gang.

Thanks to everyone that helps put this race on. It is my only multi-sport event for the year and I always have fun, even with the pain of running.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

Ken, If you listened to the race director who informed the racers that the rope is quicker you may have held him off......Not likely but maybe. Its a tough balance....if you train too hard for the run, you lose some bike speed. Get old soon.

PJ

Great event this year thanks to everyone that helped make it happen. These events are wonderful for Newport. I hear nice things about the community and the trails from participants . All the events TP put on bring hundreds of people to Newport over the year and they all leave with favorable impressions. We have some of the best trails anywhere and I think it may be time to up the ante with real cash and maybe a weekend or multi-day event. Not sure what it should be or what kind of event would draw several hundred participants. Not only is this fun stuff it's community development/economic development. I think we have an opportunity. If I can get a brain trust to work on this I'll pledge my office to helping make it happen. There is no reason we can't be a big race regionally or even nationally.

In my ride Sunday I had a new personal best for the road course and have set my preliminary goal for next year. But not ready to expose it quite yet. Our team did well it was the first 4person 55+ team and our individual times were still in the game. Of course at our age just showing up and putting it all out makes us winners. IMO. Thanks to Dana, Randy and Jerry for giving it all.
Dan

The Challenge was definitely another great race this year. Last year had been a complete experiment for me, and certainly a learning experience. I wasn't particularly confident in my fitness coming into the race this year, after missing a large chunk of summer training due to an ankle sprain (thanks to running down Eastside Extension trying to catch Nathan on his bike) but I had a couple of goals anway...
1) don't race the first leg (a lesson learned from last year)
2) don't cramp up on the road bike
3) beat Ken
I'd done a dry run of the whole event last Sunday with a couple of other guys (Mike Blouin and Jim Rollins) and I knew that they were going to be fairly evenly matched competition in each of the legs. I hung out with them for the road run and stayed very much in control. In the transition I pounded some gatorade, hopped on my bike (well, a borrowed bike) and made for the ski jump. I was pretty thankful for gears... I rode my SS last year, and that was a mistake. My ride was uneventful, not great, not bad... though I loved ripping around Ryan's new berm! My bike-to-bike transition was good and really the only that reason I beat Ken, he probably shouldn't have taken that nap. I soft-pedaled for a bit while a chugged some more gatorade... I was determined not to cramp up. Gatorade gone, I started pedaling like I meant it... Dan flew by me... then Ken... then Blouin. I made some ground up Loverin Hill, but Ken still had a minute on me at the top (I know I should have been pedaling rather than counting seconds...but whatever.) Anyway, while Ken was hammering down the Turnpike, I was rigging up.... hard. It must have been pretty hilarious to watch me trying to stretch out my hamstrings while coasting down the hills. (I don't know why my hammy's cramp up there, but at least I didn't get off the bike to stretch like I did last year. Any tips for avoiding this would be welcome!) Back on Rt 10 the cramps subsided and I pushed hard all the way back. As I rode up towards the track I looked left to see Ken disappearing into the woods and Blouin jogging in the transition. I had my work cut out for me, too bad my legs didn't really feel like running. As soon as I touched down off the bike, the cramps came back (shocker, huh?) and I hobbled out onto the course. When I saw PJ's rope, I laughed, and ran around it. I know how to run, but I don't know how to climb ropes... I didn't figure that was the best time to try it. I caught Blouin and Rollins at the top of Big Rock, ran with them for a bit, and passed them on Summer. Jim came with me for a bit and had me running scared all the way down Hale. Alone on Eastside, it was all I could do to fight cramps and images of sprained ankles. I heard people coming up behind me on the "Un-named Connector" and started my push for the finish... and that's when I saw Ken breaking out onto Cheney St. I smiled for the first time in almost 2 hours :) I came up behind him slowly, not wanting to move to early and collapse before hitting the tennis courts, but not wanting to leave it to the home straight where it can be anyone's game. When I passed, I wanted to do so with authority (as he'd done to me on the road bike.) I moved hard when we hit the pavement, and never looked back. He hung for a bit (and had me a bit worried) but years of track and XC racing prevailed and my legs somehow remembered how to carry me home.

Anyway, long story short, it was awesome... I look forward to doing it again next year. You guys continue to put on one hell of a show.
Happy Trails,
-Adam

PS. The chicken may have been the best thing that I've ever had. I don't know if it was the marinade, or the 2.5hrs of physical abuse... but it was amazing.

Here is a few photos from Robin Saunders http://gallery.me.com/urinalysis#100020

Some really great ones.

Well my first ever teasing taste of the pinnacle challenge and what can I say? I want MORE!

This was my first ever mountain bike race, so I had no idea what to expect. Glad I had a fantastic team to enjoy the experience with me. Watching Adam run left me (as ever) feeling thoroughly inadequate.

I even enjoyed my intimate reacquaintance with the tree at the top of eastside which I'm pretty sure Ryan placed there just for me.

Thanks to all for organising it, and special thanks to Ryan ('godfather of the Pinnacle'). Oh, and when are we going to have a race that climbs Coit?

[quote:1445bcbc1e="hjb303"]Oh, and when are we going to have a race that climbs Coit?[/quote:1445bcbc1e]

Coit was included in The Pinnacle a couple years back. From what I remember, people were not that happy about it. Atleast not the Novice racers.
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

They actually loved the Coit Climb, it was the descent that scared the bejesus out of them..... and us.... too hard to get to in case someone gets hurt (maybe that road will help now) and a ton of work arrowing and grooming.

PJ

I know several sport and novice riders who did not like going up Coit as a race. We seem to have struck a good balance with the current race loop based on overall feedback.
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

With the new road extension Dodd put in, it would get EMS a lot closer to the tail end of the course, which should we every need it for any reason, is good to have.

But I agree, the shorter course seems to be the right mix for the majority of people.

Don't worry Hugh, you will get to see all kinds of Coit this winter.

Ryan

What a great race! Thanks to all who made it possible. This is my 3rd Pinnacle and it is definitely my favorite race. I don't know who came up with the idea of a double duathlon with challenging single track and fast road conditions, but it is really just a fun race. I talk it up to anyone who will listen over here in Central NH. The Newport Town trails are a gem, the race is well run, the food is top-notch. Every year when I preview the course, I bump into Brian or P-J lugging a leaf blower over the course. Great work!

I also enjoyed racing with Mike Blouin and Adam Sharp this year. In the past, I am running by myself late in the race. People are either behind me or way out in front. I know I shaved some time off by having them push me along.

I got some battle scars this year too. I cracked two ribs from a fall on the trail run -- my own damned fault.

The rope climb up Big Rock was a nice touch. I did it. I would be interested to know how many people took that option. If it saved 20 seconds, I probably would've walked a tightrope over a gorge.

[quote:2f88823c44]I probably would've walked a tightrope over a gorge.[/quote:2f88823c44]

Don't give PJ & Brian any ideas, there are several places a tightrope could be installed for the race.

Sorry to hear about your ribs, but glad you enjoy the race, and the trails.

Ryan

Here's an additional link to the photos I took on Sunday: http://picasaweb.google.com/Julieinnewport/PinnacleChallenge2010#

I believe that the website allows free downloads. If anyone would like me to email a specific photo to them, I'd be happy to do that too. My email address is: juma9191@comcast.net

What a great day! Team Pinnacle should be very proud of the phenomenal work you have done on the trail system in the Town Forest and in doing such a fantastic job hosting these events (and maintaining this marvelous website)! The results of your efforts were heard in the compliments that were reverberating throughout the day.

I think the added rope choice on Big Rock was a great idea--it was a blast to watch and hear the decision making process as the runners approached the rock. Of course I can't repeat the majority of the remarks on this public site :lol:

Next year the other photo buffs and I should pick specific events to cover so that we don't miss so much. I think I was getting dizzy trying to be everywhere. Of course my favorite spots would be Big Rock and Loverin Hill. In order to shoot both of those the race order would have to change though. Food for thought for next year.

Enjoy the pics!

Julie.