Posted: Mon Aug. 21, 2006 10:45 pm
As Tina, our kids, our nephew, and I were headed to Merchantsauto.com Stadium to take in a Fisher Cats Game last Friday night, I was thinking about a number of things regarding the Sunapee/S&W Racing Team. First, of how fortunate we were that one of our teammates had *suite connections* so that we would be enjoying the game in style; second, of how it would be nice to enjoy a relaxing social event with teammates and their families (along with beer and food and beer and posh accommodations and beer); third, and while I hate to admit it, I was thinking about how beautiful a night it would be for a ride and feeling a bit sorry that I would not be enjoying the endorphin release associated with a nice pedal on such a great evening. Unbeknownst to me at the time, fate had something in store for me toward that end.
As we entered the stadium, a number of event staff were handing out free raffle tickets. I was immediately struck by how the tickets did not indicate what the raffle was for or who was sponsoring it. However, my desire to win something won over my sense that something was amiss, so I grabbed a ticket like so many of the lemmings in front of me.
In the top of the second inning, eight of the raffle ticket numbers were called out ? and Tina?s was one of them (it will not surprise those of you who know me well to know that I still remember the number on her ticket ? 01426). Once again I was struck by the strangeness of the announcement in that the *winners* were asked to report to the *Customer Service Center* ? no actual prize was mentioned. Needless to say, Tina and the kids were pretty excited. They all ran out of the suite to see what the prize was, leaving me there in the posh accommodations of the suite, with a hamburger in one hand and a beer in the other (AKA ? heaven!).
Five minutes later, Lilly returned and while gasping for breath she tells me that ?Mom needs you!?. When I ask why, she informs me that the raffle ticket prize is actually admission into a contest of *physical abilities* with the opportunity to win a $500 gift certificate. Tina was not inclined to make a fool of herself in front of a stadium full of fans ? and they would not allow any of the kids to compete ? so they came and got me (imagine that!). I finished my hamburger, reluctantly put down my beer, and headed down to the Customer Service Center.
When I arrived at the Customer Service Center, the *host* welcomed me into the gang of eight *winners*. We were told that there were four contests, each of which would be held between two of us, on the field, in the middle of the innings during the second half of the game. The races were a shopping cart race, a singing contest, a wheelbarrow/landscaping race, and a human bowling contest. The host gave us all the once-over and decided what races we would each be doing. Much to my delight, he selected me for the wheelbarrow/landscaping race. My competition was a guy who was about 45-50 years old. I knew from having watched enough 45+ bicycle races this year that it would be a mistake to underestimate him as a competitor ? so I started working on my pre-race strategy that would enable me to win the $500 Home Depot Gift Card. The first item on the list was ? no more beer and hamburgers until after the race. That was going to be a tough one, but there was $500 on the line! The second item on the list was ? scope out the course, the wheelbarrows, the landscaping plants (plastic actually) that we had to scoop up along the way. Being left-handed, I knew I should keep the plants on my left side so that I could shave tenths of seconds off my race-time. I figured the race would be about 1 minute long, so it would be completely anaerobic, which I thought was to my benefit.
During the middle of the 5th inning, they laid out the 25m course along the 3rd base line. The course consisted of two tracks of plastic plants, spaced at about 5 m intervals. After picking up all of the plants we would have to go around a race marshal at the end of the course and sprint back to the start line for the finish. I noticed that one of the wheelbarrows was on the grass and the other was on the dirt. A quick test with the feet while final instructions were being given, told me that the dirt track was much firmer, so I bolted for that wheelbarrow when the host told us to get ready. When I got to my wheelbarrow, I bounced the front end up and down to get a sense of whether the tire pressure was right (I figured it was about 40psi, nearly perfect for race conditions). Then I prepared myself for the start. My final thought was of how smart I was to be wearing my SALOMON Trail-Running Shoes ? that would easily provide a 2 second advantage!
On your mark ? get set ? GO! We were off! We were neck and neck heading into the first plant pick up. My pre-race *left-hand pick-up* plan worked to perfection and I had *half-wheelbarrowed* my competition by the time we were headed to the second plant. As we picked up more plants, my advantage grew bit by bit until by the fifth plant I was leaving fully loaded just as he was stopping to pick up his final plant. I raced to the turn-around and made the corner just as he was ready to take off after loading his final plant. I am not sure if he did it intentionally or if the excitement of the race just got to him ? but ? HE CUT THE COURSE ? turning around right where he picked up his final plant instead of going to the designated turn-around. Once I saw that, I grabbed another gear and took off for the finish line. I went through the finish line at full tilt and took about 10 meters to slow down and turn around. All I could hear behind me was the host hollering to me that I had already won. I am not sure where he thought I was going ? I was just trying to make sure my competitor did not slingshot out of my draft to pip me at the line.
All in all, it was pretty exciting ? my first win of the year ? and the best prize I have ever won in the 300+ human-powered wheeled vehicle races in which I have competed. The down side is that now Tina is advocating for more wheelbarrow/landscaping training than bike training ? but I guess that is to be expected!
Cheers,
Chris
|
