This race really lived up to it name, it certainly was a challenge. As the race was about to start I was wondering how long the first run segment would be a nice social run before getting serious. That question was answered about 5 seconds into the race as Chris jumped out and set a fast early pace. My goal during leg one was to follow whoever was leading and stay within striking distance. I was able to meet my goal as myself, Chris, Jason and Nathan all stayed in a tight pack to the first transition.

After a quick transition I was first off on the mountain bike. My goal was to get as big of a gap as possible during this stage of the race. I knew early on that I would not be able to hammer, so I switched to the steady and smooth strategy. I felt pretty good most of the ride and only dabbed a couple times. When I turned onto Pinelink I tried to turn up the pace a little, it was then that I first noticed my calves trying to cramp. I was suprised because I have not had a cramp all season, so it was back to steady and smooth. I ended the mountain bike leg with less than a minute advantage on Nathan.

Next it is onto the road bike segment. As I mounted my bike both calves again tightened, almost full seize this time. I eased the bike up to speed and started putting the gu's and water to me to fight off the cramps. The road was fairly uneventful, except for the left turn in Croydon. As I approached the turn a dump truck was closing in on me. If I waited I would have to come almost to a complete stop, so I decided to go for it. Hey, you would to with this much on the line. Each time I went from spin to hammer the muscles would start twitching, so I probably left a little time out there, but still had a decent ride and held the lead at the final transition.

After another quick transition it is off to the final run. Nathan was still within a couple minutes and entering his strongest discipline. I was a sitting duck and it was just a matter of how long I could I stay in front. The pass happened at the start of Pinnacle Bypass, after a brief chat he bounded out of sight. I could have backed down a little now, but decided to turn the best time I could. I ended up about 1:30 behind Nathan at the end and very happy with my performance.

Big thank you to the following:

PJ for dreaming up and putting this thing together.
The Rotary folks for timing, cheering, and arranging the great meal.
Summercrest for donating the great meal.
And everyone who came to take the challenge.

Brian
 
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Team Lovely/Lovely formed late Friday as babysitting duties and plans didn't happen. It was decided that in terms of watching the kids we would each do a run/bike. Not the fastest use of our abililities, but cool just the same.

The gun went off and the pace quickened immediately. Naimie had sprung ahead, and slowly 5 of us stayed close. I was surprised at the fast pace, ecspecially for the solo's. Not having my watch put a damper on my pace, and when we hit mile 1 in 6:30, I knew I had to slow it slighltly. The guys up ahead pulled away but never out of sight. once upon the railroad grade I thought we were pulling them in, when I say we I was running with Glenn, probably chatting a bit too much. but it was a Lady and her dog, and another long haired fella in tights. Once to the bridge we could see the lead 4 turning the corner on the other side of the field, and realized we were back quite a bit. We hit route 10 and started to pick it up. Glenn wanted to close the gap, a quarter mile later, mother nature called and I had to sneak into the woods. After a quick visit, I put a good effort in to catch back up to Glenn, but no dice. My transition was just fast enough to stay with Team Brandt/Fasano who had come in 30 seconds behind on the run, but didn't need a transition. I followed Brandt to the stairs and had a tough time with them. My calves starting cramping immediately while Brandt pulled away. Anywhere I wanted to hammer, the cramps came. Only steady climbing felt good. I heard 3 ahead of me near the water tower, and passed both Dan and Aaron, and set my eyes on Massa. ONce I crested the hill and started Down, the cramps came back, so I had to semi coast that whole downhill and heard the troops coming from behind. I pushed it and caught Massa on Hail trail, but couldn't push hard enough to pass him without cramping. ON Pine link I hit a root and endoed, in full cramp mode. I was happy to get off the bike and stretch a bit. Both Aaron and Dan cruised by offering assistance to the sad looking puddle on the ground. I got up and tried to keep going and started to feel a bit better after stretching. I got by Dan further up on pinelink, and chased after Brandt. He was moving pretty good, but I could just get glimpses of him up ahead, finally getting his wheel on Snake alley, Then I used the short climb to pass, which was why I put it in there. Massa was next as had a nice ride down roots, except for a poor decision to not ride the wood planks. I stood up and poured it on, finally seeing Massa by the Tennis courts where I pedaled up to him and we came in together, before gladly handing the reigns over to my wife for the road ride.

Certainly a good challenge, and I might add, when this race becomes reality, Team Pinnacle will certainly represent.

Top 10 Highlights for me.

10. Naimie Hurdling the tape at the end of the race
9. Massa and his stegophonic wrist watch that told him when to eat, ect.
8. Having free food and watching the kids do laps around the cafeteria
7. Having 3 chaperones for my son Gavins Mother Nature call
6. Finally passing Massa at the end of MTB leg
5. Seeing Dan's Road ride time........
4. Being shocked by Ryans superb effort with MTB bike/road bike.
3. The battle on the first road run leg for the top spot
2. Seeing Erin and Lori run off chatting for their trail run, and finishing together, twice.
1. Nathans trail run bri and nathans mtb ride, the fact that you'all showed up.

The O'Neill half of the Halleck/O'Neill Team could not be happier. Several weeks ago I was all lined up with another 50+ running partner but a couple days before the event both he and the backup for him had to pull out. Thanks to PJ and several cross country phone calls Glen was lined up and set to go. Then 2 min. before the start Glen shows up and runs the road portion in a great time. These runners had me worried right up to the start time.
I followed Jason out on the MTB and kept within a reasonable distance up to the Summer St. hill where I was passed by Aaron B. But not to fear the down hill is near. I quickly got back on him by the time we went over the stone wall. Then I slowly fell back and was passed by PJ. Up and over the next stone wall and I pass PJ (he is off the bike) rubbing and stretching his legs complaining of cramps. I tell him it's a good thing he brought his wife to help him out. That must have motivated him because within a few min he passes me again. Going down the new trail is a blast and I thought I was going ok when I hear O'Brien coming up on me. I have never seen him ride so smoothly and fast. I keep him, Aaron B. and sometimes PJ in sight from here on out. As I blasted out of the woods I almost ended up in someone's back yard nearly missing the right angle turn. I go like hell to the ski jump faster than I ever have before. At the top of the jump is the Newport/Sunapee ski jump coach watching us cut through his work area. As I break the crest of the jump I hear a HOLY SHIT from his direction and I am airborne. Both front and rear. Way too fast Dan. But it was fun and smooth and I caught up with Aaron B. for the finish.
I was over heated and needed to pull off my tights so the transition took longer than it should have and this cut into the MTB time. As I pulled past the timers on the road bike it just felt good and with the favorable wind I noticed that for most of the ride to the first turn I was able to hold between 21 and 25 MPH. I backed off near the pond to save myself for the long hill. On the hill I did quite well alternating between sitting and standing keeping a steady pace. It helped to be able to see a rider near the top. After breaking the top it was full speed ahead and I caught the other rider at the bottom near the intersection, it was Erin L. I think she was saving herself for the up coming mountain run because she let me pass. I pushed on as hard and fast as I could. Near the Airport road my legs were done. As I pulled into the transition area a car went past and some dirt was blown into my right eye. After an afternoon of trying to get it out I finally went to the hospital at 8pm. The doctor pulled out a piece of junk and said I had several corneal abrasions. He gave me some stuff to put in it and I was sent home. It feels good today.

The event was great fun I may even learn to run for next year. Thanks to all who put work into making this another special Newport day.
Dan

Well, I didn't get to do the race with Ryan, but my daughter did end up being born later on in the day. 6lbs 8ounces and 19.5 inches long. Here are some pics

[url]http://www.wile-e-world.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=Hannah[/url]
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

It's Monday, I'm now paying for my performance on Saturday. You see, most of my training has been long distance trail running after fading from the MTB race scene a few months ago. The pace that Chris set on stage one of the road was tough. At the first mile marker Jason gave our running group a time of 6:30, I'd never run that fastin my life, and we still had 3 more stages to go. Now I'm the first to admit that exercise in the wee hours of the morning is tough for me, so to go out fast is simply delusional, but by the time we hit the RR tracks my legs hit their stride and I was able to kick the dew of the grass across the air strip back toward Rt. 10.
Although first in, Brian was smoother on the transition and out on his MTB ride ahead of me. Hauling my hunk of CroMo up the judging step of the 30M ski jump was rough. The rest of the ride went smooth, if you discount dropping my chain 3X before the H2O tower.
Having the bike legs back to back afords a slick transition to the road segment, or so I thought. I pulled my ride to the pavement, hopped on and both calves locked up out of the blue. "Well," I thought to myself, "if I get to the top of Loverin Hill I can coast down and stretch and the same time". The only problem with that plan is that Loverin is a beast of a climb and it's over 5 very flat miles away. I knew this would be the section I'd most likely get stomped. With Brian in front of me and Chris behind, any gap in time and space was sure to gain in their favor. I was able to work out my cramping issuses and ride in with a decent time for some one who's spun the black top a handful of time this year. I was pleased to have held on to second place and was settling in to the notion.
My wife Lori gave me words of encouragement and sent me on my way into the final stage, the trial run. Again the evil steps of the 30M, but this time with two hands, I was able to haul my sorry self up. I wasn't feeling so good and it most have looked ugly. Just before the Foliage 400 single track loop I hit a sweet pace and breezed up the hill to Big Rock. My legs were feeling light as I rudged onto Summer Street Ext., there I caught a glimps of Brian. It was like a shot of GU without the rapper. My pace held true and I met up with him on Ryan's Pinnacle Bypass, which was so soft to run on it got me into a great down hill pace that I carried into the finish.
A Kickass race. Don't know if I'd change a thing. Big Thanks to PJ for dreamin' up this kind of pain. Also two Big Thank Yous to the Rotory for supporting the event and Summercrest for the after race grub. Let's do it again next year, by then I'll have forgot that my legs were junk for days afterward. :twisted:
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

 
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The Sapling has been Desnaggified!

When was the deed done? I rode last night and kept my eye out for the evil baby tree and it did not make an appearance. I expected it to jump out from behind a big pine and grab me by the throat with the stories I had heard.
 
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What makes this evil sapling so dangerous is its completely unassuming, it sneaks up on you and pounces when you least expect it. Of course you wouldn't see it on a training ride, nothings at stake! It lurks in the shadows, patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity, then, IT ATTACKS!

WELL NO MORE! I desnaggified it yesterday. I did not remove the sapling, I just stripped its horn like weapon, leaving it naked and defenseless, safe to the next weary traveler.

The evil one lurked on Pine Link approx 100 yards before the old log crossing on a tight corner. Its weapon protruded in such a fashion as to only be an issue in the direction the Pinnacle Challenge was run.

Incidentally, I also went through that whole section of Pine Link and made sure there where no other dangers lurking. Hopefully I got them all.

Ryan

 
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Thanks for posting Chris. It's important to hear everyones perspective on the race.

Ryan