North Georgia - JP Fitness Forums

sarah · 11-23-2003, 10:11 AM

Yesterday I agreed to this race. January 16-18. The team I'm on really wants to do well at the Ozark Challenge, so we're going to do this one to "prep." Any words of wisdom from anyone out there? North Georgia

mitsuman47 · 11-23-2003, 03:18 PM

Go fast. Really fast.

sarah · 11-23-2003, 10:59 PM

LOL!! That's the advice the guys on my mtb forum gave me about my first race.

I'm in the middle of training my ass off, and my body is begging for a little rest. I took last night to have three too many tequila shots and today to eat junk. My legs are still a little achy, though, and I'm still almost 2 months away. I feel like I'm in the last month of marathon training. I'm sure it'll be worth it. If I can be back in shape for 100 miles by January, then the Ozark challenge should be okay.

My largest obstacle is mental. I tend to allow myself the luxury of self-doubt and get psyched out. I pressure myself soo much that my team tells me to chill out and relax. They really are the most laid back guys, though. I just don't want to slow them down.

Master Trainer · 11-25-2003, 10:44 AM

Whoa, if this is prep for the Ozark it is serious overkill. It is probably about 10 times harder than the Ozark, because you will be doing MUCH steeper hills in some of the roughest terrain in the country (the US special forces use that same area for their advanced training), much bigger mountains than Arkansas, plus - as icing on the cake - it is in the middle of January in the Smokey Mountains, which means that you may very well be competing in sub-zero weather (nothing is more demoralizing than cold, wet conditions)for the entire race, which is a 2-day race! Does it feel like I just listed off a new mission from the movie, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?

If you are captured or die on this race, the US government will disavow any knowledge of your existance. This message will self-destruct in 10 seconds..........

sarah · 11-25-2003, 10:59 AM

Well, I'm doing it for a little fun, too. There's no doubt that I'll be fine in North Georgia. It's hardly MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. I could do it today, but it wouldn't be pretty. I know if I can THRIVE in this race, then Ozark will feel easier. I'm also going to use it as a gauge of where I am and where I need to be for the Ozark. You make it sound like soo much fun!!! Wanna join our team?

Jean-Paul · 11-25-2003, 12:17 PM

Oops! That was me (JP) who posted that last reply... I didn't realize that Josh (mastertrainer) was logged in on this computer. Hee hee! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I would love to join the team... Oh, wait a minute. You were talking to Josh with that one, huh!

That's okay. I can't race anyway. I haven't been training at ALL since Raid the Rock, so I wouldn't be able to compete in this thing if I wanted to.

Jean-Paul · 01-17-2004, 10:08 AM

Sarah,
So? How did you guys do? How hard was the course? I am dying to hear about this. I may have to call you to find out. Post your story here!

sarah · 01-19-2004, 12:34 AM

Just got home...drove from finish in.

The race started with maps being handed out at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning in a mist of rain. First up was paddle, only there was a 3 mile portage. We put into the water and paddled a total of 20 miles, although our team opted to run parts of the shore instead of paddling. At TA 1, we were 10th overall, 3rd Co-ed. I had moderate hypothermia and had to warm some before taking off again.
The mountain biking began at 11:45 and was treacherous. Really, we were flip flopping between 15-18 the entire 45 miles uphill with serious elevation gains. The unmanned cp's were approximately 600-800 meters off the forest service roads with elevation gains. At 6:30 we finished at 18 overall all on the leader board, 6th co-ed.

At 7:00, came the trekking, urr, 14 hours of bushwacking with major elevation changes. We were hoping for 2mph, but with the drastic elevation gains, we're happy. It was brutal, serious elevation changes. During the bushwak, I fell into a creek, cracked a hip on a log, and basically got my ass kicked. We got turned around once and lost quite a few hours (7) while bushwacking with a team who finished Suburu Primalquest earlier this year. But we finally found the cp, and all was well.

Overall, it was a brutal race, and I can't wait to go back next year. We made a hell of a showing for our first long race, and it's a good setup for the Ozark Challenge. I'll post a better report later.

Jean-Paul · 01-23-2004, 06:02 AM

That is AWESOME Sarah! You need to post some more detail now that you are more rested. What was your official time? Did you get any freezing weather? How many teams were there? What was your place?

Looks like you and I will be competing against each other in the Ozark. Me, Josh, Denise and her husband Terron (you did support with him at the last race for us, remember?) will race as team JP Fitness this year. We are not doing the 36 hour though, so maybe we won't be competing. We are doing the 12 hour race. That should be plenty adequate to kick my ass this year. I only have 12 more weeks to go to get back in shape for the race. I am certainly not there now.

Congrats again on the race. BTW, we sure miss you in here! Don't be such a stranger.

mitsuman47 · 01-23-2004, 08:17 AM

Sarah doesn't like us any more.

Kaiser · 01-24-2004, 12:18 AM

Congrats kiddo, and good luck on your marathon plans as well.

sarah · 01-25-2004, 10:49 AM

Thanks guys. I still hover around here sometimes, but I've been consumed with life lately. I still like you guys

JP-results aren't posted yet, but I'll let you know. We won't be competing against each other, unless you guys decide to do the 36 hour race. Good luck with training.

Ryan-I still love you.

Kaiser-Thanks. I've decided to do the 1/2 marathon since it's really hard to train for everything at once. Really, though, I'm gearing up for a couple of mtb races this year, I think. Maybe. It's tempting.

Jean-Paul · 01-25-2004, 11:35 AM

Nope, no 36 hour for me. I have to make up too much for the 3 months surrounding the birth of my newest child that I was a complete SLUG! 12 hours is plenty for me for now. Next year though...

Kaiser · 01-25-2004, 12:34 PM

At one point, while discussing Iromman triathlons with my Ironman completing friends, I said that I probably couldn't do anything for 12 hours straight.

I was wrong. Yesterday I slept for 12 hours after having come down with some stomach bug and puking my guts out over a 4 hour period.

So I might consider 36 hours of sleeping.... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

mitsuman47 · 01-25-2004, 06:02 PM