Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Team Update
Well, we're back for another year. We're planning the race schedule now and have been training over the offseason as much as weather would allow. Last year was interesting, if not a bit dangerous, but we learned a lot and got some good races in so we should be ready to go this season. We've got a few races already lined up to compete in and the offseason training is starting to ramp up. Just as we did last year, look for the bulk of the events to be in the realm of adventure racing, that special niche market for people who like to punish themselves not just on the bike or on foot but also paddling, ripping through swamps/forests and whatever else race directors come up with...rappeling, swimming, portaging boats, general lunacy like that. This year we'll also be doing some other events...duathlons, the occasional mountain bike race or cyclocross event just for fun, really whatever sounds fun and challenging. We'll be posting a prospective race schedule soon.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Woodstock Gold Rush 24 Hour AR
Well, we did it. We finished a 24...in relative style. I'll post a more detailed race account later but for now, here's the gory details. The race started at 8 PM Saturday night, right after that nasty storm rolled through. We raced from then to shortly after 6 PM Sunday, trekking right at 30 miles, paddling 15 miles, swimming around 3 miles and biking around 12 miles. Heat was a major factor near the end as it was a warm one out there. The cumulative effect of getting in and out of the water all day took its toll on our feet (blisters) and our general dispositions (chaffing). We sent two teams. Team I consisted of Tom and Trey while Team II consisted of Jody and Chip. The two teams stayed together the entire race and finished at the same time.
In a race like that you really have NO idea where you are in terms of placement because you don't know where other teams have been. 56 teams entered the race, including 13 2-male teams. The two WILO teams tied for 21st overall and an impressive 3rd place in the 2-male division. We didn't really have goals coming in beyond completing the race but as a group we were very pleased with the results. Look for a longer, more detailed race update later.
In a race like that you really have NO idea where you are in terms of placement because you don't know where other teams have been. 56 teams entered the race, including 13 2-male teams. The two WILO teams tied for 21st overall and an impressive 3rd place in the 2-male division. We didn't really have goals coming in beyond completing the race but as a group we were very pleased with the results. Look for a longer, more detailed race update later.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Ocmulgee Adventure Race
Well, it turned out to be a great weekend for Team WILO as the guys split into two teams to attack the 5th annual Ocmulgee Adventure Race in their hometown of Macon. Jody and hired gun Chip Davis teamed up as Team WILO Bravo and scored an impressive first place overall and first place in the 2-male division. The win was a close one as they edged Team Crunchy Spiders by a mere 5 seconds in a 4-hour race that saw the top 3 teams finish within 1 minute of each other. In a field of nearly 50 teams this was the best outing by the team to date.
Coming in close behind with another impressive effort was Team WILO Tango (Trey and David) who finished 2nd in the 2-male division and a strong 5th overall. The team used literally every minute of the 4-hour race, finishing in the last 30 seconds.
Despite choosing different routes at the start of the race, the two WILO teams found themselves to be the first two boats into the water for a brutal 1.5 mile paddle. The paddle was tough largely due to the fact the river was so low racers were forced to walk over half the leg in sluggish sand. After obtaining several points on foot after the paddle leg, racers came back to the race start area (Waterworks Park) and used the remainder of the 4 hours to find as many checkpoints via bicycle and foot as they could before arriving at the finish line prior to the time cutoff.
The results of this weekend were impressive, especially considering this was David's first foray into adventure racing from his typical road biking/duathlons. The team will certainly try to use this as a springboard into this weekend's racing where they tackle the Gold Rush 24-hour race in Woodstock, GA. That field will consist of some of the strongest teams in the region and should provide ample opportunities for Team WILO to challenge themselves. Team WILO Bravo will return intact while Team WILO Tango will see David step aside for the addition of Tom "motorboat" Sloope. The two teams plan to race the event together and look forward to more strong results.
Coming in close behind with another impressive effort was Team WILO Tango (Trey and David) who finished 2nd in the 2-male division and a strong 5th overall. The team used literally every minute of the 4-hour race, finishing in the last 30 seconds.
Despite choosing different routes at the start of the race, the two WILO teams found themselves to be the first two boats into the water for a brutal 1.5 mile paddle. The paddle was tough largely due to the fact the river was so low racers were forced to walk over half the leg in sluggish sand. After obtaining several points on foot after the paddle leg, racers came back to the race start area (Waterworks Park) and used the remainder of the 4 hours to find as many checkpoints via bicycle and foot as they could before arriving at the finish line prior to the time cutoff.
The results of this weekend were impressive, especially considering this was David's first foray into adventure racing from his typical road biking/duathlons. The team will certainly try to use this as a springboard into this weekend's racing where they tackle the Gold Rush 24-hour race in Woodstock, GA. That field will consist of some of the strongest teams in the region and should provide ample opportunities for Team WILO to challenge themselves. Team WILO Bravo will return intact while Team WILO Tango will see David step aside for the addition of Tom "motorboat" Sloope. The two teams plan to race the event together and look forward to more strong results.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
General Team Update
Welcome to our team website!
We have finally gotten this thing up and running. I will take a second to update everyone where we have been this season and where we are headed.
First off, we have already suffered a number of setbacks this season... Jody broke his collarbone and Trey fractured his femur. Both of them have recovered and are back to racing, but our early season racing took a major blow. We have several race recaps already posted and a few more on the way.
As you can see from the photo above, we have received our racing uniforms and are busy showing off our sponsors names in races and all over town. We will be posting many more photos over the coming weeks as our site continues to grow and the racing season moves along.
You can keep up with upcoming races by viewing the racing schedule in the column to the right. Also listed there, you will find a listing of our current sponsors. We will soon be linking each of these names to the corresponding company's website to provide easy access to viewers of our site. Thank you to all our sponsors! Your support has been of major importance to the team this year... especially for hospital bills!!!
We have finally gotten this thing up and running. I will take a second to update everyone where we have been this season and where we are headed.
First off, we have already suffered a number of setbacks this season... Jody broke his collarbone and Trey fractured his femur. Both of them have recovered and are back to racing, but our early season racing took a major blow. We have several race recaps already posted and a few more on the way.
As you can see from the photo above, we have received our racing uniforms and are busy showing off our sponsors names in races and all over town. We will be posting many more photos over the coming weeks as our site continues to grow and the racing season moves along.
You can keep up with upcoming races by viewing the racing schedule in the column to the right. Also listed there, you will find a listing of our current sponsors. We will soon be linking each of these names to the corresponding company's website to provide easy access to viewers of our site. Thank you to all our sponsors! Your support has been of major importance to the team this year... especially for hospital bills!!!
Uptown Macon Rotary Adventure Race Summary
On May 3rd, Jody competed in the inaugural Uptown Macon Rotary Adventure Race in Macon, GA. With Trey still recovering from his leg injury and Tom out of town, Jody competed with a former race partner in the 4-hour sprint event.
Taking place on and around Lake Tobesofkee in Macon, racers were tasked with several challenges on a great course. The first leg of the race was a 5-mile paddle that saw Jody and his teammate as tied for the first boat out of the water. Next up came a 4 mile single-track bike leg over highly technical trails. The race ended with a 21 point orienteering course that saw racers given the option of getting as many checkpoints (of varying point values) as they thought they could in whatever order they chose. The flexibility of the course combined with the significant elevation changes around the lake combined for a fun, exciting race. Jody’s team was able to place 1st in the 2-person male category and 5th overall in an excellent effort.
Taking place on and around Lake Tobesofkee in Macon, racers were tasked with several challenges on a great course. The first leg of the race was a 5-mile paddle that saw Jody and his teammate as tied for the first boat out of the water. Next up came a 4 mile single-track bike leg over highly technical trails. The race ended with a 21 point orienteering course that saw racers given the option of getting as many checkpoints (of varying point values) as they thought they could in whatever order they chose. The flexibility of the course combined with the significant elevation changes around the lake combined for a fun, exciting race. Jody’s team was able to place 1st in the 2-person male category and 5th overall in an excellent effort.
Blue Ridge Mounatin Adventure Race Summary
On April 12th, team member Jody Yarbrough competed in the 11th annual Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race in Blue Ridge, GA. This race is the longest running Adventure Race in the state and consistently draws a field of competitors from all over the country. This year’s race saw teams from as far away as Arizona.
A field of 87 3-person teams started the race at 8 AM and over the next 9 hours competed in various challenges including running, biking, paddling, cargo net climbing, etc. Overall, Jody’s team ran/trekked roughly 12 miles, biked over 10 miles and paddled nearly 12 miles to the finish. The weather was excellent and Jody’s team was able to clear the course (obtain all check points) and reach the finish line in 8 hours and 30 minutes, good enough for 24th place overall (out of 87 teams), 4th among all 3-person Male teams. It was an excellent race in an absolutely beautiful part of the state and one that we’ll certainly have on the calendar for next year.
A field of 87 3-person teams started the race at 8 AM and over the next 9 hours competed in various challenges including running, biking, paddling, cargo net climbing, etc. Overall, Jody’s team ran/trekked roughly 12 miles, biked over 10 miles and paddled nearly 12 miles to the finish. The weather was excellent and Jody’s team was able to clear the course (obtain all check points) and reach the finish line in 8 hours and 30 minutes, good enough for 24th place overall (out of 87 teams), 4th among all 3-person Male teams. It was an excellent race in an absolutely beautiful part of the state and one that we’ll certainly have on the calendar for next year.
Friday, March 21, 2008
London Marathon- Race Summary
On Sunday, April 13th, Tom Sloope competed in the 100th running of the London Marathon. This was his fifth marathon and his first overseas. Tom completed the 26.2 mile distance in 3:37:18. He placed 5909th out of a total of 34, 309 runners.
The race started at 9:45 under sunny and warm skies. At about the mid-point of the race, the skies over London darkened and it began to rain. Between miles 18 and 20, it hailed. By race-end, it was again raining and getting cold.
Tom plans to run the Berlin Marathon in late September of this year. This will allow him to complete one of his and the team’s goals…. to run all five of the World Marathon Majors (Boston, Chicago, New York, London, and Berlin)
The race started at 9:45 under sunny and warm skies. At about the mid-point of the race, the skies over London darkened and it began to rain. Between miles 18 and 20, it hailed. By race-end, it was again raining and getting cold.
Tom plans to run the Berlin Marathon in late September of this year. This will allow him to complete one of his and the team’s goals…. to run all five of the World Marathon Majors (Boston, Chicago, New York, London, and Berlin)
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