We did it! A 25 mile adventure race around the hills and lake of Milford Kansas.
This was a first for me and an easy one for Josh.
Here we are in the morning before leaving for our race.
Josh was plotting our checkpoints for the race. They give you the checkpoints that morning and you only have limited time to plot them. Thankfully Josh does this for a living because if you plot a point wrong and can't find it, then you don't get that special punch for your card and time gets added to your overall time.
The map and tools
They put us on a bus to take us to the drop off point. This was the last picture our camera took (we forgot to check the batteries) so the rest of the pictures are from other people.
Notice we are still all smiles!
Our drop off point!
Notice the couple in red and blue..that's not us but if you enlarge the photo and look between them you will see my blue jacket and army green/gray hat. Yep, that is me IN FIRST PLACE overall!!
I think we were still in the front at this point but by the time we reached the top of the hill several teams passed us. I took enjoyment in my temporary lead as I knew it wouldn't last.
With maps, a compass and a hint we were all on our way to the checkpoints.
At each checkpoint (most of them in bushes) there is an orange and white flag with a special coded punch that you use on your punch card that you turn in at the end of the race. One of the checkpoints was on this tower with a beautiful view of Milford Lake.
Just one of the teams along the way.
Cross country on the way to a checkpoint
Look close the two small people in the background, that is Josh and me.
Here we are just about to get our bikes and I was just about to find out that I forgot to leave my padded bike shorts with my bike.
We did a lot of off road riding.
Another rider...
Another checkpoint
This was checkpoint 13 - a tough one to find
Another view from the race
Another team searching for a checkpoint
Josh fixing his second flat of the day but it was after we made the first time deadline
Outside 'The Oasis' where we had to go in a do a Karaoke performance as one of our checkpoints
One of the teams performing.
Josh and I sang/performed "Walking on Sunshine"
off of a very limited list of songs
After our performance it was back on the bikes and a 2 mile ride to our next checkpoint
Our next checkpoint we left our bikes and started a 5K run (or at this point a walk for me)
Can you see the orange flag peeking out...that is a checkpoint.
We also had to write in 50+ words what we liked about the race.
After the 5K we had to get back on our bikes and ride a few miles back to the final location. We had 29 minutes to make it back and I thought we could do it. However, my leg got a bad cramp so as I sat and drank Gatorade, Josh tied our bikes together so that he could tow me behind him...which is completely legal to do. This gave my leg a chance to rest a bit and Josh finally got to have a workout! I was able to help toward the end and we made it back with 8 minutes to spare. But we did it!!!!
Here we are finally eating real food.
Picking the stickers off.
We were all smiles. I did it, Josh was very supportive and encouraging and we spent quality time together as a couple.
Life is good!
