Ski to sea

HBOC was represented in Skitosea as part of Jupiter Mining Corporation, here is the report.

Logistics

Skitosea is a complicated relay: road closures for racers, human transportation class (all equipment to race and from race has to be delivered by human power), safety boats, early waking up, very busy finish line. 

I took part in competitive class team Jupiter Mining Corporation for the first running leg: had to wake up at 4:20, then was driven to road bike start place, then drove to downhill runner start, then drove back to alpine run (which was a trail run) start for me.

Usually the first two legs are XC ski and then downhill ski, but for this year they had to replace these with an "alpine run" - a short 5k trail run with some 600 ft of elevation gain. This leg has the least impact on the race - shortest winning time and, most likely, smallest biggest loss. 

Race

Some 35 minutes before the start, I get in the toilet queue. Assuming a person takes 1 min, I can barely make it - some 200 folks in front of me, 7 toilets. And I do! 3 minutes before the gun I run out of there and pose at the starting line to the drones flying over heads. Some jokes with bystanders and then BANG. A bit unexpected, but the race is on. 

I had tactically chosen the position at the rightmost side of the start line: it worked well since the exit out of the parking lot is in straight and, I believe, shortest line. At the end of the first 300 meters team Jupiter Mining Corporation is 3rd overall. Not bad. 

Since then people kept me passing - I had started too fast, but what the hell, I'm still moving.

The rest was miserable: too much of breakfast so I was considering going behind a tree, but it never materialized. Legs are a bit tired and I have trouble breathing - want to take more air, but that breakfast is there.

On the longest climb a girl passes me - but you should hear how organized was her breezing - I let her go. No chance to stay around. Apparently she is some mountain running champion.

I get some time back at the long downhill: catch a guy or 2. Run like you don't care, let the feet find something under. Just before the spectators, another girl - all in pink - is catching up with me. I pass the spectators and a second later they all cheer for her. Great! This time I am up for a fight, but on the pavement I am not finding enough enthusiasm and she passes me with one more guy.

Just before finish I see a guy who clearly has some trouble - he's being walked out and then the finish and I get a chair from Ryota, our downhill runner and I'm done.

I wait a bit around to learn that the second girl was an Olympic XC skier. Then start hiking down the hill with the chair, occasionally offering it to the downhill runners for a small-but-honest payment, but they never take the offer.

Place: 19th, time 25:48.

Next year?

Jupiter Mining Corporation can shave an hour off of our result very easy, so it would be a satisfying experience to do it again - much of the time lost was due to freak accidents that don't happen often. We ended up being around 180th place out of some 350 or so even with quite a lot of bad luck. See results.

However, it is unlikely I will do it again: it is an expensive event, especially from alpine run point of view - 80 dollars means 16 dollars/km + complicated and tiring logistics if Gunta does it as well. On the other hand - I think I could be somewhat of use - maybe even more than this time - in the downhill run, but do I want to hurt my knees? I would not be useful in the bicycle or boat parts, especially not so in the skiing. I also doubt alpine run will be there next year. I will likely stick to a support role if Gunta kayaks in this race again.

Mt Baker area was very nice, I would love to return there - there was too much of fog, but apart from that weather was exceptional - a bit too cold for tshirt, but no wind.