Then There Were Two?
Posted on 06/28/08 6:28 PM| by Kraig
June 28, 2008
By Craig Stein
As our photo crew of two trekked up into the Bridger Range mountains Wednesday evening to intercept teams Merrell and PeakAdventure.com we had no idea the amount of suffering being experienced by the racers. Upon arrival at the summit, after a three hour hike, we set up for what we thought would be a perfect photo opportunity as the sun began to set below the western plains. We waited! As the light faded and no teams approached we packed up and headed back down the Truman Gulch trail towards Bozeman where the next transition area would be.
Early Thursday morning we awoke to the sound of communications team members talking with the support crew of team PeakAdventure.com. “Your team is being evacuated off of Sacagawea Peak,” said the race staff member. “A helicopter is in route to pick up the search and rescue team and then your team will be flown off the peak.” The crew member’s fears were quickly put to rest as they were informed that the injury was non-life threatening and simply an extremely painful case of tendinitis.
With PeakAdventure.com out of the race, team Merrell sits by itself with a huge gap to close on the first place team Nike with no real challengers from behind. Would this race now be a blow out?
Robyn Benincasa of team Merrell has also had her own physical challenges throughout the race so far. Besides her hip reconstruction she has also had a bout of tendinitis in her right foot. The medical team at Storm Castle wrapped her up on Thursday and sent her back out onto the course. The team left the transition area and headed off for the free climbing segment of the race.
Our team headed to the rocks and watched Merrell approach the fixed lines as the last light of day hit the peaks. The squiggle of team member’s head lamps up the big wall was an impressive sight against the star lit sky above. Team Merrell completed the climb at a much quicker pace than team Nike, whose member Monique Merrill had difficulties on the first pitch.
After Merrell reached the top, it was time to hit the orienteering section above the climb. “That free climb was the most spectacular I have ever done in a race!” expressed veteran racer John Jacoby. “I was glad we did it in the dark so I did not have to see what was below or above us.” The team slept out in the bush last night and returned to the transition area to complete the rappel section, then refueled for the long trek ahead to Ennis Lake. After the team was shuttled to the Logger Creek trailhead we spoke with Jeff Aikins, head crew member and fiance of Robyn, about her and the team’s overall condition. “They are doing well,” expressed Jeff. “I think they are doing better since they are no longer racing for the top position. Robyn’s tendinitis pain has now been replaced with a toe blister,” Jeff continued.
Team Merrell member Travis Macy had a morale boost as his family met the team at Storm Castle to help support the team. Mark Macy, Travis’ father, is one of the original adventure racers in the extreme sports world. “We are very proud of Travis. It is great that we share the same passion for adventure racing,” doted Mark. “Travis has always been at the top of his game as a state champion cross country runner and valedictorian of his high school class in Evergreen, Colorado.” He went on from there to run at the University of Colorado at Boulder,” stated Mark. “He is very honored to have been asked to be part of this talented team.”
While it seems unlikely that team Nike can be caught with a nine hour lead, maybe Merrell’s low pressure racing spirit will allow them to make up some time to the finish. If all goes smoothly for team Nike we should see them cross the finish line some time tonight.
What!? Another repeat first place finish by Primal Quest champions Nike in the dark? Stay tuned race fans!
Photo by Craig Stein
