Event: 2005 American Adventure Sports – PURE (Pittsburgh Urban R ce Extreme)
http://www.americanadventuresports.com/
Type: Urban Adventure Race (long course)
Class: Three Person Coed
Date: May 21, 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Distance: 70+ miles
Team Members: Asher Cornelius, Greg Gibbard, Lili Spiewak
Race Disciplines: 35 miles mountain biking, 20 trail running, 10 canoeing, rappelling
Results: 4th in coed class; 11:41 hrs.
Race starts in 5 minutes, and things are not as they should be. Only 11 out of the 16 Control Points (CPs) have managed to be plotted. Driving thru Pittsburgh the night prior and morning of the race and now having the city laid out before us on maps, reinforce how navigating thru it could easily pose some headaches at best and undoubtedly navigational errors at worst. The race is taking place in conjunction with Pittsburgh’s Venture Outdoors Festival, happening along the North Shore. We start the race at 8:00 leaving behind empty booths and no line ups in front of the port-o-potties.
Pittsburgh on this race morning is chilly, wet and foggy. Teams begin running 2.75 miles along the Allegheny river. The sprint race teams (20 mile course) are running along side the “expedition” teams (70+ mile course) without any backpacks full of gear and in some cases even without any sort of liquids. We reach CP1 (Three Rivers Boat Launch) where we transition to the canoe portion of the race.
Each team travels in one canoe along with the requirement of having to take a canoe paddle. It’s up to the discretion of each team, whether or not to use the canoe paddle. Lucky person in the middle ~ Lili quickly takes a liking to using a canoe paddle rather than a kayak paddle, used in all her previous adventure races. She furthermore enjoys this particular paddle portion, as it is the first time she is sitting comfortably in the middle. The Thursday night before the race, all three team members ~ Greg, Asher and Lili went for a paddle training at the Heavner Canoe Livery. Different comfort aids for the middleperson were tested ~ sling seat and small folding camping chair. The later was an instant winner, giving the necessary height and back support much sought after. The canoe section of the race has teams paddling on all three of Pittsburgh’s rivers, the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela.
Pittsburgh’s many waterways and bridges galore (photo by other)
On route to CP2 (Brunot Island), we had 30 seconds of uneasiness. A Barge leaves us scrambling for balance with its trailing wake. Like many of the CPs to follow, CP2 is unmanned. Teams are required to record the answer to the question in our passports. Question for CP2: What numeral(s) are on the sign under the orange navigational marker at the tip of the island? Answer: 18. Paddling now on the Ohio river, the fog has lifted, the sun is piercing and the weather is quickly getting balmy.
3 miles south from CP2, CP3 is located on the Monongahela river at the South Side Boat launch. Here we are given our next set of directions and a map for the orienteering portion of the race, happening at Schenley Park. The 5 CPs can be obtained in any order. Two teams catch up to us at the entrance of the park while we are deciding the sequence of CPs to hit. Without much discussion, the two teams go toward the furthest CP. We then decide to get the closest but most elevation gain….or so we think. One of the later CPs is a 36-story climb up the stairs of the Cathedral of Learning.
This gothic style tower is home to the university of Pittsburgh administrative offices and liberal arts departments and classrooms. The 535 feet tall and 42 story building is the second tallest education building in the world and remains a historic landmark. On a side note, during the depression when money was lacking to complete the tower, students were encouraged to give a dime to “buy a brick”.
Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh (photo by other)
Climbing up the stairs at story 17, it dawns on Lili that she has not packed a pair of gloves for the rope section. For the moment, she keeps this bit of information from the rest of the team. Minutes later, Asher announces he has forgotten to pack a pair of gloves too! Our last point in the orienteering section is an awesome 120-foot rappel off Panther Hollow bridge by Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
Getting harnessed in and while rummaging thru her backpack, Lili discovers not one but two pairs of gloves. Hallelujah!
Asher and Lili tear down the rappel, Greg opts for a leisurely ride and actually takes in the surroundings before touching buttom.
Panther Hollow Bridge ~ the location of the rappel (photo by Greg Gibbard)
The run back to the canoe CP4 is difficult. The humid weather is in full effect and both Lili and Greg can’t wait to get back the transition area and don on a pair of bike shorts for the next section.
The paddle back to the North Shore and TA is quiet. No one says a word. The North Shore’s Venture Outdoors festival is in full swing when we canoe in. People are out kayaking, canoeing and water biking. Others are climbing the rock wall. Booths are occupied with vendors and brand representatives. Festival attendees are lined up in front of the port-o-potties. A dark grey cloud hangs over Pittsburgh. Lightening flashes and thunder strikes off in the distance. Rain begins but doesn’t last long enough for us to cool off.
At the TA and CP5, we quickly change into bike shorts and eat real food (cold pizza) before we resort back to gels and bars. Race Director Doug, is busy introducing the sport of adventure racing to curious festival attendees, as they see teams quickly change, eat and then take off on bikes from the enclosed orange plastic fence.
We ride into Pittsburgh’s downtown core and locate CP6 in a Subway station. One member ventures alone into the subterranean world and uncovers the price of a two-zone ride on the subway. CP7 is located at the overlook on top of Mount Washington. The directions state “You may NOT use any gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles to reach the overlook”. This subtly suggests to the team that the incline (less than 50 metres away) is permitted. We verify with the attendant that the incline operates on electricity.
Mt. Washington’s Incline (photo by other)
Bikes are only permitted in the top compartment of the incline. Because of passengers already seated, we can only manage to ride with two bikes. Asher and Lili ride up first, Greg waits for the next trip up. We receive our share of stares and curiosity and answer questions about adventure racing. Greg finally makes an appearance and we ride over to the overlook.
Riding down the twisty, narrow, steep streets from Mount Washington, one team is spotted walking with their bikes, to the top. Poor guys. Descending the mountain, requires both hands on the brakes at all times. “Thank goodness, I finally replaced my brakes for this”, Greg remarks.
CP8 has us back at the South Side boat launch. From here, we are given specific biking safety instructions where we are told to follow the rail trail east to the terminus of 9 Mile Run. We glutens for punishment take the steep loose rock climb into Squirrel Hill residential area. Our punishment continues, having to climb another steep hill in order to make our way into Frick Park, site of CP9.
From CP9 we navigate thru residential streets, admiring the big old century houses towards Mellon Park. CP10 is located on the fountain at the highest point in the park. We count how many fish heads encircle the fountain.
Before beginning the bike orienteering section in Highland Park, Asher and I cannot resist and just have to eat Italian Ice, being sold by a park vendor. The crushed ice lemon flavor, is a nice refreshing treat. This section of the race, has us uncover the answers to such clues as: What is the number of stars on the eagle’s shield (CP11); What is the number if this reservoir (CP12); Who is memorialized on the monument (CP13) and What is the total number of BBQs located behind the shelter (CP14). Completing the bike orienteering course, we bushwhack downhill towards Washington Boulevard’s bike oval, CP15. The plethora of dry leaves and loose dirt make the bushwhack slippery.
At the bike oval we astonishingly learn we went from 6th to 3rd…such a rush of energy overtakes us. While the team completes three laps of a time trial, with one member having to sit out after each lap, we entertain the possibility of a podium finish and cash prize of $750. The prize money would help pay for our trip down to Pittsburgh from Michigan.
Before doing the last section of the race, we quickly refill our near empty water bladders before hammering to the last CP16 (Penn Brewery) and finish. Before the bike oval leaves our sight of vision, another team surfaces. The pressure to remain ahead and stay in 3rd is on! This final section requires proceeding on foot across an abandoned railroad bridge ~ Greg’s favourite, especially while wearing bike shoes. The directions we receive for this point become confusing. We come to a scrap yard and hit a dead end. Luckily, a worker is spotted and we ask for directions back towards the Heinz Complex. As were leaving, the team behind us appears. To make things worse, the worker yells over to them and points in the direction they need to go. They stay right behind us for the first five minutes then overtake us. After the race, Doug confirms what we witness; this team is good on bikes. We hit a few questionable parts and although we are headed in the right direction, West towards Heinz Complex, we are unsure if our chosen path is the best one. Our pace slows when we dismount from our bikes and walk on the rail bed. Lili notices what looks like a better route on the other side of a sitting train we are passing alongside. Asher crosses between the two cars with Lili hands him the bikes, daring Greg slides underneath.
Greg’s leg’s are cramping up and with Asher’s brilliant reminder, Lili tows Greg the last two miles to the CP16. Holding onto hope, I want to believe maybe, just maybe the team that past us may have had a mechanical problem or made a navigation error. These hopes vanish when we are told team Last Minute just came in 12 minutes earlier. Staying and enjoying a cold glass of beer at the brewery was all too easy and tempting. At this point, we just want to cross the finish line and get our hands on free beer, the race Director and staff kept reminding us while on the course.
Riding closer to the finish, we pass PNC stadium where a ball game is taking place. All of a sudden, the stadium roars cheering. It was timed beautifully as if just for us and our grand entrance into the finish line. It was all too surreal and moving at the same time.
We pull into the finish line 11:41 hrs. later and in 4th place. The Venture Outdoors Festival has already finished. We arrive to empty booths and no line ups in front of the port-o-potties.
Bravo to American Adventure Sports Staff for putting on a great race! The race staff were super nice, welcoming and helpful. As promised, the race highlighted Pittsburgh’s environmental, historical and cultural qualities.
Greg Gibbard, Lili Spiewak and Asher Cornelius – Team SMAC / Suunto t6 testers (photo by other)