Cal Eco Finals, Santa Barbara, CA (July 2004)
Team Epinephrine, our line up - two of the usual suspects Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren, and the new guy Teddy DeVito, a recent E-Camp graduate also from Big Bear Lake, CA. The three of us arrived in Santa Barbara ready to take on whatever might be thrown our way at the CalEco Finals.
A pre race meeting informed us of a gigantic course to include 150 miles, 36,000 vertical feet of climbing, and a finish estimated at 24 hours for the winners. Temperatures were predicted to hover at 100 degrees and the barren Santa Barbara mountains would offer no running water for re-supply.
The start, a seven-mile run through tricky, steep terrain, following several “goat trails” to the first two checkpoints. The top teams were still tight as they headed to the ocean for a 24 mile paddle in blow-up, raft-style kayaks (definitely not the tool of choice for a long ocean paddle). It was a constant battle deciding whether it was quicker to paddle or to hike the boats along the rocky shoreline. Team Epi opted for a little of both and finished the paddle with a five mile trek, Ted and Paul carrying the 40 plus pound boats on their heads and still managing a little shuffle toward the transition area.
Mountain bikes awaited the team at the transition area as Team Epi, in 4th place, headed away from the coast and into the rugged Santa Barbara mountains. Epi made quick work of the climbs and soon had the lead teams in sight. In true Big Bear style, Karen, Paul and Ted took on the technical downhills at a pace that no other team could keep. At the short rapel section, the threesome found themselves in first place. After the ropes, the biking section continued with a hike-a-bike section on a trail so steep “we had to hold onto the bushes to pull ourselves up the hill, said Karen.
“It felt like we were moving at a snail’s pace and with no other teams in sight we weren’t sure if we were keeping our lead or being passed by teams that may have chosen a better route,” said Karen. Turns out that Team Epi just increased their lead.
Twenty-four hours of racing and just 2/3rds of the way through the course. Team Epi had at least a one hour lead.
“We were all feeling healthy, a little tired but still ready to push on,” said Paul. A massive mountain bike section remained.
“Rookie Ted was holding up like a veteran, we were impressed with his mental game,” Paul added.
Karen, Paul and Ted pulled together for the final climb - up some incredibly steep fire roads (a constant effort between riding and pushing) heading up what should be the final climb of the race and then some mild terrain to the finish. Then, the team’s viion of the finish line, (ice cold drinks, real food, marching bands, trophy girls…) was all put on hold as they battled with themselves and against a giant ‘hole in the map.” It wasn’t a real “hole” but a spot of the map with not enough detail to help teams find the correct route. It was 100 degrees with not a bit of a breeze blowing. After some searching for the route, Team Epi found themselves completely out of water and miles from any chance to refill.
“Unofficially-we aborted backtracking to the safety of an unimproved camp spot we had passed earlier,” said Paul. At this point winning meant nothing, survival in the heat and dry, desolate Santa Barbara Mountains was the primary goal.
As we sat at the camp spot with no water, food running low and exhausted from nearly 30 hours of non stop racing, a man magically appeared and offered us water,” said Karen “We thought we were hallucinating at first, but he was real, we were out of the woods…for the moment, “ continued Paul.
Team Epi chatted with the stranger about the route to the finish. He told them that the trail would be difficult to find and a steep climb with the bikes to get there. He suggested an alternate route that seemed highly out of the way and climbed a couple of “unnecessary” peaks. With the finish line directly to the west, Team Epi, back on their bikes headed north and back into the exposed heat of the day.
Hours, miles and 3,000 vertical feet later Team Epi approached the finish line. “Together we were sure we had lost our lead and pretty sure that the entire race organization had packed up and gone home,” said Paul.
“Chalk it up to training,” “No worries, we’ll get ‘em next time,” “We put up a good fight,” the team consoled each other.
Karen, Paul and Ted crossed the finish to find plenty of people around all cheering and celebrating the team’s finish. “Great Job Epi!”
Sheepishly Team Epi/SOLE asked what place they were in. To the amazement of the threesome, they arrived just 20 minutes behind first place, Team Wellsport, a strong squad from Orange County that had been on our heels the whole race. Second place. What a shock to learn that the remaining teams were having an epic adventure too… and more. Third place was still an hour behind.
“It was a pleasant reminder about adventure racing, that you can NEVER give up until it’s ALL over,” said Karen.
“And, it’s NEVER over till you reach the finish line,” adds Paul.
Go fast, take chances.
Paul and Karen
Team SOLE/EPI