Challenge Nation NOLA National Championship and Local Race- 2012

Challenge Nation National Championship NOLA - Singing on stage at the Cat's Meow.

On December 8th we competed in the Challenge Nation National Championships in New Orleans.  This was our first trip to New Orleans and we knew that our chance at winning was very very slim, so we entered the race with the intent to do our best, learn the city a little bit and then compete in the local race the next day for a win.  Overall our strategy paid off and we came in 9th overall and 2nd coed in the national championship and then won the local race on Sunday!  Not too bad of a way to end the season. Full Race recap to come.

Great Urban Race National Championship, Las Vegas 2012

On November 10th, we competed in the GUR National championship against a stacked field.  This was probably the most competitive race we have competed in.  It was also a very long race, we ran about 12 miles in the prelim race and many of the teams that completed both races ended up running over 30 miles!  We finished in 8th place overall and the first coed team but unfortunately because of a bad clue ended up getting a penalty and when all was said and done ended up in 17th place overall.  I really wanted to compete in the elite 8 race so I was pretty bummed, but I don't think that Will could of made it another 18 miles. Full race recap to come.

BeerMongers Scavenger Hunt 2012 - 2nd Overall

Yesterday, we participated in the 3rd annual BeerMongers Scavenger Hunt on bike and placed 2nd overall!  It is a great scavenger hunt with trivia, photos, rubbings and items that you have to do/get.  There are too many things to do in the 4 hour time limit so you have to strategize and pick the ones that you want to do.  We rode all over Portland from East Moreland to NE 57th and Sandy to NE 33rd and Killingsworth to Vancouver Ave and then back to Downtown Portland and then back over the the east side.  We had a great time and won some great beer.  Can't wait to do it again next year.

Post race enjoying some of our beer

Chicago Marathon 2012

On October 7th, I had the pleasure of running the Chicago Marathon for the 2nd time.  Thanks to my good friend Heather who talked me into signing up and allowed me to join her for her 1st marathon!  This was the first marathon that I have run that I really enjoyed.  My legs definitely were feeling the miles at the end but at no point in the run did I feel like I was going to die and questioned why I was doing this to myself.  So to me, that is enjoyment.  We both had great runs and I did get my best marathon time thus far, but know there is room for improvement so I can't wait for  the NYC marathon next year.  I have to admit that as Sunday rolled around this week I was a little depressed that I wasn't running the marathon again!

Post race Chicago Marathon 2012

Prerace Chicago Marathon 2012

   

Urban Dare Portland 2012 - 1st Overall

We managed to come in first overall today at the Urban Dare.  We had a pretty good race without too many issues, nothing like last weekend and took home a win and $300.  Thanks Angela for the help on the phone and to Yellow Tie Racing and the Soup-A-Stars for pushing us.  I kept telling Will, "Hurry up and find me that address, they are going to beat us, they are going to beat us, we are going to lose!"  I am not so sure he is happy you were pushing us.  And bonus, we got paid before we left, unlike the Gorilla Challenge where we have yet to see the money.  See the full Race Recap below.

Race Recap

Whew - Three Race Weekend

Seattle Oyster 2nd Coed

Portland Scavenger Dash 1st overall

     

Seattle Savenger Dash



This weekend we competed in the Seattle Oyster and the Seattle Scavenger Dash on Saturday and then drove home to Portland Sunday morning for the Portland Scavenger Dash.  After a major mechanical issue, and I mean major, in the Oyster, that made me miss the start of the Seattle Scavenger Dash by over 30 mintues we somehow pulled out a 2nd place finish in the Oyster and we still finished pretty well in the Dash and then today we took 1st overall in the Portland Scavenger Dash.  The race recaps will be posted below soon.  I need a weekend from my weekend!

Seattle Oyster Race Recap
Scavenger Dash Seattle Race Recap
Scavenger Dash Portland Race Recap

Gorilla Challenge - 1st Overall

August 25th, we completed the Gorilla Challenge in Portland.  After out racing the organizers we finished 1st overall.  Somehow I knew all but 2 of the clues on the sheet and it made for a fast race.  So fast, we got to the activity locations before the race volunteers were there and this later caused a bit of an issue for us, but we recovered and still finished in only 1 hour and 10 minutes.  See the race recap below.

Race Recap

Portland Oyster 2012 - 1st Overall

We finally did it!  On Saturday we ran as perfect of a race as we could and ended up 1st overall.  The race was a blast and had 8 Passports.  We finished in 3 hours and 1 mintue and it was a great race.  Thanks to our support team (Angela, Amy, and Smiles Dental) and the Oyster for putting on such a great race.

Race Recap

Bend Off Road Oyster - 2nd Place Coed

On Saturday, June 30th, we completed the Bend Off-road Oyster race in 4 hours exactly for second place.  Considering how we started out, we will take it.  We also found out that we are the newest of the Merrell Oyster Racing sponsored teams!  Thanks Merrell and Oyster Racing.  Read the full race recap below.

Race Recap

Great Urban Race Portland - 1st Coed, 5th Overall

So today, June 23rd, I started the day waking up in the dorm at Gonzaga University and then packed up from my week long stay coaching team camp and boarded a plane to get to Portland in time for the Great Urban Race.  My plane was to get in just after 10 am and the race registration started at 11, good thing my plane was on time.  Bad for me, it was a bumpy ride so I arrived a bit nauseous. Because I was gone all week, this was the first race that I did no prep for the race and told Will it was his job to do all the research for and prepare us.  A little scary because the start was in NE Portland, an area neither one of us are very familiar with.  After a bumpy flight and then a bumpy race, we somehow finished 5th overall and 1st coed team with a time of 2:15.  Read the full race recap below.

Race Recap

CityScape Adventures Portland - 1st Coed, 2nd Overall

On Saturday, June 16th, we participated in the CityScape Portland and despite a bridge lift and major texting issues we managed to get second place.  This year the race organizers had us text answers in to get the next clue and well, let's just say with our pay as you go throw away phones it was a bit more challenging.  See the race recap for full details and photos.

Race Recap

Portland Challenge - Challenge Nation 2012 - 4th Overall

Race Recap

On  May 20th, we completed the Portland Challenge and finished 4th overall and won a $50 bar tab and free entry into their national championship in New Orleans in December.  Thanks to Annette for the phone support!

Portland Urban Beer Hunt - 2nd Overall, 1st Female Team

Thanks for the great race today Urban Beer Hunt and Team.  We finished 2nd place overall and 1st female team in the Portland Urban Beer Hunt.  It wasn't our best race but we will take it to kick off the 2012 season.  The race was a blast and well planned and ran.  Definately would recommend doing this one.

Race Recap