The team made it in this morning around 4:00am.  They were dragging butt - but walking without limps.  I think this is the least talkative Mary has been at any TA.  John is absolutely exhausted and after eating and showering was asleep before anyone else got off of their chairs.  Bobby is sleeping with bags of ice taped onto both of his knees and feet.  Jason grabbed the wrong size shoe when they took off (the further you go in a race, the bigger your feet get so many racers have more than 1 size of the same shoe) but he does not have blisters.  All feet look very well - will definitely have to do some maintenance when they get up.  They said they saw some amazing things, but didn’t elaborate - they’re pretty much spent - so hopefully a large dose of pasta and 2 hours sleep will give them enough to get to the next TA.  It’s a beautiful sunrise…we are on the southwest side of the Bridger Mountains and as the sun is coming up on the other side, the clouds floating above the mountains are pink to orange - a beautiful Montana morning!

Share This

Luke is Mary’s nephew and has been supporting her and her teammates this entire team as well as traveling around the wilds of Montana.  He’s been a fantastic help to Eric and I.  He pitches right in when asked and even when not asked (pretty special considering he’s headed to those teen years).  His favorite part of his trip thus far has been seeing the spectacular mountains all around us.  He’s seen deer and prairie dogs - I think uncle Eric needs to drive back home via Yellowstone National Park so he can add bison, elk, and moose to his list. He’s loved being part of the action - even if his sleep schedule is non existent.  He also quickly became a favorite of my 3 yr. old Delaney - they collected rocks together, ate mac and cheese,  and then got to watch cartoons - a natural babysitter.  I think he’s missing his little brother Toby - don’t worry Toby he’ll be home soon.  Eileen and Marty - you have a very special son!

Share This

I must give a quick shout out back to all of you Michigan supporters - you’re making me cry with all of the support, love, and inspiration that you are sending to Jason, John, Bobby, and Mary (I’m crying at just about everything now because I’m so exhausted - especially when my team comes in) :).  You guys are awesome!

Share This

Well, we’re finally at a not quite so remote TA - it’s a park with a beach and lake.  Perfect for today - it’s scorching hot, but no humidity so the shade is nice and cool.  There are a lot of non PQ people here - a nice little break, but I was getting used to our traveling hippie commune.  :) Just a quick note - don’t worry if you see them off of the ridge - they were told that they could hike on the lower trail - probably cooler out of the brutal sun, but many more elevation changes.  The next TA we head to (12/13) is the same is TA4 - Storm Castle.  I know we won’t have coverage there, so be patient and keep watching the website.  I hope we’ll have coverage at Ennis Lake, but I’m not sure.  The next stop will be the finish line at Big Sky.  Ok, it’s hot, I’ve been invited over to team #49s support area for a beverage.  For those of you from Chi-town that know, this is Michael’s team.  About the hippie commune…people have been so wonderful.  I have met the coolest people here - so nice, helpful, supportive of each other, and very interesting in their own right.  I brought 5 books with me to read…I’m on page 29 of the first book…too many people to meet and sites to see.  I’ll update again when we get the team out of here.  Bobby’s parents are coming up tonight to hang out with us to cheer the team on.  I think it will be a great moral boost!  

Share This

Ok, after three more hoursof sleep, this post should be a bit more coherent.  The time cut-off for this TA is noon today, so they made it with much time to spare, and if you track them you can see they are making incredible time along the top of the ridge.  We can see the top from here and are hoping to see some specks up there.  We could see headlamps up there last night - along with a billion stars - awesome!  Their next cut-off will be to make it to the climbing course by 6:00am Tuesday.  If they can keep moving like they are, I think they’ll make it - then the finish line by either 10am or 3pm on Wed. - have heard conflicting information.  After this trek they have another bike - 54 miles or so into some mountains and the last 3 miles are very rocky so I’ve heard.  Have heard a team saw a grizzly sow and 2 cubs up on the trail last night.  Eric and Luke headed to a hotel to spend the night (morning) so Luke can go swimming.  It’s supposed to be in the 90s the rest of the week - at least it cools down at night and there is no humidity.  I’ve had a chance to see my family (Mom, dad, and 3yr old, Delaney) here and there.  We went to the Museum of the Rockies yesterday and they followed me out to this TA to cheer our team on and spend the night.  It’s nice to have support for the support crew.  Plus they’re also our extra storage space for gear that isn’t mandatory or necessary any more.  Another wag bag story…after leaving the TA on bikes yesterday, apparently John had a bit of an intestinal issue.  Now picture just rolling fields of grass with miles of dirt roads and the ability to see forever…John pulled off a triple play - they had to stop 3 times and John had to get down in the ditch…can you as a driver imagine seeing a white bike helmet peeking out from the ditch with someone squatted down with a bag taped to their fanny?  Oh the sights we see in Montana and Primal Quest…where was the photographer when we needed him?  Maybe Bobby got it on their go-pro camera - that could be the winning video.  They got to take a camera with them that does video or photos.  The videos will be posted on youtube.com, in fact I think some have been posted already.  The team that gets the most hits on their video wins some kind of camera package - so be looking for team 29s videos and tell all your fans to do the same!  Off to see the lizard…

Share This

It’s 6:00am and our team has been gone for about an hour and a half.  They arrived here at TA10 about…I don’t know…11:30pm or so, I think.  The 80 mile bike ride was grueling.  John popped two tires, Mary had to lead the 3 guys down the gravel hills at night while they were pretty much sleep biking, and they felt they were on the road that would never end.  Needless to say they are using all kinds of butt ointment - you can imagine the comments.  They are happy to be trekking again.  They ate their pizza, quickly changed into comfy clothes, had a few laughs and stories to tell, then off to bed.  I got up at 2:30am made french toast and bacon and gently woke the team.  They all wake up pretty well, except Bobby sits bolt upright so quickly it scares me to death.  Now I’m waiting for the sun to rise over the Bridger Mountains - but on only one and a half hours sleep, I’m falling asleep as I sit here….more late.

Share This

Hello All - it’s GREAT for not only the team but also for us support to hear from so many of you.  The team loves all of the posts!  Please keep it up.

Now for the long over do update.  They cruised on their bikes from TA5 Carbella to TA7 at Otter Creek.  They crashed there for a couple of hours - they got the motorhome, Eric and Mary in their car, and I slept outside - it was fabulous!  I woke them up at 2:30am fixed them some coffee and off they went (they had already filled up when they had arrived 2 hours before).  They had an incredible bike through some tough dirt roads with huge rocks - but gorgeous.  They dropped their bikes and headed off for a 30 mile trek.  The guys that were manning the check point had seen 5 bears in 2 days!  I was hoping our team would be so lucky - they weren’t - didn’t even see a squirrel.  The “back breaker” as John called it took them approx. 28 hours.  They did sleep up at check point 17 as many of you know.  They did some amazing things.  They had to cross a number of talus fields while heading up and over the ridge.  Mary said it was the scariest thing she’s ever done and Bobby helped her step by step.  They also crossed many freezing streams.  Other teams had reported seeing an avalanche down the opposite side of the mountain - glad it wasn’t in the path of the teams.  Our team finally came WALKING, not limping, in at 9:30am this morning.  They were in fantastic shape.  We retaped Mary’s feet in a couple of places and everyone else’s feet are looking great!  They filled up on pancake pigs in a blanket, chef boyardee pasta, and Jason added 2 bowls of oatmeal (so, Michigan supporters, I’m feeding him well!).  They also had coffee, water, and gatorade.  Tonight’s dinner is pizza - special request from the team. Eric found a pizza place that has Chicago style pizza so he brought that - I know they’re pedaling hard for that reward.  When they left for their bike they were in great spirits and feeling good.  14 team have now withdrawn or gone unranked (one team member had to quit) - I can’t even begin to tell you all how proud I am of this team.  They rock!

Ok, we’re waiting for the team to arrive now - should be in soon and I need to prepare!  I’ll try to get more details posted soon and answer the questions!

Share This

Ok, I finally figured it out - I can approve the comments that you send and then they will be posted on this team site to the right of the posts.  

Share This

This is like being 10 months pregnant waiting for contractions to start!!  Teams finally started rolling in about 7:00am…we finlly heard that they indeed were on their bikes and headed our way - they arrived at TA6 at about 9:40am.  They are in GREAT shape - Mary has some minor blistering, but other than that, all are healthy and well.  After being totally exhausted from some incredible trekking, bushwhacking, and river crossings, they came in and ate and ate and ate.  They had been 36 hours without food so food was a number one priority.  They cleaned up some gear, changed and cleaned themselves up, and are now sleeping here until 3:00pm and I’ll be pushing them out the door by 4:00pm.  They will be biking onto TA7 probably arriving there sometime tonight around midnight.  They said the trekking and navigation was very tricky and they finally settled down to sleep so their minds would be fresh for the last nav into TA5.  Jason did not sleep as he was the one closest to the door of the tent and was worried about bears attacking him….hmmm, do bears usually use the door of the tent?  Do they knock first?  (He’s my brother so I can tease him like that).  They have reported seeing many, many tracks in the woods - elk and black bear.  Apparently there has been another WagBag incident involving all the men on the team.  They all “used” at the same time and they decided this was the most hilarious thing ever.  Bobby was laughing so hard he choked, gagged, almost vomitted, snorted, and probably tooted.  Mary would not join in the pure glee of pooping in a plastic bag that was stuck to your butt.  Thank you for keeping your dignity Mary!  She is dealing with more than just the trekking, biking, and climbing!  I think the boys are looking to start a new company….%&*#bags.com…hmmm could be a great sponsor!

The team members loved the comments that I printed off for them, so keep them coming.  Please feel free to ask questions or tell me what you’d like to hear about and I’ll do my best to answer them.  I’m currently using some rented wireless hook up from team Brunton (#18) who is parked next to us - works like a charm.  I’ll try to save them a spot at the next TA so I can keep all of you updated!

Cheers from TA6 - heading to TA7 late afternoon/early evening!

Share This

Day Four:

Day four has started out with more waiting and still no news.  Finally, about 8:30am we’ve heard that they are on their bikes and moving are way.  Don’t know what kind of shape they’ll be in, except hungry.  They haven’t had real food in 38 hours…I imagine they’ll stop at the grocery in Emigrant and get some food.

Cheers,

Denise

Share This

Day Three: 

Our team is still trekking so the support team fueled up, resupplied (at the Bozeman Walmart where we spent the night), and headed out to TA6.  We sat and waited and waited.  I made dinner and breakfast for the next morning and waited and waited.  Finally, about midnight we determined that they had hunkered down for the night with about 6 other teams about 5 miles out from UTA5 and their bikes (all of you probably know where they are better than we do as we didn’t have internet service out here and have to rely on other teams that do).  It was time for me to sleep too.

Denise

Share This

Okay, here we are at Day 3 - still sitting at the Walmart in Bozeman because we have cell service and I’ve figured out how to post.

The hard kayaking section of the course has now been removed and it is replaced with biking - so once our team gets to their bikes, it will be a 108 mile ride.  We will still be seeing them at various TAs, as far as we know.  I imagine they’ll sleep at the next TA - Carbella.

The rivers are full of rain run off and snow melt and flowing at incredibly tough speeds - have “heard” through the support crew grapevine that the river was closed yesterday because rescue crews were dealing with 4 rescues all at the same time…one of which was my brother.  Jason has paddled the AuSable river canoe marathon for a number of years, we grew up on the water, swimming, water skiing, etc.  He knows his way around water…yesterday was probably the scariest day of his life.  I’ve only met John since I’ve been out here supporting him and don’t know his water background, but since he’s been adventure racing for a while, I’d guess that his skills are pretty good - I think he feels the same as Jason.  From what it sounded like - I’d say Bobby saved his life, and Team 54 rescued Mary from what could’ve been a potentially disasterous situation. Please know that they are all safe and sound and happily trekking!  Please keep sending the comments - I know it’s tough to figure out where to comment - but I’ll print them off for the team - they can always use the moral boost!  I’ll try to post again as soon as we have coverage, but with them now biking, I’m not sure how much time we’ll have between sections.

From Walmart,

Denise

Share This

Day Two:

Are we only on day two?!   The team arrived in TA2 sometime around 9:00am.  They made up quite a bit of time over night.  They took their time with the navigation and it paid off.  Many teams walked in circles and were slowed by not so perfect navigation.  Jason used the first “wag bag” (poop bag) and had to pack it out.  Needless to say no one wanted to hike behind him.  It seems to have kept the bears away.  Our team saw some prints - probably black bear, but one team did report seeing a grizzly - it looked at them and then walked away - whew!  When they arrived in TA2 they were in great shape and decided to hit the river instead of sleeping.  Sleeping would be done after the riverboarding.  After eating, repacking, and regearing off they headed to the river.  We thought they’d have the ride of their lives…unfortunately, they did.  After teams took off, support crews were held at the TA for 2 hours as not to crowd TA3.  We cleaned up, packed up (if you’ve never done this before let me tell you what we are packing up later on), and watched for that magic 2 hour time limit and off we raced hoping to beat our racers to the next TA.  As we headed toward Moose Creek Campground, sure enough, we saw them in the river.  We pulled over and cheered them on they yelled back and were in great spirits, although Jason and Mary’s boat was obviously losing air, but they didn’t seem to be too worried about it.  We hopped back in the vehicle and off we raced to TA3 - we knew our racers would be there soon.  It was another beautiful day in Montana, with clear skies, no humidity, and plenty of sunshine.  We waited at the rivers edge for teams to come in.  The teams were in a very fast part of the river and even at this location it was very difficult for teams to pull over and get their boats out.  As teams rolled in we though something was wrong - the teams #29 took off with were coming in, but not our team.  Finally, a team member from team 49 came over and told us that they had seen Jason and Mary along the side of the river as their boat was sinking!  We didn’t have to wait much longer as Bobby and John were flushed down the river toward us - only one paddle.  We waved them in and ran to help them.  John was in rough shape - shivering and had some trouble getting out of the boat.  Bobby was fine and started to tell what had happened.  Now, I’m relaying this story from bits and pieces garnered from many sources so some of this might not be exactly accurate, but you’ll get the general idea.  Apparently  Bobby and John hit a big rapids and John flew backwards, hitting Bobby with his paddle and causing a bloody nose then they flipped over.  John’s shoe got caught in the boat and he struggled to keep face up in the river.  Bobby quickly used his knife to cut John’s shoe free, while holding John’s head above water.  They righted the boat and got back in and continued on down the river with the one paddle. Needless to say, John was pretty shaken up.  I think Jason and Mary saw what happened to Bobby and John and were going to try to help them, but as they hit the rapids, Jason flipped out the back of the boat because it was so deflated.  It sounds like he got caught in some sort of current that literally sucked the bootie off of his foot.  In the meantime Mary is calling to Jason to be calm and use his river swimming skills and trying to get a paddle to him.  At some point Mary becomes somewhat out of control on the river and managed to cling to some branches along the river’s edge as the boat sank beneath her.  Team 54 seeing what has happened has gone to Mary’s aid and pulled her into their boat, but the river is still pulling them and they get their last paddle caught in some tree branches.  They had given their other paddle to their teammates who had flipped and lost theirs.  Jason does not know what has happened to Mary and manages to scramble up the river bank and try to run barefoot down the river’s edge.  In the end, all ended up safe and sound, albeit extremely shaken up. I think they all have a new respect for the water and the river - especially Jason and John.  The river was finally closed at this point and they did not riverboard.  We drove them to TA4 where they slept for 2 hours, filled up on food, and headed out about 8:00pm for a 40 mile trek.  We dropped their bikes off at an Unmanned TA and are now sleeping in the Bozeman Wal-Mart parking lot.  The team in first place had not shown up for their bikes yet and it had been 14 hours.  I don’t think we’ll see them again until mid afternoon tomorrow (Wed.) at the earliest.  

Cheers,

Denise

Share This

Hello Family, Friends, and Fans of team Number Twenty-Nine.  I am finally in cell/internet coverage area and will post the past two days worth of news - and there is a lot of it!  I promise I will post whenever I can but between loading and unloading all of these gear bins, cooking, setting up tents, and spotty cell coverage….well, you get the picture.  So here goes.

Day One:

The day started off cold and foggy.  We were all concerned that we wouldn’t be able to see the racers reach the summit of Lone Mountain at 11,115 feet!  By 9:00am we were at the starting line, with teams checking in, support crews making last minute adjustments, family and friends excited and hoping their team would make it back from the top of the mountain.  At 9:40am, John decided his undershorts were too big and off he went to change them.  By 9:57am his team was ready to leave him, but he showed up in the nick of time in smaller shorts - whew!  I think the starting line is a little too early in the race to be racing naked!  By 10:00am, the fog had cleared, the racers had gathered at the line, and the helicopter was circling waiting to film the start.  At roughly 10:05 am we waited to hear the boom from the avalanche cannon to start the race.  We saw it first and then they were off.  An incredible start to an incredible race.  The transition area (TA1) was right back at the starting line - so basically, the teams went up the mountain and back down to the same place.  Our team was in good shape, although Mary had cramping in her feet and legs.  Bobby broke a trekking pole using it to slow his slide down the mountain through the snow, but he had a spare in the extra gear.  Jason and John are in great shape and chomping at the bit to move on.  Around 3;00pm they were off on a 45 mile trek.  We expect them to arrive here (TA2) sometime tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.  This transition is from trekking to paddling.  They will be going 24 miles down a raging Gallatin River in two 2 man rubber (duckie) kayaks.  Don’t worry moms and wives, there are medical/safety teams at every dangerous point in this race.  Safety is definitely the number one concern for this race staff.  After the paddling they’ll be back in the river with their riverboards for 8 miles.  We drove to Bozeman for supplies and the river is not as bad as we had originally thought - well the entire river isn’t a class IV rapids, but there is some big white water.  It will be a wild ride, but I think they’ll be fine - I wish I were doing this part!   I will try to keep you updated as much as possible, but cell/internet coverage is spotty at best.

Cheers,

Denise, Nathaniel, Eric, and Luke

Share This

Well, we are all here and we are going crazy.  We have been here since Thursday.  We have been running around all over Montana finalizing everything.  Saturday was our team’s check-in, skill checks.  It was a long day.  During the water section, Mary got really, really cold so we had to go an extra wetsuit to put over her other one.  We all did really well.  It was actually pretty fun!

Sunday at 3:00pm was the race briefing and at the end of that we received our maps.  All we can say is “HOLY CRIPE”  This is going to be a long, hard, long, challenging, long, difficult race!  We are going to be in some really crazy sections.  The water levels are still really, really high.  The water is really, really cold.

It is Monday morning and we are all doing OK!  Our support crew, Denise, Eric, Luke, are great!  We could not do it without them!!  We have to get to the starting line in appx. 35 minutes.  Holy Cripe, 35 minutes.  We can remember a year ago when we signed up for this!!!   Oh, yeah, we did sign up for this!!!

Well, have to run now.  We are heading up to the top of Lone Mountain for the start.  No kidding, a major climb right from the start!  Oh, yeah, we have appx. 200 miles of trekking, 200 miles of biking, 10 orienteering, 10 riverboarding, 24 rubber ducky kayak, 71 two person kayaks, and several ropes sections.  So thank to everyone.  We love you all!

Mary, Bobby, John and Jason

Share This

Well, Team Number Twenty Nine is on the move.  John is already in Montana.  Jason is on his way with his super sister, niece, mom and dad.  Eric and Lucas will be leaving very early Wed. morning.  Mary will be flying out Thursday morning and Bobby will be driving early Thursday morning. 

With all the last minute running around, packing, picking up more gear (everyone loves gear), we are doing GREAT!!!  Very excited.  We all just want to be there now!!!!  Stay tuned!!!!

Share This

The other half of our super support crew is my sister, Denise. She’s a newbie to AR support having supported me during a 30 hour solo race I competed in last summer. She is definitely a natural! It should be no surprise since she has 3 children Nathaniel, who is into motocross racing, Gabby who is a gymnast and Delaney who is the newest member of the family. So between taking all of them to their various activities and being heavily involved in them as well I think she has what it takes to support us for the Primal Quest. She is very adventurous herself having lived in Haiti and Panama as well as a lighthouse in Maine. Her husband was in the Coast Guard and was stationed at all of these unique locales. She definitely has some stories about her exploits and I’m sure she’ll have time to tell them while waiting for us out on the race course. Anyway I am very excited having her on board, and travelling out to Montana with her, my nephew and nieces as well as my parents. It is going to be a great time!

Jason

Share This

Eric Maul and Lucas Dorner - Part I of our Support Crew

Eric, steelworker, bald, tattoo, cigar smoking, support crew member.  Eric could be considered a professional support crew member.  He has supported teams that Mary has been on many times.   To many times for him to count.  Eric has been extremely supportive of Mary and her teammates’ adventures.  When she finally told him about getting a spot in Primal Quest, he looked up at her, with his glasses at the tip of his nose, and said , “I am not going.”  Mary said, “I did not ask you.  That is OK if you don’t want to go.”  The very next morning on his way to work, he called Mary and told her that he could not let her go to PQ alone.  He was not going to leave her high and dry out there.  He would be one of the teams support members.  He has to take 2 weeks vacation to do this.  He has loved the places that adventure racing has taken them.  The people, the AR community, the excitement of it all.  Mary and Eric both have said that they don’t know if they
would have been to some of these places if it wasn’t for AR.  He has never been to Montana.  Eric’s assistant is their nephew Lucas.  Like Eric, Lucas has been to several of Auntie Mary’s races.  They love bringing him with.  He has such a great time.  Lucas will have these memories forever.  Hopefully, Lucas will be a future adventure racer.  Lucas holds a special place in Mary’s heart.  Mary talks about him constantly.  Anyone who has raced with Mary has met Eric and Lucas.  Mary had said the best thing that ever happened to her during an adventure race is after a 30 mile trek in the Beast of the East, she came into TA and there were Eric, Lucas, (Tiffany, Eric’s daughter).  It was the best feeling ever to have your family there!!!!!!!  Eric and Lucas are big Chicago White Sox fans!!!  Pictures of Eric and Luke will be coming soon!

Share This

Is there anything that has surprised you about your teammates?

• John:  ”Yes.  We have evidence that Jason may have actually been raised by wolves.”
• Bobby:  ”Not yet. I’ll let you know after the race.”
• Jason:  ”Bobby swears like a sailor yet, directs a church choir. What’s up with that???”
• Mary:  ”Yes, John is so fricken’ organized, Bobby is a Church Choir Director, and Jason, well, Jason is what you see is what you get!!!”

What is your most embarrassing moment in adventure racing?

• John:  ”Having a doody call while on a narrow ridge as other racers passed by.  There was nowhere to hide. Talk about stage fright.”
• Bobby:  ”Having explosive diarrhea in stairwell of a landmark sky scrapper, city will not be named due to legal reasons. However I do not get stage freight like John.”
• Mary:  ”During the MIX (3-4day race) I had a blister on my little toe, but I thought a creature had eaten a hole in my toe!”
• Jason:  ”Being in the lead of a race and then “mysteriously” running out of map. oops……”

What one luxury item do you wish you could have out on the race course?

• Mary:  ”Shaver!”
• Bobby:  ”The map with the most direct and easiest route to all CPS. or a Sherpa?”
• John:  ”A can of air freshener for Stinky Bobby.  He can fumigate an entire forest with his stank.”
• Jason:  ”Espresso maker”

What scares you the most about Primal Quest?

• Jason:  ”Pretty much everything and nothing as well. hhhmmm……”
• Bobby:  ”Bears!!! Although, if I can manage to put the rest of the team between me and the bear or moose, I think I will be alright.”
• Mary:  ”Not sure which is worse, being attacked by bears (thank goodness for bear spray) or drowning in the whitewater riverboarding section!!!!”
• John:   ”Mary, without a shaver for 10 days.  Jason, without his espresso for 10 days.  And, Bobby without a shower for 10 days.  Let’s just say, I don’t think we have to worry about the bears.

What do you miss most during 10 days out in the wilderness?

• Bobby:  ”Family.”
• Jason:  ”Ask me after the race. More than likely my wifey and doggy.”
• John:   ”I was going to say my morning cup of coffee with cream and 2 Splendas, but I guess I should say family as well.  And, they say I am the sappy one.”
• Mary:  ”Elisabeth.”

Share This

Drum roll . . . . wait for it . . . . the new team name for Team #29 is Team “Number Twenty Nine”.  Ta Da!

May not seem like the most creative choice, but we wanted to use a new name rather than one that has been recycled from the past since Primal Quest Montana will be the first race the four of us will have raced together.  We have raced together a couple of times before when it was two or three of us, but never as a foursome.  And, besides, “Number Twenty Nine” has a lot of meaning to us (see below).

• 29 is the magical age that we wish we could all be . . . . . again.
• 29 is the record for the most cookies eaten in one sitting, set by our resident cookie monster, Jason.
• 29 is also the number of minutes Mary went without having to pee, also a record.
• 29 when added together (2 + 9) = 11, which coincidentally is the size of Bobby’s . . . . shoes.
• 29 Luftballoons is Jason’s favorite song.  Oh, wait, that is 99 Luftballoons.  Nevertheless, he is a huge Nena fan.
• 29 is the exact number of dollars we will have left in our bank accounts after Primal Quest . . . . combined!
• 29 is the expected number of “Holy Cripes” we will here from Mary during the river boarding section. 

Share This

We would like to thank Linda from RaceLogix for providing us with Sugoi Hydrolite Jackets.  These jackets are awesome!  They will be great for carrying in our packs.  These jackets are the lightest jackets around to protect us from the wind and rain.  They are also sweet looking!

RaceLogix is a multisport/activewear website at RaceLogix.com.  Linda also has a retail store in Evanston, IL.  Visit the website at RaceLogix.com.  You can also call Linda at 847-491-1004 if you need something sooner.  She can definitely try to help you out.  

Thanks again, Linda, from Team Number Twenty Nine

mary,bobby,john, jason

Share This

So everyday for the past several weeks I keep receiving packages at my door.  The FedEx and UPS drivers know me by name.  This is gear for PQ of course.  It actually feels like Christmas everyday opening all the packages, except that Santa did not bring them.  I have paid for all of this!  Yesterday it was hot and humid here in Chicago and low and behold, I received my SNOWSHOES!  Yes, I said snowshoes.  Highly recommended for PQ.

Today, my RIPBOARD arrived for the whitewater riverboarding we are going to be doing?  Oh, did I mention I tried this a couple of weeks ago and there was a lot more then HOLY CRIPES coming out of my mouth.   A friend asked me this week does the RIP in Ripboard mean “rest in peace”

Earlier in the week I received a pair of Salomon shoes that I had won in a race, so I guess you could call that one Santa!!!!

Share This

There is just a little more to the story then the Holy Cripe factor.  I actually received a called from a good friend of mine, who started out as a fellow racer and now is more then just a fellow racer, but a good friend, Dominick from Chicago.  He told me that PQ registration was opening soon and we should put a bid in.  I actually laughed and then said Holy Cripe!  I immediately contacted another one of my fellow racers, who also has become a very good friend of mine, Tony from Chicago.  He had always talked about doing PQ.  It is a dream of his (maybe 2009, Tony).  Both of these guys really, really wanted to do the race, but after long soul searching they both had family obligations that came first.  That is one of many reasons why I admire these guys.  They are such family men.   Once I realized they were unable to do it, we thought about next year.  Well, that Sunday morning when registration opened, I logged on to my computer to see how it was going.  I actually started filling out the application and thought that at the end it would ask me for a credit card for the deposit.  It did not.  All of a sudden it stated, “congrats, you just registered for PQ.  Another Holy Cripe came out.  I went on with my day, biking, running, kayaking.  When I returned home later, I checked my e-mails and Holy Cripe, “Congratulatins, your application has been accepted.”  HOLY CRIPE!!!!!   and the journey begins!!!!

Share This

In March 2008, Mary Maul, Bobby Harrison, Jason Snell and John Porter attended Camp Xstream presented by Team Salomon Crested Butte and Boulder Performance Network.  The camp provides professional instruction and the opportunity to practice various adventure racing skills including mountain biking, trail running/treking, orienteering, paddling, fixed ropes mountaineering as well as wilderness first aid.

As participants in the 2008 edition of Primal Quest to be held in Montana, each team member is required to obtain certifications from a qualified instructor in the various disciplines and skills that are necessary to to compete in “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Event”.  Although there are a lot of inherent dangers in the sport of adventure racing, a skilled adventure athlete is more likely to complete a race course without serious injury.  As a result, Primal Quest race management emphasizes safety skills in each of the race disciplines as well as first aid.

Share This