The 6-hour race kicked off at 10:00am beginning with a short 1.5 mile trail run and bushwhack around part of Stony Creek Lake through a handful of swampy bogs and creek crossings en route to the small island in the lake. Teams were only required to carry or wear their PFDs for this section as they returned from the Island by swimming just under a ¼ mile back to the TA. Once at the TA, CP2, teams picked up their paddling gear and pushed back into the lake for a fast paddle in Stony Creek Lake to locate CPs 3, 4 and 5. The field had begun to split apart by CP6 at the end of the paddle. Teams BOOYA, Chrysler, David Mielock, Gary Harrington and Mike Lafontaine emerged first off of the water and back to the TA. From the TA Teams then headed out on bike for a good section of single track on the awesome trails at Stony Creek Metro Park. There were 5 single track check points, CP8-12 that were optional, but teams did have to get at least 2 points to stay ranked. Nearly the same five teams came out of the single track still holding the front. However, Teams Big Wheels Rollin’, Big Lebowski’s, Drake White, Shooters and Jens Christiansen also had nice single track times and headed into the top ten.

Following the single track section, teams returned to the TA before heading out to the final Score-O orienteering section of the race. There was a 3 mile bike to the orienteering start location. At the end of this fast bike ride, teams reached CP16. Here teams dropped their bikes; received O-course maps and headed out to the Inwood Trails and Nature Center of Stony Creek looking for CPs 17-24. Just three of these points were mandatory, but all would be required for the top finishers to challenge for the win. There were several points along Stony Creek that were most easily found by walking right in the creek. Stinging Nettles, briars and saw grass awaited those teams that preferred to attack from land. There was also a point in the swampy end of Inwood Lake that left teams scurrying through the muck just to get through. Points were also located along a couple nice hilltops in the area. In total teams would travel almost 5 miles to obtain all O-points. Then it was back to CP25 to pick up the bikes and the three mile bike trip back to the TA for the Finish.

Solo racer Mike LaFontaine and Team Chrysler rode in nearly neck and neck as they had agreed to tie during the O-course after Chrysler helped LaFontaine escape a mud pit. These two teams finished after just 3:38 of racing, leading the remainder of the field by nearly 30 minutes and capturing both a tie for the overall win and the respective solo and 2 person male divisions. Next in was The Big Lebowskis at 4:06 for 3rd overall and 2nd in the 2 person male divisions. Gary Harrington was in at 4:11 for 4th overall and 2nd Solo and Steve Kaczor rounded out the Solo division at 4:14 and 8th overall. Team No Name grabbed the Coed division win finishing at 4:13 and 7th overall. Dynamic Duo and Mud Dogs took 2nd and 3rd in the Coed Division finishing at 4:20 and 4:37 (10 and 17 overall), respectively. These teams all obtained all 13 of the optional points. The top female team was Shooters in after 4:38, 14th overall and all 13 points, followed by Hootie Hoo, 4:49 and 62nd overall, and Fearless Chicks, 5:34 and 67 overall, who had both obtained 10 of the 13 optional points. Kathi Shipley took honors among the solo females grabbing all optional points and finishing at 4:59, 26th overall. Pam Bower also got all 13 optional points to take 2nd in the solo female division finishing at 5:18 and 39th overall with Bonnie McDougall finishing 3rd at 5:29 and 65th overall and 10 of the optional points.

A lot of Thank You’s are in order after such a great event. First and foremost to our group of wonderful volunteers who came out to man CPs, help set up and take down and even slave over a hot grill! Big thanks to all our great sponsors for putting up a number of great prizes for each division. Salomon was on hand passing out swag and mingling with racers. Jeep was again onsite showing off the new Jeep Patriot. We had lots of support from Smartwool, Seal Skinz, Hammer Nutrition, Lendal, Suunto, Superfeet and Zanfel. Heavner Canoe Livery was on site supplying boats for those who needed. A huge thanks to Stony Creek Metro Park for being so supportive. A big change of weather will be in store for the next Infiterra Sports event as the December Chill looms!

Race Staff

Infiterra Sports LLC