BAAR Brawl

This weekend I "competed" as a solo in the BAAR Brawl - a local club training event that is not a race because we don't get permits or anything for it. It has consistently been one of the most difficult 24hr races in California for several years now. The incredibly low finishing rate is usually due to weather as the race is held during the coldest and rainiest time of year. This year was a big break as weather conditions were ideal. The race distance totaled 72 miles, according to the director, with extreme elevation gain and loss.

Even the kayak had "elevation gain" - the race started at high tide (7:00 am) with a short paddle to a mini-golf course where everybody played 18 holes. After that there was a FAST paddle with the current out into the bay. I paddled much of the way with Rick Baraff, formerly of the Silly Rabbits. On the way back the current was so strong it felt like I was paddling in a toilet that was being flushed. The paddle section was over just in time for the tide to go slack.

After that there was a bike section that included China Camp state park and Camp Tamarancho - a local Boy Scout reservation. We had the option of getting the CPs in any order. Rick warned me that Tamarancho was more technical so I went for those CPs first and got them all in daylight. My navigation was very clean for the bike section and I didn't make any major mistakes. I was in first place by the end of it.

The final section was a difficult trek with a lot of travel on obscure unmarked trails and cross-country. The area we were in had many unofficial trails that the race organizer did not plot on the map. I hesitated on my route choice for the first CP and then did an unnecessary bushwhack in a creek bed when the trail was just a few feet above. Rick got ahead of me there. Yet another mistake caused me to fall behind Rich Brazeau and Scott Porter (who were racing together, don't know their team name).

Luckily Rich and Scott had a CP they left behind that I had already nabbed. I passed them on the final stretch to the finish. I got there around 1:30 am. Rick beat me in by 30 minutes, but he missed one of the bike CPs. Because of the various time bonuses available and the fact that the clock was stopped during the mini golf, I'm not sure who "won". Doesn't really matter to me, it was a good effort and a fun race.