Weekend Wanderer

Kristiane M. Ridgway

The first I’d learned of an eco-challenge was about two months ago as I

flipped through the pages of a fitness magazine. Intense photographs of

people kayaking, climbing and mountain biking caught my eye as I read

about the adventure race, pitting teams against a variety of outdoor

challenges typically over a period of several days. Intrigued as I was, I

assumed I could never endure such a rigorous event.

At least not until I was invited to participate in the Newport

Beach-based adventure race “Conquer the Coast,” and assured by the

director Dan Moy that I didn’t need to be an expert in any of the

activities to survive the 36-hour Conquer Adventures program.

“All the activities are fairly short in distance, so it’s a matter of

endurance,” he said. “Anyone can do it. The people who consistently win

are good, hard racers, not muscle-bound guys.”

“Conquer the Coast” is put on by a group of experienced racers, many of

whom have competed in eco-challenges themselves. They have run their

coastal program for about a year, offering once-a-month races that are

crafted to accommodate all skills and levels. A new mountain course at

Big Bear is under development and the group hopes to create a desert

course sometime next year.

Although I do cardio and weights five times a week, I knew the weekend

event would push me far beyond my comfort zone. That was part of the

attraction. It was also part of the fear.

While I run, hike and know how to swim, most of the weekend was an

introduction to a variety of supervised outdoor activities I’d never

tried before. My fellow Team Blue members, although also novices to

adventure racing, were still more experienced than I. Heather

Hendrickson, of Corona del Mar, was a runner and had mountain-biked.

Constantine Demor was a mountain bike racer. And Naomi Spina was a scuba

diving enthusiast who had tried a little bit of everything. Tony

DiLorenzo, from Costa Mesa, was using our weekend to hone his multiple

skills in preparation for a more serious adventure race in November.

We started out early Saturday morning and it took several hours of

hiking, costeering and climbing activities before I hit my first low. We

had just entered El Moro Canyon and had to maintain a steady pace while

trading three bikes between our five members. While my legs were willing

to jog uphill, my lungs had begun to scream for air. I can’t do this, I

thought, with a 30-pound backpack bobbing against me as I attempted to

keep up.

Trying to push my thoughts of despair aside, I slowed my run to a walk. I

recalled how earlier that morning I had successfully climbed up,

traversed across and rappelled down Corona del Mar’s Pirate’s Cove even

though I’d never done any climbing before. At that time, exhilaration had

replaced the butterflies in my stomach as I maneuvered along the rocks of

the cove.

My fellow Team Blue members and instructors spurred me on. Tony and

Constantine insisted Naomi, Heather and I ride the three bikes to

preserve our energy while they jogged along the trails behind us. We took

the opportunity to venture ahead with the topographical map and try to

locate markers off the trail head and catch up with the Yellow Team that

had gotten ahead of us during the hike-and-bike orienteering portion.

We still hadn’t caught them when we met our next test: a seemingly

formidable climb up a single track trail near Laguna Canyon Road. Pushing

on each other’s butts to keep from slipping, we forced the three bikes

and ourselves up the steep incline, inch by inch. Finally at the top, we

took a few minutes to rehydrate and rejoice in our victory.

We soon picked up two more bikes so we could all ride the trails. Just as

we set off, Heather’s bike struck a rock and she was tossed onto a

cactus. Ever the trooper, she let us help her pull out the spines and

then hopped right back on her bike. That delay, a flat tire later for

Naomi and the daunting uphill sections, where a few of us pushed our

bikes instead of rode them, put us even further behind.

We hurriedly took our kayaks out to sea, getting drenched as we paddled

from Laguna to Newport. Tony and I made a laughable pair, as our kayak

would not stay close to shore but instead tried to float off into the

sun, which was setting over open waters. Slowly lugging our

water-drenched kayak from the beach up to the top of the bluff, we took

time out for food, water and dry clothes.

A change of clothes restored my lagging motivation and we set off to

return to our camp via the rocky coast. Needless to say, when we arrived

there about 11 p.m., we were again soaked, hungry and tired.

I slept soundly and the next morning awoke acutely aware that my entire

body was stiff. This was definitely not a place for the weak at heart or

your local coach potato. But I was neither. So I hoisted myself out of my

comfy sleeping bag and jogged to the bathroom to wake up.

Ignoring my tired muscles, I joined my team for the hike to Newport

Aquatics Center for some outrigger canoeing. As we settled into a smooth,

synchronized paddling motion, our canoe glided past team yellow. Back on

the beach, I felt more confident as we waited for the other team to catch

up and begin our next challenge, a group of team-building exercises.

Then came the final stretch and suddenly I felt drained. I forced my numb

legs into a jog when I could and was the last of my team to stumble into

the water for the swim to the finish. Team Yellow was right beside us.

Tony, who will undoubtedly become a successful adventure racer, waited

for me and gave me several pushes toward the far shore to get me going.

Although we came in just behind our rivals, Team Blue was all smiles and

hugs as we pulled one another ashore. Together we’d covered an amazing 70

to 80 miles by foot, bike and sea in the last two days. We were elated.

After a few days rest, my tired legs had mostly recovered and my few

scrapes, blisters and bruises were beginning to fade. The thrill has not

yet worn off, however. Instead it has left me craving another adventure.

WHAT: “Conquer the Coast” by Conquer Adventures

WHERE: Leaves from Newport Beach

WHEN: Friday-Aug. 22, Sept. 17-19, Oct. 1-3, Oct. 15-17, Nov. 5-7

HOW MUCH: $550 (includes all meals and gear)

PHONE: (949) 722-8326

E-MAIL: www.conqueradventures.com

NOTE: Participants will need sleeping bag and mat, dry-wick clothes,

snacks and money to buy race photos.