The Team Mad Ultras' finish of 8 hours, 31 minutes by Marla Buecham and Doug Lott
was extraordinary. It was great to see how well they worked together in the various
challenges, including The Great Wall at the entry to the Main Transition. Their effort was
smooth and continuous, as they led the race almost all the way, at times leaving a check
point just as Team X-treme was in the same location on the course. They have already asked
to come back for the next version of The BEAR!
Unfortunately none of the Military Division, 2-Person Female, or 3-Person Female Teams
completed the course in 2001. Heat and humidity throughout the day led to greater
fluid loss than anticipated. Strong incoming currents and contrary winds delayed some of
the Teams on the kayak stages. Difficulty in locating check points on the northern
Navigation stage also led to time delays and excessive energy expenditures for Teams in
Huguenot Park. Most Teams completed the first four stages (navigation on land,
kayak, navigation on land-2, & kayak-2), but many did not start the biking stage
before the cut-off.
All Teams worked hard to prepare for, compete in, and complete The BEAR 2001, though
the results do not indicate the full efforts shown by so many Teams and their
team members.
Forty Teams began The BEAR on 25 August 2001. Due to a variety of challenges, not
all of them planned or reversible, 24 Teams were unable to complete the full challenge of
The BEAR. We have the deepest respect and admiration for all the finishers listed
above... and for all the Teams who were out there on the race course striving to meet the
challenges and yet not able to finish the full race.
We also thank the volunteers and spectators who patiently waited and served the race
and the Teams in their own ways. Many volunteers held their posts through the unexpected
delays so that Teams would have staffed check points along the course. These kind
volunteers are truly the ones who make it possible to have a race like The BEAR.
Jakson Badenhoop & John Pretzell -- The BEAR Race Managers
