Sunday, August 3, 2008. It was an animal's race. There was Dan, Animal #1, with two other animals (my bro, Dave, and Tom) in hot pursuit. The event: a 16.5 mile time trial up Larch Mountain. For about an hour and 15 minutes they kept their heart rates in the 85-90% range as they churned and burned up 3,000 ft through old growth forest. Dan edged Dave by a couple of minutes, with Tom not far behind. Truth be told, Dave would sell his first-born to beat Dan. In a nice bit of timing, bro has an article in today's "Oregonian" about Dan, and it's also on the web
My role: press corp. I got video footage of Dave at the start (photo on left) and at the end; ditto for still pictures. I wanted video footage "in the can" in case I want to use it in my final project (tentatively called "The Intrepid Commuter") in my video class at the NW Film Center.
It was cloudy and cool, almost cold at the start. Fleece weather. Part way up--through the old growth forest--it was all mist and fog. Then the sun started to burn through and there were fab photo opps of fog in the trees.
It was interesting--and gratifying actually, to be in a support role. I drove the coach's car up the course to the parking lot at the finish, and managed to get photos of the other animals. The support role is not one I usually assume--usually I'm the animal out there in the hunt. But this time was I pleased and quite content just to have the job of driving and taking pictures.
But don't get the idea that sibling rivalry has melted away. Two days ago I bought a bike. No, not in the Lance Armstrong league of bro's but certainly no clunker with a coaster brake. Bro said I should do this race next year. Yeah? Stay tuned... Cheers.
Comments