DART-nuun News
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2008 National Champions!
Originally uploaded by EnduranceJunkie.

November 8th 2008 Blue Ridge, Georgia - Team DART-nuun crossed the finish line at 8:30 this morning winning the 2008 USARA National Championships after 25+ hours of racing. The team, composed of Mari Chandler, Sean Clancy, and Glenn Rogers, competed against 80 of the best teams in the nation. All teams had competed in various qualifying races around the country and came together here to determine who would be crowned the national champion.

Before the start...
Originally uploaded by EnduranceJunkie.

It has been a long journey getting here since the team qualified at Desert Winds Adventure Race in May. Together, the team has gone undefeated in 2008 racing the Checkpoint Tracker Adventure Racing Series which includes 24hr and 3 day races. After seven races together this year we have grown more cohesive and efficient. After each race we grow stronger. We have seen each other perform at our best and worst during many races and we are able to work together and help each other without saying a word.

Hut, Hut, HO!!!
Originally uploaded by EnduranceJunkie.

All teams were up at 5AM for a train ride to the start where the race began with a short orienteering section to separate the teams before the paddle down the Taccoa River. DART-nuun led from the start and never looked back. After a 15 mile paddle, the team found their stride riding through the Chattahoochee National Forest. The race had the teams riding to various trekking loops. The navigation varied from straightforward forest road riding to technical off-trail bush/bike whacking. The crux of the race occurred at night on a large bike rogaine section. We knew that this section would be difficult physically, mentally, and navigationally. While we made a few mistakes, we continued striving forward with determination. During the night, the other top teams also had their share of problems and DART-nuun was able to make their lead insurmountable.

Finish on the Court House
Originally uploaded by EnduranceJunkie.

A large part of our success is attributed to the gear we use. It rained for a large part of the race and once it stopped, it got very cold. We came prepared. All us us wore Ibex base layers including El Fito bike Knickers and Woolies Crew. On top of that we were equipped with Arcteryx Alpha LT. And of course we wouldnâ??t be anywhere without our Stella headlamps lighting the way.

Next up for DART-nuun is the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge in December.

Not much word from Brazil but it looks like the Team is moving up and is currently in 7th place.

Here are some excerpts from Seegs blog Challenge by Choice. Her mom is getting updates directly from DART-nuun's support, Frederico Garreta

hello everyone... so, yesterday, the team left the starting point at 15:30h, and ran for 5 hours aprox. on the dunes, close to open sea, arriving in Tutoia for the first transiction, where they got the kaiakes and left to Parnaiba, racing for aprox. 18h, with maybe, and only maybe, 1 or 2 hours of mandatory sleep. The team were feeling pretty well on the transiction, and they showed a very good shape after running on the dunes! they spent around 10 minutes to drink and eat, then left for kaiaking cruise on open sea, and mangroves! more updates will be coming in few hours! bye everybody! Fred (Support Crew)

Hi from Brazil!!!!
Our team looks good, they used some good sleeping hours through the kaiking section and were feeling well and positive....First thing Seeds said smiling when came in " Look at my hands,"!!!!! after 20 hours paddling....they were nasty...wrinkles!!!!The team took a 25 min break, and start the bike section, we will probably meet them in 8 hours.Not sure if we will have internet conection from now; we;ll try to keep you upated!!!!
Support crew, Tati and Fred

Team DART-nuun came across the finish line of the Upstate Adventure Race today in first place after a hard fought 23 hours and 30 minutes of racing. The team was made up of Mari Chandler, Ryan VanGorder, and Glenn Rogers. The team came to Pickens SC for the final race of the Checkpoint Tracker series. The race took place on the beautiful and varied terrain of South Carolina and North Carolina.

They were greeted with rain and cloudy skies the day before the race. But on race morning the clouds cleared and the weather was beautiful. The heat combined with moisture quickly raised the humidity throughout the day. They raced through beautiful hardwood forests and across incredible ganite mountains. The race was very different from the desert of Moab or the Sierra Nevada mountains where the team's last two races took place.

It was great to come out and see old friends and make new ones. Teams EnduraVenture, Inov8 and the others were great to compete against. The race was back and forth throughout and not settled until the very end. Worlds and Nationals are up next with pictures of this race coming soon

We've made it. No worse for wear. We arrived late last night at Atlanta and worked our way up to SC today stopping for last minute items including some sharkies and fireworks(more on that later) We spent the afternoon working on maps and tonight we got our gear together and bikes assembled. Unfortunately RVG took one of my front break pads in an effort to increase or speed. He was talking about gluing my hands to the handle bars but I rightly pointed out that carrying my bike during the trek might slow us down more that not being able to use my rear brakes.

I expect that there will not be much of a warm up on the bike tomorrow with RVG pulling from the get go. The order of events roughly looks like this:

Start with a paddle. The details of which will be disclosed at the start of the race
25k bike mostly on roads
15k trek up to the top of Pinnacle Mtn
15k bike mostly on roads
25k trek all on trails and roads
35k bike on a very conplex trail system
15k trek on roads and trail to the finish

On the face of it, the nav doesn't look too difficult but the real world can often present significant challenges. We will see you on the other side.

In the next couple of weeks we will be busy racing. Cyril, Aaron, Aaron, and Jen are heading to Worlds and Mari, Ryan, Sean and I are heading back east the Upstate Adventure Race and Nationals. All of these races are going to be in hot locations so what are we doing riding in the snow? Well, Ryan, Jen and I wanted to get in one last backcountry ride up here in Washington before the winter sets in. Unfortunately, winter has already begun visiting the north cascades.


We had a great day. We covered about 40 miles and 5,000 of climbing on beautiful singletrack and fireroad. Can't disclose the location as it may be part of the Trioba race series next year.



The team is excited to get to these races and finish off the season. Be sure to follow us during the next few weeks here, here and here.