An X-TREME! View from Aberdeen
Take the Lake X-TREME! 2011 participant Eric Fogleman of Aberdeen, N.C. was so moved by his experience in Lake Waccamaw that he wrote his new friends a letter describing his trials and tribulations through his 12-hour ordeal.
Read how Eric learned about Take the Lake X-TREME! here.
Eric and his wife, Vickie, arrived Friday night, and camped in the area, meeting friendly Lake residents up close and personal. They helped out all weekend, and even participated in a few of the PECs before Monday, when Eric did all four, and Vickie did the Swim.
Eric Fogleman of Aberdeen, N.C.
Extremists,
I have enjoyed meeting most of you personally, and sharing the bond of our TTL/X adventure. As the "out of towner", I could not have been any more welcomed. You have a special place, there at the lake. Is it only Labor Day weekend, or are people there always so friendly, and willing to pull up a chair and visit?
As I had expected, my swim was UGLY. All my training has been in the pool. Black line to follow, foam block between thighs for floatation. I have swam as long as 1 and 1/2 hours continuously in the pool. I knew the lake would be different, but really, how different could it be?
Knowing that floatation devices were not allowed, I bought a 5 mm shorty wetsuit to help compensate for my poor technique and lack of instruction. (There is going to be repetition of this theme, relying on technology rather than training.)
I guess I was surprised that we really did walk the first 1/2 mile. I bet I swam 95% or more of the remainder on my back, which was not too bad, till the waves started breaking over my face during the last 45 minutes. As I was swallowing so much water up my nose, the "breaks" became much more frequent.
I finally had my 13 year old son, David, in the kayak, give me the scuba mask that I had stashed in the kayak. That changed my world, as I could again swim on my back without the water up the nose gagging me. (My wife swam with the 8:00 starters, and by the time she finished, had endured pouring rain and waves enough that she completely lost sight of the kayak accompanying her. I now understand what the young man working at Dale's meant when he spoke of getting seasick and abandoning 3 miles into the swim.)
I had instructed David to stop me every 30 minutes for a food/ drink break. I had given him my wristwatch, so I would be more "hydrodynamic". He never got to tell me when 30 minutes had passed, as I was asking or stopping every 5-10 minutes. I got passed by the first two swimmers, "real swimmers" from the 8:00 start group. (At least neither of them was my wife.)
I have enjoyed meeting most of you personally, and sharing the bond of our TTL/X adventure. As the "out of towner", I could not have been any more welcomed. You have a special place, there at the lake. Is it only Labor Day weekend, or are people there always so friendly, and willing to pull up a chair and visit?
As I had expected, my swim was UGLY. All my training has been in the pool. Black line to follow, foam block between thighs for floatation. I have swam as long as 1 and 1/2 hours continuously in the pool. I knew the lake would be different, but really, how different could it be?
Knowing that floatation devices were not allowed, I bought a 5 mm shorty wetsuit to help compensate for my poor technique and lack of instruction. (There is going to be repetition of this theme, relying on technology rather than training.)
I guess I was surprised that we really did walk the first 1/2 mile. I bet I swam 95% or more of the remainder on my back, which was not too bad, till the waves started breaking over my face during the last 45 minutes. As I was swallowing so much water up my nose, the "breaks" became much more frequent.
I finally had my 13 year old son, David, in the kayak, give me the scuba mask that I had stashed in the kayak. That changed my world, as I could again swim on my back without the water up the nose gagging me. (My wife swam with the 8:00 starters, and by the time she finished, had endured pouring rain and waves enough that she completely lost sight of the kayak accompanying her. I now understand what the young man working at Dale's meant when he spoke of getting seasick and abandoning 3 miles into the swim.)
I had instructed David to stop me every 30 minutes for a food/ drink break. I had given him my wristwatch, so I would be more "hydrodynamic". He never got to tell me when 30 minutes had passed, as I was asking or stopping every 5-10 minutes. I got passed by the first two swimmers, "real swimmers" from the 8:00 start group. (At least neither of them was my wife.)
Number 3? Not quite...
As I reached the pier at Dale's the crowd out on the pier cheered that I was "number three!" I assured them I was last, dead last. No they said "You are the third swimmer", "NO, I am the LAST swimmer from the 6:00 group." "OH, your group is over there...."
As I came to the beach, it was so nice to be greeted by Laura Greer Vick, as she presented me with the Lee Greer medallion and she introduced me to her mother, and to Mr McNeill, both of whom were seated in the shade on the beach. I thanked both for helping to make this event happen. I had read articles, and knew about Lee Greer, and told Mrs Greer that I wish I had met him, and that I have heard others (Kelly, and later, Louie) talk about swimming with him.
On the bike, I was surprised how few of you I caught up to. I was wearing a cycling jersey with the back pockets carrying GU's, bananas, even an oatmeal creme pie. I wore a 2 liter hydration pack that should be enough for 2 hrs. Last year my wife and I had ridden our mountain bikes for the TTL/Bike. So I assumed most of you would be on mountain bikes or cruisers.
I had imagined with my street "racing" type bike, that I would gain back lots of time and places. NOT SO. I never even saw what type bikes most of you rode. (Technology?) I had practiced carrying, and running, carrying my bike on my shoulder. By the time I got to the trail, I was so tired, I pushed, and WALKED most of the trail. I did trot a little of it, but MUCH less than I had planned.
NOTE: I had done the TTL run/walk, bike and paddle 2010. So I ASSUMED I knew the route we would follow from Bella Coola all the way around to the back parking lot near the camping area. I rode my bike the route I think the big group rode in 2010. From the parking lot across a bridge, left at shelter along the shoreline.
As I came to the beach, it was so nice to be greeted by Laura Greer Vick, as she presented me with the Lee Greer medallion and she introduced me to her mother, and to Mr McNeill, both of whom were seated in the shade on the beach. I thanked both for helping to make this event happen. I had read articles, and knew about Lee Greer, and told Mrs Greer that I wish I had met him, and that I have heard others (Kelly, and later, Louie) talk about swimming with him.
On the bike, I was surprised how few of you I caught up to. I was wearing a cycling jersey with the back pockets carrying GU's, bananas, even an oatmeal creme pie. I wore a 2 liter hydration pack that should be enough for 2 hrs. Last year my wife and I had ridden our mountain bikes for the TTL/Bike. So I assumed most of you would be on mountain bikes or cruisers.
I had imagined with my street "racing" type bike, that I would gain back lots of time and places. NOT SO. I never even saw what type bikes most of you rode. (Technology?) I had practiced carrying, and running, carrying my bike on my shoulder. By the time I got to the trail, I was so tired, I pushed, and WALKED most of the trail. I did trot a little of it, but MUCH less than I had planned.
NOTE: I had done the TTL run/walk, bike and paddle 2010. So I ASSUMED I knew the route we would follow from Bella Coola all the way around to the back parking lot near the camping area. I rode my bike the route I think the big group rode in 2010. From the parking lot across a bridge, left at shelter along the shoreline.
Hard times in soft sand
The faster I pushed, the more sand flew up into my bike. I knew I was on the correct trail due to several other sets of tire tracks. By the time I got to the dam, I knew my bike had collected lots of sand, and needed rinsing. I stopped on the dam, and dipped my bike in the water to rinse the sand off. (I thought this was such an original idea!) I still had not seen anyone else, 'till I caught up to John somewhere near the last mile of the bike.
After eating a great sandwich, and enjoying the hospitality of the people at the transition area who just could not do enough to help, I was ready to cross the street to the kayak, but something was missing. My son David, was supposed be there with the small softside cooler with my ICE COLD bladder to sip from during the paddle, my wrist watch, and "hey shouldn't he be here taking pictures?"
I was ready to go but he, and those items, were at the RV behind Dale's. My wife, who had just completed the swim, in the rain and waves, was there with me doing her best to attend to my every need. But that wasn't enough at that moment. I began fussing at her about "where is David?, where is my watch?", etc.
She made two trips over to the RV to get my stuff, but I still wasn't happy 'till David showed up and I got my watch back. (It was not about the watch.) I know I spoke harshly to him. I have apologized to both of them, but am unable to tell the bystanders and volunteers how sorry I am for my demanding and self-centered behavior. ( I've seen other people behave badly in public and been embarrassed for them. I've always wanted to not be "that Guy, the Jerk", but that day I was.)
Finally moving across the street to the kayak, I pushed out from shore and plopped down in the seat and immediately remembered where my banana was. After getting around the pier, out of sight, I scooped the banana mush from my back pocket and fed it to the fish.
My kayak is a 10 foot sit on top Ocean kayak, great for playing in the surf , or as a scuba platform, but not sleek, not fast. A friend ( a real triathlete) had allowed me to borrow his 14 ft sleek, fast boat for this event. I had read and asked the local kayak dealer which size paddle to use, etc.
After eating a great sandwich, and enjoying the hospitality of the people at the transition area who just could not do enough to help, I was ready to cross the street to the kayak, but something was missing. My son David, was supposed be there with the small softside cooler with my ICE COLD bladder to sip from during the paddle, my wrist watch, and "hey shouldn't he be here taking pictures?"
I was ready to go but he, and those items, were at the RV behind Dale's. My wife, who had just completed the swim, in the rain and waves, was there with me doing her best to attend to my every need. But that wasn't enough at that moment. I began fussing at her about "where is David?, where is my watch?", etc.
She made two trips over to the RV to get my stuff, but I still wasn't happy 'till David showed up and I got my watch back. (It was not about the watch.) I know I spoke harshly to him. I have apologized to both of them, but am unable to tell the bystanders and volunteers how sorry I am for my demanding and self-centered behavior. ( I've seen other people behave badly in public and been embarrassed for them. I've always wanted to not be "that Guy, the Jerk", but that day I was.)
Finally moving across the street to the kayak, I pushed out from shore and plopped down in the seat and immediately remembered where my banana was. After getting around the pier, out of sight, I scooped the banana mush from my back pocket and fed it to the fish.
My kayak is a 10 foot sit on top Ocean kayak, great for playing in the surf , or as a scuba platform, but not sleek, not fast. A friend ( a real triathlete) had allowed me to borrow his 14 ft sleek, fast boat for this event. I had read and asked the local kayak dealer which size paddle to use, etc.
Riding the storm out
We were fighting a headwind pretty much from the start. I finally spotted a paddler ahead, thinking it to be Eric, I dug in and pursued. As I closed in, I found it was Kelly in his fishing kayak. We paddled together a while, He told me he had one energy gel, and he was saving it. Mark was passing them out at the transition, so I had a handful. I gave a couple to Kelly and told him they recommend using one per hour, with plenty of water.
While we were passing the State Park, the North end of the lake disappeared as a rainstorm blew thru. It looked great from the other end of the lake. While the wind was so bad, I could tell I was catching the next paddler, or was that paddler just out for a leisurely sightsee?
Knowing the shortest distance to be along the no wake poles, I had been "riding the poles" so as to paddle no further than necessary. But that paddler up ahead seemed to be following the shoreline. As I passed I was shocked to see Coburn taking the long route. I think he had been battered and was seeking respite from the wind which was especially bad at that time.
As I was passing him some people yelled from the beach in the park, I think I waved instinctively, but surely they were calling to him. Of course, I learned later those were two of my sons cheering us on. I kept waiting for the wind to be BEHIND me, but it never seemed to happen.
By the time I made the final turn, the whitecaps were coming from my right, perpendicular to the boat. Several of the waves washed over the side into the boat! So again, I thought my (borrowed) technology would trump lack of practice and skill. What I never considered was the WIND and the whitecaps breaking into the boat in the homestretch. I had pushed so hard I think someone helped me out of the boat so I could stumble over to the transition area.
While we were passing the State Park, the North end of the lake disappeared as a rainstorm blew thru. It looked great from the other end of the lake. While the wind was so bad, I could tell I was catching the next paddler, or was that paddler just out for a leisurely sightsee?
Knowing the shortest distance to be along the no wake poles, I had been "riding the poles" so as to paddle no further than necessary. But that paddler up ahead seemed to be following the shoreline. As I passed I was shocked to see Coburn taking the long route. I think he had been battered and was seeking respite from the wind which was especially bad at that time.
As I was passing him some people yelled from the beach in the park, I think I waved instinctively, but surely they were calling to him. Of course, I learned later those were two of my sons cheering us on. I kept waiting for the wind to be BEHIND me, but it never seemed to happen.
By the time I made the final turn, the whitecaps were coming from my right, perpendicular to the boat. Several of the waves washed over the side into the boat! So again, I thought my (borrowed) technology would trump lack of practice and skill. What I never considered was the WIND and the whitecaps breaking into the boat in the homestretch. I had pushed so hard I think someone helped me out of the boat so I could stumble over to the transition area.
The final stretch
A little Ginger Ale to settle the stomach, a little Red Bull, PB and J made to order. Dry socks, running shoes. Just as I was leaving, Vickie tried to get me to put on some bug spray, but I objected, as windy as it was the bugs wouldn't be a problem....
I instructed her to meet me in an hour at the dam, with cold water and my secret formula "Rocket fuel" to get me through the last 7 miles. Now for the one element I knew something about. Running. Excuse me, walking. OK, compromise, run to that next mailbox.... By now I'm wondering if you guys are pranking me, are you really out there, or is this a really elaborate practical joke on me?
I was not expecting many of you to RUN the 15 miles. So I was expecting to be catching people. There were kids jumping off the bridge on Bella Coola. But no runners to be seen. Finally caught up to Louie soon after the ranger station. He seemed to be at a low spot. I was definitely at a low spot.
We discussed what our original goals had been, and what we could still actually do. We found a walk / run pace that seemed to suit us both, His wife met us at the parking lot and the cold water was priceless. As we left the parking lot he went left and said that was the right way. Sure enough there were bike tracks and several sets of footprints. So we went that way.
Soon we were along the lakeshore. I think this was the shortest route, and THE ROUTE that I would recommend to be the "official" route. Through the park, the wind was not so bad, but the mosquitos and flies were relentless. We took turns slapping the flies off each other, often killing them more than one at a time. Our shirts had bloody spots from the squashed bugs.
As we crossed the dam I told him how I had rinsed my bike, it turns out both he and Kelly had done the same thing. After the dam, our wives were there with cold drinks and Vickie reminded me that I had turned down her earlier offer of bug spray. ( At least she didn't say "I told you so")
I drank down the Mountain Dew (Rocket Fuel) as she sprayed me down with bug spray. Brett met us with a cooler of water on his golf cart. The wives kept us supplied with water every mile or so. I might have been able to pass Louie, but I had already gathered what a competitor he was.
I soon realized that I preferred his company to 1 higher finish place. I guess he reasoned the same. I was satisfied to hang with Louie as long as we could finish before 7:00 pm. We had missed our original goal of 12 hours, but 7pm would be 12:41. I really enjoyed hearing his version of some of the same stories I had heard from Kelly about Scuba diving, catfishing, baseball, and growing up at the Lake. We tied with a finish total time of 12:38.
I hope you are all able to stay healthy and train well for TTL next year.
I instructed her to meet me in an hour at the dam, with cold water and my secret formula "Rocket fuel" to get me through the last 7 miles. Now for the one element I knew something about. Running. Excuse me, walking. OK, compromise, run to that next mailbox.... By now I'm wondering if you guys are pranking me, are you really out there, or is this a really elaborate practical joke on me?
I was not expecting many of you to RUN the 15 miles. So I was expecting to be catching people. There were kids jumping off the bridge on Bella Coola. But no runners to be seen. Finally caught up to Louie soon after the ranger station. He seemed to be at a low spot. I was definitely at a low spot.
We discussed what our original goals had been, and what we could still actually do. We found a walk / run pace that seemed to suit us both, His wife met us at the parking lot and the cold water was priceless. As we left the parking lot he went left and said that was the right way. Sure enough there were bike tracks and several sets of footprints. So we went that way.
Soon we were along the lakeshore. I think this was the shortest route, and THE ROUTE that I would recommend to be the "official" route. Through the park, the wind was not so bad, but the mosquitos and flies were relentless. We took turns slapping the flies off each other, often killing them more than one at a time. Our shirts had bloody spots from the squashed bugs.
As we crossed the dam I told him how I had rinsed my bike, it turns out both he and Kelly had done the same thing. After the dam, our wives were there with cold drinks and Vickie reminded me that I had turned down her earlier offer of bug spray. ( At least she didn't say "I told you so")
I drank down the Mountain Dew (Rocket Fuel) as she sprayed me down with bug spray. Brett met us with a cooler of water on his golf cart. The wives kept us supplied with water every mile or so. I might have been able to pass Louie, but I had already gathered what a competitor he was.
I soon realized that I preferred his company to 1 higher finish place. I guess he reasoned the same. I was satisfied to hang with Louie as long as we could finish before 7:00 pm. We had missed our original goal of 12 hours, but 7pm would be 12:41. I really enjoyed hearing his version of some of the same stories I had heard from Kelly about Scuba diving, catfishing, baseball, and growing up at the Lake. We tied with a finish total time of 12:38.
I hope you are all able to stay healthy and train well for TTL next year.
Response from "competitor" Eric Brandt
Hello Eric,
It was indeed a pleasure to be with you and Vickie all weekend.
I think you may have left out the part about you doing the full [15-mile] run on Saturday (in a very respectful time) prior to the Monday Extreme! Also, you and Vickie were everywhere helping out during all the events prior to the extreme.
There is nothing that will suck it out of you more than standing in the hot sun for hours (days!) prior to running the extreme event.
This was [you were] a big part of the birth of the Extreme. As organizers, we realized we couldn’t coordinate the event and participate at the same time.
You were a great competitor and participant, but most important – a friend to Take the Lake.
See you next year, if not sooner. You know where you can park your RV!
Eric Brandt
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Registered Life Planner (RLP)
It was indeed a pleasure to be with you and Vickie all weekend.
I think you may have left out the part about you doing the full [15-mile] run on Saturday (in a very respectful time) prior to the Monday Extreme! Also, you and Vickie were everywhere helping out during all the events prior to the extreme.
There is nothing that will suck it out of you more than standing in the hot sun for hours (days!) prior to running the extreme event.
This was [you were] a big part of the birth of the Extreme. As organizers, we realized we couldn’t coordinate the event and participate at the same time.
You were a great competitor and participant, but most important – a friend to Take the Lake.
See you next year, if not sooner. You know where you can park your RV!
Eric Brandt
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Registered Life Planner (RLP)