Important Notes to X-TREME!ists

48 miles in one day. DIY or team up with up to 3 friends.

Your preparation

Your Support Crew (Person)

You can't do this alone. First, you need an escort boat for the Swim, but you also need help the rest of the day. Here's what I mean:

What we (organizers) do for you - On large events, you can expect Aid Stations manned along the route, but we only have a dozen or so participants and a very big route, so we hope for volunteers, but can't rely on them. Also, we like to think that all supporters will help all participants.

In between events - It's nice to have everything ready for you. The smallest things can mean a lot, like clean sunglasses, dry socks, maybe an aspirin.

During events - During the Walk / Run and the Paddle it's nice to see a friend a few times, so maybe have them meet you on the east and west shores somewhere. On the Bike & Hike, they could meet you as you go into the woods, or come out.

To get this Help: Take a knee and tell your support person this: "Honey, this means a lot to me. I know the day will be mostly boring for you, but I need you. I've never done anything this important (embellish) in my life, and when I'm finished, I will be a different person. You can be a part of all that."

Supporters, understand this: The participant lives in a very small world through this big day. We can do a lot of thinking, but very little else. For example, we can't - or we may have a hard time with - putting on socks, sun lotion or bug spray, You are Burgess Meredith in our corner to our Rocky as we take on the mighty Apollo Creed. Wipe our sweat, pour water into our mouth, and when our eyes are so swollen after an unbearable beating by the lovely fists of Mother Nature, and we scream "Cut me! Cut me!" then cut us, please.

Or give us a pack of Nabs and send us on our way.

Participants, remember this phrase and use it throughout the day: "Thank you!"

Comments from our competitors stress the importance of support and the little frustrations when things don't go right. For many of you, this will be a life-changing or at least a once-in-a-lifetime event. For the crew, this can be a long, boring day. So, have a good attitude going in (both of you) and maybe when you're done, you can stumble past the finish line, your award tokens held high, your eyes swollen shut, shouting; "Adrian! Adriaaannn!"

The Week Prior

There are (at least) four factors that will determine how well you will do on the Take the Lake X-TREME!

Your DNA - How you are built physically and psychologically. Yeah, there's little you can do about that at this point.
The Week Prior - I'm not your doctor, but I do know that this really is something to focus on. Look at your diet this week. Hit the Internet for (good) advice. I stop caffeine for most of the week and pull in nutrients heavily. I step up (double, even) my exercise routine. The day before, I pile on the carbs (pasta) and water and take a break on the exercise. That water is important; get your body full of it - that's why you hear about these marathon athletes losing so much weight at an event, because they're losing water they've stocked up on. Take in more salt than usual to hold the water.
Your Gear - Sure, a good bike and kayak will help, but here are a few things we've found very helpful:

Stretchy shorts - Yeah, they're soooo fashy-nable, but really, you do need them here. This is what I used to do: swim in my trunks. Change into shorts to cycle. Hop in the kayak and get those shorts (and underwear) soaking wet. Change, again, into a new pair of shorts, with "long" UnderArmor underwear to avoid chafing in the Walk/Run. Here is what I do with stretchy shorts: Everything. No changing. Get them for about $12 at Wal-mart and you can address some undercarriage issues (if you have them) with cremes or, my favorite, "Tiger Bag Balm."
Wicking shirt - I can't really measure the benefit to this, but they are popular and seem to help, and it's one thing you'll wish you had when you're drenched and dragging. I got one for less than $20 at Hibbetts in Whiteville.
Camelbak - Pack this with ice and energy drink for each of the last three events and go. There's a reason the word "hydrate" has become so popular - you need water and more water. These will give you a constant easy-access supply and they keep your back cool. I don't like the bite valve, and I just unscrew the tip and gulp. Come to think of it, might be useful for your Swim escort to give you a hands-free drink. Got mine at Wal-mart for under $20.

4. The months prior - Build up your strength and endurance. I'm not qualified to write the necessary volumes about this, so you're on your own. But you could look at the training schedules for each PEC (and double them!)

Event Notes

Parking (NO?)

PARKING: We will try to interfere with Dale's business as little as possible, and that means that our cars should not be parked in their area.

This could be tough, as I bet some of you might like to "work" out of your vehicles that day – I don't know. But I do know that at the big triathlons you are even more inconvenienced, so this should be workable.

I'd like to ask you to please unload all your gear from your vehicle and stake out a place on the lawn across from Dale's – the Boys & Girls Homes has let us use their property. You can park right up the small hill on Flemington Dr. (likely the way you came in) and your vehicle will be less than 50 yards away.

We have purchased a 10x10 canopy tent with sides we hope you will use as a changing room.

Crew: You shouldn't have to set up until, oh, 8-9 a.m. when your swimmer finishes. If a team decides to use the gang-start format, they'll set up before 8 a.m. – but they shouldn't have much to set up.

If you have an E.Z. up tent, or anything else like that to claim an area, you should be able to set it up inside the fence (see illustration above.) The support staff and volunteers will spend most time here.

Competitors will enter through the fence opening (Blue) for official split and finish times.

Please comment on this (or any) issue – we need your input! Click here to contact Mark directly.

SPONSORS - Interested in sponsoring this very cool event? Click here, and scroll down to the X-TREME! section.

The Routes

Our routes are pretty darn simple; just go around and across Lake Waccamaw. The route is very clear, with a few snags here and there that we mark with signs.

There had been confusion in the state park, but now everyone will use the paved road to the picnic area at the end, then follow a set of tree markers all the way to the dam.

There are two chances to get lost; around the campground, and the zig-zag between Lake Shore Drive and Bella Coola. We will mark these with signs, but please refer to an online map, and the best route will be very clear.