[paper_trail] 2025 WWC Time Laps 24-hour relay race

AO: paper_trail
Q: Cliffhanger
PAX: Flip Phone, HazMat, Kid Rock, Rubbermaid, Chastain, Swedish Chef, Cliffhanger, Bonvoy, Dud, Tbone, Mountain Man, Kojak,, David E
FNGs: 1 David E
COUNT: 14
Cliff notes: Seven loops. Each loop gives us points depending on mileage, altitude gain, and technical difficulty. On each loop, at studied locations, we find devices that allow us to punch a mark on our team’s bib. One, two or three punches, depending on the loop. And you better don’t miss them! That’s the main way to gain points for the team.
But there are other fun ways to score points: scavenger hunts, speed tests, completion challenges…
24 hours of pure fun, competition, fellowship, grit, heat, rain, cold, mud, scorching sun, music and beer.

For Kid, another day at the office. He arrived at the pavilion, set his coolers and aid station on a picnic table, and scoped the competition. No need for sleeping arrangements, since his definition of resting is an 11-minute-mile pace.
Flip is also a veteran: he has a great group of fellow F3 trail nuts from MECA, and every year they compete in the 7-12 runners category. YHC was invited to join that team (the Time Bandits!) this year after coming the previous two in a pacing capacity. We had a nice spot on the campsite, where we laid tents, hammocks, chairs, and coolers.

On to the race: Team Bandits secured second place in their category in a narrow finish this year. All competing teams consisted of much younger and fit runners with fewer family commitments (none had to “take the morning off” to attend their kids’ soccer games). How did we pull that feat? I blame our success on the F3 philosophy, the grit and commitment learned by years in the gloom (and those miles at CTT and Cutty!)

The fun to watch was the solo division: two at the top switching first and second place for 13 hours straight. After 60+ miles, they both had trouble keeping their eyes open and took a power nap. One of them was our own Kid Rock, supported by a horde of F3 pacers that could barely keep up with him:
Chastain took the first pacing duty from 8 PM on Friday to 2 AM on Saturday, for 17 miles. Rubbermaid arrived at 4 AM and was joined by Hazmat and Chef until about noon. I believe they got between 13 and 20 miles chasing Kid around. Tim came back with the M after lunch for another 9.
Kid’s power nap was significantly shorter than the competition: when the other guy woke up, he found a 16-mile deficit. He tried, though. It was epic, but Toni got first place and the prize at the end. Enjoy that cool hat and the new sweet pair of shoes, buddy!

Anyway, the time-lapse event is now a thing of the past. The trail runners are on to the next event! We’ll post it on the channel soon.