The nice thing about an adventure race is you get a few minutes with the map before the start to plan your route. We figured most everyone else would go for the close checkpoints first. Who likes running in a crowd? Not us. When everyone else headed up the hill, we took off in the opposite direction. It was a longer run to the first checkpoint, but we figured it would be better.

Was it? I don't know. We don't really race to win. My running days are long, long in the past (and they weren't great to begin with). Instead of focusing on speed, our goal is to find all the checkpoints we're try. That meant using the provided map and our compasses to figure out where to look.

Along the way, we had an equipment malfunction that drove home just how amazing the Deuter Promise is. If your pack breaks, regardless of the age or reason, Deuter will help get it back on the trail by repairing it or replacing it. They even cover half the shipping! Contrast that with the company whose gear broke in the middle of the race. I can take my broken gear to an authorized facility (the closest is about 200 miles away) and then pay them to repair it. Hmph.

Did we win? LOL. Not even close. Did we have fun and improve our navigation skills? Yup. Did we meet a dog that wanted Henry's post-race snack? Definitely. Will we do it again? For sure.

📍On the lands of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla peoples.