De-Shwagged at the Rando Rally!!

So a couple friends and I participated in the Randonnee Rally at Alpental today. Yeah, we had fun at this ~mostly~ well organized event. <br><br>JUST ONE SMALL COMPLAINT: The announcements at the pre-race briefing, as well as the information website, clearly stated "Awards Ceremony and Raffle: At 3:00 pm we will reconvene at the base of the mountain for the awards ceremony, raffle, hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Racers must be present to win raffle prizes." See for yourself: life-link.com/alpental_registration.htm <br><br>So following the race fun my friends and I head out for a day of skiing and return to the lodge a little before 3:00 only to learn THEY HAD THE RAFFLE PRIZES AT 2:00 AND GAVE ALL THE COOL STUFF AWAY WITHOUT US. <br><br> ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? <br><br>I'm sorry folks, this is even worse than the anti nordic snowboarding conspiracy at Hyak. <br><br><br> &gt;

You can't believe everything you read on the Internet. When I finished, Martin and crew were telling people that the awards ceremony started at 2:00 . . .<br><br>Talk about being de-shwagged, when I got home with my really nice OR down sweater, my wife decided she really liked it and really needed a light down coat . . .

Bwa, that's funny Greg!<br><br>I was surprised that they changed the time when not everybody was around. I know that Corey was also taken by surprise, there must have been others as well. We stood at the finish line for several minutes chatting, and nobody said anything about a schedule change. Bummer. <br><br>Re: the rally, I thought I was in okay shape! There was some serious ass-hauling going on, particuarly in the race division. Very impressive. Nearly as impressive was my yard sale to butt-slide on upper 'nash. Ah well, such is life, and I was happy with my uphill time. The race was quite fun in a 'it hurts, but it hurts soooo goooood' kind of way.

Yeah, I was most impressed with Karen Kingsley - I should have been tipped off by the RONA team skinsuit and the Trab Duo Race Aeros (RONA is a women's pro cycling team) but the sight of her pulling away up International was simultaneously inspirational and depressing . . . she won the women's race division and finished 3rd overall, something like 2 minutes behind Andy Traslin. Martin commented that she would be a natural for the women's national rando team, but she's still a German citizen.

I'd like to commend Martin & co on a well-organized race.  I think they were a little overwhelmed at the last minute signups Saturday morning (I saw a bib #75, so there must have been at least that many competitors?).<br><br>My "depressing" moment was at the top of the first uphill, encountering Phil H. already beginning his final descent to the finish line. My "inspiring" moment was, after having started down upper nash neck and neck with Paul and gregm, looking behind me on Snake Dance and seeing no one <br><br>Cool experience.  Still bummed we missed the raffle and ceremony though....

I just wanted emphasize a big THANKS to Martin, Gina (sp?), the other organisers, and the sponsors for putting together the Rando Rally. I had a lot of fun. We at the NWAC really appreciate it and all forms of support will help during this period of difficult budgets.<br><br>I arrived at the lodge about 720 am and was number 75, last in the long line to register, and just made it out the door of the lodge in time for the start. Guess I'll pre-register or arrive earlier next time.