ATHENS TO ATLANTA RECAP

09/28/03

Video of Race Start

The weather was excellent, the excitement was high and hundreds of skaters were ready to roll, either for 87, 52 or 38 miles.

 We arrived in Atlanta on Friday 9/26 and proceeded to the Wyndham Hotel, where we met up with Frank Gafford and the Baltimore TNT group.  The Wyndham Hotel was the host for the TNT event.  Everyone was very excited and looking forward to the Friday night skate through the streets of Atlanta.  The skate was police escorted and included the last four miles of Sunday’s big finish.  People came out and applauded with encouragement as we glided through the city.  The last few miles were very dark.  It added a blind air of adventure to the skate, which lasted about two hours, covering around 10 to 12 miles.  Afterwards we spent a relaxing evening with Frank, Katie, Bonnie, Brooke, Bill, Mike and other TNT groups at the local pub.

Saturday Irene and I drove to Athens.  We diverted from the most direct route:  to the infamous “Silver Hill”.  I just had to see it before skating it.  Silver Hill is a series of three fairly steep hills where “I’m told” skaters have reached speeds of up to 45 MPH.  Needless to say, I didn’t want to go that fast.  I wanted to map out my speed control strategy in advance.  I studied the hill, looked for potential bail out areas and then we proceeded to finish our drive to Athens. 

In Athens, we joined Jeff Eassa and Carol at the Foundry Park Inn.  We walked two blocks to the “Classic Center” where we picked up our skate packets, instructions and timing transponders.  We browsed through the skate expo.  There were displays of skates, uniforms, hats, parts, etc.  At 6:00 we went to the pre-skate instruction meeting, where we were shocked to hear a 150 yard chunk of the road was missing from the course, complete with barricades at the end and (of course) located just past the torturous six mile stretch of gatorbacks (extremely rough road).  As if this skate wasn’t hard enough!!  The M.C. seemed to find it humorous to add “one more obstacle” to a course that challenges even the most seasoned and trained skaters.  After the meeting, Jeff, Carol, Irene and I went out for the traditional carb load meal at a very nice Italian restaurant. 

Sunday:  Finally, “Game Day”

The energy and excitement grew as hundreds of skaters arrived at the Classic Center to prepare for the start of the 22^ND Annual Athens to Atlanta Road Skate.  Jeff and I prepared to skate; Irene and Carol began mapping out their support vehicle strategy.  The race began at precisely 7:30AM.  Only minutes into the race, packs started to form and separate into anticipated pace lines.  We passed skaters; skaters passed us.  After the first five miles, packs thinned to four or five skaters.  Excitement and adrenaline carried us through the first 15-20 miles.  We realized we needed to pace ourselves for survival through the long day ahead.  The downhills were fast and fun; the uphills long and hard.  They just kept coming, all day long.  We met the very strong, Alicia Villarosa, of Brooklyn New York, at the 38 mile rest stop.  We also anticipated meeting our support vehicle, with sandwiches and refreshments; however, just like every other year, the checkpoint directions distributed by the A2A organization were less than stellar… The support vehicle didn’t arrive….   Thanks to Ginny, another support driver with Frank’s group, we had food and got good directions for our support team.  Irene and Carol met us at mile 55 (Checkpoint four).

At this point determination and sheer will carried us to “Oh No” Silver Hill.  Actually I maneuvered it quite easily.  I knew when I made it to the bottom the race was mine.  As usual,  Jeff “the Downhill King” Eassa cruised down with no problem at all.  Moving ahead required teamwork and emotional support.  Everything hurt, the body was weak and the will was deteriorating.  Commitment, support and determination carried us through and we drew it from each other. 

At mile 80 the hills finally disappeared; and our confidence was coming back.  We felt strong until “Mr. Gatorback” showed up again.  There were about two more miles of the bone jarring, teeth rattling surface, surpassed only by the necessity to stop at a busy intersection at the bottom of a hill.  What other obstacle could the course throw at you???  How about curb jumping and skating through an outdoor café, while groups of shoppers and people eating gawk in astonishment as you pass their tables?? 

Finally, we realized we were going to make it.  There were just four more miles--neighborhood streets, a slight downgrade and then entrance into Piedmont Park, followed by the most beautiful site in the world:  the finish line.  All at once everything was worth it.  The training, the dedication, the commitment, the determination, all welled up into one glorious moment of pride, satisfaction and contentment and a realization that all goals are attainable when the will to succeed overcomes all obstacles.  Our celebration began eight hours and fifty minutes and 87 miles from where we started.  Bill Kable was already there.  He finished in a mighty seven hours and five minutes.  Shortly after we crossed Katie came along, then Bonnie and Brooke.  Everyone was looking for Frank and Bruce.  We knew that “Ironman” Frank Gafford normally led the group, finishing well before everyone else.  They had talked of sticking together as a whole, but the rest of the group was already finished.  We were hoping nothing went wrong….  Skaters were sharing war stories with other skaters.  Some skaters were crying with their last ounce of energy as they crossed the finish line.  We waited and waited.  The announcer said there were only three skaters left on the course.  We waited.  We waited some more.  We got word that there were ten skaters on the course, all within three miles of the finish.  It was confusing…

Then they appeared:  seven skaters linked arm in arm.  Bruce Cleland and Frank Gafford were in the center.  It was awesome.  They looked so happy.  Emotion overwhelmed everyone as we watched Bruce and Frank cross the finish line with the five final skaters.  The finish doesn’t get any better than that…. 

CROSS ISLAND TRAIL RECAP

Sunday 7/27/03

WELCOME TO ROLLERQUEST RECAP

Jeff Eassa and Sandra White each secured 1st place in their divisions!!  Our brakes are off to them...... 

The weekend started on Saturday morning as we arrived at the host hotel in a downpour but anxious to take on the sites of New York City.  We paddled through the day to see:  Times Square, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's' Cathedral (where an actual wedding was taking place) , Trump Tower, and a very emotional and "surreal" trip to "ground zero".  Our biggest problem was attempting to stay dry, not to mention, trying to keep our umbrellas from turning inside out during the downpours and wind bursts. 

Andre and Lisa helped with the navigation through the city and took-in a couple Broadway shows on their own.  We all got back together and capped off the day with a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant.  After that we went back to our rooms and prepared for Sunday morning's race in the park. 

I believe we ALL prayed that it would, "PLEASE STOP RAINING."

The course was a 6.1 mile loop with plenty of hills to challenge even the most durable skater.  Four laps created a 24.4 mile marathon race that seemed like 50, due to the hills and slippery, wet conditions.  It had poured all weekend and the course was wet and a little slick, but the race started without rain. However, the icing was not on the cake yet!!.  Two laps into the race it began to rain again and continued thru the awards ceremony.  Everyone came through the race without incident.  We all skated on our old skates and bearings, to keep the new stuff in good condition and, also, to help remind us to skate cautiously. 

  Local support was on hand to guide each and every skater successfully through the race. Andre powered his way thru the course. Lisa drove to the finish cheered on by Larry, Jeff and Andre.  Sandra and Irene crossed hand in hand amidst cheers and enthusiastic support from all the participants.

My own skate style was cautious and methodical.  I was very satisfied, as were all, with our performances.  As we headed out of the park to get a cab back to the hotel, New York gave us one last farewell torrential downpour and then to top it all off, THE SUN CAME OUT AS WE WERE LEAVING !

To sum it all up:  Even though the weather did not cooperate, Rollerquest's group camaraderie, enthusiasm and friendship enveloped us like the shining sun....

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR RECAP

6/08/03 & 6/15/03

SUNDAY  6/8 AND  6/15 WERE SPENT SKATING AT LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR IN AN ATTEMPT TO STRENGTHEN OUR HILL CLIMBING ENDURANCE.

  Andre, Lisa, Irene, Larry, Kirsten and Jeff pounded "the hill" five times; finally succumbing to it's power.  "Boy are we out of shape!"  "Remember when we use to skate this without even getting out of breath..." and other similar comments echoed thru-out the park setting.  I believe everyone re-committed on the spot.  We all need more "hill work" to be ready for skates like Central Park, Athens to Atlanta (A2A), Prospect Park, etc...  We met two skaters: Frank and Jeff.  Both expressed an interest in Rollerquest's skating schedule.  We hope to hear from them soon and look forward to skating with them.

Sunday 6/15 was a little more intense with even more skaters:  Kathy, Frank and Frank, Andre, Franz, Irene and Larry.  Andre, Kathy, Irene and Larry chose to push the limit with a "more respectable" eight laps "on the hill".   I met and had the pleasure of skating with Dan Pfisterer who lives in Hamden.  Dan's on the roster page and hopes to skate with us in the future.  Afterwards, we enjoyed fresh fruit, cookies, trail mix, munchies, and drinks.

MARYLAND RAIL TRAIL SKATE RECAP