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It was a mental and physical battle, but Bob Schulz, Corky Ewing and Sylvia Corbett, of Team Balance Bar had their eye on the finish line right from the start. "We started strong and never looked back," Corbett said. "It was surprising we got such a lead, but our synergy as a team was right on. I guess it showed."

Schulz and Ewing, who won last year’s Sacramento race, raced together for the past three years. Schulz is a seasoned mountain bike competitor and winner of the NORBA National cross-country championships in 1992. Ewing is a two-time Hawaii Ironman finisher, as well as an expert mountain biker.

"We started strong and never looked back," Corbett said. "It was surprising we got such a lead, but our synergy as a team was right on. I guess it showed."

"Bob and I train together every day," Ewing said. "Sometimes we butt heads, but we’ve also learned by now how to read each other’s minds."

Corbett is new to the team, but not to adventure sports. For six years, she was a member of Canada’s National Triathlon Team. And although it took Team Balance Bar three-quarters of an hour longer on this year's tougher course, they crushed the rest of the field, finishing in 2:45:11. Even the other sponsored teams arrived more than 10 minutes later.

The event began with a 6.5-mile trail run, including three water crossings through mucky reed-filled inlets. Many teams tried to wade through the cool water, eventually giving in and going for a breast stroke. After the run, the soggy bodies came upon the first of the "special tests," orienteering or the "aweful-O."

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Without using a compass, each team had to complete a treasure hunt by finding three playing cards. Proving to be more mental, and menial, than most — the "aweful-O" cost some teams as much as 30 minutes on their overall time.

And just when they thought it would get better, challengers were made to bow-down at the bucket brigade, filling a large trash can with water. The buckets had numerous holes. Therein lies the challenge. Successful completion of this strange task led straight into the 1.5-mile kayak stretch, culminating in an obstacle course that had them pushing themselves and their kayaks over and under wooden beams.

"...it’s a great one-day event for professional and novice athletes alike, and one of the fastest-growing sports for the weekend warrior.."

Near the terminus of the 10-mile mountain bike leg, racers had to haul their bikes through six feet of lake water and then over a 20-foot high rope wall. Finally, with the finish line in sight, teams had to drag a 300-pound railroad tie around a sandy circle.

Team Fogdog (Doug Crytzer, Toby Angove and Suzan Falvey) took second place, at 2:56:4. While Theresa Uhlrig, Paul Romero and Devor Novoselac of Team Hi-Tec finished third, in 2:59:15. The Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series is kind of a sprint for these sponsored athletes, many of whom compete in longer adventure races, such as the RAID Gauloises and Eco-Challenge. But it’s a great one-day event for professional and novice athletes alike, and one of the fastest-growing sports for the weekend warrior.

Racers compete in three-member teams, and teamwork is crucial. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars, and weeks of your life, to compete in a race like the Eco-Challenge, the Hi-Tec series requires just $225 and a bit of weekend training.

"Hi-Tec is different in that athletes who normally are only concerned about their individual performance have to work together," said racer Suzan Falvey, Team Fogdog. "And with the special tests, you never know what you’re going to be faced with. You’ve just got to keep telling yourself to push, cause it’s anybody’s race at any time."

— H.B. Scott, for MountainZone.com