Not wanting to miss a chance to bake in the August heat, Jon Barker, Tim Abbott and I teamed up August 18 for the YMCA Challenge 4 sprint adventure race up the road from Atlanta in Cherokee County.

The race was very well done ... and so were we after an afternoon of running, biking, coasteering, and paddling in temperatures that hovered in the high 90s. We crossed the finish line after 4:47 in first place, along with Team Enduraventure/Outspokin' Bikes that included Checkpoint Zero/GoLite teammmate Allen McAdams and racing friend Bill Fletcher.

I really enjoyed navigating the first 6-point Rogaine section on foot. Jon was the map man the rest of the race. The next single-track biking section offered some excitement as teams passed each other in opposite directions on the tight trails, and the swim across a finger of Allatoona Lake cooled us off -- temporarily.

Though many teams complained of nausea due to the heat, our team -- AKA Team Two Limeys and a Leprechaun -- managed well until I sucked down an ice-cold popsicle offered by a race volunteer at the put-in for the paddle section. Good thing for me the race was nearly over at that point.

Jon's wife, Diane, and my wife, Lisa, and son, Henry, congratulated us at the finish line. Then it was off to the YMCA pool for a swim followed by the YMCA's excellent post-race meal of barbecue, cookies, baked beans and sweet iced tea (as if there's any other way to drink it in the South, Tim and Jon) .

Much thanks to all the volunteers that put on a first-race event.

- Paul Cox