Au Revoir TeamSouthDakota

I organized a team once I heard Primal Quest would be in South Dakota. Dan had to move to an alternate team member position due to family reasons. Another team member was added in December. The training and learning new skills has been great. It has given me a reason to be outside as much as possible, which is what I live for anyway. It gives Randy a good reason to tell me to go outside and do more training :)

Fitness is one part of competing in Primal Quest. The other "biggie" is the team. Four people must be able to be train and compete together, be supportive, have open communication, be respectful and understanding. The team dynamics have been a great challenge for the 4 people in South Dakota. Many meetings and creative training and motivational opportunities have occurred the past few months. One reads and hears about the challenges of team dynamics in adventure races. Persons who have been in the military understand the critical importance of team dynamics.

Two weeks ago I made the decision to resign from TeamSouthDakota. Perhaps a change of a member on the team will improve the opportunity for TeamSouthDakota's success in Primal Quest. I have recently trained with a couple teams from out of state. I had a great time, picked up some great tips and worked hard. I continue to train and am hopeful that another team will have a need for a female member. I am ready !

I have received so much support from friends, local organizations and businesses. I thank you all !

Paulette Kirby

Dear Primal Quest

The latest article in the Rapid City Journal was titled Team South Dakota Gels. We had a 4 hour 'stationary' team meeting this week. A "talking to PQ" type of meeting. I suppose we are geling. Hey!!! Everyone! This is really tough stuff ! There is training, the aches and pains, attempts to attain funds to obtain the remainder of our gear. THANKS again to everyone who has helped so far. THANKS to those who will !You are or can be on our web site and make a tax deductible contribution. There is work and business to fit in. And our dearest spouses and families and friends who see us in passing. And, again, the ultimate challenge, gel the team.

And the most asked question still is: "How is the training going?" It is going, and going and going......We went caving the last week in May. I love caving! This cave was mostly climbing. Quite a work out for all of us. We climbed the night before and trekked 8 hours the day after. We camped out for the weekend. The weather gods were good to us.

Another weekend begins today. I rode my bike to clinic (25 miles), and will run about 15 miles tonight. Tomorrow is a day for individual training. Randy and I will begin at sunrise in the Badlands trekking. Then we will mountain bike in the Badlands. Sunday is a team day. We'll begin early morning with kayaking and then we'll go climbing.

I am looking forward to my visit with Kayte at Acupuncture4Health today. Kayte usually would ask a person to rest after seeing her. But I'll have my running shorts and IPOD with me, reading to zone into the world of music. Thanks to Kayte and Mary who help me continue to train and train and train.

Teamies: I will respect you.
I will be kind to you.
I will trust you
I will support you.
I will do my best for TeamSouthDakota.

On-On,

Paulette

And the training goes on and on

I (Paulette)participated in a short orienteering course. Went great. I got a mixed up on one control which set me back on time. Any hestation in a short course and your position changes.

This past weekend was the Fat Tire Festival. Ran with the uphill climbers, helped with the Trail run Saturday am and, of course, there was some mountain biking. All team members stayed busy doing their own thing.

Paulette found some really steep hills in her back yard, the forest. One can practice jumaring, rapelling and go-arounds :) doing this. I am not planning to invite Mr Poison Ivy and prefer he doesn't invite himself to these parties.

Primal Quest Team WEDALI Andrea, Jason, Justin and Scott were here to train. They joined up with Gary, Randy and I for a mtb ride in the Hills on Sunday. Great to meet another team. Only casualty was a chain which Team Wedali fixed quickly. Heck of a way to take a rest break.

We raffled a pack during the festival for a fundraiser. Val Stephens was the lucky winner. We raised a little more $$ for the team.Every little bit helps. Thanks to all who contributed !!

We Are Family

That load clicking noise that you heard this weekend was a Team coming together. Finally everybody was here and ready to rock and the weather cooperated. Friday started with 2+ hours in the kayaks.Then followed up with trekking until midnite. Mostly just a hike but did have to hit a handrail to get back.

7:30 Saturday was a 20 mile Nav. I set 7 points and set them loose. They nailed them all but 3.We figured later they were about 300 meters from it. Lesson learned is that everybody shouldn't second guess at the same time. But they all agreed on the plan of action.

Lunch was burgers at Sugarshack with a side of feet and bloody thumb. Then the rest of the controls and finish.

Sunday was Railroad Buttes for a ride. It was a combination training and scouting for the Fat Tire Festival next week. 2 hours of Technical and 90 mins of gravel. Then we came back to town set up ropes on M-Hill and did some up and down. It took everybody a few tries to get back in the swing of rope work. And a few jammed jummars but nobdy got left on the hill.

I'll have the Video posted in a couple of days.
If you are in Rapid come to the Fat Tire Film Festival and see if the trailer for Becoming Primal wins anything.

Thanks For Reading
Now go play with Fire

Randy

Perceptions

Began this past weekend on Friday with a paddle on Pactola. Lisa Christensen and I pitched our tents in the forest along the lake. Saturday morning temp was 29 degrees with a fog and cool moist (AND COLD) breeze off the lake. Gary met up with us for a PQ trek for 13.5 miles. Found some new trails and roads. Paulette and Lisa finished the day with another paddle and experienced several weather systems. There was sunshine, light snow, rain, sleet and sunshine. It is nice to paddle with a white sky and white stuff falling onto the kayak skirt.
Sunday, Paulette paddled another 4 hours and biked a couple.
Jason is out of town. Lisa is a Mom enjoying Mother's day.

My Perception Kayak could tell stories,
Paulette

Perfect Reflections

Friday night orienteering was a great success. We 'scored' by going directly to 7 out of 7 controls. We're getting our team system down for navigation. Seems that Paulette and Jason will be primary navigators, Gary is the detail man for monitoring minutes, terrain, etc. Lisa will soon be in charge of other details such as eating, drinking, etc. This will benefit all of us.
Responsibility of navigation means a lot: Great challenges, I get to play with all the maps which I love to do and that I could be responsible for taking the team on 'alternate routes.' UGH! The house is full of maps and they make great placemats on the kitchen table. Ask Randy.

Team paddling in double kayaks Saturday and Sunday for a total of 7 hours. Thanks to Barb and Dark Canyon Sports at Global Market, we have 2 double kayaks to paddle. There wasn't a breeze or a ripple on Pactola. It was beautiful paddling. Drew joined us both days. Drew loves to have his picture taken so check it out soon when posted! Lisa C. paddled in one of the doubles with us. Jason is in Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, I realized that my perception does not fit in the garage if it is loaded on the top of my vehicle. Crazy noise I heard when I tried to do it! I have managed to make it 20+ years of kayaking without attempting this. The good news is the Honda Element is a strong vehicle and the only damage was one of 4 Yakima posts. Whew!

Life is better in a kayak,
Paulette

Black Hills Pioneer Article

Here's the latest article that Aaron Nelson wrote about the Team.

http://www.bhpioneer.com/articles/2009/04/16/outdoors/doc49e74f1f29c4d837219203.txt

Enjoy.

Randy