Team Oxygen Debt won the Gold Rush Summer Challenge in a new course record of 5:13:48.  The weather cooled slightly for race day and teams made good time in the conditions. Teams began with an orienteering section of 5 miles on the rocky terrain of Red Hills where team Oh...Mi led Oxygen Debt into ACP 1. The bike leg featured a short technical section before hitting the broken asphalt and dirt that makes up most of the 24 mile bike route. The bike leg from Red Hills to the small Gold Rush town of La Grange in central California is generally the demise of many teams but this year the damage was limited. The lead teams made good time on the bikes while the back of the pack survived better than expected. Early in the bike leg 'Oxygen Debt' took over the lead and held on to ACP2 at the start of the river. Water levels were low which might have allowed Oh...Mi to make a move but 'Oxygen Debt' stayed in front down the 8 miles of river to take the win.

Thanks are due to all the volunteer workers who make an event like this possible; in order of appearance:  Melissa Griffiths,  Dave and Zak Provost, Cary Gregg,Brian ‘the river’ Schmitz, Connie Arthur

The Gold Rush Team.