September « 2014 « UnSpoken Adventures

Chad Denning May 16,1975 – September 7,2014

Life in itself is an adventure. It has highs and lows. We go through it with family, friends, and the strangers we meet- never knowing what’s around the next bend or over the next hillside. I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing journey so far. Whether by chance (or subconscious choice somewhere along the way) I have terrific, supportive, and amazing family members. I’ve made wonderful, caring friend’s on this journey and have shared many great memories with those individuals. One thing that I definitely have are friends with a zest for adventure and life.

Adventure Race Nationals 2013. Indiana

For 3+ years, starting soon after Jeff and I made our move to New London, I shared many of those adventures with Chad Denning. I had heard his name before, as the New London Recreation Director; people that knew him said that we should meet. Being new to the area, I needed people who could show me the local running & riding trails. Chad was the guy! He loved running. He knew the trail systems in the valley and had connections with everyone in the area. People were right… he was the guy to meet for local adventures!

January 2014 hike around the rock pile

I can’t quite remember how we met up after our first hello at the VT50, but we started running, skiing, and riding together after that day in September. We skate skied that winter as Jeff and I begin our training for TransRockies. His fun adventures were a perfect break from riding the indoor trainer. Chad’s positive attitude and outgoing personality made him fun to hang out with. He was one of my instant friends. He didn’t judge my minimal addition to our conversations and I didn’t mind his continued push of our pacing. He was the perfect training partner- for me, and for everyone else that was fortunate enough to adventure with him.

Just after TransRockies, in August of 2012 Chad approached me about racing with him and the Untamed New England team. “Stay fit” he said, “because we want you to race with us at Nationals in Kertonkson, NY.” I quietly decided to myself in that moment that I would definitely be racing with them. Adventure racing was awesome (I had done it once before). Why would I pass up that opportunity? (I wouldn’t.) I made the commitment and started running. Because of TransRockies, and because my partner is a bike-a-holic, my default workouts were primarily on two wheels- road riding and mountain biking. But with 30 hours of racing in the weeks to come, I was nervous about about the running sections. Chad helped me prepare with many miles of trail running. He built up my confidence and took away any hesitation that I may not be able to pull off this big race. Chad approached everything with a go-to attitude and a casual assurance that everything would work out.

Adventure Race Nationals. Kerhonkson, NY

Chad and I ran together a lot. Sometimes we’d run with Brandon, another New London friend, and other times we’d get out on an adventure alone around New London or in Hanover. Chad’s personality was contagious. He’d lift people up so that no matter what you were doing, how challenged you felt, you could do anything. (From a 2.5 mile uphill Winter Wild Race, to a muddy 50k trail run.)

North Country Endurance Challenge, 2013.

He pumped me full of positivity and enthusiam as we’d trod along the trails. Never would he let me doubt myself or my abilities. He’d push my pace and help me to progress as a more confident runner. There were tips and advice- things like shoe recommendations and ways to prevent my camelback bladder from sloshing around. He gave me advice on how to lube my feet with A&D ointment (so they wouldn’t turn to raisins on long runs), and how to take salt tabs to prevent cramping. He gave me water purification ideas, handheld water bottles, Endurox recovery mix… he was one of the most generous people I know. His personal goal seemed to be making adventures fun for the people around him. He also let me borrow gear as I slowly discovered what I needed to become a successful adventure partner. So many of the things I do and use today in my own races are because of Chad’s guidance and expertise.

This is what the real Chad Denning adventures look like.

This is what Chad Denning adventures look like.

On Monday morning after North Country Endurance Challenge, Dave Lamb (our fellow friend and teammate) phoned me with news that Chad had passed away Sunday evening on a trail run. Chad was out the door early Sunday morning with a couple of his other running friends.

According to NH Fish & Game Dept., “it was about 8:30am when they set off on Beaver Brook Trail, one of the most difficult in the state. They were running sections of the AT when they stopped along Mt. Moosilauke to take in a view and grab something to eat. Chad fainted and never regained consciousness. His friends, Jeremy Merritt and Lars Blackmore administered CPR for several hours, but were unsuccessful in their attempts to revive him. Chad was pronounced dead soon after rescuers arrived to the scene around 3:30pm.” According to the write up in Valley News, “because of the remote location and the rough terrain, it took the rescue team more than four hours to get Denning down the mountain, sometimes by using ropes to lower him from one section to another. It wasn’t until nearly an hour past sunset, at 8 p.m., that the party reached the trail head in Woodstock, N.H., on Route 112.”

The news was devastating.

How could this be? How? Why? What?! No.

So many people had the same response: a still silence full of unspoken questions and total denial.

Chad has a wife, two young children, he’s 39 years young. He’s positive, active, fit, fun, enthusiastic, sincere, outgoing, selfless… how is it possible? It just isn’t fair.

SRKG Trail Marker

Immediately I flashed back to our brief phone conversation only 3 days earlier and our last goodbye the day before that. I had driven to his house to pick up his kayak for the North Country race. A borrowed boat and paddle- nothing out of the ordinary. As I got out of my car he was there to greet me with a big smile and his usual uplifting, “Hey, hey!” I gave him a hug and we started chatting casually as we shifted the kayak from his car to mine.

We chatted for a little while; I was probably only in his driveway for 20 minutes or so… but I am SO grateful for those 20 minutes. Had I not been running late in VT, we would have met an hour earlier for a run around the Eastman community… but fate stepped in; I know it did. He had more time with his family that night and a few extra moments with his kids.

I’m so glad to have spent the weekend of the Emerald Necklace race with my dear friend. We did our last training run the Thursday before the race. Those conversations, and the others we had shared together during our time in the woods, are some of my best Chad memories. It’s there in the woods, on the mountains, and on the water that we grew a forever friendship.

Chad with the summit of Mt Washington in the background. Our Tour De Rock Pile.

The stories of Chad’s life that have been shared in the few days following his death are amazing. He was such a humble, kind, and generous soul who touched hundreds of people with his personality and enthusiam for doing what he loved. For the running community, his friends, his family… especially for his family… there is a void.

We move forward with love in our hearts, memories in our minds, and a remembrance of how he lived his life. We have to move forward. He lived life to the fullest- finding balance in adventure, family, and work. It’s a delicate symmetry that we all strive to have. Chad Denning seemed to manage that balance well.

At the racer meeting for Emerald Necklace, just two weeks before he passed, Chad stood up in front of the crowd and emphasized the importance of racers checking in with volunteers or race crew if they planned to leave the course.

“We will search for you. We will continue searching for you. We will find you.” He must have said it 3 times to highlight the importance of not heading off to a local bar rather then to the finishline. That message registered for me, and it stuck. I felt more relaxed and confident about the 80 mile course. Chad would find me if I was lost.
He would. He would continue searching.

As I begin to unravel the crazy reality that Chad is no longer a phone call away, it helps to know that he is still with us. On every adventure I have, that we all have, he will find us. He will be there- guiding us along, encouraging us to keep going, and giving us strength in moments where a smile and a “Hey, hey!” would make everything better.

Chad Denning will never be forgotten. His life is a legacy. He lives on in his beautiful children and in the community. He lives on in memories and in future adventures that we will share with him there, in spirit.

Checking in with family on The Moats with Dave Lamb.

Checking in with family on The Moats with me and Dave Lamb.

I owe him thanks and gratitude for changing my life- for making this life more pleasant and for being an amazing friend. One day we will meet again… one day. For now he runs ahead- going fast and far- but I know he will find me in the mountains, on the trails, and on the water.

Until we meet again…

Rest in peace, my friend.
♡

One hour and forty five minutes after packing up two separate cars, Jeff and I left Northfield and arrived at my parents house in Fryeburg. One car or two? Would Jeff leave before awards or should we all head north together? These were the last minute decisions being mulled over in the driveway before heading out to the race. Fortunately, the dogs (Dudli & Ryder) would spend the weekend with my gracious parents, the dog-sitters.

We loaded Jeff’s VW with 3 people, 2 bikes, 1 long kayak (borrowed from Chad), food, overnight stuff, and a whole bunch of race gear. With a little less ground clearance then we started with, we took off for Pittsburg, NH. (I learned last year that Pittsfield is as far north as you can go in NH without crossing into Canada; it’s a LONG way up.)

Jo M. Wood Photography

Jo M. Wood Photography

We headed straight to racer registration at the Pittsburg Fire Dept. With a quick pasta dinner, a mandatory meeting, and a review of my gear & directions, we were set. This year, I was fortunate to have Jeff and my sister, Jen, as supporters. They were organized, directionally prepared with the maps, and eager for the race to start.

We watched a quick inspirational video of the race from it’s inaugural year then left the Fire Department and headed to our overnight accommodations. By far, we were the luckiest team when it came to lodging. We stayed at the guest house of Steve Ellis- town Selectman. His property is the start line. That’s right-the start line! That meant a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning and front row parking. In my book, that’s as good as it gets!

My mom, Emily, and I had stayed at Steve’s guest house the year before with several other people (during my first North Country Endurance event). It’s a beautiful place right on the water (which is the first 4 mile paddle leg of the race). The ‘guest house’ is loaded with animals that have been professionally taxitermied- loons, coyotes, deer, bear, baby moose, Fisher cats. You name it, he probably has it. In all honestly, it’s a little startling when you wake up in the dark at 4:30am to prep for race start, but we were grateful for a bed to sleep in and the wonderful hospitality.

Jo M. Wood Photography

The race started with a cannon blast and racers running to their kayaks. I was 8th or so in the pack. Not as fast as the guys in the Epic kayaks… but fast enough. I struggled to keep my kayak from veering to the right, but nothing I couldn’t compensate for. (And nothing a little additional training couldn’t have taken care of, I’m sure.) We made a quick transition to a 3 mile run. With wet feet, and wearing the same outfit, I made my way on single-track & double track trail towards the second 5 mile paddle. I past one team on the run, and was passed by two other men running along together. It was so early into the race at this point, it didn’t bother me too much.

Jo M. Wood Photography

The second kayak was long. It’s a long straight paddle that seems to take FOREVER. I held my position- staying with the two men who caught me on the run. My team had planned our transition from this leg thoroughly. Jeff would meet me at the water’s edge as I jumped out leaving him with Chad’s boat, paddle, & my pfd. I’d run the short 1/2 mile to the Transition Area (TA) and find Jen, who was patiently waiting with my bike and bike gear.

Jo M. Wood Photography

I hopped on my bike for a short 35 (ish) minute spin (wearing my soaking wet running short and all), to the next TA where I’d transition to the long run. This was the run that everyone was lost on last year. This year, however, the course was well marked and about 10 miles long (a bit longer then in previous years). I ran the entire leg by myself- not a single person in sight- and met Jeff on his bike just before the next TA. I was beat! This is the race leg that really had me feeling sluggish. I tried not to be too hard on myself- having just completed the 80 mile Emerald Necklace course 2 weeks beforehand- but I was slow! Real slow. Running wasn’t something my body wanted to be doing and I was glad to be transitioning to the bike.

I swapped into my bike gear again- bike shorts (over my new dry running shorts), helmet, gloves, glasses, and shoes. I was beat. The run was long- endless, really- and I just didn’t have the oomph that I wanted. But I slogged on… after some food, water, and inspiration from my support crew. (Did I mentioned that they were the best!)

Jo M. Wood Photography

I biked towards The Balsams which included some significant uphill. Then I met my crew and prepared for a mountain run up and over the ski hill. I felt mentally ready for the climb, but once I reached the top, and needed to run across the summit and down the technical trail on the other side, I felt my heavy legs and the fatigue of Emerald Necklace. (On the back side of the mountain there was a man being attended to by the EMS crew. I’m not sure what had happened- heat stroke, a twisted ankle… it was hard to tell. But he was only about 1/4 mile from the next transition area.)

Follow me!

At the bottom of the run I jumped back onto the bike (one of the last 2 race legs)! My race crew (Jeff and Jen) were waiting for me, as they had been at every other transition area. They knew I’d be tired, but they were there with moral support, food, water, and more words of encouragement. (I really couldn’t have done it without them!) These last few bike legs weren’t easy. There was lots of climbing- loose gravel roads and steep 4 wheeler trails. The best part (*read with sarcasm) was the heavy rain that came in on this leg. It poured. I was soaked. The first rain started just as I was riding up through the clearcuts along the open dirt roads. Wind, open spaces, and rain. It was SO cold. My tank top, bib shorts, shoes, gloves, EVERYTHING was soaking wet. EVERYTHING. I knew I was in trouble being as cold as I was while peddling uphill; I just couldn’t get warm. I also couldn’t recall if I’d dip back into the woods for the decent, or if I’d be left in the open wind, but I knew I was going to freeze before seeing my support crew again at the next TA.

I got there.. and was I ever glad to see them! I had just ridden down slick, muddy double track and past several curious 4 wheelers. One guy even stopped to remark, “tell me you don’t think that is FUN!” I’m sure I looked terrible- soaking wet, covered in mud, and probably blue in color. “No,” I shared, “not at the moment.”

That was true. I was ready to be warm & dry & across the finishline. But, alas, one more bike leg.

I met Jeff and Jen waiting for me at the TA. As I said, I was REALLY glad to see them. They were outside standing in the pouring rain. Not only had they requested fresh veggies for me to eat, Jen had Bonito chips ready (which, in that moment, were more delicious then anything I had ever eaten), and a dry long sleeved shirt. THE long sleeved shirt I has been dreaming of for the past 20 minutes of my bike ride. Amazing! This was another moment where you realize just how important your support is. Instantly I knew, “OK… I can make it to the end.”

I peddled on. The last leg went SO quickly. I was prepared for a long peddle, but before I knew it I was out on the pavement and pulling into the parking lot behind the pub (aka: the finish line). Boy was that a good moment! I was the first woman across the finish line, despite dragging throughout the entire race for 9 hours and 45 minutes. My support crew was there for me with dry clothes, a hot shower, and big smiles.