WLM WLM Fall 2014 | Page 28

WLM | adventure COWBOY TOUGH ADVENTURE RACE: it’s all about sleep by Casey Adams | Photography by Joan Dean “Hey… would you be willing to be our new Cowboy Tough team member? Pleeeeeaaase??” I I texted Adam Swisher Wednesday night, one week before the four-day Cameco Cowboy Tough Adventure Race began. Our team of four was hanging on by a thread, as Chuck Schuster had been officially benched by an injury that evening, and only two- and four-person teams can compete. His wife, Karla Wagner, was still willing to race despite having to make the last-minute switch 28 Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Fall 2014 to her bike rather than ride tandem with Chuck. Our fourth team member, Shad Hamilton, remained calm and steady as we awaited an answer. I was still asking myself on a regular basis what I had gotten myself into and, admittedly, wondering if this injury was a blessing in disguise. The next morning, I hovered at Adam’s cubicle as he turned his computer on, filled his coffee cup, chatted with our manager—all while avoiding eye contact with me. Governor Matt Mead initiated the Cowboy Tough Adventure Race (CBT) last year because, “Wyoming’s amazing outdoor recreation opportunities make an excellent venue for a national caliber outdoor event.” A week’s worth of events throughout the state — Ad- venture Week — promote Wyoming and active lifestyles, priorities for the Governor. Rev3 Adventure committed to five years of Cowboy Tough, each highlighting a different region of the state. The Rev3 website boasts, “This race will challenge individuals’ and teams’ physical and mental endurance to the limit. With Wyoming as the backdrop for the event, you can expect a wide variety of terrain that is beautiful, rugged and inspiring. For year two, we have taken feedback from 2013 CBT participants to make this adventure even better. Teams will start out in a genuine ghost town before tackling some of Wyoming’s most challenging backcountry. Mountain biking through technical single track, fire roads, and flowing