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Mississippi River Ultra Marathons for Rett Syndrome (2001) and Rett Syndrome & Leukodystrophy (2003)
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 2001 Race - May 10, 2001, Thursday
The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
We are Going the Extra Mile..... The Extra 2,348 Miles to Find a Cure!
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May 10, 2001, Thursday, Day 6, Teams called in for a Safety check between 5 and 7 AM
Team Name Time Called River Mile Nearest City/State Estimated Position
Alaska MSC 7 AM Mile 1078 Aitken, MN 3rd, 4th or 5th
Amazons 6 AM 1078 Aitken, MN 3rd, 4th or 5th
Double Helix 6:20 AM Mile 929 Champion Dam Sartelle, MN 2nd
Kruger 7:15 AM Mile 925 last dam at Sauk Radids, MN 1st
Rebels 7:30 AM Mile 1078 Aitken, MN 3rd, 4th or 5th

​Updates/Comments Received for May 10, 2001, Thursday AM:
From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan

This morning is a little quieter on the paddling front than yesterday, in spite of the fact that tornados touched down in Northfield and Rice, MN--about 35 miles away from where the Double Helix Team was this morning. Never fear, they have "tornado tips" among their gear--and will be alert, aware, and take appropriate action if necessary.

Team locations this morning are as follows:

Team Alaska:
Kerm reported at 7:00 that his team was about a mile below Aitken, just preparing to start the day's paddle. They had spend about six hours sleeping near the town of Palisades last night and feel pretty good today.

Kerm said that the biologist-paddler among them (I forgot to ask which one he is, but will next time we talk) is really enjoying this trip, compiling a list of all the different types of birds they see along the way. Not realizing what a seriously scientific and thoroughly wonderful project he was engaged in, the Amazon team paddled by yesterday and yelled across the water, "Hey! What are you guys doing reading a magazine???" How funny!

Team Amazon:
Ah. . . Tony said they spent the night at a hotel in Aitken, complete with hot showers and soft beds, which must have both felt heavenly after five days on the river without either. At 6:00 a.m., Cynthia and Megan were just preparing to leave from river mile 1078.

Team Double Helix:
Andrew's voice--at 6:20--exuded energy, enthusiasm, and double the normal amount of "joy in living." It wasn't long before I found out why. Race Teams, hear this: Take out at the "SuperAmerica" station just below the Champion Dam at Sartelle and buy one of their blueberry muffins. Andrew had just eaten one this morning before we spoke and felt "on top of the world."
He said Clark and Kurt were just then in the process of portaging around some rapids, at river mile 929, about two miles below Champion Dam at Sartelle. (With those magical blueberry muffins, it should be a snap.) He urged all teams behind them to send their land crews out well ahead to scout out the rapids, as portaging them is quite a challenge.
All is well with the team now, though they had a very difficult portage yesterday at Blanchard Dam. Andrew said the water near the put-in was "roiling" with surf-like waves because of the high water, making it impossible to put in. So Clark and Kurt spent about an hour and a half on that portage, foraging through brush and barbed wire fences, before they finally found a safe spot to put in near a stream that emptied into the river. Even then, it was tough going getting back down to the water.

Team Kruger:
When Stan phoned at 7:15 he sounded tired, but was planning to rest soon. Verlen and Bob had just left from river mile 925, near the last dam at Sauk Rapids, so they and Team Double Helix are now very close.
I alerted all teams to the fact that there are thunderstorms, severe weather, and possible tornados developing again just to the south of them, though it doesn't look like they will be close enough by tonight to be affected by the upper edge of the front. According to the weather channel, yet another storm system is just to the west of Minnesota now and will be there in another day or so. We'll keep them posted.
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Team Rebels:
Eric called in at 7:30 to say that they were just preparing to leave from river mile 1278, near Aitken. They and the Amazons see each other frequently during the day and have enjoyed some nice companionship on the river. 
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May 10, 2001, Thursday, Day 6, Teams called in for a Safety Check between 5 and 7 PM
Team Name Time Called River Mile Nearest City/State Estimated Position
Alaska MSC 6:05 PM Brainerd Dam, MN 3rd or 4th
Amazons 5:45 PM Mile 995 Pot Luck Dam, Brainerd, MN 3rd or 4th
Double Helix 7:15 PM Mile 860 Near Hwy 694, Mpls, MN Tied 1st/2nd
Kruger time called Mile 860 Near Hwy 694, Mpls, MN Tied 1st/2nd
Rebels 6:28 PM Mile 1032 Crosby, MN 5th
Updates/Comments Received for May 10, 2001, 5-7 PM:
From Don Keller, Official Time Keeper

Team Alaska 6:05
Kerm called to say the team is trying to get across Brainard Dam. The lockmaster doesn't know anything about opening any gate for them, so they are going to use the standard portage. They will be overnighting at Crow Wing State Park

Team Amazons 5:45 River Miles 995
Tony said he is waiting for the paddlers below Brainard at Pot Lock Dam. They will overnight at Crow State Park

Team Double Helix 7:14 Near Highway 694
Andrew called to inform us they are with Team Kruger. Clark was being given a tour of the secrets of Kruger's boat Andrew said after a LONG six days of paddling, everyone is laughing and trying to unwind. I told Andrew about Team Alaska's not being able to get the lockmaster to open the gate. Andrew said if you can get the gate opened and get outside of 8 foot fence, the route is much easier than the portage. Since you can go around right next to the fence and put in at a nice sandy beach.

Team Kruger "3:45" Approx . Near Highway 694
Stan says they are stopping river right approx. 5 minutes before the Highway 694 and are being timed at the stopping point by an independent third party. The independent third party is a canoe shop owner/paddler Ken Ketterer. and accompanying witnessess. Stan is asking that all teams stop there to be clocked in, and that all teams be clocked out when they leave.

He also stated that if Double Helix does not stop there, he'll still have the independent party get a time as the Team goes by. He stated many times he doesn't know if this will effect the Guinness record, but feels that this is the only way to maintain the race among the Rett Race teams.

Team Rebels 6:28 River Miles 1032
Eric said they are pulling up for the night. A laundromat to wash and dry clothes is at the top of their list. They will be staying at a motel in Crosby
​
END OF SAFETY REPORT
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Webmaster/Mary Potter writes:

Team Kruger and Team Double Helix are forced off the water above St. Anthony's Falls by the Coast Guards because Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam is closed.   Both teams stop at Ketter's canoes.   Kent Spading (Team Double Helix, and employed at the Army Corp of Engineers) was able to find out it would open at 12 noon tomorrow (May 11).    Teams elected to wait rather than walk miles and miles in an attempt to portage.   Other sections of the river nearby may have been closed as well.    These teams are tied for first place.    

Webmaster/Mary Potter writes:   

Later I received this note from Elizabeth Tynan, our Safety Officer:  

From Elizabeth Tynan, 5/10/01
Due to Stan of team Kruger and Tony Swenson of Team Double Helix requests, I decided to notify the judges. At approx 4:05 PM CST on Thursday May 10, 2001 I, Don Keller left detailed voice mails for Jim Seymore and Hal Marshall.
Hal could not get in contact with Steve Landick or Jim Seymore and appointed Elizabeth Tynan (Safety Officer) and Don Keller (Official Time Keeper and "back up" Safety Officer) as reserve judges. The judges decided to take the time difference the teams arrived at Mile 860 into account for the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001.

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Note from Chairman and Founder after the Race (June 2001): 
This race is an unstaged and nonstop race, as indicated in Rules 1 and 2. All participants signed a rules agreement form prior to the race agreeing to all rules and safety program. Judges can not modify rules. The 3 judges selected can not be altered by anyone other than the Chairman. Therefore this decision is not valid. 

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Mary Potter/Webmaster/Event Organizer writes after the race - 
After visiting the Mississippi Headwaters in 1999, Clark and I sat at our kitchen table alone and discussed setting up this event as "The World's Longest Non Stop Kayak/Canoe Race" for Rett Syndrome, so that we could set a long platform to raise awareness of Rett Syndrome.   This is also why Clark hand built the Double Helix, which remains in a museum to this day.    We wanted to do something large and unique.   We wanted to run a one time event that we could permanently use as a platform to raise awareness of Rett Syndrome, a terrible disease that afflicts our daughter, Amanda.

We knew when we organized this race that there were longer races, but all of them were staged, or had a "stop clock" at certain locations.   We purposefully made sure our race was non stop so we could make the "World's Longest Nonstop River Race" claim, and do it for Rett Syndrome.  And  we did this via Rules 1 and 2.   Rule 1 states there is a specific start time and location for all teams.  Rule 2 states the race ends when you cross the finish line or May 31, 2001.   No exceptions are listed because there aren't any.   

During the race, as the webmaster (not by choice - every other one had quit), I tried to stay neutral and simply report things as they came in during the race to the best of my ability.   I didn't want to favor any team or person.    My primary source of information during the race on all the teams usually came  from  whoever took the safety calls - Jeffrey Pastir, me, Don Keller, Elizabeth Tynan and Steve Landick.    I received most safety updates in email format.   I did talk to Clark every day, but not for long, and not usually about other teams.    Years later,  I updated the site after the race to include other teams logs when I had them, or added in other information when it came to me.

Elizabeth was chosen and asked to be the Safety Officer specifically, and she was personally suggested to Clark either by the USCA or ACA (I can't recall which at this time).    Elizabeth's role and the Judges' roles and selections were critical to USCA and ACA sanctioning, and the insurance policy that was included in the sanctioning.       All teams had agreed to the rules, safety program and set officials prior to the race.   

When I received this "ruling" note from Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer, during the actual race, I was confused.   Several things did not make sense.     I knew Elizabeth wasn't a judge, nor was Don.   This wasn't a safety issue, and Don's position required an official time report at the beginning of the race and at the end of the race for each team, but no other time issue in between.   There is a no backup safety officer.   Judges can not appoint other judges nor any officer.  There was no emergency.   This was not even a safety issue.  And it was clear to me at least some folks hadn't read Rule 1 and 2.

I didn't want to argue with the Saftey Officer over a minor misunderstanding, or reduce any enthusiasm in the middle of the race.   I knew in the moment that we needed a Safety Officer so our race could continue unimpeded.   At this point during the race,  I put Elizabeth's note online as she wrote it,  as I did all her updates,  but listed Team Kruger and Team Double Helix as tied, 1st or 2nd in the chart at this time, correctly so.   

There was no forwarded email or statement by a judge ever produced on this issue.    I never heard verbally or in writing from any of the judges, including Steve Landick (Verlen's Kruger son in law and well known Mississippi River paddler), who was instrumental in writing the rules.   I leave the initial note/email from Elizabeth online today  for historical purposes only, even though it's outside the rules/organization of this race.  

For the record, Elizabeth Tynan (Safety Officer) and Don Keller (Official Time Keeper) were instrumental to this race, were both extremely generous and were working very hard, were very kind to me personally and did a great job in their roles as Safety Officer and Official Time Keeper.   To this day I appreciate their kindness and enthusiasm and help during this race.   We could not have completed it without them.   We couldn't have completed the race without all the people who helped so generously.    And of course, Stan Hanson was a great road crew captain - fierce, loyal, decisive, and highly protected of Verlen Kruger.   I'm grateful to the judges as well, and for our USCA and ACA sanctioning.  

Later, during the race when we had a Safety Issue, Elizabeth Tynan was clear and stalwart in her decision, and I appreciated that.   On May 15 and 16 she kept our teams safe when it was critical in the dark of night on a dangerous closed river.   She was sorely rallied against by some team members at that time but held her ground.   If you read through the logs on May 16, you can see why her decision may have saved some lives.    She was a great Safety Officer.  
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Webmaster/Mary Potter says - I don't have logs from every team, but I'll share what I have:

Team Kruger Log - By Bob Bradford, Enhanced by Stan Hanson, Monday, May 10, 2001
During early morning hours, our competitors, the Double Helix, had actually caught us and decided to portage six miles to avoid the rapids. When we put in at dawn, we were not aware that they had passed us. The rapids below the bridge were tricky and very fast, but after some difficulties, we made it safely. Afterwards, we found out that the Helix had actually some difficulties, we made it safely. Afterwards, we found  out that the Helix had actually seen us go by in the water while they were still on their portage. We keep the lead!
 
We arrived at St. Cloud Dam at 7:00 a.m., May 10, 2001. The portage was good, but the put-in was a 20-foot high slick, muddy bank. I remember the slide I took to the bottom with the canoe pushing against my head. Richard Lewis also remembers. He was a photographer taking pictures at the bottom. Below the dam was full of islands, but easy to pick the best line. I usually had a talent for doing that, but Verlen ALWAYS did.  
 
At Montissippi County Park, we beat our crew to the site. It was cool, so rather than wait, we ate some of the emergency food we were required to have with us at all times and started paddling again. At Elk River, our support team met us on river left, and we ate. They gave us the word that the river was closed in Minneapolis.  It was unknown when it would re-open.
 
At Coon Rapids, my friend and fellow canoe racer, Kjell Petterson met us and showed us where to portage.  Stan had more word on the closed river. The plan was for all racers to stop above St. Anthony's Falls at Ketter's Canoes. We would then have to wait for word from the Coast Guard.
 
 Kjell led us down to Ketter's place on river right. Kjell lives there and sells canoes for Ken Ketter. This was race day six, and I was about to get my first much needed shower. Such is the life of a marathon canoeist. Verlen and I also got a great dinner from Beth and Ken Ketter and Kjell. I took a one-hour nap.
 
My plan was to wake up and greet Clark and Kurt of the Helix when they arrived at Ketter's.

When Double Helix arrived 2 hours and 30 minutes later, they had to make a small repair on the bow of their beautiful cedar strip kayak. Ketter's had fiberglass and resin on hand to do that. I thought it was amazing that Double Helix only had one scuff mark on it after that trip. After a short talk, we went to bed in the trailer. 
End Team Kruger Log Monday, May 10, 2001

Amazons of the Mississippi Log - by Cynthia Belbin, Thursday May 10, 2001
Our best day. We paddled 84 miles today (134 km). This seemed to be exactly what we needed to get our spirits up. Megan was on fire. The GPS was working like a charm and we were able to use the flooding to our advantage with a couple shortcuts.

We had a fairly tough trek across the slower water of Rabbit Lake. We missed the current. We were warned about Potlatch Dam and we were very nervous approaching it. We decided we were in no condition to carry the boat up the riverbank and returned to the road and used Eric's 'wheels' - we scouted around a plant that had "No Trespassing' signs everywhere.

We returned to our boat and made our way through the streets of Brainerd (I never did get that T-shirt, ''Fargo'' is one of my favorite movies). This portage was a little less than a mile and we wasted 90 minutes scouting it out.

Once we got our boat back on the water Alaska had caught up to us. This was very discouraging. 12 miles more and we would call it a day, it was getting dark, we were pleased to have passed the eighty mile mark. We made camp at Crow Wing State Park, and decided that tomorrow we would try to go further than today. My hands were getting better but I was exhausted.

I had to force myself to take a shower and it ended up being a cold one...it was all downhill from there. 
​End of Team Amazons of the Mississippi Log,  Thursday, May 10, 2001
May 9, 2001 Wed
May 11, 2001 Fri




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