Trail Talk Adventure Racing Teams - Inte rested?

“From the conversation on a similar thread:

If you are interested in participating in an Adventure Racing Team with fellow Trail Talkesrs, here's your chance. There are Sprints that are 1 day events and longer races for 2 or more days.

What's involved?

Combinations of some or all of the following depending on the race:

Trekking
Trail Running
Kayaking
Mountain Biking
Orienteering
Fixed Rope
Mountaineering skills?
Surprise Challenges are usually involved between major activity phases.

Most events I've seen require that you have your own mountain bike, some provide inflatable kayaks. Some allow you to bring your own.

Sound like a challenge that you would enjoy preparing for??

I'm starting to look for an event that would involve trekking, orienteering, kayaking, mountain biking and fixed ropes. A sprint or 2 day. I'd like until the fall to train and prepare. Sept/Oct? A beginner team. Anyone else??”

“dhutch, i will check around to see what races are this fall.”

“I'd like to say I'd be ready for something like this by the fall, but it prolly ain't likely. Keep me in mind for next year, k?”

“I'm in.”

“I'm too old. You kids have fun.”

“Sounds like something I'd like to do, but I don't know if I'm up to it yet, either. Let me see how the spring training goes...”

“Keep me in mind for next year ¦ ) .”

“I would do it if I could get my hands on a competitive bike on the cheap. I can be competitive in all the other skills except the biking. I use to ride cross country for years, but I have never done off road. If there is a bike for sale out there, let me know and I am in. I need a big bike, I am 6'6. Email me, EClajus@GCCC.com”

“I would love to do it but I am suffering from severe financial constraints. I do have a barely passable mountain bike. But for AR, even just the entry fees can be steep. Let me know where and when, and I'll see if I can pull it off.”

“Birch - Thanks. What about Sass?? Is she interested?

Walkindude - You're too what????

Bigpoppa - How big of a bike. I'm looking for bikes myself and will keep an eye out. There must be a lot of people out their with mountain bikes that now don't use them. Sort of like my golf clubs last year;)”

“[I love it when you call me big pop-pa]
Throw your hands in the air, if youse a true player
[I love it when you call me big pop-pa]
To the honies gettin money playin niggaz like dummies
[I love it when you call me big pop-pa]
If you got a gun up in your waist please don't shoot up the place
Cause I see some ladies tonight who should be havin my baby
Bay-bee”

“I do not know how they measure for off road bikes? What ever the biggest frame they make and then I will raise the seat.”

“You (dhutch and Big Poppa) should be able to get a very good bike for about $500. I got a trek 4900 last year for that price. Its not top shelp by any means but it does have quality components. Shop around, you may be surprised.

BTW there is an Adventure racing expo in Grand Rapids on june 21 this year.”

“Wait a minute. If this is the TT Adventure racing team shouldn't Matt foot the bill? If Matt buys me a new mountain bike, I am in.”

“I'd be interested in checking out the Grand Rapids expo. Are you going?

Thanks for the bike tips.

Just starting back outside conditioning I'm running 2-3 miles a day with "long" runs of 4 miles once a weekend. It won't take long to work up from there. I plan to add a lunch hour or two per week at the gym working on strength. With my hectic schedule for the rest of April, I'll plan to start running trails some weekends at Island Lake and Silver Lake in May. By May I should also be able to get the bike and will probably ride at Kensington for a while before taking that to the trails. By June I hope to be stacking the bike and trail running workouts and take the basic kayaking class. With backpacking in between that should get me in decent condition and I can work on skills from June on. How does that sound for a plan??”

“Sounds like a great plan to me dhutch. I went to moosejaw today and go some new gear (I love a 3% raise retro-active to july 1 of last year.) got a salomon raid pack (very cool lots of nice touches) and some salomon AMP hibian mesh racing/water shoes.BTW if you Join the Southern Michigan Adventure Club smacworld.com you get 10% off of moosejaw (instore only).

The trails at Island lake are wonderful to run. Just get out there at 8am when they open to beat the mtn bikers,or just run the opposite direction as the bikes to avoid collisions.”

“Cool Birch. I'll join. Looked at their website the other day. I'm watching their calendar already for clinics and stuff. I'll look for info on that Grand Rapids deal and maybe we can make a road trip of it. Camp up there or something? Sass and the little one coming along? I've yet to meet the sapling.

Yeah Island lake is about 3 miles from my house. You're right about getting there early. Even running the opposite way is a challenge due to the many narrow portions of the trails. Just got back from my long run with Shanedog. I'm sure he's not even tired. Plus, I know I hold him back speed-wise. lol

Going to ride my horse. He needs exercise and training too. This race is going to be just like many other summer weekend days for me! Going, going, going.”

“It sounds fun keep me in the loop!

8)”

“This is the loop Crazy. :-)”

“Oh ok!!!!


COOLNESS!!!!

8)”

“dhutch, I hope Sass and the sapling can go to GR too. We'll talk about a carpool, no sense takin two cars...”

“Hi,

My name is Tarp Rat...

I have been on this board since it began... I started many a thread and helped many people with choosing the right gear (TNF). And I left the board in 2001 because many of the threads became racist after 9-11 and I felt that I no longer wanted to associate with these people. I recently came back and started to voice my opinions about the current crisis in Iraq. I know many people disagree with me, and that's fine! However, I should be allowed to state my views just as everyone else. I was recently banned from the board, my IP disabled. I was told this was because of my off-topic posting, but this is a false claim because the threads I was posting to were completely off topic and unrelated to backpacking in the first place. I just wanted to say that this is unfair. Have a nice day… and let the games begin!

;-o”

“Anyone interested in this race?

http://www.s-t-w.org/Adventure%20Racing.htm

I'm relocating to Augusta and that will be in my figurative backyard. $-6 hr novice division and 12-15 hr advanced division.”

“That is the format I was thinking of. Were you thinking the long race or the short? Not sure about September, will have to check the calendar and logistics. SC is quite a distance from Michigan. October is probably better for me.

Check out the link to AR and then the Calendar to look at this one also

The Raging Russell
"Dawn-2-Dusk"
16 - 20 hour format”

“October 4-5, 2003
The 3rd Annual Raging Russell Adventure Race
Cornelia, GA
16-20 hour "dusk to dawn" format that covers 70-75 miles of US Forest Service terrain in the Northeast Georgia mountains. The race includes trekking/orienteering, mountain biking, paddling, and "mystery events." Cash awards to the top 3 person teams in the Co-ed, All-male and All-female categories, plus "king of the hill" prizes to teams with the fastest splits on select legs of the race. Cost is $270 per team. Limited to the first 50 teams that enter. Suports the United Way of Habersham county. Download a race application at:

www.ragingrussell.com

what do you think (got this from the USARA.com site)”

“Both those races sound great! I dont have lots of vacation time though, got to keep the travel down to a minimum. There are some longer races in Mi this fall also.”

“MileMonster, welcome to Augusta! When are you coming over to the "dark side"?”

“I'm sort of with you Birch. I have two weeklong trips planned. Tetons and Isle Royale. That with a couple of family long weekend commitments will have me fairly close to home or flying. Depending on good fares, has anyone flown with a bike before. I know I'm asking for it with that one, but really.”

“dhutch, I would not advise flying your bike anywhere. As a former cargo handler for an airline it is not safe.

MM, I will send you an email regarding some race stuff.”

“September 27
Long Sprint Race
Michigan Adventure Racing Championship
Pinckney Recreation Area
Near Ann Arbor, MI
New this year - we'll end the season with an 8-12 hour race in one of Michigan's favorite outdoor recreation areas. This race is a qualifier for the USARA's Adventure Racing National Championships scheduled for November in California. The top three teams in the 3 person division will qualify, and the winning team will receive a $500 sponsorship to the nationals.”

“Birch == That sounds reaaal good! I didn't see it on SMACWORLD or USARA - where can I get details?

Thanks for the travel tip.”

“Check out Outdoorathelete.com for more info Dhutch.

Mile Monster, I tried to email ya but it was returned, drop me a line my adress is on my profile.”

“Good races listed. Now to just coordinate.

Birch - dunno why your mail was returned. That's the right e-mail. I'll send you something.

Skullcap - Augusta bound late June, early July. Is that your stomping grounds? Can Augusta handle more than one TT'er?”

“Yeah, Tilt claims to wander about this area at random also. Be forewarned, you will be coming down during the hottest, muggiest, ugliest season of the year for this area. Try not to pre-judge on your first impressions. And welcome aboard, there's always room for a TT'er!”

“Can you elaborate on baggage handlers vs. bikes? Is there a container out there that would work well or do you just suggest to never travel with a bike?”

“Mediaman, there are a few options for flying your bike.
1) Get insurance on it and hope for the best.
2) By a rigid plastic case for it, they are pricey but are indestructable.

For added protection 3M (i think anyway) makes a product called a "shockwatch". Its a clear plastic bubble whose interior is covered with a clear adhesive. The bottom of the bubble is filled with colored sand or omething like it. If the freight is dropped,knocked over or otherwise abused the colored sand is shken which caues it to adhere to the sticky film. The shipper is then responsible for damage (make them sign for the liability).”

“Interested parties may want to take a look at the new National Geographic Adventure. I haven't gotten my copy yet, but got a glimpse on the news stand and there's a cover story on adventure racing.”

“would this be multi-day adventure racing or that pansy 1-day triathlon stuff that's so popular now?”

“tarbubblebaby, its shorter (sprint and single day ) races. Before you call them "pansy" I suggest you do some homework...

Doing a 55mile race in 11 hrs isnt pansy in my book but hey I aint you.”

“poison ivy resurfaced, eh' Birch?”

“hmmm, havent heard from bunny boiler in a while have we?”

“only kiddin', birch. i just like the idea of the multi-day events better, that's all. best of luck.”

“I agree that multi-day events present a much larger challenge. I would love to race a full expedition race one day but untill then shorter ones will have to do.

thanks for the well wishes”

“I know there's a specific thread out there somewhere about this, but just a reminder to interested parties that the Eco-Challenge Fiji is being broadcast next week on USA Mon-Wed 10-11pm EST, Thurs 9-11. This is May 5-9th. It should be inspirational.

How is everybody's training going? I don't know about you but I need a lot! Running alot for now, hoping to get my kayak and bike over the weekend and get started on those very soon!”

“I did a "training" race last weekend. I was put with two other "new" guys, one of whom turned out to be very slow. So it was 10 hours of relaxed paddling, biking, trekking, and more biking. A little frustrating, but still fun.

There is another training race, this one overnight, coming up in June, in upstate PA, if anyone is interested. We will start at 10pm and finish in time for breakfast. A good way to learn about navigating and moving at night.”

“Cool Fritz. Was that your first event? Did they throw in the extra challenges between disciplines? If so what types? I think I am more worried about those than the main running/paddling/biking sections.”

“Sounds like it was an interesting race Fritz. I would love to race with ya in june, lemme know when it is I will see what I can do.

Just under two months for my big race. I cannot wait. I feel stonger than ever and my endurance hasnt been better.”

“i've been trining alot altely for the post-hole digging competition....”

“The last training race had no "special challenges."

I forgot to mention that we did do a rock climb/rappel at a rock gym.

Here's what I know about the next one, Birch...keep in mind this is primarily "training" not "race."

Following the highly-sucessful "Suburban" training
race, it's time for our second training race,"The End
to Glen". For those of you new to the group, a quick
preview. The End to Glen traditionally starts at 10pm
on a Friday night in World's End State Park. The
course traverses Sullivan County by way of World's
End, Wyoming State Forest, State Game Lands #13 and
Rickett's Glen State Park. It usually takes 10-12
hours to complete and finishes at the campground
showers in Rickett's Glen. We then drive to the
closest breakfast joint. Disciplines include trekking,
biking, navigation, hike-a-bike and lots of hills.

I'd like to get a feel for the intrest level for this
race, so please respond with answers to some
questions...

1. There are 2 weekends to choose from, June 14-15 and
June 21-22. Which would be better for you?

2. Which would be better for you, a
FridayPM-SaturdayAM race or a SaturdayPM-SundayAM
race?

3. Does the fact that this race occurs overnight
discourage you from trying it?

I welcome any feedback, and we'll try to arrange this
so as many people as possible can aprticipate.”

“How do you guys that are in a suburban environment train? I can run all day and not run out of sidewalk, but there's nowhere close to run on trail type terrain. Same thing with the bike. Do you just work on endurance and hope for the best when you actually get on the race course, or are you just fortunate enough to have trails near enough to train on regularly?”