Race Results!

I apologize for the delay in posting the results.  Thanks to all the racers, volunteers, and sponsors for helping us to make our inaugural race a success!  We hope that you will all be back for next year's race.  You'll need lights!  That's right, next year we are planning on a night race 10-12 hrs on an all new course! 

With no further delay.....here are the results!


1st place overall---- Rage Against the Cutoff  finished with a time of 5 hrs 2 mins 

1st place 3-person co-ed---- Spanky D'Banky finished with a time of 5 hrs 53 mins

1st place 2-person co-ed----  Team Infidel finished with a time of 6 hrs 2 mins

2 person same gender
1st---Rage Against the Cutoff 5:02 hrs
2nd---Namron's Boys 6:13 hrs
3rd---Run Rabbit Run  6:58 hrs (missed 1 CP)
4th---Whimsical Wanderers 7:44 hrs (missed 6 CPs)
5th---The Other Two  7:24 hrs (missed 8 CPs)

2 person co-ed
1st--Team Infidel 6:02 hrs
2nd--(tie)--Two Plus Two 6:25 hrs
2nd--(tie)--Team P'Lot 6:25 hrs
4th--Team Awesome 5:44 hrs (missed 14 CPs)

3 person co-ed
1st--Spanky D'Banky 5:53 hrs
2nd--Tardy Rooster 5:58 hrs
3rd--Team Triple A 5:44 hrs (missed 14 CPs)

Race Update!

It's been a SUPER BUSY week with race preparations!  We ran in to a roadblock and had one of our land owners back out on us at the last minute.  Fortunately, we've managed to find alternate locations for the start/finish and also the orienteering section.  As far as the start/finish location, originally the start/finish was going to be Page Park in Dixon, by the band shell.  The new location is Reynoldswood Christian Camp on the west end of Dixon.  We are excited to be able to use the property and they have truly been a "race saver!"  I will be posting directions soon so stay tuned!

We had more rain this week which means if things stay as they are, the river should be moving pretty good!  We paddled the boat section this past weekend and it was really flowing! 

We will keep you updated as we get closer to the race!  Looking forward to a great race!

Update!

We have decided to keep online registration open until this Friday, June 10 at midnight.  As noted in an earlier post, we will allow late registrations until June21st, but we can't guarantee t-shirts for late registrants.  After the 10th, email us your team's information and bring your entry fee and USARA fee on race day.

Earlier this evening we toured some property that we are hoping that we will be able to include in the race.  If all works out as we are hoping, it will provide us with some pretty cool trails for a portion of the bike section! 

If you haven't already, GET YOUR TEAM REGISTERED TODAY!

Registration Ends Wednesday!

If you are still thinking about registering, NOW IS THE TIME!  Online registration will close at midnight on Wednesday, June 8th.  We will still accept late registrations, but we can't guarantee we will be able to get shirts ordered and printed after the 8th.  Our entry fee of $60 per racers (teams of 2 or 3) will be one of the least expensive races you going to find this year!  Entry fee includes your teams boat, t-shirts, some pretty good swag from our sponsors, a post-race dinner, and some door prizes!  There will be plenty of biking around the Sauk Valley area and some wicked bushwhacking on the O-course.  We might even throw a surprise or two in the race!  DON'T WAIT!  GET YOUR TEAM TOGETHER AND ENTER TODAY!

Clinic scheduled

For anyone who is new to the sport of adventure racing and wants to learn about it and basic navigation prior to the race, one of our sponsors, Paddle & Trail of Loves Park, IL, (who is providing the boats for the race), is hosting a clinic next Sunday, May 22nd at 10:00 A.M. We will be going over what adventure racing is about, some of our team's past experiences. We will also be going over basic navigation and plotting maps using UTM coordinates.

If you are interested, please email us ASAP so we know how many people will be attending. We will also have registration forms there for teams who wish to register for the race on June 25th as well.

Interest in navigation clinic?

For those that may be new to the sport of adventure racing, I am considering having an "Adventure Racing 101/navigation" clinic sometime prior to the race.  It would most likely be on a Saturday morning.  We will discuss what adventure racing is, basic navigation using topographical maps (like the ones you will use for the race) and plotting UTM coordinates.  After the "classroom" instruction, we would go out and do some navigation field practice.  If you are interested in attending, please drop me an e-mail ASAP so I can get something scheduled.  There would be a nominal fee ($5) to cover the costs of maps and supplies.

Estimated distances

A number of people have asked if we could post the estimated distances for each section.  Keep in mind these are only a rough estimate and will depend on each teams navigation.

Paddling:  4-6 miles
Biking:     20-30 miles
Trekking:  6-10 miles
Trail run:   2-3 miles

Plotting CPs with UTM coordinates

We thought it might be a good idea to throw a couple of good websites out there for rookie teams that might not be familiar with UTM coordinates or how to plot them. 

http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/

http://www.archronicles.com/3001.html

http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/475/PMS475_chap6b.pdf

The maps you will be using for the majority of the race will be 1:24000 scale.  This is the scale most common for navigation in adventure races.  This will be the scale that teams will use to plot the CPs (5 or less.)  A 1:24000 scale UTM grid tool will be provided to each team.  The trekking/orienteering section will be using 1:15000 scale but no CPs in this section will have to be plotted.  Feel free to use the forum for questions on plotting.

Race Accomodations

There are 2 hotels in Dixon, the Super 8 and the Comfort Inn.  Both are located just off Interstate 88 on the south side of Dixon and are a few minutes drive from the race start location.

There are also a few hotels located in Rock Falls which is about 15 miles SW of Dixon.  These are also located just off the interstate.
There are a number of nearby state parks that offer camping for a reasonable fee.  The nearest is White Pines State Park.  White Pines is about 15-20 minutes from the race start.

Mandatory Gear List

Biking Section

·         Mountain Bike

·         Spare Inner Tube (1 per person)

·         Tire pump (1 per team)

·         Bike Tool (1 per team)

·         Bike Helmet

Canoeing Section

·         PFD (USGS Approved Type III) per person

·         Paddle (canoe or kayak)

Gear to be carried at ALL times by all team members:

·         Hydration system – 70 oz. minimum

·         Folding Knife

·         Water resistant jacket

·         Whistle

·         Lighter or waterproof matches

·         Emergency Blanket

·         Backpack sized to fit mandatory gear

Gear to be carried at ALL times by ONE person:

·         (2) 4”x4” gauze pads

·         Roll of ½” medical tape or duct tape

·         3” Ace Bandage

·         (2) Safety pins

·         (10) Anti-inflammatory tablets (Ibuprofen)

·         Cell phone

·         Waterproof case for cell phone

·         (2) Compasses

·         Waterproof Map Case

Recommended gear:

·         Long pants or tights for trekking

·         Hat

·         Bug spray

·         Bike gloves

·         Sunglasses or safety glasses

·         Sunscreen

·         Change of clothes

·         Rain gear

Boats will be provided. 

Tentative Race Schedule

Tentative Race Schedule:    June 25, 2011

5:30 A.M.     Race Check-in  (Located by the band shell in Page Park Dixon, IL near Dixon High School)

7:15 A.M.     Pre-Race Briefing

8:00 A.M.     Race Start

4:00 P.M.     Race Cut-off (All teams must be off race course)

5:00 P.M.     Post-Race Dinner, Prizes, & Awards

Registration update!

Online registration is now available!  Teams can now register online at http://www.getmeregistered.com/.  clicking on the image will take you to the registration page on their website.  This is a secure site and should be easier to register.  If you would rather mail your payment, fill out, then print out the registration form and mail it to us along with your payment. 

Registrations by mail should be sent to:  Matt Moore
                                                            Team Dragon AZ
                                                            122 N. Metcalf Ave.
                                                            Amboy, IL 61310
(Make checks payable to Matt Moore)




Corrections!

Two corrections. 

First, please disregard the link for the registration page.  We are currently working with Get Me
Registered to offer online registration for the race.

Second, due to a scheduling error, the race date has been changed.  The new date is Saturday, June 25, 2011.  The race will begin at 8 AM in Dixon, IL near the band shell in Page Park. 

The gear list and tentative race schedule should be on this site sometime this weekend.