Neck of the Woods Adventure Race

WHAT: The Inaugural “Neck of the Woods” Adventure Race (5-hour). Solo or teams of up to 4 persons (1,2,3 or 4 on a team)

WHEN

October 26th, 2024 0700 mandatory pre-race briefing, 0730 launch time, must finish by 1230

WHERE

Launch/Finish at Hopewell High School

COST

$20/person

This adventure race will be like a scavenger hunt on bike and on foot (no paddle/swim/water section). The checkpoints you find earn you points. The team with the most points in the least amount of time wins. You can choose to go all out and get every checkpoint OR you can just get the mandatory checkpoints OR you can get as many as you want. There is a 5-hour time limit. There is no set route. There is no sequence to the checkpoints. You decide your route and manage your own time. This can be by yourself, with your family, your friends, your coworkers, etc (teams of 1-4).

Mandatory Supplies for each racer: Bike, Bike Helmet, blinking rear bike light, Food/Nutrition, Water. Mandatory Team Supplies carried at all times: Compass, Phone (waterproof container), Pen/Sharpie.

Distances are approximate and depend on your race strategy. However, teams that make it to every checkpoint and bonus point with no navigation errors should plan on about 30 miles of biking and 10-12 miles of trekking. The minimum distance if you only get the mandatory checkpoints is about 14-15 miles of biking and 5 miles of trekking. The miles are not continuous as the race has separate sections and you are constantly navigating and renegotiating routes.

You will be responsible for your own nutrition and hydration throughout the race. There will be a transition area with water and Gatorade, but will obviously not be accessible while you are out hunting for checkpoints.

The bike sections are mostly paved roads. There are no single track (mountain bike trails) as part of this race. There are gravel roads. In other words, a gravel bike or mountain bike would work best. However, if you only have a road bike or even a beach cruiser, you can participate in this race. Helmets and blinking bike lights are required while on the bikes.

There are always race day surprises as part of the fun, but here are a couple hints to the day. There will be more than one map. You will have to earn each of your maps at different times throughout the race. Some of the farther checkpoints marked as “bonus” will have descriptions of possible bonus points you can find close by.

TRAINING TIPS

Get some miles on the bike you will be using for the race. Get some foot miles on a trails or gravel paths. On your training rides and runs, carry the pack you will use for water and nutrition at the event. Practice transitioning from miles on a bike to miles on foot and vice versa. Know how to read a compass (i.e. If the instructions say “head Eastwardly,” you should know how to head in that general direction).

REGISTRATION ENDS 10/24. REGISTER BY 10/10 TO GUARANTEE A T-SHIRT.