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Hang In For Fun

Written by Daveid Herpy

hang in for fun Adventure racing is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the world. In fact, adventure racing has grown so much that college textbooks about this sport are being published for use in parks and recreation management programs, as well as physical education professional programs in universities across the United States.

The popularity of adventure racing is readily apparent through popular reality TV shows such as “The Amazing Race.”

According to Topo Adventure Sports, an adventure sports community in and around Ohio, adventure racing is a sport in which teams must navigate a course of checkpoints using various non-motorized means. Races usually are held in wilderness settings, with traditional events include mountain biking, canoeing and trekking.

Navigation is accomplished through the use of a compass and topographic maps. The route choice between checkpoints usually is not specified, meaning that teams generally are free to choose their path from one checkpoint to another. Because of this navigational aspect, successful adventure racers aren’t always the fastest and fittest teams, but the teams that minimize mistakes, navigate efficiently and make good decisions on the course.

Several adventure racing organizations in central and southern Ohio organize and promote adventure racing, including Central Ohio Adventure Racing (www.race-coar.com), Not So Fast Adventurers (www.nsfadventures.com) and Topo Adventure Sports (www.topoadventuresports.org).

There are numerous adventure races in central and southern Ohio, but a new Crooked River Adventure Race Series was established in Portage County this year and features three races as part of this series: Portage Park District’s Headwaters Adventure Race in Mantua in July, Kent Parks and Recreation’s Black Squirrel Adventure Triathlon in Kent in August and Kent State University Adventure Center’s Brady’s Leap Adventure Race in Kent in October. For more information about any of these three races, search Google by the name of each race.

While adventure races vary in length, discipline and format, the following events are the top five adventure races in the region, including Ohio and surrounding states. These top five races were recommended by Brad Lohiser of Painesville, an avid adventure racer who has competed in all lengths of adventure races in numerous states. As a seasoned adventure racer, these are his top five picks below:

Central Ohio Adventure Racing

What: HWAR (Hueston Woods Adventure Race) 4-Hour Beginners’ Race

When: May 1

Where: Hueston Woods State Park, College Corner (near Miami University)

Why: The most popular format is the four-hour beginners’ race. This race is untimed so you can finish at your own pace. Enjoy racing in a smaller park where you can have a lot of fun and not get lost. The racing distances are shorter than in later races.

For more information: www.race-coar.com

Southern Michigan Adventure Club (SMAC)

What: SMAC AR10

When: Date TBD (SMAC AR09 was July 18)

Where: Highland Recreation Area, White Lake, Mich.

Why: Highland Recreation Area was the location of this year’s race. This location offers 5,900 acres of forest marshes and lakes. Terrain includes trails to accommodate mountain bikers and trekking, as well as several lakes. Highland Recreation Area includes all of southern Michigan’s principal forest types, including swamp cedar beech-maple forest oak-hickory as well as mixed hardwood forest. This natural resource has remained largely undisturbed and has retained its natural character.

For more information: www.smacworld.com/new

D.I.N.O. (Do Indiana Off-road)

What: MISSION 18-Hour Adventure Race

When: Date TBD (2009 race was May 16)

Where: Traditionally held in Indiana, but this year will be at Camp KYSOC/General Butler State Park, Ky.

Why: In its seventh year, the MISSION moves to a new location by crossing the border, jumping the river and heading south to Carrollton, Ky., just across the river from Madison and Vevay, Ind.
This challenging, 18-hour race fits in the gap between sprint and 24-hour racing.

For more information: www.dinoseries.com/mission.html

Flying Squirrel Adventures

What: 48-Hour Sheltowee Extreme II Adventure Race

When: Sept. 10-12

Where: Daniel Boone National Forest, Ky.

Why: Regional qualifying race for the 2010 USARA National Championships

For more information: www.sheltoweeextreme.com

American Adventure Sports

What: 25-Hour Lionheart
Adventure Race

When: Aug. 7-8

Where: Ohiopyle State Park, Pa. (start/finish and transition at Wilderness Voyageurs)

Why: U.S. Adventure Racing Association (USARA) qualifier and sixth running

For more information: americanadventuresports.com/lionheart.htm

Adventure Editor Dave Herpy is the outdoor adventure and camp coordinator for the Department of Recreational Services and adjunct faculty in the recreation, park and tourism management program at Kent State University.

Fashion for Fitness

Written by Stacy Rhea

Who says you can’t be fashionable while running? You can, and local running AND CYCLING STORES share their choices for winter fashion.

Craft ProZero Baselayer » The core of Craft’s elite layering system, ProZero fabric adheres to your body like a second skin. Featuring internal air channel construction, warm body heat is allowed to escape before it turns into sweat, keeping you drier longer. ProZero’s signature fit is achieved through a circular knitting process that allows for most garments to have seamless torsos and a high-stretch, nonrestrictive fit.

Giving Unselfishly

Written by Stacy Rhea

The gift of giving doesn’t always have to be wrapped with pretty paper and topped with a bow. A smile of acknowledgement, a gesture of support or accompanying a loved one to the starting line of a race is a powerful gift of support and kindness. These gifts go a long way, and I would like to acknowledge those who give unselfishly.

In the past year, I have met several people who give to others, in various forms, for various reasons. Each time I meet someone who gives unselfishly, it makes my heart smile.

For the past three years, a good friend of mine, Andrea, has supported Team in Training by coaching and volunteering on Saturdays, rain or shine, to help others prepare for the event, which raises awareness and money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Season of Cyclocross

Written by Brian Lennon

The leaves are turning bright colors and falling from the trees. A cool breeze is warning that it’s time to pull a sweater from your closet. Summer is over, but cyclocross season is just beginning. It’s the time of year when road racers, mountain bike racers, triathletes and casual cyclists meet at venues just a short drive from home to share their love of riding bikes. It’s a kind of annual family reunion for the cycling community. § Cyclocross takes the skills required in just about every discipline of bike racing — and then some — and combines them into an event that may look just plain silly to spectators, but is one of the most enjoyable and popular styles of bike racing going right now.

A cyclocross course is typically 1-2 miles long and contains a wide mix of terrain from pavement to dirt trails, grassy fields, sand and mud. The course will have several obstacles that require a rider to dismount from his/her bike such as wooden barriers, railroad ties, steps or steep hill climbs. It’s like a steeplechase for bikes. Almost any small park can be used by a creative organizer to construct an interesting and challenging cyclocross course.

Women and the great outdoors

Written by David Herpy

You’ve probably heard of the book “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.” This may also be true when it comes to outdoor recreational activities. Women differ from men in many different ways, especially from a physical standpoint. Women are shorter and less muscular than men, which has its advantages when participating in certain outdoor recreational activities.

Through my personal and professional experiences in the field of outdoor recreation, I have noticed that women tend to be better than men as beginners in certain activities, specifically climbing and kayaking. The reason is that women don’t try to muscle their way up a wall or roll a kayak. Instead, women use finesse and technique, which works very well and makes for a much better success rate.

Most people think of climbing as a sport of complete strength. However, while climbing requires a good amount of upper-body strength, technique is just as important. The best climbers are not the strongest athletes in the gym. Rather, they possess good technique such as footwork and movement on the wall. Females tend to be better beginning climbers than males. The reason being is that females climb more gracefully up the wall, and males tend to muscle their way up.