The Toad and Tadpole 2009 Race Updates
This page contains the information from both race updates that were recently e-mailed to registered teams. Please ensure that all of your teammates see this information. The following contains various details about the race that you may find helpful. As is tradition in adventure racing, the full details about the course won't be revealed until you check in and receive your maps.
UPDATE #2...
ORIENTEERING MEET
East Fork State Park is also hosting an orienteering meet on Saturday. When you arrive to check in, make sure you go to the adventure racing check in and not the orienteering check in! The adventure racing check-in should be obvious as we'll be in the large shelter by the beach and you'll probably see a bunch of canoes/kayaks and mountain bikes. This will mostly affect the Tadpole racers as the orienteering meet starts in the late morning and continues to mid-afternoon.
WAIVERS
If possible, please print the race waiver (HERE) and bring it with you to race check in. It will speed up check-in for you and the rest of the teams.
KNIFE
We've decided to change the "knife with locking blade" to mandatory TEAM gear rather than INDIVIDUAL gear. This means that you'll only need to carry one per team (rather than one per person). The gear list (http://www.topoadventuresports.org/2009toadgear.html) has been updated to reflect this change.
UPDATE #1...
REGISTRATION AND START/FINISH LOCATION
The registration and start/finish will be at the East Fork State Park beach. Plan to enter the park at the southern entrance (off of State Road 125) and follow signs to the Beach. A general map of the park can be found here (and the start/finish is at the only labeled beach on the map -- on the southern shore of the lake): HERE. Alternatively, you can get directions from Google by entering your starting address HERE. When driving to the park, make sure to not follow signs to the northern entrance of the park. Instead, make sure to take the southern entrance off of State Road 125.
CANOE RENTALS
For teams renting canoes, the rentals will include paddles and pfds. As a reminder, the canoes only have two seats. So, teams of three -- plan to bring a small stool, bucket, and/or knee pads if you want your center person to ride in relative comfort. The following is the list of teams who have requested canoes as part of their registration. If there is an error in this list, please let us know ASAP by replying to this e-mail.
TADPOLE:
- Pierogi Patrol- Old Farts
- Team in Trouble
- Double A
- Old Rookies
- Backseat Drivers
TOAD
- Ridin Dirty- Son Better Keep Up
Also, for solos, we have a kayak reserved for team Climbing Clark in the Toad.
REQUIRED GEAR
Please review the required gear list (HERE) and plan to carry the gear with you at all times during the race. If you have any questions about the gear, ask now, not on raceday.
BRIGHT ORANGE MATERIAL
There will be hunters in the park this weekend. For your safety, we've required teams to have at least 1 square foot of bright orange material visible on your clothing or pack during the biking and trekking sections of the race.
SWIM!!! (Toad Racers Only)
For racers in the Toad, be prepared to carry your PFD with you on the trekking section of the race. There is an optional swim (200m or less) as part of the orienteering section. The orienteering course can be completed without swimming, but skipping the swimming will add a sizeable distance to the course. Knowing that you'll probably swim (and, as a result, get wet), we highly recommend bringing a change of clothes for after (and possibly during) the race. Also, it might be a good idea to bring a dry bag to keep the contents of your pack dry during the swim (thick trash bags also do a good job most of the time).
RACEDAY SCHEDULE
Teams will receive their maps when checking in. The control points are pre-marked (no plotting is required).
TADPOLE
Check-in: 11:00 AM - 12:45 PM (you will receive your race maps when you check in)
Pre-Race Briefing: 12:45PM
Race START: 1:45 PM
Race Cutoff: 5:45 PM
Post-Race Festivities: 5:45 PM - 6:30 PM
TOAD
Check-in: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM (you will receive your race maps when you check in)
Pre-Race Briefing: 9:00AM
Race START: 10:00 AM
Race Cutoff: 6:00 PM
Post-Race Festivities: 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM