{"id":212,"date":"2007-01-22T19:30:28","date_gmt":"2007-01-23T00:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/2007\/01\/22\/2007-dc-area-cycling-adventure-racing\/"},"modified":"2007-01-22T19:35:10","modified_gmt":"2007-01-23T00:35:10","slug":"2007-dc-area-cycling-adventure-racing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/2007\/01\/22\/2007-dc-area-cycling-adventure-racing\/","title":{"rendered":"2007 DC Area Cycling & Adventure Racing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last year I waited entirely too long to actually take a look at all the regional and sport calendars or put some thought into what I really wanted to accomplish.<\/span><\/p>\n

So over the past couple of weeks, I’ve put together calender to help me and a few friends figure out what we wanted to do this year. As I look at it, though, I realize that it might be useful to other people in the region. So I’m throwing it up here.<\/span><\/p>\n

This listing is not at all comprehensive – it’s just a list of DC area cycling or amateur athletic events that I either want to participate in or go just go watch. If you’re in the DC area, I hope that you’ll give it a read and see if something catches your interest, either as a competitor or spectator. A fair number of the events listed book up pretty quickly, and lots of them seem to open for registration on January 22.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just FYI, it’s a list that makes me seem far more ambitious or in shape than I really am. I won’t be a competitive threat to anyone in any of these events. Except, perhaps, for the Lanterne Rouge<\/span><\/a>. I just aim to finish and have fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The calendar is broken down into events for which the date has been set, and events for which the date has yet to be announced. Also, if you’re reading this any day but January 22, 2007, please note that this information could be out of date.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dates Certain<\/u>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Quicksilver Winter Solstice Series<\/span><\/strong> February 24 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d March 3 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d March 10 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d March 17
\nSterling, VA
\nThis is a road race\/crit – 1.2 mile course, the race being as many laps as possible in 30 min (for my class, anyway). I’m going to try and hit at least a couple of these, to get actual racing starts exp. under my belt (and on my USCF license) in a pretty low pressure environment. See <\/span>here<\/a><\/span> for more info. <\/span><\/p>\n

Greenhorn Adventure Race<\/span><\/strong> – April 15, 2007
\nPrince William Forest Park – Triangle, VA
\nThis is a “Short Sprint Adventure Race”. Which 12-16 miles in 2-4 hours, by means of trekking, paddling, and mountain biking. People compete in teams of three, in Co-Ed, Female, Male, Masters (combined age of 120+) divisions. I’ll be competing. More info <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leesburg Bakers Dozen –<\/span><\/strong> April 21, 2007
\nLeesburg, VA
\nThe Leesburg Bakers Dozen is a 13+ hour MTB race held on a private farm overlooking the Potomac. Course will consist of 7-9 mile laps on rolling farmland. Open to single racers and teams of two and three. I’d love to go watch\/take pictures of this one, but I hope to be at the Tour de Georgia in person (watching!), that weekend. More <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greenbrier Challenge<\/span><\/strong> – April 29, 2007
\nGreenbriar State Park, MD
\nA mountain bike racing schedule that draws many participants – and this year, it has gained UCI sanction, so I expect it will draw an even more impressive crowd than in the past. This is all beyond my abilities, so I hope to go watch and shoot it. More info <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Worldgate Super Sprint Triathlon<\/span><\/strong> – April 29, 2007
\nHerndon, VA
\nA 300 yard swim (indoor pool), 17.8 mile bike (using the W&OD trail – what’s up with that?), and a 2 mile run. This even might even tempt me, but there’s the problem of this ridiculous 6am start . . . More info <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

12 Hours of Lodi Farm<\/span><\/strong> – May 6, 2007
\nFredericksburg, VA
\nAnother 12 hr race, one of the bigger in the area. If others wanted to make it into a three person relay, I’d be up for it. Otherwise, I think I might just volunteer to help. More info <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Rocky Gap<\/span><\/strong> – May 19, 2007
\nRocky Gap State Park,MD
\nYes, the “Sprint Adventure Race” that made me into an <\/span>ADVENTURE RACER, COMPLETE WITH T-SHIRT TO PROVE IT<\/a><\/span>. Heh. As with last year, it’s 18-24 miles in 3-6 hours. Segments involve “trekking, paddling, mountain biking, [&] navigation.” Between understanding my mistakes of last year (following bad navigators, instead of judging the checkpoint location ourselves), improving my readiness (I’ll actually run this time! Well, mostly.), and not completely fucking my ankle up in the first 15 minutes, I think we can do better this year. I think I’ll be doing this with the same team as last year, with D, T & me reprising our roles in Team Whine & Cheese. More info <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Power Sprint Triathlon<\/span><\/strong> – June 3, 2007
\nGlen Allen, VA
\nThis race consists of a 300 meter pool swim, 20k bike and 5k run. The race takes place at and around the Shady Grove YMCA and Fitness Center in Glen Allen, Virginia (Richmond). The swim is in a 25 meter indoor pool. The bike is rolling, 20k or 12 miles through Henrico\/Hanover\/Goochland counties. Unless they’re quite serious about this “power sprint” thing, it looks like a good first triathlon. I may try this one myself. More <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

XTERRA East Championship<\/span><\/strong> – June 16, 2007
\nRichmond, VA
\nBig triathlon, swimming in the James River, and <\/span>a full weekend of activities<\/a><\/span>. On this calendar just as an FYI sort of thing – I’d definitely check it out, if I wasn’t set on doing this:<\/span><\/p>\n

City Bikes RFK Criterium<\/span><\/strong> – June 17, 2007
\nWashington, DC
\nThis is DC proper\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only professional bike race. This annual event races around RFK Stadium\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s old grand prix course. Along with Categories 1-5 racing, WABA is sponsoring an open course fun ride at 1:30pm. I’ve watched it a couple of years now, and it’s always enjoyable – the race location makes it very easy to follow the action. Pictures from <\/span>last year<\/a><\/span>. Also, note that it has been moved to June – that should make for a much cooler spectating experience than its previous August runnings. Registration <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

12 Hours of Cranky Monkey Mountain Bike Relay<\/span><\/strong> – June 24, 2007
\nQuantico Marine Corps Base – Quantico, VA
\nThe 12 Hours of Cranky Monkey Mountain Bike Relay will challenge solo racers and teams of 2 or 3 as they complete as many 10-mile laps as possible in a 12 hour period, from 8am-8pm. As with Lodi, I’d be interested in making this a three person relay. Otherwise, I’m probably just going to watch\/volunteer. More <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Philadelphia Women’s Triathlon<\/span><\/strong> – July 8, 2007
\nPhiladelphia, PA
\nI may be supporting at least one racer for this event, a sprint distance (750m swim, 17 mile bike, 5K run) triathlon. More <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>. <\/span>Race report<\/a><\/span> from a competitor, last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

XTERRA Rocky Gap<\/span><\/strong> – July 15, 2007
\nRocky Gap State Park, MD
\nThis is one of two XTERRA qualifiers in the area (the other being in Richmond). You can either do the “Off-Road Triathlon”, which is “.75 miles swimming, 14 miles mountain biking, [and] 5 miles trail running” as a solo or in team of two or three. Or you can skip the water and opt for the “Off-Road Duathlon” which gives you “3 miles trail running, 14 miles mountain biking, [and] 5 miles trail running.” This option is for solo racers or teams of two. The class of competitors here are probably beyond what I should get involved with, but I’d like to do it some day. More <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>. Perhaps next year, as I should be in Richmond this day. Doing what? <\/span><\/p>\n

Muddy Buddy<\/span><\/strong> – July 15, 2007
\nRichmond, VA
\nThe name is pretty descriptive. The race features a 6-7 mile course with 5 obstacles. From the web site: “At the start of the race, 1 team member will run & one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, & begin running. The runner will arrive & complete the obstacle, then find their bike & begin riding. Teams will continue trading off & leapfrogging each other thru the entire course. At the end of the race, racers will crawl through the infamous Mud Pit & then cross the finish line together!” And, as I understand it, a fair number of competitors do it in costume – it more a fun excuse to go out and be a kid on a giant playground than anything else. More <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>. Registration fills up quickly – register by Feb 15th for the lowest price ($115 for the team of two. Strikes me as a bit steep, though).<\/span><\/p>\n

Cranky Monkey MTB Racing Series<\/span><\/strong> – July\/August 2007
\nSuburban Virginia
\nThis is a four part mountain bike race series held out at Wakefield & Quantico. More info <\/span>here<\/a><\/span>. I participated last year, and plan to do it again, for at least the Wakefield portions. This is the schedule:<\/span><\/p>\n