Tales from TA: The USARA Blog

Update on 2021 Nationals - COVID procedures

7/28/2021

Over the last eighteen months, as we have all been hoping and waiting for a return for normalcy, adventure racing has served as an anchor for so many of us. With the dissemination of vaccines and the encouraging numbers we’ve all experienced since the spring, we at USARA have been looking to the 2021 National Championship as an opportunity to bring together our community and celebrate our ability to do the thing that we all love, with the people we love doing it with.

We are still eagerly anticipating this year’s nationals in Cable, Wisconsin, but in light of the surge of the Delta variant in the US and the rapid return to more stringent regulations, we write now to share with you our plans to host a safe event and to mitigate the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19 for the entire AR community: racers, volunteers, families, and the communities we’ll be visiting in our travels and on the course.

First, we are committed to following local, state, and federal guidelines. As we all remember from earlier stages of the pandemic, the landscape of these regulations, recommendations, and healthcare realities can change very rapidly, and we anticipate that the situation will look different in September than it does today. At this point, erring toward the likelihood of additional restrictions in six weeks rather than fewer, we are currently considering the following:

1. General Safety: We are returning to and reexamining the “COVID Best Practices” that we developed earlier in the pandemic.

2. Masking: Yesterday, the CDC recommended a return to indoor masking in regions of the country where COVID rates are above a certain threshold. Bayfield County, Wisconsin (where Cable is located) is in one of those areas, as are approximately two-thirds of the counties in the United States. Because we have racers traveling to Cable from across the country, including from areas that the CDC has deemed “surging,” we anticipate requiring CDC-compliant masks for all indoor race-related activities, for all volunteers, participants, and their families. As you will see on the gear list, now published on the nationals website, masks will be required gear for all racers.

3. Registration: Weather permitting, we will conduct as much of the race-related logistics as possible outside.

4. Checkpoints: We will be using e-punches for the event, which reduce direct physical contact between teams.

5. Post-race: We are currently exploring a variety of alternatives to our traditional post-race banquet. As much as we would love to bring everyone together for an extended celebration, indoor dining for three hundred people is not possible with the new, and likely evolving, guidelines. If the numbers start trending in a positive direction and we can all gather inside, we see that as a good problem to have, and we will respond accordingly. At this point, however, we are considering the following options:

Hosting a banquet outside, weather permitting, earlier in the day, when temperatures should be more forgiving, at which we will offer a meal and announce podium finishers and other awards.
In the event of inclement weather, we will gather podium teams in an indoor space for either a short, masked event or a live-streamed award ceremony.
If we are unable to gather together for a meal, we will provide boxed food for all racers after the event.

While we cannot provide a definitive timeline for these adjusted plans, we anticipate the day ending earlier than in past years with these adjustments, likely between 4:00 and 5:00PM. This will be true regardless of the nature of the post-race festivities. We share this now so that you can plan your travel accordingly. We will provide a more definitive timeline ASAP.

6. Vaccines. Some racers have already asked about vaccination mandates, either for the race or the post-race banquet. At this point, we do not plan to enforce such a policy, because we want the event to be as inclusive as possible. However, it is plausible that new local, state, or federal guidelines may require us to do so by September.

7.Refunds. Racers have already shared with us that some employers are considering new travel restrictions. In the event that you are not able to come to nationals for COVID-related reasons, please reach out to us at info@usara.com and we will work with you on accommodations.

As always, please take care of yourselves. Our priority, first and foremost, is our community’s health and the health and well-being of our friends and families. The race is secondary to that. That said, we are still incredible excited to see you all in Cable this fall, and we hope everyone will do everything possible to stay heathy and safe between now and then so that we can come together and enjoy what is shaping up to be an outstanding course. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

update on 2021 nationals from usara executive director mike garrison

7/13/2021

I know there have been some questions about qualification for the USARA national championship this year, so I wanted to reach out to share a status update on the qualification and registration process.

The new USARA leadership team decided early in our tenure to revise the qualification procedures to better reflect a team’s performance throughout an entire season, emphasizing their holistic performance rather than how they may do at any given race. Though we know that the new process will not make everyone happy, and that there may still be a few wrinkles to iron out, we believe that the updated plan will ensure that the National Championship brings together a geographically diverse field of the top teams across the nation, while also creating the space for one of the things that we all love about our sport: the ability for teams at all levels to line up at the start and commemorate the end of another season of adventuring together.

We also knew going into this year that the 2021 qualification standards would be complicated, because we would have to balance rollover entries for the abbreviated and uneven 2020 season with those teams qualifying via the new procedures that USARA established for 2021.

Qualification for the 2021 National ChampionshiP

To accommodate both of those groups - and the various nuances within each - we have divided the 100-team capacity the following ways:

30 slots have been reserved for 2020 rollovers. Teams have until Saturday 7/17 to accept those invitations.
After the rollover deadline expires:
- 50% of the remaining entries will be offered to the top-ranked mixed teams, based on the USARA points series rankings
- 10% of the remaining entries will be offered to the top-ranked single-gender teams (10% to all-male teams and 10% to all-female teams)
- 10% of slots will be reserved for the USARA Nationals Committee, comprised of me, Stephanie Ross, and Mari Chandler, to award at their discretion.
- 20% of slots are reserved for teams who have not qualified in the rankings - first come/first serve once we open registration widely. Any spot not claimed through the above mechanisms will be added to this 20%.
The top ten mixed teams as of September 1 will receive a 50% discount on their entry, paid for by USARA.

Timeline for Invitations and Registration ProcesS

Here is where we stand now on qualifications and registrations, as of 7/13.

The top thirty mixed teams and top five single-gender teams have received invitations to Nationals.
We will invite the remaining ranked teams on July 23, and teams will have one week to claim their entries.
On August 1 at 12:00pm EST, we will open registration widely, and any open spots will be available on a first-come/first-serve basis.
When teams register, they will be required to pay $450, or 50% of the entry fee. On September 1, all teams except for the top ten mixed teams will receive an invoice for the remaining balance.

Discretionary SlotS

We anticipate having roughly eight discretionary slots available. If your team will not qualify based on the 2020 rollover or 2021 rankings and you believe that you should be at the 2021 National Championship for any reason, please reach out to me no later than July 23. In your email, please include your team name, anticipated Nationals roster, and the reason that you should earn a discretionary slot. The Nationals Committee will meet the following week to determine how to extend these discretionary invites, before open registration widely.

Facebook live Q&A

I recognize that this is a lot of information to distill and that there are a lot of new details to take in. I will be holding a Facebook Live Q&A, specifically on the Nationals qualification and registration process, on Wednesday, July 21 at 8:30pm EST. Please log onto the USARA facebook page then to participate. I will address any questions that come in by email there as well. The video will live on our facebook page and will be available to watch after the fact.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we transition to a new qualification structure while still contending with the residual effects of the challenging 2020 season. As always, I’m available to talk through any concerns you may have, about nationals, USARA, or adventure racing more broadly.

And stay tuned for exciting information about the 2022 national championship!

Mike Garrison
USARA Executive Director

New to ar: picking a race

7/6/2021

By Brent Freedland

Picking an event, especially as a less experienced adventure racer, can be a bit daunting. Because adventure races rely on navigation, details about individual races are often kept secret by race directors until a week or so before the start, and much of the course information is not revealed until racers are at check-in or even out on the course. While this dearth of information can be difficult to adapt to, there are several ways racers can learn about a given race, a specific race director (RD), or what to expect out on the course.

First and foremost, understand that when you pick a race, you are really picking an RD. Unlike sports such as marathons and triathlons, there is very little standardization in the sport of adventure racing, and races reflect the personal philosophies, passions, preferences, and creativity of the RD. Some RDs focus on biking, others on foot travel. Some design races that only require basic or intermediate navigation, others challenge the best navigators in the sport. Some set out to serve up the most physically challenging courses they can while others focus on creativity and strategy.

Even then, many RDs are forced to adapt to land conditions or what local land managers will allow, so races can feel very different year to year, especially if a race organization involves different course designers. Additionally, a particular race organization may approach each of their events very differently, depending on their target audience. Considering all of this, newer racers who are not familiar with the different styles and reputations of a given RD may want to do a bit more research before picking the event that is right for them or, more importantly, the event that is right for their team. Here are some thoughts to get you started:

The RD explains the checkpoint flags in a pre-race meeting. Photo by Dan Singer.

TOP 7 TIPS FOR PICKING THE RIGHT ADVENTURE RACE FOR YOU

As discussed in our New to AR Series, exploring the USARA-hosted CALENDARS and identifying potential races that fit your schedule is step number one. Especially if you are thinking about longer races (twelve hours or more), consider keeping your options open and looking a bit further afield geographically. Many adventure racers travel several hours to race since AR is not as common as other endurance sports. The best race for you might not necessarily be the closest one.
Look closely at the race WEBSITE. Does the RD provide details on what you can expect? Are there any hints on whether the race is suitable for beginners, how technical the terrain might be, or how the RD accommodates newer racers if it’s a more challenging event? Typically, a short sprint race (six hours or less) will be accessible to all; it might not be easy, but it should be manageable for most if not all beginners. Longer races tend to be designed with more experienced racers in mind, but many RDs do consciously plan alternative routes or checkpoints with novice racers in mind.
EMAIL the RD with your questions. Most RDs will not provide specific details, but they may be able to clarify how appropriate the event is for your team or answer questions that will help you better assess whether it’s the right event for you.
Of course, RDs also want you to come to their race, and understandably they will be very encouraging most of the time. With this in mind, it is wise to do some additional RESEARCH. Many racers write and publish race reports on personal blogs, social media, and networking sites like AttackPoint. Mark Lattanzi also hosts a library of race reports. It is not exhaustive, so a google search may still help turn up something helpful, but it is a comprehensive and user-friendly starting point. Keep in mind that adventure racers are a very positive group; even when an event might not go according to plan, racers are reluctant to be too critical of an event or an RD. That said, you should be able to learn about the race and the RD’s approach.
NETWORK. The single best way to get information about a race is to talk to other racers in person. If you are thinking of doing another event or weren’t thrilled by your initial experiences, ask a more seasoned racer. Experienced racers will likely know, anecdotally at least but more likely from first-hand experience, what a given RD's strengths and weaknesses are, what their philosophy is on course design, and how they run their events. Racers are also more likely to be a bit more honest about the pros and cons of a given event in person rather than in a public written report. Try to get multiple opinions, and consider that the perspective of a top racer “clearing the course” versus a newer racer doing a shortened version of a course may be completely different. So, reach out, in person or via email. Adventure racers love to chat and help newer racers get into the sport.
ATTENDANCE. Attendance tells part of the story, but be aware that it’s not always the best measure of a race. Sometimes, a race has a big field because it’s the only event nearby, and local racers who don’t travel for racing may return to the same event every year. Some of the best races and race directors have historically had smaller fields of teams. At the same time, big fields can and do sometimes indicate a popular, well-run event.
The single best piece of advice is to sample different events from different RDs. Adventure racing is a unique sport in that races can feel so very different. What might excite one racer at a particular event may not engage another, but both events may be outstanding in their own way. Whether you loved your first race or hated it, consider giving the sport another try with a different RD. Odds are good that if you were tempted into trying an adventure race, the sport IS for you even if you may not find every race to be what you are looking for!

A 2-person co-ed team paddles with their bikes during an adventure race. Photo by Jake Trost.

Inclusion in adventure racing

3/26/2021

On Wednesday, May 19 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT, USARA will host a public discussion on equity in, and access to, adventure racing. With this, we aim to begin a community-wide conversation about the current state of inclusion in the sport, and where we can go from here.

This discussion will be facilitated by diversity and inclusion educator Yi Shun Lai, and will bring together Kevin Hodder, race director for Eco-Challenge; Clifton Lyles, captain of Team Onyx and chair of the USARA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force; and Stephanie Ross, founder of the Women in Adventure Racing campaign.

We invite you to join us — to listen, to learn, to ask questions, and to offer feedback. We invite you to come together to ensure that our beloved sport is a welcoming space for everyone who wants to take part, and that it continues to grow.

Part of the great appeal of adventure racing is its intimacy and the ways in which it allows us to gather around shared experiences. These experiences are precious moments; they become the best stories, keep us coming back for more, and ultimately provide an escape from the “real world.”

But as much as AR is an escape, it also exists within the social, political, and economic challenges facing our nation and the world around us. Our membership is not immune to these challenges.

The tragic shootings in Georgia last week only underscore the need for all of us to look more closely at the part we can play in alleviating the pain that inequity can cause. USARA also takes this moment to affirm our commitment to fighting the entrenched systemic racism, xenophobia, and misogyny that creates inequitable systems.

Adventure racers relish the discomfort we face in training and racing. We are a community well equipped for embracing the challenge of addressing the structural barriers to access and entry to our sport. Ultimately, this work will ensure its growth and sustainability for generations of racers to come.

New to AR: Time to Race

2/28/2021

By Brent Freedland

It’s race week! You've put in the hard work and training. You've built your team or found one to join. You’ve done your homework, dusted off your navigation skills, filled in holes in your gear inventory, and learned some new skills on the bike and in the boat. Now, you need to get to the start line, which experienced racers often joke is the hardest part of the event. When competing in a multi-day international expedition race, this does ring true, but for a short race, just focus on getting some rest, basic logistics, and paying attention to your email.

Photo Credit: Jeff O'Connor

Race Week

Packing
While most racers inevitably end up staying up too late the night before a race - packing gear, sorting food, and dealing with last minute items around the house - you can always strive to be more efficient. Start packing early in the week. Gather all your gear and make sure you aren’t missing something. Organize and plan your food for efficient race-day nutrition. It’s deflating to be halfway through a race only to realize you forgot to pack the protein-rich bar, shot blocks, jerky, electrolytes, or wrap that will help you bounce back if you hit a wall. Having everything ready to go so you can just relax and get to bed at a reasonable time the night or two before race day will do you wonders.

Fuel
Likewise, make sure you are eating well, getting enough protein, and hydrating. As noted last week, nutrition is its own beast, and food is so individual. That said, hydration is universal. Along with sleep, hydration is a core building block for more energy, strength, flexibility, and mental fitness, so it stands to reason that focusing on these two pillars will set you up for more success in a sport that requires focus and positive energy.

Rest
Extra rest will likely help you feel better on race day, but so will some light week-of training. Some racers do nothing the week of the race, but this is rarely beneficial for your body. You don’t need to do anything crazy, but even an hour or two (cumulative across the week) of light biking or running to keep your muscles loose will help on race day. Going cold turkey is a recipe for less-than-optimal performance, as your muscles take longer to warm up and might not at all.

Pre-Race Communication
Finally, pay close attention to pre-race communications from RDs. Make sure you know where you are going, when registration opens, whether you need to drop gear off somewhere other than the start location. Fill out paperwork in advance if you can. Being on top of these logistics will expedite your morning leading up to start-time. For new racers, your first races may be quite overwhelming, so being prepared before race day will remove unnecessary stress.

In addition, RDs often provide important instructions and hints in these pre-race communications. They may provide a course overview specifying how long the stages are, how many of them you can expect, what the conditions might be like, etc... This sort of information allows you to better pack your gear and potentially break down your nutrition ahead of time. If you can pack a gear bin for TAs or stage out of a car, you can plan how you will organize and organize your gear, nutrition, and fluids. You can better select what clothes to wear on race day (hint: if an RD warns you against thick, thorny undergrowth, consider bringing some long pants; if they caution against ticks or other unusually bad bugs, bring some bug spray; if they note cold water, be prepared with warmer clothing). In short, pay attention to the hints your RD offers; they typically have inside knowledge of what you will see!

Bottom line: On race morning, look around. I guarantee you will see other racers and teams spending tens of minutes organizing gear, repacking food, or floundering with a disorganized pile of gear and food. This isn’t a criticism, and sometimes even the most experienced teams will lose time with these sorts of concerns. But if you show up on race day organized and prepared, you’ll have more time to work with your maps, strategize, warm up, and perhaps even relax.

Photo Credit: Randy Ericksen

Race Day

OK, hopefully, you live close enough to roll out of bed and hit the road at a reasonable hour, but do know that many racers end up camping or crashing in a cheap hotel the night before a race, since many ARs (especially races twelve hours or longer) require travel to more remote locations. Either way, set your clock early enough to give yourself time to wake up, grab some food, finish loading up the car if you didn’t pack it the night before, and get to registration on time. It always takes longer than you think it will, so maybe set the alarm fifteen minutes earlier than you want to!

On that note: if an RD tells you that pre-race is open from 6AM to 8AM, show up at 6AM. Maybe even 5:45AM. Too many new racers roll in late during registration. The race may not start until 8:30AM, but that extra time before the gun goes off is crucial to maximizing your prep time. If you care about competition, a team with an extra hour to study maps, plot routes, strategize, and dial in their gear will have a massive advantage over a team with only fifteen minutes to complete an hour or prep. If you don’t care about competition, you are considerably more likely to have a smooth and enjoyable race if you maximize your planning time. Starting the race unsure of where the start line is, where your food is stored, or whether you have the right gear in your pack will probably result in a disastrous moment or three that might really impact your ability to enjoy or even finish the race.

What do pre-race events typically look like?

On a basic level, you need to complete registration if it wasn’t done electronically.
You’ll need to fill out waivers.
If the event is a USARA-affiliated event, you may need to pay a day-license fee ($8 unless you are a member, in which case there would be no additional fee). This fee helps support USARA’s work to promote the sport of adventure racing while supporting racers and RDs alike, and it also guarantees a personal insurance package for that event.
While some RDs like to wait until after the race, most give out swag to racers at registration.
Racers usually are given some combination of maps, instructions, passports, and other race-related materials during registration. This is the crucial thing: when you get this material, you’ll want to be ready to dive into it, so make sure you have as much time as possible to study the maps, read and comprehend the instructions, and prepare your race documents to keep them dry and safe.
In addition, you will likely be given instructions on where to drop off gear or where to “stage” your equipment. In longer events, you may be dropping your bike and bike gear off with volunteers. Sometimes, you will be driving your bike gear to a bike-drop. More often, you will turn your bike in and RDs will transport them for you. You may also need to turn in a gear bin and/or a paddle bag. Pay attention to these details; sometimes RDs will notify you about such details before the race; again, pay attention to those pre-race emails! In sprint races, you will likely be staging your gear out of a car, or there may be a central location where you can organize your gear for transitions. Bring a tarp, maybe a folding table, and some camp chairs if you want a more “comfortable” TA.

Picture Credit: Vlad Bukalo

A few other tips for pre-race:

Some RDs post maps in public spaces, and sometimes you need to copy information from them onto your own maps. It’s a bummer when you miss those course notes and addendums.
RDs work hard to scout races, but sometimes things change and it’s too late to update maps. In these cases, RDs tend to post map amendments or alterations to the instructions. Pay attention to these postings and take note. Pens are often on the mandatory gear list. If they aren’t, bring one. (Hint: if you think everything is in order but then notice a group of racers all crowding around a wall or a table, there’s a good chance you missed something. Often, they are transposing important information onto their maps or notes. Go check it out.)
If you are racing in a sprint race with a central transition where the race starts, scope out the area. See if there is access to water, look for a good location for a staging area if you can’t use your car or if your car doesn’t make sense, and feel free to study a park map if posted. Generally, the woods are “closed” pre-race, but public maps are fair game (note: some RDs allow racers to use “outside maps,” maps not provided by the RD, during the event. Others do not. Make sure you look for these rules as using outside maps when not permitted can result in disqualification. That said, before the race starts, typically you can feel free to look at whatever is available).
Most RDs run a pre-race briefing. Make sure you know what time that begins and where it is happening, and be there. If you aren’t sure about it, ask.
Once you've studied the maps, instructions, and clues, if you have questions, find an RD and ask. Be aware that most volunteers won’t know much if anything about the course, and they are usually not qualified to answer course/race-specific questions. You can ask, but it’s always better to ask an RD. If a volunteer tries to be helpful but gives you inaccurate information, it’s not the volunteer’s fault and you will be held responsible if you break a printed or stated rule. Ask the RD. Before the race or during the pre-race briefing. Ask the RD.

Other Articles in the New to AR Series:
If you haven't already, like or follow USARA's Facebook page, join the AR Discussion Group, sign up for our newsletter, or consider becoming a USARA member to stay up to date on everything AR-related. This concludes our "New to AR" series, but keep an eye on our blog, social media sites, and website as we continue to produce new content for new racers and also those who have been racing for decades.

How to Get Started
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Terminology - Glossary
Skills and Training - Foot and Bike
Skills and Training - Paddling, Navigation, and More
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