A Relay Adventure Race?

Rob / 29.07.2003

And now for something completely different – a relay adventure race. ‘The Ambush’ is a new kind of race dreamt up by the American Bushwhacking Club, and it might catch on. As they say, “its kind of a wacky idea, but then again ... why be normal?”

The way it works is that the first team member goes out for the first lap, which consists of biking, paddling and trail running. This takes about 90 minutes and they return to hands over to team member 2, who rides a different course to a mystery event followed by some orienteering - taking about an hour. Team member 3 goes out for yet another different loop, and on and on it goes ….. for 24 hours. Meanwhile, back at the base camp there is food and drink, music, hanging out and socialising with other racers.

They are pitching it as a great training exercise for teams (and allowing team entries where everyone does everything) or a way to get involved and have a go. They are even allowing solos, which would make it an extreme race. It sounds like an AR mix of rogaining on the pattern of 24 hour mtb marathons, and unless you know better, we’ve never heard of anything quite like it before.
(The club do organise rogaines and even ‘multigaines’ and ‘hike-a-bike’ supergains’. Sounds like they are an imaginative group!)

The race is due to take place in the Scioto Trail State Forest, Ohio on the weekend of August 2/3rd, and they’ve promised, ”you can expect to be anything from annoyed to tortured as we try and see what you\'re really made of. Be forewarned that competitors\' safety notwithstanding, we will do all we can to throw you off your stride.”

More information is on their website.