Adventure Racing
Shenandoah
EPIC
April 17, 2021
Back for its 9th year and ready to be stupendous. This tried and true Epic 24-hour AR will test your biking, paddling, trekking, and navigation skills as you explore George Washington National Forest and surrounding areas. Join soloists and teams of two, three, and four taking on the outdoors to the extreme.
Included:
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Live tracking with instant leaderboard
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ePunch timing for fast, accurate results
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Waterproof maps, two sets per team
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Post-race food
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Sweet SWAG
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Boats
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USARA qualifier
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24 hours of racing through some of the most beautiful, rugged, and tough terrain on the East Coast at a perfect time of year
Join us for one of our favorite races, and put your skills to the test for a full 24 hours of hard-core racing.
Racers will have 24 hours to cover up to 100 miles via kayak/canoe, foot, and mountain bike over rugged and beautiful terrain, picking up checkpoints along the way in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in the spring. You'll tackle 25-35 miles of trekking, 16 miles of paddling on the Shenandoah River, and about 50-60 miles of mountain biking on some uh-mazing trails. You'll feel challenged for sure, but you'll have a great time doing it...and that finish-line feeling? Come feel it for yourself!
Description
Race Start/Finish:
Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center
2239 Camp Roosevelt Rd, Fort Valley, VA 22652
The start and finish area is at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center located in the heart of Fort Valley and the George Washington National Forest.
Location
Soloist
Two-person team
Three- or Four-person team
Categories
16 miles of river paddling
25-35 miles of trekking
50-60 miles of mountain biking
Distance
Super early registration is $220.00 per team member & $250 for soloists until December 31, 2019
Early registration is $250 per team member & $275 for soloists until January 31, 2020
Regular registration is $275 per team member & $300 for soloists until February 28, 2021
Late registration is $300.00 per team member & $325 for soloists until close at midnight April 12, 2021.
An additional $8 race day fee (or proof of USARA membership) is required by USARA and can be paid on race day or during online registration.
Fees
Friday, April 16, 2021
Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center
2239 Camp Roosevelt Rd, Fort Valley, VA 22652
4:00 pm-8:00 pm: Packet pickup and map distribution
6:00 pm-7:00 pm: Optional dinner
Location TBD
4:00 pm-10:00 pm - Bike Drop
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center
2239 Camp Roosevelt Rd, Fort Valley, VA 22652
7:00 am-8:45 am: Transition setup
9:00 am: Race Start
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center
2239 Camp Roosevelt Rd, Fort Valley, VA 22652
9:00 am: Race finishes
9:30 am: Post-race food and awards ceremony
Schedule
Friday, April 16, 2021
2239 Camp Roosevelt Rd, Fort Valley, VA 22652
4:00 pm-8:00 pm: Packet pickup and map distribution
6:00 pm-7:00 pm: Optional dinner
During packet pickup the team captain must be present, all forms must be completed for every team member, and fees must be paid for USARA membership if necessary. If you do not have all the forms for all team members, we will not give you your race packet until we have them in hand. During packet pickup, you will receive maps, rules of travel, ePunch, and race numbers. USARA fees of $8 for a one-day race membership, $35 for a yearly membership, or proof of USARA membership are required and can be paid at packet pickup. Participants younger than age 16 do not need to pay for the USARA membership but they still need to complete the USARA waiver.
Packet Pickup
The heart of a great event is its volunteers. If you have a passion for helping out and are interested in volunteering, we'd love to have you join the fun! Click here to sign up as a volunteer.
Volunteer
Supplied Gear
Canoes, paddles, PFDs, race maps, race passport, ePunch, GPS Tracker, rules of travel.
Mandatory Gear
Mandatory gear will not be checked during check-in. Random checks on gear will be performed during the race. Penalty points will be assessed for any missing items. These items are not all inclusive of items you will need to complete the race. You will be out in the elements for up to 24 hours. Bring other equipment as appropriate to get through the event.
At all times during the race each racer must have in their possession the following equipment unless otherwise stated in the rules of travel:
Pack to carry gear
Enough food for replenishment
Hydration system (hydration pack, water bottle, etc. with capacity to carry at least 2 liters)
Headlamp with extra batteries
Whistle
Knife with minimum 2.5-inch blade
Emergency blanket or bag
1 long-sleeve wool blend or other type of insulated top (no cotton)
Fleece/wool hat
Waterproof jacket
Closed-toe shoes must be worn during the entire race (no bare feet or open-toe sandals)
While biking each racer additionally must have:
Bike
Helmet (CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL certified)
Rear light (must be capable of blinking)
Front light with enough battery power to last 12 hours.
While paddling each racer additionally must have:
PFD Class III non-inflatable (provided by Adventure Enablers)
Per team:
ePunch (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
GPS tracker ((Provided by Adventure Enablers)
Race maps (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
Rules of Travel (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
General Race Rules (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
Compass
Lighter
Fully charged cell phone in watertight bag
Dry bag or method of keeping equipment dry in the event of bad weather and during the canoe section
Bike tool kit and at least one spare bike tube
Emergency First Aid kit – Teams may use the Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight 0.7 or build their own kit as long as the kit contains the following listed required contents. (8) 2x2 or 3x3 sterile dressing, (2) 3x4 non adherent sterile dressing, (1) conforming gauze bandage, (4) 1x3 adhesive bandage, (3) knuckle adhesive bandage, (1) tape ½”x 10 yards, (1) swift wrap elastic bandage, (8) 200-mg ibuprofen, (2) antihistamine (Diphenhydramine), (2) afterbite sting relief, (1) moleskin, (5) towelettes, (3) antibiotic ointment, (1) tincture of benzoin, (3) butterfly closure bandage, (2) pair nitrile gloves, (1) tweezer,(3) safety pins, (1) duct tape.
Gear
Boats will be provided. Two-person and three-person teams will get one canoe. Four-person teams will get two canoes. Soloists will get a kayak. Canoes will come with single-blade paddles. Kayaks will come with double-bladed paddles. PFDs will also be supplied. No outside canoes or kayaks are permitted. Outside paddles and PFDs are permitted. Canoes, paddles, and PFDs will be located at the canoe put in. You will not need to portage the canoe for any great distance, and you will not need to carry paddles or PFDs when you are not on the paddle section. If you bring your own PFD and paddle you will not need to transport them. Personal PFDs must be class III (non-inflatable).
Paddle Section
Any style of bike is permitted. Racers must use the same bike throughout the entire race. In the event of mechanical failures, replacement parts can be used but they must be provided by the team, other racers, or an event official. No outside assistance is allowed. Bikes will not be checked for mechanical worthiness, but we recommend your bike be in good working order. The course contains a mix of gravel road, smooth single track, technical single track, and hike-a-bike. Choose your ride wisely. Front suspension is highly recommended. Full suspension will be quite nice to have.
Bike Section
There will be multiple tranistion locations along the course. Logistics and transition staging will be released closer to the race date.
Transitions
Teams will be provided with maps to complete the course. Maps will be at 1:30,000 and 1:24,000 scale. Checkpoints will be pre-plotted. Additional maps can be used at the discretion of the racers.
Maps
Prizes will go to the top-3 finishers in each division.
Solo Male & Female
2 Person Male, Female, & Coed
3/4 Person Male, Female, & Coed
Awards
Looking for things to do or a place to eat while you or your fans are in town? Check out our handy-dandy guide to our hometown!
Lodging:
There are various lodging options available at Carolina Furnace, the start and finish location of the event. Options include cabins and camping. Chose your lodging option during registration or click on manage your registration in the navigation bar above and look for the add-on on under Manage Registration.
Lodging & Things to Do
A post race breakfast will be served at Carolina Furnace to help you refuel after your 24-hours in the woods.
Post Race Food
We'll have a photographer on course trying to catch you wincing, smiling with mud on your teeth, or trying to read a map folded to the size of a postage stamp.
Photos
USARA one-day membership and USARA release form (Must be completed by all racers before race packets are distributed to the team)
All racers will be required to purchase a race-day USARA membership for $8.00, already have a valid USARA membership, or purchase a 1-year membership ($35). Please bring exact change or check. Under 16 year olds do not need to pay for the USARA membership but they still need to complete the USARA waiver.
