Calleva Race Video and Markoff’s Haunted Forest Update

Greetings racers.
Fall is here and cold weather erases memories of hot and humid Calleva Race day. Here is short reminder of 10 hours of running, biking and paddling you had this summer. Good way to feel the excitement once again and to get ready for the next year race. Mark your calendar for August 4th, 2013. We are already in full swing of preparations for the next year.



Meanwhile, if you want to get warm in this cold weather, the famous Markoff’s Haunted Forest is open. Some of you had been brave enough to punch the aqueduct CP at this year race, have won free Haunted Forest tickets. Now it’s the time to use them. The Forest is open every weekend in October.



Come in costume and join the walkers as they invade our farm & forest... nightly prizes go to the best dressed... remember this is also a prom! Zombie’s prom ...

THANKS!

From Steve Smith, team "What Were We Thinking".

Dima, Tamir and all the others-
Thanks again for putting on the Calleva race. We will see you next year. Great course, as always.

Attached is a picture of one of the backpacks that our team won. I am in Glacier Natl Park and used it for back country camping (OK, maybe it is a little overstuffed) and it worked great. Very lightweight and a great fit. I used it as a carry on bag and I got a compliment on it before I even got onto the plane. Sweet backpack.
Please thank the sponsor that provided it.

Getting ready for 2013!

Well, the 5th annual Calleva Adventure is another one for the books.
Thanks to all of the adventure racers, volunteers and sponsors who helped make it such a great success. It took us the whole year to prepare this year's race and we think it was our best course design so far. The race started 20 miles in a straight line from the finish, but most teams traveled more than 40 miles to get to the final destination. Every year we try to include new and challenging twists into the race and this year we were excited about the mountain bike time trial and paddling with bikes in the canoes. (There are rumors already about next year's Calleva Race...something about standing paddle boards...)



Regardless of your standing in the results or whether or not you were able to cross the finish line, you should be incredibly proud of yourselves for tackling the challenging course in such hot and humid conditions (not to mention the thunderstorm!).

Vlad and Oleg have once again outdone themselves on action shots from the race. All photographs from the race are available for viewing and purchasing at Vladimir Bukalo photography. There are more links to photos in the right column. Please send along links to your own photos and race reports as it is great to get an inside glimpse from the racers' perspective as we plan for next year! (Send all complaints about the race to your local congressman.) We will start working on the race video soon and will send it out with the Markoff Haunted Forest update, so stay tuned. (Don't forget that many of you now have free tickets to the Haunted Forest so we hope to see you out there!)

Race results may also be viewed via EXPERT, SPORT. Congratulations again to the winners and finishers! Teams A-List/Too many kids and Zanakana, in addition to their prizes, have a free entry to the 2013 Calleva adventure race for winning the prime division in Expert and Sport categories. Congratulations guys!

Good luck with the rest of your race season and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Team Calleva and Calleva Outdoor Adventure.

The final and verified race results coming soon

The race results will be published this week. We verified all passports, but there are some technical difficulties to put all together.
For now please check the race photos from Vladimir Bukalo photography
More photos are on the team Calleva FaceBook page. Many more photos coming.

The final race update and check-in info.

We are less than a week from the race! Maps and passports are printed, prizes from the race sponsors have arrived, and everything is ready for race day. The only question remaining is whether it will be hot... or ridiculously hot! Registration is still open and we’re extending the online registration until midnight Friday, August 3rd for the procrastinators (don't miss out on the fun!).

We are excited to announce that OutThere USA is now a sponsor for the Calleva Adventure Race together with NRS, HTO, CAMP, and Immersion Research . It means that in addition to our cool prizes, somebody will bring home the most advanced adventure racing backpack in the world, the AS-1 pack, designed by Mike Kloser. Mike also offers pro-pricing on the packs in advance of the race to all Calleva racers. Pro-deal Pricing is as follows: AS-1 $134; MS-1 $109.



We have a lot of competition but many prizes this year. Not only the top three first places in each category and division will receive prizes, but also the fastest teams in our new mountain bike single track time trial will get a special prize. Make sure your bikes are ready! In addition this year we will have after_the_ race raffle and AS-1 backpack will be one of the raffle items!

Calleva Race is part of the CheckPoint Tracker national series. Expert category teams will be able to earn up to 50 points towards their Checkpoint Tracker points total. You must create your team profile before the race to earn the points!

CHECK IN INFORMATION:

Check-in will be from 7 to 7:40 am. (Don't be late as we are transporting you to the start!)

• All teammates and their bikes must be present to begin and complete the check-in. Please print and pre-fill out the race waiver (one per team) and waiver for minors as appropriate (one per minor). Having these waivers ready will significantly speed up your check-in process.
• We will not check your gear at the check-in, but we will check during the race. Please have all mandatory gear ready

Mandatory List EXPERT
Mandatory List SPORT

• To make check-in process fast, come to the check-in with your waiver forms and bikes only. You don’t need to bring your backpacks, biking shoes or helmets. (Unless you just like to carry things.)
• After you submit the forms we will give you numbers to attach to your bikes.
• At the end of the check-in you will get your bibs (but not maps)
• Take all your team's bikes (after you have attached your numbers) to a trailer for loading. DO NOT ATTACH SHOES AND HELMETS TO YOUR BIKES.
• Your bikes will be transported to a bike transition area (you will not have access to them at the race start).
• Take your biking shoes and helmets and the rest of your gear with you on the bus (see start details below).

START DETAILS

• At 7:40 am all racers must load the buses.
• Your team will get race maps and documentation at the entrance to the bus. From this moment you will officially be in the race, please do not use cell phones!
• Before the race start you will stage your biking shoes and helmets (that you carried on the bus) at the start location and pick them up after the prologue. You must carry the rest of your gear on the prologue.
• The pre-race briefing will be near the start.
• You will start the race at 9:00 am on foot with a prologue.
• At the end of the prologue you will get your passports (with clues included).
• You will then pick up your shoes and helmets and start the race.
• All racing maps will be 100% pre-plotted. Major maps are printed on 11x17 inch paper and have scale 1:24000. All race documents, maps and passports are printed on waterproof paper, but we still recommend keeping them dry.

Please return your racing bibs after the finish. We recycle them to help the environment and to keep registration fees low.

If you missed the first race update, check it out here.
Email us for any question and to update t-shirt sizes (if necessary).
Updated race roster is here. We will assign bib number on Friday.
Visit our Facebook page to get some secret info about the race.
We hope you enjoy your tapering this week (don't forget to hydrate!) and wish you luck this Sunday!

Calleva Race pre-run report and race updates.

This weekend Brian and Steven from team SOG did the expert course pre-run in real racing conditions with real maps, passports and course description. The temperature was 100+, humidity just 100%, but they managed to clear the course in 10 hours. Here are course review comments and some photos by the official Calleva race photographer Vladimir Bukalo.

• Great course. Navigation was challenging. Terrain was challenging. A lot of different activities to make it fun.
• If it is hot beware of overheating especially with the increased difficulty of the terrain and when you are riding roads you are really exposed to the sun. Get in the water and creeks and use them to cool you off.
• Make sure you have enough water. Don't pass up a chance to get water unless you KNOW you can get it somewhere else.
• Consider wearing sunglasses. You do some road riding and some on pretty heavily used dirt roads. When cars pass they can kick up a lot of dirt.
• You and your gear will get wet. It is impossible to avoid. You probably will even swim. If you have something you need to keep dry (like a map) make sure it is safe and secure.
• Contour lines that are very close together often mean impassable cliffs, beware and plan accordingly.
• Bike riding isn't super tricky. If it is dry your tires don't need to be super nobby.
• There are several places on the course where you may be stuck waiting to move in the direction you want. Utilize any downtime you have (eat, reorganize gear, study maps, etc.). At the same time be creative and find other ways to accomplish your task or continue moving in the right direction.
• Keep yourself cool (in the shade) and relaxed whenever possible. Save all your energy for the race.
• I recommend a water proof pen/sharpie, we had a sharpie which worked well, the passport is water proof but a normal pen might run.

A few notes from the race director:

• Both SPORT and EXPERT categories will paddle canoes with bikes. Two bikes and 2 people per canoe. 
• SPORT course is very similar to the EXPERT one. Just shorter and no cliffs to climb or go around.

Pay attention to the schedule change: 

• 7:00 AM - Registration and Check-In opens at Riley's Lock. All team members must be present for    check-in. Bibs, number for bikes,and give-a-way stuff will be distributed to teams at the end of check-in. 
• 7:30 AM - Loading buses. You will get maps at the entrance to the bus. 
• 8:30 AM - Race briefing near the start location. 
• 9:00 AM - Race starts. 
• 7:00 PM - Official race finish at Riley's Lock. 
• 7:00-8:00 PM Awards ceremony and after race food at Riley's Lock. 

The race course is long. The vetting team spent roughly 4.5 hours running/hiking, 4 hours biking, and 1.5 hour paddling. Sport category has only about half of running/hiking sections, but the same biking. And there are no optional biking check points, except the 5 miles of single track! Make sure you can bike and your bike is in good working condition. There is one HUGE uphill on the bike.

You will paddle 14-15 feet canoes. Please make sure you know how to fit your bikes inside and prepare some ropes or straps to secure your bikes.

Gear list is finalized (SPORT, EXPERT) and there are a few new items:

• Biking front light and rear red light (in case you get lost).
• Handlebar mounted bell or horn (a few bucks in Walmart).

The race is less than one month away. We are ready for you!
Some additional race info and photos are on our Facebook page.

See you August 5th!

Paddling canoe with bikes!

This year we're adding a new challenge to the race course: all racers, in both Sport and Export category will paddle canoes with their bikes. That's not our invention, there are many races around that require putting mountain bikes into canoe. So how to fit two people, two backpacks and two bikes into one canoe? For an advice we went to our friends from Odyssey Adventure Racing, where Mark Lattanzi, of Team ImONPoint.org - Odyssey Adventure Racing, was kind enough to share some ideas. Please note, Mark's instructions below are for real white water paddling. This year Calleva Race is all flat, slow moving water, but you still will have an opportunity to capsize your canoe, just try it harder :-)

"I've been asking to reflect upon my experiences with putting mountain bikes into canoes in an adventure race. There are three major things to keep in mind when do this:

1) Make sure all the pieces parts are tied in with runners, ropes, or whatever. Don't leave anything loose! With Odyssey race courses, you will most likely regret it.

2) Keep the center of mass of the bikes as low as possible. Canoes are tippy. When going through rapids, it is common to kneel in the bottom of the bottom to reduce the tippiness of the canoe. The same applies to the bikes. You want them as low as possible. This means getting the frames under the cross bars. You're going to have to remove both tires to achieve this and sometimes even that is not enough.

3) Make sure you leave enough space for you and your teammates to comfortably paddle. Try to leave spaces for the back person to slide their feet into so they can make a full paddle stroke. For the front person, make sure that none of the bikes are poking into their butt/back (or can slide forward and do so).
Specifically, I ride a 29er. So I pair my larger frame up with the smallest frame on the team. I put the large frame in first (under the crossbars). Next I try to get the second frame underneath as well. I use a three or four 2-3ft runners (it's good to have a variety of lengths) and cheap biners (8-10 of them!) to secure the frames.
For larger bikes, I sometimes have to lower the seats or even take the seat posts completely off. If I do that, I make sure to have a spare bag (dry bag) to put the seats into so they won't get lost in the event of a capsize. Next, I stick the wheels in the various spaces around and on top of the frames trying to keep them as low as possible. I use a couple more runners to hold the wheels in. Make sure that the skewers on the wheels aren't so loose that they will come off. Losing them in the water is a catastrophe. If I'm really worried, I'll take them out of the wheels and put them into a dry bag as well.
It's well worth figuring out how the bikes will fit into your boat before the actual race. It's very frustrating to have to put them in and out several times during the race to get them situated adequately.

That's about it. See everyone at the race!
Mark"

In need for a good training for Calleva Race 2012?

Our friends from Virginia have this great event for you!

DOMINION RIVERROCK ADVENTURE RACE
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 9:00 am
James River Park, near Richmond, VA



Come and test your physical and mental abilities as you navigate through Richmond and its beautifully rugged James River Park. This adventure race is a multisport event where not only will your speed be tested, but also your capacity to work as a team, read a map and compass, make the right decisions, and endure along a course through the entire park system. Plan to spend 8 to 9 hours riding, running, and paddling, from an undisclosed start line to the finish line on Tredegar Street in the middle of Dominion Riverrock!

FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit:
www.dominionriverrock.com

Calleva Race Registration is OPEN!

We are glad to announce the opening of registration for the 5th annual Calleva Adventure Race. The Race is scheduled for Sunday, August 5th. Come prepared for a really fun and challenging course!
This year we will have two categories: EXPERT for advanced racers and SPORT for strong athletes with limited experience in adventure racing. Both categories will have up to 10 hours to complete the course.

Race disciplines include:

• 3-8 miles of hiking/running on dirt roads, trails and plenty of bushwhacking (Sport category will be a little shorter)
• 20-25 miles of biking on paved and gravel roads as well as technical single track
• 5-6 miles of paddling on flat moving water with bikes in canoe
• A little bit of swimming and water crossing

This year's race will have significant elevation gain but a little easier navigation. The race has a point to point modified rogain format with a remote start. It will finish at the check-in location at Riley's Lock. We will bus all racers to the start, move your bikes between transitions and provide all paddling gear for the race.

This year race is open to teams of 2 and 4 racers only. Click REGISTRATION tab on the top of the screen to see instructions and all registration options.

Early registration is only $75 without any additional 3rd party fees.These registration fees include canoes and paddling gear for all teams, t-shirts, post race food, bus transportation and the most exciting race in the Washington, DC metro area.

Register early to save big!

Checkpoint Tracker points and our new events.

Calleva Race is now part of CheckPoint Tracker national series. Expert category teams will be able to earn up to 50 points towards their Checkpoint Tracker points total. Expert category teams, please let us know if you are interested in CheckPoint Tracker points. If we get enough (OK, a few) requests we will keep it this way. Email us at callevaracer@gmail.com, or just comment bellow.

We are very excited to announce two new Calleva racing events for this fall. In October we will introduce the Halloween Night mountain bike race at the Markoff’s Haunted Forest. Yes, it’s going to be at night on the Haunted Forest trails with all the Halloween action ON. In November we will host a trail run race. Stay tuned for more details.

Calleva Race 2012. The official announcement.

Greetings Racers!

The holidays are over and the time has arrived to start filling in your calendar with race dates for 2012!

Calleva Race 2012 is scheduled for Sunday August 5th and is once again going to be 10 hours of challenging adventure for even the most experienced teams. This year's race will be in a completely new area! The race format will be point to point modified ROGAIN with a remote start (we will transport all racers and gear) and finish at the check-in location (Riley’s Lock). Race disciplines will include running, mountain biking and paddling (all paddling gear will be provided). Be ready to navigate at every stage of the race: on and off trail, in water, and on road.

As in years past, we will have both Expert and Sport categories for varying levels of experience.

Check out last year's race video to get a better understanding of what to expect:



There will no tubes this year :-)

Thanks to our generous sponsors we will keep the same low registration fees of $75 per racer! Registration will be open in March

Calleva Adventure Race is supported and sponsored by Calleva Outdoor Adventure and by team Calleva Adventure Racing.