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!