Race Udpate

The WAR Season Finale is evolving into a much bigger and much more exciting race than is posted on the GRR website; therefore we need to release important information regarding these changes.  Let’s start by looking at the website description and making the necessary changes to that:

The website states—Start Time: 9:00am, Location: Warren YMCA, 212 Lexington Ave., Warren, PA 16365

Actual schedule and location are:

Location—Start and Finish:  Boy Scout Camp, Olmsted.

Schedule:      5:30 am Registration/Check-in opens

                        8:15 am Pre-Race Meeting and Map Distribution

                        8:45 am Race Line up

                        9:00 am Race Start

Website states—This race is the fourth and final race in our series and is the newest addition to the Grass Roots Adventure Sprint Series schedule. This race will include trail running (6-8 miles), mountain biking (10-14 miles), paddling (2-4 miles), and navigation. For this race there will be no static TA, and racers must be prepared to carry all necessary gear for the race. Canoes will be supplied for the paddle leg. Kayak paddles are allowed for this leg, but racers must carry their own paddles to and from the boats. Canoe paddles and pfd’s will also be supplied. Racers using the supplied gear will not have to carry that gear during the race.

Actual Description—This race is the fourth and final race in the Grass Roots Adventure Sprint Series.  It is not necessary to have competed in any previous GRASS events to compete in the WAR SF.  Those that are completing the series will receive double points for the WAR SF.   There will be two formats in this event—two person teams with three divisions (co-ed, all female, all male), and relay teams of up to 7 persons (only one division).  Race organizers reserve the right to cancel the relay division if pre-race registration is less than three teams.  Relay teams cannot compete for GRASS points.

This race will include:             Teams of two                         Relay

Trekking/navigation                8-10 miles                               8-10 miles       2 person

Mountain Biking/navigation  23 miles                                  23 miles          1 person

Paddling/Navigation                 9 miles                                  4.5 miles         2 person
Paddling/Navigation                    --                                          4.5 miles         2 person

Totals                                           42 miles                                42 miles           7 person

During the trekking/navigation leg there will be an opportunity for ALL teams to swim approximately .25 miles to avoid a difficult 1 mile trek.  This 1 mile trek is part of the estimated 8-10 mile trek total.  “Swimmers” are permitted to use swim aids (fins, swim paddles etc.) but must be prepared to carry them throughout the entire trek leg.  pfd’s will be supplied, but are not mandatory for this swim.

For this race there will be one static TA, however racers must be prepared to carry all necessary gear for the race to that TA.  The first leg will be a paddle leg and this will be the method used to carry all gear—including bikes—to the static TA. Canoes will be supplied for the paddle leg, and kayak paddles and personal pfd’s are allowed for this leg. Canoe paddles and pfd’s will be supplied to those racers not choosing to supply their own.  Relay teams are required to supply their own paddles, pfd’s and canoes.  Rental boats are available for relay teams.  Please contact GRR for rental information. 

REGISTRATION FOR WAR SF
Teams of two: $65 'til 9/1   $80 'til 9/17  Go to website  for on-line and mail-in registration forms.
Relay teams:    $180 'til 9/17  Write to grassrootsracing@rootsrace.com to reserve a spot and to receive a registration form.
There will be an additional $25 boat rental fee per team payable on race day.  BOATS ARE LIMITED SO RESERVE TODAY!!  Write an email to reserve a boat.  Teams may supply own boat--BYOB--but are limited to canoes.  No kayaks are permitted for teams of two.  Relay teams may use tandem kayaks or canoes.

GEAR REQUIREMENTS for WAR SF

Racer:                                               Team:

MountainBike                                  Compass                                                                                  
BikeHelmet                                      Map Case                                             
Hydration                                          Pen/pencil
                                                           One gal. water                                                                 
                                                            4 Glo-Sticks
                                                            Hands Free light source
                                                            Blinking Red light          
  
We anticipate this race to be 8-12 hours long—but racers should be prepared to race longer.  Carry extra food and stay hydrated!

Prizes will be awarded to top three in each category--Co-Ed, all Female, and all Male--with the best prizes going to the Co-Ed division.  There will be Awards for first, second, and third overall in the relay division.
For Mail-n and On-line registration options, go to WAR SF .

Hope to see you on the race course!
Frank and Bethann