Get Your Bearings Adventure Race

More information at https://lostarrowsports.com/get-your-bearings/

Race Date: Saturday, May 5, 2018
Location: Brighton, Michigan (Island Lake Recreation Area)
Length: 4 hour Adventure Race
Disciplines: Trail Running, Mountain Biking, Canoeing & Orienteering
4 Divisions:  4-person Coed, 2-person Open, 2-person First-Timer (at least 1 teammate), and Family (No paddling in this division.  Parent/Child 8-14 year old..no charge for the kid!)
Who: Beginner to Experienced Adventurers!
Racer Check-In: 7:00am to 7:45am
Race Briefing: 8:00am
Race Start: 9:00am
Race Cutoff: 1:00pm
Post Race Food with Prizes & Giveaways: 1:15pm following race finish.

Get Your Bearings 2018 is designed to provide a challenging race for experienced adventure athletes, as well as a fun adventure for families or people new to the sport.  The 4-person Coed team is the highlighted division and the perfect way for a traditional team to prepare for longer races. The 2-person team divisions can be made up of any combination of women/men.  Family teams will race a shorter course more suitable to young kids and will not include paddling.

In an Adventure Race, all teammates work together to try and find the checkpoints (like a scavenger hunt!) and make it to the finish before the cut-off time. Teammates must stay within 50′ or eyesight of each other (whichever is closer). The complete team must finish the course in the allotted time to earn an official ranked finish. Teams that work their way to the finish line after the time limit, without a teammate, or without obtaining the required checkpoints will not be a ranked finisher.There will be a pre-race briefing before the race. At this briefing teams will learn details about the course. Race instructions and maps will be handed out. Teams will then have until the start for any last minute preparations or strategizing.

When the race starts, teams will be required to navigate each stage of the race using the provided pre-marked maps. Often, teams can choose their own route to each checkpoint. Make sure at least 1 person on your team understands how to read a map and a compass (GPSs are not allowed!). Watch the “Get Your Bearings Adventure Racing” facebook page for opportunities to learn or practice your navigation/orienteering skills prior to the race. The Southern Michigan Orienteering Club offers great events in the Spring and Fall to learn, practice, or race (www.smoc-runs.com).

Each team will be issued a ‘passport’ that will be punched at each checkpoint along the way. Make sure someone responsible on your team takes care of the passport! It must be turned in at the finish to prove that you found the checkpoints. If you don’t have it, you won’t earn an official finish!Teams are required to carry certain gear for each section of the race. Race officials often do gear checks and assess time penalties as necessary during the race.  The mandatory gear list will be provided in advance.