ARC - Race Report - Toronto - April 29, 2006

[Adventure Racing Canada]

Race Report - April 29, 2006

ARC Urban Adventure Race & Merrell Outventure Race - Toronto

The University of Toronto at Scarborough campus played host to the 49 teams of racers from both the ARC race series and the Merrell Outventure race series. Clear blue skies and sunshine greeted racers as they gathered around the start area doing last minute checks of water bottles and instructions. Course designer, Bob Miller, was on hand answering questions and giving advice while staff and volunteers made sure the starting line and the rest of the course were ready.

ARC Urban Adventure Race - Toronto
Start Time: 10:10am

Taking advantage of the U of T’s proximity to Morningside Park, racers were instructed to use an orienteering map to locate several checkpoints. These CP’s could be found in any order so, once the race was started, teams quickly scattered, each with a plan to find the fastest route. Due to flooding from last year several bridges over Morningside Creek had been washed out leaving some teams with few options other than getting wet to get across.

Emerging from the park, teams made their way back to the start line where they signed in before getting on their bikes. A short ride south brought teams to East Point Park where they would drop off their bikes and complete a trail run along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. The crux of the run was a steep hill climb with a CP located midway up. From there some teams chose to head back down to the beach for the run back while others continued up to the ridge.

Once back at the parking lot transition area, teams remounted their bikes and traveled east to Frenchman’s Bay. Located on a spit of land separating the Bay from Lake Ontario is the West Rouge Canoe Club and the start of the paddling section.

In canoes, teams would have to paddle to the very north portion of the bay before traveling back south and down a small inlet. Shallow water and spawning fish made this section a source of many post race stories. From there it was back to the canoe club and back on bikes for the final section of the race.

Biking northwest to Rouge Park, teams would once again drop off their bikes and make their way into the park on foot looking for several CP’s. This was also the cut off checkpoint, meaning teams who did not make it there before 2pm would skip the park and ride directly back to the finish line.

Once the run in the Rouge was completed, teams then picked up their bikes and rode to the finish at U of T at Scarborough campus, where they received a post race Xilarate Sports Power Fluid drink to re-hydrate, and then a BBQ meal .

RESULTS:

CO-ED
1st: Urban Voyageur - Harper, Tina, Tom - 4:22:00
2nd: Inertia - Warwick, Tara, Lenora - 4:53:05
3rd: Who’s Yer Daddy - Adam, Gerri, Jason - 4:53:10

OPEN
1st: City Slickers - Don, Glen, Bruce - 4:53:01
2nd: Lost on the Rocks and Trees - Ben, Gordon, Chris - 5:30:23
3rd: Country Roads - Rob, Jason, Brodee - 5:33:02

For Full Results Visit: www.adventureracingcanada.com

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Merrell Outventure Race - Toronto
Start Time: 10:25am

23 teams of two and 9 solo racers lined up at the start line. A lemans running start had been planned and racers would have to go on a short trail run with one big hill climb before being allowed to leave the Start area on their bikes.

Racers arrived back at the start well spaced and proceeded to head out down into the park on bikes. Shortly after beginning this ride racers would face one of natures great obstacles…water. Due to flooding that occurred last year several of the main pathway bridges had been damaged or destroyed. While not deep, the river crossing gave racers a chance to get wet and dirty before reaching the bike trail on the other shore.

They continued on the pathways down to Lawrence Ave. where they would take a combination of roadways and paths over to Frenchman’s Bay. On a small spit of land separating the bay from Lake Ontario is the West Rouge Canoe Club. It was there that racers dropped their bikes and got into boats for the paddling section.

Paddling as fast as they could, racers made their way north and searched for a buoy in the water. On this buoy was the secret word they needed to collect in order to prove they had completed the trip. Once they had the word they could turn around and proceed back to the canoe club.

Once racers were back on their bikes it was a short trip over to the East Point Park and the start of the trail run. Racers were led down onto the shore of Lake Ontario and ran west until signs directed them to proceed straight up the bluffs. This leg burning hill climb ended with racers gaining the ridge and then following a winding course back to the parking lot.

The only thing remaining was a bike back to the finishline at the U of T campus, where they received a post race Xilarate Sports Power Fluid drink to re-hydrate, and then a BBQ meal.

RESULTS

SOLO
1st: NERO Adventure Racing - Tyson - 1:45
2nd: Han Solo/Running Free - Marcus - 2:10
3rd: Shifty - Mike - 2:11

TEAM CO-ED
1st: Butterscotch Bananas - Ian, Jennifer - 2:11
2nd: Tragically Unfit - Audrey, Matt - 2:18
3rd: Just Being Pette - Shawn, Sandra - 2:31

TEAM OPEN
1st: Eat, Sleep, Give’r - Geoff, Tim - 2:24
2nd: 40 Plus - Steve, Dan - 2:26
3rd: Slo Guys - John Paul, Darren - 2:32

For Complete Results Please Visit: www.adventureracingcanada.com