April 22, 2012 EcoAdventure Race at Fort Whyte Alive

SIGN UP NOW!!!

First wave starts at 8:30 am. Tackle this challenging 35K race yourself or as a team.

Not a racer? Come and cheer on your favourite ecoadventurer!

Racers, register at: www.runningroom.com

Fort Whyte Alive’s EcoAdventure Race is a multi-sport adventure race that includes paddling, running, orienteering and cycling. Using bodies, boats and bikes, racers cover a 35K course through Fort Whyte Alive and Assiniboine Park. This race provides a dynamic demonstration of zero emission transportation and engages both racers and spectators in a unique, exciting outdoor sport adventure.

The EcoAdventure is an unsupported race (ie: no support crews needed). You drop off your gear at the designated spots before the race begins and then head back to the start line to hear the words ‘GO’! This race is an adventure so come prepared to deal with unexpected situations. This means bringing the mandatory gear plus any other equipment that you think will help you, as long as the rules do not prohibit it.

Pre-Race Pasta Dinner: Saturday, April 21, 2012

Participants will commence their adventure at the Alloway Reception Centre, 1961 McCreary Rd, on Saturday, April 21, 4:30–6pm, with race information pick-up, pre-race dinner, orientation, and random draws. Athletes will enjoy a high carbohydrate pasta dinner prepared by Boston Pizza. After dinner an orientation on the EcoAdventure will take place. The dinner is open to registered racers only.

Dinner will be served from 4:30pm to 6pm. Orientations to the race will take place at 5:30pm and 6:15pm. At least one member of each team and all individual competitors must attend the dinner to pick up race information. We recommend all racers attend the orientation meeting to review the 2012 race course.

To accelerate the race package pick-up process, please fill out the waiver form and hand-in to the registration table when you arrive on the 21st.

Race Day – Sunday, April 22, 2012

The race will be run in heats. You will be informed of your heat start time at the orientation (sorry, but we are unable to inform you of your heat prior to the orientation dinner). Heat #1 starts at 8:30am, heat #2 starts at 9am, and heat #3 starts at 9:30. You should arrive on race day no later than 45 minutes before your start time.

Some things to keep in mind:

• This is not a typical road race. You will be traveling on water and through bush on uneven ground. Because of the time of year, and depending on the weather, parts of the race course may be very wet and muddy. In addition, the water in our lakes will be very cold. Please take these factors into account as you prepare your equipment.

• Thanks to the Manitoba Orienteering Association, we will continue to use the electronic punch timing system for this year’s race. Each team/individual/relay entry will receive a finger punch that they will carry with them for the race (relay teams will pass the punch from person to person at each exchange zone). This device will be used at each exchange zone to record your interval times, by “punching” a timing box. Full results of your race, including splits for each leg of the race will be printed for you at the finish line. The punches are expensive to replace, therefore, any team who loses their punch will be charged a $50 replacement fee. If you don’t have a punch, you will not be timed and your results will not qualify for medals.

• This race promotes the use of non-polluting transportation methods. Please make every effort to minimize the number of vehicles you or your team will use during the event by carpooling.

• All entries must check in at the registration table on the morning of the race.

• All competitors are required to wear a cycling helmet for the cycling portions of the race.

• Medals will be awarded in all categories, including masters, and male and female categories for the individual event. All competitors will have their names entered in a random draw for great prizes from local companies at the pasta dinner. The award ceremony will take place at approximately 12 noon at FortWhyte Alive.

• Contingency Plans: In the event that ice has not left our lakes by race day, the paddling portion of the race will be eliminated and replaced with a short portaging element.

Detailed Rules And Regulations

1. Interpretation of rules and regulations shall be at the sole discretion of the race directors. All decisions of the race directors will be final and are not contestable.

2. Course marshals will be positioned throughout the race course. All participants are required to follow directions, instructions and decisions rendered by course marshals. Failure to comply with instructions, directions or decisions of course officials, or abuse of course marshals shall be grounds for disqualification.

3. Bib numbers must be clearly displayed on your front at all times. Failure to properly display bib number may result in disqualification.

Travel On Race Course

1. Participants must obey all traffic signals where necessary and travel in a manner that will not disrupt regular traffic (e.g. travelling in a single file line when cycling). If you or your team are seen breaking the rules of the road (pathways), you may be disqualified. You will be sharing the roadways with the general public, please be courteous to all other users.

2. Team members may not become separated by more than 50 metres and must also maintain visual contact with all team members at all times.

3. Use of earphones is not permitted for any portion of the race.

4. Competitors are required to stop and assist any team requiring aid due to injury, accident or other reason. In the event of an emergency, one person must travel to nearest course marshall (shown on maps with a diamond) and inform them of the nature and of the injury and the location of the injured party. Paramedics will then be dispatched to assist if necessary. Teams stopping to offer assistance may receive a time credit.

Equipment

1. Equipment, bike and boat drop off is from 7:00 – 8:15 am at the exchange zones at FortWhyte Alive. After this time athletes will begin arriving in larger numbers and vehicles dropping off bikes will cause unnecessary congestion and a potential safety concern.  Equipment can also be dropped off at FortWhyte at the Pasta Dinner however, FortWhyte Alive will not accept responsibility for lost or damaged property.Participants are responsible for the transportation, security and identification of all personal equipment.  Labels will be provided for identifying your equipment.

2. Each participant will carry an electronic passport that will be used for race timing. At each exchange zone, this must be punched into a timing box before you can leave the exchange zone. Relay entries must pass the electronic passport from person to person for each leg of the race. Any participant who loses their electronic passport will be assessed a $50 replacement fee.

3. Competitors may carry a backpack with them that may contain water, running shoes, bike helmet, compass, extra clothing, maps/course description, first aid kit, and tire repair kit. Participants must receive permission from the race director to carry items other than those listed here. Teams are permitted to carry more than one pack.

4. GPS units are not permitted.

Start

1. Starting will be done in heats, with staggered start times. All participants are responsible for ensuring they know what heat they are competing in. Any participant that misses the start of their heat will not be given a new start time. Due to the timing system we are unable to change your heat once it has been assigned.

2. Before the start of each heat, competitors will launch their boats for the on-water start. Competitors must not cross the start line prior to the horn.

Timing

1. Don’t switch electronic passports with other people.

2. Before the race on Sunday, each team must use the check box at the check-in table to ensure electronic passport is working properly.

3. Punch the box on the way into each exchange zone.

4. Relay teams must pass the electronic passport between competitors at each exchange zone.

5. Electronic passports must be punched at all transition zones and the finish line with the exception of the first zone where the punch will be located at the Pioneer Sod House (between paddling leg and first running leg).

6. At the finish line there will be a finish box, as well as a download box for teams to get their results. Both must be punched.

Paddling/Portaging

1. Boats must not be dragged along the ground while being portaged.

2. All participants must wear a Transport Canada approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for the full length of the paddling portion of the race. Participants are permitted to supply their own PFD, as long as it is transport Canada approved. Boat Rentals include paddles and PFD’s.

3. All transitions (land to water, water to land, cycle to run, run to cycle) must be done within area marked by blazing tape or rope.

4. Boats, paddles and PFD’s must be portaged to designated area before transition to running.

Take the challenge in support of environmental education!

PADDLE • CYCLE • RUN • NAVIGATE