Spring Bloom Adventure Race

Presented By: Dominion Energy
5-hour race / April 27, 2024

Paddle - Bike - Trek - Navigate

"The perfect mix of thinking and movement!" - Past Participant
"Can NOT wait to do this again!" - Past Participant

2023 - Results - Live Tracking

2022 - Results, Live-Tracking, Photos
2021 - Results, Photos

2023 Racer Guide

Make a team or go solo and have a blast during our annual Spring Bloom Adventure Race - Presented by Dominion Energy in and around beautiful Leesylvania State Park. If you love being outdoors: paddling, hiking and/or biking trails, getting off the sidewalks, then this is the event for you. Navigate the park just as the flowers and trees are blossoming, this year we will have one big 5-hour race, so whether you are an adventure racing newcomer or looking for a full day of outdoor adventure we've got you covered, either way you finish on a beautiful beachside.

Leesylvania State Park, on which is located Freestone Point, is a 508 acre park with almost 3 miles of water frontage on the Potomac River between Neabsco and Powells Creeks.

Whether you are new to adventure racing, introducing friends/family to it, or a seasoned vet looking to warm up and kick off that winter ice/rust, our Spring Bloom Adventure Race is here for you.

New to adventure racing? What is an adventure race? Simply put, Adventure Racing (AR) is an outdoor scavenger hunt / orienteering (navigating with a map and compass) but via multiple modes of travel: on-foot, biking & paddling. Unlike your average 10K/5K, marathon or obstacle course race where there is a strict roped off race course to follow; with orienteering/AR you are given a map with marked checkpoints (CPs), and its up to you/your team to navigate and find as many CPs as you can within the time limit. The best teams work together and help each other to not only go fast, but also efficiently; acquiring the most checkpoints wins (fastest time as tie-breaker).

Spectators are welcome to watch, hang out, take pictures, fish or just picnic in the park during this event but are NOT allowed to assist participants.

• This is a USARA-sanctioned event (both races score USARA national ranking points).

• Race will score points for the Virginia State Parks Adventure Series

5-Hour Race: Soloists, 2-Person, 3-Person, Family Division & No-Biking Division

Overview	5-Hour	"no bike"
Trekking	6+ mi,	7+ mi.
Biking	10+ mi.
Paddling	5+ mi.	5+ mi.

Age limit	5+	5+

*Distance estimates are for clearing the full course (getting every single checkpoint)

100% of Race Proceeds to Benefit

M.O.R.E. (The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts) is the premier mountain biking and trail-building advocacy club in the Mid-Atlantic region of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. MORE’s mission is to build an inclusive mountain biking community and to increase access to natural-surface trails throughout the region for all riders.

The proceeds from this race will be donated 100% to the James Long Park fund within MORE. James S. Long Regional park is a 230 acre park in Haymarket that houses several options for active and passive recreation from soccer, lacrosse and baseball fields to over four miles of wooded, natural surface trails through the park.

Learn More.

Race Day Schedule (tentative):

Saturday, April 27th

7:15am - Packet Pickup / Transition Area Opens

8:30am - Pre-race briefing

9:00am - Race Start

2:00pm - Race cutoff (all teams off course)

2:15pm - race awards

Registration Fees:

	5hr
On/Before Dec 31	$80
On/Before Feb. 28	$90
On/After Mar. 1	$100

*USARA membership required/checked during registration.
Single-event membership = $8, or $35 annual membership.

Registration Covers/Includes:

Kayak/Canoe (boat, paddle(s) and lifejacket(s) "PFD")
Race shirt
must register before Apr. 1 to guarantee race shirt.
High quality topographic race map(s)
Race pictures / photographer
Post-Race Meal (actual food, not just snacks)
Custom Awards for top 3 in each division:
Solo (Female & Male)
2-Person Teams (Co-ed, Female & Male)
3-person Teams (Co-ed, Female & Male)
Family Division & No-Biking Division
Parking Fee, land use permits, insurance, rentals, etc.

Other Event Details:

Event is "Rain or Shine"
To put on great events for participants, takes a team of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, let us know, volunteering for a race is a great way to learn what they are all about.

Button
Button
Button
Button
Button

Mandatory Gear (provided by participant):

Bike (mountain bike recommended)
Bike helmet
Red (blinky) Rear Bike light on bike
Watch
Backpack (to carry the other mandatory items below...)
Adequate hydration in your pack/on bike at all times
Fully charged cellphone sealed in a dry bag in backpack (in case of emergencies)
Whistle (in case of emergencies)
Map case (either large zip lock bags or a map case; maps will be on high quality paper, but NOT 100% waterproof)
Compass
Compact first aid kit (leave in backpack, something like this)

Mandatory Gear (provided by BROR):

Race maps (provided at check-in)
Race rules (provided at check-in)
Race e-punch (provided at check-in)
Race bib/number (provided at check-in: 1 for person, 1 on bike)

Optional Gear (provided by participant):

Storage bin/container (can leave in transition area for gear/clothes change, hydration refills, etc.)
Bike repair kit / spare tube(s)
Racers can bring their own paddles/PFDs, but transporting/securing them is your responsibility

Race Rules:

Follow our motto: be active, have fun, be outdoors and stay off the pavement! Enjoy your time exploring, enjoy these great parks and trails, enjoy time with your fellow adventurers and just simply enjoy the experience!

The event is targeted toward ages 5+ with registrants allowed to participate solo, or 2-person or 3-person teams. All participants 17 and under are required to be on a team with an adult.
You are allowed to have a smart-watch to “track an activity” but use of any device (phone, watch, pace counter, GPS) to aid in navigation will result in disqualification.
Follow a “Leave No Trace” ethic, we’re raising money for a nature conservancy for gosh sake.
All members of a team must be able to see/hear each other at all times, if you can't you are too far apart.
Portable music players / earbuds are not permitted.
Any racer caught travelling through marked “off limits” private property (which includes camping, cabin, and park office/maintenance areas) will receive a 3-point penalty on first offense, 27,395-point penalty on second offense.
Remember, ALL of the park/trails are open to the public; some who may be oblivious to a race with hundreds of racers… while they walk their dog… on a long stringy leash… as they jam on their headphones...
Move off to side of trail for horses and allow them to pass. Bikes also yield to hikers.
Racers must notify race officials if they drop out of the race for any reason.
Race officials reserve the right to remove any competitor/team from the course for health, safety, sportsmanship or any other reason at the discretion of race officials and/or medical personnel.