Spring Bloom Adventure Race
Williamsburg, VA
24-hour & 5-hour race / April 24, 2027
Paddle - Bike - Trek - Navigate
"The perfect mix of thinking and movement!"
Make a team or go solo and have a blast during our annual Spring Bloom Adventure Race in and around beautiful and historic Williamsburg, VA. 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 both 24-hour race and more beginner friendly 5-hour race with very beginner friendly biking (flat). So whether you are an adventure racing newcomer or looking for a full day of outdoor adventure we've got you covered.
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).
2/3/4-Person Teams, Family Division & Soloist Divisions
Spectators are welcome to watch, hang out, take pictures, fish or just picnic in the park(s) during this event but are NOT allowed to assist participants.
• These are both USARA-sanctioned events (both races score USARA national ranking points).
• 24-Hour Race is part of the Adventure Race World Series (ARWS) and scores points towards World Rankings.
| Overview | 24-Hour | 5-Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Trekking | 25+ mi, | 4+ mi. |
| Biking | 70+ mi. | 15+ mi. |
| Paddling | 12+ mi. | 6+ mi. |
| Age limit | 13+ | 5+ |
*Distance estimates are for clearing the full course (getting every single checkpoint)
Proceeds to Benefit
To Be Announced
Race Day Schedule (tentative):
Friday, April 23rd
4:00pm-9:00pm - Packet Pickup & Bike Drop
Saturday, April 24th
7:00am - Packet Pickup Re-Opens
9:00am - Race Start for 5-hour race
10:00am - Race start for 24-hour race
2:00pm - Race cutoff for 5-hour race
Sunday, April 25th
10:00am - Race cutoff 24-hour race
| 24hr | 5hr | |
|---|---|---|
| On/Before Dec 31 | $285 | $90 |
| On/Before Feb. 28 | $310 | $100 |
| On/After Mar. 1 | $335 | $110 |
| Ages 17-under | $50 | $50 |
*USARA membership required/checked during registration.
Single-event membership = $10, or $50 annual membership.
Registration Covers/Includes:
- Kayak/Canoe (boat, paddle(s) and lifejacket(s) "PFD")
- Race shirt
- must register before Mar. 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 (Mixed, Female & Male)
- 3/4-person Teams (Mixed, Female & Male)
- Family Division & No-Biking Division (4-Hour Race only)
- Parking Fee, land use permits, insurance, rentals, etc.
- GPS Live-Tracking (24-Hour Race Only)
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.
Mandatory Gear (provided by participant):
- Bike (mountain bike required)
- Bike helmet (CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL certified)
- Watch
- Backpack
- Adequate hydration in your pack/on bike at all times
- Fully charged cellphone sealed in in backpack (in case of emergencies)
- Whistle (in case of emergencies)
- Map case (or zip lock bags; maps NOT waterproof)
- Compass
- Compact first aid kit (something like this)
15-hour race additional mandatory gear:
- Front bike light
- Rear (red-blinking) bike light
- Headlamp
- Paddle Bag (bag for paddle gear/supplies)
- Safety glowsticks (2 per boat, 1 per racer)
- Water filtration (filter or tablets; ability to purify water on course)
- Waterproof jacket (may remove this requirement pending weather)
- Writing utensil (pen or marker)
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):
- Racers can bring their own paddles/PFDs
- Bike repair kit / spare tube(s)
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, 3, or 4-person teams. All participants 14 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.
Address for GPS/Directions:
Chickahominy Riverfront Park
1350 John Tyler Hwy.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Camping/Lodging Info:
Chickahominy Riverfront Park has 70+ camping options so you can stay right in the park where we start/finish the race!
Plenty of nearby hotels/attractions all around Williamsburg as well; bring the whole family along for an awesome trip!
