Spring Bloom Adventure Race
Fredericksburg, VA
15-hour & 4-hour race / April 25, 2026
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 Fredericksburg, 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 a "morning to midnight" 15-hour race and more beginner friendly 4-hour race with a "no biking" option. 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).
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).
• 15-Hour Race is part of the
Adventure Race World Series (ARWS) and scores points towards
World Rankings.
2/3/4-Person Teams, Family Division & Soloist Divisions
| Overview | 15-Hour | 4-Hour | 4h "no bike" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trekking | 15+ mi, | 4+ mi. | 9+mi. |
| Biking | 19+ mi. | 11+ mi. | |
| Paddling | 18+ mi. | 4+ mi. | 4+ mi. |
| Age limit | 13+ | 6+ | 6+ |
*Distance estimates are for clearing the full course (getting every single checkpoint)
Proceeds to Benefit - To Be Announced
TBD -
Race Day Schedule (tentative):
Friday, April 24th
5:00pm-10:00pm - Bike Drop (15-hour race only)
Saturday, April 25th
6:00am - Packet Pickup Opens
9:00am - Race Start for 15-hour race
10:00am - Race start for 4-hour race
2:00pm - Race cutoff for 4-hour race
12:00am (midnight) - Race cutoff 15-hour race
- race awards & food at the finish line
| 15hr | 4hr | |
|---|---|---|
| On/Before Dec 31 | $200 | $80 |
| On/Before Feb. 28 | $215 | $90 |
| On/After Mar. 1 | $230 | $100 |
| Kids 13 & under | $30 | $30 |
*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 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 (15-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)
- Bike helmet
- Red (blinky) rear bike light
- 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 (map case; or zip lock bags; maps will be on high quality paper, but NOT waterproof)
- Compass
- Compact first aid kit (leave in backpack, something like this)
- Front bike light (15-hour only)
- Headlamp (15-hour only)
- Paddle Bag (15-hour only)
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, but transporting/securing them is your responsibility
- 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 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.
Address for GPS/Directions:
6600 River Rd,
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Camping/Lodging Info:
We will have on-site camping for the race this year, a per-person $20 fee which will go to Parks & recreation.
Plenty of nearby hotels/attractions all around Fredericksburg as well; bring the whole family along for an awesome trip!
