What is AR?
What is Adventure Racing?
Adventure racing is a combination of two or more endurance disciplines, including orienteering (if an orienteering map is used) and/or navigation (when non-orienteering maps are used), running/trekking, mountain biking, and paddling (climbing and related rope skills can also be included in some races). The most common elements of an adventure race is orienteering, trekking/running and paddling (canoe/kayak).
Adventure Race Types
There are several types of adventure races. Expedition races are the longest event and can span 3-10 days in length, but most popular are the races of less than 24 hours.
Adventure Race Teams
AR is a team sport and the entire dynamic of the sport revolves around getting your entire team through the course. The team must complete all task together, no more than 100 yards apart at any given time unless specifically identified by the race director. The typical breakdown of teams is solo, 2-person, 3-person or 4-person teams.
Adventure Race Distances
There are many types of adventure races and they are usually designated by length such as, 8-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, etc. A common question about AR is how far is each section, but this question is not easy to answer because the team will make that determination by their abilities. The best teams should clear the course in the time allotted and teams toward the middle and back of the pack will have to make strategic decisions about which control points/check points (CPs) they will drop to allow enough time to finish the race in the allotted amount of time.
Scoring
AR measures scores by the most control points/check points (CPs) that a team can accumulate. The CPs are the first and most important factor when scoring and time only factors in when teams have the same amount of CPs. If Team A finishes a 12 hour race in 10 hours and accumulates 14 CPs and Team B finishes the race in 11 hours with 15 CPs and Team C finishes the race in 11 hours and 30 minutes with 15 CPs the scoring would be as follows.
1. Team B with 15 CPs in 11:00
2. Team C with 15 CPs in 11:30
3. Team A with 14 CPs in 10:00
Each race will have different divisions and rules regarding mandatory Transition Areas or Mandatory CPs that can impact scoring as well.
Adventure Racing Resources:
USARA What IS Adventure Racing
Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, What is Adventure Racing, AR Explained
