SHAWNEE, Kan. — This isn't your standard 5K, 10K, triathlon, or even Iron Man race. Have you ever heard of “adventure racing”?
Well, on Sunday morning, more than 100 people proved that this race is growing in popularity and that anyone can participate, as long as they are up for the challenge.
Dozens of people showed up in waves at Shawnee Mission Park with water bags strapped to their backs and real maps in hand so they could study the trails before beginning their long journey.
The goal of the adventure race is to swim, bike, or paddle your way to more than 35 hidden checkpoints scattered throughout the park. The person or team who finds the most checkpoints in less than six hours wins. However, no GPS or phones are allowed.
It's a rigorous and stressful challenge, but sometimes it's not the fittest people who win. These are the best browsers.
“I’ve always been a runner. I'm not as fast as I used to be, but I also taught map reading when I was in the Army, and I taught at the U.S. Army Primary Noncommissioned Officer Training School said Howard, Adventure Racer, 67. Room.
“I taught a lot of map reading and other things there, so map reading has always been one of my strong points. »
Another participant, Adventure Racer Seth Peterson, said, “I'm usually constantly looking at the map and monitoring where I am in relation to different (topographic) features and different trails. It's quite difficult yeah.
The teams registered for the Adventure Race were able to name themselves. Some fan favorites include “Hot Mess Express,” “Over Confident and Under Trained,” and “The Lost Boys.”
Some runners at Shawnee Mission Park took a two-hour hike, while many others engaged in a six-hour run. This isn’t their first rodeo, however.
Many of these athletes have previously competed in similar races in different states and terrains and over multiple days.
For example, one participant ran for 72 hours in the alligator-infested waters of Florida. They ran day after day, sleeping on the sides of roads, ditches and even their canoes.
Although the adventure race in Shawnee wasn't as extreme, that doesn't take away from the awesomeness, dedication, and hard work these runners put into this challenge.
If you would like to take part in next year's adventure race, more information is available on the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District Website.