We had a few questions for the RD prior to the Inaugural DOMINION AR. Feel free to add a few questions in the comments.
Q: As the race has come together, where do you think it ended up relative to your goals for format and difficulty?
A: Well, the goal was a beginner-accessible race. We wanted to bring experienced and brand-new racers together for this event. That, I'm proud to say, we've done successfully. Regarding difficulty, I still rate it overall as a beginner-level 8-hour race. But it is not easy.
Q: What's the "not easy part?"
A: Probably in two particular aspects. First, there are many areas of rugged travel, which is something I think slows everyone down. In a race like this, you must be very careful on uneven terrain because you can't afford to get injured. Second, the course has a lot to accomplish in eight hours. This aspect is going to make efficiency a key to success. When I say efficiency, I mean not wasting time. And the navigation will probably sneak up on you a few times as well.
Q: What specifically would you be doing if you were preparing for this race?
A: That's good; you're trying to get a little secret out of me, that's fine. One thing that comes to mind for me is the bike and the maps. Whether using a map holder on your bike or around your neck, you must practice that process. If you have the map clipped to your bike and then you hop off, you have to take your map with you. And when you return to your bike, you must install the map back onto the holder. The same goes for the Passport. You don't have the real one yet. But think ahead since you have to "write" on the Passport, how will I attach it? Where's the pen going to be?
Q: Yeah, I see where those repeated activities can use up some time. How about some intel on the map itself?
A: Ha! The Race Communique has general information, but it is quite valuable. It's simple, there is a bike trail, there's a river, there are some bridges, and the map tells you where to go. But since I'm so nice, and for those who are not from the area: There are two bridges near the Start/Finish, and you would benefit from understanding how they interact. One is 20 feet above the water, and the other is 70 feet above the water.
Q: What are your three favorite CPs on the course?
A: Yeah, I'm not gonna bite on that one. These CPs are like my children - I love each and every one of them in their own way. :) Ok. I'll say that 40, 132, and 104 are special to me.
One thing I enjoyed was going out individually with my sons to scout around and hang a few flags together.
Q: Was the entire process more difficult than you thought?
A: I knew it would be time-consuming, and it was. And just like anything else, the plans have wrinkles and detours. We had to do this as a team, which is just an extension of Adventure Racing itself. I'll talk briefly about our team at the race. For the course itself, Jason had great insight into the big picture and made some key additions that brought it to the next level. He's also a pro at the art of attaching the CPs to nature. Our team got a lot of fulfillment from making this happen, so now it's up to the racers to bring it across the finish line (see what I did there?)
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