Wuhoo! Urban Adventure Race 2002

It's been a lucky year for the Wuhoo! organizers.  Once again, the weather was gorgeous for the Wuhoo! Urban Adventure Race that took place at Point Defiance Park on May 11, 2002.  Worries of hypothermia were replaced by worries of sunburn as the temperature soared into the 80's.

After passing by the Clif (TM) Bar booth for a bar & a shot then picking up a Red Bull from the on-site sampling team, twenty-five teams lined up for the start at Owen Beach.

The race route started off with the road bike going straight up a short but steep hill, then circling the quite hilly park a few times.  Racers couldn't help but slow down for the view points as the scenery was spectacular. 

Next it was off for a trail run in which the racers had to navigate to a series of checkpoints (CP's) in whatever order they chose.  For two of  the CP's  racers had to answer questions about the area's history, and the answers were located in the park.  Somebody stole CP 13 (it was not manned) but left the rope it was tied with so all racers were able to find the remnants of it.  Later in the race one  team found the missing CP posted on someone's porch (houses border the park). Those racers that were familiar with the park had to laugh as the course designer was able to find some trails that they didn't even know about.  Again, the scenery was great as Point Defiance Park is chock-full with Old Growth forest and Northwest style beaches.

The last discipline in the race was the paddle.  Racers had to swim with their kayaks about 50 metres off the beach and perform a water entry.  For those that skimped on paddle floats it wasn't easy.  Nobody seemed to mind the cold water as it was such a hot day.  Participants paddled to Salmon Beach and back including whipping around the tricky current at the point.  Once back to Owen Beach the last obstacle was to carry the boats over 100 metres of beach cluttered with logs and then across the finish line.

At the end, most racers hung out at the beach, munched on the post race meal,  soaked up some sun, and cheered in the remaining teams.  The race awards ceremony started while three teams were still on the course. All top finishers were awarded a free entry into the 2002 Wuhoo! Adventure Race this coming August.  The first place Team of 4 Co-Ed will have their picture published in Sports Etc. magazine.