After a great inaugural year with our three-race series, James River State Park is happy to announce that we are doing it again. The three adventure races will be very similar to last year’s events, with just enough tweaks to keep everyone guessing. Like last year, feel free to just compete in individual races that appeal to you, or race the whole series for the chance win a weekend cabin stay at any Virginia State Park.

Race #1: Adventure Race
Saturday March 5, 2016

Scavenger hunt by bike (or run)

The first race of this year’s series will be the Adventure Race 

The best hide and seek game around; the race is sort of a hybrid Orienteering/Scavenger Hunt event. Thirty minutes prior to the race, 8:30 a.m. individuals or teams will be handed the course and flag locations. The race will begin at 9:00 a.m. A special stamp will be in each flag to use on your race card. Without the stamp, you will earn no points. You will have three hours to find as many flags as possible. If you choose to participate as a team, the team must stay together at all times. By having this event in March, we will be able to enjoy cooler (colder?!) weather, and be able to hide the flags deeper in the woods without having to contend with insects and extreme heat. There will be both running and biking categories, which will be further broken down by age, gender, teams/individuals, etc. Come prepared to cover at least 10K worth of trails, with some map reading skills required to find the tougher points off the trails.

Race #2: Adventure Triathlon
Saturday April 23, 2016

Kayaking is just one leg of this off-road triathlon

The second event is the Adventure Triathlon; an off-road triathlon 

We will start at 10:00 a.m. with a seven mile downstream kayak race on the James River, followed by an approximately eight mile mountain bike ride through the park, finished off with a 5K trail run. This is a great introduction to adventure triathlons and warm up for longer races. This event will also offer our Athletes Village: group camping area near Race HQ with full facilities nearby. Individuals and teams are welcome. Teams will split the points evenly with all team members. Last year high water in the river made us convert to a duathlon, which will be the case this year if water levels get too high. 

Race #3: Nighttime 5K Trail Run
Saturday October 15, 2016

The Fall Harvest Festival begins the day and a night race ends it

The final event will be the Nighttime 5K Trail Run, held in conjunction with the Fall Harvest Festival at the park.

The race went so well last year that we plan to run the same course this coming year. The festival will feature live music, Brunswick Stew, and fun for the whole family. The race will start at 7:00 p.m., shortly after dark and is roughly three miles through the park by the light of your headlamp. (Last year we had the race done, awards given out, and everyone on their way home by 9:30 p.m.)

If you register for more than one of these races, you will get a multi-race discount of $5. For more details and race registration information, click here or visit our website. The race series is sponsored by the Friends of James River State Park, Appomattox River Company, James River Association, and Jamerson Building Supply.

Why not make it a family weekend away? 

The park has camp sites as well as cabins available for rent. You can make reservations online or by calling 1-800-933-7275. Click here for more information about what you can find at James River State Park.