Long Island Adventure Race 

Summary

The LIOC is trying to make history again, this time by organizing Long Island’s first true Adventure Race.  This 6-hour race is suitable for beginners, and the optional checkpoints, which lengthens and increases the difficulty, makes it challenging for seasoned racers.  We’ll paddle the Nissequogue River on the outgoing tide for about 5/6 (mandatory/total) miles, mountain bike about 7/11 miles through the Nissequogue River (NRSP) the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center and over to and through Sunken Meadow State Park (SM) and back to NRSP, then trek about 4/6 miles through the NRSP.  Racers will write the codes they find on orange streamers for both mandatory and optional checkpoints on their “Control sheets.”

If not doing the entire Adventure Race, you can do parts .  Start kayak at 10am or start mountain bike or foot by 1pm and finish by 3pm. 

We will rent boats (included in entry fee) from Linda's Company, 631-979-8244, who will shuttle you either to Paul Givens Park if doing the entire race, or back to your car if only doing the Kayak-O. http://www.canoerentals.com/

How to pre-register:

1. Print and sign LIOC entry form/waiver

2. Print and sign kayak rental waiver.  We encourage everyone to rent double kayaks (faster with 2 people, cheaper, and levels the playing field)

3. Email the forms above to GMalings@gmail.com or mail them to Glen Malings, 19 Black Rock Road, Glen Head, NY 11545

4. Payment: via Zelle 516-477-0852 or paper check to address above. Entire Adventure Race fee $100 ($60 if you're using your own boat).  Kayak only would be $90, bike and/or trek only would be $30.  Early birds (before Labor Day) will get a $10 discount and LIOC members get another $10 discount.

Race Day details

There is a Dunkin Donuts on Pulaski Road just south of Main St for anyone needing coffee before the race,  The bathrooms in the NYS DEC building (on your left after entering the park) and the Administration building (at the bottom of the hill across the circle) should be open. There is also a Porta-Potty near the Transition Area.

We'll meet at the Nissequogue River State Park at 7:45am (Park starts charging at 8) in the NW parking lot (see map).  We’ll hand out final maps and “Control sheets” that you’ll write onto as you find each control checkpoint.  We'll leave our cars, with bikes locked up, or not, and take the Kayak Rental shuttle to Paul Givens Park.  If you have your own boat, you can drop it off at Paul Givens, then drive one car back to NRSP and take the shuttle back.  

High tide is at 9:36am so we'll start with a prologue to string people out so there's not a pile up at the kayak start.  There will be mandatory and optional checkpoints (streamers hung with codes written on them) along the river before ending at the bluff below our cars.  As you approach the marina, you’ll see at least one building from the old Kings Park Psychiatric Center on the hill that you’ll be biking and trekking past later in your journey.  The rental company employees will take their kayaks; private boats can be left on the side and someone will watch them (It’s about a ¼ mile portage to the public parking lot to load your kayak after the race).  Run up the hill to our cars where we grab our bikes.  

Next, we ride through the old Kings Park Psychiatric Center, find checkpoints hidden amongst the abandoned buildings and trails, exit the park, ride ½ mile through a neighborhood, and enter SM at Kohr Road, across from Twin Oaks Drive.  We explore the trail systems in 3 sections of SM. We cross 25A twice and ask that you stay off Sunken Meadow Parkway.  We take Sunken Meadow Road back to NRSP (please obey traffic rules). Secure your bikes, re-fuel, and put on your running shoes.  For novice riders hesitant of steep downhills, it is advisable to do the bike loop counter-clockwise.  For expert riders, it's faster to do the entire loop clockwise, including the area to the west of Main St to avoid going uphill in the soft sand.

Next, we trek around more abandoned buildings in both sections of the NRSP on either side of St. Johnland Road.  The section of the NRSP map SW of St Johnland Road is brand new and may not have all the features on it so feel free to criticize, er suggest improvements, to it.  Some of the trails in that area are blazed with pink ribbons by a rogue MTB trail builder and all trails there are unofficial, so far.

Finally, treat yourself to some standard after race fare provided by the race committee.  Please feel free to bring your own favorite post-race beverages.  We’ll have an awards ceremony at 3:30 for the following 7 categories: Overall male, female, Masters (over 50) male & female, male team. female team, and co-ed team.  As usual, the most points (1 per control) wins, with time breaking any ties.  Currently we have 11 controls (7M and 4O) on the Kayak, 32 controls (16 each) on the bike, and 18 controls (9 each) on the trek.  We’ll post full results during the week on our website.

Post Race

Definitely check for ticks or other critters.  

If you enjoyed the race, please post your comments and pictures on our Facebook page. 

If you have suggestions for improvement, please send your comments to me.

Hope to see you there!!!

Glen 

516-477-0852