FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
REGISTRATION
How do I pay for
registration? Online
registration through Active.com is preferred. The second
option is a
check or money order, made out to Madness Adventure Racing
Association, to the address on the registration form.
What if I forgot to
include the liability waivers with my registration? Please
print the forms and bring them the day of the event. There
will be forms at the check-in table. You must have a form on
file to participate in this event.
PRE-RACE
What gear do I need
to bring?
Please see the link at right for the mandatory and
recommended gear list.
What time should I
arrive at the event site?
The transition and staging area will open at 5:30 a.m. Check-in for the long course will
begin at 6:00 am; check-in for the short course will begin
at 7:30 am. You should arrive sometime within an hour or two
before your event.
What do I do when I
arrive? Drive
to the Transition Area for Registration & Event Check-In. At
the TA, a volunteer will assist you with registration,
check-in and assure your information is correct on the
registration form. You will receive your race number and
sponsor swag bag. Your number must be securely fastened to
the front of your jersey throughout the race. Once your gear
is stowed, drive to the Staging Area and park. Volunteers
will direct you to the starting line.
STAGING &
TRANSITION AREAS
What is the Staging
Area? This is where participant parking,
event headquarters, and the race start and finish line
will be located.
What is the
Transition Area?
This is where registration will take place. It is also where
your bikes will be staged for the event. You
will transition between the bike and trek events here. This
is where you'll put your bike and place all your race
needs, such as your helmet, gloves, shoes, etc.
Will my bike be
secure? Yes. We have staff and volunteers in the
transition area. Only participants are allowed in the
transition area. Of course, if someone wants something bad
enough, they will get in. There are hundreds of races
throughout the country on any given weekend and there are
very few cases of bikes being taken.
What should I use
in the transition area? Most athletes will use a
small towel to place their items on; this will go below your
bike. You can put anything you need on that towel.
What should I do
before the race? You need to stage your bike gear
in the Transition Area. Identify the in and out
chutes. Walk to the Staging Area before your event
begins. Orient yourself to where you are on the map. Study
the course and get a clear picture of where you are in
relation to the Transition Area.
Can I ride in the
Transition Area? No, you may not ride in the
Transition Area. You must walk your bike completely over the
line before you can mount. You must dismount before the line
and then walk back to your spot on the rack. Your helmet
must be buckled before you mount and must remain buckled
until you are off the bike.
When will I know
what to do before the race? The schedule of events
will be posted. There will be an event MC making
announcements and there will be volunteers available for
questions.
EVENT (BIKING &
TREKKING)
What is trekking?
Trekking is a combination of hiking and trail running.
Depending on personal fitness levels, distance, and terrain
features, it may be advisable to walk on sections of the
trail. There are several portions of this course where the
trail narrows and careful foot placement is critical to
avoid injury. Safety trumps speed.
Are bike helmets
mandatory? Yes! You must wear your helmet and the helmet
strap must be buckled at all times you are on the bike.
There are no exceptions.
What type of
clothing should I wear? Wear
what you train in. It should be comfortable, light and made
of moisture wicking. This is a rain or shine event, so check
the forecast and be prepared for any kind of weather.
Can I wear a
personal music player like an iPod or MP3 player on
the bike or trek course? No! This will be strictly
monitored. You must be aware of your surroundings at all
times and wearing a musical device is a significant
distraction that is dangerous, not only for you, but for
others as well.
Can I have a friend
hand me a bottle of water or food while racing on the
course? You may get food from a teammate. No
outside assistance is allowed. If you think you will need
food on the course, you must pack it.
What if I have
technical problems on the bike? You may get help
from a team mate, participating team or race official. No
assistance outside the team is allowed. You must fix the
bike yourself. If your bike cannot be fixed, you will need
to figure out, as a team, how to continue on with your bike,
or find the next Course Monitor and let them know you are
dropping out of the race. If you drop out of the race, your
team with be designated "Did Not Place," or "Did Not Finish"
depending on whether they decide to keep riding. If an event
mechanical tent is provided, they may assist you.
Are there water
stations on the course? Yes and no. Participants
are required to carry a hydration system capable of holding
24 to 32 ounces of liquid (i.e., hydration pack, bike cage
water bottle, hip pack, etc.). The Transition Area will have
water buckets and Heed available for refills. Each of the
aid stations will have a limited supply of water and should
not be used as a 'water station,' unless it is an emergency.
Are there aid
stations on the course? Yes. There will be aid
stations with a limited supply of water and medical
personnel at designated points on the course. Each aid
station will have the capability of contacting the command
post.
Are orienteering or
map reading skills required? Orienteering
- No; basic map reading - Yes (envision a big x with 'you
are here' written under it). There will be course maps provided; however, no
technical map reading
skills will be required to follow the map. It is the
participant's responsibility to know the course. There are
maps on this Web site, the courses will be color coded, and
the course will be marked with surveyor's stakes, surveyor's
tape, volunteers, signs, etc.
If you get lost, we
may have a special prize for you!.
Are there toilets
out on the course? There
are toilets in the Staging Area, the Transition Area, and at
several points along the course.
Will the course be
closed to traffic? No. The event has been posted
at the park entrances and trail heads. These are multi-use
trails and the course is open to the public. Please be aware
of trail courtesy. Horses have right-of-way. Hikers are
next; bikers last.
What do I do if I
go off course? You need to turn around and go
back on the course the exact same way you went off. If you
cut the course in any way heading back on course, you will
be disqualified. There will be no time adjustment. Again, it
is your responsibility to know the course.
Can I use a
speedometer, heart rate monitor or pacing device during the
run/ride? Yes.
Will
soloists be able to complete the 'mystery events' by
themselves? Soloists will have a volunteer to assist them in
completing the mystery events as required.
How do we "pass the
baton" to our teammate? The
race passport will act as the "baton." You must physically
transfer the passport from one team mate to the other.
Hopefully, your team mate is staged and waiting for you to
get there.
EVENT FINISH
What do I do when I
cross the finish line? The
Line judges will make sure they have your team number
correct and then you may proceed to the Staging Area for
refreshments. If you won a door prize, it will be available
for pick-up. The charity raffle will be conducted prior to
the awards being handed out.
How do I get my
results? There
are preliminary results posted in the Results Area, near the
refreshments. The final official results will be posted on
the Web site.
Why is my time not
in the results? Typically it is due to
misinformation related to the participant's information.
This problem can be prevented if you fill out every part of
the registration and double-check the Participant List to
make sure all the information is correct. Find a volunteer
from check-in to assist you.
Why is one of my
splits missing?
This can happen for any number of reasons. If you came
across the line with a number of other racers, it is
possible that your number was missed. Please insure that
timers can see your race number as you enter and exit the
course. We do our best, but if this occurs, please don't let
it ruin your experience.
What do I do if I
am in the top three finishers? You must be
present in order to receive your award. We will, under no
circumstances, mail your award.
What if I left
after the race and found out later I was a top three
finisher? First, congratulations! We do not
mail awards for any reason. You must be present to get your
award.
MISCELLANEOUS
What if I can't
race or the race is cancelled? There will be no
refunds of any kind. This is a charity event with very
narrow margins. We have done everything in our power to
carefully plan this event and assure its success. This event
will go rain or shine, unless circumstances beyond our
control dictate otherwise. Again, there will be no refunds.
Do I have to be
present to win a raffle prize? No. This is the
only exception. If you win a raffle prize, we will contact
you and make arrangements for you to pick it up.
Are we covered by
event insurance? Yes. However, this
insurance is secondary to your own individual health
insurance.
Can I purchase a
raffle ticket when I register? Yes. Indicate the number
of raffle tickets you would like to purchase, include the
money for the tickets with your registration fees and the
tickets will be given to you at check-in on event day.
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