THE SAVAGE
APRIL 24, 2005

6 HOUR ADVENTURE SPRINT RACE
CHESTER COUNTY, PA

The Savage Adventure Race set the tone for the GOALS Adventure Racing Association’s 2005 season with 71 teams and 177 racers coming together to test their spirits in Hibernia County Park, Chester County, PA. Teams were immediately challenged at the start of the race, with the exact sequence of events being determined by how they completed the first water-filled shuttle run. Teamwork and stress levels got a kick-start in the first few minutes of the race.

Once their first section was known, teams proceeded onto the race course. The race was filled with an obstacle course; paddling section that included a remote checkpoint and a floating buoy; a combination of road and trail biking that included more than one stream crossing; and an orienteering section that really made use of the available terrain. For a 20-mile sprint race, teams were hit with all of the elements of a bigger, wilderness race. The challenges may have been shorter, but they were by no means watered down.

Teams were able to make route decisions and route mistakes. More than one team was confronted with having to retrace their route to hit checkpoints that they clearly misread on the maps. More than one team found themselves in waist high water during the stream crossings. In recent years many sprint race formats have been less about adventure and more about pure speed. The Savage really put the adventure back into Sprint Adventure Racing.

The race drew racers with all levels of experience. Some racers were brand new to the sport. They came to experience the thrill and see how they measured up. Some teams were made of racers who had multiple expedition and international races in their resume. One of the greatest aspects of this sport, for me, is the proximity that newer racers have to the more elite racers. With some exceptions, in road races, most people would never even get a glimpse of the superstars. In adventure racing, you not only see them, they might even be the team that throws you an extra inner-tube along the course.

The enthusiasm of both the racers and the volunteer staff was energetic. Teams were met by cheering spectators and volunteers at the transition area and at the finish. The mix of toothy smiles and muddy, scraped bodies showed that every racer was in their glory. The weather could not have been more perfect for this type of event. The predicted thunderstorms had moved out as predicted. Teams were faced with temperatures in the low 50’s, which turned colder toward the end of the race. The recent rain provided some of the best parts of the trail sections, with running streams and not-so-sticky mud.

This race benefited the American Cancer Society, and the teams were able to raise $4200 for this great cause! 100% of the pledge monies went to the charity.