I’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the Adventure24 this year. Why? To be honest, the passion and heart just isn’t there right now. Putting on an event like this, the passion and heart just have to be there.

When Cathi and I started Adventure24 scouting in 2004 she lived just down the street from me and we got together to look over maps and planned the areas we wanted to visit. Scouting a new area is an adventure itself. You’re exploring new land and seeing sights you’ve never seen before. Those scouting trips were exciting.

Times have changed since those early days. Cathi lives in Chattanooga and I’m married and living in a 70 year old house. Trips to scout for the race used to be time away from my empty condo which required very little attention. Now scouting trips are time away from my new wife and our home that needs way more attention that I ever expected. I’m also in the process of getting back into school to finish up my masters degree that I started a few years ago. Needless to say, the amount of free time I have has been drastically reduced and I need to prioritize.

What does the future hold for Checkpoint Adventures? Well, the UOG is just a few weeks away and it will be a great event. Patrick and I have been hard at work placing checkpoints in Prentice Cooper gearing up for what again will be an event to talk about. As for the Adventure24, it might return one day. If it does return, it will be in a new location because part of the enjoyment of race directing is seeing and experiencing new areas. There might even be some new events and new people in the coming years. If you are interested in helping plan an event but don’t know where to start, contact me and we’ll talk. We’re on the lookout for a few good men or women to keep you adventurous types busy.

As for me, I’ll be spending less time working on events and more time out on the trails myself. I dusted off my mountain bike last weekend on a nice 9 hour bike/push suffer-fest that reminded me of the first NGAR I raced in (the snow edition). My teammate and I called that NGAR “Nature Walk with our Bike” because we pushed our bikes as much as we rode them that day. Last weekend was the same way, I even ran out of water like I did at that NGAR (where my water frozen and I got dehydrated). I’m also going to go camping and sit around the fire and drink some beers with my friends. And for once, it won’t be a camping trip revolved around scouting the area. See you around, and hopefully at the starting line again.

I’ll have the inside scoop on the 2008 USARA National Championship Race. How? I’ve been selected as the course consultant for the 2008 race which will take place in GA. So what exactly is my involvement? Basically I’ll be given the course from the course designer and I’ll be in charge of making sure it meets certain USARA guidelines. I’ll also give my input on possible changes to the course if I feel those guidelines aren’t being met. In addition, I’ll also verify the race checkpoints. I’ve been sitting on this news for a while while everything was approved behind the scenes. Needless to say I’m pretty excited and I looking forward to seeing what takeaways I can bring from this event to Checkpoint Adventures.

Our very own Cathi Cannon was recently featured in Competitor Southeast Magazine with a very nice two page article. With hard work, Cathi has improved steadily over the last few years and has become a force in the SE as a multi-sport athlete. But Cathi, where’s the Checkpoint Adventures shout out in the article? Just kidding. The article is a good one and worth the read. You can read the entire article online here or pick up the April issue if they are still out. Way to go Cathi!

We have been hard at work to bring you another great Ultra O-gaine this year. Although there are always “hiccups” involved with planning these types of events, they are usually transparent to the participants. We’ve hit a “hiccup” that we feel won’t be resolved within a time-frame needed to give us and particpants time to plan appropriately. We have been told that due to the increased number of requests to use the privately owned Pine Log area for endurance events such as UOG, the GA DNR is currently undergoing a review of their permitting process. Unfortunately, the DNR cannot approve any event permits until this review is complete. With the June 8th event date fast approaching, we have decided to seek an alternate location for UOG 2007. Although we are disappointed that we won’t be back at Pine Log this year, we are excited to announce that we have obtained approval to hold UOG 2007 in Prentice Cooper State Forest near Chattanooga, TN. Prentice Cooper offers an additional 10,000 acres vs Pine Log, specatular views high above the TN River, much larger areas for parking and Hash House, and primitive camping for folks that want to get some sleep after the event.

We’re also going to extend pre-registration an extra week for anyone that wants to jump in due to the new location. You’ll save $10 per person if you register before April 30th.

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Kevin and Patrick

Registration for the 2007 Adventure24 Adventure Race is now open.

What: Up to 24hrs of mountain biking, navigation, paddling, and trekking in BEAUTIFUL Cherokee National Forest in Southeastern Tennessee.
When: July 20-22, 2007
Where: Benton, TN
Teams: Solos and teams of 4

Solos use up to two support crew members and teams of 4 use a revolving door system where 3 race and one supports while switching teammates in and out at any TA. The elite division is the coed team of 4. There is a cash purse of at least $1,000 for the elite division, which will increase as the number of teams register. Sponsor prizes given to same sex and other division winners.

The Adventure24 is part of the Checkpoint Tracker National Points Series so family and friends can watch your progress at home. You’ll also earn points for the Checkpoint Tracker National Points Series if you are competing in the series.

Using the 4 person teams, this is a great event for someone to get their feet wet in AR or to try out a longer race without racing the entire time! Novices and experts alike enjoy racing this format and if you’ve never raced this format it’s a good time for everyone. If you want to race a 24hr event but aren’t sure if you can race for an entire 24hrs, THIS is the event for you.

There are a limited number of slots available and the solo division is also limited (total of 40 teams). After May 21st, the prices go up $25 for each division so sign up early for the cheaper registration price. There is also a TBARC discount available.

For more information and to register, visit the website here.

We hope to see you in TN in July!