So called "multisport" racing is very popular in New Zealand and was one of the forerunners of what we now call "adventure racing". Racers traversed the island by bike, boat and foot, and these races combined the best elements of both triathlon and adventure racing. Longer than an Ironman and way faster than most conventional adventure races, the Great Coast to Coast Multisport Race Across Ohio will be no different.

Racers will begin on the shore of Lake Erie at 06:00 Saturday morning and have until 6:00 pm. Sunday evening to cross the state of Ohio under their own power. All of the bike riding is on roads; some paved and some gravel. There is a paddling section that can be completed by the racer's choice of canoe or kayak. Passing through an urban area, participants will "break things up" a little bit with an inline skate or scooter segment, and there will be plenty of trekking, some on country lanes and some on hiking trails.

We have found that it is impossible to give very detailed information about the exact route. Not only would it spoil some of the adventure, but trying to coordinate the road repair activities of state, county and innumerable municipal highway departments is next to impossible. Just about the time that we think we have the perfect course laid out, we show up for a final check a week before the race and find a bridge out or some other type of road closure.

There are two basic team configurations:
Conventional teams - Teams of one to five people travel together as a team and all of them complete all portions of the course together, Solos are a part of the conventional team category, but with regards to awards, will be in a sperate subclass.
Relay teams - Unlimited in size, team members take turns completing race segments. For example, team members A, B & C complete the first bike leg while team member D drives the support vehicle. At the transition area (T/A), team member D joins the bike crew while team members B & C take a turn riding in the car. At the paddling leg, team members A & C take over while the rest of the team drives the support vehicle and rests. Relay teams may either have a separate support crew or may alternate driving with racing. The only stipulation is that team substitutions take place only at official T/As.

The awards categories are subdivided according to how many people we get in each of the classifications, and usually go three deep. We try and recognize as many racers as we can, however if the category has less than 5 teams, that category will be rolled up into the next applicable category. In other words, it's not really meaningful to award a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd if there are only three teams in that classification.

...capable of shuttling their gear from place to place and return them home at the end of the race. Teams may arrange to share support services; for example, one crew may support two solo racers, or a team and a solo.

There is no required gear other than what s required by law and by our insurance carrier, to wit:

• Helmet while on the bike or skates
• Lights on bike and boat after dark
• PFD while on the water

Teams may use any type of bike they wish to ride, including road, MTB, cyclocross or tandem. Teams may have more than one bike and switch between them at will.

Each team be provided with a complete set of maps, but you are welcome to use any other additional maps that you may wish to carry. The supplied maps will be of a variety of styles and scales suitable for the task at hand. It is suggested that your support crew carry an Ohio Gazetteer should they need to leave the area to resupply. Cell phones are encouraged. Radios and GPS units are permitted as well.

For the most part, the course is unmarked and you will need to navigate a prescribed course from start to finish. With the exception of the river paddling and a section of paved railtrail, the navigation will be on roads and is not particularly difficult. Your support crew may help with navigation as you see fit.

 

The Ohio Gazetteer can be found at most book stores, outdoor stores and other locations in Ohio and the surrounding states. It has detailed road maps down to the level of township roads and is indespensible for all of your Ohio outdoor adventures. Retials for around $20 and well worth it.

Please register on or before to receive a high-quality wicking event T-shirt.

ENTRY FEE

Solo	$95
2 person team	$110 ($55/person)
3 person team	$150 ($50/person)
4 person team	$180 ($45/person)

The cost per person is $95. Relay teams receive a discount (2pp=$150, 3pp=$225, 4pp=$300, 5pp=$375, 6pp (or more)=$450. All members of the relay team must register together to receive the discount.

Boat rental (first come - first served) is $50/boat including PFDs and paddles. Sorry to have to price them so high, but there are no nearby boat outfitters and Shawnee Canoe livery has to charge extra for the costs associated with transporting them half way across the state. We encourage you to find your own local supplier and work out the best deal you can with him. (list of Ohio canoe liveries

There is a late registration fee of $10/person after Aug 25, so don't wait too long to sign up.

Please read the refunds policy before registering.

There are plenty of motels in Huron and along the Lake Erie shoreline. They are likely to be crowded and most racers find that the town of Norwalk, about 15 miles inland is a better location for a quiet night before the race.

QUESTIONS?...contact the race director

Just exactly what kind of race is this? It doesn't really seem like an adventure race...
   Well, it's kind of like whatever you want it to be...
Although it might nor seem like your traditional adventure race, there's no way that you and your team can make it across the entire state on your own without running into some real live adventure of your own. In this race, WE don't supply the adventure - YOU do. Whether it be stopping at an Amish farmer's place to pump water from their well, or encountering an overly friendly drunk on the Zanesville waterfront park at 02:00, we can just about guarantee that you will have something unusual to talk about when you limp into the office on Tuesday morning.

What does the support crew do?
The support crew is there to transport your bikes, boat and other gear from place to place and to drive you home from Belpre after the race. They really don't have to do much, but for some teams they are an indespensible part of the team and help with everything from navigating to bike repair.

A unique feature of this race is that in the relay team classification, the support crew can actually be a racing member of the team and alternate with other racers on the team between driving, racing and resting in the car.

What is the difference between the different team classifications?
In the 'conventional team' classification, each member of the team races through the entire course.

In the 'relay team' classification, team members alternate and complte different sections of the course in relay fashionWhat is an "Ohio Gazetteer? The Ohio Gazetteer is a tabloid sized book that has detailed maps of all of the backroads in Ohio, right down to the level of little tiny gravel township roads. It is handy for all of you Ohio outdoor adventures nad an indespensible aid for the support crews in the Ohio C2C. The Ohio Gazetteer can be found at most bookstores, outdoors/sporting goods stores or travel emporia in Ohio and the surrounding states.