| CONTACT INFO |
Questions regarding the race and volunteer or sponsorship opportunities can
be directed to the race director,
Ken Radley
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| SITE UPDATES |
12/10/09 |
Registration is Open |
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On Saturday, May 15th, 2004, the second annual Greenway Challenge Adventure Race
brought in a sellout crowd of 50 teams of 3, from ten different states, to the North Chickamauga
Creek Greenway Farm in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Six miles of mountain biking, three miles of paddling and five miles
of running confronted the teams on a beautiful spring day. Six mystery events were interspersed throughout the race
forcing teams to work together and use brains instead of brawn to complete the tasks. The race started out with the
"Chopsticks" mystery event where teams had to carry a tennis ball across the field using the ends of the long wooden
dowels given to each team member. Hopping on their bikes they then made their way out of the Greenway Farm and onto
the TWRA farm tract to the north and then completed the loop by returning to the main transition area in the Farm.
Before teams could get in their boats they were confronted with the "Weighed Down" mystery event. Accuracy and strategy
were at play here as teams had three chances to throw beanbags into rings varying in distance from the throw line.
Hand weights were given to teams with the weight dependent on the success of their beanbag tosses. Getting the beanbag in
the farthest ring meant no weight at all but not getting them in any of the rings resulted in five pounds of extra weight
for the rest of the race. After a quick boat portage to the creek, teams began the three-mile paddle down the beautiful North
Chickamauga Creek. Wobbly legs and wet shoes were the order of the day as teams pulled their boats out of the south end
of the creek and began the running section. After a tough climb in and out of the Boy Scout Trail and then up to the top
of the rock quarry, teams hit the ropes course section of the race. Fatigue was a factor as racers had to traverse the
balance tests on the low ropes course and then work together to get themselves over the ten foot wall before continuing
down the back side of the quarry. With only a mile of running left in the race the teams were faced with the "Blind Rat Maze"
where one teammate was blindfolded and placed into a life-size maze complete with booby traps and dead ends. His or her teammates
would guide them through the maze vocally. Once out of the maze the teams continued running around the wildflower field knowing that
the end was in sight. Only one obstacle remained, a twelve-foot wall on a twenty-degree angle lathered up with
slippery suds and affectionately known as the "Slippery Wall". Teamwork was a must and teams that had finished the race came
back out to help trailing teams over the monster in the true spirit of adventure racing. Once over the wall it was just
another few steps to the finish line. For some, it was just another adventure race, but for others it was the completion
of a dream. For everyone though, it was a heck of a lot of fun.
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