(from website) We have had so much fun with the Iron Ranger Challenge since 2016 we thought we would extend it into 2018. The challenge for 2018 will be to complete 100 miles of physical activity on any public lands within the state of Arkansas. This means any activity you do in an Arkansas National Park, Arkansas State Park, US Forest Service site, National Wildlife Refuge site, Army Corps of … [Read more...]
Water-Logged USA Triathlon Off-Road Nationals a Success | DirtTRI
June 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
We couldn't make it to the Off-Road Triathlon Nationals at Iron Mountain this year but here is a great article from Dirt Tri Magazine. Similar to last year, massive rains mixed things up for the athletes. But unlike last year, the rain came on race day this time around. Athletes fought their way through rain, mud, thunder, and amazing single track as they completed a 1500m swim, 32km … [Read more...]
Back to Back on the Back 40
December 28, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Plans for a group trip to the inaugural Back 40 Trail Weekend were in place; there would be trail running on Saturday and a mountain bike race on Sunday. A weekend cold front arrived with subfreezing wind chills and a forecast for rain. Our group of six arrived at the out of the way AirBnB rental within sight of War Eagle Creek only to find it dark and cold due to an unexpected electrical outage. … [Read more...]
Fayetteville Race Series
July 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Fayetteville Parks and Recreation is launching a new program, the Fayetteville Race Series. This series is be comprised of annual events that vary between running, cycling, and multisport activities. Each event differs from the others and offers something for everyone. Until now, Parks and Recreation has not offered programs of the racing nature. In a place like Fayetteville, where beautiful parks … [Read more...]
The Inaugural Brewha Bushwhack
March 27, 2015 By Leave a Comment
It’s March 21st early on a Saturday morning at Byrd's Adventure Center, the day is just getting started and it’s still a bit cold with the sun behind the clouds. There is excitement in the air, no one knows quite how this event is going to go. Race organizers Pack Rat Outdoor Center kept everything very secret. All the teams are in front of the pavilion anxiously waiting for Rick to call the teams … [Read more...]
Recreation: A Family Affair
March 25, 2015 By 2 Comments
Remember how it feels to be excluded, or feeling less than adequate because you haven’t quite mastered a skill? Perfection, accomplishment, praise, recognition, attention drives you to keep trying, practicing, learning, reaching, for some sense of mastery. Current research indicates many positive health outcomes resulting from participation in recreational programs. Among these health outcomes … [Read more...]
Springtime Racing at Lake Atalanta
March 20, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Race director, Tracy Byrd, contacted me earlier in the year asking me to make sure the Lake Atalanta Trail and Road Duathlon made it on the calendar. I was intrigued. I had heard of some new mountain bike trails at Lake Atalanta in Rogers, Arkansas and was looking for an opportunity to try them. Due to lingering Achilles tendon issues I am still sidelined from running, but this event was open to … [Read more...]
Adventure Within Adventure
March 19, 2015 By 1 Comment
The car in front of us suddenly slams on the brakes and slides quickly into the neighboring lane between two cars, leaving us no choice but to hit the mattress lying in the middle of I-40. Bodies bounced, cupcakes that had been carefully placed on a cake plate also bounced, leaving the icing splattered all over the inside of the carrier. In trying to fix the upended cupcakes, icing ended up in the … [Read more...]
Atalanta, from Greece to Rogers
February 10, 2015 By 1 Comment
He looked up from his laptop and said "There's a duathlon at Lake Atalanta the day after the Styx N Stones trail race." My immediate response was "On or off-road?" "There's a choice" he said, "you can do either." This is intriguing. My first experience with Lake Atalanta was a couple of years ago when I was in search of a morning run route before heading over to the State Championship … [Read more...]
Going Urban at Raid the Rock
October 30, 2014 By Leave a Comment
The first Raid the Rock Adventure Race back in 2001 started with a bike ride up a parking deck in downtown Little Rock and ended with a rappel out of the tower at the old YMCA on Broadway. In between there was a hike up and over Pinnacle Mountain, a long mountain biking section that took us on only a little bit of dirt in Allsopp Park and on the west end of Walton Heights. It was a fairly urban … [Read more...]
