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Above + Beyond Adventure Tri

in United States at Water Works Park

Online registration for this event has closed.


  • 2 Person Team
    Both athletes must be 18 or older.

    Online registration is closed for this category.



  • Youth Team
    One athlete age 10-17 and one adult.

    Online registration is closed for this category.



  • 3 Person Team Relay (Kayak, Bike, Run)
    Kayak athlete MUST be 18 or older

    Online registration is closed for this category.



  • Individual

    Online registration is closed for this category.



  • Corporate Challenge - 2 Person Team
    Registration includes a Champion Systems Cycling Jersey (club cut) for both team members.
    Your corporate challenge registration is tax deductible (you will receive a receipt from Above + Beyond Cancer following registration).

    Online registration is closed for this category.



  • WITHDRAWN

    Online registration is closed for this category.




Experience The Adventure

Please join us for the 3rd annual DSM Adventure race, which is now the Above + Beyond Adventure Tri. The race takes place at Water Works Park, in heart of downtown Des Moines. This year adult, youth (teams of 2) & relay teams (teams of 3) will compete October 7th & 8th. Their challenge is the Above + Beyond Adventure Tri, consisting of three events: canoeing, trail running, and road cycling. The event benefits Above + Beyond Cancer, a public charity with a mission to elevate the lives of those touched by cancer, and to create a healthier world. The Above + Beyond Adventure Tri is among the longest races that takes place inside of a single park within the United States. We hope to see you in the race or cheering on the athletes!

Event Details

Adult
1. CANOE
Teams will begin the race with a 2 mile paddle downstream. Each team may bring and use their own canoe, however there will be aluminum canoes available for teams to use. Life jackets must be worn at all times during the canoe section of the race.
2. TRAIL RUN
After exit and securing their canoe, competitors will complete a 4 mile run. The trail follows a mixture of equestrian trails, bike path, and walking paths. The route crosses the Bill Riley Trail Bridge and returns to cross it again to finish the trail running section.
3. ROAD BIKE
Competitors will ride their own road bikes 11 miles through the inner roads of Water Works Park in the final leg of the DSM Adventure Race. The hourglass shaped route will be ridden for 2 laps before continuing along it for another half-mile until the crossing the finish line.

Youth
1. CANOE
Teams will begin the race with a 2 mile paddle. Each team may bring and use their own canoe, however there will be aluminum canoes available for teams to use. Life jackets must be worn at all times during the canoe section of the race.
2. TRAIL RUN
After exit and securing their canoe, competitors will complete a 1.75 mile run. The trail follows a mixture of equestrian trails, bike path, and walking paths.
3. ROAD BIKE
Competitors will ride their own road bikes 5.5 miles through the inner roads of Water Works Park in the final leg of the DSM Adventure Race.

Relay
1. KAYAK
The race will start off with one of the participants kayaking the two mile stretch in the Raccoon River. Life jackets must be worn at all times during the canoe section of the race.
2. TRAIL RUN
After the kayaker exits the water and secures their kayak at the transition area, the next participant will run 4 miles on a path through the woods and open terrain. The trail follows a mixture of equestrian trails, bike path, and walking paths.
3. ROAD BIKE
Once the runner has crossed into the transition area, the next participant will ride their own road bike 11 miles through the inner roads of Water Works Park in the final leg of the DSM Adventure Race.

Course Information

02 MILES CANOEING
The Adventure Tri begins at 10AM in the fast moving water of the Raccoon River, at the west end of Waterworks Park. Entering from the bank, each team will paddle their canoe (canoes,paddle,& PDF's are provided) two miles downstream towards the Bill Riley Trail Bridge.
Navigating tricky sandbars and swift currents while avoiding snags and capsizes, a total of 6 bends await each team. After passing under the rustic pedestrian bridge, the take-out point is only a slight bend away. Paddlers will pull out sharply onto the south bank (right side), and begin the second section of the race.

04 MILES TRAIL RUNNING
Once a team makes it ashore successfully, they will begin the trail running portion of the race. Their route begins by backtracking along the south bank of the Raccoon River along Grays Lake Drive. A sharp right brings the runners across the Bill Riley Trail Bridge.
Another right turn after crossing over the footbridge leads them onto the equestrian trails.A total of four miles of scenic, wooded trail running awaits each competitor. This section concludes once the route loops back across the bridge where runners will transition to the final element.

11 MILES ROAD CYCLING
The final leg of the Adventure Tri will be completed on smoothly paved roads. Competitors will race road bikes around the inside of the western half of Water Works Park, following along the Raccoon River before looping through the broad green fields and wooded sections of the public park.

The route returns back to the section’s starting point where competitors will begin a second lap. After completing a second lap, the route continues a short stretch into a third lap where the racers will cross the finish line near the waters edge for a total of 11 miles of peddling, and an overall race total of 17 miles.

Sponsors



FAQ

Q: How does the "team aspect" work?
A: Teammates must stick together! Teams must start and finish each transition together. Teammates must stay within 100' of each other. Teammates should work together to push one another for the best time possible. Teams will officially 'finish' the race once both competitors have crossed the finish line.

Q: Can teams bring their own canoe?
A: Yes! During registration teams can opt to bring their own canoe. Otherwise, aluminum canoes will be provided, courtesy of Argo Adventures.

Q: How long will this thing take?
A: As long as you make it! Depending on your abilities, this race can last anywhere between 2-4 hours!

Q: Where is my money going?
A: Good question, glad you asked! Proceeds from DSM Adventure Race go to Above + Beyond Cancer, a Des Moines based non-profit devoted to inspiring healthy living while leading cancer survivors on incredible adventures. It's an incredible organization, really, we encourage you to check them out!

For event related questions please click on the Contact the Organizers button on the left-hand side of this page.


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