[Author’s Note: This article is the fifth in an 11-part series in AJW’s Taproom celebrating under-the-radar races.]
Happening yearly on the second weekend in Might, the Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay runs completely on the rugged and delightful trails of Androscoggin Riverlands State Park in Turner, Maine.
The state’s first 100 miler, Riverlands consists of 4 25-mile loops and has a 32-hour cutoff. The accompanying relay occasion does 5 laps on a barely shorter 20-mile loop that groups of 5 have 32 hours to cowl. The occasion is deliberately small and capped at 80 solo runners and 12 relay groups.
Co-race director Valerie Abradi says, “Our race is small, and over the course of race weekend, each runner turns into our folks. We get to know them by means of the laps and share of their journeys. Our race is deceptively arduous. The elevation achieve is nothing daunting, however there may be nothing flat. Our singletrack is actually New England technical, however the runners don’t even get a lot of a break on the ATV [all-terrain vehicle] sections. It’s not like a golf cart path, however rugged, rocky, and stuffed with foot-grabbing, toe-stubbing rocks.”
The low-key vibe on the Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay makes it a community-oriented and distinctive occasion. All pictures courtesy of Valerie Abradi.
Abradi notes the ambiance on the help stations makes the race particular. “Our help stations are staffed by path runners who know the terrain and perceive what the runners do. Even runners who should drop be certain to search out us to say how great our help stations are. Perhaps our race is old fashioned and small, however we prefer it like that!”
Moreover, Abradi takes delight within the relay occasion, saying, “We initially added the relay pondering we’d not get that many solo runners for a number of years. As soon as we did attain our max, we couldn’t convey ourselves to get rid of the relay. It’s just like the gateway drug to ultras for a lot of, but additionally the longest run or first time operating by means of the evening for others. We love the power and camaraderie the relay runners convey to the occasion.”
As with all extremely, massive or small, Riverlands has confronted its justifiable share of obstacles. For instance, this previous yr, as sometimes occurs to New England occasions, a landowner claimed a piece of the course was on his land and closed it to public use. At that time, Abradi and the co-race director Mindy Slovinski sprang into motion.
“Via lots of effort on our half and good cooperation from the state, we got permission to construct a brand new path. It’s actually arduous to make a brand new path by means of the woods the place years of fallen bushes have made a multitude of the forest. Thankfully, Path Monster Working is a devoted group who put all of the sweat and energy in to chop, clear, and rake the path, ending simply in time for the race this yr.”
Moreover, the spring climate in northern New England is famously unpredictable. Organizers have confronted snow one yr and 90-plus-degree Fahrenheit temperatures the subsequent.
Runners obtain a pre-race briefing from the co-race administrators.
Abradi and her staff preserve their low-key, community-oriented vibe by conserving the race small and involving members of their Path Monster Working membership within the occasion. As well as, they rely closely on their partnership with the native ATV membership.
Abradi says, “We in all probability couldn’t stage the race with out the assist of the Turner Timberland ATV Membership. Mindy and I went to one among their conferences earlier than we’d even found out our race. They had been so curious and into it! In addition to bringing all our gear to our help station in the midst of the course, they ferry provides, volunteers, and runners by means of the complete occasion. In addition they do all of the path work on the ATV path. Final yr, after we had 5 inches of rain only a few days earlier than the race, they had been out doing drainage work for us.”
In a day and age the place path person teams typically discover themselves at odds with each other, Abradi and her staff have cultivated a powerful relationship with the entire person teams within the park, and, consequently, are capable of run a easy, profitable occasion.
The 2024 Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay takes place on Might 10 and 11 and is at present crammed to capability. If a small, grassroots, community-oriented occasion appears best for you in 2025, get “off the radar” and head as much as Maine. You received’t be upset.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Maine Beer Firm in Freeport, Maine.
Mo is a straightforward and scrumptious American pale ale brewed within the basic custom of early American craft beers. Crisp and barely tart, Mo combines a fruity mouthfeel with a wealthy, piney end to hit all of the excessive notes of a well-balanced pale ale.
Name for Feedback
- Do you may have a favourite “off the radar” race?
- What makes your native race stand out from the remainder?
The Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay is sufficiently small that everybody will get to know one another over the weekend.
