by Jess Evans
January, 10 2019
This past weekend was a slam dunk for the outdoor community. Shawn and Dallas had a stellar line-up of speakers including Explore Kentucky, ACA paddling tips, Ultra Running, Orienteering, Mountain Biking Tips and so much more. Everything you would need to know before you hit the outdoors. I have been adventure racing for 10 years, and this was extremely helpful. I know there is still a ton more I need to learn to be a better racer and outdoors woman.
Gerry James from Explore Kentucky opened the conference with his inspiring anecdotes of becoming an outdoor advocate in Kentucky. He emphasized the importance of recreation and conservation, which are two themes I am also passionate about. Then Brian Holzhausen from DINOseries.com jumped right into Adventure Racing 101. He did an excellent job with explaining the many facets of adventure racing. Anyone uncertain about what AR is should listen to his presentation. It was spot on. As the day wore on, we discussed “in field” bike repairs, orienteering, how to take better pictures (one I could really use some guidance on), bike packing, mountain biking basics, how to navigate during the day and night, and what to do with our common aches and pains. The day ended with two inspirational speakers, one on defining success in an ultra race and the other on sticking it out when times get tough in an endurance race. All the speakers were very knowledgeable and lots of fun.
Now I must take all this new information and put it to work. I have several pages of notes to dive into. Luckily, it is January, so I can start working all of this into my daily routines making it second nature, and be ready for my first race in March with less pain and more skills. Please check out the Facebook, Instagram, and web pages of all the speakers and sponsors. Go to the AR Clinic page to access those links. We learned a lot, and we want to share the knowledge.
