After Dᴀʀk is a USARA-sanctioned adventure race designed specifically for night racing. In partnership with Mark of TanZ Navigation, this event is centered around a night navigation clinic before the race, giving you the tools and confidence to move, think, and make decisions after dark.
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LENGTH:12 Hour Cutoff
DISCIPLINES: Navigating • Biking • Trekking • Paddling
DISTANCES: ballpark estimates coming soon
WHERE: Redbird Purchase area (S/F at Buckhorn Lake State Park)
WHEN: Saturday, August 22
WHO: The 12-hour race is open to solos and teams.THE COURSE:
This is a navigation-first night race built around gaining confidence with an included Night-Nav clinic by an expert in our sport. You’ll travel on and off trail under headlamp on a thoughtfully designed course. The focus is learning to move well in the dark, with a mix of confidence-builder checkpoints and more challenging points that let you test what you’ve learned.COST: $165
|| REGISTRATION IS OPEN ||
Registration Closes: August 17
No-pressure pricing here. Sign up when you’re ready to commit to adventure - the price stays the same, just watch the swag deadline if you want one! -
Registration Includes
Expert instruction from Mark Lattanzi focused on navigating and racing after hours
Premium race-branded swag (exact item announced later - think a Night Kit™)
Boat rentals available during registration, or BYOB
Waterproof maps (with the option to add extra map sets)
A progressively challenging course designed to build and test night skills
Perfectly placed checkpoints
Post-race meal
If racing at night has been your missing piece, this is the event to work it out.
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Saturday — August 22
Gear Staging: 2:00–7:00 PM
Night-Nav Clinic: 4:00-7:00PM
Check-In + Maps: 7:30 PM
Race Start: 9:00 PM
Race Cutoff: 9:00 AM (Sunday)
Night-Nav Clinic
Before the race, we’re hosting a night navigation clinic led by Mark Lattanzi of TanZ Navigation - one of the most respected voices in adventure racing and navigation.
Mark has raced, designed, and taught navigation around the world, is a founding member of USARA, and is the author of Squiggly Lines, the go-to book on adventure race navigation. This clinic is focused specifically on moving and navigating confidently after dark. Practical, clear, and immediately useful once the headlamps turn on.
Included with registration.
“Hear the evening breezes start to blowing
See the evening shadows start to come
Listen to the nightbirds start their singing
Now the sounds of night have just begun”
FAQ
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Stay right at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park and step out to the Start!
To book lodging, call the Park directly at 606-398-7510 and let them know you’re with Group Block “361 ADVENTURES”.
This block will be released on July 21, so make sure to secure your reservations early! -
Checkout this page from USARA, How to Get Started in Adventure Racing. It has great info and links to additional resources. Then get ready to be transformed by the sport of AR.
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Rentals will be available with price and availability listed in the registration page.
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More details will roll out as we get closer. We’ll send a Racer Communication with the essentials before race week. For now, train a bit, and be ready to find checkpoints in the dark.
As always, it takes a solid volunteer crew to make these things work! If you can’t race it, or you know of anyone that just wants to spend a night outside - we’d love the help.
After Dᴀʀk is a USARA-sanctioned event.
Meaning it meets the safety, insurance, and organizational standards set by the United States Adventure Racing Association - the national governing body of adventure racing in the U.S. USARA has supported the sport for over 20 years, helping ensure well-run, accessible, and responsibly managed races.
“I haven’t done an event like this in over 15 years, but this one made the screaming quads and hill pushes totally worth it. SO fun to be out there again - thanks!”
Racing in the dark is different. Get comfortable/better at it with this one.
Plus a nice way to race in KY in August without the daytime scorch.
Origin Story: We fell in love with Redbird from racing Trail Sick’s War Daddy mtb race and WarBird Ultra. If you haven’t raced with these guys, check them out! Legit, top-notch races, put on by some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.