I’ve heard from several people who are struggling to get it together to come out and race the Gold Rush 24 Hour Adventure Challenge, GR24.  Here’s some reasons that all adventures racers in California and neighboring states shouldn’t miss it:

1. Team Karma is a grass roots group who promotes races because we love the sport.  Professional promoters have struggled to make ends meet finacially promoting 24 hour races.  There’s no big series by one promoter on the horizon.  Supporting grass roots events ensures the future of this great sport.
2. It’s a real 24 hour race.  No team will blow through this course in 14 hours and be home showered and in bed when the last team crosses the line.  The winners can expect to be done in no less than 19-20 hours.  Gold Rush offers route options so that all teams finish within a few hours of each other. 
3. The post race meal is well attended.  Because the winners didn’t finish 10-12 hours before the last teams most teams stay for the post race meal and awards.  Teams compare race stories and routes with other teams.  Novice teams learn from advanced teams, and teams that finish well are recognized by their peers.
4. Great volunteers are a long standing tradition at Gold Rush events.  We have several who make it a point to come out and volunteer at Gold Rush every year. 
5. An amazing course awaits those who race.  Team Karma always puts together a good course and learns more about what racers like every time. 
6. Free orienteering clinic by adventure racing pioneer Adrian Crane.  Adrian is one of only a handfull of people to have competed in all of the Eco-Challenge races.  This is an opportunity to learn from an adventure racing legend.  Check out his resume at www.teamkarma.com. 
7. The GR24 course is very scenic.  Missouri just is not pretty in November so skip USARA Nats and save yourself the airfair and travel expenses.  Race Gold Rush instead, you won’t be sorry.
8. GR24 is tough and the tougher the course the more rewarding the finish.  GR24 2007 will be very rewarding.
9. Great sponsors will provide prizes and swag bag items.  Hi-Tec, ZombieRunner.com, ARNavSupplies.com, Dinotte Lighting, Zanfel, and Kool N Fit will be supporting GR24.  You can demo lights by Dinotte Lighting and rotating mountain bike map boards from ARNavSupplies free of charge.  If you like it after you try it you can buy it on the spot…pretty cool!

Treat yourself to a great race and support grass roots adventure racing at it’s best.  Clear the calendar for November 10-11 and get a team together for the Gold Rush 24 Hour Adventure Challenge, you’ll be glad you did.  See www.teamkarma.com for details.  Also, join goldrushar@yahoogroups.com to keep up with the latest Gold Rush news.

Fourteen more days until the biggest adventure race some of the DAs and I will have ever done. It’s the Raid the North Extreme. It’ll be on British Columbia’s North Coast. And it’ll be epic! In fact, it already is. Over the last few days, floodwaters there have risen to heights most have never seen before! Below is an excerpt from a local paper describing what’s waiting for us. We can’t wait!!

Closed roads and possible power blackouts have sparked food hoarding in Prince Rupert and Smithers, where flood waters have risen to their highest levels in 80 years. The worst of the flooding may have passed for the Lower Mainland, thanks to lower-than-expected rainfall. But the danger remains high in the northwest, where 70 per cent of this year’s record snowpack remains on the mountains, ready to flow when warm weather strikes.

Bring it.