General
Questions
Where is the registration at?
The
registration is at the Quest Climbing Wall located on the upper campus
of Bloomsburg University. Registration is from 7:00-8:15am.
Here is a campus map and directions to upper campus.
Click here to view the map and directions.
Where can I park?
You
can park in the Monty’s parking lot. Click on the campus map link from
above to find where Monty’s is. If this lot is full there is additional
parking around upper campus.
Do I need to carry
all of my excess gear with me?
Yes, you will need to carry your running gear with you in your boat.
Your bike gear can stay with your bike at the climbing wall on upper campus.
What time is the pre-race meeting and do I have to attend?
The
pre-race meeting is at 8:15am at the climbing wall near the registration
tent. All racers are required to attend.
Following the pre-race
meeting at 8:15am, will there be transportation for the racers provided to the
boat ramp?
Yes, we have university buses providing a shuttle.
Where can I watch the race as a spectator and can I ride on the racer
shuttle?
The
best place to watch the race is probably on the upper campus of BU.
If you would like to see the river component anywhere along the course
can be good.
Realize many places along the course have limited parking and our race
vehicles will have first priority.
If
there is additional room in the shuttle vehicles for spectators we will
allow them to fill seats. To ride a university vehicle you must be
over 18 years of age.
Will there be photos of the race taken?
Quest staff will be taking photos during the race day and will be
posting them on the Quest site at
www.buquestphotos.org. If you want a photo of
a specific racer during a specific event it's best to take it on your
own.
Is there a limit to the
number of racers?
There is no limit to the number of racers this year.
Can I still send in my
registration even though it is past the March 31 cut-off?
Yes, you can still send in your registration before race day and if you
do this it will make check-in much smoother for the racer(s) involved.
The only thing you wouldn’t be getting is the t-shirt. The t-shirts can
be ordered on race day.
Why did I receive the
mailing after March 31?
You received the mailing late because it came from the River Town race
series mailing list which is just getting off the ground as an official
series. We are one of the earliest races in the series. We have been
promoting the race for months and will make sure you receive updates for
next year’s race.
Are there going to be any shirts at the race?
We
will take orders on race day for shirts and ship them to anyone who
wants them. The cost of the t-shirt- TBD.
Are there any race
categories (age, sex, etc.) for the Ironman?
Yes, there will be a male and female category. The River Towns Race
Series does have categories for ages also, so this will allow you points
for that series. Teams are going to receive points towards the River Towns Race Series. For more information about the series you can visit
the River town Race Series website by
clicking here.
Will there be hydration stations on the course?
There will be a hydration station at the end of the paddling section at
the transition point with the running section. There will also be
a hydration station at our central location which is located near the
climbing wall on the BU upper campus. This is where the transition
from the run to the bike will occur.
Will there be food available pre-race and post race?
A
local food service company, "The Green Chef a go go" will be providing a small
selection of sandwiches, pastries, and beverages for purchase before,
during and after the race. "The Green Chef a go go" specializes in healthy,
whole foods designed to power you through a day of racing. The
selection will have something for vegetarians and meat eaters.
What time and where will the awards ceremony occur?
The ceremony will occur after everyone has completed the race. We hope
this will happen between 12:30pm and 1:00pm. This ceremony will take
place at the registration tent near the climbing wall.
Paddling Section
What if I bring my own
boat and bring it to the registration area with me, is there a shuttle?
While we do encourage you to drop off your boat prior to registration
there will be a shuttle from the registration area for people and boats.
Dropping boats off prior to registration simplifies our logistics
incredibly. If you prefer to drive your own boat down be aware
there is limited parking. Using our shuttles is the best bet.
How will I get my boat back from the take-out?
While you are finishing the rest of the race our staff will be making
sure your boat is brought back to the registration area for you to pick
up.
Does my boat really have to be registered?
Yes, without a current registration sticker you won't be able to launch
for the race.
Will there be someone
at the boat dock to watch over our boats - before and after the race?
We
will have people at the put in by 6:30am to watch boats so you can drop
off your boats prior to the race. Afterwards we will have people
monitoring the boats at the take out (it's downriver) and will actually
be shuttling the boats back to upper campus for you.
What do I need to do if I am
renting a boat from Canoe Susquehanna?
Canoe Susquehanna will have your
boat for you ready to go at the put-in. They will also be picking
your boat up after you complete the paddling section of the race.
What do I need to do if I am
borrowing a boat from Quest?
Your boat will already be at the
starting point of the adventure race. After the pre-race meeting, you
will head down on a bus and your will get your boat down there.
Where does the paddling course begin?
The
paddle leg of the race will start at the Bloomsburg airport Fish &
Boat Commission launch or at Fishing Creek depending on water levels. Check out the the mainpage for information the week before.
Will there be river safety people on the water?
Yes,
there will be people stationed along the course to direct you and
help if a boat was to tip over.
What river safety items do I need to have with me?
You
must have a PFD on at all times. No whistle or other safety
gear is required.
What is the current river conditions?
The below link is to the USGS water
data so you can monitor river levels for Fishing Creek and the Susquehanna, which will
give you an idea of the rivers status.
Are there directions to the put-in located at the boat ramp?
Check out the maps on the course page for the treasure maps.
Running Section
What is the running course like?
The running course is a 5 mile point to point
section. You will begin at the covered bridge in Bloomsburg (The
end of the paddling section) and utilizing trails and roads you will
arrive at the upper campus of Bloomsburg University. The course is
flat for about the first half and then begins to climb as you near the
upper campus.
Biking Section
Where do you put your bike for the Eco-Quest race?
Your bikes will be at the climbing wall on upper campus. This is where
the registration site is. We will have shuttles to take you to the
river. This is the central location for the race and many of our
staff will be there so you're bike should be safe and will be monitored.
What kind of bike should I
use?
The
bike course consists of rolling grassy terrain to winding
singletrack through the woods. There are sections where a mountain
bike will definitely want to be used. There is less than one mile of
road on each 5 mile lap (you do two laps). Our Associate Director
tried it with his cyclocross bike and said it was
pretty rough, although possible with knobby tires but he wouldn't
recommend it. We recommend running a lightweight mountain bike (hardtail)
with light knobbies to cut down on rolling resistance. That should
be adequate, unless it rains in the next few days, as the trails
tend to get muddy rather quickly.
Do I
need to wear a helmet?
Yes,
helmets are mandatory for the biking section.
What
spare parts/tools should I bring?
Bring
any parts you might need that could go wrong with your bike.
Most common would be a blown tube, second is generally a broken
chain. Usually if a cable brakes you can make due for the rest
of the race but it depends on your racing style.
Make
sure you have the tools necessary to do these repairs.
Can
I help other racers if they are broken down?
Yes,
good sportsmanship is always encouraged. There would be no
penalties incurred if you were to stop and help.
What
spare parts/tools will the race sponsors have on site?
We will
have basic bike tools and a stand at the race registration site but
these could be in use so be prepared.
