Discussion: Raid the Hammer Adventure Run - Nov. 11

November 11, 2007 Hamilton, Ontario (aka the Hammer):

Teams of 3 will trail run, orienteer, trek, road run, scramble and likely crawl a grueling 25K'ish course. Expect steep muddy climbs, interesting navigation challenges and some sweet Axis Gear swag in this race that marks the 10th annivesary of GHO's first adventure run.

This race attracts ~250 racers including many of Canada's best trail runners, orienteers and adventure racers. Current Raid the Hammer champions are Team Supplier Pipeline (4th at the 2006 Primal Quest).

In an effort to increase participation in the orienteering community from the NE US, Michigan, Quebec areas we are considering hosting a middle distance or sprint race on November 10th. We welcome your feedback on this idea in this discussion group.

I'll add some pre-race hype here shortly but in the mean time you can find race info here: http://www.dontgetlost.ca/raid

Registration for the Raid the Hammer Adventure Run is now open. Early bird registration closes on September 20th.

another fall, another great event..have to register soon

>another fall, another great event..have to register soon

I think that is the Duke's way of saying "I want to be the first person to win 5 adventure runs" :)

But the competition will be tough. In addition to numerous top Ontario AR teams, Patrick Goeres (reigning NAOC sprint champ and currently ranked #1 orienteer in Canada) will be flying in from the 'Peg and gathering up some top local runners to make a run for the Raid the Hammer title this year.

We are always looking at new ways to attract even more orienteers, and others, to the Raid each year. The Raid on its own is definitely worth the drive, but we are considering adding events to make it a full/complete weekend. So, the question I have to the AP community is...if more events the raid weekend is what it would take to come to the Hamilton/Toronto area in November - what kind of events would you like us, GHO, to organize? A sprint race? Two sprint races? A middle and a sprint?...?

I talk for myself and my dad, and we've both agreed that a couple of sprints to complete the weekend would be a blast!

The raids are always a blast, I love em.... now... since I'm full of stupid ideas... and you asked... how 'bout some Night Orienteering? Or maybe start one in the dark, and have it stretch into the morning? Nothing like the dark to make you doubt your bearings :)

GHO hosted a summertime Night Adventure Run at Horseshoe a couple of years ago. It was shorter than usual, but most people finished in the midnight - 2 a.m. range, if I remember correctly. It was loads of fun, although a couple of the people who got lost got REALLY lost!

By the way, earlybird registration for Raid The Hammer ends tonight. Sign up today to save a few $$!

Add a MTB section to get from one chunk of terrain to another. Mike - you could put them on the bus.

Mike - you could put them on the bus.

Superwes - Oh why must you poke the bear with the stick??? Airhorn works better. Mike, what kinda buses this year?

Yellow ones. But maybe a short bus for Wes.

Careful with the bus idea... He may implement it UNO-style! All we need in a race this length is moving controls!

Perhaps sherpa, perhaps.

I just talked to Mike - No bus this year. Instead we're taking the Subway. Jason, will you be on my team?

If i was around Wes i'd definitely be on your special team. Team Short Bus Short Pants. Unfortunately its too close to x-mas and can't justify 2 trips out in less than a month. Just watch out for next year though...

So another go at the boxing day 9.5 miler then?

Fo sure buddy. I should be all blood doped up to put a good showing i hope...i have a funny feeling though that turkey and booze the night before might put me over the edge.

Any news on another race for the Raid the Hammer weekend? hoping there will be cause i need more good reasons to convince my dad to go!

No other race. Sorry. But there are plenty of places to go o'ing in the Hammer. Besides no other reason is necessary to Raid the Hammer. I have never been disappointed yet.

Hammer and others, would the Kempster be able to run the World Championship course in Dundas Valley on the Saturday, or would that be off limits. Or is the "bus" dropping people off there?
Emily, even if there's no other race, tell your dad to go, it will become one of his fave races. Will Eric be the third?

I asked him again last night, and he's all for it. Eric won't be going since it's too close to midterms and so we're in the process of looking for a third speedy runner! :P

Nice try Nev but I ain't giving away that info just yet....The location of this year's Raid the Hammer will be announced in a few weeks but be certain it is in the Hamilton (aka the Hammer) area and there will be hills and mud and likely some rock and a matrix or two and some contours only bits and likely about 250 very tired adventure runners come Monday morning on November 12th.

Oh and did I mention swag. Rumour has it the most popular ever Dontgetlost.ca and Axis Gear race swag is making a re-appearance.

Finally, tell your friends that any newbie or junior teams can enter the "Pimp My Raid" competition. Winners will get a lot of gear, some free entries to races and their very own Swedish World Orienteering Championships participant to help them on one section of the race! Yeah its true he shops at Ikea, drives a Volvo and eats lots of meatballs.

(Kempster. Get Robbie, grab another junior and enter the junior category to strike fear into the other coed teams!)

working on it!

Kempster - if you need a junior, we'd be willing to swap Nate for your old man (if he's willing) - I think we'd get to be a Master's team out of the deal. And if you and Nate were on a team, the other "junior" could be as old as 25.

But... Hammer - there doesn't seem to be a Junior category in the full-length race.

Hey Bish!!
Who you calling an old man....you ain't no spring chicken either!!!!!
Kempster's "Old Man"

The leaves are falling the hills are growing and the mud is getting deeper - it must be only a few weeks to the Raid the Hammer. Prices go up after the 20th so register now! www.dontgetlost.ca/raid

Hans Fransson has set this year's course and it will be fast and furious but we are predicting the toughest advanced section to date. Race location will be announced next week.

Former North American orienteering Champion Mark Adams is teaming up with current North American Champions Wil Smith and Patrick Goeres to race as Team Coalition of the Wil'ing. Are other teams racing for 2nd place or is there a big upset in the making?

Brrr it is getting cold out there but the Raid the Hammer swag will keep you warm.

hopefully ( for my team and/or other teams ) a big upset in the making

At least you'll have another nice hat to wear on the bus to Waterdown.

>At least you'll have another nice hat to wear on the bus to Waterdown.

Interesting theory Wes...


The finish of the 11th Annual Raid the Hammer will be Fern Hill School in Burlington, Ontario. Teams are not permitted to train in the fields and woods adjacent to this school as there is much private land in the vicinity. For more race info and an interview with race course director Hans Fransson visit:

http://www.dontgetlost.ca/raid/hammer.htm

78 teams of 3 took part in the 11th annual Raid the Hammer 25K Adventure Run in Burlington, Ontario yesterday. Despite some early mistakes the Coalition of the Wil'ing with two reigning Nor-AM Orienteering Champions (Patrick Goeres, Wil Smith) and a former NA Champ (Mark Adams) cruised to a strong half hour win in the men's race. The coed category was much closer with several teams in the hunt for the win throughout the race. STRONG IN A PAN (Katarina Smith, Chris Piller, Wes Roberts) won the coed category in just over 3 hours and 40 minutes. Less than two minutes behind them were the Jetsons and less than a minute behind the Jetsons were the Milton Basement Racers. The Jetsons included two juniors! (Robbie Anderson and 15 year old sensation Emily Kemp). Top 10K junior team was Team Stars. This year's Raid the Hammer took place along the escarpment and ravines of Burlington and Waterdown. Full results, maps, and winsplits are located here:

http://www.dontgetlost.ca/raid/hammer2007.htm

Next adventure run:

Saturday February 23, 2008
Horseshoe Resort Snowshoe Raid
http://www.dontgetlost.ca/raid