All Out Events

How to Put on a Really Awesome Event.

2012-02-06T19:19:00.001-08:00

People contact us all the time, asking us to put on this or that event. And while the concept of extra cash is awesome, it’s a pretty good truth that doing lots of things means you do them mediocrely. So, instead, we at All Out Events proudly present our method to Put On a Really Awesome Event (PORAE).

Pick your location and pick your sport. These two go hand in hand – sure, anyone can put on a 5k about anywhere, but we believe that to PORAE, the location should dictate the course. You want your event participants to be wowed, and the best way to do that is to think about what makes them do that. Location, paired with sport, is what matters. Also, work with the authorities for the area – know your laws and rights.
Pick your reason. Why exactly are you doing this? About to sign on for umpteen hours lost, stressing about finite details and issues you had no idea were going to happen? For people to yell at you about things you kind of think are small potatoes? Pick your reason and believe in it. This will get you through the darker moments and it will help you sell the event to sponsors, volunteers, and participants.
Pick your demographic. Based on your reason, you’re going to aim your event at somebody. That somebody is going to shape the feel of the whole thing. If you’re aiming for rich men in their 80s, your language and visuals, along with the course and prizes are going to be different than a whole gaggle of teenage girls. You may say, “But everyone is my demographic.” Wrong. Think about Apple vs PC. Are they targeting everyone these days, or do they know their audience and cater to them?
Pick your time of year. Knowing who you are attracting will help with this. Weather can be a factor, as will be wildflowers and unique details like how busy your town is (ie, if you live in a college town and you attract college students, summer’s probably not a brilliant idea). If you’re attracting regular competitors, check race calendars and find out what people’s training schedule is. If it’s a school event, put it closer to September, when everyone is excited about school, rather than June, when everyone is over it.
Determine your course. Just as location should have been your true inspiration, now the details of the course come together, informed by who you want at your race, why you're doing it (torture = hills, love = flat), and what time of year it goes on (maybe that venue is too full to do it then?)
Now that you have all these things down, it’s time to pay attention to branding!

We cannot say enough about logo design. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars, but you do need to figure out a way to boil down the flavor of your race to something visual that leads it. For example, for our Mud Mash, we have “Happy Pig.” Whenever we make a decision about the event, we ask, “Would Happy Pig approve?”
Using your logo and your event vision, it’s time to develop a website. And again, while you can spend oodles of money on flash, the reality is – for most smaller, first year events, the connections you have, the posters you make, and the word of mouth you generate is really enough. These things drive people to the site for info. And, if you did your homework on the above, there will plenty of people “making it flashy” for you without too much effort.
Set up registration. You can take mail-in reg, but it’s usually better to go with an online registration service – most services offer turnkey solutions that you just process by filling in form inquiries, and you’ll take care of waivers, actual registration, contact info collection, demographic data, and payment processing without much hassle. Active.com is a great site – but expensive. We are currently working with CCNBikes, who has awesome customer service and work to customize your registration to your needs.
Find champions to promote your events – maybe they are beneficiaries, or friends, co-workers, whatever. Arm them with posters and promotional cards. Send them to meetings. Send press releases out and talk to the media. Give people ample time to hear about it and be trained up for it.
Get insurance. We can’t recommend working with Bay Risk enough.
Logistics!

Make sure you design solid advertising. Posters are a better investment than anything, and pretty cheap. Be sure to give shirts away at your event for year-over-year word of mouth. Good luck figuring out shirt sizing. We’ve yet to get it perfect.
Course marking – when you mark your course, assume your racers are stupid! They aren’t obviously. But the problem is, during race day, you kind of put your head down and make assumptions. Mark it like your dog is trying to follow the arrows. Use people wherever you can (the racers ignore those, too). We’ve used tape to mark off a trail and people jump right over it.
Timing – you can go super cheap and do it yourself by getting bib numbers with rip-off bottoms and just collecting them on a wire clotheshanger unstrung. Or, you can get fancy and hire a timing company. You get what you pay for.
Think about the finish experience. We remember best what happened last. What do you want your racers to come away thinking? Is this a big, fat party, a reverent celebration, or a quiet time?

Sponsorship

Sponsorship is really hard to come by. Unless you’re pulling giant numbers, you need to work hard to get big cash.
Look in unusual places – ask companies to help you with supplies you need, like food or woord.
Customize your options, don’t just make it cookie-cutter.
Get swag – this is part of that finish experience.

Videographers/photographers

People like photos of themselves. They’ll buy them, too. You can hire someone to take it, or get someone to take photos for free and post them online for sale. Make sure you can use them, too.
Get visual collateral from the event. Photos are great and video is king.

There you go – basic event production in a nutshell!

Your positive feedback.

2012-01-27T09:37:00.001-08:00

Spent the week going through surveys to better our events and just loved what some of you wrote. I think you’ll be as inspired to keep doing this as we were.

Question: What did you get out of the event?

More than I could possibly explain in words! Empowered!

I got to experience God's creation in a way that I don't get to in my asphalt world. To be on untouched, all natural land was very cool. The sense of accomplishment we felt immediately after the race (which I'm still feeling) was very rewarding.

There’s a couple MJ plants between CP1 and CP2 that were pretty interesting to come across. We were definitely way off track when we saw them kind of funny like we were on the show Weed. Cant wait for another race and some longer courses. Had the best race experience of the year.

a sense of accomplishment, perhaps the sense that there is a community of like-minded athletes that would be fun/interesting to be part of.

Discovering your perceived boundaries and smashing through. The race is about self discovery and pushing yourself on.

Umm... a beer mug? Tasty cinnamon bread? It was a fun event and a great group of people...

I learned what i needed to work on in order to improve my riding. it was a very good introduction to the world of DH racing. i WILL be back, and i WILL be racing as frequently as i can from now on

I was scared shitless. However, I was also hopeful that I would have a day reminiscent of being a 12y/o, riding my bike, mashing up and down creeks finding turtle shells and swinging off of rope-swings. I definitely got the adult version of a perfect childhood summer day.

I believe that it was the people that made this run so amazing! The awesome costumes, the good attitudes, and the guy playing bagpipes on the hill made this event sooo well... unbelievable!!!

Everything about this event was fabulous. Registration was hassle-free and everyone was pleasant and willing to help, the course was challenging, the obstacles were fun and challenging, and overall the experience, shirt, and cup were definitely worth the money.

Going up the hill and getting sprayed with the hose and slipping in the mud. Also being so tired and turning the corner and seeing a guy play the bagpipes was one of the funniest things in the world.

The course itself was the best experience! I liked how they added a few "surprises" in there and that the website doesn't really give TOO much detail about it. I had a lot of anxiety before the event not knowing what to expect, but that's also the main reason why I wanted to do it!

I loved being able to work as a team with my team mates and complete the challenges together. I like the fact that not only did we grow closer as a team but also closer as friends because we helped each other out when one needed help.

Question: How did you feel when you finished?

I felt like I could kill all the terrorists by myself/eat the moon.

Beaten, yet epically satisfied. Itchy.

The venue was spectacular.

I was reluctant because I thought the water temp would be too cold. I was surprised to find that although it was cold, it wasn't so cold that I felt unable to swim. (Morro Bay Tri)

I felt very excited I finished, I wanted to ride the course again. I felt like I could just about ride anything now.

Due to race pressure I pushed myself harder than normal and was reminded of the fact that I can do more than I think I can. Motivated that next time I want to do better.

I felt Amazing!! I was on an adrenaline high for the rest of the day. I had a soccer game at 1:30 the same day and I thought I would be wiped but I was exactly the opposite! I was on FIRE for the whole game (I didn't even nap!). It was the most fun I have had in a LONG time and it was a Great workout!! Definitely doing it next year!

I've run a marathon, half-marathons, and shorter distance races. I love running, but this mud run was the most FUN I've ever had while running.

Question: What made you do this event?

Looking forward to the location and great weather!

I was super interested in this one vs. the SLO event because of the more natural course; using the bay and the beach and trails. (Morro Bay Tri)\

If the course appears to be extremely different than anything I've done, it intrigues me. I like the challenge and trying new things.

I can trail run any day of the week....but the obstacles were the reason I participated. What normal person would wade through Laguna Lake for the heck of it?

Question: What would say to people about what makes All Out Events different?

i think your races are about camaraderie and really encouraging people to get into this awesome sport.

Fun, challenge, great terrain, good organization. The difference is that you have the good terrain that is not overused and you have great volunteers staffing the race.

Great race, being my third year i love the location and what it demand physically and mentally. Your choice of trekking sets you apart from say the nor cal series and tahoe.

I REALLY like All-Out: friendly volunteers/workers, good aid stations, still feels "local". (I also really like your cute podiums for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place finishers!)

Friendly atmosphere, effort at making the events unique and showed that you really know the area - for instance, loved the bridges!

well, the course was badass, and not many people can pull that off these days. just a well run race, no obvious hiccups, snafus, etc. I got to show up, ride, have a good time, and you guys took care of the rest.

A group of people having a blast in the middle of no-where pushing ourselves to new mental and physical limits in a sport we all love :) I love how I can always count on All Out events to define crazy race courses that challenge people of all levels in more ways than one.

id have to say that they need to get out of the house and be apart of the All Out racing experience

And They’re Off!–An Adventure Race Report by a 10-year-old competitor

2012-01-16T17:23:00.001-08:00

Just another example of how awesome our racers are . . . age is irrelevant on the field! This is from our 2011 Lopez Lake short-course adventure race.

And they’re off!

By Griffin Coxwell

This sport was made for me. As I lined up for the start of the race, I visualized the route me and my cousin, Shaun, were going to take. But I’m getting ahead of myself. We were competing in the All Out adventure racing challenge. Adventure racing is a sport, that has at least three other sports in it. Our race had kayaking, biking and hiking/rock climbing in it.

BAAARRRR! There’s the air horn!! we’re off! We race to the kayak and start paddling as fast as we can. Cold water splashes my face. I look at the map. There are 5 checkpoints on the lake, and we need to get 3 of them. We beach our kayak, and begin bushwhacking inland. We don’t have to go very far to find it. We speed back to the kayak, passing other teams. We push off, and frantically paddle to our next checkpoint.

By the time we get back to shore, most of the teams had passed us. Oh well, we were the youngest team ever to do this. We hopped on our bikes, and headed down an easy fire trail. To the start of A 5 MILE, UPHILL SINGLE TRACK!! We began lugging our bikes up the winding trail, and after what seemed like forever, we reached the top. Shaun and I gasped and and wheezed, sucking in air. We found the checkpoint! I jogged up and clicked it. I peered around the turn to the trail down the mountain. Oh yeah. this time, its a 5 mile downhill single track!
Frapppffhhh! I skid around a turn, almost knocking over our competitors . Shaun is close behind and he almost knocks them off their feet. I see the end of the trail! Shaun and I skid to a stop, throwing up dirt. We have to ditch our bikes now. We take a quick break and set off on a half mile jog and we arrive at my favorite part of the race. The zip line! The long wire stretched across the lake. Me and Shaun could scarcely bear the wait. Finally! I grabbed the pulley thingamabob, and jumped, with no harnesses, just my two hands. I flew along the line, twenty feet above the water. Here I go... I let go and gravity takes over. I drop and hit the water, and swim to the shore, Shaun close behind me. But the race is not over yet. We have to freaking rock climb to get the last checkpoint. We start climbing at a steady pace, slowing down as we gradually climb up the mountain. I thought it was going to last forever. Wait. There’s the checkpoint! I run up and click it, my hands fumbling in my excitement. There!

Getting down the mountain is no trouble, and when we pass the finish line, I expected to be last-but instead, its exactly the opposite! We were the only people in our division! Remember “youngest people?”

First Place!

Why Our Rates are Going Up

2011-12-18T12:39:00.001-08:00

There was recently an article in Runners’ World about the cost to put on the NYC Marathon. We think it ran with the intent to make racers’ jaws drop. We kind of went, “meh.”

After ten years of events, when we really buckled down and looked at why we were still avoiding turning on the heat in the house and putting off that much needed car repair, we realized we were doing something wrong: putting on top tier events but charging bottom tier prices.

As any business major will tell you, if something you’re selling costs you more than you make, you’re in trouble. Well, folks, that’s where we’re at.

Why are races so darn expensive?

Let’s break down a simple one, like the now-defunct SLO Mountain Run. We decided to drop the event this year when we found that a field of 100 people only netted us $600, and that’s not including overhead (insurance, office expenses, etc). At $35/person, you would think we’d be doing okay. After all, it’s our simplest race and doing the math, that’s $3500.

But here’s what our expenses were:

T-shirts ($6 x 200) = $1200. We had to order more than this because we expected more people. We do all our design in-house. It would be so much more otherwise. We could get cheaper shirts, but you wouldn’t love them – we’re not going to give away crap.
Advertising = $300. We did posters and rack cards, along with some Facebook ads. The budget was pretty low as we realized that people aren’t generally going to want to travel for a 10k and focused locally. Again, in-house design and hitting the streets to distribute the wares.
Permits = $500. To rent the facility for the day. Some people poach for smaller events, but relationships with the governing agency are important to us. We won’t scrimp here.
Insurance = $200. Not too bad, considering we’re sending you up some treacherous terrain for a 10k. That’s a lot of alliteration.
Non-employee compensation = $700. We’re too small to have a full time staff, so we get contractors to come in day-of. This was for our timer and one other operations staff other than ourselves. This event was so small that we didn’t look for volunteers, but we did need aid station set up, course marking, and venue setup and maintenance.
Supplies = $200. Stuff like bibs, waivers, and sundry items.

Grand total = $3100.

Cool, so we “made” $400! Take out 12% for our donation to Special O, and they got a whopping $48. Thank goodness they know we try.

Things that didn’t get included in this:

Our “salary” for putting it on. The people we hired got paid, but we didn’t.
Our time for design work and putting up posters.
Our time for securing permits and contracts.
Our time for dealing with inquiries and preparing websites.
Our overhead expenses for just having the business.
The money we saved in having all the stuff (tables, chairs, water jugs, finish arch, marking materials, radios, vehicles and trailers) that normal event directors would have to rent.
Emergency medical staff (we’re trained and certified to do our own emergency response, so for a small field, we don’t hire).

So you’re reading this and thinking, “Well, a field of 100 people is pretty sad, so of course you lost money – small events always take a while to ramp up.” Only, we’ve been trying to grow that event for four years. Adding a 5k did nothing. And we love the event. The people that come to it are awesome. The course is awesome. It’s a beautiful tour of one of the best runs in SLO. But it didn’t pay.

So let’s take any other event we put on.

Consider this:

Multiple governing agencies requiring permit money and processing.
Road closures.
More staff.
Supplies for construction of course obstacles and improvements
Time and rentals for creation of courses
Cost spent fixing the venue after damage or repairs are needed.
Prize money
Rental of equipment/transportation means
Prizes for multiple age, gender, and team categories
Time spent seeking for sponsorship/partnership/swag donation.

Ten years ago, when we started this, the economy was strong and companies’ event marketing money was easy to come by. A contract for $10,000 an event was pretty common. But that’s dried up. Our events are self-produced, largely unsponsored, and paid for entirely by your entry fees.

In 2011, we took $5000 in total for a salary for two owners of the business and donated the same to our charities. While some events do awesome by being put on by volunteers – they have enormous teams, a budget being funded by the organization it benefits, and only one event a year.

This is a business and to keep making our events spectacular, we needed to look at how we did things. We vow not to cut costs to the detriment of racer experience, and that’s why All Out Events needs to charge more going forward. We are so lucky to have talented and dedicated volunteers who believe strongly in what we are doing and what we do for the community, but to grow and not kill ourselves in the meantime, we have to start charging like the professionals that we are.

And once we do, the charities and communities we benefit can also benefit. And we’ll be able to hire people to keep growing – and that creates jobs and stimulates the economy!

We hope you understand.

All Out Events is looking for a marketing manager!

2011-12-02T15:32:00.001-08:00

All Out Events is hiring!

We are looking for an outgoing, enthusiastic individual to help develop our new zipline business.

Marketing manager – You will be in charge of doing the leg work to promote Margarita Adventures, the only zipline tour on the central coast. You will meet with business people and visitors’ bureau contacts throughout SLO County, setting up promotional deals and zipline tours, work trade show booths, and drop off promotional materials when appropriate. Work with the owners of the Santa Margarita Ranch and Ancient Peaks vineyards as well as your favorite crew at All Out Events.

Requirements:

- Should have reliable transportation and be able to speedily cover the entire San Luis Obispo county as needed

- Should have internet access and be familiar with Twitter and Facebook

- Should be eloquent both in person and in writing

- Able to spend between 10-20 hours a week during working hours (9-5) and/or weekends in meetings and developing marketing plan

- Demonstrated ability to work well with a team

- Deadline oriented

- Innovative – always looking for a new approach to the system or opportunities

Pay is hourly with incentive bonuses for successful performance. Please submit a cover letter and resume that speaks to our requirements.

Deadline for job application is 12/12/2011. We will follow up with applicants in the following week and be hiring immediately.

The New Santa Margarita Zipline: “Extreme Pleasure”

2011-11-14T16:11:00.001-08:00

We’re so proud of our newest venture and how happy people are with their experiences!

From recent rider:

Hi Margarita Adventures.

I am emailed this in case my post does not come through. I had the extreme pleasure to take the zip line tour with you and promised I would write up something. I have also used this for the Adelaide Inn website blog. Thank you to all your staff for the fun my friends and I had today. Please feel free to post this to your web site as a positive review.

Best wishes

Charlie

Wonderful Time Zipping through the Countryside

I thought I would share my experience with Margarita Adventures. I and a group of my fellow employees were granted the pleasure and thrill to participate with this event on a Sunday afternoon. The weather really cooperated with us, being sunny, warm, and just enough breeze to stir the air amongst the oaks of Santa Margarita Ranch. The staff of Mike, Matt, and Patrick were friendly, informative, helpful, and overall, just plain fun.

You start off at Ancient Peaks Winery in Santa Margarita where you can get free wine tasting either at the start if you need some liquid courage, and after where you can relax and talk over all the fun and thrills you have just come from.

The Zip Lines are all placed on Santa Margarita Ranch, which is one of the argest Mexican Land Grant Ranchos still in operation.On the drive up you will be given a nice background on the Ranch, how the strive to use sustainable growth in their agricultural as well as cattle raising. You slowly drive up the dirt track and go between various ecosystems. From grazing to wine fields of various types and varietals, on through oak trees, until you get among the chaparral. The views when you are at the start is just breathtaking. It adds that almost all you see in encased by the Ranch's 14000 acres itself. With hawks, crows, turkey buzzards in the skies above to the deer, bears, bobcats and the ever present cattle that stride on the ground. Rabbits, gophers, and other rodents dart in and out of the bushes
and trees.The smells of nature add to the ambiance may give you the added treat that will await you.

The first zip line is Renegade, which stretches for over 1300 feet. This is not only the longest of the four stretches of cable where you will zoom along yelling and screaming in delight, but also one of the most breath taking for its view. Here you will gear up in your harness, gloves and safety helmet. The staff are here to assist you if needed as you start to psych yourself for your beginning run, but also will allow to get some last minute water and leave behind any excess clothing and bags you may have. I was the first of my group to go, and as the guinea pig for them to see if I fouled up somehow. The first step is a doozy, but if you just let yourself go and step off, you will get a wondrous rush as you fly down the cable and allow the harness and lines to guide you down. The sights as you glance about are a treat and when you get to the end, you almost want to go
again. I helped to cheer on my other mates as they one by one came down the line. One of my friends was deeply afraid of heights, but then she allowed herself to take a leap of faith. Though her eyes were closed for the first run, at the end she was also browsing nature and having good times.

The next stretch was the 800 foot long Woodlander. This was one of my favorites, after the Renegade. You seem to go faster because of the perspective, as you will go between some huge oaks as you fly around their branches and turning leaves. I was later told that if you stretched out your arms and hands, you could actually touch them as you zoomed to your finish.

Third was the Hilltopper a short jaunt between two hills. Here you need to get a running start to get your speed. I tried to be a little more daring and go freestyle. I ended up tripping over my own big feet. I still had a blast and laughed off by bungling of the start. My friends all joined in with the laughter and we continued to just have take in the zips, each others company, and the banter of the staff. Even as a couple of us did not quite make it to the end, the guides quickly stepped off with a secondary rope that you could grab and they pulled you on to the landing stage.

The last line you zip the finish line is the Archway. There is an actual
arch that you will sway back and forth as you start to straighten out for the finale of your flying through the air. The wooden ramp is angled to allow you to lift up your legs and allow your body's adrenaline to subside.

Once your group has wrapped up their own fun you will remove our gear and the guides will drive you through more of the ranch and tell you more on how they grow some of the wine grapes. I had the pleasure to see a herd of does who were grazing along the cattle. They did not get spooked as we drove along. Just slowly worked their way up a hill side as the cattle ignored us. At most the various mothers would stare us down as we tried to drive past them, only to stride away as we got close enough.

The overall experience for my group and I was just fantastic. I will highly recommend then to any who want to have fun, try something different, and still have a nice glass of wine to relax to. For a cost of $99 and 2-3 hours of your time, I think this is a great treat. No matter if it is a guy with his buds, a bachelorette party wanting a unique experience, or a family wanting some bonding time, this tour may well be for you.

Want to try for yourself? http://www.margarita-adventures.com

Internship Offered for All Out Events

2011-09-23T10:17:00.001-07:00

All Out Events was established in August of 2010 as a two-member LLC. Prior to that, it was a sole proprietorship. Its focus is on human-powered outdoor events. Its 2012 lineup will likely include an adventure race series, triathlon, mountain bike race, gran fondo, climbing festival and competition, and mud run. All Out is committed to community service and gives a percent of its proceeds to a non-profit. It self-produces and also is available for hire if the right fit is met.

All Out Events has internship opportunities in the following areas:

Marketing
· Assisting in devising an ongoing marketing campaign for all events
· Creating content for its blog and ebooks for download
· Creating promotional videos
· Designing and updating the websites
· Contacting various media and developing/sustaining relationships with them
· Promotion of non-profit that benefits from the events

Sponsorship
· Developing relationships with larger companies for event sponsorship
· Contacting local companies for sponsorship and vendor opportunities
· Assisting in development of sponsorship packet and opportunities

Day of Event Management
· Operations – setup/takedown and management of event
· Volunteer recruitment and management
· Festival development

All Out Events is looking for energetic interns who are self-motivated and self-starting. They should be enthusiastic about not only the sports involved but the products and non-profits they come in contact with. They must be committed to 10-15 hours a week and be available at least one day during business hours for the work for a quarter’s length of time, with opportunity for extension and paid positions.

We are willing to work with any level college student and majors that best fit can include: business administration or marketing, communications, English, recreation administration, speech, journalism, etc. We are open to anyone who has a sincere interest in gaining experience in any aspect of this industry.

The internship is paid by day of event and not hourly, however the opportunity exists for it to become a longterm paid position in the future.

If you are interested in an internship with All Out Events, please contact Kristin McNamara at Kristin@all-outevents.com. Provide a resume, and cover letter stating which positions would best fit and why you feel your internship will benefit both of us.

Adventure Racing is Dead.

2011-09-22T21:36:00.001-07:00

Got ya with the headline, didn’t I. But the thing is, am I so wrong? It seems like everyone is saying it behind closed doors and no one’s being public about it. But you have to. If you love it, this conversation needs to be had.

This last year, our sprint races had half the participants as last year. It was the first year in the nine years of our May race that we lost significant money on it. The 12-hour race had a big field, and we’re grateful for that, but more and more race directors are reporting dwindling numbers.

Things people are trying to do: teach people how to adventure race by holding clinics and forming clubs; creating points series to encourage participation at more events; simply having more races on a smaller budget to make up for the lack of participation (but this also limits the possibilities of the experience). But none of it is really working.

The Outdoor Retailer market report said that AR had grown by 20% in the last year, but you know what AR they’re talking about? Mud runs.

To Adventure Race purists, this is nothing. In fact, while we have the highest attended race series on the west coast, it’s our Mud Run that we had last year that paid the bills and enabled us to sustain another event season. We put it together in two months and it was the highest attended event we’ve ever had.

People like mud. And they like running. But we just can’t seem to get them to love real AR.

Why do you suppose? I have my theories:

1. Multisport is scary. There are some multisport athletes, but not like there are single-sport ones. When people write in for advice on how to train, we’re speechless. Just be able to ride a bike, hike, and the paddling, well, no one is good at that anyway.

But having put on enough races and been on course, I am coming to the conclusion that most people really can’t ride a bike. And if you can’t ride and we put you on amazing singletrack, you aren’t having fun.

2. People that are attracted to AR don’t race. As someone who does multisport (climbing, biking, hiking, running, kayaking, etc), I’m also not the type to race. I just do stuff because it sounds good. If I’m on vacation and I have my bike, I’ll use it to get to cool stuff. There’s no motivation to beat someone else at something I know I can do and not pay for.

3. Too much commitment. Tough Mudder – it’s running, in a small area, no navigation, nothing awful. You get tired, you give up. No one has to rescue you. Mud Runs – cool obstacles, short time period.

4. Lack of festival atmosphere. We tried, but when you’ve spent the morning running around in the fog, you kind of just want to go home, not party with a beer.

Am I wrong? Is AR dead because we’re not easy enough? If you were us, what would you do? Change up the traditional approach to go with the trends, or hold on to the purity and just suck it up and wait for people to get tired of mud runs? What do you think?

Epic Rescue–What We Did On Our Summer Break

2011-08-15T20:14:00.001-07:00

So, it’s a few weeks out from the events for the spring, and Yishai and I decided to go on a mini vacation by driving all around Northern California: Arcata to Whiskeytown Lake to Lassen National Park to Downieville with some stops in between. If you haven’t been to this area, you should make sure you do. We were so inspired by the trees, the jagged mountains, the pot-smoking hippies, and the awesome ability for RVs to get just about everywhere.

We ended up going to Downieville kind of on a lark. We were driving out of Lassen and the truck is feeling . . . wobbly. We pull over and Yishai looks and sees nothing is wrong, so we keep going. And now we have a choice – we can go to Downieville, or we can go to the Bay Area for the weekend. After hemming and hawing, we decide that we should go to Downieville and then – BLAM:

The tire peels apart and literally attacks the entire back of the truck. Very, very sad pandas for us. In case you were wondering, event production, at our size and scope, doesn’t pay too much. This hurts. A lot.

We end up in Chico, getting a new spare tire, and then it’s a question of . . . the sun will be setting soon. What do we do? Stay in Chico? Give up on Downieville? No. We should go.

So we go. And we get lost. But then we get un-lost. And as the sun is beginning to set, we pull into the most idyllic town ever and the second hotel we stop at (enough of camping, we want comfort in this cute town) has one vacancy due to a car malfunction and we are saving that party from having to pay for the night anyway. Meant to be.

The hotel is cute, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the owner of the Riverside Inn – if you ever make it there, say hi.

Anyway, we decide that I will shuttle Yishai to the start of the dirt road so he can “cross country” the approach to the famous Downieville Downhill. The Downieville Outfitters told us it averages people four hours to do the downhill, and knowing Yishai’s fitness, I figure it will take him four hours to ride up to the start and do it.

But he is sore from running on the beach without shoes a few days before. And it’s hot. Very hot. And he has very little water and food.

But whatever, he’s good.

So the dogs and I go down to the river for the day (thanks to the fact I’m still recovering from shoulder surgery), playing around, talking to locals and feeling the general Downieville good feeling.

Dogs at the gallows – don’t worry, it was only used once.

So four hours later, I go to our rally point – the truck in the parking lot. And wait. And wait. And wait.

Two hours later, I am starting to worry so I truck on over to the Downieville Outfitters again and ask if there’s been any epic reports. To my surprise, they are really, really involved in trying to help me – she tells me she’ll have the number forward to her home if I need to call her and I find out where he comes out so I can hike up and find him as it gets dark. But, this is a well trafficked trail. Maybe he’s just walking down from too many flats? People would say something happened as they passed.

So, about two hours late, and six hours into this, here’s how he shows up:

Stoked and covered in blood. So I am not too worried about him, but the story unfolds . . .

So he is riding up the dirt road, eight miles of slogging in full sun which he will never.do.again. and does not recommend – but it is pretty:

There are lovely things to see along the way, he takes photos for me so I can see:

After building bridges for the Ancient Peaks Classic, we approve of really nice mountain bike bridges.

And he’s not being passed by anyone, in fact, he passes people that were dropped off long ago by the bike outfitters. He tells me later that this was a trail that I could definitely do, and enjoy, and that all these people with armor and hardcore downhill bikes are definitely not in need of that for the ride.

So he’s thirteen miles into the ride, about to finish in only three and a half hours from drop off at the dirt road to the truck, when he comes across a guy lying on the side, moaning, unable to move.

Yishai no longer has his certifications, but he has Wilderness First Responder and EMT training, and he loves using it. So he casts his bike aside and checks on the guy. He’s helpless. Can’t move his leg. The pain is excruciating. He does the formal checks and determines he’s got a huge 4” laceration that’s very deep above his hip, and extreme pain on palpation. He’s also bleeding – a lot. Huge clumps of clotting blood plop out as he examines.

So Yishai cleans out the wound with his Lezyne water pack, packs the wound and puts pressure on it. And then, in time, they decide they can move him. There’s no cell phone reception, so it’s going to have to be a carry.

By now, more San Luis Obispo people show up (we find it funny that they have Wheelmen and Foothill jerseys – represent) to help. Yishai, along with two other guys, try a chair-carry, but it’s not working, so “Ox” – a huge guy, 6’3” and 220lb + suggests piggy backing, and Yishai holds him from behind because he can’t cling with his legs. They start down the trail.

And then a guy comes riding toward them, yelling, “YOU’RE IN THE WAY!” and rides up on the side . . . which is jerky in the first place. But more jerky is that as he rides on the side of the trail, he rams a wasp nest, unleashing thousands of angry stingers!

The guys are helpless, they have to set the injured guy down, fighting the bees, throwing water on them, wondering if they should drag him out of the way or what. The end up telling him to just lay there and not move so they will calm down.

And then, when that happens, they climb on down the hill.

His friend is there with his new pickup with leather seats – “I am going to ruin it with this guy’s blood!” Bah! Help your friend- you can wash your truck!

Anyway, he get loaded, they drive off, and Yishai shows up.

I tell him I need to go to the Outfitters to tell them we found him and they are so stoked at the heroics of the three guys that they hand out socks.

Awww. The guy ended up with a broken pelvis, but is going to be okay. Three cheers for being there when he needed it!

That’s a wrap–the Ancient Peaks Classic

2011-07-27T18:55:00.001-07:00

Photo by Chris Bersbach

First, I want to start this post with gratitude. Events don’t happen when it’s a two-person show without a lot of support. Huge thanks to SIDI for deciding to support us early on and defraying half the costs of developing the course and putting on the event. To Josh Cohen and Foothill Cyclery for the enthusiasm, the man power, driving shuttles, and being our other title sponsor.

Photo by Chris Bersbach

Thanks to Karl Wittstrom, Doug Filliponi, and Ron Rossi for allowing us to take their beautiful ranch and show it to our event attendants. There is so much interesting stuff out there to find out about! And where elsewould you be able to take a ranch and turn it into an event mountain bike course?

Photo by Chris Bersbach

Huge thanks to the crew that not only pretty much devoted the last few months to helping us finish the trails, but run the event: Todd (of ToddBuilt construction – let us know if you have general contracting needs!), Mitch, Eddie, Ryan, and Mimo (Demitri). And for his toys, enthusiasm, and man power: Josh Machado at Mac2 Build. Huge thanks to Jim of Central Coast Brewing for beers and donating half the proceeds to our event to defray costs. Thanks to the rest of our friends for showing up and filling out the venue – Lezyne, Smartwash, Fluid, Elemental Herbs, Voler (supplier of the prize jerseys), SLO County Search and Rescue, CalStar, Ira’s Bike shop, and CBO.

Photo by Chris Bersbach

Thanks to all of you who came out to support us, take photos, race, ride, or spread the word. Thank you so much to the volunteers that came when they said they would, spread the stoke, and kept everyone safe!

Photo by Brandon Sampson

Out all day, home at dark, dinner at 11 pm – that was the last few months. If there wasn’t computer work to be done, there was driving. There was sunburns. There was soreness. There was so much poison oak that my car gives it to me when I drive it.

Photo by Brandon Sampson

But, honestly, while we were terrified we wouldn’t be able to break even this year, the amount of commitment to the dream from the people that were supporting us kept us going. I loved watching Nate talk about his work, hearing feedback from his friends who were testing the course, and the thrill of the community of Santa Margarita (which, if you haven’t spent time there, you should – the Range is the best restaurant in SLO County, and that’s saying a lot!).

Photo by Lloyd Baggs

The weather was perfect, if a little windy, everyone was super cool, and we had no major injuries. Yishai kept reminding me that “WE COULD KILL SOMEONE.” Of course, I wasn’t too worried about the cross country course – you might fall into a pile of poison oak or into a creek, but mostly it was just rolling grassy hills. I had resigned myself to a couple helicopter rides after hearing about how Parkfield usually goes, and I was totally thrilled when the last Pro went down the hill and the med supplies went mostly unused. Huge props to Nate for creating a downhill course that was not only badass, but safe.

Photo by Scott McDowell – Sweet digger, but he/she survived!

There were only a few problems (most out of our control), and I ended the weekend a pretty solid almost-semi-truck driver – but overall, this may have been the best event we’ve ever done and it comes down to this: support of the community, of the racers, of the companies we’re promoting, and the huge payoff of seeing almost a year’s worth of work come to an end.

Photo by Scott McDowell

Now, to continue lying on the couch in recovery.

SmartWasher–For You Cyclists Out There!

2011-07-20T16:10:00.001-07:00

We asked our newest Ancient Peaks sponsor to tell us about themselves, and here’s what they sent.

But to cut to the chase, come check him out – he says he can get a muddy bike that hasn’t been cleaned in a season dry in fifteen minutes. Who care’s about science!

SW423 SMARTWASHER INTRODUCED TO THE BIKE INDUSTRY

http://www.chemfree.com/

ChemFree Corporation’s bioremediating parts washing system, the SW-423, receives rave reviews from the bike community for its cleaning performance and its commitment to a clean environment.

The SW-423 SmartWasher, a bioremediating parts washing system, can keep your bike looking and performing like new. Although the SmartWasher parts washing systems have a long track record in the automotive and industrial markets, it is brand new to the bicycle service industry and is already getting rave reviews. With special accessories for washing bicycles along with award winning SW4 OzzyJuice and a microbe impregnated filter, called an OzzyMat, the SmartWasher system will outperform any previously available bike wash product with zero impact to the
environment and no danger to users. Don’t let dirt and grime diminish your investment; a clean bike works better and lasts longer.

Founded in 1993, and located in Norcross, GA, ChemFree corporation is a subsidiary of Intelligent Systems Corporation, a publicly traded corporation (AMEX symbol: INS). Manufacturing the patented SmartWasher® Bioremediating Parts Washing System, ChemFree Corporation provides an alternative method to cleaning vehicle and maintenance parts without harming humans or the environment. The SmartWasher® system consists of the SmartWasher parts washer equipment, OzzyJuice® Degreasing Solutions and OzzyMats™which are microbe impregnated filters. The combination of these products, “the system”, allows the user to eliminate or dramatically reduce waste streams, the expense of hazardous waste removal, the associated liabilities of generating waste, and the hassles of regulatory compliance. Uniting superior performance and environmental responsibility, the ChemFree product line is sold in more than 40 countries worldwide. ChemFree holds 27 patents—11 in the United States and 16 in other countries.

“More than ever, organizations are looking for innovations that allow them to operate
more responsibly. But innovations are not practical if they are expensive or hard to
use. The products that we develop merge environmental responsibility with the things
that businesses have always sought like cost effectiveness, safety, durability and most
importantly, a product that works,” said Tom McNally, ChemFree’s Vice President.

ChemFree manufactures a wide range of SmartWashers that are used for degreasing parts. Bioremediation allows the user to eliminate or dramatically reduce waste streams, eliminating the expense of hazardous waste removal contracts and associated liabilities.

If you would like more information about this topic, the ChemFree product line, or to schedule an interviewplease contact Melissa Page-Hale at 770-564-5589 or mpage@chemfree.com (www.chemfree.com)

Letter to Bike Shop Owners

2011-06-24T14:50:00.001-07:00

Maybe you’ll be getting one soon!

Dear awesome bike shop owner:

At the beginning of the year, we were given the opportunity have full access to a privately held ranch offering 14,000 acres of rolling hills, canopied forest, and rugged peaks. Though no mountain bike trails yet existed, its owners let us onto their property with the vision of developing world-class mountain bike trails that would put their ranch and winery on the map.

Six months later, we’re proud to announce the first Annual Ancient Peaks Classic, held just north of San Luis Obispo at the Santa Margarita Ranch. With the help of local pros and amateurs, we worked to create what our pre-riders are reporting as epic, world-class trails to be opened to riders on July 23 and 24^th.

Our cross country trail features up to fifteen miles of single track and fire road riding, bridge crossing, epic burms, rolling hills, and sweeping vistas. The trail’s been hailed as possibly the best place to ride in all of Southern California, which is saying a lot, considering the quality of nearby trails in San Luis Obispo county.

The downhill portion is a 1,300 foot drop in three miles of super fast lines. A unique combination of natural and constructed track, it has been compared to some of the west coast’s best riding by competitors such as Ryan Tarver, Jeff Bowers, and course designer, Nate Lewis.

Videos and photos are viewable at our website: www.ancientpeaksclassic.com. Please take the time to check it out and help us generate buzz about the event. We hope to have the event follow the Sea Otter Classic next year, and give visiting riders a real show of what California riding and the central Coast has to offer.

Please consider posting the enclosed posters and setting out the brochures somewhere prominent. We are doing this for the love of the sport, but proceeds will also go to support WaterRun, a 501 c3 non-profit dedicated to helping build wells in African communities.

Thanks, and hope to see you out here!

Yishai Horowitz

Race Director and Course Developer

A Narrative of the Downhill Course for the Ancient Peaks Classic

2011-06-15T14:08:00.001-07:00

Still working on actual video, sit down, relax, and enjoy as designer Nate Lewis describes the ride, blow by blow.

The Importance of Bike Fit!

2011-06-07T17:13:00.001-07:00

By guest writer Josh Cohen of Foothill Cyclery

First off let me say congratulations to all of the Morro Bay Tri finshers. You all did a great job out there on a gloomy day that could have been a lot worse. One of the things I happened to observe on the road while driving support for the bike leg is that there are many of you guys and gals out there on poorly fit bikes. Granted this is just a casual observation but it seemed that the majority of the riders out there on the road could have had free speed and more comfort just by having their bikes fitted correctly. With that being said I know some of you are saying to yourselves, I got fitted when I bought my bike, I’m good. I say to you, ask yourself, did I really get fitted well? Do my shoulders feel sore after my ride? Do my knees track straight up and down or do they flail out sideways? Do my feet feel sore after I ride or even during? Do my hands or fingers go numb during my rides? Is my back sore? Do I have pressure on the front of my seat that makes me want to tilt the saddle way down? Is my bike really comfortable for 2 plus hours or does it make me want to get a massage the next day?

I’m sure most of you have asked your bike shop something along these lines and gotten the “You’ll get used to it” response. I can not stress enough that this is a horrible answer. Your bike shouldn’t hurt or make you sore except for your legs after a killer ride. I’m going to go out on a limb and outline the advanced fit we do at Foothill Cyclery so you can see what a fit should really consist of. Please note this is our advanced fit we offer in the aftermarket.

First step is to get to know you. We want to know if you have injuries or other factors which would change the way you fit on the bike. We also want to know what you want to do with the bike whether you are touring, racing, stunt riding, etc.

Second is to get you warmed up and look at your current set up and problems you are having with it. Even small things like sore shoulders hours after you ride. We are looking for all the things that contribute to your performance.

Third thing we do is get some basic measurements off of you. This includes inseam and shoulder width as well as foot varus and valgus (tilt). At this point we are also looking at your shoes and feet as well as how you walk and what your feet tend to do.

After that we make the first basic adjustments to the bike. Saddle height is based off the inseam measurement and set. With the seat height adjusted, we have the rider actually ride on the trainer, check saddle height and fore aft with a goniometer (measures body angles) and a laser. Then we look at the ride straight on with the laser and make adjustments to allow the knee to track as straight as possible. Once that is done, we go again to the saddle height and fore aft and readjust as needed.

The next steps involve rider flexibility. Post warm up we look at how flexible you are in the mid section primarily at your hips. This will determine how much drop and reach we can achieve from the saddle to the bars. The rest is in the details, fine tuning the shifter placement, looking at bar tape wrap options and so on.

These fits take roughly 1.5 – 3 hours and come with a 30 day comfort guarantee. We know that sometimes other little issues can come up post fit so within the first 30 days you can come back for a refit, and adjustments, including swapping out anything fit related that you bought during the bike fit.

That’s our overview of what we think a proper fit should be. I’m not saying that it’s the end all be all of bike fitting, but it’s a great place to start and more than enough for all but the most elite athletes. With that said we have worked on some of the fastest riders in the country, including Jr National Road Race Champion Evan Huffman, and Subaru Trek Pro mountain biker Sam Schultz.

If you haven’t been fitted at this level and would like to know how much more comfortable your bike can be, just call Foothill Cyclery at 805 541 4101 ask for Josh and schedule a fit appointment.

Meet the All Out Staff

2011-05-31T16:08:00.001-07:00

In the spirit of all things love and community, I felt like I should post a little blog on the current All Out Events team, so that when you see them around, you can say hi.

The key to our staff is that we are looking for people like us – who think the vision and the job is super awesome, love the difficulty of the evens, love the people that attend, and never whine or complain about doing anything. We look for people who do the extra mile, and most of the staff come out of volunteering for us and being super stoked not for the dollars, but the experience. That’s why you’ll find our events are always filled with good vibe – it starts with the staff.

First off, there’s me and Yishai:

Me: Kristin Tara McNamara and then there’s Yishai Horowitz. We make up the partnership that is All Out Events. I’ve been helping Yishai with his events since before there was All Out Events, but I officially got on the LLC paperwork last August as a full partner. And while we’ve been friends for years and years and years, we’ve been dating for two years and as of two weeks ago, he gave me a shiny rock for my left ring finger, so one of these days, it’s gonna be Mr and Mrs Horowitz. Or, McNawitz to our friends.

Yishai’s full time job is the events business, which is why he’s more recognizable, but we are also both Executive Directors and founders of SLO Op Climbing, the country’s first non-profit bouldering gym. That was our first business partnership and his ideas compared with my penchant for marketing and financial management worked there, which is why we are working on All Out together. In addition to that, I’m a part-time English professor at Allan Hancock College. Whew.

We also have two super cute dogs, Australian Shepherds. Because you needed to know that.

And then there’s Blake Rowan:

I couldn’t find a good one of just him, so you get a photo of his lovely fiancée, Maren, also. Blake has been our number three in everything we do for a long time. He is also the volunteer manager at our climbing gym and we sometimes talk about getting a big homestead and having our houses and Aussies and such on it together. Blake is a tennis pro and finishing up a business degree at Cal Poly. He’s also a super road and mountain bike dude, along with being a climber.

Aarone (sounds like Erin) Livingston:

Aaronne is an old friend of Yishai’s from their days working at a summer camp together. (In fact, that sweatshirt is for the camp: Gold Arrow Camp. She is about the most on it, sweet, and lovely person you’ll ever meet, though it makes it hard for me to describe myself with her around – I used to be the only girl, and then I was the only girl with red hair, but she wins on “redness.” She is married to a great guy and owns the heck out of the day of registration management. We would be lost without her.

And we have Rich Besco:

Rich helps us out on the day of events – he usually does all the heavy lifting and such and he’s really great in a pinch at handling crap that's less than ideal. He’s a really great, stable guy with a good heart and we’re so glad to have him. I don’t really know what Rich does for a day job, but he also has a fancy delivery job at night that gives us lots of awesome stories. Busy man!

New this year:

Nate Lewis -

Here’s Nate at last year’s Mud Run, which until I saw this photo, I didn’t even know he was there. We tapped Nate, who used to be a pro downhiller but is now going to school, to help us build the downhill mountain bike course for our Ancient Peaks Mountain Bike Classic, but he was so enthusiastic and awesome about everything, we asked him to be a part of the team. He helped out immensely at the adventure race in May and he’s going to manage the run course for us at this weekend’s tri.

Ryan Tarver -

Ryan is also a super athlete, having competed in our adventure races and blown the top competition away with his ability to keep up without knowing what he was doing. He works for Lezyne (hence the shirt) and is always around at our events and so he’s started to volunteer his time with whatever we need. And we are SO glad to have him.

And our satellite crew:

Owen Richardson -

Owen has worked with Yishai longer than I have, for other people as well as Yishai’s event business. He was Y’s right hand man until he finished up at the community college here and headed to Chico to finish his degree. He comes down when he can to help with operations and he has served as race director for our sprint adventure races a few times.

Matt Pearce -

Matt lives up in Chico and has worked with Yishai and Owen as a medic at a number of events. Here he is in his truck of stuff. He is a volunteer dispatcher and tech whiz. He works for the Butte County probation offices and is a funny guy to spend time with.

And there you have it, the core workforce behind making All Out as awesome as it can be.

Why we do this crazy event stuff.

2011-05-30T21:10:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we had a major trail work day for the July 23-24 mountain bike race. Given that we’re five days from the Morro Bay Tri, I feel this is a sign that we have our crap together if we’re working on something more than a month out instead.

So, there we are, at ten in the morning at the gate to Santa Margarita ranch. Me, Yishai, and our friend Todd in the 4Runner, and suddenly the cavalry arrives: Josh and his girlfriend Karen from Foothill Cyclery, and Nate Lewis – designer of our downhill course – and five of his buddies, truck full of downhill bikes.

The buddies have already been up on the property pre-riding and they are blown. “World class,” “Amazing terrain,” “This is not something you find in San Luis” (in reference to the tree canopy riding) are things that are spilling out of their mouths. They’re back again to construct some berms and jumps for the downhill event.

Yishai and I do this for love, and we are super cognizant of not overusing our volunteers. But there Nate is, standing at the midpoint of our downhill section, looking up the hill with this ecstatic grin on his face: “This has been the realization of a dream since I was little. I have been making little jumps and stuff but this . . . this.” Yup, All Out Events – making dreams come true. We’ve fully given Nate control on the downhill and it’s fun watching his vision come together.

Today, we’re making his vision come together by building huge, huge berms:

Here’s Yishai up on the berm (you should see it all packed down and the jump above it) with Nate talking to him and everyone else looking at work going on down the hill.

To be quite honest, we’re sad about the serious dirt roads we’re making. Yishai and I try not to impact a place this much, but . . . well, you want world class, we’ll give you world class, my friends.

And then while the work here went on, the guys are up higher building the berms until the join up later on and go out with Yishai to build more features and trail down lower.

By now, Yishai has gotten good with the chain saw, a newly acquired skill:

Fallen logs begone!

Anyway, the entire day, all these people came together to build something wonderful. No one complained, everyone put in some shoulder grease, were all smiles, and stayed well into the sun fading into the horizon.

Cold, tired, and happy, the boys loaded their bikes and we shuttled them to the top and they rode down:

Events aren’t about money (but that would be nice one of these days), it’s about love, helping people achieve their dreams, have a good time, and make lasting relationships.

And I love it.

Barrie Adsett’s Trip Report for the 12 Hour Race

2011-05-19T17:02:00.001-07:00

Dawn to Dusk Adventure Race. May 14 2011
by Barrie

TTeam Equinox at the start (yes it was cold at 6:30 AM) – Steve, Barrie, Dave and Teri

It took us 12½ hours to go just 42 miles (67 Km). The race started with an epic hike along the ridge that runs through the Sana Lucia Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest. The cool part is we almost got to the big antenna that can be seen off to the right as you drive up the grade from San Luis Obispo to Atascadero.

We started the race at 7:30 am, east of where Pozo Road narrows and Santa Margarita Valley ends. They loaded us on a bus a little after 6 AM, and the bus made a couple of trips to get everyone to the start line.

The initial hike was from a trail-head parking area up to the ridge line. This was slow as there were 100 or more racers of all abilities on the narrow trail. But by the first checkpoint (2 Km into the race and on the ridge) we had gotten on a jeep trail and everyone was running/hiking at their own pace. The route appeared easy, but a couple of Km later the ridge split 3 ways and racers went in all 3 directions. Fortunately we chose the correct route and got to the second checkpoint ahead of lots of good teams.

We ran the downhill’s (something we normally do not do) and got ahead of our usual pace so made a mistake an hour later when we thought we were further up the ridge than we were. The uphill’s had slowed us down, but we were still calculating distance at the run pace. The “detour” took us about 3 Km out of our way. Fortunately the roads and terrain did not match the trails we were expecting and while other teams were running past us (so they were off-course also) we read the map more thoroughly and turned around after about 1500m. It was a climb back up to the ridge, but on a good jeep trail. We continued for about another hour on the ridge trail which was sometimes there, but more often we had to bushwhack through Pine trees, Manzanita bushes and other scrub plants then get to a clearing then bushwhack again. We overshot the turnoff to CP3 (which was just a water chute down the side of the hill) as we were trying too hard to get ahead of a group of about 15-18 racers. We climbed the hill in the center photo below and came up behind the antennas. It was seeing the antennas, looking at the different ridges and taking bearings that convinced us we had gone too far (but only by about 500m – though that was 20-25 minutes of bushwhack).

(1)Dave and Teri at an easy section. (2)We never did find the trail, but we did climb the hill. (3)This is how thick it was.

When we got back on track the trail went through what I would describe as a poison oak forest. It was everywhere and you just had to get through it. We crawled under foliage, climbed over vines and attempted to follow a trail others had blazed before us. One minute you were in thick brush, and then you were on what appeared to be a well-worn trail, to have it disappear 50 meters later. When we eventually got to CP3 we were team 38 of 58 to check in. While this was far back in the pack we preferred to think of ourselves as having 20 teams still behind us. Then it was an easy 45 minute walk to CP4 where our bikes were.

Only the first 4 checkpoints were mandatory, the trek was the emphasis of this race. We figured that including our mistakes we hiked about 15 miles (25 Km) and it took us almost 6½ hours to get that far. But it was one of the greatest treks we have had in a long while and except for the unfortunate poison oak it was a really great trail, with plenty of side tracks to make the navigation challenging.

At the bike transition we plotted the 7 bike checkpoints and from the master map plotted the kayak checkpoints to come up with a plan for the remainder of the race. Because of how we felt (tired), how long the race had taken so far (longer than we anticipated), and how we were not strong bikers compared to kayakers (plus the fact we wanted to do the Zipline which was on the kayak section), we elected to do just 3 easy bike checkpoints and skip the remaining ones. So our bike section was just 13 miles (23 Km) and took a little over 70 minutes. We were lucky to ride some fun new single track trails but nothing too difficult. This was all inside a private ranch and vineyard area of Miller Flat.

At the kayak we had to paddle about 2 Km to the Zipline which was a 300ft (92m) line across an arm of Santa Margarita Lake. It was awesome. I went across hanging upside down with no arms on the brake line. Steve and Dave dunked in the lake as they went across and Teri was laughing all the time. When leaving the Zipline we saw our friends Jake and Dave and they told us their team had pulled out of the race (but they wanted to do the Zipline), because one of the bike legs we skipped was so hard it forced one of their teammates to drop from the race. That got us to be very happy about our short bike section, but also got us to wondering if other teams were having as much trouble on the bike and maybe we should race harder and get all the kayak checkpoints then go back and get one of the bike checkpoints that we skipped. So we set some time limits to gage our progress and did just that. We finished the 12 mile (20 Km) kayak section in a little over 4 hours and instead of crossing the finish line we got some food from the finish BBQ and hiked up a ridge in the park to get one of the bike checkpoints. Even though it was a bike CP, there was no rule to say how you went to it and since it was an optional checkpoint you could get it in any sequence.

All through the race we were wondering where our old teammate Kristine and her team were. They were 50 minutes ahead of us at CP3 and we saw them at one point on the bike. But they were stronger bikers and had rented sit-on-top kayaks so we knew they would do more bike than kayak checkpoints. As we came down the hill from the last checkpoint (the extra bike one we got) they were going up to get it so we raced to the line to beat them – but we were unsure how many checkpoints they had to know if we beat them overall or not.

We finished in 12 hours 21 minutes and were all happy in how much of the course we did. We only skipped 3 optional checkpoints in the end and most importantly we had lots of fun. This is the same race that last year we went off-course by more than 41 miles (66 Km) and barely finished. This year we were over the finish line an hour before the cut-off time, and we were drinking beer and eating BBQ as other teams finished, so it was a good race for us.

When they announced awards about 9 PM we were surprised when they announced us as second place, and even more surprised when the first place team had to decline the award as they changed from a 4-person mixed team to a 4-person all male team, so we got promoted to FIRST place 4-person mixed. A nice way to finish the day and beat some very, very, good teams that did not quite have the luck we did on skipping difficult checkpoints. Dave and Jake’s team (Albion Brewing) was second place and Kristine’s team (Captain K and the Pretty Boys) was third place. First place overall was a 3-person team - Team Tecnu, getting all checkpoints in a mere 9½ hours. We will have to wait for published results to see how we fared overall compared to the 2 person and 3 person teams or the other category teams. But we had the ultimate fun we could pack into a 12 hour day, which was our goal, and the fact we got trophies was a nice bonus.

A big thank you to All Out Adventures who put this race on. This was the 6^th version of Dawn to Dusk and I have run 4 of the 6. Each time is different, each time is a challenge and each time I say it is probably the most fun race I participate in that year. Definitely the most fun 8-12 hour race each year.

Thank you also to the sponsors, especially Tecnu who provided cleansing at CP4 (after the PO forest), Tecnu showers at the finish line and product for any racers who suffer from Poison Oak.

(1)Fun on the bike. (2)Teri wants wine. (3)Small river crossings.

How the Race Went for an Actual Racer!

2011-05-18T11:18:00.001-07:00

From competitor Doug Thaxon (with kind permission):

My bro and I just wanted to say thanks for an awesome experience with our First Adventure Race. Your race was insane, and the All Out staff was so accommodating. We also wanted to ask you to pass on a special thanks to the family that shared their private land with us. It was pure joy riding/ trekking through that beautiful property. I especially enjoyed seeing them hanging out and having family time at the pond area near the CP. We felt so fortunate that they were willing to share with us, the MTB trails were just plain incredible. Below is a recap I sent to our family and friends that supported us as we trained and prepared for the race…thought you might enjoy reading it too. Best regards- Doug & Greg

Hey Friends- thought I would give you a condensed version of the race…It was unbelievable, literally. I could probably give you a better description in person, but here goes.

We started at 6am Saturday with getting our maps, race rules and coordinates. We were bused to an unknown location and dropped off to start the race around 7:30am. We finished in 11:33 at roughly 6:45pm after covering around 60 miles on land and water. We are really happy with our time considering that we were lost between checkpoint 3 & 4 for over an hour. Timing wise, we were in the top end of our category and finished near some of the pro teams. We did not get our race map, or know the race course until 6am race day. We plotted our own race course to the Mandatory Checkpoints using UTM (a mapping/ coordinate method developed by the Army in the 1950’s) coordinates. There were 4 mandatory checkpoints that had to be completed in order, then 8 checkpoints which were optional for more points. We completed 8 total checkpoints including the ZIP LINE! We felt it was mandatory to zip across the lake on a cable line; we were not disappointed. The race began with a 13 mile trek which combined running, hiking, crawling and serious bushwhacking in areas where the trial was not maintained. Because we go lost, the trekking took us longer than we had hoped, and did zap our energy and morale a bit. However, we pulled together and backtracked a bit and found a game trail which showed signs of racer foot traffic. We were able to blaze that trail off the mountain peak to our referenced trail on another mountain about a mile away. We got back on track and progressed quickly to the final trekking check point and also picked up an adjacent mountain bike checkpoint after veering a slight loop in our path to pick it up on the way to CP4. CP 4 was where they staged out bikes. We had dropped them off at the main staging area (on Friday) at the Lake and they loaded them onto a trailer and dropped them off at CP4 which was out in the middle of nowhere. We took some time to recuperate at checkpoint 4 where we were transitioning from Trekking to Mountain Biking. There we powered down Gatorades, PBJ sandwiches and my mom’s homemade cookies! Most importantly we took Tecnu Baths, Tecnu is a soap that breaks down the oil from poison oak/ ivy…this was helpful as the trails were covered in poison oak. At some points we were on hands and knees crawling down a mountain face and through groves of it. Not for the faint at heart or those that are highly allergic to the oil. At CP4 we also plotted the coordinates for the remaining checkpoints. The mountain biking was fantastic and it was so nice to get off our tired dogs. We put focused effort into foot care- changing socks frequently and ductaping the hot spots. A large part of the MTB was on a private 14,000 acre cattle ranch/ winery. We started the biking about 7 hours into the race and were feeling good about our energy and timing so elected to cut off about 6 miles of riding (and 2 checkpoints) to get a good start on the kayaking. At Kayak transition we once again plotted our course and resupplied ourselves with hydration and nourishment. They checkpoints for Kayak were spread out so we essentially paddled the entire lake twice by the time we went down and back. We were able to stage hydration at two points, MTB and Kayak transitions. Other than that, there were only two locations where the race had staged water for us…being responsible and largely on our own really raised the adventure element of this race.

The scenery was epic, some wildlife too. We narrowly missed crossing paths with a bear at CP 3 and then we re-adjusted our course at one mountain ridge as a large cat was growling at us from a bushy area. Something else we are taking away is a reconnection with our primal instincts, it was a very grounding experience. My Bro and I had entered the race as a two person team and were planning to make a friendly rivalry with our buddies that came out from Utah. In the beginning, Greg and I thought we wanted to move through the trekking a bit faster than Mark and Brian, and at that point we were ‘competing’. Mark had a pre-race injury that slowed his normal game. Greg and I knew our weakness was the orienteering and so we were intent on updating our map with where we were, and where we were headed. Mark and Brian are far more experienced in navigation, and so they caught up with us several times. The pacing of our two teams lined up about 3 hours into the race and at that point we decided as a group to continue together. Getting lost at that final ridge top was a result of us herding and “following the pack” rather than making our own path. We laughed later on about that particular experience because we learned at one of the pre-race clinics that following others is the most common mistake newbies make as you sort of put your head down and climb the mountain one foot after another. In the end though, I am so glad we decided to band together… let me tell you, 4 minds were better than two when we needed to hunker down and blaze our own trail. It was an awesome experience with my bro and buddies, and an incredible personal challenge. I would do it again!

How the 12-hour Dawn To Dusk Went (In My Head)

2011-05-18T11:11:00.001-07:00

So, hi there. In case you didn’t know, all of the writing on this blog is done by me, Kristin McNamara, event producer of All Out Events.

While Yishai (who most of you know and love) is doing his thing on the mic or at the briefings, I am usually in the background monitoring volunteers or calculating results, etc. I’m the business end of All Out, and Yishai is the dream end, if that makes sense.

So when we have our Dawn to Dusk race, Yishai is usually always where the action is. I’m sitting in the trailer working on stuff and making sure the staff is fed.

I thought you guys might be interested to know what goes into putting on a 12-hour race, so here I am to tell you.

Ingredient 1: The Dream

Without Yishai, there’d be no course. He loves maps. It will be 2 am and he will want to show me some map. Now, I love hiking, climbing, riding, etc, but I am not a map person. In the Sierra, I go off general locations based on peaks or whatnot. I can read a map, but I do not get excited about it.

So Y will pour over the maps, and then it’s time to scout. And he will go, “Hey, Kristin, let’s do this nice, easy trail. It will only be an hour or two.” Yeah, not ever. Just when I have bought my first mountain bike, he put me on the 12-hour mountain bike course. It took me eight hours to do it. I was dying. This last race, I was super sick, and he thought we would go on a minor scouting adventure on a “road” that he said was “flat.” Folks who raced – he means the brush slog on the ridgeline. To be fair, he didn’t know, but that’s how it is with him.

Ingredient 2: Hustle

So then you have to sell the race. You need to make friends with the people who write the permits and let you use their land. That’s easy. We’re nice and we don’t mess stuff up because we’re also super-considerate. By this, I mean, if you accuse either of us of wrongdoing, we’ll immediately take it, even if we were in Timbuktu at the time. There are a lot of long days going into longer nights. A lot of worry and stress and analysis and surveys. We talk to people and hope they’ll give us some money to promote their product – these days they don’t, so this becomes not much of a lucrative thing. You have to have heart to do it.

Oh yeah, then there’s the hours we spend making the path passable – happily this year we have a dermatologist friend with the magic serum – we always have poison oak for a few months a year, but it’s way more manageable now than it has been. I haven’t had to take a poison oak sick day, and hey, Y didn’t end up in the hospital this year! Red letter day!

And then you show up:

Or, if you’re us, you decide last minute to weld bike racks even though you don’t know how to weld. And then you realize the trailer you have can’t hold the racks, so you gotta recruit friends to donate such things.

Our staff shows up, and like a well-oiled machine, they know their jobs and they handle it. Then you show up.

And it’s 11 pm the night before, we’re all in the ranger office where I draw my customary random drawing (this year it was a pink rattlesnake in a tutu) on their white board and we eat burritos. That’s also where we came up with our “start dance.”

Our what?

Yeah, if you were there, you saw it. Aaronne (registration queen), Yishai, myself, and Blake (operations man) did a little jig for the start line, only after Yishai went the extra mile by picking some poison oak to hold up for the crowd. My theory is that if it’s green, don’t touch it, and you’ll be safe. PO looks like a zillion different things. I happen to know. I am a professional poison oak murderer.

So we give our briefing and then they’re off. We get back to the venue and . . .

Have I mentioned that the 12-hour races are super epicly boring while you’re out doing the race? The entire crew goes off to Santa Margarita Ranch to handle the action there, leaving me, Aaronne (hiding from the cold in her car, monitoring radio traffic), and the CARA festival to our own devices.

I do incredibly important things like help the caterer back his trailer into the right spot and helping the cooks find wood and supplies to feed our racers sausages.

At the same time this is going on, we have search and rescue conducting random training missions over the same radio frequency so it sounds exciting, all that “Arrow One is orbiting and in search of target.” ORBITING? LIKE IN SPACE?

And then we’re all sitting around and, WHAT’S THAT? A TEAM! HOLY MOLY! It’s Team TecnuExtreme/StaphAceptic coming in way earlier than we expected. My volunteers scramble to get them the goods, and they’re off. It’s a full hour before we see another team.

But now the jig is up. We’ve been running along for about six hours and two teams haven’t shown. Hmm. We start trying to locate vehicles, names, phone numbers (for some reason they gave dummy phone numbers). Given that Y and I have personally vetted the course, barring a rabid mountain lion, they are most definitely lost in the wild backcountry peaks that the race started in. But how to find them? The brush is impassable by quad, so this is an on-foot job. And this is . . . a LOT of space.

But no fear, search and rescue has . . . a HELICOPTER. And after much debate, it is determined that Yishai, our hero, will go up in the HELICOPTER to find them by sight. I told you I get the dirty jobs.

So there they are, flying around, I can hear the chopper talking to the ground and I know when the two parties have been found (and unhurt, I might add, just lost and a bit embarrassed).

And here’s where we enter the world in my head.

Picture Yishai: black cap, black sunglasses, earpiece, radio, black coat, khaki shorts, trail running shoes.

“Oh, Race Director,” teems the search and rescue, “We are trying our best but we can’t locate those poor, lost souls. Only you can save us!”

Puffing up his chest, “Don’t you worry, *I’ll* save them! Get me the chopper!”

The air suddenly fills with the buzzing of a thousand angry bees, escorting Airwolf, suspended from the ground with only one of those slick, black cords and a single, silver ascender. Yishai grabs it, and begins to ascend effortlessly as James Bond would. He swings into the cabin. “That way, Captain, we have people to save!”

It rises and banks left, firing the turbo jet engines (come on, it’s Airwolf) as it sweeps over a rugged vista of peaks and narrow canyons. And there, sure as day, their day-glo yellow coats shining from the black and blah colors of the drying chapparal. They wave the the helicopter. The pilot waves back. Yishai, “We have no time for that, land this thing!”

And, conveniently, there’s a landing spot (this part is true). As soon as it touches down, Yishai leaps from the chopper, its blades inches from his head as he runs to the people and escorts them out of the brush to safety and their loving friends and family.

Yeah. So I was sitting in the trailer calculating points at this point. I am pretty sure there was a zipline, but I can’t confirm that. I heard there was . . . mountain biking, too? And I saw some kayaks on the staging area. But I am pretty sure all I saw was venue and the inside of a trailer. And that’s pretty much what I did until it was time for awards, when I got the prizes out and handed them to the winners. And then we cleaned up, got ready for that night’s rain storm, and went to bed.

That, my friends, is the 2011 All Out Adventure race from Kristin’s perspective.

The May Adventure Sprint Is On!

2011-05-07T22:17:00.001-07:00

We've been talking a lot about how awesome our 12-hour course is this year, and you've been listening! We have a record number of participants this year, but we also want to remind you of the awesomeness that is the Sprint Race.

As mentioned in National Geographic Adventure magazine as *the* recommended sprint race, we have a great, adventurous course waiting for you. Grab a buddy and paddle the fingers of Santa Margarita Lake in our brand-new fleet of tandem kayaks, ride the wicked fun that is the hills of the lake recreation area and Shangri-La ranch, and trek through some of the most beautiful and accessibly hidden trails the lake can offer - you'll scramble up the side of a creek, over flat sandstone slopes, get great views, and have an amazing morning adventure.

So . . . tell your friends and we'll see you soon!

7th Annual Santa Margarita Adventure Race Boasts Top Pros and Big Fun

2011-05-07T22:16:00.001-07:00

May 7, 2011 – San Luis Obispo - Racers and adventurers from across the country will be convening on Santa Margarita for the first weekend of the All Out Adventure Race series on May 13-15.

The race series features a long-form adventure race on Saturday and a short-form race on Sunday, paired with California Adventure Racing Association’s festival and free clinics all weekend long.

Athletes in tip-top shape are coming from all over the country and internationally to compete in the highest attended race in the west. Racers in teams of four, three, two, or going solo will paddle along the lake in kayaks, crash through brush and poison oak, zip merrily through the trees on wires, and ride high quality single track mountain bike trails – all while navigating with compasses and maps to gain check points. The top teams will finish in about 12 hours. The race starts in Santa Margarita Lake but expands out to other areas from there.

On Sunday, more mild racers will do all the same thing, but in a more controlled setting: teams of two have about four hours to complete a kayak, mountain bike, and trekking course while navigating “special challenges.” Hailed as one of the top 5 races in the country for its short form and quality experience by National Geographic Adventure magazine, this is a great event for a morning adventure for both the super fit and the moderate weekend warrior – with wonderful views and an insider’s look at some of Santa Margarita Lake’s most beautiful terrain. The course is marked with arrows, taking away the most challenging part of Saturday’s race – map navigation.

Some racers from Saturday will stay to do Sunday . . . it’s simply that fun! But whether you’re in it to push yourself to the limit or grab a buddy and have a good time, one thing’s for sure: you’ll never feel the same way about yourself again!

Please see our website at http://www.ccadventure.com and watch the preview video at: http://bit.ly/l2LTD3

# # #

If you’d like more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Kristin Tara McNamara at 805 748 1478 or email Kristin@All-OutEvents.com

The ECOSLO Morro Bay Tri: What to Expect?

2011-04-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

The time’s coming – the annual ECOSLO Morro Bay Tri. In addition to last year’s Olympic length, we’ve added a sprint course as well.
In case this is Greek to you:
Olympic Distance : 1.5K Swim | 40K Bike | 10K Run
Sprint Distance : 750M Swim | 20.5K Bike | 5.4K Run
These lengths make up the majority of tri competitions, and for good reason – they’re accessible, and any level of fitness can shine here.
The order is usually the same: swim, bike, and run. And for good reason, you don’t want to do a swim when you’re dirt tired – it’s ordered for safety!

Swimming? I hate swimming! Well, cool. We’ve got a kayak option. And, believe you me, I am not a big swimmer myself. Enjoy the same water views as the swimmers, but without the wet and saltiness.
Our swim is in Morro Bay, a protected cove and home to fishermen and hobby boaters, along with adorable sea otters and sea lions.
But what about tides? We carefully select our dates and times to allow for a “slack tide.” This means the tide is moving neither in nor out. It should feel very much like a lake swim. But be careful: if you practice in these waters, be sure you also select a slack tide – we don’t want you getting sucked out to hostile, shark-infested waters! (Just kidding, though at last year’s adventure race, we did see some blue whales.)

As for bikes, both courses will head north on highway 1 on an out-and-back this year, the difference is when you’ll turn back around out. You’ll enjoy a mostly flat ride along the ocean. We’ve got a road closure and great coning, and we promise the course will be super well-marked! You’ll be safe, sound, and confident so you can give the course your all.

And then let’s finish it out with a race on the sand. Last year it was an out-and-back, but this year we’re pleased to give you a different view: you’ll start out on dirt and boardwalk, go through a cute neighborhood, turn left and come back on the sand. Watch out for snowy plovers – be kind to our beach birdies!
Yup, pretty straight forward. We keep you safe, make your life happy, and it’s all to benefit a great cause: ECOSLO.
But, you know, this is an All Out event, and we expect you to not just be hard core, but have fun!

This dude knows what I’m talking about – he’s rolling through the finish line! Huzzah!

Changing Perceptions

2011-04-28T13:36:00.001-07:00

We had our first event for 2011 two weeks ago, and I think that it was a success. If, by success, we mean that no one got seriously injured, everyone finished under their own power, and the finish line was all smiles.

We do events for that feeling of bringing joy to other people. We genuinely enjoy trampling through brush and being itchy for three months straight because we love those smiles at the events. You know it, and we know it, there is something magic about being a part of an “Event.” You are part of a community. A shared experience. Really knowing what you’re capable of that day. The whole she-bang.

A lot of conversations lately have gone toward why Adventure Racing isn’t so big. We’re working with a Cal Poly class who is developing a Public Relations campaign for our races. I told them the same thing I’m about to say here, that their efforts aren’t just a school project. If we can implement an effective strategy, we’ll share them with the larger community. What they do in this class has the potential to have a lifetime of impact if they put the effort in.

Just like the events can and do for many.

Every time I tell people what I do, people look up to the sky and whistle. Especially if I say, “Adventure Race.”

And I have to wonder – is it partly the name?

I was on the phone last night with Glenn Millar of Desert Dash who was saying he was in Brazil at the EcoMotion race and the same thing came up – that we need to do something to change how the outside world see us.

Yeah, there’s an element of surprise, but it’s not out of control. It’s not even a “race” like a triathlon or a trail run is “a race.” While some people are machines, most are very, very much chill and having fun. That’s the difference. You don’t always “go go go,” you stop, you check your map, you have a snack. It’s cool.

Even “sprint race” is a misnomer. If the top finishers come in at 2 hours, and the last come in at 4, that’s hardly sprinting. Do we need to change it to “short form” or something even more awesome?

Instead of people describing it as a run, paddle, and bike . . . we’ve got to figure out a way to show people for what it really is – a morning, a day, or more, of going out with your buddies or with your best friend (you) in the back country and seeing some beautiful stuff along the way.

Besides, most of us don’t actually run the whole time, anyway. And nearly everyone sucks at paddling.

So, what do we all do as a community to change the perception? To get AR where trail races, gran fondos, tris, etc are? Accessible yet challenging and always worth it? I mean, look at mud runs – some of them shock you and make you crawl through barbed wire – that’s torture! This is fun!

Adventure racing, you’ll never feel the same about yourself.

Red Star Sunglasses

2011-04-28T11:54:00.001-07:00

All event participants in this year will be getting a gift card to try Red Star Sunglasses for $49 (with shipping) in their goody bags and we’ll be giving a few pairs away as prizes.

So, you know, when you’re done killing it out there, you can bask in the glory of the shades.

Hammer Nutrition On Board!

2011-04-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

If you’re looking for race nutrition on course and off, look no further than Hammer. At this year’s All Out Adventure Series and Morro Bay Tri, you’ll find HEED and Hammer Gels on course and in your goody bags along with new products.

All Out is thrilled to partner with this innovative product!

SLO Mountain Run Video!

2011-04-24T17:15:00.001-07:00

Thanks so much to Stephanie Somma for volunteering to produce an awesome video of our event this last weekend. She did a great job of capturing the feeling of the event!

“Unless you're not pushing yourself, you're not living to the fullest.” - SLO Mountain Run is a wrap!

2011-04-21T13:20:00.001-07:00

Well, we had a record attendance year, and we want to thank everyone who came out to participate.

As the first event of the season, we are always really glad to have a relatively low logistical race (compared to adventure races and triathlons) and all the staff went into it feeling relaxed and happy. We unveiled our new registration signs and it worked great!

Aaronne, our intrepid registration person sets up our racers. This year we had blue shirts with the logo and a quote from Dean Karnazes: “Unless you're not pushing yourself, you're not living to the fullest.” The SLO Mountain Run does nothing if not push people to live life to the fullest when they’re running – those hills are STEEP!

People were really happy to be there – we had a vacationing couple from South Africa and a local woman who had no idea the lake was even there. It was great to share the most beautiful run in SLO with the world this perfect, sunny, April morning. And it was great to see people puking their guts out at the finish as evidence for having given it their all.

I had to give props to the woman below in this photo who did this single-track, totally ungroomed trail with a stroller and kidlet. She said they both had fun despite the rugged terrain! She earns my respect for being hard core!

Thanks for coming out and supporting us, and for supporting Special Olympics!

Our top overall winners got great prize packages from SOLE and a free entry into any of our other events.

You can find more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maculated/sets/72157626546651564/

We’ve got some snazzy things brewing at All Out Events!

2011-04-21T13:10:00.001-07:00

The proofs for our award jerseys are in our hands: thanks to local cycling gear producer Voler’s sponsorship, first place overall finishers in the All Out Adventure races, Ancient Peaks Classic Mountain Bike Race, and ECOSLO Morro Bay Tri. Here’s a sneak peak:

We’re excited to have SLO Search and Rescue on board this year to provide assistance (should we need it) at the adventure races.

We also have a really unusual, cool sponsor for the mountain bike comp: CalStar! While we hope you don’t need their air assistance, having helicopters at the event is still pretty cool!

We had a meeting with the Morro Bay TBID committee today and they are stoked on our event, and will be helping us promote it this year and hopefully into the future. We understand that Ironman is thinking about coming into the area to put on a race in lower SLO County and we think this is a great opportunity to grow our destination race with the additional area exposure.

Canadian Footwear and Footbed Company SOLE Joins All Out Again This Year: Participates in Sponsorship Case Study

2011-03-28T15:57:00.001-07:00

March 28, 2011 – San Luis Obispo - SOLE, multiple winner of awards and mentions for their innovative and highly effective footwear designs, joins All Out for the 2011 season this year.

Sponsoring our SLO Mountain Run on April 17 and the ECOSLO Morro Bay Olympic and Sprint Triathlon on June 5, participants will receive coupons and top placing winners will receive a SOLE Footcare package including SOLE Custom Footbeds (either DK Signature Edition OR Thin Sport), SOLE Sport Sandals (choice of Sport Flips or Sport Slides), and SOLE Performance Socks. Other winners will receive SOLE Performance Socks.

Long recognized for innovative design and rehabilitative efficacy, they will also be working with All Out Events during its adventure race events on May 14-15 and June 18-19 to participate in a case study measuring effective educational marketing tactics. Says event organizer, Kristin McNamara, “I had plantar faciitis from training for our events and the SOLE Sport Flips were the only thing I could wear comfortably until it healed. I attest my quick recovery in time to compete to the Sport Flips and I’m excited to share that experience with our event participants!”

If you’re interested in how footbeds and simple flipflops can help alleviate a multitude of woes, come out to any of our events above and find out how.

Check out SOLE at http://www.yoursole.com/

Check All Out Event’s event calendar at http://www.alloutevents.com

What to Expect from an All Out Adventure Race Sprint

2011-03-23T10:13:00.001-07:00

“Adventure race? That’s not for me.”

I hear this all the time when people hear what I do with my days. The thought evokes epic scales up impressively impossible, snow covered peaks and men with thick biceps and strong jaws making grunting noises over their squirrel dinner.

But the fact is, adventure racing (or “A.R.” as we shorten it to) can be as painful as the Death Race or as long as more than a week in the wilds of Patagonia, but for the vast majority of folks looking to get out of their head, out of the city, and see something amazing, AR offers the opportunity to anyone who can sit on a bike and walk on the soil.

“Sprint Races” give the less-committed, or maybe less initiated participant a taste of the good stuff, with a lot more control and support than what most people think of as an “adventure race.” Usually taking the fastest teams two hours to complete, he slowest teams usually come in around four (some even walk the whole thing, taking pictures and eating picnics along the way). It’s a great way to take a morning to do something you’ll talk about for a while while still having time to get home and do chores or explore the location of the adventure race you’ve traveled to.

All Out is committed to providing you with the finest race experience you can have – selecting heart-stoppingly beautiful venues and uber fun trails, always favoring single track above dirt and asphalt when we can, and making courses dynamic and fluid, like a real trek through the most beautiful stuff the region has to offer. We want you to have a good time and truly see what you’re made of, and we promise never to frustrate you with course design or stupid elements.

The Components of the Race

Teamwork:

For our sprints, we require a two-person team. For one reason, it’s more fun, and for another, you’re there to take care of each other. A lot of times your race time will be faster because you’ll be pushing your teammate (both mentally and literally). Coming across the finish line with your friend, loved one, or maybe just the partner you found can make the experience. Many people get creative, they’re ride one another, hold hands, skip, leap frog . . . and that’s just the finish. Sharing the experience with someone makes it that much better. You need to stay within 100 feet of each other at all times, no dropping or strategic waiting – you both pull the same load and experience the same race.

Kayaking/swimming:

This is often the big stopper for adventure race would-bes because they do not have much experience with water. But no fear, most people’s weakest part of the race is this one. We provide two-person sit-on-top kayaks, which no one is really great at on lakes anyway. Just grab one, jump on and start paddling. You’ll get there. The two of you will figure out a rhythm and when one gets tired, the other picks up the slack.

Biking:

Our races favor fun single track mountain biking – which means you need to be pretty comfortable on the bike. You don’t need to be an expert, though. If you’re used to riding a bike on paths, you may have to get off and push occasionally (steep climbing and descents can be intimidating), but the fact that you’re in a “race” will help push you a little harder than you knew you could go, and that’s part of the joy. Your commuter bike, if it’s got big tires, can get you through the race, but having at least a single-suspension mountain bike will make it more comfortable and fun. Bikes are available locally to rent, just ask us!

“Running":

AR always bills the foot section as “running” but for most teams, even the fast ones, it’s more often jogging or walking/hiking. Because our races are usually situated in hilly locations, you’ll be doing a lot of up and down, maybe some bushwacking, and maybe some light rock scaling. You’re likely carrying a pack with you, too. We don’t expect four-minute miles, and you shouldn’t either. Please take the time to check out the view as you go!

Special challenges:

In our sprint races, we clearly mark the trail with arrows and flagging tape – in longer AR experiences, you need to find your own way. In order to keep that element of thinking, teamwork, and surprise, All Out is always coming up with fun little challenges on-course that involve skills you didn’t know you had. Maybe it involves supervised ropes, puzzle-solving, cargo-net climbing, or even water slides!

Nutrition:

Since the race is so short, a few portable food items and water usually does the trick. If the weather is hot, be sure to take time and make sure you have enough water and some food to help you absorb the water and you’ll be just fine. No technical nutrient intake needed. You’ll burn tons of calories, but you’ll be having fun doing it at your own pace.

Supplies:

A bike helmet, comfortable clothes, and a bike is really all you need for this race. We recommend clipless pedals for the bike to make you faster and more efficient, but many people do fine with toe clips or flat paddle-type pedals. Lots of people like wearing spandex bike shorts and jerseys for the races – it cuts down on chafing and picking up burrs and such. Because our sprint AR races are usually on paths, you don’t have to be as worried about poison oak contact or stickers, but gaiters can be a good thing in tick-country. Good running shoes are a must – check out the tread for off-roading beforehand, sometimes road shoes are too slick for solid footing on loose soil and rock. Hats or bandanas are great, and don’t forget the sunblock and sunglasses!

Hopefully this article helps you get some confidence about adventure racing. In no other sport do you combine multiple disciplines in a well-supported backcountry jaunt in a fun and as competitive-as-you-want-to-make-it setting. Get off the roads and into the wilderness, it’s good for the soul!

Hope to see you soon!

Thanks to Scott Wallace for the photos from the 2010 May Adventure Sprint!

All Out Events Partners with Noble Sports Photography!

2011-03-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

“Will there be a photographer at this year’s event?” It’s a common request, because who doesn’t want a badass photo doing something amazing?

Last year’s contributing photographer to the Morro Bay Tri is back this year; Noble Sports Photography has confirmed attendance at the following events:

Morro Bay Triathlon, June 5; SLO GranFondo, Oct 15; Mud Mash, Oct 30

We’re still looking for photographers to cover our other events.

Ancient Peaks Mountain Bike Classic: “Honestly, this could be the best place to ride in all of Southern California.”

2011-03-11T00:31:00.001-08:00

March 11, 2011, San Luis Obispo, CA – After working a long day building mountain bike trails at Santa Margarita Ranch in Santa Margarita, CA for the upcoming July 23-24 Ancient Peaks Mountain Bike Classic, two of the volunteer crew sent emails to the community.

Joining race director Yishai Horowitz, volunteers meet regularly to develop trails in the hills, following cattle paths and natural lines. Armed with picks and McLeod hoes, it takes hours of manwork to create the 16-mile cross country and 1.2 mile downhill courses, and the community is stepping up efforts to have them in place for the July competition.

Dave Morrow, an avid community cyclist and 2010 SLO Cyclocross director, sang praises in an unsolicited email to the biking community. “The views from the ridges are classic unspoiled California – stellar,” he said. He continued, highlighting the benefits of building it on the 14,000 acre privately-owned ranch, including stating that he “enjoyed helping pick lines that will be fun ridden in either direction and engage the rider (e.g. swoopy and potentially fast).”

Replying to his email, fellow volunteer worker Colin Michael replied, saying, “Honestly, this could be the best place to ride in all of Southern California.”

Poison Oak – Not Quite So Evil

2011-03-01T18:40:00.001-08:00

I think the first bout of poison oak I had was when my best girl friend and I tried to go camping and ignorantly thought setting up next to the beautiful green bushes was a good plan.

It’s been a long, tawdry relationship with the stuff. When I first started getting it, my solution was to itch it off. I talked to a friend the other day that still does this – and then she pour alcohol on it. Oh my.

So then there’s toughing it out, Calagel, calomine, steroids, cortisone . . . yeah, you know what I’m talking about. And there’s the times when it goes systemic and you get it on your hoo-hah and you KNOW you didn’t rub that on the stupid plant.

But years later from that first encounter, I find myself for the next four months on free days with my loppers (dubbed, you know “Cyndi Lopper”) hacking away at the stuff and . . . yeah, sometimes I get it, but mostly because the dogs are bopping around in it and then rub those vile little oils all over me.

How many times have you lamented the fact we can’t put on some kind of anti-PO condom? Well, apparently you can; I cite this study, though have yet to actually try the products. Anyone got any feedback on the products mentioned? Do I hear a sponsorship opportunity ringing in my ears?

But I digress. If you don’t have a prophylactic cream, you can still protect yourself: long socks, non-pourous shoes, light, full-length ripstop pants, a long sleeve shirt (cotton), hat, and gloves always do me well. You have to be careful with the gloves, though, pulling them on and off can distribute the vile little oils you want to avoid.

Then, have a complete change of clothes waiting for you when you’re done. Do not sit around in your stuff or drive home like that.

The key is getting it off, though. Here’s the formula that really works:

1. Temperate shower with Technu.

2. Temperate shower with dish soap.

3. Temperate shower with regular soap.

Do this three-step ASAP. I mean it. The longer you leave it on – the easier chance it has to penetrate your protection.

And, the most important step? Wash your clothes in Technu. That same friend I mentioned above came and helped us with the adventure race in May and then did three-month long trip through South America . . . and did not wash her clothes she had been travelling with in Technu and thus had THREE MONTHS of poison oak.

Oh, and wash your stupid dogs, too.

All Out Events Invites You to Future World-Class Mountain Bike Race: Event Company Given Permission to Develop Mountain Bike Trails on 14,000 Acre Ranch

2011-02-27T16:11:00.001-08:00

San Luis Obispo, February 27, 2011 – All Out Events is excited to partner with Santa Margarita Ranch/Ancient Peaks Winery to host the July 23 & 24^th Ancient Peaks Mountain Bike Classic this year. Situated in the coastal hills of central California, this latest race venue looks to be the newest contender for a world class mountain biking destination.

Given access to over 14,000 pristine acres, race director Yishai Horowitz and friends are custom building the terrain for the event in their free time. Says Horowitz, “A lot of venues for these races are just held at established riding areas but we’re being given the opportunity to create world-class trails by the generous land owners who are looking forward to seeing the event prosper.”

Armed with pick axes and McCleods, the trail building team consists of area locals ranging from community enthusiasts to active bike racing competitors. Local professional downhiller Nate Lewis is in charge of developing the downhill course, which features a 1000 foot drop in less than a mile off the land’s most prominent peak. Horowitz, an avid cross country rider, is working with involved locals and competitive racers to develop a 16-mile cross country course using custom single track and existing fire roads. Says Horowitz of the trail development, “We’re making the trails well-groomed and wide single-track, using the natural terrain’s features as much as possible, and making sure that not only is everything totally doable, but super fun.”

This year’s July date was chosen to work with current race schedules and give the All Out team a chance to develop trails, but next year the team is hoping to move it to the weekend after Sea Otter, luring exhibitors and racers a little further south for some jaw-dropping race experiences. All Out will be adding a slalom and super D course for 2012.

For more information, go to www.ancientpeaksclassic.com

All Out Events Invites You to Future World-Class Mountain Bike Race

Event Company Given Permission to Develop Mountain Bike Trails on 14,000 Acre Ranch

All Out Adventure Series Set to Wow in 2011 Camps, Rebranding, and Even More Offerings

2011-02-27T16:10:00.001-08:00

February 25, 2011, San Luis Obispo, CA – All Out Events is excited to host another year of spectacular
adventure races on the Central Coast of California. Normally known as the Central Coast Adventure
Challenge, the series was rebranded this year as the All Out Adventure Series. Says race director Yishai
Horowitz, “We wanted something that reflected the experience a bit more, and its our hallmark event
for All Out, so it just made sense. We hope it’s a flawless transition for our regulars and fans.”

The All Out series is best known for its 12-hour and 2 to 4-hour mountain bike, kayak, trek, and special
challenge races offered in the second weekend of May at the picturesque Santa Margarita Lake. Rated
one of the top five adventure races in the US by National Geographic Adventure magazine, All Out is
excited to bring all-new terrain and new challenges to our usual beautiful, sweeping venue this year.
It is also the site of the second annual California Adventure Racing Association festival (CARA) – the
organization will be offering free clinics throughout the weekend to help initiates cut their teeth as well
as help true competitors learn from some of the best racers in California.

Speaking of learning, All Out has added a weekend of clinics April 9-10 at Santa Margarita Lake, in the
same spirit of education and accessibility. Says Horowitz, “We’ve lined up racing greats like Ian Adamson
and Cyril Jay-Rayon to give participants personalized instruction for a day of classroom and applied
instruction. I cannot emphasize what a once-in-a-lifetime chance this is for AR enthusiasts to get to
know the real mentors in the sport.” After the first day, participants will be given the opportunity to race
with their instructors in an informal 6-hour race and really put what they know to the test.

In June, the All Out series adds that same new 6-hour format to its Lopez Lake race weekend, which
already features a 2-4 hour sprint and hosted part of our bi-annual 24-hour race last year. Says
Horowitz, “The six hour race should be a great way to help sprinters take on more advanced skills while
not killing themselves in the process. We hope people will use it to take their experience racing to the
next setting while being confident they are safe and well within their abilities.”

To find out more, go to: <www.ccadventure.com>.

We’re going even greener!

2011-02-24T21:24:00.001-08:00

In the past, we’ve used mostly high-quality organic cotton tees for our event shirts, but this year, we’re going to be supplying top-quality, environmentally conscious tech-shirts at all of our self-produced events.

Thanks to a great deal on shirts and printing from Greenlayer tees, you’ll be inspired by your sweet new training/race shirt!

And yes, ladies, we will have women’s sizes available at all our events this year!

Learn to adveture race or run a 5k!

2011-02-14T21:16:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Learn to adventure race or do your first 5k with All Out Events!
San Luis Obispo, California; Feb 14, 2011 - All Out Events is teaming up with local talent to help people get outdoors no matter what their skill level.

April 9 & 10, Santa Margarita lake will host some of the worlds greatest Adventure Racers (including SLO resident and racing legend, Ian Adamson) to offer athletes a chance to experience adventure racing in a learning environment. Racers of all abilities will come from all over to hone their skills for the upcoming race season. The two-day camp will offer classroom experience paired with outdoor practice, culminating in a mock-race with the instructors acting as mentors.

Adventure Racing is a multi-sport discipline involving trekking, kayaking, mountain biking, navigation, and many other special skills ranging from roller blading to rope work. Races can last anywhere from 2 hours to 10 days. Last year, All Out Events hosted a 24-hour race exploring the county's backcountry.

If adventure racing is too much, Dash Fitness Studio is offering group training to get 5k enthusiasts ready for the big day. The training is timed to culminate with All Out Event's San Luis Mountain Run on April 17th. The SLO Mountain Run, in it's seventh year, is introducing a 5k to its usual world 10k course.

Find out more about both events at www.all-outevents.com or contact Kristin McNamara at kristin@all-outevents.com or call 805 748 1478.

####

You can adventure race!

2011-02-14T20:05:00.001-08:00

Most folks haven’t heard of adventure racing – while it’s been around a while, the logistics of putting one on compared to say, a triathlon or a 10k, boggle the mind. Race directors don’t typically make the bank with such ventures, and it can cost a lot for the participants to get involved as well.

So why do we do it?

Maybe you’re not a racer but it sounds like an adventure.

Maybe you’re bored with tris or just mountain biking.

Maybe you’re looking to bond with a friend or partner.

Maybe you just need an escape from the rat race.

The thing is, how do you get into it? If you’ve never been initiated, it can feel pretty daunting. Even the sprints: we describe ours as 2-4 hours of running, mountain biking, kayaking, and special challenges. Depending on the intensity, 2-4 hours can seem like quite a lot when it comes to a multidisciplinary activity.

Can I really run for 2 hours? Okay, first, very few people actually run the course. I more accurate term is “trek.” You might jog some parts, but at least for our races, trying to run the whole course is pretty impossible.

Can I kayak across that lake? I’ve never done that before. Yeah, yeah you can. It’s not a specialized skill, holding that paddle and stroking. There’s definitely a technique, but most people’s worst discipline is the paddle. It’s supposed to be fun, remember?

How hard is the mountain biking? Sometimes it’s really technical, but you know what, you can get off your bike and walk it. No one is going to point and laugh. There’s that “fun” thing again. Many races only offer dirt and paved roads. Ours try to incorporate single track, but most sections are doable by anyone who can ride a bike with confidence. And if you don’t have that skill, isn’t it time you got it? This is one area where consistent practice or even attending a riding clinic will make the sport more fun.

Navigation. Eek. Yeah, I know. Not a skill you usually pick up on your own. Happily, for sprint races, we have arrows telling you where to go. And when you’re ready – read books, the Interweb, and join an Orienteering club that will love teaching you the ins and outs – and make new friends at the same time!

Ropes? That means heights! Double Eek! Yeah, many places of height/rope options. But note we said options. In AR, there’s always another way. Are you as scared of poison oak? You could always go down that way!

Pack some on-the-go nutrition for when you’re hungry, stay hydrated, and wear clothes that are breathable. But try it.

There are a million reasons people try AR. What’s yours?

Still not ready to get your feet wet? Remember we have the Central Coast Adventure Camp coming up in April! Come learn from the best AR racers and enthusiasts out there.

Ancient Peaks Building

2011-02-14T19:20:00.001-08:00

So we made a short promo video that shows you the kind of trails we’re building. We’re about done with three of the sixteen miles of XC trails we need in July.

Local SLO Downhill Pro Nate Lewis is heading up the efforts to build the downhill stuff. We’ll have video interviews with him and reports as it all comes together. Get stoked!

What’s that coming over the hill?

2011-02-10T23:42:00.001-08:00

It’s not a monster, it’s a couple dogs, a dude and a chick!

AND IT COULD BE YOU!

www.slomountainrun.com – April 17th!

A Day in the Life of an Event Planner

2011-01-27T00:07:00.001-08:00

You would not believe how in love Yishai is with trussing. What’s trussing?

This stuff. Aluminum structures meant to hold things that need to be up in the air. And that’s really all their meant for, but Yishai loves the stuff. Why? He says it gives events the kind of “finish” they need.

See, when you get to an event, you’re more worried about hydration and registration and whether stuff is set up the way you need it to be than whether we have shiny aluminum around the finish arch, but at the same time, it sure looks good in those finish line photos. It’s also one of those subtle details, like when a gal with long hair gets a trim, the makes something look finished.

So what Yishai spends his days doing, for the most part, is dreaming up not only how an event is going to go, but what’s going to make it just that tiny notch higher than your expectations.

Take the Mud Mash, for example. We got a bag piper for the top of the hill. I was really worried that after all these obstacles that “the hill” would be kinda lame, so . . . voila. (That’s how you spell “wa-la”, in case you didn’t know). Just that little touch you weren’t expecting that we made awesome.

Sometimes it’s not the surprise, it’s just the feel. We’ve worked really hard to have a clean consistent feel with colors and design (that we do in-house) on everything. It’s simply not just the experience, but those touches that make us happy with our product.

So it’s 11:53 at night and that’s what we’ve been doing after a short break for dinner and some Bob’s Burgers (what an awesomely weird show).

Actually, that’s not true. Yishai met with the head ranger that we work with at the lakes, whom we like a lot (heck, we like everyone, head rec planners for SLO, head forestry, you’re all swell), negotiated the purchase of a bunch of kayaks for races, and worked on our climbing gym. And then he went out with our right-hand man, Blake Rowan to dig some mountain bike trails.

But what did I do? Well, I’m a part time English prof, so I spent part of my time today professing English. In between and after, however, I spent in the wonderful world of marketing. I’m kind of a jack of all trades – good at financial planning, business planning, but I LOVE me some marketing and promotions. But only if I love what it is I’m selling. And trust me, I do.

You see, All Out has been homegrown on our parts by self-funding and staying pretty broke while we grow events. We do it for the love, but as we’re getting more events, we need bigger numbers so we can pay staff (and ourselves) adequately to keep the morale high and professionalism where we want it.

Two ways I’m working on this (as this is my end of the team) is by obsessing about marketing and by preparing the Powerpoint-Of-My-Life.

See, there’s this thing called a "T-bid” in town, which is a self-imposed tax on the local hoteliers that use that money to give to folks like ourselves to promote events that bring out of towners in. We vaguely knew about it, but didn’t pursue it until this year. Maybe we are better organized, maybe stars are aligned, I don’t know. But basically, this one presentation we have to make could mean a huge inflow of cash for marketing and staff payment that takes us from “home grown” to truly top-notch professional. In the preliminary meetings, I mentioned that our Coast to Crest 24-hour race was flipping awesome promotion for the area and we need TV coverage but can’t afford to get it there and they were like, “Tell us more, please!”

So, yes, PowerPoint of my life. Good thing I teach and use PowerPoints every day.

The other half of the equation is learning your audience and giving them what they want and need. I do this by surveying, reading a gazillion marketing blogs, and thinking of ways to connect to my people, my lovely, athletic, outdoorsy, SLO county- and adventure-loving people.

So I made a marketing plan. I’m making a list, I’m checking it twice, and if I’m not naughty, the turnout should be nice.

In case you are interested in these blogs I read (amongst other books and such), here are a few of my favorites:

A little about SLO Alpha–the benefactor and host of SLO GranFondo!

2011-01-25T15:35:00.001-08:00

I was thinking today about how cool it is to be benefitting such neat organizations in SLO county and elsewhere.

Check it out . . .

ALPHA from NCMG 2010 on Vimeo.

Endurance Live in San Diego

2011-01-24T11:50:00.001-08:00

I got an ad soliciting space to the Endurance Live show in San Diego this weekend. Yishai attended last year and said it was pretty small and probably not really worth going.

This year, with the help of the ever intrepid Garret Bean, we got California Adventure Racing Association, Desert Dash, SB Timing, and Renegade Racing to team up with us to host a booth there. It was supposed to be bigger and better and we thought it would be a great way to promote AR and our other events.

But talk about information overload. Each of the directors wanted their stuff hocked, and there were only three of us. And very limited space.

I had a whole design concept on how to draw attention to the booth (and if that fails, I have fuzzy poi balls to swing around and swag to hand out), but more stuff = overstimulation. So here’s what the booth ended up looking like:

Here’s Yishai modeling its good looks. We were set up next to “Team Challenge” for colitis and Crohn’s disease and they didn’t have a lot of attractant for their booth so we gave them lots of Snickers Marathon bars to give away (people like freebies).

If you look at the sign to the right, you’ll see I did a little whiteboard thing, and it says, “Like TRI? Screw Ironman, try AR.”

Yishai did some on-the-hoof engagement and I guess that pissed off some of the tri folks, but the whole point of it was to engage them. Even if they’re mad, find out why we say that?

Why did we say that?

Well, if you are looking for less structure, more fun, and more adventure, AR can be very approachable. The 2-4 hour sprints can be done by most as long as you can ride a bike decently.

BUT, if you’re looking to do something rough? Nothing beats a good 12-hour race, and that’s just the start? We’ve had past Ironman finishers tell us that our races definitely beat that experience if you want it to.

Seems like AR is a great way to get people who are tired of the same ol’ to keep pushing it, and we’re trying to tap into that.

Anyway, it was pretty fun, if not tiring. We made some great connections, hocked AR to the hilt, and I think people were genuinely glad to see us there. I just hope that in the end, everyone involved makes a return on the investment we put in. Booths are not cheap. Not to mention the BS charges for unloading and loading stuff up.

Also, I used to be really tolerant of cities, but I’m not. Driving the event F250 around was a test of my nerves! I ended up driving around PETCO park like four times, and while it’s beautiful – I JUST WANT TO GET STUFF LOADED AAAAHHH!

Anyway, if you were there, please let us know how you liked our booth!

Garret and Kristin say “what up!”

Slideshow goodness

2011-01-19T13:49:00.001-08:00

I am sitting here collecting photos for the slideshow that we’ll be showing at this weekend’s Endurance Live tradeshow in San Diego (booth 426, by the exit and bike demo) that we’ll be sharing with the California Adventure Race Association, Desert Dash, Renegade Racing, and SB Timing.

And as I’m looking at our photos, I’m just like, “Damn. It kills me that people have no clue how awesome this is.” That’s kind of why we want to go to the tradeshow, which is mostly focused on tris. We offer both more accessible races for tris and also far more difficult races than Ironmans. And WAY more fun, to boot. And in far more beautiful access points.

So I made a little slideshow for AR promotion in general.

Enjoy.

I hope we make some good connections this weekend. AR is awesome.

That includes mud runs.

Just Another Day at the Office

2011-01-17T19:39:00.001-08:00

Your intrepid race director and production manager went out with two of the area’s finest (Nate Lewis and Paul Bailey) to scout for trails for this year’s Ancient Peaks Mountain Bike Classic today. Left at 8:30, and after a few miles of asphalt and a few more miles of mud, rocks, and well . . . yours truly was kissing the ground by the time we got to the top of the road . . . we were on our way, hiking the fire breaks of the “ancient peaks” above the vineyard.

We left one 4-by at this cabin/lake combo and headed still higher up some gnarly terrain. Parking at a little turn around, we went up. And then we went down. And then we went up again. And then a lot more down. And then some more up.

Consulting the map before descending into the valley and then back up into the mountains/hills you see in the background.

And picking up probably 20 lbs of chantrelle mushrooms between us. Seems like maybe I should have a side job harvesting and selling them. Would pay more than my current gigs.

And with something like 10-12 miles done, Yishai thinks he is 100% sure what our cross country trail is gonna look like. Huzzah!

SLO Gran Fondo Videos

2011-01-13T12:05:00.001-08:00

A promotional video they made for the event:

Tour of the area with Team High Roads

You know an event is good if a ton of people made videos of the experience. And, did we mention it’s totally tax deductible. It’s like having fun and being awesome FOR FREE! And some other ones:

Some cool videos . . .

2011-01-05T23:59:00.001-08:00

I post this stuff to facebook, but it should go here, too:

First up, our friend owns RitteRacing and he is making some pretty awesome marketing videos:

http://www.ritteracing.com/blog/videos/

And this video is from Active.com, who we use for online event registry. A nice way to be inspired by what you and we do:

Decline Mag Writes Us Up

2011-01-04T18:44:00.001-08:00

http://declinemagazine.com/content.php?itemid=5682

Wee!

All Out Partners with SLO ALPHA to Bring You the Gran Fondo!

2010-12-26T21:35:00.001-08:00

After a successful first year, the ladies at SLO Alpha decided to look elsewhere for their event production needs and we have officially partnered to put on the event on October 15, 2011.

What’s a Gran Fondo?

In Italian, it means “Big Ride.” It’s a great community event the brings road cyclists of all types together for rides en masse. Many Gran Fondo events feature big-name cyclists, and we hope this year will not be an exception to this.

But, in the meantime, no matter what shape or what kind of bike, think of this as a a huge, SLO “Bike Happening,” in which you and hundreds of other people who like bikes and maybe spandex ride the central coast’s most beautiful loop rides.

Starting in San Luis Obispo’s Mission Plaza, three different rides will take place in the fall:

GranFondo – Over 100 miles on a challenging ride from San Luis Obispo up the beautiful northern coast to Piedras Blancas and back. If you are planning on doing this ride, you need to be fit. You will be accompanied by top riders from the pro circuit who will lead the way on a beautiful and equally challenging course.
MedioFondo – This approximately 50 mile course shares the same routes as the Gran Fondo but returns after reaching the beautiful coastal town of Cayucos. This is a good ride for enthusiasts who want the chance to ride with the pros, improve upon times, and challenge themselves, their friends and teammates.
PiccoloFondo – Just over a 25 mile loop through rolling countryside which unfolds onto the picturesque Morro Bay estuary. This is perfect for riders wanting to experience the beauty of the Central Coast but prefer to avoid the climbs and leave the challenging distance treks for the pros. Bring a friend, or maybe a bicycle built for two!

We’re also planning to have a major festival and a running event coincide with the ride, so all of you who might not be into road biking, we probably still have an awesome experience for you. More on that to come.

All of this will be directly benefiting SLO Alpha, a wonderful nonprofit that we’ll be telling you about more in the future on this blog.

www.SLOGranFondo.com

Ancient Peaks Mountain Bike Classic July 23-24

2010-12-20T11:29:00.001-08:00

Fat tire lovers, mark your calendars now!

Santa Margarita Ranch and Ancient Peaks winery has officially approved the use of their 14,000 acres for our adventure race, but, more importantly, they’ve approved the development of some world class terrain for exclusive, event-only riding on the terrain pictured above.

Over the next few months, in between rain and mud, we’ll be developing cross country, slalom, and cross country courses worthy of drooling over. Why should you believe us? Have we ever steered you wrong?

This is a photo of the venue: beautiful trees, flat ground, and great retaining wall. Parking aplenty, and the trail system will start right from the site!

All Out is excited to bring the mountain biking community something new, exciting, and fun as hell. Stay tuned for more info. Our website is in development. You can find it at www.ancientpeaksclassic.com.

AR Camp and the Ancient Peaks Classic

2010-12-13T21:26:00.001-08:00

It may be the off season for racing, but that’s not stopping us . . .

Stay tuned for an awesome post about our upcoming Ancient Peaks Classic mountain bike race coming this July to the Central Coast. We’ve got exclusive permission to build world-class trails on a previously untouched piece of private property!

And the big announcement, though we’re not fully ready yet:

Get ready for the Central Coast Adventure Camp (hey, it’s still CCAC!) coming to you on April 9-10! [Please note, the date has changed from initial release!]

Here’s what we have cooking:

So far we have the following instructors on board including:
Cyril from Dart Nuun
Christian Burke from Feed the Machine
Mark Manning from AR Nav
Hani Juha from Racing with Giants
More instructors coming soon!

The camp's format is still in the works, but it will most likely start with a big welcome party Friday night where we outline what's going to happen, then be broken up into two groups: a novice and more advanced group. The novice would rotate through workshops, blending classroom and practical applications. At the end of all the classes the groups would be split into race teams and participate in a mock race. If there is enough interest in doing a Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren E-Camp style thing (sadly, they’re not available), where the participants do a 24 hour race simulation with an instructor, we are down and we have a sweet course, but it really depends on people's interest. These are the topics we’re looking at offering.

· Navigation

Mountain bike clinics

Transition skills

Paddling skills (flat water, Ocean – could do rolling)

Women’s Clinic

Nutrition/hydration/supplementation

First Aid and staying safe

o Foot/body care in normal course of event

Outfitting (what to carry, what to wear)

o Advanced gear selection (ie, building a bike, running shoes, kayaks, etc)

o Packing and carrying gear

· Night course

o Mountain biking

o Navigation

· Rope elements

o Ascending

o Descending

o Basic knots

o Equipment

· Psych techniques (what to expect, how to stay positive and work as a team)

· Solo clinic

· Training

· Bike mechanics

· Team building (literally, like, forming a team, either permanently or just for the race)

· Intro to adventure racing (history, theories, the sport)

What do you think? Feedback most welcome!

Why you should try adventure racing . . .

2010-12-13T21:02:00.001-08:00

I happen to be one of those all-rounder athletes. Maybe not elite, but I get by and can usually make it through whatever anyone throws at me.

But I hate competitions.

Maybe you’re like me.

Or, maybe you’re not really an all-rounder athlete, but you’d like to be.

Or, maybe you’re a damn good runner or biker or something, but the heart’s going out of those races . . .

That’s at the heart of why All Out does what it does: we want you to love the outdoors, your sports, and the places we’ve been gifted with the ability to play in.

First off: you can do it. You can. If you can ride a bike, you can do it. If you can’t, well, learn! Don’t let that “can’t” get in the way of whatever it is you want to do in life.

Maybe you’ve never done a multi-sport, or maybe you’ve never done a real race. Certainly these things can be incredibly intimidating if you let them, but the fact is, it doesn’t have to be.

I did my first race/adventure race at the Adventure Sprint in May. I could mountain bike decently, I was suffering from plantar fasciitis and was worried about it being aggravating, and I am no stranger to a paddle . . . so I decided to give it a try, asking a friend of mine who was in great shape and would be a great teammate to go along with me.

That day shall live in infamy. We took our time because it was a record-hot day and still came in respectably enough that it touched off my competitive edge (I haven’t repeated it only because my role in the race has gotten more integral) and it did something else: gave me a whole new perspective on myself.

People do sports generally for two reasons: because it just FEELS good and because it shows them that they can smash barriers. Whichever one is your drive, adventure racing does it nicely. As I finished the race, having done a course I’d never pre-run (despite my usually doing so), I had faith in the director’s ability to take care of me if something went wrong (he was, after all, my best friend), I had a partner who I knew could tolerate anything, and in the end, I did it all on my own, no complaints, and found out what I really had in me.

Not only could I do it, I could do it reasonably fast. After being off from surgeries, hanging around world class athletes, and being heavier than I’d like, it showed me something important: that my body was worthy. That I was an adventure athlete. That I shouldn’t define myself into a box by things I haven’t done or didn’t think I could do.

And I’d say that’s a damn good reason to race.

All Out Events Releases its tentative event schedule!

2010-11-29T23:57:00.001-08:00

We still have some thing in the works (a mountain bike race, a gran fondo, and maybe some mud runs), but below are the confirmed events!

April 9-10, 2011
Central Coast Adventure Camp

Sun April 17, 2011
San Luis Mountain Run (5k and 10k)

Fri - Sun May 13 - 15, 2011
-CARA Adventure Weekend and the Central Coast Adventure Challenge at Santa Margarita Lake.

Sun June 5, 2011
Morro Bay Olympic Distance Triathlon

Sat – Sun June 17-18, 2011
Lake Lopez Sprint Adventure Race

Sun Oct 30, 2010
Laguna Lake Mud Mash

Mud Mash 2010 Super Success!

2010-11-03T21:20:00.001-07:00

All Out Events closed out the season this Halloween Weekend with its first annual Laguna Lake Mud Mash.

Why read this when you could see it? Check out our video here:

The event was a huge success! We had about 400 entrants for the 5- and 10-k races. Our event staff took four full days to build the obstacles and dig the mudpit, but when all was said and done, Laguna Lake park was transformed into SLO's newest and coolest venue. Folks from as far away as Florida came out in droves, both big and small, to compete. We had everyone from age 8 to 77 in the race, and everyone finished!

A Mud Run, if you didn't know, is much like it sounds - a running course with obstacles, heavy emphasis on mud. Some mud runs are marketed as being hard core - but we know that we already do "hard core" well with our adventure races and mountain run, and this was supposed to be more fun-core. Participants showed up in full costumes, stoked about life, about the day, and eager to get on with the challenge.

The day started out with a heavy fog over the course which gave it a mysterious, beautiful air to it, but it slowly lifted to reveal the venue. Everyone was super charged up to start, cheering our announcer, eachother, and the volunteers that showed up to make it a great day. As the blast went off, they trotted out to the first obstacle, Laguna Lake itself. Giggles and shouts of amusement were the dominant sound until one of our surprises got going - we placed a bagpiper up on the top of a hill and his tunes could be heard from all over SLO! As racers made it down the mountain, they had to slop through our mudpit and then evade our vikings set to stop them to make it to the finish.

We also had a great kids' run after the races with 20+ kids really giving it a go through the mud pit and past our vikings. They were heaving pretty hard but happy to get their free goodie bags.

Lots of spectators came out to the event, too. The parking was full at Laguna Lake and our exhibitor booths really got a lot of traffic. One of the most fun aspects of the race was that rather than handing out swag in race bags, we made the racers trick-or-treat for it on course . . . sponsors that sent us product (like Nuun, Raw Revolution, and some leftover Hammer Gel) or coupons got extra exposure as our racers "earned" their samples.

Lots of kudos is pouring in, the city is thrilled with the event and has asked us to come back next year, we are getting tons of testimonials and promises to bring friends and make it a Halloween tradition, and in true All Out style, we've managed to make the Mud Run both a totally fun and organic experience.

Race results are available here: http://mudmash.com/results.html

Professional photos of the event are here: http%3A//www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=7377818&h=5f66c

All photos attached were taken by Josh Cohen of Foothill Cyclery.

Less than 24 Hours to the Mud Run

2010-10-30T10:50:00.001-07:00

I always THINK about doing this posts, but never get around to it. Too much to do, t0o remote a location, what have you. But how sweet is it that this weekend’s event is in San Luis Obispo, our hometown, the place where our friends live, where we live, where we know the City staff by name and sight and they, us.

Yeah, pretty sweet. While the boys are out today marking the course and finishing up the obstacles for the Mud Run, I am sitting at home making loin cloths (yeah, you heard right, but I won’t tell you what for just yet) and candy bags for trick or treating and the kids’ run. I was at the fabric store today and everyone in there was planning on going and hadn’t signed up yet, even.

I enjoyed sitting in Smart and Final yesterday trying to calculate the maximum candy for the least money (per ounce, it was 17 cents), and got plenty of looks and questions:

I felt like since it was Halloween, we needed to make this into adult trick-or-treat. Buying the stuff got ME excited, that’s for sure. I miss trick-or-treating. When else do you as a kid feel cool about going door to door asking for something. It’s weird as heck, but also wonderful. Just like putting on the kinds of events we do.

I trucked it over to the site to drop off some supplies for Yishai, and there was our buddy Todd, talking to the park maintenance guy, Ken. Ken told me all about the park’s master plan and how well the Portuguese Water Dog nationals went off a few weeks ago. He admits to me that they are watching our event like a hawk – and they’re pretty nervous.

“Don’t be,” I say with full confidence: “We’ve worked with all kinds of organizations and we’re always welcome back. The place will look better than we found it.” It’s nice to say that with 100% certainty. That’s why I am involved. Not only do we do everything “all out” for the event’s most possible awesomeness, but we kill ourselves to make sure all parties involved are happy. It’s not right to use a place, trash it, and then go, “Too bad for you! See you next year!” Nah. That’s not how we roll.

When I left, Todd was rocking that little earth-mover all over the place and simply squealing over it. He took all day to build the pit. Our buddy Clint is coming by with a water truck to fill it. I’ll be over to do day of reg and packet pick up and I know the place is going to look WAY more exciting than this. That’s the part I love about my job – I do all the backend stuff, supply grabbing, working with volunteers, etc. Rarely do I help with the actual setup, so when I get to a venue we’ve been scouting for months, it’s had a magical transformation.

Anyway, cheers. This looks to be our most successful event (judging by registrations) yet. We’re out of t-shirts and day-of hasn’t started. We’ll have to do another print and then mail them out, which is a bummer, but the amount of people into this is certainly NOT.

Official Date for the Morro Bay Triathlon

2010-10-18T11:50:00.001-07:00

Set your calendars for the most beautiful tri you’ll ever do – June 5th. This time the ride will go north on highway 1!

Pine Mountain Pulldown Wrap Up

2010-10-18T11:13:00.001-07:00

We here at All Out Events are *still* recovering from an amazing festival and comp weekend, and it's a week later.

Photo by Adam Kimmerly

We arrived early on Thursday to ready the festival venue and build an enormous, beautiful dyno wall for Saturday night's competition. Set next to the stage, with both prominent features decked out in sponsor graphics, event attendees couldn't help but be drawn to the wall - feeling it, trying the holds . . . and as sponsors rolled in the following day, the excitement gathered. Registrants picked up their event t-shirts and repurposed pint glasses for their liquid consumptions.

Photo by Adam Kimmerly

When the sun finally set and the Sierra Nevada kegs were tapped, everyone settled in around the stage for the West Coast premiere of the Reel Rock tour, a climbing video collection featuring some of the most cutting edge storytelling and feats available. We were honored to have the showing attended by North Face representatives and the stars of "Top Rope Tough Guys" introduced the film, making the showing that much more enjoyable.

Photo by Adam Kimmerly

Saturday morning found climbers working hard to get up classic, quality sandstone routes in with views into the Central Valley and out above the Pacific ocean. Temperatures could not have been more perfect. Many attendees dropped by our shoe sponsor vans to demo Evolv, 5.10, and Mad Rock products, and everyone had a blast. After the comp was over, attendees rolled back down to the Pine Mountain Inn, greeted by a custom burrito bar supplied by All Out and our volunteers.

Photo by Jason Refuerzo

When everyone had had their fill, it was awards time - with many locals taking top prizes, but most notably Daniel Beal of Poway, CA taking home Men's Open and overall winner, but Ian Dory, of Fort Collins, CO really left an impression by not only making a First Ascent baited by event director Yishai Horowitz and taking home booty supplied by Omega Pacific and a gift certificate from 5.10 (he named it "Brown Eyed Girl" for his lady), but for winning the most exciting dyno competition we've had at Pine Mountain yet. The evening wrapped up with a band, guest fire spinner, and a huge party rocking attendees into the night.

Photo by Adam Kimmerly

Sunday morning we had a free pancake feed and Adopt a Crag event to clean up Pine Mountain (which really doesn't need to much care, because our attendees are so contentious of their environment) and the staff broke down the event. It was a long, lonely ride home as we had to say goodbye to our friends, old and new, and return to the daily grind. Pine Mountain isn't just bouldering at a secret gem, and it isn't just a good party, it's a real community that springs up out of nowhere and just as quickly is gone . . . and everyone can't wait to come back next year. :)

Photo by Jason Refuerzo

Attached photos are courtesy of Adam Kimmerly and Jason Refuerzo. More photos and updates available on our Facebook page. Complete results are available here: http://pinemountaincomp.com/2010Results.pdf

We'd like to thank all our sponsors for prizes, great booths, and support of this amazing event. Moreover, HUGE thanks to the San Diego crew, sponsoring gyms, and Bomber Holds for making it – we wouldn’t have been the success we were without you!

Photo by Jason Refuerzo

October Ruckus Newsletter

2010-10-04T23:20:00.001-07:00

ALL OUT EVENTS

OCTOBER 2010

Dear Yishai,
October kicks off with the Pine Mountain Pulldown, the weather forcast is perfict for climbing, camping and the ruckus of outdoor festivities. If you havent seen the video yet click here.
To finish off the month get dirty at San Luis Obispo's first Mud Mash on Holloween.

IN THIS ISSUE

PINE MOUNTAIN PULLDOWN

MUD MASH

CLIMBING TIPS

PINE MOUNTAIN PULLDOWN (October 8-10)

Hello All-Outers - October is an awesome month to get into it before the rains come, and how, might you ask?

Hey climbers and fans of the sport: click here to check out the video we made on a recent scouting trip to Pine Mountain.

If you like that, check out our Pine Mountain Pulldown on October 8-10: we'll have the West Coast Premier of the Reel Rock tour climbing videos, an awesome comp with great prizes, dyno comp, fun, booths, and an Adopt-a-Crag clean up. You like parties? This one's for you - you don't even have to know how to climb to have a good time!

Registration is still open, so sign up now!!!

MUD MASH (October 31st) Halloween

And for those of you looking to really do something different on Halloween, check out our newest offering: the Laguna Lake Mud Mash!

www.mudmash.com

It's a 5 and 10k running event that's more sloshing and climbing than running.

A benefit for San Luis Obispo county's Special Olympics, don't miss the trick or treating, costume contests, and get a great team together for a wild adventure in the park!

CLIMBING TIPS

Increasing Strength Through Mind Training!
by Eric Horst

Hanging on the rope with pumped forearms may be an all-too-familiar situation, especially if you are passionate about pushing your limits on the rock. And, given that your failure on the rock always seems to involve a lack of physical strength, it's easy to become obsessive about strength training. In the long-run, however, you will only be able to realize your true potential when you come to recognize and act on the many non-obvious factors that contribute to muscular fatigue and lackluster performance.

These vital performance-limiting factors include: poor economy of movement (bad technique and control), overgripping (emotional anxiety), missed holds and rests (due to inflexible thinking), and shaken confidence (due to "fearful thinking"). All these mental issues produce premature fatigue and likely drain your energy reserves by 50 percent or more. Therefore, learning to think and act more effectively could very well double (or triple!) your apparent strength on the rock.

Let's examine four areas where mental training could help you unlock a higher level of performance.

Click here to see the complete article and more great training tips from Eric Horst's Training for Climbing

Prana Posts Up about Pine Mountain

2010-10-04T12:56:00.001-07:00

http://www.prana.com/blog/index.php/2010/10/01/third-annual-pine-mountain-pulldown-october-8-10/

Huge Shout Out to the San Diegans for Their Support of Pine Mountain Pulldown!

2010-09-28T18:35:00.001-07:00

Pine Mountain Pulldown has always donated proceeds to the great organization, Allied Climbers of San Diego:

But they are doing such an awesome job of supporting us that we really need to take the time to give a public shout out to their efforts to promote the event and to bringing up an army to staff it, too. That’s because ACSD knows a good party when they see one.

Double shout out to Vertical Hold, also of San Diego, for teaming up with Bomber Holds to sponsor our dyno comp this year - they’re providing ace setters and holds for us!

That’s one thing we really love about the whole industry is the networking and support everyone gives. Don’t you?

Pine Mountain Comp Promo

2010-09-27T10:32:00.001-07:00

Hey look, we got a camcorder, and this is my first attempt at HD video production, so if it’s rough, forgive. But, the point is, Pine Mountain is awesome and you should go there. Specifically, you should go there on October 8th and not leave till the 10th. And if that’s the case, well, skip on over to www.pinemountaincomp.com

See you soon!

Death Race – We Promise to Never Do This To You

2010-09-21T17:29:00.001-07:00

http://www.youmaydie.com/

Go watch that video. What is All Out Events about? Rather than torturing you because we can and because you crave it, we’re here to give you an epic tour of the venue, fun challenges, and wonderful elements to the race. We’ll never make you hike your bike for hours only to ride down a dirt road for five minutes, and we’ll never make you chop wood just to show you can. And we’ll never bill a race as longer or shorter than it really is.

All Out Events – we do it because we’re stoked on showing you the very best of nature that you can get to on two wheels, two feet, or with two sides of a paddle.

All Out Events introduces the Laguna Lake Mud Mash

2010-09-21T17:17:00.001-07:00

This Halloween, All Out Events is bring its version of the ever-popular mud run to San Luis Obispo.

Participants (otherwise known as Mud Suckers) will run, as individuals and as teams, through a 5k or 10k course winding through SLO's Laguna Lake park, sloshing through its muddy waters, climbing over obstacles, under humvees loaned by Camp San Luis Obispo, running up rarely traveled trails only to have to fight off our gladiators to pass, and finish it all off with a giant Slip-n-Slide-style hill into a mudpit.

"Halloween's a great time to have an event like this,' says race director and company owner, Yishai Horowitz. "Not only should the weather be moderate, but what a great way to get into the spirit of the holiday - bring a costume, be a kid again, and yes, we're even offering trick-or-treating!" Contestants should bring their own bags to carry on course and receive great products and candies at the obstacles as they conquer them.

The Mud Mash, as it is called, also features a Warriors' Cup for public servants such as military personnel, firefighters, and peace officers. Civilians will compete for fun alongside the warriors in an all-out splash 'n dash of Halloween fun. Proceeds will go to support SLO County's Special Olympics, which is dedicated to giving special needs' athletes the same kind of experiences that All Out Events creates for its participants.

More information can be found at www.mudmash.com.

The event starts at 9 am on 10/31/2010. Please contact Yishai Horowitz at 805 720 1245 for more information. We offer free registration for journalists intending to cover the race.

All Out Events: We Also Rig for Movies!

2010-09-13T20:59:00.001-07:00

So here’s what we did this morning:

Yishai and I go downtown with a huge ladder, a bag full of gear, ropes, and 150 lbs of cable (well, actually, I have no idea how much, but it’s what we use to rig the tyroleans with for the adventure races). As we’re scoping the place out, hey, here comes trouble: it’s Keith, the city’s head tree guy, here to make sure we treat them nicely. We do. We alllllllways do.

So here’s Y way up in the branches doing his magic.

And here’s the actor and all the support staff giving it a test-run. He’s supposed to do the scene on the top of that railing and there’s a 40-foot drop off on the other side. Should be interesting to see how filming goes tomorrow night.

This is for indie film More than Stars, coming to a SLO Film Fest near you.

Hey, someone Yelped us!

2010-09-13T16:43:00.001-07:00

Who knew?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/all-out-events-san-luis-obispo

Reel Rock Tour Trailer

2010-09-12T17:47:00.001-07:00

If this doesn’t stoke you out, quit reading the blog.

But if it does, book your reservation now for Pine Mountain Pulldown – we’re showing it at the West Coast premier on Friday night. Watch an awesome film and be psyched for the bouldering on Saturday!

Pine Mountain Pulldown Partnerships – Say That Five Times Fast!

2010-09-07T18:26:00.001-07:00

It’s a month away, and we here in SLO are getting excited! In August we went to the Outdoor Retailer summer market and met with many companies, and we were stoked about the enthusiasm everyone had for Pine Mountain!

And why wouldn’t you? The west coast’s only outdoor bouldering comp, a dyno comp, free beer, non-stop festivities, and meeting new people?

It wouldn’t be nearly as awesome without the participation of our partners. Many thanks to the following: SLO Op Climbing (who will be sponsoring our dyno wall, as usual), Sickle, Evolv, Omega Pacific, 5.10, Urban Climber, La Sportiva, Vertical Hold Climbing, Bouldering.com, Mad Rock (providing event participants with awesome reusable swag bags and official event shirts!), Prana, Clif Bar, and Bomber Holds (who will be supplying our holds for the dyno comp).

We’ll post more as more companies confirm participation. Support your climbing community by supporting the companies that support us!

Helping Christian Burke break a record and aid his kid’s school . . .

2010-09-03T13:44:00.001-07:00

All Out Events (well, okay, Yishai & Kristin) is going down to LA to help Adventure Racing friend Christian Burke do something insane: run 24 hours in soft sand at Hermosa Beach.

I don’t even like walking in soft sand for five minutes, much less this.

What a great example of how to take a skill and use it to build community, though!

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15859103

Climbers’ Pine Mountain Pulldown Press Release

2010-08-15T22:43:00.001-07:00

Whatever you’re doing the weekend of October 8-10^th, cancel it. If you’re into remote locations, awesome and beautiful bouldering, meeting good peeps, watching awesome movies and dancing to live bands, get yourself to the third annual Pine Mountain Pulldown.

Situated about an hour north of Ojai and just about close to nothing lies the hidden bouldering jewel of California’s central coast. Quality sandstone routes offer plenty of variety and fun climbing for all levels – not to mention sweeping views of the surrounding valley and ocean. Set against a competition backdrop – you’re poised to do the best climbing of the year at this event with friends old and new cheering you on, getting inspired by established climbers and the up-and-coming.

But if the climbing’s not enough to get you here, how about free on-site camping at a venue filled with climbing-related companies hocking their wares and demoing their products, a free showing of the Reel Rock Tour projected onto a campy stage with a premium sound system, great eats, free beer, great swag, dyno comp, and the baddest of the bad rockabilly band on the Central Coast, the Cadillac Angels!

Stick around on Sunday and help us clean up the mountain for an Access Fund Adopt a Crag event – we do so well ever year the park service not only invites up back but allows for growth of the event by inviting more and more participants – but that number is still low: sign up now to make sure you’re able to come to this awesome event.

Feeling guilty about having such a good time? Don’t – we’re committed to making the event completely sustainable: we run on biodiesel, pack in everything we pack out, are committed to being a low-waste an event as possible, and work closely with the forest service to ensure a low footprint on the mountain during and after the event. In addition, event proceeds benefit the Allied Climbers of San Diego, a non-profit organization dedicated to climber advocacy for the San Diego area.

Entry into the competition costs $65, including camping and festival entry. Skip the competition and join the festival for $25. Day-of registration jumps to $75 for the competition and $30 for the festival. Food is available for purchase at the venue.

For additional information on the Pine Mountain Pulldown, contact All Out Events 805.541-0401 or visit www.pinemountaincomp.com.

Tech Tips from Kristin Tara McNamara, head clinician at SLO Op Climbing

2010-08-15T18:56:00.001-07:00

Bouldering can be pretty tough on your tendons, and with the Pine Mountain Pulldown coming up, naturally you want to take extra care that you don't blow them out prior to comp time! Here's some tips on making the best of the time you have left to get in the best shape possible and have fun no matter what level you are:

Follow a basic format of Eric Vorst's 4-3-2-1 training program:
- Four weeks of endurance-only training while trying not to get pumped. This means laps on routes and hours put in.
- 3 weeks of maximum power and strength (so you're working those hard problems the way you love and systematic training like training boards, weights, and complex training).
- 2 weeks of anaerobic exercise: think of this as climbing interval training - you are going to climb at a moderately high intensity with only brief rests between pumps. It should WORK YOU!
- 1 week of total rest - let your body heal and watch the progress on the stone!
Don't get intimidated by the concept of a "comp." No matter what you're doing, you're climbing, and nobody but your friends will be watching you. Comps, no matter your current level, work to push you in ways you didn't imagine - you try harder, you last longer, and when it's over you have left it all behind. You'll be sore and satisfied and had one of the best climbing days of your life!
Counter train! According to Dan Millman, of Way of the Peaceful Warrior, injury happens when we're not paying attention. I know you're paying attention on the rock, but are you paying attention to your body? Do you have that characteristic shoulder roll-forward? Stop that! Life is not all about pulling, and if you let those push muscles get atrophied, that's when pain's coming your way. Don't forget to do bodyweight exercises, stretch, eat well, and take care of yourself in all the other important ways.

Use these tips to show up on October 8th and have the best time possible!

California's Only Outdoor Climbing Competition & Festival Returns October 8-10, 2010

2010-08-15T18:47:00.001-07:00

Event producer Yishai Horowitz and his company All Out Events brings their love of climbing to the community through the Pine Mountain Pulldown, a three-day festival held in Los Padres National Forest for a third year. We moved it back a month for cooler weather, and this year’s festival promises to be the West Coast’s greenest climbing event.

A combination of the unmatched views that contrast the rippling Los Padres range, high altitude pines, and ocean horizon and the quality of the climbing inspired Horowitz to put on the event. “I am just so excited to share the experience with the climbing community for a third year,” he said, “This promises to be the highest attended yet, both by festival attendees and sponsors – there’ll be plenty to see and do.”

There’s something for everyone at the Pulldown, but bouldering is the main attraction. Boulder, the scaling of smaller rock faces that usually don’t necessitate ropes for safety and requiring only a pair rubber-soled climbing shoes, is quickly becoming popular worldwide for the community atmosphere, constant challenge, and variety of locations.

Friday night will welcome climbers and vendors with an exclusive showing of the Reel Rock Tour – a collection of climbing video vignettes projected onto the stage.

On Saturday, registrants are bused up to the all-day bouldering competition set on the top of Pine Mountain; the event has many competition levels and plenty of beginner “problems” – what boulders call prescribed routes up the rock face – making it great for first-timers. In addition, big-name professional climbers and teams will be competing at the top levels, and it remains to see whether an out-of-area pro or a local, who intimately knows the mountain, takes home the top award.

Evening activities include tug-of -war, crash pad sumo (competitors strap themselves into padding used on the ground for impact protection), and a dyno competition sponsored by Ventura’s Vertical Heaven climbing gym. Dyno comps are spectacular events in which climbers, fueled with adrenaline and enthusiastic audience cheering, attempt to launch themselves ten or more feet in the air to reach a hold. We’ll finish out the evening with a live show from ever-entertaining Rockabilly masters, the Cadillac Angels.

Sunday wraps things up with a volunteer thank-you pancake feed and an Access Fund Adopt-A-Crag clean-up to remove inadvertent trash left behind and restore the area to its original state via land work and cleaning off of chalk (which climbers use to keep their hands dry) from the rocks.

For additional information on the Pine Mountain Pulldown, contact All Out Events 805.541-0401 or visit www.pinemountaincomp.com.

Photos by Adam Kimmerly – this is the general media press release

Race Reports

2010-06-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

For CCAC's 12-hour: http://www.zdap.com/racereports/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8593

For the 24-hour: http://community.active.com/message/773318?tstart=0 (not that exciting)

ANyone know any more?

Breathe Magazine Covers our 24-Hour Race

2010-06-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that definitely looks like California, eh? Cool photo, though. Here's the article.

Press release for Coast to Crest 24 hour race

2010-06-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

It's 2 am and we're heading back to the finish/staging area to get ready to receive the first finishers in the early morning hours when one of the SPOT units sends out a "we need help" signal. No! After 18 hours of setting up transition areas, checking in with minor injuries (hamstrings are a big problem), and helping motivate our already stoked competitors, this is the first time we're genuinely worried about a team. Sure, there were some seasickies on the kayak, and a couple teams bonked on the first stage bike ride, but all in all, the race was going smoothly. The competitors were spread out far and wide but we were keeping tabs on them with GPS, radioing to our manned checkpoints, and our manifests. But at 2 am the signal goes out. We're about an hour away from the point we'd have to get to in order to start looking for the team that needs help. As we're logging into the ranger stations' computers to find the exact location and team, the help call is canceled.

And thus goes All Out Events' first 24-36 hour adventure race.

Our teams met up at Santa Margarita Lake, dropping off bins and bikes that would be trucked to the various transition areas they'd need them throughout the race, and they boarded a bus for an hour-long ride to the beach.

Winding through the coastal mountains, through eucalyptus groves, and arriving at a beautiful cove, the kayaks were laid out and our racers set to preparing themselves for one heck of a long day.

After an eight-mile open-ocean kayak (well supported by local rescue organizations and fortuitously, a blue whale), racers landed at a beach in Morro Bay where they hopped on their bikes for a long climb and a fun, fast single-track descent leading into the area's college ag land.

The run transition area was set up at Cal Poly's poultry unit, where racers could stop, take a break, and go back into the hills they came from. Said one member from Team Hilarious, hailing from Calgary, Canada, "That was the second-best mountain biking I've ever done!" Her teammates then decided to weigh the merits of whether it was more like the best or not.

Racers came in looking tired, but stoked. Some stayed for an hour, some took off right away at a jog. We didn't see them until many hours later in the dark - fifty miles away at Lopez Lake, where they picked up their kayaks for a lake trip and then their bikes for another epic tour of the mountains.

Our first team came in just under 6 a.m. - Team DART/Nuun/SportMulti, a world-class adventure racing team. Teams trickled in from there, with our last team finishing at 2 p.m. Results are posted here: http://www.ccadventure.com/results.pdf

Out of a field of 13 teams, we had 5 non-finishers. Though healthy respect goes out to all our DNFers, most especially SLO local Ryan Tarver from Hopes and Dreams, who kept up with the winning team throughout the first three stages of the race before deciding he would bow out.

Watch our 24-36 hour Coast to Crest race live!

2010-06-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to TrackMe360.com and SPOT rescue units, you can log into the site below and watch the fun along with us!

http://www.trackme360.com/cara/c2c

password: "slovenia"

Tips for an awesome Tri (good for adventure racers, too!)

2010-06-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

So yesterday we went and cleared some of the poison oak the 24-hour race trek. I am not going to lie, that section is beautiful. You won't feel like you're in California. And, if you're like me, and you spent your youth exploring creek beds and rivers, you are going to feel so energized by the entire thing. If you are planning on doing this race try to time it so you go during the day. It's worth seeing.

Anyway, I follow a couple fitness blogs and had to direct you to The Fitness Nerd today, who sent me to "That's Fit" for an article with tips on tri training. Check it out: Top 10 Tips for Your First Tri.

1st Annual ECOSLO Triathlon is in the can!

2010-06-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

The weather was perfect: clear skies, only a hint of a breeze, clear water, and temps in the low 70s. For Morro Bay, it doesn't get more perfect than that. The day before, a lot of registrants were hesitant about the swim in the bay, only to pop out after it and declare, "That wasn't so bad." By the end of the day, their comments escalated to "that was awesome!"

The first annual ECOSLO Olympic Distance triathlon generated a fair amount of money for the San Luis Obispo-based organization, which is great because many events are happy to break even their first year. We had about 200 participants and far more spectators in and out throughout the day not just because of supportive family and friends but because of the tourist-friendly location of the event. Many volunteers signed on to help the day before hailed from places like Indiana and Texas because they thought the event's venue looked cool and they wanted to do more than lay on the beach on this idyllic June Sunday.

Participants started the race, in waves of fifty, by swimming 1.5 km in a slack tide out toward the channel's entrance to the ocean, around the smiley-faced bouys and back to the shores. Water was in the low fifties and Morro Bay's harbor patrol mandated wetsuits for the swimmers, but none looked worse for wear after - more like energized! They got through the transition area, filled up on Heed and Hammer Gels and headed out on a 40 km classic local ride that took them down Highway 1, through the local community college and out into the rolling, rural hills of San Luis Obispo. Foothill Cyclery provided race aid to the cyclists and even placed volunteers in their support van. Once they were back, they headed back out again to finish the race - jogging along the famous Morro Bay beaches for 10k. The beach run took them over hardpacked sand and rocky shores to an aid station turnaround and back to the finish, greeted by the lovely ladies of FRS with recovery drinks and smiles.

Our overall winner was professional and local triathlete Van McCarty, coming in at 2:18:32. Behind him were Scott Smith (in 2:21:04) and Anthony Barton (2:24:22). Overall women winners were Christine Bare (2:42:59) followed by Kim Schollenberger (2:46:22) and Mary Kelly Dakin (2:48:40). Winners were awarded prizes by supporters Smith Sunglasses, Xterra Wetsuits, Voler, and more. All division placers were awarded an etched glass stein and a Morro Bay Triathlon bike jersey by Voler.

When it was all said and done, participants and spectators were invited back to the beer garden for some refreshing Sierra Nevada pale ale.

Overall the race went great and we're sure to be back next year! In the meantime, watch for us on June 19 & 20th when All Out Events hosts a second installment of the Central Coast Adventure Challenge: a grueling 24 hour Coast to Crest race and an accessibly fun 2-4 hour sprint!

Photos courtesy of All Out Events' Kristin McNamara and ECOSLO's Clint Slaughter.

1st Annual June 6th ECOSLO Triathlon

2010-06-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

ECOSLO hosts inaugural Olympic Distance Triathlon on June 6th

ECOSLO, in partnership with local event company, All Out Events, hosts an Olympic Distance Triathlong on Sunday, June 6th, starting at 8 am. An Olympic Distance triathlon consists of a 1.5k swim, 40k road bike, and a 10k run. The event will take place in Morro Bay (those not interested in swimming will be offered a kayak option - something quite uncommon for most races), up highway 1 and through the rolling hills of San Luis valley, finishing with a run on the beach.

ECOSLO hopes the event will generate annual funds to continue their mission to create and support resilient, natural, healthy systems and lifestyles in San Luis Obispo. The event will be as low impact on the environment as possible, thanks to an ongoing commitment by All Out Events, and for this reason, they make an excellent pairing for the central coast in terms of support and mutual goals achieved. In addition to being a fundraiser, the event planners have taken the following steps to create as low an impact event as possible:

-No disposable cup policy (participants get reusable souvenir pint glasses)

-Our event is powered by the sun thanks to REC Solar’s solar trailer

-In addition to garbage cans we offer recycling and composting receptacles
-All race merchandise is organic and or locally sourced
-All food vendors are required to use recyclable and or compostable paper and plastic-ware
-Encouraging carpooling by holding a raffle exclusive to carpoolers

We have vendors and sponsors who will be in attendance, a beer garden, and great food provided by the Burrito Wagon and Vraja's Vegan Kitchen. Spectators and racers alike will have an amazing healthy, ecofriendly June Sunday on the central coast.

May CCAC event wrap-up

2010-06-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Well, we had an awesome race again this year - the weather agreed with us, the plans went as we'd hoped, and the volunteers did an amazing job with their tasks.

The Dawn to Dusk race this year saw solos Fred Watson and Kevin Cooper finish first together (they're the guys holding the FRS, which they were quite happy to partake in after the were done), but because of our rules, four-person co-ed team True Grit picked up the bonus fifteen minutes and won our race overall in 10 hours, six minutes. This year's course featured about eight miles of kayaking, 30 miles of mountain biking (most of it single track), and 10 miles of trekking, including rappelling a slot canyon and crossing the lake with a rope bridge. Finishers were treated to complimentary custom burritos and all-you-could-drink Sierra Nevada pale ale. The night ended pretty quickly for our racers, and everyone had a smile on their face, even the only DNF team who got horrifically lost - but that's the screws when the race relies on serious navigation skills!

Our sprint was fun as always, and our third place solo from Dawn to Dusk took on a partner and won this race in the two person co-ed division: congratulations to Team Synergy (Katie and Garett). The sprint consisted of a kayak leg, a bike leg, and a trekking leg. One racer was overheard to say, "What, this is an off-road triathlon!" only to finish saying, "THAT WAS AMAZING!" No surprise to us, race director Yishai Horowitz works hard no matter the length or difficulty of the course to give people a truly unique experience in venues that offer the best possible courses.

Our winners enjoyed prizes and racebag goodies from sponsors, and Hammer Nutrition had them going at aid stations, finishing out with a frosty FRS held out by the beatiful demo ladies awaiting them with finisher bottles at the end of the race.

More photos are available here: http://www.ccadventure.com/photos.html

We can't wait to see you there for our second weekend of adventure racing on June 19 & 20, and we'll be out in Morro Bay on June 6th for the inaugural ECOSLO Olympic Distance Triathlon!

YouTube Videos of the May CCAC

2010-06-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

6th Annual Adventure Race hits Santa Margarita Lake on May 15th and 16th

2010-06-09T13:29:00.001-07:00

The Central Coast Adventure Challenge is back for its sixth year, Saturday, May 15th and Sunday, May 16th. Hailed by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the top five races in the country, and the largest adventure race on the west coast, this years' contestant field is drawing internationally and nationally and should prove to be an amazing event for competitor and spectator alike.

May 15th hosts teams and solo competitors in a Dawn-to-Dusk, 12-hour race taking them through some of the county's most beautiful backcountry. They'll paddle miles of the lake looking for checkpoints; run/hike through rocks, over obstacles, and through poison oak; and bike some thrilling, technical single-track mountain trails to be the first to navigate their way to the finish. Using a map and a compass, they are given a minimum number of check points to reach and strategize how to reach them in as little effort and time as possible.

May 16th we have the more accessible Adventure Sprint - a 2-4 hour race that eliminates the navigation aspect of the prior day's adventure race and explores much less of the beautiful, hilly country. If you can mountain bike, hike, and aren't afraid to try your hand at paddling the lake's open waters, this is one heck of a race. It leaves competitors feeling invigorated, ready to do anything - and really appreciating the beauty of the Central Coast.

This year the CCAC is also hosting a California Adventure Racing Association festival featuring educational clinics for those looking to break into the race or to take it to the next level. Anyone interested is welcome to attend the free clinics on everything from nutrition to night riding.

For more information, please visit: www.ccadventure.com or call Yishai Horowitz, event director: 805.541.0401

San Luis Mountain Run 10k Race Report

2010-06-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

It was cool and grey, but fast racing weather on dry, well-marked trails. After the pre-race meeting, everyone lined up along the start-tree, flanked by proud Salomon flags, and the airhorn signaled the start throughout San Luis Obispo valley. Runners took off, just as a fine mist began to fall, but the kind of mist that motivates, not dampens, spirits.

The first racers approached the finish, laced with volunteers ready to take their bib tags and hand them a blue Fluid finisher water bottle for a job well done. Kevin Koeper, 31, broke his course record by completing the rugged 10k in 39:57, with Scott Peterson, 42, another past race winner, following him at 44:24. Our first woman finisher came in not long after: Carin Serba, 24, finished in a blazing 48:35 – all smiles and thumbs up.

Despite a reputation for a grueling 10k, there’s plenty of fun for everyone. The trail isn’t just tough, it’s beautiful – along Laguna Lake, across the flats, up the hill and winding its way around one of the more stellar peaks in the valley though grassy single track, tree shaded trails, and rocky fire road. Our youngest racer, Cruz Godar, 9, came in at 1: 48:25, and our oldest, Nova Poff, 73, finished in 1:30:09. Racers enjoyed after-run snacks provided by House of Bread (a San Luis-based bakery) along with more traditional fare such as oranges and bananas.

Awards were held promptly at 11:00 am, with great prizes like shoes from Salomon and insoles from SOLE. All in all, it was a great launch for All Out Events’ 2010 race season. We’ll see you next year for our fifth-annual race!

Photos are available here: http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/gallery.jsp?gid=768a5498ce7e87a4b743