This Is the Treasure Hunt You Train For

Ever watched an Easter egg hunt and thought, why don’t we get to do this as adults? Or wish you could go underseas in the Caribbean and look for lost gold? Thought about trying a triathlon but not sold on the swim? You should try adventure racing.

It’s a team sport that requires you to navigate by map and compass to checkpoint flags across the woods, hills, gullies, and lakes of a topographic map. Here’s why people love adventure racing and are signing up to do the Michigan Adventure Race Big M Edition on September 26 in Wellston, MI, 25 minutes east of Manistee.

Register for the Big M Edition

It’s a Team Sport

Some adventures are just better with a team. Individual success is nice, but the greatest experiences are the ones we share. And in adventure racing, more brains are always better than one.

It Makes You Feel Like a Kid Again

The elation you get when you find a checkpoint flag in the woods harkens back to Easter egg hunts and treasure hunts. Depending on the length of the race, you get to experience that feeling 20, 30, or 40 times in a single day.

It’s a Choose Your Own Adventure

Many races allow you to pick between a shorter beginner race or the longer intermediate or advanced race. You don’t have to race the entire time, and you don’t need to do the entire course to be a finisher. Every checkpoint is optional. Try to get as many as you can in whatever time frame works best for you and your team.

The Scenery Is Gorgeous

The pristine lakes, winding trails, and majestic forests make the hard miles feel worth it. You’ll probably find yourself on the path less traveled, terrain most people never get to see on foot.

The Vibe Is More Fun Than Competitive

It’s more about fun than winning or setting a personal record. Often groups will team up together to find a checkpoint flag, especially if they’re having trouble finding it. Although races award top performances, no one really does the race for the prizes. It’s about health, community, challenge, nature’s beauty, and teamwork.

Strategy Matters as Much as Speed

Sometimes brains beat brawn. Because there are dozens of different combinations of routes between checkpoints, often the team that picks the smartest route gets there the quickest, even if they aren’t the fastest team.

Register for the Big M Edition