Review of Denver’s Adventure Race Scene
The summer adventure race scene is wrapping up the 2012 season. To make the realization easier, I scooted to the start line of three whacky 5k’s this weekend. All with their own niche, each race offers highlights to share.
The Firefly Run attracted sparkling crowds in Denver’s inaugural race at City Park. It’s not often that thousands of people strike the pavement in the pitch black. But fear not because each racer is geared with flashing LED lights to add spunk to the run. The night sky was illuminated with everything from glow sticks to Christmas lights. Not everyone showed up in typical workout gear- some of the most creative minds battled for first place in a competitive costume contest.
Who this race is for: Families and groups of friends who want to put a new spin on a routine Friday night.
Warrior Dash is a fire jumping, cargo net climbing, mud-crawling extreme race. You never know what obstacle is going to sneak attack next during the demanding 5k course running up and down the hills of Copper Mountain. With so many similar races saturating the market, Warrior Dash seems to draw the biggest crowds. In fact, there is such a demand the race has to spread itself over a 2-day period sending racers off in waves of 500 every 30 minutes. It is the world’s largest running series afterall. The finisher’s party and furry warrior hats are a big draw for racers.
Who this race is for: Groups of friends who are ready to jump into a mud pit. The race is challenging but still leaves runners with enough energy to rock the house down at the music stage and cheers with a beer.
Don’t let your guard down in The Drenched 5k or you could be the target of a water balloon. This race, which took off from City Park, incorporates a dynamite idea but has some improvements to make for next year. The energy and anticipation were sky high but failed to match the hype. Racers expecting to get soaked and encounter obstacles were let down. The website is misleading showing water obstacles at each 1k mark. Instead misters, sprinklers and fire hoses entertained runners.
Who this race is for: If you are looking for a family friendly event and that allows you’re the freedom to throw some water around then give this race a go! However, if you are expecting water mayhem or even a slip ‘n slide you might be best suited setting up your own fun at a local park.
