Post-Race Message:   SOAR Adventures would like to thank everyone for making the 2005 SOAR 8-Hour Adventure Challenge a huge success! Now that we've had a few days to let the event sink in, we hope everyone will be able to look back at the 2005 SOAR race and realize the magnitude of their accomplishments on that day. These accomplishments include:

• 50+% of the racers were participating in their first adventure race...this is almost twice the normal first-time entry for an adventure race!
• 50% of the racers participating were from Des Moines and the surrounding area...a huge show of interest from central-Iowa for a multi-sport event!
• In 8 hours, teams traveled a total of approximately 35 miles through racing disciplines of biking, canoeing, and hiking...this is the equivalent of traveling from Des Moines to Ames!
• Of 38 teams participating, 90% of the teams finished the 8-hour event and all disciplines!
• Racers endured a hot, sunny 94 degree day with over 70% humidity, for a combined heat index temperature of 106 degrees...yes, it was a scorcher of a day to remember!
• And most importantly, everyone looked out for each other and assisted whenever they could, which allowed us to finish the race with only one medical emergency throughout the day...this goes to prove the genuine camaraderie that adventure racing generates!

At this time, we would like to extend a special thank you to Camp Wesley Woods, Lake Ahquabi State Park and Annett Nature Center who allowed us to use their facilities and property. Their willingness provided a wonderful venue to host and run the race on. We would also like to extend our thanks to all of the area sponsors for their extraordinary support. With their generous assistance, we were able to give away several great prizes to all placing teams in each division, as well as enough prizes to allow each racer to receive something in the post-race drawing. Then, of course, the race couldn’t have gone as smoothly as it did without all of the help provided by the 25+ race volunteers and 2 Indianola Fire Department staff members looking out for all the racers. We owe them huge gratitude for all their efforts and watchful eyes throughout the course on that day. And last, but definitely not least, a big thanks to all the 118 brave individuals who were willing to step up to the challenge we had created and participate in an adventure that took over 10 months to plan. (To read more, please see the final race post.)

Here are just a few comments received from 2005 SOAR race participants:

• "A tremendously fun day and a real challenge. My team is really pumped for more NA-ARCS events now."
  ~~ Tom Farr, Team Ambition
• "Thanks again - you should be proud of the race...it was a great success, incredible and inspiring...we can't wait for more races and next years SOAR!"
  ~~ Tricia Cobb, Team Code Purple Racing
• "Enjoying the race, keeping the racers safe, and finishing made your race one of the best!!"
  ~~ Laural Friedman, Team Bike Iowa
• "We had a riot all day long, and want you and your entire gang to know how much we appreciate all of your efforts!"
  ~~ Dave & Dee Mable, All 9 Yards Adventure Team
• "The poison ivy will last for days. The pain for weeks. The memory for a lifetime."
  ~~ Joseph Zortman, Team 2000 Stripling Warriors

Thank you again for the great turnout at the race, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2006!

Ryan Duppong & Mike Eilers, SOAR Race Directors