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A different way to tri

10/7/2015

Don’t toss your trainers in the closet just yet. This weekend, the full-spirited (and well-insulated) will gather in Water Works Park to show their support for family and friends who have been affected by cancer. Their challenge is the DSM Adventure Race, consisting of three events: canoeing, trail running and road cycling.

The DSM Adventure Race at Water Works Park will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.

The DSM Adventure Race at Water Works Park will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.

“I’ve wanted to do an event like this for more than three years,” said Brad Argo, event organizer and co-founder of Argo Adventures. “My company, Argo Adventures, is a canoe livery located on the Raccoon River with trips ending within Waterworks Park. I wanted to showcase that stretch of the river, promote the park and offer a different triathlon for athletes in Des Moines.”

The event benefits Above + Beyond Cancer, a cancer survivorship nonprofit well known for taking cancer survivors and caregivers on journeys to places like Everest Basecamp and the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Their goals are to help elevate the lives of those touched by cancer and create a healthier world.

“Due to the earthquake in Nepal this year, Above + Beyond Cancer heard that I was putting the race together and helped greatly with our exposure,” Argo said. “In turn, all profits go to ABC, so it’s a win across the board.”

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The DSM Adventure Race begins in the water of the Raccoon River at the west end of Water Works Park.

“The weather should be perfect — fingers crossed,” said Argo. “The leaves will be changing along the river, and this beauty will all be taking place within a wonderful park. It will be a day you’ll want to be outside, and this event will be the best place to be.”

Entering from the bank, each team will paddle its canoe (canoes are provided) two miles downstream toward the Bill Riley Trail Bridge. A total of six bends await each team of two as they navigate the tricky sandbars and murky currents of the river.

Once a team makes it ashore successfully, they members will begin the trail running portion of the race. The route begins by backtracking along the south bank of the Raccoon River along Gray’s Lake Drive. A total of four miles of scenic, wooded trail running awaits each competitor.

The final leg of the DSM Adventure Race will be completed on smoothly paved roads. Competitors will race road bikes around the inside of the western half of Water Works Park, following along the Raccoon River before looping through the broad green fields and wooded sections of the public park. This leg is a total of 11 miles, making the overall race a total of 17 miles.

In case you weren’t paying attention, the entire race takes place inside Water Works Park.

“The goal this year is to run a successful race so that the DSM Adventure Race becomes an annual event,” Argo said. “Also, it will allow people living with cancer and their caregivers to work together, push one another and complete a triathlon together. For the other athletes, it’s to challenge them with this unique race. Overall, we want everyone to have fun, too, and I think the race, and post-race, will guarantee that.”

While registration is closed for this event, there is still plenty of fun to get in on.

“We will have a yoga session in the morning, and we will have a DJ, beer tent and food trucks at the event,” said Argo. “Generally speaking, the race will be a lot of fun to watch, so for any spectators, I would highly recommend to check it out. There will also be canoe trips offered after the race.” CV

DSM Adventure Race at Water Works Park
Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.
Registration is full. Free for spectators.

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