New This Year: The Rope Bridge
By Carol McCracken (Post # 1,447)
The Portland Urban RAID is returning to the Eastern Promenade again this year. The Portland RAID series is one of many held all over New England. It’s a 5K race with 6 obstacles that are a challenge to the fitness and endurance of people of all ages dedicated to keeping themselves in the best physical conditioning they can.
To date, more people have registered for the RAID this year than participated last year, although organizers would not say what that exact number is. Kevin Sullivan, Aura360.com, said that registration is expected to increase signficantly each day until race day – Saturday, June 29th. Last year around 300 participated in the RAID. Racers may register the day of the event, although it’s cheaper to register online: http://raidevents.com/register/
There have been several new obstacles added to the course this year. One is the Ropes Bridge which is expected to be one of the most challenging of the day. Racers climb up the ropes through the manholes, then repel down the steeply inclined plank on the backside. (See above photo.)
The running course is different from last year. Runners will progress up Congress Street, (past the Observatory,) make a left turn onto Kellogg Street and eventually make a right onto Fore Stret. Then they head down Hancock Street and turn right onto Thames Street which gets them back to the Ocean Gateway Queuing lanes. There is no parking garage stair climb which was an particular challenge for many because of the intense heat of the day – over 90 degrees.
The after party at the finish line (queuing lanes at the Ocean Gateway Pier) will feature three free beers provided to each participant by the nearby Shipyard Brewery.
On July 9th, of 2011, Tri-Maine held is Urban Epic Challenge on the Eastern Promenade with the famous “slip and slide”obstacle. The two local companies decided to team up to produce the “Urban RAID.”
For more background information, please visit post dated June 30, 2012 and post # 1,165, dated June 29, 2012.