Brake the Habit is a USARA-sanctioned event. Racers must either have an annual USARA membership or purchase a single-event license through RunSignUp. Annual membership is instrumental in sustaining USARA’s efforts to support the US-based AR community and host an annual National Championship. In addition to supporting the community as a whole and having single-event fees waived, annual membership includes access to ExpertVoice, an incredible resource for athletes that unlocks pro-deals to hundreds of name-brands. 

 

For new racers, check out USARA's New to Adventure Racing database, a terrific collection of articles that will help you dive into the amazing sport of AR!

 

LODGING

 

We recommend making lodging reservations in and or around the town of Marlinton, WVA. 

 

Note: this area of WVA is remote. There are no commercial hotels and restaurants, fast-food, etc. in Marlinton or the surrounding area.  The nearest town with options is Lewisburg, roughly 1 hour away. In and around Marlinton, there are numerous Bed & Breakfasts, Inns, and small cabins and lodges to stay, as well as numerous camping options and AirBnB’s to choose from in the area.  There will also be free primitive camping available at the host venue, with more details to follow. Marlinton is your classic small mountain town that revolves around outdoor recreation. A bike shop, outfitter, coffee shop, and a few small local restaurants, and one bar (with an amazing beer selection) dominate the scene. Mountain biking is king here. 

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COURSE AND DISCIPLINE DETAIL

 

While we are still actively working on the race course and will continue to do so through Spring, we do have the bones of the course figured out, and can tell you a little bit about what you can expect. With that said, some of this information, specifically the mileage, may ebb and flow over the next few months as we tweak things, find more interesting things to show you, add more miles, remove miles, etc.. 

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Mountain Biking: 50-60 miles 

Ahhh, the mountain biking…. If you know, you know. This area of the state is renowned for its mountain biking, backcountry riding, and classic, winding, bucolic country roads. As one of IMBA’s Silver Ride centers in North America, people come from far and wide to ride mountain, gravel and road bikes. From classic WVA single track to backcountry trail riding, forest service roads, gravel and some country roads, you will see it all on the course. 

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Trekking: 20-25 miles 

Teams can expect a variety of trekking with extensive off-trail travel.  As probably expected, there will be some elevation gain and loss…..  Some sections may be quite remote and while, not necessarily technical in nature, rugged. Teams may also be required to move overland on foot with their packrafts and gear. More on this below. 

 

Paddling: 10-15 miles 

Packrafts will be used on a scenic Class I & II moving river. Overall, teams can expect some fun rapids, especially in packrafts, with nothing of much consequence to worry about. Most of the rivers in this area of the state are free-flowing and un-dammed. They fluctuate rapidly and many are dependent on rain in the summer months. One of the main reasons we have picked this race date is to take advantage of the spring season on the rivers. Historically—with spring rain and late season snow melt in the high Allegheny mountains filling the rivers—the spring season is the best time of year to consistently paddle the rivers. With the addition of packrafts instead of hard-shell boats, the ability to run the rivers in lower water is better, as is portaging. With that said, it is impossible for us to predict what the winter and early spring season will bring to the area when it comes to precipitation. We will have contingency plans in place in the event that the rivers are not runnable on either end of the water-level gauges. 

 

Speaking of portaging, teams MAY be required to move over land with their boats & gear on the paddling leg(s) of the race. While this is not 100% at this moment, teams should be prepared to trek with their paddle gear in the woods while navigating, The mileage on this may range from a minimum of 3 miles up to 5 miles.

 

​Navigation

Overall, the navigation will range from basic to very challenging, especially on foot and in the dark. Teams can expect significant off-trail travel and numerous route choice opinions on both bike and foot. We highly recommend that at least one of your teammates is confident and comfortable navigating in a remote, mountainous environment, especially in the dark. 

 

Gear List

Please review the gear list closely. All of this gear is primarily for your safety; we have tried to keep the gear list minimal. Individuals and teams are required to carry all mandatory gear, either for the entire race or for specific legs depending on the item. Teams failing to carry mandatory equipment will be penalized and may be disqualified from the event, depending on the piece of gear missing.