Camp Peniel wants you to ‘Meet Your Maker’ at off-road adventure
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
SMITHWICK — When people hit the trails for Camp Peniel’s Meet Your Maker off-road adventure race Oct. 6, competitors might be a little confused that they have to start off with their running shoes on.
“Most events like this start off with swimming,” said Ben Weagant of Camp Peniel and the race coordinator. “But, if I put everybody in the swimming at the start, it would really crowd people up.”
Camp Peniel’s lake, after all, is more like an oversized pond. So Weagant starts off the Meet Your Maker race with the two-mile run to spread the field out a bit.
After the quick run, the competitors will plunge into the small lake at Camp Peniel and enjoy a brisk 200-meter swim. Once out of the water, it’s off on a nice six-mile mountain-bike ride around the camp. But, before racing for the finish line, camp officials will crush the racers’ spirits with another two-mile run.
Among all this running, swimming and mountain biking, race organizers have thrown in several mystery events.
“The mystery events will remain a mystery until the actual race,” Weagant said.
Camp Peniel is a Christian-based camp located east of Marble Falls at 6176 RR 1431. During the summer, youth participate in residence and day camps. During the off-season months, the camp offers family weekends.
And this year, they’re adding adventure racing to the program.
The course offers competitors, especially on the mountain-bike portion, some challenging geography. But Weagant pointed out it’s not so tough that only the hardiest of competitors can take part.
“I think anybody who has done much running and biking can do it,” he said. “On the mountain-bike portion, some of it is very challenging. But it’s a very short distance, and you can walk your bike.”
Kyle Grieser, a Marble Falls athlete who regularly competes in Xterra off-road triathlons, has traversed the mountain-bike course. Weagant said even he’s found it challenging.
Still, it’s doable.
People who want to give it a go, but don’t think they can complete all the portions, can tap a friend for a stretch. The race allows for individual competitors as well as teams of up to three people.
There is no minimum age requirement, so a family could compete as a team as well or challenge each other as individuals. It’s also a great opportunity for families to train together in preparation for the event.
Registration continues up to the event, but people who sign up before Sept. 6 pay $45 and are assured a T-shirt. After Sept. 6, the registration goes up to $55, and there is no guarantee of a T-shirt.
Packet pick up is 3-6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the camp or 7-8:15 a.m. Oct. 6.
The race orientation is 8:15 a.m. Oct. 6 with the competition starting at 9 a.m. A half-course race follows at 9:30 a.m.
“And, after the race, we’ll have a free kids fun run (1k),” Weagant said.
Go to www.camppeniel.org or email Weagant at bweagant@camppeniel.org for more information.
daniel@thepicayune.com