‘Meet Your Maker’ at Camp Peniel adventure race next weekend
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
SMITHWICK — Ah, nothing like a little running and biking on a Sunday morning to get your body moving. Throw in some swimming and a mix of “mystery events,” and, all of a sudden, you can “Meet Your Maker.”
Well, it is Sunday, after all.
Camp Peniel is hosting its second annual Meet Your Maker Adventure Race on Oct. 5, but organizers have made it into a two-day family affair for those who want to pre-ride the course Oct. 4. While the event is called “Meet Your Maker,” rest assured that no one actually did last year, and probably won’t this year.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” said Ben Weagant of Camp Peniel, one of the minds behind the course and the event. “It’s basically an off-road triathlon, but we throw in a bunch of mystery events competitors do along the way.”
Last year, about 40 racers competed in the race with Marble Falls resident Kyle Grieser winning the individual competition. This year, organizers are adding 40 pounds to Kyle’s bike and throwing in some Kyle-specific challenges to see if they can slow the off-road racing mad man.
“No, we’re not,” Weagant corrected.
The course features four miles of trail running, six miles of technical mountain biking and a 200-meter swim. Along that course, competitors must work their way through several mystery events. Weagant is also incorporating a few non-required tasks. During these, competitors can choose to participate in the event and earn a ticket for a prize drawing.
“Or, if they’re more interested in their time, they can just blow right by them,” he said.
The race starts at 9 a.m. Oct. 5, but the fun actually gets rolling the previous day. On the Saturday before the race, competitors and their families can come out to Camp Peniel at 1 p.m. to pre-ride the course and take part in other activities. There are additional charges for the Saturday activities.
“We’ll have the zip line open,” Weagant said. “They can do some archery and go to the rifle range. There will just be a bunch of things to do for those family members who may not be pre-riding the course.”
The Saturday wraps up with a fajita dinner cook-out and worship. Folks can even spend the night at Camp Peniel for an additional cost of $60 per person (children 6 and under stay for free.) The $60 covers the Saturday activities. People who come out Saturday but don’t stay the night may also participate in the other activities for a $25 per-person fee (again, children 6 and under will be admitted for free.)
On the next morning (race day), things start with a continental breakfast from 7:45-8:30 a.m. followed by race orientation at 8:40 a.m. At 9 a.m., it’s off to the races.
The course is set up as spectator-friendly.
Entry for the race is $55, and people can register at www.camppeniel.org under the Adventure Race heading. Though competitors can register the day of the race, organizers prefer pre-registration for planning purposes.
Call (830) 693-2182 for more information or go to the above listed website.
daniel@thepicayune.com