Plenty of adventure sports on tap in area

COEUR d'ALENE - Adventure Sports Week got rolling Sunday with a series of trail races, and continues this weekend with more running, biking riding, paddling and map reading.

Organizer Dave Adlard is expecting hundreds of athletes, young and old, for the third annual event at Farragut State Park.

The weekend's competitions includes the Deepwater half marathon, marathon, 50K and 52-mile trail run. There's also the Crux and Crucible 24-hour adventure race, a kids adventure race and the Mad Dash Mountain Bike race.

The adventure races include mountain biking, running, kayaking and orienteering, from one to four-person teams.

Adlard said he canceled Adventure Sports Week last year because he was working on Expedition Idaho, a weeklong, endurance race that brought in international teams.

He brought it back this year, and believes the quality of courses, terrain and challenges is outstanding. The mix of races available, the prizes and the parties, provide what few others offer.

"I just enjoy putting on events," he said.

Adlard was out Monday afternoon, adjusting checkpoints on the adventure course.

"There's times like Saturday night when I'm out at 3:30 a.m. in the morning, I'm not exactly sure why I'm doing it," he added, laughing.

Registration is available on race day, or online, www.adventuresportsweekidaho.com