Race Report- TUCARD 2022

In 2021 I competed in my first TUCARD, Maine’s most Terrifically (& Unnecessarily) Complicated Adventure Race and Duathalon.  You can read that race report HERE if you want to understand the next few paragraphs of this write up. Or better yet, google the TUCARD website.

In 2022, the organizers changed things up.  This year participants were given starting and ending points, and a list of coordinates that MIGHT be waypoints on race day.  This was a bonus for me, as I’m largely unfamiliar with the Old Town area and being able to scout the actual locations was extremely helpful. The night before race day we were given our final instructions- in order to know which locations were official waypoints, we could go to the point furthest from the start to visit ‘The Oracle’ who would provide the correct list of waypoints.  Option two was to skip The Oracle and just visit as many points as possible with the hope of hitting the right ones- this could be a big time saver or a wild goose chase.  The third option was to go to a point that was the furthest from the start in the opposite direction and get a ‘Golden Ticket’ which would allow you to skip all other waypoints.  The Golden Ticket would require wading through a mucky wetland, but could get you across the finish line first.  At this point in my narrative you may be thinking that this explanation makes no sense-  I will refer you back to the race name…

In the 2021 TUCARD I earned the award title ‘Lost Puppy’, as the racer that covered the most distance.  In honor of my difficulties with Time and Relative Distance in Space during that race, I donned my TARDIS dress for this race (see photo).  The race went smoothly for me- I chose The Oracle option, and was happy to see that I was well prepared to hit the correct waypoints. My primary transport was an old mountain bike, but I also ran some stretches of rough single track and paddled across the Stillwater River. 

Finish time in the TUCARD requires a complicated formula based on racing surface and mode of transport.  In the end I was 18th across the finish line, but ranked 17th overall (out of 21, a mix of teams and individuals). This year I also earned the title of Puppy Dog- the racer who had the most fun-  thanks to running the whole thing in the TARDIS dress.  

I believe that I am the only Central Maine Strider to enter this race- it's a ton of fun and I encourage you to check it out when you are planning your 2023 racing season!

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