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Anyone remember the "Buff Betty"? If you did it,
you'll never forget it. A great event for women of
all levels who want to get out and get DIRTY!

That event hasn't been back to Michigan in a
couple of years. We decided it was time to pick
up where they left off, by offering a great and
challenging adventure race to women of every
background and fitness level.

Our Diamonds & Dirt, Women's Adventure Race
will be set up to challenge both the experienced and first time adventure racers. We'll do this
by holding on site navigation and mountain bike clinics, instructed by the Michigan Mountain
Bike Association (MMBA).

Though this is a beginner to intermediate race, it will include all the disciplines of a longer
adventure race. Expect to trek, mountain bike, canoe and orienteer your way through one of
Southeast Michigan's most scenic parks.

The introduction to Mountain Biking and Introduction to Orienteering clinics at the park on
4/19 will be open to both racers and non racers. If you're racing, it's free. If you're not, but want
to learn how to navigate and/or get comfortable on a mountain bike trail, you can come out
and work with our clinic instructors for a $20 fee. We'll also be putting on a "mini" adventure
race, consisting of a short obstacle course with a couple easy checkpoints for the mini
racers! This will be held in an open field, just for fun and nothing crazy. They'll get numbers
and goodie bags just like their Mom's! No cost for this, but you have to let us know that they'll
be participating.

A portion of this events proceeds will benefit "Warriors in Pink".

RACE RESULTS HERE
RACE PHOTOS HERE

Race Summary:
Starting location and clinics in
Brighton, MI: Island Lake
Recreation Area

Saturday, April 19th - Clinics
Beginners navigation and
mountain bike clinics -
Instruction by MMBA (Michigan
Mountain Bike Association)

Sunday, April 20th - Race Day!
Check-in time: 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Pre-race meeting: 9:30 AM
Race start: 10 AM
Race cut-off: 4 PM
Duration: 6 hour cutoff
Prizes and awards: 5:00 PM

Race Details:
Team divisions: solo or two
person female
Age restrictions: Minors are
required to have a signed waiver
and participants under 16 must
race with an adult
Disciplines: Expect to trek,
mountain bike, canoe and
orienteer your way through one
of Southeast Michigan's most
scenic parks.
Cost: $75 per racer. Does NOT
include canoe rental. For canoe
rental, visit Heavner Canoe.

DIAMONDS EVEN SPARKLE WHEN COVERED WITH DIRT by Dori Watters

The sun was on its way up, there was a cool breeze rustling through the trees and the air was
warming up to a nice 60 degrees. You couldn’t ask for a better recipe to accompany a two
mile sand dune run first thing in the morning! That’s exactly how 35 women started their
morning at the 1st ever Diamonds and Dirt Women’s Adventure Race. The race took place at
Island Lake State Park. A total of 19 teams came out for the race, including 2 solo teams.

The race started off with a trail run and boy did the sand fly!   As the racers made their way
down the dunes, they stopped every so often to capture the first three CP’s of the race.   It was
off to the trail head where mountain bikes awaited the women’s arrival. Most found the bike
drop without a problem. A few, however, must have forgotten where they placed their bikes a
few hours earlier because Jeff found them wandering on the paved trail about ½ mile past the
bike drop? No short cuts allowed girls! (You know who you are!)After strapping on their bike
helmets, the racers picked up a few CP’s as they burned through the 6 miles of single track
mountain bike trails. Special props go out to the Gustafson Sisters, Tracey Cohen, For the
Health of It, and Victorious Vixens and all the other women who found this race to be their very
first experience on a mountain bike trail. Regardless of their riding level, all teams completed
this section. Good job to everyone! It was then off to the canoe section. The women found
themselves in the middle of Kent Lake for a pretty challenging canoe course. Racers were
required to grab at least two of the five check points on Kent Lake before heading back in.
Once on shore, some gave the photographer a quick pose and their prettiest smile, while
others wasted no time hopping back on their bikes. It was back to the bike drop, where the
racers started the last section of the 6 hour race. The teams got out their maps and
compasses and orienteered themselves back to the finish line. This was probably the most
challenging section of the race. While some teams found themselves temporarily misplaced
in the swamp and others actually found themselves “stuck” in the swamp, all teams were
able to grab at least the mandatory CP’s and make it back to the finish before the cutoff time.
The winning team managed to grab 22 CP’s in 5 hours and 26 minutes. And yes… CP #27
was in the correct spot. (GPS doesn’t lie!)

Any GL.Teams.com function has a “leave no trace” policy, but we also work to clean up our
parks so that we can enjoy many years of racing to come. So, not only did our teams have to
bike, canoe and navigate themselves throughout the race but, they also had to locate and
carry back the best piece of trash they could find during the day. And boy, did we have some
“trashy” women! From old batteries, to coffee grinders, plane ticket receipts, to deer
carcasses (Yes, you read that correctly! Team Hot Prospects brought in a bone from a deer
carcass. They planned on bringing in the entire thing, but apparently, it was a little too large to
carry. In the end, the “Trash Can” award went to Team Geeky Chics who carried in 2 full
buckets (which they found in the woods) filled to the brim with trash!

Team “Who Gave the Polack the Compass” walked away with the first place award of 2 pairs
of diamond stud earrings donated in honor of Dorothy Lamson. The second place award of
two $100 gift cards, purses and ice bags from Oliver’s Trendz in Birmingham went to Team
FUNDERSTORM. Team Trailseekers won two 60 minute massages from Revitalize spa in
Birmingham for coming in third. A special mention goes out to Jennifer K. Smith who was the
top solo racer of the day, coming in 4th over all.

Whether you’re new to the sport or a veteran racer, congratulations to all the women who
competed! No matter where you found yourself in the final rankings, you were there, that
makes you an amazing athlete!

Great job to all. See you next year for some more “Diamonds and Dirt”!