New race brings Adventure to downtown Aurora

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Updated: March 24, 2012 11:37PM

Memorial Day weekend is going to be full of adventure this year in downtown Aurora.

On May 27, the Sunday before Memorial Day, potentially thousands of athletes will paddle, bike and run their way north from Aurora to Batavia, and then back to downtown Aurora for the Amped Up Adventure Race.

“I’m hoping people will make a weekend of it,” said Charlie Zine, who developed the idea with the backing of the folks at outdoor retailer Paddle and Trail.

Zine, who manages Paddle and Trail’s Aurora store at 107 Spruce St., was looking to bring something along the lines of the popular Warrior Dash or Spartan Race to Aurora.

With the assistance of Aurora’s Hollywood Casino, Zine said they will be able to create their own customized race, and save thousands of dollars. It would cost about $30,000 to bring a name-brand race to town, he said.

Paddle and Trail’s Amped Up Adventure Race is a six-hour race specifically designed for Aurora and its access to the Fox River and trails. The goal is to bring the race to other areas that Paddle and Trail serves, as well as to grow the Aurora race.

Zine said the race will utilize many local resources, including the Fox River, the Fox River Trail, local parks and local businesses. Two Brothers Roundhouse and Ballydoyle pub have signed on to assist, and Zine has a committee of more than a half-dozen community leaders to help plan the event.

The event will begin and end in downtown Aurora, and will include a paddle, mountain biking and urban obstacle course components. There will be four main competitive categories that individuals and teams can compete in: Amateur Division, Team Division, Youth Division and Pro Division.

Zine said they are still working out details, and gathering permission from all involved parties, like the Fox Valley Park District and the Kane County Forest Preserve. He added that the race is not cheap to pull off; the $12,000 sponsorship from Hollywood Casino will go toward marketing the race and race setup costs.

“It’s thanks to the generosity of Hollywood Casino that we can do this,” Zine said.

“My goal is to promote downtown Aurora as a wonderful place for outdoor recreation,” said Zine, who is a longtime proponent of recreation along the Fox River. He hopes to incorporate future races, and outdoor recreational events with Aurora’s new RiverEdge Park when completed.

Chris Hamilton, executive director of the Aurora Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau since August, also sits on the race committee. Hamilton said he is excited about the Adventure Race kick-starting similar events in the area.

“I am excited about how it helps us open the door to more of these types of activities. It showcases the Fox River, and the communities along the river. These types of outdoor activities can be huge,” Hamilton said. Proceeds from the race will go toward re-engineering the Fox River Canoe Chute in downtown Aurora to make it functional.

Paddle and Trail is seeking people interested in helping with the May 27 race. Contact Paddle and Trail at 855-752-9688, or visit www.paddleandtrail.com for details. For complete race information, visit www.ampedupaurora.eventbrite.com .