For the 2021 Maine Summer Adventure Race, we are focused more than ever on maintaining the safety of our race participants, race staff, and greater community in Maine. We have designed our COVID protocols to aim for the following goals: a) all racers arrive at the race healthy, and b) all racers leave the race healthy.

Our refund policy is: Any racer who is unable to race due to reasons related to COVID-19 will receive a full credit toward a future Strong Machine Adventure Racing event, or a full cash refund minus all costs related to the race (boat rental, food, RunSignUp fees).

all racers arrive healthy

To arrive at the race COVID-free, race participants should prioritize social distancing at home in the two weeks leading up to their departure for the race. Additionally, in accordance with Maine state guidelines, all racers traveling to Maine from other states must obtain a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to arriving in Maine or quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in Maine. Please check back for updates on state exemptions closer to race date. If your travels to Maine require flying in an airplane, consider arriving in Maine with time to get re-tested before the race. Although residents of exempted states and the state of Maine are not required to obtain negative COVID results before the race, we ask all racers to consider getting tested before traveling to Maine.
  • Check out this website for a comprehensive database of testing locations throughout the country.
  • Once in Maine, COVID testing is available in many locations, including some locations with rapid return (results in 15 minutes).
  • Many testing sites require an appointment, so plan ahead!

all racers leave healthy

Once at the race, we are instituting a number of social distancing and sanitation policies to ensure the safety of racers and race staff.
  • Face masks must be worn at all times when social distancing of 6’ cannot be maintained. Teams who do not follow this rule (either as seen by race staff OR as reported by fellow racers) will be given a verbal warning. After verbal warning, a 2nd offense will result in team disqualification. We require face masks to be worn at all times in the following areas:
    • Registration area
    • Parking area
    • Start area
    • Finish area
    • Boat launch
    • Restrooms
    • Transition areas (TAs)
    • On-course whenever your team cannot maintain a 6’ distance from another team
    • When interacting with any race personnel including race staff, volunteers, and medical personnel 
  • All checkpoints (CPs) will be no-touch. Teams will write down the unique letter code at all flags to indicate that they have found it.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available in all public spaces and must be used when touching common surfaces (i.e., water refill jugs, bathrooms).
  • Kayaks, paddles, and PFDs will be sanitized between uses.
  • We will minimize touching of common surfaces and congregating in groups by requiring all racers to complete race fee payment, waivers, and any other registration paperwork online before arriving at the race start. On-site completion of pre-race registration paperwork and/or race fee payment will not be permitted. 
  • We will use a staggered-start format to reduce congregation at the start area and congestion on the early sections of the race course.
  • At this time, we are not permitting spectators at the start or finish areas. Only racers are permitted in these gathering areas to reduce size. Post-race, racers will be provided with individually wrapped food items that they can take with them to another location off-site if they wish to meet up with family or friends not participating in the race.
  • The pre-race briefing and post-race awards ceremonies will take place virtually this year.