AM I REALLY POSSUM MATERIAL?
Yes. Yes you are. The fact that you're reading this, or having it read to you by your state-appointed counsel, means you have enough interest that you should come out. You don't need to be a competitive athlete to be a possum. You can walk the 5k. You can skip the bike. You can be a 'float-and-bbq' participtant (a biathlete!). The main point is just to come out and have fun. That said, the bbq is even tastier if you've done all 3 events!
WHEN IS THIS "UNCLE POSSUM"?
This year the Possum will be held on September 13th.
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS?
The Possum kicks off at 8am at the Confluence Natural Area in Hillsborough with sign-in. The jog/walk/run will start at 8:30 and will finish when people get back to the start (it's a loop course). There will be time for snacks and beverages and then the bike ride will follow at about 9:45, also starting and finishing at the Confluence.
After the bike ride, we will decamp to either West Point on the Eno State Park, amphitheater entrance, where we will park then meander up to the put-in to start the float at Sennett's Hole. Guessing we may arrive at the parking lot about noon-12:30 and start the float about a half hour later. Depending on how fast the Eno is flowing, the float may take an hour or so and then we will head over to Cliffside Drive for the afterparty at 2:30-3. If history is any guide, all of these times will be off, but that's a rough estimate. *See Maps & Directions page for latest location info*
FOOD & WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
This is the list for someone doing the whole possum. Adjust to your situation.
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$10 per adult participant, $5 per kid ($25 family max)
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clothes to run in
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clothes to bike in in
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a light colored t-shirt to make your personalized race shirt if you'd like one (we'll provide the paint, stencils, etc.)
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bike, water bottle for bike, cell phone, ziplock bag, helmet
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clothes for tubing in
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floaty device*
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shoes or sandals to wear during the ike to the float put-in and for floating down river in
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towel
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change of clothes for the after party
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sun screen!
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pot-luck item (see below)
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lunch foods and snacks to keep you going through mid-day since the pot-luck won't be until 2-3pm, most likely
Food Situation: Race organizers will provide some basic sustenance during the events, like water, snacks, fruit, and breakfast beer. We will also provide main dish action (smoked pork tacos (and vegan option), hot dogs) at the after party but request that folks bring a dish for the pot luck, particularly vegetables or vegetarian items. There will be beer at the after party. Alcohol is not permitted at the Confluence but it's hard to imagine anyone will get all Deputy Dawg about whatever adults might have in their water bottles.
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*Inflatable tubes/rafts can be bought easily at a dollar store, Amazon.com, Target, Walmart, etc. Cheap is fine...the black rubber truck inner tubes you're thinking of are not recommended by race management for the Possum...expensive, hard to find, get too hot in the sun, and keep you too high out of the refreshing river. A couple of foam noodles from the Scrap Exchange work nicely.
WHAT IF THE WEATHER'S BAD?
We’ll only postpone the event if it looks like it would be unsafe or un-fun (very rainy or thunderstormy). Check email in the morning if you have any doubts. Arain date will be considered..
HOW DO I GET EVENT SPECIFICS, SIGN UP, ETC.?
Give us your name and email on the sign-up page indicating your potential interest. Include your name and cell phone number and email address. Once you've done that you will receive additional key information and updates (like cancellation due to bad weather, etc.).
WHAT ABOUT KIDS?
Uncle Possum loves little possums! If the possums are old enough to participate in the run/bike or hang around the run/bike finish area with a parent, great! Even quite small possums have also joined for the Eno float and BBQ.
