Sports

Social and Fun, It's Buswell's Adventure Run

An ambitious 26-year-old is bringing his scavenger hunt/social Adventure Runs to Seattle on April 7. The store-hopping jaunt helps "people remember why they are running."

Three years ago, when Andrew Buswell was 23, he decided to create an event that would combine two of his great loves: Running and beer.

At that time, Buswell was living in Portland, and working for the independent running store Fit Right NW. What if, he thought, people could show up for a free monthly evening group run that sent them on a scavenger hunt all over the city? They could explore Portland, visit local businesses, and win prizes. After the run had ended, they could all drink beer together. What better way to make friends—and perhaps even love connections—than run and party? 

And so, the Adventure Run was born.

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It's a little different than the local "drinking club" Western Washington Hash House Harriers, who claim they're a "drinking club with a running problem". But it is similar in the sense of bringing socializing to the core of an athletic experience shared by a collegial group with similar interests.

“At most races, everyone is so intense,” said Buswell, a former competitive runner. “With this, people remember why they are running. It’s fun and social.”

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That first weekday evening in Portland, about 50 participants showed up, most of them in their 20s and 30s. After two months, 400 people came. One year into it, 900 people joined the party. Though the event still appealed mainly to young professionals, by that time the demographic had broadened to include everyone from high school students to runners in their 40s and 50s.

At that point, Road Runner Sports took notice. Last October, the national running store chain hired Buswell as their retail event coordinator and tasked him with starting Adventure Runs around the country.  

Buswell, who is now 26, kicked off inaugural runs in Tempe, AZ; San Diego; and Seattle last month. Adventure Runs will take place in all three cities once a month. Eventually, Buswell plans to take the concept to all cities in the U.S. with Road Runner Sports locations.

In Seattle, the Adventure Run takes place the first Thursday of each month at the Green Lake Road Runner Sports. Runners can register for the April 7 event online for free, and then show up at Road Runner by 5:30 p.m.

Buswell hopes the second round in Seattle will draw a larger crowd than the first. Last month, the run fell on a day with blustery winds, rain and “epic hail,” according to Buswell. While 220 people turned out for the first event in San Diego and 110 runners came for the Tempe run, just 50 people showed up in Seattle. 

“It was a bit of a disaster,” Buswell said.

On the flip side, the lucky small bunch that showed earned a good chance to win the $4,500 worth of running gear being raffled off. With so few people, most runners walked (ran?) off with serious loot, Buswell said.

The Seattle First Thursday Adventure Run follows the same format as the runs in other cities. Participants check in at the store between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. They can munch on snacks and try on gear and apparel from visiting vendors. At the next Seattle event, New Balance, Fuel Belt, WrightSock, and PowerBar Nutrition will be on hand for runners to nab free samples and try their products.

At 6 p.m. sharp, the competition begins. Buswell unveils an enormous map, measuring 20 feet by 20 feet, with the checkpoint locations written on it. Many runners snap pictures of the map with their phones and then take off running.

Participants have the next hour to visit as many checkpoints as possible. Each race features 10 to 12 stops, mostly local businesses. Runners might have to find a bar, café, retail shop or auto repair business, and then obtain raffle tickets from the owner. Some of the businesses challenge the competitors, with obstacles or tasks to complete, to earn their tickets. 

In past runs, Buswell has thrown in checkpoints at parks and made participants do everything, from 50 pushups to sliding down a Slip and Slide, in order to receive their ticket. Runners can earn extra tickets for travels to distant checkpoints. Buswell always leaves one checkpoint off the main map and instead posts it on the city’s Road Runner Sports Facebook page. A visit there scores extra raffle tickets for the competitors.

When runners return to the store, they submit their tickets for the drawings. Road Runner then raffles off between $4,000 and $5,000 in gear. Runners can also sample free massages and chiropractic treatments. And, thank goodness, beer.Every registered participant receives one free beer from sponsor Deschutes Brewery, with additional beers available for purchase. Proceeds from beer purchases go to The Ethiopia Project, a nonprofit formed by Buswell that donates running shoes to Ethiopia.At 8 p.m., everyone moves to a bar for the after-party, which this month takes place at the Pied Piper Ale House. Though weather dampened the inaugural Seattle run, Buswell has high hopes for this city. He sees the Green Lake store location as the perfect jumping off point for visiting small shops. Buswell has already lined up all of the participating businesses in Seattle for this calendar year. He says it hasn’t been hard to find willing shops, as businesses pay no money to participate and receive free advertising. 

Buswell also figures Adventure Runs are an easy event for runners to love. Participants pay no money to attend, meet new people, and receive free gear, food, and beer.

“I tried to make it an event that’s impossible to say no to,” Buswell said.


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