Spectacular race as always! With the tubing, traversing, no trail trekking, diverse biking, unexpected rock climbing, and strategic demands this race had a bit of everything. The tubing was absolutely incredible. Don't know that I've ever had so much fun in a race or outside of one. Wonderful event, and I'll be looking forward to September!

- Brent Freedland, GOALS Guys (GOALS 2)

Our hike for CPs 14-16 took 10 hours and we never made it to 15. We got to CP 16 at 6:30am, exhausted and slightly disappointed we couldn't participate in the ropes/last hike (screw the night bike). Next time we'll remember we can skip CPs if its going to take too much time and energy. Only real 'complaint' was the confusion over packing certain supplies in certain bins/bags, but maybe that had to do more with our own ignorance. We were clueless on how to strategize that. But the free foot massage from a volunteer and that bangin chicken breast made up for it. Also, possibly direct any bushwhacking through/near rivers? Got kinda parched when we ran outta water late night.

- Scott F, A.P.

WOW, that race was nuts! This was my 2nd adventure race, the first being only a sprint race, so I wasnt exactly sure what I was getting into. But i have to say it was an incredibly well organized race. We only hit a few of the optional cps because we were slow, but we did miss CP 15...the enormous group of teams during that night hike decided to all head back down to 16 after we started second guessing ourselved for 2 hrs, looking for 15. the mountainbiking was great, but if I had known that there would be so much road, maybe we would have run gears... and one more thing to say...the descent at night from cp 14/15 down through the sea of stinging nettles SUCKED. the rest was sort of enjoyable while i was doing it, much more enjoyable when it was over =]

- Aaron Courain, gears are for pansies

This was my first 24+ AR. I had no idea what to expect. Being able to spend 8 hours on a difficult night bushwhack and meet really cool experienced racers and watch how they worked through it was worth every ounce of pain I went through. My teammates and all the racers, organizers and volunteers made this a wonderful experience for me. I'm hooked. Hats off to everyone that suffered through this difficult course to get to the showers and BBQ!!

- Becky Sutter, Berlin Bike

My first race and will never forget it! Probably should have tried a 12er first but hey, why waste the time when you can go 26 hours. Loved the rapids on the Esopus! Thanks again for everything!

- Ross Baldwin, Team Jugernaut

I just wanted to thank you again for a great race. I know you put a lot of effort into organizing and designing this race, probably more than I even realize. Definitely a mentally and physically tough and challenging race!! I really liked the 1st mt biking leg and the last trek leg, some great trails and beautiful views. I also like your idea of having everyone finish at a different location so we could eat and chat together, and the food was delicious, great post-race spread! One suggestion, don't have any optional points where you have to go by the finish, we came in and were thinking about going for OP BB since we had time but when we came into the finish and smelled the grill and saw food and cold drinks, we were done!! LOL :-) and the showers were an added bonus!

- Tricia Pandolfo, Pain Syndicate

NYARA RULES! What a great course. Thanks to Denise, Rodney, Amy and all involved. Strategy, teamwork, sweet single track biking, lows and highs, and a trek section worthy of the Beast of the East and the App Extreme. We were all treated to all the feelings of a multi-day expedition race without having to lose 5 nights of sleep. Thank you very much ....may I have another!

- Jeff Woods, Eastern Mountain Sports

Rodney, Amy and Denise, is it possable to end a race at the bottom of a mountain.... That wouldnt be any fun. this course was sick. I think I would do the next race even if I wasnt your neighbor... Great job on putting together a very tuff but very enjoyable course. kudos to a great feast!!!

- dave roth, 2 jew crew

A huge "Hell Yeah" thanks to NYARA course designer extraordinaries Rodney and Amy, plus the NYARA crew of Denise, Catherine and everyone else for The Longest Day and Night. For those of you who missed it, I hate to tell you, but you missed out on a good one. These guys delivered a wicked tough course full of surprises and tough challenges of the navigational, physical and strategical kind, through some really beautiful parts of the Catskills. Lots of waterfalls! Oh, and the post-race was a big BBQ feed by Amy's parents and a NYARA gift sling bag complete with Zanfel, Kiss My Face products and a NYARA towel so you could hit the showers right there at the finish. Last year at the Longest Day, Amy and Rodney proved that they could design a great course and this year they took it to the next notch- this was a national caliber race in my opinion. There's no crying in adventure racing? Not after last weekend. :-) Congrats to you guys and thanks for keeping it

- Jen Shultis, Team Eastern Mountain Sports