Oct/090
Adventure Racing: The Big Blue Series
By Mike Erbe and Katrin
Tobin
Team ASJ entered the extremely rugged Big Blue series of adventure races as a three person co-ed team. The following are the results from the first three races of the series, with the Tahoe Big Blue finale coming on September 11. Tune in next issue for Tahoe and final series results.
Race #1:
Silver Sage AR, June 19, Reno. FIRST PLACE (3 Person co-ed )
Race #2:
Red Tail AR, July 14, Walnut Creek. FIRST PLACE (3 Person co-ed)
Race #3:
Ocean Blue AR, August 7, Half Moon Bay. THIRD PLACE (3 Person co-ed)
Three Down, One to
Go.
“I am getting REALLY SICK of these damn hills!” We are five plus hours into the Red Tail Adventure Race as Katrin Tobin vehemently spits out the words…along with a mouthful of trail dust. I catch Tim Johnston’s wink – we’re counting. This is the first complaint we’ve heard Katrin mutter since we bought a bottle of cheap Chardonnay, five years ago.
We’re on our mountain bikes, backtracking after having realized we’ve descended right past the last checkpoint. The three of us, aka: Team Adventure Sports Journal, are shredded and bloody from running
through fields of star thistles. We are hot and tired due to the endless hills and the dozen or so hike-a-bikes already behind us. Only after hobbling to the post-race meal do we realize each one of us was pondering
the same question: “Why do we do this?”
The Red Tail race was held on July 14, in the Briones Park area of the East Bay near Walnut Creek. It took place a month after the June 19 Silver Sage, which staged & started at Wingfield Park right on the Truckee River in Downtown Reno.
At the Silver Sage Race, the inner tubes we were issued were useful immediately as pumping them up gave Tim something to do with his exuberant pre-race jitters. Once the maps and race instructions were handed out,
things were less straightforward, however. We decided to ride first, before the heat scorched the Sierra Foothills to the West where we’d be looking for the majority of the cycling checkpoints. We did a lot of scrambling up the steep, shaley knolls out there. When our eyes weren’t crossed from gasping for air or staring at our contour map, there were spectacular vistas of the sage hills and the Sierras to appreciate.
Tubing the Truckee River was, initially, even more refreshing than expected…even after running up river two and a half miles in our PFD’s. But, by the time we emerged, I was shivering and numb; dependent on my hardier teammates drive and encouragement to get me through the trans-river zip line challenge we faced next.
Hypothermia was ultimately averted by 90 degree temperatures and running the Downtown Dash. Aptly named, the Downtown Dash required hours of running in order to find answers to questions like: “There is a statue
at the main gate of the university stadium. To whom is it dedicated?” “In the El Dorado casino, there is a brewery. What is the percentage of alcohol in their beer?” What is playing tonight at the Pioneer Theatre?” But, after five hours of hard racing, we stumbled, rather than dashed, between marching bands, parade floats, festival booths, past tourists, and Black Jack Tables. We nabbed the answers while zigzagging through the streets of Reno…crisscrossing the campus of UNR in the process… and finally looping back to Checkpoint F (F is for Finish…In case you were wondering).
We plopped down our race passport and were giving each other high-fives when a soft voice said, “You missed one.” Seems that when we read the marquis to determine “What is playing tonight at the
Pioneer Theater?” we overlooked the note on the bottom of the marquis that said, “Starts tomorrow.” Running back over to find the correct answer bumped us down to fifth in the overall finishing order, but we still managed to win our 3 Person Co-Ed division. As we recovered in the shade anticipating race organizer Todd Jackson’s generous raffle drawing, we stretched, joked, and discussed all the things we’d have to do better at Red Tail to get in the hunt for the overall win…
At Red Tail, we were one of only a few teams that opted to do the orienteering section first. Since it was already cooking hot at 8 AM, we would again save the water sport, in this case, the kayaking, for last. In an attempt to reduce the inadvertent body piercings from those nasty star thistles, Katrin and I strapped on gaiters just prior to the orienteering section. Good thing we did, because they sure were spiky!!! Tim’s only comment as he stoically plowed through miles of them, sans gaiters, was: “These things sure keep me light on my feet!” We then blasted out on the bike section and quickly learned that there is not ONE INCH of flat ground in Briones Park. In looking at the trail map, the contour lines simply blurred together to form trails consisting of pitched descents and steep, gut-busting hills. We were spending a fair amount of time in our granny gears, and trudging up the aforementioned hike-a-bikes. By now, it was 90 degrees, and we were wilting.
As we jumped off the bikes and transitioned for a three mile run DOWN to the kayak start at San Pablo Reservoir, thoughts of cool water, similar to a mirage, popped to mind. The paddling gave our aching legs a much needed respite. In coming off the lake, we faced the three mile run back UP to our bikes, followed by a short ride to the finish.
As usual, Tim’s horsepower was impressive as he took turns towing first Katrin then me with a bungee cord. As we rolled toward CP-F and the finish line, Katrin’s rear tire went flat. It was, rather fittingly, the last victim of star thistles. We had persevered and in the process, completed the race in 7 hours and 31 minutes for another category win…eked out by a mere 10 minutes…and fifth place overall finish.
We considered the Ocean Blue race, held in the Half Moon Bay area, to be our home turf and were committed to racing hard. The race led out with a run prior to jumping in the kayaks. After a paddle through the harbor at Pillar Point, we portaged over the breakwater to the open ocean. The waves were huge and we were really glad that we had taken the time to put on the spray skirts. We hopped on the bikes and were immediately challenged as we pedaled up the steep canyons away from the coast. Katrin was in superb form, and spent the day leading us on the twisty singletrack and switchbacks. We lost some time due to a navigational mistake, but were determined to make up for it. We transitioned to the last leg, another run, knowing that we were in the hunt for another good finish. As usual, Tim provided loads of serious horsepower, and took turns towing both of us with the bungee cord. We sprinted in to the finish for a 3rd place in our category and 6th place overall.
Due to their consistent finishes, Team Adventure Sports Journal has garnered the points to hold down the lead in the Big Blue Series Championship. There is one race remaining in the series, The burly Tahoe Big Blue. Stay tuned for a full report appearing in the next issue of ASJ.
Oct/080
Adventure Racing 101: Training for an Adventure Race
Story and Photos by Sharael Feist
You’ve been glued to the TV watching the fifth season of Survivor and are craving an adventure of your own, but you don’t want to fly thousands of miles from home or wither away to skin and bones in the process. Don’t worry–there is something that offers challenging physical and mental tasks, requires teamwork and has a rewarding end. 
It’s called adventure racing. There are dozens of races to choose from. Whether you’re looking to compete for 3 hours or 6 days–there’s bound
to be a race that suits your desire. Most races require teams of three to mountain bike, kayak, and run their way to the finish line. Once you’ve narrowed down your decision to one particular race, next comes the training.
Adventure racing is fun, but it is also serious business–not
necessarily recommended for couch potatoes. It can be extremely physically and mentally exhausting if you’re not prepared. So, what do you need to do to get ready for such an event?
Kara Schaad, author of The Complete Guide to Adventure Racing (Hatherleigh Press), recommends having a good aerobic base to start.
“Running is a good way to build aerobic capacity,” she said. “Also, get used to doing a variety of sports–biking, paddling, climbing. Log some miles and don’t skimp on your training–you’ll be sorry on the race course.”
In addition to physical fitness training, Schaad recommends learning how to navigate, which is a requirement of most adventure races.
“Navigation is huge,” Schaad said. “It’s important for everyone on the team to know because it’s easy to make a mistake. Consider entering orienteering competitions.”
For those just starting out, Schaad suggests first trying a sprint adventure race, which usually lasts for about three to five hours.
“This exposes you to the team concept–being able to get across the finish line still friends,” Schaad said. “Start with a sprint race, then move on to a one-day race, then a weekend race–work your way up.”
Another good way to get your feet wet before diving into a competitive adventure race is to attend an adventure race training camp or school.
The Adventure Fitness Training company, based in Santa Monica, California, offers various levels of adventure racing courses that range from a non-stop 48-hour race to six weeks (Saturdays only) of training.
With an average team of five members, the participants might experience things like horseback riding, rope climbing, navigation, swimming, canyoneering, bush whacking, paddling, trekking, and mountain biking. All equipment and food is provided, and there is an awards ceremony at the end of each adventure race.
Owner Tony Molina stresses that safety is of utmost importance. A coach accompanies each team to teach the members how to do each discipline, offer advice, and keep the team safe.
“Before starting a training program with us, each participant undergoes a free evaluation and assessment,” said Molina.
Next is a goal setting session, which helps Molina and his crew put together a training schedule based on each person’s needs. This schedule will help participants train for a competitive adventure race after leaving the camp.
The price for these programs ranges from about $125 just for the training schedule to $280 per month with personalized training.
The next step up from an adventure race camp would be to compete in a sprint adventure race, like the Hi-Tec Adventure Race Series, which is
held in various locations throughout the U.S.
A sprint adventure race might consist of a 10-mile mountain bike ride, two-mile kayak, five-mile trail run, a roll through the mud pit, climbing a 12-foot wall and various other mystery tasks along the way. Members of Team Hi-Tec, an elite adventure racing team competing for points in order to win the series (and keep/gain sponsors), have advice for newcomers to this field.
Kerstin Weale of Team Hi-Tec suggests running two times a week and biking two times a week. “If you’re bad at something, do more of that during training,” she said. “Learn to communicate, stay calm and read the instructions.” These types of races are much more intense than a longer race, but require less of a time commitment since they are shorter. Jesse Kimball, also a member of Team Hi-Tech, grew up doing triathlons, but enjoys the variety that adventure races have to offer. “You get to mix it up with adventure racing,” Kimball said. “Training is relaxed, more fun. Plus, I get to meet people with a common interest.”
After trying a sprint race, it’s on to a one-day race, like the Balance Bar 24-hour Adventure, which could consist of three-person teams completing a 15-mile kayak, 17-mile trek, and 43-mile mountain bike. The course changes every time, so the teams must be prepared for anything. During the race, the team members can never be more than 100 meters apart at all times.
For races of this length, it is not unusual for there to be a total purse of over $15,000 for elite team winners.
“These longer races are difficult on the mind and body,” said Schaad, an experience adventure
racer. “You have to take it step-by-step.”
A good tip she has for training for longer races is to carry heavy loads whenever you can. Also, make sure that everyone on the team has the same expectations and are comparable fitness levels. For those ready to take on the ultimate challenge, the expedition-length races are like the Olympics of adventure racing. These grueling events, which last several days, push competitors to the edge of mental and physical exhaustion, and injuries seem like par for the course.
One such race that has garnered a lot of media attention is the Eco Challenge, created by Survivor producer Mark Burnett. This race consists of teams of four competing in a non-stop six to 12-day race over a 300-mile course consisting of things like river rafting, mountaineering, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, ropes courses, and navigation. This is not for the faint of heart.
“Push yourself in the toughest situation you can before undergoing this type of race,” said Nick Moore, and Eco Challenge veteran. “Do an all-night hike, all day paddle, then an all-night bike ride the next night.”
Moore says that the most important part of training for an adventure race is learning to communicate with your team. “Anybody could do the Eco Challenge if they really wanted to,” Moore said. “I don’t care what kind of an athlete you are, what kind of shape you’re in–the body can only go so long, so hard, do so much. The tough part of adventure racing is the mental part and communicating with your team. Be flexible, trust, and adapt. Your life is on the line.”
No matter what your current exercise routine is, you’ll want to start a program catered specifically towards the disciplines required for adventure racing. Most adventure racers workout five to six days a week, varying their workouts based upon what types of events they’ll be doing in a particular adventure race. For a sample training schedule, check out The Complete
Guide to Adventure Racing. Chapter eleven covers training in detail, with weekly schedules for adventure athletes to follow.
Whether you’re new to exercise or an experienced athlete, eighteen or eighty, looking for a weekend escape or really want to push your limits–adventure racing has something to offer anyone that chooses to accept the challenge.
Jul/070
Why Don’t We Do It OFF THE ROAD?
OFF-ROAD TRIATHLETES AND ADVENTURE RACERS KEEP EACH OTHER COMPANY
By Aja Cook and Todd Jackson
Adventure racers have long had an affinity for off-road triathlons as a way to lengthen their race season and build up individual event skills. Off- road triathlons such as the nationally recognized XTERRA series offer adventure racers an opportunity to cross train with challenging events when not participating in adventure races.
Off-road triathlons and adventure races are sort of the fraternal twins of multi-sport racing; they don’t look exactly alike, but they share a lot of the same traits. In both types of events racers mountain bike and run on a variety of rugged terrain, take to the water for at least one leg and transition between events rapidly.
On the other hand, there are some major differences between the two events. Most adventure races are run by two, three, or four-person teams, as opposed to the solo format of off-road triathlons. In most adventure races (AR’s), team members must always stay in sight of each other or risk being penalized. Additionally, every team member must complete every section of the course. This means that any team is only as fast as its most challenged team member.
In another departure, AR requires teams to navigate using maps and compasses. Teams typically appoint a captain and a navigator and those team members are responsible for making sure that the team knows where it’s going and is prepared to get there. A wrong decision can seriously erode a team’s confidence and performance. With off-road tris, however, the course is pre-marked and solo racers are only responsible for themselves. There is no getting lost in an off-road tri.
The sheer variety of necessary gear in an AR indicates that adventure racers must be skilled in other activities besides navigation. Adventure racers typically must also be able to ascend ropes, rappel, perform well on a ROPES course and solve puzzles, among other skills. Since off-road triathlons don’t involve navigation, team dynamics and extra skills, racers can concentrate on perfecting their running, biking, and water skills.
Racing in off-road terrain is challenging but a lot of fun. Mountain bikers and trail runners looking to experience their first off-road race, yet who aren’t ready for the added stress of team dynamics, comprehensive gear requirements, and tricky navigation found in adventure races, should consider signing up for an XTERRA race or similar event. Of course, the added challenges found in an AR are all part of the fun for those wanting to take it to the next level.
To find out more about off-road triathlons and to see event listings, visit www.BigBlueAdventure.com or www.xterraplanet.com.
Aja Cook is a member of the Dirty Avocados Adventure Racing Team and an Xterra competitor. Todd Jackson is director of the Big Blue Adventure Race Series.
Jan/040
Are you ready for an adventure race?
by Rebecca Rusch, Team Captain
This is a question that should always enter your mind in any sport (actually in everyday life). Being prepared
for whatever is thrown at you and being able to deal with it takes a lot of patience and training. With adventure
racing, you are not only relying on yourself, but also on your teammates being prepared for a race. So, how
do you do this as a team? Well, our team has been both over prepared and under prepared for races in the past.
Obviously, the earlier races in my career are ones I felt less ready for than races we’ve done recently. There is A LOT to be said for just having experience. Just getting out there and getting your feet wet teaches the proper skills and mindset. That’s the beauty of adventure racing: it’s unpredictable! It’s often not the most physically prepared or the fittest teams that win. Instead, it is the
teams who race smart and are able to adapt to whatever the race course and their teammates throw at them who dominate. Maintaining flexibility and patience is the key. The only way to develop those qualities is to get out and race or do long training trips with your teammates and friends.
Adventure races are also such a HUGE undertaking that someone
entering one might think, “Am I ready? Did I train enough? Did I forget something?” I remember one race in particular, my very first Eco Challenge and only my second race ever. It was probably the most unprepared and frightened I have felt in my whole life. A 24-hour race seemed like an eternity to me. My background was cross country running in high school and college where the two and three mile races seemed long. Most of my fear was due to lack of experience and knowledge. I really had no idea what I was getting in to. I had done one 24 hour race that happened to be an Eco Challenge qualifier. I was like a deer caught in the headlights the whole way. We won the race, nonetheless, and were invited to Australia.
In preparation for that Eco Challenge in Australia, I tried to approach my training in a methodical
way. Looking back, my preparation was anything but methodical. My approach consisted of simply trying to run, bike,
and paddle as much and as hard as I could. I was also working at the time. Realistically, I was training
a couple hours a day at most. There were probably four different weekend days when our team would do a bike
for perhaps two hours, then paddle for two hours. This was the extent of my preparation. The rest of the time I spent worrying about how slow and unprepared I was.
So, we went to Australia and sprinted out of the starting gate like a bunch of stallions. I had that deer in the headlights look on my face again and was just trying to hang on with the pace the guys, who had more experience than I did, were setting. I kept my mouth shut and stumbled along. It was a furious 36 hours. We arrived at a few of the check points in first place
and were rolling along among the top five. I knew we didn’t belong there. To make a long story short, two guys on the team pooped out just a day and a half into the race. One of my teammates was suffering hallucinations, vomiting and was worn ragged. The other one had worn severe holes in his feet.
We had been going so fast that he felt uncomfortable asking us to stop so he could take care of his blisters. The other two of us, feeling fresh still, had to drop
out with the rest of our team. Four days later, watching the winners cross the finish line was bitter
sweet. I knew that our team had not been prepared or realistic about the pace we could keep. Not finishing
that race was the most valuable lesson I could have learned. I vowed then to come back to one
day finish an expedition race. That was seven years (and thousands of race miles) ago.
Team Montrail is made up of badasses Rebecca Rusch, Patrick Harper, John Jacoby, Novak Thompson, and Justin Wadsworth. Together, their resume includes Olympic Skiing, whitewater raft guiding, guiding rock climbing, teaching adventure racing, carpentry, business banking and parenting. Which just goes to show that adventure racers truly are human like the rest of us. After winning the Raid Gauloises in Kyrgyzstan this past June, though, they appeared to be super heroes. After all, only 12 teams out of 36 were even able to finish the course of the race that many consider to be the toughest in the world.
They are currently sponsored by Revo, Red Bull, Sugoi, Suunto, Petzl, Leki, CamelBak, NRS, Gregory and Aloksak, Emergen-C and Giro, among others.
To find out more about Team Montrail and learn a few of their winning secrets, visit their web page at www.teammontrail.com
