ADVENTURE RACING
Taking your first steps By Mark McCann Outlast Adventure Racing “WHEW, THE HARD part's over,” you might say, after registering for your first adventure race. But think again. The hard work (and fun) has only just begun. Preparing for your first adventure race can be very intimidating, confusing and sometimes frustrating. There’s no need to be afraid, just be prepared. Since beginning my adventure racing career in 1999 with Raid the North Extreme in Whitehorse, I have seen many successful and not-so-successful teams enter, start, not finish, and (thankfully) finish a variety of different races. Here’s some advice how to make your first adventure race a fun, satisfying and enjoyable experience.
everyone else to agree to them in full before starting. In fact, if it’s your first time competing in an adventure race, set no other team goal than to go out and have a good time. Adventure racing is not so much about winning as having fun. In my first race, having no idea what to expect, my team didn't finish at all, but we had a great time. After several years of racing, our speed increased substantially, but had we gone with higher goals and expectations on our first time out, we’d probably have had a miserable time. We would have kicked ourselves constantly for not going faster, and possibly never registered for another race. Don't let that happen to you.
Picking Your Team
Choose Your First Event Carefully
Pick the right team with which to compete. Most adventure races involve team events, although there are some very interesting solo challenges. Working with others is one of the greatest challenges of adventure racing, but it offers you great gain. Pick teammates who have the same goals and objectives as you do. If some members just want to finish the race, while others hope to win the event, be assured that your team will not survive the competition. If you want to come out of the adventure race with your friendships (and personal sanity) intact, don’t ignore this most important rule. Establish how your team will make decisions. Ensure that members have all of the required skills (e.g. navigation, whitewater paddling, horsemanship, etc.).
Your First Goal: Fun
Clearly, and realistically, state your team goals and objectives, then get 22
Pick a very manageable race for your first challenge. Races like the Eco-Challenge or Raid Gauloises require huge commitments (e.g. preparation, and fundraising). Find a race that does not require a twelve-month commitment. In the United States, excitement generated by week-long races has spawned an increasing number of shorter challenges, including races that take anywhere from six to 48 hours. You’ve got other options available too that can help you prepare. Have you considered multi-day snowshoe races, rogaines, Iditasport, or ultra-run events, like the Barkeley?
Race Strategy
Prior to your first race, discuss goals and strategy again with your team. Talk about the start of the race, and the kind of pace you want to take. Many new adventure racers make the mistake of starting out too fast, particularly in
longer races. Pacing is critical when Adventure racers negotiating part of the course. This could be you! you’ve got five to seven days of nonstop activity ahead of you. Don’t concern yourself with how other teams are doing; during a long race anything can, and likely will, happen. Settle into a comfortable pace for the whole team and ignore what everyone else is doing. Here are some specific strategies to try: • Assign one team member the task of reminding everyone else to eat and drink at intervals. Try setting a watch alarm to beep every 15 minutes, and call out “Drink!” when it goes off. Every other time, add “Eat!” to the call. • Watch out for teammates who aren’t eating or drinking regularly. They will quickly get into trouble. Give them some of whatever you’re eating. • Make sure everyone is urinating frequently; their urine should be clear. (These are good indicators of healthy hydration levels.) • Instead of the whole team stopping every time someone needs to urinate or get something from their pack, try having that person pick up their pace to go ahead, while the rest of the team slows their pace temporarily. The team will pass the stopped teammate, and can pick up the pace again when the teammate has rejoined them. This strategy allows a continued forward motion at all times. Just make sure no one is forced to expend too much energy when following this strategy. Ottawa Outdoors Fall
