Adventure Racing

Make a Move to Adventure Racing

It May be Easier Than You Think

by Tracyn Thayer & Norm Greenberg

We speak to many active people who have some misconceptions about transitioning from other sports or outdoor hobbies to adventure racing. We hope to clarify some of these myths and encourage folks to give the sport of adventure racing a try.

Adventure racing is like an off-road triathlon
That is sort of true, but there are probably more differences than similarities. Adventure racing is a team event – usually co-ed teams of 3 or 4 – which includes mountain biking, foot travel, some sort of paddling, and navigating with map and compass. Races may also include rappelling, ascending, inline skating, scootering or other elements. An adventure race’s course remains a secret until just before the start, it is unmarked, and navigation by map and compass plays a big role in most adventure races. Thus, teams cannot only be fit to be fast, they must be mentally fit as well. Adventure races are not relay events, and because team members must stay together for the entire event, carefully choosing a harmonious set of teammates is a necessary strategy for success.

Adventure racing is too gear intensive
Each race has its own list of what is required for the event, and most of these items are for the racer’s safety. Generally speaking all races require that racers have a mountain bike, bike helmet, a type III Coast Guard approved PFD (personal flotation device), paddle, first aid kit, compass, backpack, a means to carry adequate water for the race, insulating clothing layers and a waterproof jacket. Other items racers may choose to bring include trekking/hiking poles, energy food, sunglasses, biking shorts, hat and altimeter. Most of the required items are things that active people have anyway; it’s just a matter of learning how to use them in the adventure racing context. If you are already a triathlete, you just have to exchange your swimsuit/wetsuit and swim cap for a paddle and PFD.

Adventure race entry fees are high
There are a few things to remember when you see an entry fee for an adventure race. First of all the fee is usually listed on a team basis, and thus the total can be divided by 3 or 4 people (depending on the specific race’s team composition requirements). A typical 3-hour triathlon can cost $50 to $70, so for example when a 6-hour adventure race costs $225 for a 3-person team, it’s actually a really good deal. Entry fees, aside from covering insurance, permitting, communication, and medical costs, provide T-shirts, prizes, maps, and other goodies for racers, not to mention some really great post-race stories!

I’m too old for adventure racing
Sorry, for most people this is a poor excuse. The average adventure racer is mid-30s to mid-40s in years of age. Many adventure racers have moved from other outdoor sports (mountain biking, trail running, triathlons) looking for the next challenge. The most successful adventure racing team in the US these days averages about 40 years old. Because the sport requires a combination of physical and mental fitness in a team setting, ‘mature’ people seem to be better balanced at this type of sport. We’ve had some over 60 year-old folks successfully complete our 24-hour events!

I’ve seen the Eco-Challenge on TV and I don’t want to be out there for days on end
The Eco-Challenge is one example of an expedition-length (characterized by 4 days or more, most at least 1 week!) adventure race, but there are literally hundreds of adventure races in North America alone from as little as 2 hours to 10 days in length. You don’t even have to lose a night of sleep!

I’m a novice in all of the disciplines so I don’t have a chance of finishing
Most adventure races are designed to fulfill the challenge for a range of abilities. For example, our 12-hour events are designed for a top team to finish in 6-8 hours, allowing an additional 4-6 hours for slower teams. We also incorporate ‘alternate courses,’ a shorter version of the course, and a way to reroute teams who are not on pace to finish the full course. With that said, it’s good to clarify what a race organizer means by a 6, 12 or 24-hour course. For us it means the maximum time a team can be out on the course, for other races it may mean an average or more of a minimum.

It’s hard to find any information on adventure racing
You don’t have to look far if you use the Internet for adventure racing information. Here are some great websites to check out.

• Racing Ahead, Inc. (www.racingahead.com) – Our site as we have tons of adventure racing tips, race stories, links, and info on our events, and instructional clinics.
• Adventure Sports Magazine (www.asmagazine.com) – The only publication dedicated primarily to adventure racing.
• United States Adventure Racing Association (www.usara.com) – A national sanctioning body with event partnerships across the country.
• New York Adventure Racing Association (www.nyara.org) – An adventure racing club based out of New York City.
• Adventureheads (www.adventureheads.com) – Western New York’s premiere adventure racing club.
• New England Adventure Racing Association (www.newenglandar.com) – An adventure racing club in the Boston area.
• Ultimate Adventure Race Series (www.ultimate-race.com) – Race organizer with events in New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.
• Genesis Adventures (www.genesisadventures.com) – Specializing in 2-person, short adventure races primarily in Connecticut.
• Odyssey Adventure Racing (www.oarevents.com) – Based out of Virginia Beach with events throughout the Southeast and Atlantic States.
• Adventure Racing Association List Serve (http://adventureracing.org/mailman/listinfo/ara-L) – Visit to join the premier adventure racing list-serve and stay up to date on all the races, schools, and of course, a bit of adventure racing gossip.
• ARGear.com (www.argear.com) – A great place to gear up for an adventure race, check out race calendars, find a teammate and more.

If you prefer to read a book and not look at a computer screen, check out: Adventure Racing: Guide to Survival by Derek Paterson
The Complete Guide to Adventure Racing by Don Mann & Kara Schaad
Adventure Racing: The Ultimate Guide by Barry Siff & Liz Caldwell
Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth by Marty Dugard.

Tracyn Thayer and Norm Greenberg started adventure racing in the 1996 British Columbia Eco-Challenge, and have earned top ten finishes all over the world. In 2001 they started Racing Ahead, Inc. based in Bethel, Maine, and this year they will direct six events on the East Coast

Michelle Barnes of Yorktown and her teammate, Scott Pleban, of Old Forge, have been competing in and winning adventure races for five years. They were featured in our July 2002 Athlete Profile column.

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