adventure racing

“im not talking eco challenge. i know there's got to be smaller ones out there.
just wanting to maybe look into it and see if it's something i'd be interested in.
since getting back on my feet i've been constantly surprising myself at the gym and im ready to move on to the next level. im just not exactly sure what the next level is. i know for damn sure it's not gonna be training hard just to be training hard.”

“Birch has done at least one. I am very interested, need to get in better shape, but hope to do at least one next year.

Funny you should ask because just last night I was reading websites about adventure racing.”

“ductape, there are numerous adventure races out there. For solo or team competition. hfpracing.com sponsors tons in ohio. They put on a good beginner race up to 6 hrs or so. Or you can check out the "Beast of the East" for a true ballbreaker. just do some searches under "adventure racing" you should have no problem finding stuff.Good luck and train hard.”

“You could do it!

but ductape, you need to do something in the first level first. It would be hard to jump to the second with not enough experience in the first. just hate to see you bust your @ss again.”

“by the way I couldnt and wouldnt do it because I would look like that guy in last place in the eco challenge.”

“Go For It Ductape. Ya gotta have dreams man.”

“i don't care if im in last place. im just looking to set a new goal for myself. i started off just wanting to carry a pack and not end up sore and worthless for the rest of the week. i've done that. that WAS my first level.”

“check out www.nashvar.com . this can put you in touch with some folks...good luck. i am fixing to get into it myself.”

“There's quite a few where the races are done in 8hrs to 14hrs...usually over a weekend.”

“Prowler, there are plenty of people who do these races "to complete, not to compete."

I didn't see the guy who finished in last place at the ecochallenge, but my hunch is, I'd be thrilled to be in the kind of shape he's in!”

“ductape, just start slow. If you plan on racing late next spring you will have adequate time to prep yourself physically and mentally (the mental being the more difficult IMHO). For a sprint race 6 hrs or less you will need about 6-10 hrs per week of training which should include the disciplines of the selected race and should also mimic race conditions (all types of weather). It is also helpful to do "mini-races" on your own. For example run 5 miles on hilly trails then immediattely hop on a the mtn bike for a 9+ mile ride. It really makes a difference. Take the time to eat well and get rest. Its good to have some tough training wks but if you push to hard you will burn out and you will be done.

12 hour race = 10-15 hrs per wk
24 hr race = 15-20 hrs per wk
multiday = 25+ hrs per week (plus a mental exam.)”

“Ductape, I hear if you can't finish they carry you out on horseback.

From what I read that's something Prowler can tell you about.”

“LOLOL! i got to see this!

Fritz the guy I was talkin about was a BIG boy! o and he didnt finsh the second day!”

“thanks birch. i really think i can do this, not at the moment but by the time spring rolls around. i've been swimming a lot lately. i never knew how hard it is to swim. first few times i lasted about 45 seconds at full go. i was amazed cause i can do other things at full blast for much longer than that. but, it's somthing different and i've been getting better pretty much daily.
these races look like a lot of fun. there was one around here this past summer that was 8 mi. of kayaking, some biking, hiking with map and compass, and some ropes thrown in there somewhere. i don't even care about the competition part, yet, probly until i get to a point where it doesn't seem like such a huge deal just to try it.
prowler, thanks for the support, buddy.”

“ductape, I have no doubt that you can do it. The swimming, by the way, is a big part of triathlons but seems to be minimized in most of the "adventure races" that I've looked at.”

“i've noticed that too but im going with the "if it gets me real out of breath it's good for me anyway" theory on it.
after work today i went for a 2 and a half mile run, well, i guess you could call it a jog, to see if my ankle would bother me at all. i've still been afraid until now. no problems so, i figure i'll mix up running, swimming, and walkingwith a pack on throughout the week. i also hit the ellyptical machine at the gym after i lift, which i've been doing 3 times a week, sometimes an extra day, too.”

“WOW! lookin buff!

tommorrow it will be sky diving!LOL







J/k”

“2mph failure never came to mind! I know Jos...ductape better than any one on this thread! so many ideas!”

“all i was asking was if anyone knew my best route for finding out information, and i got some good info. thanks for that.
but my point was never to ask if anyone thought i can compete in one of these races. im looking to step my workouts up and to do it for a reason to do it other than just to do it. i think something like this would be a good thing to work up to. even if i can never finish one it will still be a good thing to work toward.
but i know i can not only finish the race, but be competitive also. lord knows not right now, but it wouldn't be as sweet if it came easy.”

“hobbys are good to find thow, they'll keep you out of trouble, not that you are!! adventure on!”

“OK, who's interested in doing the Jolly Lama with me?

Dear Adventure Racers,
Time is running out for you to be part of a truly excellent race
happening in Stanhope, New Jersey on October 27, 2002. The Jolly Lama Adventure Race has gotten all the bugs out in its second year and promises to be a fun yet challenging experience for all who compete.
This year also brings us a solo division that is also filling up
fast. The cost for this 4-6 hour adventure is only $90 per person and $270 per team. That's merely pennies per minute for 10-15 miles of mountain biking, 5-8 miles of trail running , 1-3 miles of canoeing, 3-5 miles of orienteering and about 10 special tests all in the tough yet beautiful terrain of western New Jersey. The deadline is being
extended from October 13, 2002 until October 20, 2002 and the limit raised to 150 teams because I feel more people should be able to experience this great race in this awesome park. For more details or to register call (908) 301 0987 or www.mladventuresports.com.

Thank you,
Michael Lama
”

“Fritz, I don't have a mountain bike, otherwise I'd be all over it!!”

“Soooooooooo tempting my friend.”

“Birch, it would be fun to meet you there, but honestly you wouldn't want to be on my team. I have to be on an all-rookie team, because I am going to be pretty slow. I really shouldn't be trying one of these until next year. But this one is close to home (for me) and the distances look attainable. To complete, not to compete.”

“That's practically in my backyard Fritz but I'll be camping with family that weekend. We only do this once a year so it's not something I can weasel out of.”

“Pennsy, can't you call in sick or something? ;-)”

“Ha Ha! Nah, not this time. Besides, I'll be away for 3 straight weekends prior that. And it's something we look forward to all year.

Drat though... I just looked at the website. Several years ago, my bike club promoted a mountain bike race at that scout camp. We set up the course that most likely will be used for this adventure race.”

“That's OK. I'm really not ready. But I am serious about doing some of these next year. Maybe we can get a TT team together.”

“Fritz, trust me I am no he-man. If you look at me (see my pic on phils page) I am an average dude. 190 lbs at 5'10" the precusor to a proudly earned beer-gut. I only have two things to my advantage. An obsessive personality and the inablity to quit what I begin (except for smokin).

At the race I did last june I was VERY intimidated by the looks of my competition. Lean an tough lookin folks, multi-thousand $$$ bikes and matching uniforms. They only lacked intestinal fortitude.”

“I'll loan you my bike Artex.”

“Birch, you are describing me as well. I'm 5'11" and now (very proudly) down to 190. And, I am an endurance athlete at heart. Never quit. While I SAY that I will be there "to complete, not to compete" in my heart I know I'll be fighting for every minute I can shave off my time. Just can't help myself.”

“Sorry guys. I'm "running" in the moto-crutch race that weekend.”

“Geo - aren't you and Must Hike entering the wheelbarrow division?

Hey Fritz - we'll do something next year. Give us something to shoot for.

Now, what the heck am I doing here? I'm supposed to be napping because I'm leaving for NH in a few hours!”

“I checked out the link fritz and it looks fun. Check out the "Beast of the East". That is a race I will do one day.”

“Very generous of you Pennsy Hiker. Okay, Fritz.. looks like I'm in.”

“oooohhhhh, too far. plus my ankle's still the size of a grapefruit. it goes down then swells right back up. everyone says get used to it.
been trainin though for next year. correction, been gettin started training for next year. still focusing mostly on losing a little more weight.
i don't want to go too hard with my foot still being tender, either. it's weird but what hurts it the most is the drag when i swim. i thought running would be the worst but it really doesn't affect it. i get that brace way tight for running though.
im pumped about doing this. fritz, glad to see you are too. i don't feel so alone now. birch, i know you are there too but youre already experienced with it.”

“i didn't see that post before.”

“Oh, cripes! Artex is calling my bluff!!!”

“There's still time to break a leg and get in shape for the Moto-Crutch X-C.”

“Geo, you got a link for that? Quick!”

“No, we're not on the web. Some of us can't type and keep our balance at the same time, just well-toned alcaletes like me can do it.”

“dude, how you been anyway?”

“Birch, are you in? Team Trail Talk in full effect!!!”

“If you take third, the headline would be: TTTTT.

Med 'ed 'urts!

I'm making it ductape, kicking, but not high.”

“i "kind of" know how you feel. i want so bad to be 100% but im just not. id be goin stir crazy if i had to sit any longer and it was only a short time before i was exercising some.”

“You know how to orienteer Fritz? That is one skill I'd like to pick up. I have access to a canoe but not a bike.”

“Go to http://www.us.orienteering.org/ and find a club near you. I think they all give free orienteering classes. I am hoping to go to one--maybe take my kids, too--next weekend.

Artex -- I am not going to do the race next weekend. My knee still hurts, and I am really not ready for the running part anyhow. But I am going o spend the winter getting ready to do some AR's next year.”

“Birch, are you in? Whaddya say bro?”

“I am a member of SMAC and somehow missed this...hmmmm. Let me think about it. Send me an email with your home phone BB.
Thanks Artex!”