INTRODUCTION TO ADVENTURE RACING

1
INTRODUCTION TO ADVENTURE RACING

• Sept. 4th, 2008
• Josh Forester Jack Forester
• Team 4LPH4 1337 _at_ Reality Bikes

2
TOPICS

• What is Adventure Racing?
• Types of Races
• Navigation
• Gear
• Teamwork
• Training
• Resources

3
What is Adventure Racing?

• Multi-disciplined race
• Generally held outdoors
• Range from a few hours to 2 weeks
• Team sport (commonly 3 person teams)
• Co-ed tradition
• Physically demanding

4
Basic Disciplines

• Trail running / trekking
• Mountain biking
• Paddling
• Navigation / orienteering
• Climbing / rope work
• Mystery events / special tests

5
Team 4LPH4 1337

• 2 years of racing, 16 races, 5 scheduled
• 7 members along GA 400 corridor
• USARA 32nd/330 ranked teams in 2007, currently
  19th/368 ranked teams in 2008.
• CPTracker Series 25th
• Invited to USARA National Championship
• Website with tutorials and race gear reviews,
  as well as many AR resources.

6
REALITY BIKES

• Opened in 1995 as a professional, full service
  shop.
• We are a destination bicycle shop.
• In 2007, we expanded to double in size.
• Southeasts largest dealer for Fuji, Jamis,
  Ridley, Santa Cruz, Intense and Free Agent
  Bicycles.

7
Trailblazers

• Largest adventure racing club in the US
• Over 500 members
• 11 chapters in 6 southeastern states
• Great AR website/community
• Benefits
• Monthly meetings and clinics
• Organized training events
• Discounts on gear and races
• 10 off annual membership today

8
Types of Races

• Sprint
• Half Day
• One Day
• Multi-Day Expedition

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SprintAdventure Races

• Time 2-8 hours
• Total Distance approximately 20-40 miles
• Usually includes special tests or mystery events
• Examples
• Adventure Jam _at_ West Point Dam, Sept. 13th, West
  Point, GA http//www.westpointadventurerace.com
• 7 Hills, 3 Rivers Adventure Race, Sept. 20th,
  Rome, GA - http//www.7hills3rivers.net
• Siege On Fort Yargo, June, Winder, GA
  http//siegeyargo.trailblazerar.com

10
Half DayAdventure Races

• Time 8-18 hours
• Total Distance approximately 40-70 miles
• Examples
• Midnight Rush Adventure Race, Sept. 13th,
  Clayton, GA http//midnightrush.trailblazerar.co
  m
• Howl At the Moon, Oct. 18th, Jonathon Dickenson
  State Park, FL http//www.floridahowl.com
• Blue Ridge Adventure Race, April, Blue Ridge, GA
  -http//www.adventureracega.com

11
One DayAdventure Races

• Time 18-30 hours
• Total Distance approximately 75-120 miles
• Includes night navigation and minor sleep
  deprivation
• Examples
• Overmountain Extreme, Sept. 27th, Morganton, NC
  http//www.overmountainextremear.com
• Upstate Adventure Race, Oct. 25th, Table Rock
  State Park, SC http//www.checkpointzero.com/ups
  tate
• USARA National Championships, Nov. 7th, Blue
  Ridge, GA http//www.usaranationals.com

12
Multi-Day / Expedition Races

• Time 30 hours to 10 days
• Total Distance approximately 100-400 Miles
• Examples
• Odyssey Endorphin Fix http//www.oarevents.com
• Eco-Challenges (no longer held)
• Primal Quest - http//www.ecoprimalquest.com
• Coasta Rica Coast to Coast http//www.adventurer
  acingcostarica.com

13
Navigation

• Courses are unknown before starting race
• Use topo map and compass to get from check point
  (CP) to check point
• No GPS
• Plotting of UTMs
• Route choice
• Georgia Orienteering Club meet on Sept. 6th

14
Gear

• Each race has a gear list of mandatory equipment
• Clothing
• Food and hydration
• Mountain biking
• Paddling
• Mapping gear

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Clothing

• Trail running shoes that fit
• Good socks foot care is critical
• Triathlon shorts / tights
• Wicking top
• Waterproof jacket
• Hat
• More specialized clothing depending on the
  weather/race requirements

16
Food and Hydration

• Gels
• Energy bars
• Backpack with a bladder
• Water
• Sports drinks
• Try to drink every 10-15 minutes and eat every 45
  minutes to an hour
• Most important for 24 hour races JUNK FOOD

17
Mountain Biking

• Types of bikes
• Full suspension
• Hard tail
• Tool kit with spare parts (chain, etc.) for
  transition area
• Multi-tool (with chain tool)
• Pump
• Spare tubes / patch kit

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Paddling

• PFD
• Paddles (kayak)
• Canoe
• Portage wheels

19
Mapping Gear

• Waterproof map case
• Map tool / UTM grid
• Pens, pencils, highlighters
• Table
• Yard stick
• Contact paper

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Sample Gear List(Siege on Fort Yargo)

• Mandatory Individual Gear
• Entire Race (TO BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES!)
• Container(s) in which to carry at least 1 liter
  of water
• Paddling Section
• Paddle (Canoe or Kayak)
• PFD - minimum of Coast Guard approved Type 3
• Mountain Biking Section
• Bike helmet
• Mountain bike
• Spare tube (or tubeless tire patch kit if you
  ride tubeless)
• Mandatory Team Gear
• Entire Race (TO BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES!)
• Compass
• Waterproof map case
• Mountain Biking Section
• Bike tool
• Tire pump or CO2 inflator with enough CO2 to
  inflate 3 tires
• Tire Lever
• Paddling

• Recommended Gear
• Dry bag
• One compass per team member
• Sunscreen
• First aid kit, including band-aids, polysporin,
  anti-inflammatories
• Cell phone and method of waterproofing

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Sample Gear List(Checkpoint Zero 30 Hour)

• Individual Gear
• whistle
• compass
• knife (1.5 " or greater blade)
• waterproof lighter
• emergency blanket
• 1 flare
• Paddling
• PFD - minimum of Coast Guard approved Type 3
• Mountain Biking
• bike helmet
• white front light mounted on bike
• red rear light mounted on bike
• Team Gear
• water purification system
• first aid kit
• sleeping bag (at least 30 degrees)
• trowel
• Fully charged cell phone

• First Aid Kit Contents
• 3 - 4x4 gauze pads
• 1 roll 1" waterproof medical tape or equivalent
  amount of duct tape
• 1/2 ounce betadine antibacterial ointment
• 3" ace bandage
• moleskin/compeed (enough for all three
  competitors)
• 3 doses of anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, etc)

22
Teamwork

• Have individuals with similar goals. Some common
  goals are
• Have fun
• Finish
• Be competitive (top 10 finish).
• Use teammates strengths and help teammates
  through low points a team is only fast as its
  slowest member.
• Have teammates that have a similar fitness level.
• Have teammates with compatible skills (e.g.,
  navigator, bike mechanic, first aid experience)
• Train together.
• Recruit a strong support crew.
• Consider the personality makeup of the team.
• Assign everyone specific roles (e.g., lead
  navigator, lead biker, paddling steerer, TA
  coordinator, etc.)

23
Training

• Train in similar conditions of the race itself,
  preferably in the area the race will be held
• Focus on your weakest discipline
• If youre looking for a regimen, triathlon
  training guides are a good start.
• HAVE FUN.

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First Race

• To prepare for your first race there are a few
  factors to consider in order to finish
• Build a team with similar goals
• Choose a race for which you will have proper time
  to train
• Train for the disciplines that the race will
  include
• Plan on having fun!

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Books

• Runner's World Guide to Adventure Racing by Ian
  Adamson   
• The Complete Guide to Adventure Racing by Don
  Mann and Kara Schaad
• Adventure Racing The Ultimate Guide by Barry
  Siff and Liz Caldwell
• Adventure Racing by Jacques Marais and Lisa de
  Speville
• Adventure Racing, Guide to Survival by Derek
  Paterso
• Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth by Martin
  Dugard
• The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of My Feet
  Tales from the World of Adventure Racing by Neal
  Jamison
• Be Expert with Map and Compass by Björn
  Kjellström
• Off The Beaten Track A Guide to Mountain Biking
  in North Georgia by Jim Parham

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Websites

• http//www.4LPH41337.com
• http//www.realitybikes.com
• http//www.trailblazerar.com
• http//www.gaorienteering.org
• http//www.usara.com
• http//www.checkpointzero.com
• http//www.sleepmonsters.us