ENDURANCE IS JUST THE START

Endurance is a critical element in many of today's sports, but never more critical than in one of the fastest growing sports in America, the sport of Adventure Racing. To know why it takes endurance, you must first know what Adventure Racing is all about.  Adventure Racing began in 1982 in New Zealand with a race called the Coast to Coast Race.  It began as an international race pitting mixed (male/female) teams against the course.  As the years passed, a few new races popped up, but the sport really exploded in 1995 when the Eco-Challenge Adventure Race brought together international teams for the first race run on U.S. soil.  Since then the number of races have almost tripled.  The sport has somewhat transformed as well; from racers racing against the race course to teams learning to become one with mother nature and race with her, not against her because she will always win.  The races range from 3-4 hours to 10 days in duration.  The longer races such as the Eco-Challenge and Raid Gauloises continually look for locations that will test the competitors as never before in some often most beautiful and extreme locals of the world.  Each race has been billed as "the world's toughest race" by various publications.  The race course will take you from tropical weather to an almost polar climate all in one race.

   Many of the smaller races are comprised of a short course much like a triathlon with disciplines including mountain biking, running, paddling, swimming, and limited navigation.  The medium distance races are usually 2-3 days in length and require a good deal of endurance.  Some sleep deprivation is usually involved.  The long races are in excess of 3 days but usually no more than 10 days in duration.  The long races really begin to test the total person concept of these modern day warriors.  These races consist of mixed gender teams that travel over 300 miles in expedition competition requiring skills in disciplines such as canoeing, mountain biking, canyoneering, trekking, mountain climbing, white water rafting, ocean kayaking, horseback riding, and sometimes parachuting.

   Many of today's top adventure racers are elite athlete's from all over the world.  Most of them have set records in different disciplines either in their county or in international competition.  There are world record holders, professional athletes, and even Olympians in the sport.  Triathletes, law enforcement, and military tend to transition easiest into the sport.  Adventure racing takes a different person to compete than in normal sports.  To be an adventure racer you must be able to go extended periods without stopping, and sometimes without food or water.  You will burn an enormous amount of calories during the race.  You may be required to be on your feet moving for 36 hours straight with a 30-40 pound pack on your back.  You will be required to push yourself through pain until numbness comes and then push on.  Adventure races are usually non-stop, non-motorized, and non-assisted.  It's your team against the rest.  Teamwork is the single most critical piece of adventure racing.  Teamwork really  begins to be tested about day 3 of a long race, usually because of sleep deprivation.  Just when you don't think you can go on, you must be able to pick up someone else's load who's in worse shape than you.  Everyone on the team will have their bad day when they really don't feel well.  Whether it's from dehydration, lack of food, lack of sleep, or just the hundred or so miles your team has just covered in the last three days.  When teams fail, is when a majority of the team is down.  The leadership of those who still feel all right must over power the desire of the others to stop and not finish the race.  You must be very tolerable of each other or you will not finish the race.  It has been proven time and time again.  In short, to be an adventure racer you must have endurance, a high threshold for pain, and you must be able to work with others on the team even on a bad hair day.

   Since 1992, I have competed in two United States Army "Best Ranger" Competitions, billed in 1993 as the fourth toughest endurance competition in the world, the Hi-Tec Adventure Race Series, and Eco-Challenges 1995 Utah, 1996 British Columbia, 1997 Australia. The 1996 British Columbia race has been shown several times since its competition, on the Discovery Channel.  Discovery Channel also plans to air the 1997 Australia race from April 19th through the 21st.  I am currently preparing for the Eco-Challenge 1998 Morocco-North America, or the Raid Gauloises in Equador.  There are also numerous smaller races in the works as train up for the big races.  Most of the skills I have acquired have been through the United States Army.  Having completed Airborne School, Ranger School, the Combat Diver Qualification Course and serving as a Ranger Instructor; many of the skills used in racing are used in my everyday job as a soldier.  Because the military demands a higher degree of physical fitness, the sport has adapted well with my profession.  The skills I have learned have allowed me to gain access to teams that may not have been available to me before.  I am currently assigned as a commander in Orlando, Florida preparing for my next race in June.

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Blain Reeves
Article for Osceola Sports Magazine
May 1998