Adventure Racing!

Yes, it sounds awesome doesn’t it?  Well, I thought so on Friday when a friend mentioned it to me.  She has participated in the Adventure Race event at the Sunflower State Games for the last three years.  This year, her sister won’t be able to partner with her.  She was feeling sad and wishing for a partner when we bumped into one another at Sam’s Club.  We chatted about 4H and I mentioned my favorite project – Outdoor Adventure and her eyes lit up.  She started telling me about this awesome race.  It starts with 4-6 miles of trail running/trekking then you do some paddling.  Well, 3-5 miles in a canoe!  This is followed by 10-15 miles of mountain biking!  WooHoo!  I took a look at the website Sunflower State Games Adventure Racing and said YES!  I will happily be your partner! 

So… now I am in!  I am both excited and terrified all at the same time!  This seems pretty challenging!  I am pretty confident in my trail wogging experience.  Shelley said that they walk, run and hike so I’m down with that.  I am also pretty comfortable with canoeing.  I haven’t canoed for a year or so.. I don’t really do it that often but I’m decent at it and have been working on some strength training so I’m good with that.  The biking is what scares the HELL out of me!! terrifies me!!  I haven’t biked seriously for years and I have NEVER been a trail biker!  However, as you know, it has been my plan all along to get back on the bike with my butt and my thighs so NOW I absolutely MUST get it going on!!  I did a ten mile road ride last night and will ride again today.  Barring rain!  I figure that if I can get strong and lean on the road the trail will be less terrifying? hahahahaha!  Yes!  I’m sure it will be good!  Here is the link to the Photo Gallery from last year.  It looks pretty fun and fantastic to me! 

They say the best time will be about two hours and that the average time will be around four hours.  Everyone is given five hours to finish.  Did I mention that this also involves following a map, using a compass, stopping at prescribed checkpoints and staying together as a team?  Ack!  I suck at maps!  Shelley and her sister placed second last year with a time around four hours so I am making that my goal.  Happily, she also mentioned that they got totally lost at least once so that helps.  I think we can do it!  She is pretty booked up until late June so we will each be training on our own for awhile.  I have no clue!  Setting up my plan for food, cardio and strength training is up on my list as soon as I finish typing this! 

Pretty excited!  I hope you find something to challenge you this summer.  I think it is a good plan to find some exercise buddies and kick it in the pants.  I’m sure it will help me and I bet it would help you too.  Get motivated and get moving!  Probably it would be great if you pray for me so I don’t die on the trail to be safe on the trail also!  If you get a minute!  Thanks!! 

~ Denise