Untamed adventure
If you’re reading this on Thursday, I’ve probably just begun.
This week, I’m headed back to the Northeast for an expedition adventure race called Untamed New England. It’s a three-day event that takes place throughout the wilderness surrounding the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, N.H. Forty-one registered teams from four nations, Denmark, Ecuador, Canada and the United States, will vie for the top-three spots in North America’s only Adventure Racing World Championship qualifier. Those top-three will qualify for the 2010 Adventure Racing World Championship in Spain this October.
Teams of two, three or four racers of any gender will race non-stop through the mountains, rivers, and forests of the Untamed New England. We must travel under our own power, “navigate with map and compass through pine forests, wetlands, and mountains; paddle rivers fed by melting snow; bike staggering mountain passes and twisty trails; dangle from ropes on exposed cliff faces,” the race director said on the event’s website.
For those of you who followed my progress during the Primal Quest adventure race in June 2008, the format for this one is largely the same. The racing is non-stop until we cross the finish line. However, unlike Primal Quest, there are no aid stations, no support crews, no specified “rest” periods; it’s just the team, totally self-sufficient, against the Untamed New England course.
There will be mountain biking, trekking, swimming, paddling, fixed ropes, conservation projects, and navigation throughout the race including technical orienteering. I heard there will be a ride-and-tie, where two team members are on bike and two are on foot, traveling together. I heard there is a waterfall rappel and possibly a night-time swim that has my team talking about wet suits or pack rafts, although neither is required gear for the event. So much of preparing for an adventure race is speculation since race directors keep everything but the event headquarters a secret until racers arrive.
I can definitively tell you that I’m nervous. While I’ve competed in adventure races for three years, raced all across the U.S., in Canada and even New Zealand, every race is different and you just never know what to expect. Being in tip-top-shape is only part of the equation. Adventure racing requires that you make countless navigational and strategic decisions and adapt to each course’s unique obstacles and unexpected problems as you go. Expedition racing requires that you do this with little-to-no sleep in the tank.
Racing in the Northeast is different than the Northwest, too. There are thick forests, black flies, and lots of rocks and roots to trip you up. The ten-day weather forecast looks good, but rain, cold, or extreme heat can create additional challenges for racers living out of a plastic bin for three-straight days.
There are two mid-race cut-offs, approximately 36 hours into the race and 45 hours into the race, that will route slower teams on to shorter and easier routes. This keeps the race from being five-days-long for an inexperienced, or slower team. There are no optional checkpoints except for a section near the end of the race where teams can earn time bonuses, if there is any time left for them to spare.
Visit http://www.untamedne.com where you will find race information, an interactive live course map, photos and videos from the event. While it doesn’t compare to the real deal, following a race online can be a fun experience and racers, like me, will enjoy the “trail mail” that can be posted online and read to us by race staff in transition areas.
I will be racing as team No. 14, GOALS ARA 2, with Bruce Wong from Morristown, N.J., Brent Freedland from Philadelphia, Pa., and Dan Smith from Burlington, Vt. We have high hopes of a top-ten finish, but this year’s field is stacked and in a sport where so many things can go wrong, you just can’t expect everything to go right.
Check www.leaderadvertiser.com for updates on Ali’s progress during the race.
If you’re reading this on Thursday, I’ve probably just begun.
This week, I’m headed back to the Northeast for an expedition adventure race called Untamed New England. It’s a three-day event that takes place throughout the wilderness surrounding the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, N.H. Forty-one registered teams from four nations, Denmark, Ecuador, Canada and the United States, will vie for the top-three spots in North America’s only Adventure Racing World Championship qualifier. Those top-three will qualify for the 2010 Adventure Racing World Championship in Spain this October.
Teams of two, three or four racers of any gender will race non-stop through the mountains, rivers, and forests of the Untamed New England. We must travel under our own power, “navigate with map and compass through pine forests, wetlands, and mountains; paddle rivers fed by melting snow; bike staggering mountain passes and twisty trails; dangle from ropes on exposed cliff faces,” the race director said on the event’s website.
For those of you who followed my progress during the Primal Quest adventure race in June 2008, the format for this one is largely the same. The racing is non-stop until we cross the finish line. However, unlike Primal Quest, there are no aid stations, no support crews, no specified “rest” periods; it’s just the team, totally self-sufficient, against the Untamed New England course.
There will be mountain biking, trekking, swimming, paddling, fixed ropes, conservation projects, and navigation throughout the race including technical orienteering. I heard there will be a ride-and-tie, where two team members are on bike and two are on foot, traveling together. I heard there is a waterfall rappel and possibly a night-time swim that has my team talking about wet suits or pack rafts, although neither is required gear for the event. So much of preparing for an adventure race is speculation since race directors keep everything but the event headquarters a secret until racers arrive.
I can definitively tell you that I’m nervous. While I’ve competed in adventure races for three years, raced all across the U.S., in Canada and even New Zealand, every race is different and you just never know what to expect. Being in tip-top-shape is only part of the equation. Adventure racing requires that you make countless navigational and strategic decisions and adapt to each course’s unique obstacles and unexpected problems as you go. Expedition racing requires that you do this with little-to-no sleep in the tank.
Racing in the Northeast is different than the Northwest, too. There are thick forests, black flies, and lots of rocks and roots to trip you up. The ten-day weather forecast looks good, but rain, cold, or extreme heat can create additional challenges for racers living out of a plastic bin for three-straight days.
There are two mid-race cut-offs, approximately 36 hours into the race and 45 hours into the race, that will route slower teams on to shorter and easier routes. This keeps the race from being five-days-long for an inexperienced, or slower team. There are no optional checkpoints except for a section near the end of the race where teams can earn time bonuses, if there is any time left for them to spare.
Visit http://www.untamedne.com where you will find race information, an interactive live course map, photos and videos from the event. While it doesn’t compare to the real deal, following a race online can be a fun experience and racers, like me, will enjoy the “trail mail” that can be posted online and read to us by race staff in transition areas.
I will be racing as team No. 14, GOALS ARA 2, with Bruce Wong from Morristown, N.J., Brent Freedland from Philadelphia, Pa., and Dan Smith from Burlington, Vt. We have high hopes of a top-ten finish, but this year’s field is stacked and in a sport where so many things can go wrong, you just can’t expect everything to go right.
Check www.leaderadvertiser.com for updates on Ali’s progress during the race.