Adventure Racing Pt. 3: Quick Tips

I’ve learned a little about adventure racing from talking to others, and a lot from my two experiences.

Here’s a couple things:

Bike tires: with proper tires, that aren’t so knobby, I’ve been told you can raise your average speed by one or two MPH. This means less time on the course. Less time on the course means less food/water needed.

Food: It’s overrated. Not really, proper fuel is important. But those gels and shots are really handy. Although I can’t yet imagine myself competing without Clif Bars, gels and shots weigh a lot less and give quick energy. So in the future I plan on having more gels and less bars.

Weight: Cut it wherever possible. Except on drinking water and pants.

Bugs: I backpack, hike, and paddle almost always without Deet but I regret not using it for the last orienteering race and adventure race. I’m on steroids for poison ivy and chigger bites because of it. I’d rather have dealt with the heat and weight of pants and bug repellent. I'm still considering gaiters.

Water: It was hot during the Odyssey Wild, Wonderful 24 and, although we only lasted 14 hours, I drank 10 liters of water. My teammate drank more. We didn’t start out drinking frequently but once we started to it was a great lift in spirits.

Map Carriers: At first, they seemed over –the-top and corny. Well, they are but I’m ok with looking goofy for a faster finish. The reality is that every time you have to stop to check your map, refold it, and put it away you lose precious time.

Access: I’m in the pee wee league of obsessive compared to the man that told me about the valuable time lost while grabbing for the mouthpiece on your hydration system. He recommended having a clip that made the mouthpiece hang near your mouth, allowing you to bite it without your hands. This is especially helpful in the paddling section. His team finished in second place.