“Paddling is perfect cross-training for runners, who notoriously avoid hoisting the irons.” said Eric Stiller, owner of MKC. “It builds upper body and core strength, which helps them engage their core muscles when they’re running.” Stiller taught me to paddle, powering each stroke from my abs, obliques, upper back, and hips—not from my then-feeble shoulders. By early spring, I was splashing to the Statue of Liberty and doing mini-adventure races regularly. I have since raced in China, Ecuador, Borneo, and beyond.
Adventure-racing camps like Odyssey Adventure Racing Academy in Salem, Virginia (where they believe “Your Pain is Our Pleasure”) are great tools for those craving the skills needed for long-format races. The longest-running adventure racing school in America, Odyssey offers programs for novice to experienced racers. Campers leave certified in orienteering, whitewater paddling and swimming, mountain biking, and fixed ropes skills (ascending, rappelling, and traversing). Odyssey also produces a terrific race series, with sprint-distance to thirty-six-hour events.
If adding a pair of trail running shoes to the closet collection sounds appealing, it’s time to follow your inner adventure child. Participating in adventure races—or simply learning new sports and meeting a fresh crop of training partners—is sure to pump up your workouts.
What will I need to get started?
Before buying a stash of new gear, it’s a good idea to start with basic equipment and purchase upgrades along the way, as you need them. Here are some essentials needed to get going.
- Trail running shoes: asics.com, thenorthface.com, merrell.com
- Mountain bikes: trekbikes.com, specialized.com, cannondale.com
- Helmets: specialized.com, trekbikes.com, giro.com
- Pump or CO2 cartridges: Blackburn.com
- Basic tire repair kit and tool set
- Backpack with hydration system: camelbak.com, ultimatedirection.com
- Basic first aid kit
- Compass
- Knife: buckknives.com
- Whistle
- PFD: may be required for some races
How can I find out more?
Among the adventure-racing websites, these are some of the best resources for regional, national, and international competitions and race reports.
- checkpointzero.com
- sleepmonsters.com
- adventureracingzone.com
- nyara.org
- genesisadventures.com
- oarevents.com
- infiterrasports.com
What similar style races exist?
There are also multi-day expedition running and duathlon races, held nationally and at exotic locations across the globe. During these staged events, racers complete a daily pre-determined distance along a marked route, sleep at night and go again the next day.
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