South Africa's Baviaanskloof Trail Run Scheduled For Sept. 18

One of South Africa's top endurance trail running events, the Baviaanskloof Trail Run, is scheduled to take place on Sept. 18th in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve along the Eastern Cape. Last year, in its inaugural run, the race earned a reputation for being an incredibly tough test for adventure athletes, who not only have to contend with a trail that is already legendary for its challenging terrain, but also a wide variety of weather conditions as well. Race organizers warn the runners that "temperatures could be in excess of 40°C (104ºF) or it could snow"

The course is 40km (24.8 miles) in length and covers some of the most challenging backcountry in all of South Africa. There is one feeding station along the route, but otherwise the runners are expected to be completely self sufficient while on the trail, where they'll have to contend with plenty of rocky terrain, elevation changes, and tough trail conditions.

As if dealing with a rugged and remote trail, and the elements, wasn't enough, the reserve, which happens to be a World Heritage Site, is also home to some very formidable animals. Cape Buffalo are in abundance, and Black Rhinos roam the region too, and the race website warns that Cape Cobras are amongst the dangers as well. Last year, the runners had to take a slight detour around a baby rhino that decided to camp out right on the trail, and while he wasn't much of a threat, his overprotective mother could have been.

A recent race update sent out to the more than 100 competitors informed them that this year they have a whole new creature to keep their eyes peeled. Apparently a rather large male leopard has been spotted in the area, and like all cats, he doesn't mind chasing his prey before he has dinner. Live traps have been set up to capture him before the day of the race, but at this point it is just one more obstacle to keep the runners moving. (I'll take this opportunity to once again remind the competitors that they don't have to out run the leopard, they just need to out run their closest competition on the trail!)

Now in its second year, the Baviaanskloof Trail Run is already looking like quite the yearly event. The setting, with its remoteness and rough trails, is perfect, and the element of the the amazing animals just adds to the adventure. I'd love to attend a future edition and cover it first hand, as it looks like quite the event.

And yes, the below photo is an actual image of the leopard that has been spotted on the course.

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Adventure Racers Conquer Wonderland Trail in 63 Hours

I've been meaning to post on this story for a couple of weeks, and it ended up getting buried in my Inbox, but considering yesterday's story about the hiker completing the thru-hike of the Adirondacks, I think this one is appropriate as well.

Back on July 25th, two hikers, Jeni McNeal and David Adlard, who also happen to be experienced adventure racers, took on the Wonderland Trail, a 93-mile classic hike that circumnavigates Mt. Rainier in Washington state. The two ended up completing the entire route in just over 63 hours, which represents one of the fastest times ever for the trail, but is all the more impressive when you discover that approximately 10% of the route was still snowed in. For reference sake, most hikers take between 8 and 12 days to complete the Wonderland.

McNeal and Adlard carried their own gear and stopped for just a few hours of sleep along the way. They also burned more than 33,000 calories each, and drank over 50 liters of fluids along the way, while climbing and descending more than 20 peaks, with 47,000 feet of elevation gain mixed in for good measure. The rugged trail is well known for its challenges, which include multiple water crossings, rocky and uneven paths, and plenty of steep ascents.

For this dynamic duo, this was just a training exercise however, as they prepare to compete, as Team Adventure Sports Week, at the upcoming Desert Winds Expedition Adventure Race. I have no doubt that those adventure racing skills came in handy when setting that hectic pace out on the trail.

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Video of the Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race

Year in and year out, the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race is one of the premiere events on the adventure racing calendar. The fact that it is set in one of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet doesn't hurt either. To get a glimpse of what this even it all about, check out the six and a half minute long trailer for the upcoming DVD of the 2010 race, but be warned, you may be inspired to start training yourself. The 2011 edition begins on February 9th!

Thanks to the Gear Junkie for the heads-up on this great video!

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Yukon River Quest Race Report From Robyn Benincasa

The Yukon River Quest took place a few weeks back, with dozens of top endurance paddlers descending on Whitehorse, in the Canadian Yukon, to make the 460 mile run along the Yukon River to Dawson City. The annual event is one of the top paddling races of the year, offering up plenty of great competition and spectacular scenery, along one of North America's best river ways.

Racing in this year's event was Robyn Benincasa, one of the best adventure racers and endurance athletes around. Robyn has filed an excellent race report over at Adventure World Magazine in which she talks about her own win in the women's solo category, as well as the impressive showing from the rest of her Merrell/Akali teammates.

Robyn does a great job of sharing what it is like to sit in the cockpit of kayak for more than two days (her winning time was officially 51 hours, 43 minutes), while managing your eating schedule, staying focused on paddling, and trying not to get to cramped up in a boat she had rented the day before the race. Nothing she hasn't seen before however, as she is one of the most decorated adventure racers in history.

In the end, Robyn says she may have found a new sport that calls to her adventurous spirit, and obviously she's off to a great start, winning the first endurance paddle she entered. It certainly doesn't hurt that it's easier on the hips than Primal Quest, huh Robyn? ;)

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Looking to try out adventure racing? Live in Wisconsin?

Adventure racing is one of those sports that you really have to try for yourself to totally understand what it's all about. But, unfortunately, it can also be a bit intimidating, since you need plenty of gear, and the various disciplines can be tough to balance in your training. Of course, the best way to give it AR a try for the first time is to jump into a beginner's race, but those can be few and far between, as race organizers seem to want to find new and unusual ways to punish their regular teams.

For beginner adventure racers living in or around southern Wisconsin, I have good news for you. Fat Otter Adventure Sports is preparing to launch their first ever SPOLKA race near Prairie du Sac, WI. The race will have teams of two (men, women, coed) or three (coed only), running, paddling, and mountain biking through the lovely Wisconsin backcountry. The legs of the race are expected to be roughly a 4-mile paddle, a 10-30 mile ride, and a 3-10 mile run, with the promise of plenty of beer and brats at the finish line of this sprint class race.

The SPOLKA will take place on July 31st and is expected to run 3-6 hours in length. The race is designed for competitors of all skill levels, but is geared towards beginners hoping to get a feel for what adventure racing is all about. For instance, the race will allow beginners to find all checkpoints while staying on a trail, keeping the confusing and challenging orienteering out of the equation, at least for now.

This looks like a really fun event, and if I were headed home to Iowa for the summer, I might plan on trying to attend. Instead, it looks like I might be in the Florida Everglades that weekend, but this certainly looks like a great opportunity for budding adventure racers in the Midwest.

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Teva Mountain Games Final Results

Last weekend the 9th Annual Teva Mountain Games were held in Vail Colorado, with more than 2200 outdoor athletes taking part in the event. Activities included trail running, mountain biking, road cycling, kayaking, rock climbing, and much more.

There were a few surprises at the event, such as 16-year old Noa Ginella taking home the top honors in the Stand Up Paddling event, beating competitors much older than himself. The games also marked the return of the Ultimate Mountain Challenge, with Vail residents Josiah Middaugh and Gretchen Reeves won the mens and womens division respectively.

The complete list of winners is listed below. Congrats to everyone. It seems like there was an amazing turnout this year, with a great time had by all.

2010 TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES RESULTS

CLIMBING

IFSC BOULDERING WORLD CUP

Men

1. Daniel Woods (USA)

2. Tsukuru Hori (JPN)

3. Kilian Fischhuber (AUT)

Women

1. Chloe Graftiaux (BEL)

2. Anna Stohr (AUT)

3. Juliane Wurm (GER)

STAND UP PADDLING

FIRST ASCENT SUP SURF SPRINT

PRESENTED BY C4 WATERMAN

Men

1. Noa Ginella – 18:15.53 (Kahuku, HI)

2. Dan Gavere – 18:32:23 (Hood River, OR)

3. Dave Collins – 18:38.95 (Lamanzilla, MX)

Women

1. Jenny Macarthur – 21:00.49 (Aspen, CO)

2. Nicole Duke – 21:37.29 (Boulder, CO)

3. Jennifer Koki – 21:39.57 (Honolulu, HI)

ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

GNC ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

Men (Pro)

1. Josiah Middaugh – 3:14:47.89 (Vail, CO)

2. Travis Macy – 3:21:41.53 (Evergreen, CO)

3. Mike Kloser – 3:29:01.50 (Vail, CO)

Women (Pro)

1. Gretchen Reeves – 4:02:09.15 (Edwards, CO)

2. Jari Kirkland – 4:49:37.60 (Crested Butte, CO)

3. Brandyn Roark Gray – 5:20:25.29 (Aztec, NM)

KAYAKING

BUD LIGHT LIME STEEP CREEK CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

WOMEN (Combined time after two runs)

1. Tanya Faux – 4:05.75 (Alexandra, VI)

2. Martina Wegman – 4:19.70 (Almere, NH)

3. Nikki Kelly – 4:25.69 (Rotorua, NZ)

MEN (Combined time after two runs)

1. Sam Sutton – 3:41.98 (Rotorua, NZ)

2. Andrew Holcombe – 3:43.82 (Asheville, NC)

3. Tao Berman – 3:46.20 (White Salmon, WA)

BUD LIGHT LIME KAYAK FREESTYLE

PRESENTED BY FIRST ASCENT

Men

1. Dustin Urban – 590 (Buena Vista, CO)

2. Jason Craig – 500 (Reno, NV)

3. Casper Van Kalmthout – 355 (Den Haag, NTL)

Women

1. Emily Jackson – 260 (Rock Island, TN)

2. Tanya Faux – 180 (Alexandra, NZ)

3. Haley Mills – 140 (Salida, CO)

BUD LIGHT LIME DOWN RIVER SPRINT

PRESENTED BY JACKSON KAYAK

Men

1. Mike Dawson – 15:38.34 (Tauranga, BOP)

2. Sam Sutton – 15:46.70 (Rotorua, NZ)

3. Tao Berman – 15:53.26 (White Salmon, WA)

Women

1. Tanya Faux – 16:23.21 (Alexandra, VIC)

2. Adriene Levknecht – 16:29.87 (Flat Rock, NC)

3. Nikki Kelly – 16:34.07 (Rotorua, NZ)

BIKING

SLOPESTYLE

PRESENTED BY NATIVE EYEWEAR

1. Eric Lawrenuk – (North Vancouver, BC)

2. Paul Basagoitia – (Minden, NV)

3. Casey Groves – (Kelowna, BC)

XING TEA FREERIDE DUAL

PRESENTED BY NATIVE EYEWEAR

1. Paul Basagoitia (Reno, NV)

2. Petr Hanak (Winter Park, CO)

3. Aaron Chase (Glenwood, NJ)

VOLVO X-COUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKE

PRESENTED BY FETZER VINEYARDS

Men (Expert)

1. Brad Cole – 1:41:50 (Fort Collins, CO)

2. Peter Kalmes – 1:47:36 (Steamboat Springs, CO)

3. Ross Holbrook – 1:48:15 (Breckinridge, CO)

Women (Expert)

1. Anne Gonzales – 1:21:19 (Aspen, CO)

2. Melissa Trainer – 1:24:50 (Boulder, CO)

3. Katie Lindquist – 1:27:14 (Steamboat Springs, CO)

FETZER VINEYARDS ROAD BIKE TIME TRIAL

PRESENTED BY THULE

Men’s Overall

1. Benjamin Day – 26:43.61 (Boulder, CO)

2. T. Burke Swindlehurst – 27:27.33 (Salt Lake City, UT)

3. Greg Krause – 27:34.68 (Littleton, CO)

Women’s Overall

1. Katie Compton – 31:35.31 (Colorado Springs, CO)

2. Kelli Emmett – 32:31.32 (Colorado Springs, CO)

3. Erin Huck – 33:36.62 (Boulder, CO)

RUNNING

VAIL PASS HALF MARATHON

Men (fastest time overall)

1. Mario Macias – 1:22:12 (Alamosa, CO)

2. Jason Delaney – 1:25:37 (Golden, CO)

3. Rickey Gates – 1:26:30 (Boulder, CO)

Women (fastest time overall)

1. Megan Lund – 1:39:37 (Basalt, CO)

2. Melody Fairchild – 1:45:25 (Boulder, CO)

3. Megan Kimmel – 1:46:01 (Silverton, CO)

VOLVO 10K SPRING RUNOFF

PRESENTED BY EDDIE BAUER

Men’s Overall

1. Mario Macias – 45:48 (Alamosa, CO)

2. Rickey Gates – 46:48 (Boulder, CO)

3. Martin Cox – 47:19 (Boulder, CO)

Women’s Overall

1. Brandy Erholtz – 53:58 (Bailey, CO)

2. Megan Kimmel – 56:00 (Silverton, CO)

3. Melody Fairchild – 56:25 (Boulder, CO)

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Blackheart.com.au Wins XPD Australia Adventure Race

The 2010 XPD Australia, taking place in Cairns over the past week, is over, with BlackHeart.com.au crossing the finish line in first place after more than seven days of racing. They were joined on the podium by McCain Adventure Addicts of South Africa and Team Merrell/Akali, a mixed team from France, New Zealand, and Canada, in second and third place respectively.

The expedition length adventure race challenged teams of four to run, trek, mountain bike, paddle, and navigate their way through some of the most challenging backcountry that Queensland, Australia has to offer. The athletes found themselves in kayaks on wild whitewater rivers as well as the sea, while they hiked through rainforests and biked challenging single track.

The winning team reached the finish line several hour ahead of the second place finishers, but it was not as easy as it would seem from just glancing at the leaderboard. Team Orion Adventure was at the front of the pack, pushing Blackheart hard late in the race, but that outstanding team was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury to one of the team members when they were on the final leg of the race.

Congratulations to BlackHeart.com.au on an outstanding race. To find out more about the XPD, head over to Adventure World Magazine, where they've followed the events much more closely than I have this past week. They've even posted a very good profile on McCain Adventure Addicts, a team that recorded their best finish ever in an International race.

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Adventure Racing News:

A few adventure racing tidbits for the AR crowd.

- The XPD Australia Expedition Race is underway near Cairns. The race features coed teams of four battling it out non-stop over 430+ miles of rugged and remote Australian backcountry, including trekking through jungles, paddling on the ocean, and tackling white water rafting on the Tully River. The race is expected to run through the 28th, and at this early point, it is Team Orion Adventure, winners of last year's Primal Quest, who are out in front. For live tracking on the XPD, click here.

- Earlier this week it was announced that the first annual CheckPoint Tracker Adventure Racing National Championship would be held in Moab, Utah on October 29th of this year. The event will pit 350 of the top racers from around the U.S. against one another in six different racing divisions. The course has been designed by Gravity Play Sports, and the winning team will receive an all expense paid trip to the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge later this year.

- Speaking of CheckPoint Tracker, it seems they've added a new member to the team, with adventure racing legend Ian Adamson. Ian will be helping the company develop their long term strategy and is aiding in the production of the new National Championship race that I mentioned above. In his long and illustrious career, Adamson has pretty much won every major race out there, and has vast amounts of experience as a race director as well.

- Finally, a shout out to Too Cool Adventure Racing, who produces AR events here in my backyard in Texas. Next weekend they'll be holding their Spread Your Wings Adventure Weekend, which will include racer check-in on Friday, a 24-hour race beginning on Saturday, and a host of post-race events on Sunday, including a kids/family adventure race, zip lining, family hikes, and a Night Nav. Murder Mystery event too. Of course there will be plenty of food and drinks on hand, and lots of fun on the long three day weekend. If you're in the central Texas area, and you're looking to get into adventure racing, you'll want to see what Too Cool has to offer.

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Announcing The Brooks-Range Map Tool Giveaway!

The Adventure Blog and gear company Brooks-Range Mountaineering Equipment have teamed up to give away three of their All-in-One Map Tools, an indispensable item for backpackers, hikers, and adventure racers the world over.

The map tool is 4”x7” in size, is made of a non-glare, flexible plastic material, and has multiple scales for use with topo maps in the US, Alaska, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Japan. It features seven slope indexes, a compass rose, a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Grid and Three UTM corner readers. It’s accurate within 1/50th of an inch. The tool weighs just .4 ounces, and can easily be slipped into a pocket for quick access when navigating and orienteering in the backcountry.

In order to win one of the three map tools that we'll be giving away, you simply need to go to the Brooks-Range Facebook Page, and become a fan. Than, leave a note on the wall mentioning the Adventure Blog. The contest will be open for the next week, and after that, the good folks at Brooks-Range will select three random winners who will each receive one of the tools, which are valued at $21 each.

I know that these tools are especially popular with adventure racers, who use them to quickly plot their course and orient themselves while navigating through the course. There were a number of teams that used them at Primal Quest the past few years. For them, these tools are considered essential gear. But these map tools aren't just useful in the sport of adventure racing. Backpackers and long distance hikers will definitely see the benefit of them as well. When paired with your compass and a topographical map, they can make backcountry navigation an easier task.

Thanks to Brooks-Range for providing these to give away, and good luck to everyone. Now head over to Facebook and get signed up now!

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Couples Therapy Via Adventure Racing

Now here's a story more than one couple I know can relate to. Men's Journal has posted a great article about a married couple who elected to take part in the Speight's Coast-to-Coast, a multi-sport race held annually in New Zealand. The race is more than 243km (150 miles) in length, and includes three stages. The race kicks off with a 140km road cycle, followed by a 36km run through the mountains, and finally a 67km long kayak stage to finish the day.

For Brad Wieners and his wife Mary, the race represented an opportunity to break out of their mundane existence, which included 50+ hour work weeks, kids, commutes, and everything else that comes along with the daily grind. They were once a young, dynamic and adventurous couple who had gotten bogged down with the usual things life throws our way. To break out of that rut, they decided to do the Coast to Coast as a relay team, and began training for the race.

As you might expect, not everything went as planned. Brad even managed to lose his wedding ring while taking a training course on kayaking. A rather ominous sign it would seem. But the couple stuck with their training and went through with their plan, and this article tells their tale in an often humorous fashion. The story bounces back and fourth between their planning and training, and the various stages of the race, which took place back in February of this year.

In the end, the couple manages to bond over the training and the race, and add a little adventure back into their life in the process. It's a fun read, and while I wouldn't necessarily recommend adventure racing for a couple that is in need of counseling, it seems to have worked for this pair.

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Adventure Sports Week 2010 Gears Up!

After a very successful debut last year, Adventure Sports Week is ready to return in 2010, bigger and better, and offering even more challenges for endurance athletes to conquer.

This year's ASW is set to take place from June 4-13, and will once again be held in Farragut State Park, outside of beautiful Coeur d Alene, Idaho. Also like last year, the adventure racing double header of the Crux and the Crucible will be the center point of a week filled with all kinds of races, including triathlons, trail runs, mountain biking, and more.

But there will be plenty of new activities in 2010 as well, such as the Great North Woods Cyclocross, which promises a new challenge for cyclists. In addition to the already well established XTERRA Triathlon, ASW 2010 will play host to the new Bayview International & Sprint Triathlons, which will be run at Olympic and Sprint distances over a course that is described as being amongst the most scenic anywhere.

These items are just the tip of the ice berg for Adventure Sports Week. If you run, ride, or paddle, you're sure to to find something to your liking, and if you do all three, then you're really going to love it. Swing on by the new ASW website to get the lowdown on all the activities taking part in Idaho early in June.

Photo courtesy Rick McCharles of Best Hike.

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Raid The North Extreme Adventure Race Returns!

Fans of adventure racing will definitely be happy to hear the news that one of the top races in North America is returning for 2010, and is coming back strong.

According to Adventure World Magazine, the Raid the North Extreme adventure race is gearing up take place in British Columbia this September. As usual, the race will pit coed teams of four against one another as they trek, paddle, and mountain bike their way through the Kootenay Rockies, an area well known for its amazing mountain biking routes.

The six day race will run from September 4th through the 12th, with a course that is more than 500km (310 miles) in length. The stunningly beautiful route will put the racers in touch with the local wildlife as well, with plenty of elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and bear in the region.

More details on registration, mandatory gear, and so on will be provided after April 14th when the new website launches at RaidTheNorthExtreme.com.

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Ian Adamson Interviewed by CheapTents.com

Ian Adamson is considered one of the best adventure racers of all time, and his resume in the sport is practically unmatched. He has competed in, and won, such legendary races as Eco-Challenge, Primal Quest, The Raid Gauloises, and many more. Ian also holds the record for endurance kayaking, covering 262 miles in just 24-hours time. Recently, the multi-sport legend sat down with CheapTents.com for an interview, touching on a myriad of topics.

In the interview, Ian talks about where he received his inspirations for adventure, which began at a young age, thanks to his parents. As a youngster in Australia he began sailing at a young age, then flew off to Europe when he was 17 to go backpacking. From there, he sailed the Great Barrier Reef, trekked across China and Tibet at the age of 20, and proceeded to explore southern Asia, North Africa, and beyond.

As the interview proceeds, Adamson gives the details on his biggest sport achievement, his biggest weakness, and when he felt like he had actually "made it" in the sport of adventure racing. He also discusses what he finds satisfying about training, the worst injury he's ever suffered, and a whole lot more, including what he's been up to since he retired a few years back, and what he's got planned for the future, which includes running the Badwater later this year.

For fans of adventure racing, this is an excellent interview, and it was great to catch up with Ian. I've never had the good fortunate to meet him, but he's always been one of the racers that I've admired the most, and it's good to see that he is still very much active in the endurance sports activities.

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New Contest Will Help You Become An Adventure Racer!

Update: Didn't notice before, but the contest rules say that you must be a resident of the Providence of Ontario, Canada to be eligible to win. Bummer for those of us who don't live up that way. Sorry folks!

So you've heard about this sport called adventure racing. You know that it is a bit like a triathlon, but involves trail running, mountain biking, and paddling, with something called "orienteering" mixed in for good measure. You've even heard that the races can last as long as 24-48 hours, and possibly even something about an "expedition length" race, what ever that is. You might even think this sounds like something you'd enjoy, but where do you begin?

If that sounds a bit like you, then I've got a contest you might be interested in. The Phat Chicks are working in conjunction with Race Day Rush to launch the Become An Adventure Racer contest, with the winners getting everything they need to join the sport of AR. Simply put, they say "All you need is determination. We'll help you with the rest."

The winners of the contest will receive coaching and skills training courtesy of the Phat Chikcs and Race Day Rush. In fact, they'll get a 12-week training program that will offer tips on endurance running, nutrition, and more, while building mountain biking, paddling, and orienteering skills as well. Ultimately, that training will lead to two spots on Team RaceDayRush when they compete at the Saucony RockstAR Adventure Race set to run on July 24th 2010. The winners will also get plenty of good gear to help them compete in the race, or at the very least look like they belong there.

Other sponsors of the contest include Suunto Watches, Mountain Equipment Co-Op, Get Out There Magazine and Adventure World Magazine, who tipped me off to the contest in the first place.

So, if you've ever wanted to be an adventure racer, here's your chance. But hurry, the deadline for entry is March 7th. For more details click here.

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Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race Over, Brits Defend!

The Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race is billed as the "world's toughest and wildest" race, covering more than 600 kilometers through some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain on the planet. And for the past week, 16 coed teams of four have been trekking, biking, and paddling their way through Chile's Patagonia, battling the elements, the landscape, and each other.

After a week of racing, the first team that crossed the finish line was the defending champs Helly Hansen-Prunesco. This British team has now proven themselves two years in a row, claiming the championship in 2009, and becoming the first team to ever successfully defend their title in 2010. The racers, Nicola Macleod, Andrew Wilson, Mark Humpfrey, and Bruce Duncan, completed a final trek along the Beagle Channel in the early hours of the morning today to claim their victory.

Meanwhile, the rest of the teams are still out on the course. According to the race website, many of them reached Yendegaia Bay last night, but a mandatory dark zone was in effect to prevent the athletes from heading out onto the Channel itself. Considering the reputation of those waters, it would be no picnic in a kayak during the day, let alone at night. More of the teams are expected to reach the finish line later today.

Helly Hansen took charge of the race on the second day, moving out in front on a long, and tough, mountain biking leg in the Darwin Mountains. From there, they simply put the pedal down, and didn't let anyone else get back within striking distance, which is evidenced by the fact that they are now enjoying hot showers and warm food, while the rest of the field continues to play catch-up.

Congrats to the winners of this year's race. Great job on repeating in one of the toughest adventure races on the planet.

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Adventure Sports Week Returns For 2010!

Following a highly successful debut in the adventure racing community in 2009, Adventure Sports Week returns to Farragut State Park, near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in June of this year, with even more events to challenge runners, mountain bikers, and adventure racers of all experience levels.

At the center of last year's event was the Crux and the Crucible, a multi-disciplined race that required teams of 3 to run, paddle, and mountain bike their way across some of the most demanding terrain that the Western United States has to offer. This year, the event will be even bigger and better however, as it is now a three day, three stage affair, that kicks off with the "Midnight Ramble" at 6 PM on Friday, June 11th. That stage will last into the night, and the following morning, when Stage 2, "The Crux" will begin at 8 AM, with "The Crucible" scheduled to get underway on Sunday morning. Teams can be al-male, female, or coed, with 1-4 racers, and can elect to race one, two, or all three of the stages. Team Nike, led by Mike Kloser, will be back to defend their title this year.

If an adventure race like the Crux and the Crucible isn't your style, then fear not, as there will be plenty of other activities to take part in. There will also be seven different trail runs, a mountain bike race, a paddle, a distance swim, and a XTERRA series point race as well. Needless to say, there should be something for everyone.

Stay tuned for more information, coming soon to the ASW website. The details of the even will be filling in over the days and weeks ahead, but it looks like Adventure Sports Week has become one of the top outdoor events for the adventure athletes this summer.

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2010 Coastal Challenge Wraps Up In Costa Rica

It was six very long, grueling, and challenging days for the athletes taking part in the 2010 Coastal Challenge, an annual test of endurance that takes place in Costa Rica. This year's race took place along the northwest coast, which is dryer than other parts of the country, but offers rugged volcanic highlands, plenty of jungles and forests, and an array of scenic lakes for the competitors to run past.

The course was more than 200km in length, stretched out over six legs of varying length, that pushed the racers to the limit. Trail conditions varied from paved road to dirt trails, with just about everything in between. In the end though, this year's race ended like the last few, with two-time defending champ Javier Montero of Costa Rica claiming his third consecutive win. Newcomer to the race Cesar Ortega, also of Costa Rica, took second, while Ty Stevens of the U.S. finished third in his first ever multi-day adventure race. Margaret Phillips of Canada finished first amongst the women in her first stage race as well.

For TCC Adventures, the organizers of the event, the Coastal Challenge is just the latest race in what is expected to be a very busy year. Next up, in April, they'll host the Island Run in Panama, which will be another multi-stage race that will be run over three days. Then in September, it's off to Bolivia for the Inca Run, a 160km, five-stage race, that takes place in the Cordillera Real mountain range of the Andes.

Congrats to all the competitors in the Coastal Challenge. It seems like it was an amazing race in a beautiful setting.
(Photo by J. Andres Vargas)

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Adventure Racing News: GJ Off To Patagonia, Race Along The Gulf Coast, and More

The adventure racing community is starting to spring into action for 2010, with races getting set to begin, and teams looking ahead to what appears to be a fairly full, and busy schedule of events. This bodes well for a sport that had a number of high profile races take a hiatus last year, when the economy was in the tank, and sponsorship dollars were at a premium.

The Gear Junkie posted a note to his Daily Dose Blog with information that he would be AWOL for awhile. He's headed south, to Chile, to take part in one of the first epic races of the year, the Patagonia Expedition Race. This year's race will push teams to the limit once again, as they deal with the unpredictable weather conditions that are common in the region. The 600km route will run the length of Tierra del Fuego, before sending the athletes out to the Isla Navarino, which lies beyond the world's most southerly human settlements. As always, this should be an amazing race through amazing scenery. Check out the preview video below for more.

Meanwhile, Wade from Outdoorzy.com has announced that he'll be headed to Ecuador in a couple of weeks to cover the Huairashinchi adventure race for Adventure World Magazine. The race will run from Feb. 13-15, and is held at altitude in the highlands of Ecuador. It is also part of the Adventure Racing World Championships, giving teams a chance to compete for a spot in that major event later this year.

Speaking of Adventure World Magazine and the ARWC, the website has been running excellent preview articles on the World Series for several weeks now, taking an in depth look at all the events that make up the series, while also touching on the top teams that will be competing, and a whole lot more. You can find Part 1 of the series by clicking here. They've already posted four more installments, so that should keep you busy for awhile.

Finally, my friend Dave Poleto is preparing to kick off his Gulf Coast Adventure Racing season, with a whole host of races on the schedule for the year. They'll get things underway on April 3rd with a pair of adventure races, which will be held in Alexandria, Louisiana. From there, it only gets better, more races being held all the way into November. If you live along the Gulf Coast region, you'll want to check out the entire schedule, found here, to find an event close to you. They've even got a race designed for first timers and families, so if you've ever wanted to give adventure racing a try, now is your opportunity.

It's good to see so many big and small events back for 2010. Looks like it's going to be a great year for the sport.

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2010 Coastal Challenge Underway in Costa Rica

The 2010 Coastal Challenge got underway over the weekend with runners from all over the planet descending on Costa Rica to compete in a 200 kilometer adventure race through the mountains, jungles, and rugged coastlines of that country. The six-day event sends endurance runners off on a different route each day, while they challenge each other and the environment around them.

After one day out on the course, two-time champion Javier Montero has already taken the lead, as he attempts to become the first person to win the race three times. Right behind him is rookie Ceasar Ortega, just two minutes back. Both Javier and Ceasar are from Costa Rica, and are currently enjoying the home turf advantage over the rest of the field. Ty Stevens (USA), Victor Zuniga (CRC) and Mark Lattansi (USA) round out the top five at the moment, while Margaret Phillips (USA) is the top female runner.

Of course, the race is just getting started, and there are still five grueling legs to go. The course will wind through the northwest coast, over volcanic highlands, past scenic lakes, and through jungle and dry forests. In fact, the runners will be tested in one of the driest areas of Costa Rica, with routes ranging from rough asphalt, to dirt roads, to twisty mountain trails, and everything in between.

The race runs through Saturday, with plenty of tough, terrain ahead. This is a great event for endurance trail runners, and in one of the best settings in the world. Wish I were there to take it all in.

Photo by J. Andres Vargas

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Primal Quest Badlands Web Episodes #10

Once more we have another video from Primal Quest Badlands courtesy of Adventure World Magazine and Randy Ericksen. In this clip we hear from a number of racers about what their experiences were like during the race, including what they found the most challenging, what they liked best, and so on.

I'm not sure if this is the last of the web episodes, but it seems to be wrapping up the event with some final thoughts from teams that were already of the course and relaxing at the hotel.

Primal Quest Badlands was a 600-mile long adventure race that took place last summer in South Dakota. It pitted coed teams of four against one another over a ten day period in which they hiked, biked, ran, paddled, and climbed their way through the Black Hills and Badlands. It was one of the most grueling and difficult adventure races ever put together, and certainly something to see.

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