One more week!

[Jean-Paul]

I am in terrible shape for this race! I am sick at the moment, I have barely trained because of my crazy schedule for the last two months with my Blue Cross contract, and I am entering what is promised to be their hardest race yet! What am I thinking?

This year has been doomed from the start. I just lost our female teammate because her schedule has been worse than mine due to the fact that she works directly with Wesley Clark (his personal assistant) and has trained even less than me, plus she is on the road with him right now. Good news on that front though. I just got off the phone with good friend and local news anchor Denise Whitaker (Channel 4, KARK ) and she said she would do it with us! She hasn't really been training much on bikes, but she is always in good shape, and she is an excellent runner.


Denise saves the day . . . THANK YOU!!!

Well, wish us luck 'cause we are gonna need it!

[mitsuman47]

Good luck to JP and those on his team!

How long is the race?

[Jean-Paul]

About 55 or so miles (assuming you don't wander around for hours looking for your checkpoints).

From the Raid's website:

Weather

Typical weather for the Little Rock area in late October is hot to cold temperatures with a chance of rain. In October average high temperature is 71°F and the low is 41°F. Last year on October 25th the high was 61°F and the low was 58 degrees. Prepare for the worst possible conditions. The race will not be canceled due to weather conditions of any kind.

Race Course

The course is designed to take an average of 8-15 hours to complete, with the fastest competitors finishing in about 8 hours. All teams should be able to complete the course within 15 hours. It will be both challenging for the experienced racer, and very achievable for the beginner racer. The course will be about 50-55 miles long, and can be roughly divided into thirds in terms of distance: one third each for paddling, mountain biking, and hiking, with additional rope work and special events to make this an excellent, challenging, and fun course. All of the running sections can be hiked, and it is up to each team to choose whether or not to run the foot travel sections. The course can be completed without running.

Adequate Physical Shape

There will NOT be a physical fitness test to compete in this race. Competitors should decide themselves if they honestly feel that they can participate in these activities for extended periods of time. Do you run? Hike? Paddle? Cycle? How long can you do each? Can you do some or all of them back to back? Try some of these activities for extended periods of time to test yourself. If you are unsure if you are fit enough, i.e. on the proverbial fence, do the race (be you own best cheerleader)! Pick teammates whose abilities balance out your own. Teamwork is one of the most important aspects of adventure racing. Remember, the event is called an "Adventure Race"; if you are not keen on racing, go for the adventure!

Necessary Skills

To compete in this race, you should… navigate relatively well with a map and compass, i.e. follow trails and know where you are, decide which trail to take at intersections, figure out a bearing from a map with your compass and walk on that bearing through the forest, associate terrain with your topographic map, know what UTM grid coordinates are and how to plot them on a 7.5 minute map (1:24000 scale). have some flat water paddling experience with three persons in one canoe and skillfully maneuver a canoe in wind and waves. Be able to ride a mountain bike on asphalt, gravel roads, and single-track trails, and negotiate hills in each, perform basic repairs on your bike and be able to repair a flat tire. Remember, there is still time to train or acquire new skills.

Training Hints

First, get a good base of aerobic fitness - run, cycle, swim, etc. Next, practice the skills needed for the race. Make a point to train your weakest skills and as a result, even out your overall skill level. The beauty of adventure racing is that there are so many disciplines that it's hard to get bored. Try to do something everyday. Eat the foods that you think you may carry during the race while training. On a rest day, study maps, research gear, strategize food. Think about race details when you aren't out training. Racers with good techniques, skills, and organization routinely defeat teams that appear physically stronger. Train as often as possible with your team.

Mixed-Gender Teams

Teamwork is the single most important aspect of adventure racing. Part of the challenge is to pick a team whose members compliment each other in all aspects of an adventure race: physical ability, mental toughness, problem solving, navigation, temperament, etc. Men and women offer different essential ingredients to the recipe for a successful team, and mixed-gender teams combine the best that everyone has to offer. In addition, all major adventure races, including the Raid Gauloises, the Eco-Challenge, Southern Traverse, Elf Authentic Adventure, etc. require mixed gender teams.

[Kaiser]

Originally posted by Jean-Paul:
Well, wish us luck 'cause we are gonna need it!

Good luck Jean-Paul and team. Don't hurt yourselves! Wear clean underwear though, just in case.