The "adventure race" craze

[SeriousStudent]

We used to do the Volkslauf at MCAS Tustin or El Toro, but that was many years ago. A Marine helicopter squadron ran it for charity. I think, but am not sure, it was HMM-262, a CH-46 squadron.

The fun part was betting on the Recon guys from Pendleton and the NSW guys from Coronado. I think the title traded hands a couple of times.

Someplace I have a couple of those old T-shirts. That was thirty-forty years ago. It was a fun race, people did not take themselves seriously, and Mark Zuckerberg had not been born yet. Good times.

[JDB]

http://andrewskurka.com/adventures/a...rness-classic/

A friend of mine won this a few years back.

No support, no prize, no publicity, no fixed route. The location changes every few years, but typically 150-200 miles I think, generally in 3-4 days. There's a winter version as well some of my friends in college did. They say that one's easier, get on skis and go.

[Tamara]

There's the Barkley Marathon in TN. Thirteen out of nine hundred entrants have finished in 60 hours since 1986. Only hardcore crazies even enter.

[JDB]

huh, there's even a website now.

http://classicreport.blogspot.com/

Most years the race doesn't even make the local news. Its about as wild and remote as a race could get, and as underground. I've only heard about it from friends. Pretty intense stuff.

[Chemsoldier]

If you want a pretty extreme experience try the Pike's Peak Marathon. 13.3 miles and over 7,000 vertical feet up and back down. State just shy of 8000 feet above sea level and peak at 14,100 or so.
This year's fastest time for the whole 26.6 miles was 3 hrs 40 minutes.

http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/

[canyoncopa]

I have run the Dirty Dash, Man vs Mud, Zombie Race, Spartan Beast, Tough Mudder, and World's Toughest Mudder. Obstacle racing is kind of my thing. I've always been a distance runner, but I have a lot of upper body strength as well. When I heard about obstacle racing, I knew it was for me. It can actually be harder on your knees however with all the jumping, and tromping through mud. I highly recommend this type of racing to anybody as it is a lot more fun than the monotony of your average race. Check out my blog for reports/descriptions on each of the races I've ran. http://canyonsadventurecraze.blogspot.com/

[orionz06]

A friend did one within 4 hours of Pittsburgh and was charged $35 for 3 photos that were iPhone quality. They were taken in front of a backdrop of some sort. The race fee was low but everything else was tacked on. Not to take away from the merits of the race and people getting out there but someone clearly has found a way to reach into people's pockets. there was a long line for photos as well.

[Shawn.L]

A friend did one within 4 hours of Pittsburgh and was charged $35 for 3 photos that were iPhone quality. They were taken in front of a backdrop of some sort. The race fee was low but everything else was tacked on. Not to take away from the merits of the race and people getting out there but someone clearly has found a way to reach into people's pockets. there was a long line for photos as well.

I did the http://runruckus.com/ , I thought of it as an obstacle course race. Is an "adventure race" something else? It was within an hour of Pittsburgh. To your comment though, yeah, they tried to sell me pictures and ect. I just paid my fee and ran it. It was fun, and I'll do it again, but it was a lot more just being banged up and getting dirty than anything else. Yes, mud, lots of mud, I get it.... really... more mud? Ok.... now I have to.... mud.... yeah, there a trend here...... oh wait ! A dangerous obstacle covered in mud !

[Jason F]

I'm woefully underprepared physically for it, but I've been trying to get a buddy who's already registered for a ToughMudder to sign up for a GoRuck. His response continues to be, "Heck no!". He's the one working with a trainer 3x a week, for 6 months... what does he have to be scared of?

I may still sign up for one in '13 just to see what I'm made of. I've read several reviews about it, and they say that just like the Army SF Selection that the cadre are all vets of and trying to replicate a bit, it's basically a mental game more than physical. The physical is there and important, but without the mental they say you won't make it no matter how good your physical is. THAT intrigues me.

[vmi-mo]

True adventure races are the shit. Think Triathlon but in the woods. Not this "extreme" lets get dirty stuff and brag about it on monday type race.

They typically fall into the 12-36hr range and require alot of technical skill along with balls/endurance

Here are a few informational links
http://www.usara.com/default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f
http://www.oarevents.com/index.shtml