By Fanny

The key for adventure racing training is a mix of consistent weekly training in running, cycling, mountain biking and kayaking and some longer weekend adventures in the bush or off the beaten track (like weekend tramps and backcountry navigation). Usually, kayaking is only a small component of the race, therefore more emphasis is usually put on MTBing and running. For amateur athletes that are also working and have a family, 10-12h of training per week with some long 10-15h weekends every month is usually a good base for racing.

For adventure racing, you have to be strong and able to pace yourself for a long time, not necessarily fast and furious. This means that a lot of the training is done at race pace, in the aerobic/steady pace zone. Good form and good technique is essential, especially under load. As you get tired during the race, good form will make every move more energy efficient, which means you will be able to go through long hours of sustained exercise more easily. This will also allow you to keep injury free during the racing season and training - it is harder to get away with a small injury in a 24h race then a 5km run!!!

Navigation, map reading, compass and route planning skills are absolutely essential! It is not the fittest team that wins, it is the fittest team that makes the best decisions that wins! Make sure you have at least one good navigator in your team, and make sure you upgrade your skills by doing navigation training, rogaines etc to perfect your skills. Good to be fit, but without that experience, your fitness won't take you and your team too far :-)

RECOVERY is the FIRST thing to include in your training. Adventure Racing is a lot more demanding on the body and mind than I ever thought it would be - and it is not unusual to recover for 6 months after longer events. The go-hard attitude just doesn't work. Perhaps it is why the best athletes are in their mid-thirties to mid-forties, know their bodies very well, and are more patient perhaps then keen youngsters...

There is a lot to learn for developing into an adventure athlete and no magic formulas. I am still learning myself and to be honest, I am still learning every time I go out-there....

Please feel free to fire through some more specific questions... There are some good training tips and advice on the IRule website www.irule.co.nz and on the www.sportzhub.co.nz site that are also worth looking at... Consistently have fun out there, that is really what counts...