Adventure Race!

on January 19, 2010
in All Posts

Tonight, I watched the most motivating television program (on Discovery Channel, of course).  The show was about the Mountain X Race, an extreme multi-sport “adventure race” that consists of the following stages over a 5 day period.  The Mountain X Race took place in the Alps (France) and consisted of:

 

Day 1: Foot race up a mountain (21 miles)

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Day 2: Mountain biking (50 miles)

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Day 3: Mountain Climbing

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Day 4: Kayaking through water rapids

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Day 5:  A 7-hour long ultra marathon

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Oh, did I mention hat they ran a 15K trail race at the end of each day!?

 

There were male, female, and co-ed teams.  The American ladies kicked butt, but the French male team won!  Can you imagine racing around the Alps!?  Le sigh!  🙂

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Those racers were extreme athletes!  The women were so amazing – they totally hung in with the men.  I’m not sure I could ever do that, but it gave me extra motivation for my little old triathlon.  :) 

 

Dinner:

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Roasted veggies!  I don’t know what has come over me, but I’ve been craving carrots, mushrooms, Brussel sprouts, and potatoes. 

 

Dinner was a little light because around 5 PM, I started to munch on Trader Joe PB-Filled Pretzels:

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Time two, at least!

 

I also had a real afternoon snack:  Pumpkin Yogurt and granola.

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Would you ever do an adventure race?  There are some ‘sprint’ ones that only last 1 day!  🙂 Maybe I could handle that…. 🙂

{ 78 comments }

 

  • Lauren January 19, 2010, 7:46 pm

    Hmmm I’m really not sure I could handle it. I am super competitive with myself, so the thought of being competitive in such an extreme setting is overwhelming to me. I am in absolute awe of these athletes, though!

  • caronae January 19, 2010, 7:53 pm

    That sounds so awesome! I would totally love to do something like that someday! Maybe we could make a team 🙂

  • Jess (Fit Chick in the City) January 19, 2010, 7:57 pm

    I so wish I had caught that race on TV! I couldn’t do any of the adventure races due to my lack of direction. I’d be the team member lost in the woods somewhere.

  • Kelly January 19, 2010, 7:57 pm

    I could never do one like you described, but maybe a shorter one- though I don’t really know how to do half those things you mentioned so it would take some learning 🙂

  • Britt (Runnerbelle) January 19, 2010, 7:59 pm

    A shorter one might be more up my alley. I love doing Reach the Beach every year, that is two days of running craziness. Love it!

  • Matt January 19, 2010, 8:01 pm

    That race sounds awesome. I would love to do something like that one day!

  • Lindsey @ EatReadRun January 19, 2010, 8:01 pm

    I could never do all that! I think I would literally collapse and die – but it looks like such a fun adventure. I wish I were even an athlete that could do a triathalon, but I’m strictly a runner I guess.

  • lauren (athlEAT) January 19, 2010, 8:02 pm

    yes! my fiance and I did a sprint adventure race last spring as a co-ed duo team and had a blast. All different checkpoints and you map out your own course by trail running, mountain biking, canoeing and then a short swim. (greenhorn adventure race by ex2 adventures)

    Not sure I could ever do the one you saw on tv, but I would LOVE to do it someday. You and your husband should do one! 🙂

  • Lisa January 19, 2010, 8:04 pm

    My friend and her husband own an adventure racing company in Australia. They’re amazing athletes. I don’t know how they do it, but when they describe the races they definitely sound like fun (and painful)!

  • katherine January 19, 2010, 8:04 pm

    I don’t think I’d ever do an adventure race b/c I’m terrified of heights, but I’ve toyed around with the idea of an ultramarathon someday. I’d only do it with a group of people though, not alone!

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg January 19, 2010, 8:06 pm

    That is SO crazy! Insane! I can’t imagine the strength and perseverance you’d have to have in order to complete something like that!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite January 19, 2010, 8:06 pm

    The extreme sports are insane! I know a few people who compete in the 100 mile runs. They are seriously hardcore!

  • AshleyLauren January 19, 2010, 8:09 pm

    My brother in law did a sprint one in Jacksonville a few months ago! He loved it- it started with canoeing/kayaking, then biking, then a run through the woods! They had to find their own path- it wasn’t marked…it sounded super intense! He had a blast though 🙂 Maybe one day…

  • Mara @ What's For Dinner? January 19, 2010, 8:09 pm

    OMG i wouldn’t even consider it. Ever. Even in my best shape, i’m still inherently a CHICKEN!

  • Haleigh January 19, 2010, 8:10 pm

    Extreme sports are intense! Your dinner looks exactly like mine brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.

  • LindsayRuns January 19, 2010, 8:12 pm

    They’ve got a bunch here in NC, I really want to try one! I’d love to team up with my husband and do one, that would be really cool.

  • Erin January 19, 2010, 8:17 pm

    I know that show! It was screened on Aerolineas Argentinas when my fiance and I flew to/from South America in September… but it was all in Spanish, so we had no idea what was going on. We called it “Race up a volcano in the middle of the night… in Spanish”. Hehe.

  • andrea January 19, 2010, 8:17 pm

    i made pumpkin yogurt yesterday and I must have done something wrong because it did not taste very good. I didn’t have granola for the top so I used Fiber One. Plain greek yogurt does not taste very good.

    • Caitlin January 19, 2010, 8:36 pm

      you gotta add a sweetener! like maple syrup or agave.

  • Island Girl Eats January 19, 2010, 8:18 pm

    Now that is an extreme race! I love a challenge, but I think that is out of my league!!

  • Karla January 19, 2010, 8:19 pm

    Wow that’s intense! I always thought the rickshaw run sounded exciting! Not really athletic but fun nonetheless!

    I’ve had pumpkin yogurt for the past three days… obsessed…

  • Molly @vegandorm January 19, 2010, 8:19 pm

    I’ve done a “sprint” adventure race twice. I run 50 miles a week, and I still cried both times haha.

  • ashleigh January 19, 2010, 8:27 pm

    OMG that is crazy! I bet that was fun to watch but there’s no way I would do anything like that!!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is January 19, 2010, 8:28 pm

    I would LOVE to do something like that. I’ve always secretly wanted to do a triathalon, but since I hate running so much, I’ve never trained.

  • Steph @ My Life In Motion January 19, 2010, 8:28 pm

    I’ve done a sort-of adventure race called Muddy Buddy! It’s nothing like what you watched on tv, though! You can read about it here if you like: http://stephslifeinmotion.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-survived-muddy-buddy.html

    • Caitlin January 19, 2010, 8:37 pm

      I have alwayssssssssss wanted to do that!!

  • lauren @ Eater not a runner January 19, 2010, 8:31 pm

    Wow that sounds like such an adventure! I would do a less-intense version maybe haha

  • Jenna January 19, 2010, 8:45 pm

    Those pb filled pretzels are dangerous, aren’t they?

    I strategically keep mine at work. If they were at home I would demolish them way too quickly!

  • Kristen January 19, 2010, 8:48 pm

    Did you ever watch EcoChallenge? Oh man that was good stuff. I was a Mark Burnett show that he started to produce before Survivor. It continued for a couple of seasons after Survivor as well (Ethan Zohn participated one year) and I think it is some of the best reality TV ever. If you ever get the chance to see it on the internet or if it can be rented, it is well worth it.

  • Brie (The Fit Bride) January 19, 2010, 8:48 pm

    Every race is an adventure when you’re me! Once I saw a guy get trampled at the starting line. Scary.

    I’m planning a race that’s going to be an “adventure” for me, though not an adventure race per se. I’m not much of a camper, so I definitely agree with the one day limit!

  • Gracie @ Girl Meets Health January 19, 2010, 8:57 pm

    Wow. That sounds SO intense. I don’t think I’d ever be able to complete something like that :/ But I’ve got to say that I find those sort of challenges so intriguing. It’s like – our bodies are such amazing *machines* that are capable of so much more than we think!

  • Sonja @ ActiveFoodie January 19, 2010, 9:00 pm

    Hehe! I’ve done the mud run too, so much fun! (http://www.activefoodie.com/the-camp-pendleton-mud-run/10/2009/). I think the adventure race sounds awesome, I would love to do a one day version of it!!!

  • Maggy January 19, 2010, 9:00 pm

    I’ve checked Walmart and Bi-Lo and both were out of canned pumpkin. Its making me so frustrated, it looks so good and I really want to pumpkin yogurt!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing January 19, 2010, 9:01 pm

    It sounds tough but also really cool!! I’m not sure I could handle it but hey… you can do anything you put your mind to!

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) January 19, 2010, 9:04 pm

    i heart pb filled pretzels. i can not have them though cause i eat them all if left unattended. btw you should go to woot.com they have this cool exercise watch on sale for like 20 something bux. I dunno if you would like it!

  • RunToTheFinish January 19, 2010, 9:13 pm

    we totatlly need to make this sunrise relay happen, you would love it! I think we just need 2 more runners from what Meghann said

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) January 19, 2010, 10:10 pm

    Wow, that is WAY hardcore!

  • Danielle (Coffee Run) January 19, 2010, 10:23 pm

    That adventure race actually sounds really cool. I wish it were my job to do something like that

  • Laura Smith January 19, 2010, 10:25 pm

    i did adventure omaha, which was basically 6-7 hours of biking and running. we had to find clues all over omaha. it was really fun, but so tiring!

  • Amy January 19, 2010, 10:37 pm

    I definitely want to adventure race, but nothing with whitewater (a bad rafting trip has turned me against big water). They have adventure racing camps – you should look into it. 🙂

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) January 19, 2010, 10:38 pm

    My hubby really wants to do an adventure race and has tried to convince me to do one with him – but I don’t know if I can cut it! I would need some serious training!!

  • Jen January 19, 2010, 10:46 pm

    I love those adventure shows on Discovery! My husband and I were actually not far from there this summer. We hiked near Mont Blanc on the French side, then over on the Italian side–it was incredible! On our hikes, we saw flag posts being set up for another ultramarathon, the North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. They run through the alps through Switzerland, France and Italy. Amazing!

  • Jen January 19, 2010, 10:46 pm

    Oh, check this out: http://therunscout.com/2009/06/ultra-trail-du-mont-blanc/

  • Emily Eats and Exercises January 19, 2010, 10:55 pm

    That sounds wild! I don’t think I could do that, but I can’t wait to do more triathlons…

  • Jenna January 19, 2010, 10:56 pm

    Love pb pretzels!

  • Anne January 19, 2010, 11:03 pm

    oh man, i so want to do one! i have been trying to talk my friends into doing a team one but not bites yet!

  • Amanda January 19, 2010, 11:09 pm

    Ooo, I’d love to watch that show. I scanned Discovery channel and I don’t see it, do you know what the exact name of the show was and if its coming on again? I’d probably never have the guts to do something like that! But I love watching it on TV 🙂

    • caitlin January 20, 2010, 8:05 am

      It’s called Adventure in the Alps (I think!)

  • Courtney January 19, 2010, 11:19 pm

    This is definitely something I would be into!!!!!!!

  • Lily @ Lily's Health Pad January 19, 2010, 11:21 pm

    I’m sure I would have loved that Discovery channel show. Have you seen the documentary Running on the Sun? I bet you’d like it if you haven’t seen it. It’s about Badwater, an ultramarathon run every summer in the dessert in extreme heat.

  • Abby January 19, 2010, 11:33 pm

    Adventure racing is the best sport never talked about! I’ve been doing it for a few years, for a team out of Philly – GOALS ARA – that puts on a race series, too. I’ll be tackling my first multi-day race this summer: 72 hours in northern New Hampshire. Can’t wait! You should come up and try one of our sprints 🙂

    http://goalsara.org/yr2010/ar_race_cal.html

  • Jamie January 19, 2010, 11:53 pm

    I’m glad someone else as this kinda of “atypical” eating day. Sometimes you are just famished at 4pm and then don’t have much of an appetite for dinner. Thanks for showing how normal healthy eating is

    • caitlin January 20, 2010, 8:06 am

      yea… its hard actually because of the blog – i feel like even if i over snack (and who doesnt occasionally) i feel like i should still have a ‘real dinner’ for the blog. but let’s be real, sometimes you ruin dinner with PB preztels! LOL

  • Ellen Collis January 20, 2010, 12:09 am

    I don’t know why, but brussel sprouts just aren’t appealing to me. Is there a good way for a brussel sprout-rookie to ease into them? What are the different ways to cook them and what health benefits do they contribute?

    http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/

    • caitlin January 20, 2010, 8:22 am

      try drizzling them in maple syrup and then roasting them 🙂

  • Amber K January 20, 2010, 12:13 am

    It sounds fun, but I don’t think I could tackle an adventure race. It’d be cool to watch on TV though! =)

  • Marissa January 20, 2010, 12:36 am

    I don’t have the guts to do an adventure race. Kudos to those who do though!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) January 20, 2010, 12:37 am

    no way jose…i love trail running, but that’s about it! dinner looks fantastic! i LOVE roasted veggies, and those are all my faves 🙂

  • beth January 20, 2010, 1:06 am

    OMG, me too with the PB nuggets of love! Hit up TJ’s on the way home from work and easily ate 4 handfuls. So good!

  • eatingRD January 20, 2010, 1:25 am

    oh man, I truly admire people that can do those, simply amazing! I’d love to see their nutrition strategy and what they eat and how they fuel. Did they talk about that at all? I don’t think I could do something that extreme, but I’m going to hang in there and try my hand at a tri 🙂

  • Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete January 20, 2010, 3:18 am

    I think that my husband would drag me to do one. We actually talked about doing one in Arizona where you hike, kayak, rock climb, and run (pretty similar to the one on TV, but way less intense!). We both were working a lot at the time, and our schedules didn’t allow it recreationally. The hubs did do a race for work that was sort of like that except they also had to live off of the land. They were only allowed to bring one energy bar with them for a 3 day race. They had to eat pig ears and testicles for extra points on the course too. My husband is a lot crazier than me though!

  • Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com January 20, 2010, 3:31 am

    ohmyogsh that race looks mad, I could never do anything like that! But then 2months ago I said I’d never do a marathon and after reading about all you bloggers at Disey, I’m entered for one!
    Never say never 😛

  • Marianne January 20, 2010, 3:36 am

    Have you heard about the Norseman xtreme triathlon? I watched a show that followed the contestants, and it just looked SO SO hard near the end!

    http://www.nxtri.com/race_info/course_and_map

    I’m keeping my goals realistic at this point, and focusing on goals I think are attainable for myself, but it must be such an amazing feeling to complete something like that!

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) January 20, 2010, 5:07 am

    ooh I would totally do one for sure. There are some awesome ‘sprint’ ones on offer – and they sound like great fun!!!

  • Ali@ Food, FItness, Fashion January 20, 2010, 7:29 am

    Whoa! That is insane!!! I but it was interesting to watch. I am certain I would have cried my eyes out watching it. I cried like a hundred times watching the iron man competition. Don’t those athletes make you feel like you can do anything?! So inspiring!!!

  • Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life January 20, 2010, 7:49 am

    Just reading about it makes me tired. I don’t think I could ever do it!

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) January 20, 2010, 7:52 am

    Wow – props to them! How exhilerating (And difficult!!!)
    Definitely inspiring.

    Those roasted veggies look good. I’ve been having a craving for brussels sprouts lately.

  • Rosey Rebecca January 20, 2010, 8:02 am

    That race looks intense and sooo awesome! That’s something I could picture you doing someday!

  • Renae January 20, 2010, 8:23 am

    Those races are incredible and the people who do them are so inspirational!
    I had to laugh out loud when I saw your picture of TJ’s PB filled pretzels…those things are so addictive! When I buy them, they never make it home unopened! SO good!

  • Kalli@fitandfortysomething January 20, 2010, 8:50 am

    love roasted veggies for din din!

  • Tammy January 20, 2010, 9:29 am

    It sounds fun, but the kyak thing would NEVER happen. I am terrified of rapids! Maybe if I was a better swimmer I would feel better about it. I love to watch those races though…I think we all have an innate sense of wanting adventure and to push ourselves to do things we didn’t think we could do. I’m just trying to get the courage to try swimming lessons! And…I have been craving brussel sprouts like crazy! Last week was the first time I had ever tried them and last night I ate a whole bag for dinner!

  • Megan January 20, 2010, 9:51 am

    OMG that is absolutely terrifying. I would feel so unbelievably bad-ass if I ever did something like that!! In the mountains no less!!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers January 20, 2010, 10:11 am

    I would love to do an adventure race!! How exhilarating!!

  • Allison January 20, 2010, 10:24 am

    My husband is an avid outdoorsman and really, REALLY wants to get into adventure racing with his buddies someday. He used to hike a lot in college with his fraternity brothers. His asthma holds him back, I think, but I’m always encouraging him to get started ASAP because I think he would have fun!

  • Ami January 20, 2010, 10:30 am

    That race looks amazing, but I dont think I could ever dedicate enough time to train for it! Definitely a professional’s race.

    Living with a Brit myself, I can tell you they love their Sunday roasts! That includes all the roasted vegetables. You WILL become addicted too. I promise.

    Try roating brussel sprouts with olive oil, salt, pepper and sprinkle with some parmesan cheese when they come out all crispy. They are delicious!!

  • Katie O. @ Fit to Wed January 20, 2010, 12:18 pm

    My fiance is DYING to do an adventure race. I may consider doing one with him if I can get fit enough- eep!

  • Melissa January 20, 2010, 1:15 pm

    Wow! 100 miles, you rock, girl! I love both your websites; I pass along “operation beautiful” posts whenever I can. Cannot wait for the book, either. Perhaps someday I’ll be fit enough to ride 25 miles, to say nothing of 100! 🙂

  • Kelly (the Running Phoodie) January 20, 2010, 10:06 pm

    I REALLY want to try adventure racing some day. They have much less extreme versions that are totally doable. My local REI held a free class last year that gave me some basic info- it sounds like so much fun!

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