Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race

But first, let me take you back to the good times as we arrive in the quaint village of Cumberland, on Vancouver Island in BC, Canada, on the Friday night prior to the event. Race registration is in full swing at the Riding Fool Hostel and the local beer and pretzels provide perfect carbo-loading sustenance for the next day’s race. All the athletes are in high spirits and most seem quite excited for the challenges that lay ahead.

MOMAR, as the race is locally known, is a 50 km adventure race featuring paddling, mountain bike and trekking stages. As with all adventure racing, the route is mostly unmarked, making navigation a vital part of the race. It is not until race morning that athletes receive a map with checkpoints, prior to the start, and are allocated one precious hour to plot their route before setting off. For this race, they inform us that there will be five stages and in this order: paddle, trek, bike, trek and bike.

Saturday morning arrives and we must get going quickly. It's a predawn start to drop off our bikes and kayak at various locations before jumping on a bus that will take us to the start of the race at the Comox Lake. The temperature is friendly, the air still, and as if choreographed, the clouds part and the sun comes out to wish us good luck.

We set off on a 10 km paddle, the first of five legs of the race. It is a fairly straightforward paddle, with a predetermined route around the lake. Entertainment is provided by the athletes dressed up in comical outfits – clowns, jailbreakers and pirates, to name a few – all attempting to win the spirit award. Our rented kayak has a squeaky rudder and strange seating position, but an hour and eight minutes later, with cramping bum muscles and all, we arrive at T1 in eight position. Swopping lifejackets for running shoes and hydration packs, we set off on the first trekking leg.

Beautiful trails and lush green forest are the order of the day. In true adventure racing fashion something has to hit the fan. While on the trail with some other teams, a wasps' nest is disturbed and we all get a steek.

Racing with the super-strong runner Jessi Stensland, I opt to keep us on flatter but maybe longer trails, where we can use our speed to our advantage. Running hard, we keep our heads up and have a blast on the fantastic trails. The final stretch is on paved roads through the charming little town of Cumberland. While enjoying the view, we spot a coed team ahead and without words our knees drive a bit higher, the pace noticeably picking up, sprinting. We finally reach our competitors just in time to run side by side down the grassy knoll towards a field full of bikes. Super navigation and digging deep pays off, as we have passed six teams on the trek and arrive in T2 tied for first.