What Is An Adventure Race And Why Should I Try It?

Author: Adam Bratton
​Read Time: 3 mins

In the basic terms, an Adventure Race (aka: “AR”) is a scavenger hunt style event where participants collecting as many “checkpoints” as they can in the shortest amount of time possible.

Adventure Races are very different than your typical neighborhood 5K or hometown marathon … it is a multisport endurance event that requires both physical and mental skills to navigate through varied terrain under your own human power … IE: Exactly what Human Powered Movement is all about.

A few overly simplified examples give further context ... In your Easter Egg Hunting days, you’ll remember the zig-zagging scramble to find eggs faster than the other kiddos. Or maybe you remember the good ol’ days of treasure hunts with Pirate themed treasure maps. More recently, Mark Wahlberg’s latest movie entitled “Arthur The King” chronicles an AR team that is followed and help by an equally adventuresome dog.

Below I've outlined additional AR info and laid out my top 8 reasons why you should give this Adventure Racing thing a try and how it might just change your outlook on endurance events.

AR events combine are variety of sports like running, biking, paddling, navigation and sometimes even rappelling, ropes courses, or zip-lining to test participants throughout a pre-defined area across various terrain. Unlike a traditional running race with turn-by-turn directional arrows, there is no set course or defined route so participants must use a map and compass to strategize a plan and then navigate to checkpoints which are set by the Race Director. This adds an addition al and ever-changing mental element to the race. (Pro Tip: Our South Fork Sampler AR is beginner friendly and does NOT require Navigation or Orienteering)

Adventure Race participants compete either individually or in teams, typically of two, working together to collect those pre-determined number of checkpoints. Event time limits are set anywhere from a few hours for beginner friendly events all the way up to days and even weeks for professional level Adventure Races.

The exact format of Adventure Races varies widely based on the terrain, difficulty, duration, sports included and generally how weird the Race Director wants to make things, but the unknown and “adventuresome” concept remains the same across the board.
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These events offer a drastic change from the typical race routine, provide an opportunities to explore and gain a different perspective of the environment and push boundaries both mentally and physically in a wildly supportive community setting. The true spirit of adventure has a way of stoking the soul in a completely new way.

If you're still on the fence, here's my top 8 favorite reasons to dip your toenail missing toes into the AR world:

1. Exploration: Adventure Races offer a chance to explore diverse landscapes and natural environments that you might not have even thought about before. The opportunity to discover and experience new places in a new way might just change your perspective and appreciation for our natural spaces.
2. Challenge Yourself: Adventure Races naturally push participants out of their comfort zones vs their typical and traditional race routines. These events enable personal growth by testing participants physical and mental stamina. Learning a new skill like navigation and orienteering is a great benefit as well!
3. Camaraderie: Many AR’s offer team-based categories which require teamwork, and collective effort to navigate the course, overcome challenges, and complete a collective goal through a shared experience.
4. Multisport Action: Not all AR’s are the same, but they all include a mix of outdoor sports and adventures. Similar to triathlons, this multisport approach is part of the strategy as some participants are stronger (or weaker) in certain areas which keeps things interesting.
5. Varied Skills Levels: Most AR’s offer different categories within each race to allow participants to find what is best for them. Remember, you don’t HAVE to collect all checkpoints, nor do you HAVE to complete each sport. AR’s allow for the hard charging competitor as well as the casual cruiser.  
6. Community and Support: Since AR has a strong team element, the community is welcoming and supportive, providing encouragement, advice, and during the race and in training sessions leading up to the event day.
7. Change of Pace: Adventure Races offer a completely different experience than traditional events. The combination of mental and physical aspects along with the outdoor exploration and need to adapt on the fly provide a completely new perspective, and approach, to competition.
8. What’s Next Mentality: Dipping your toe into Adventure Racing can serve as the gateway drug to tons of other outdoor pursuits. Tons of Adventure Racers end up getting into other multisport efforts like Bikepacking, Swimrunning, Kayak camping, triathlons or other oddball link ups. You never know what’s around the next adventure corner … but open to finding out.

If you’ve read this far and are still intrigued, you can check out recap videos of our “Intro to Adventure Racing Clinics" in 2023 HERE and in 2022 HERE.
 
If you're ready to jump into the adventuresome world of AR, you can sign up for our 3rd annual, beginner friendly, South Fork Sampler Adventure Race on Saturday, April 27 (4Hr and 8Hr categories) or Sunday, April 28 (3Hr Family Edition).
 
Happy Checkpoint Hunting!

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