Who needs to sleep? Not adventure racers

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      John Markez likes to call himself an adventure-racing gun for hire. He might be sitting in his office at Vancouver General Hospital, where he works as an engineer, when he’ll receive a call from somewhere halfway around the world. The person on the other end of the line will want Markez to hop on a plane with all of his gear on a moment’s notice for a weeklong expedition of kayaking, trail running, and mountain biking. Fortunately, Markez has a job that enables him to pursue his passion.

      He actually enjoys racing for five consecutive days with virtually no sleep. Markez noted that adventure racers must keep their sleep to a minimum if they want to be competitive. At the same time, he added, they must also keep their wits about them to navigate safely through a course.

      Markez, a veteran of the international circuit, has competed in China, Mexico, and South America, among other locations. “In order to be first place, you have to go to the absolute extremes of yourself,” he said in a recent interview at the Georgia Straight office. “It’s this inner phenomenon that happens. You can’t really define it. You have some peak experiences during the race.”

      Adventure racing is a team sport, usually with four people who travel as a group over shorter courses in a day or on longer expeditions that can span more than a week. Teams are often required to have at least one woman and one man, and they must plan the best route, as well as figure out who will carry which supplies over a gruelling trip. The winner is the team that crosses the finish line first.

      Markez is considered an expert at orienteering, which is a key advantage because poor navigation can easily eliminate top-flight athletes. He said this skill in part accounts for the demand for his services. “You do occasionally look up and say, ”˜Oh, my God, I can’t believe I’m here,’ ” he said.

      Endurance is also crucial, which is why some adventure racers also excel in individual sports, such as cycling and long-distance running. Jen Segger, a Squamish resident, is considered one of the best female adventure racers in the world. Her team, Dart-nuun, came sixth in the 2008 world championships in northern Brazil.

      In a recent phone interview, Segger told the Straight that she trains 15 to 30 hours per week. She adjusts her workout regimen depending on what type of race is coming up, but the normal routine is approximately 40 percent running, 40 percent cycling, and 20 percent paddling. She said that competitive adventure racers must be willing to suffer for their sport.

      “We’re pushing at such a fast pace all the time, and it hurts,” Segger said. “Your feet get destroyed.”

      She noted that during an expedition race that lasts several days, her team generally won’t begin sleeping until the second night. That means racing through the day, through the night, and through the next day. Then, they’ll bunk down for a couple of hours on the side of a trail before resuming.

      Then there are the wild animals. Segger said she has encountered grizzly bears during races in the B.C. Interior. Last year in South Africa, her team passed through a buffalo reserve. Two years ago in Australia, she had to be careful around spiders and snakes.

      “You’re always on the lookout for something that will kill you,” Segger quipped.

      B.C. doesn’t have any expedition races, but there are three significant daylong events this year. The annual Race the Rockies will take place in Golden on July 18. There are two Coast Mountain Sports Mind Over Mountain Adventure Racing events: the first in Squamish on May 23 and the second in Cumberland on September 26.

      Bryan Tasaka, who heads up the Mind Over Mountain Event Company, told the Straight in a phone interview that he defines adventure racing as a nonmotorized, multisport activity with a navigational component. “When you race as a team, you race together,” he said. “It’s not a relay. You’re only as fast as your slowest teammate.”

      Segger is the course director for the Squamish race, which will offer two options: a 30-kilometre course and a 50-kilometre course, which Tasaka has dubbed the “enduro”. It will include a combination of mountain biking, trail running, and rappelling, plus a sizable navigation component. The Cumberland race, on the other hand, will include kayaking as well.

      “I’m always encouraging people to give it a try,” Segger said. “You don’t have to be at the top level, and you’ll have a blast out there.”

      And the best thing about the daylong events is you won’t have to worry about sleep deprivation.

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