San Joaquin Magazine published an article profiling Dirty Avocado, Mark Richardson. This is one of the best articles about adventure racing that wasn’t written by an adventure racer that I’ve ever seen. Kudos to author Patricia Kutza for taking the time and effort to accurately explain out passion to the masses.
The Great Outdoors
Tracy firefighter Mark Richardson is getting his exercise outdoors,
in a new sport called adventure racing by Patricia Kutza
If you frequently travel Highway 120 there’s a good chance you’ve seen him. Once a week, for the last seven years, Tracy firefighter Mark Richardson bikes seventy miles roundtrip on this road, between his Oakdale home and his fire station. Considering the already physical nature of his job, you’d think he would prefer to drive instead. Quite the contrary. When the weather turns nasty, Richardson frets since he must resort to driving and lose that precious additional opportunity to train for his passion—adventure racing.
Less than twenty years old but considered one of the fastest growing sports in the world, adventure racing is an outdoor multi-sport competition that has its roots “Down Under,” in Australia and New Zealand. Here in the U.S., the over 400-mile Primal Quest remains the most prestigious race on the circuit—race locations have included Colorado, Lake Tahoe, the San Juan Islands, and Montana, among others; this year’s race will take place in the Badlands of South Dakota. All adventure racing events include some combination of orienteering and navigation, cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling, and climbing (with such related rope skills as rappelling, ascending, and traversing). Events can last anywhere from a few hours—a ‘sprint’—to eleven days—an ‘expedition’ (see sidebar on pg. 47). The races are essentially co-ed and include from seven to twenty teams that consist of three to four members each.
Richardson’s story is similar to many other athletes who have found a passion in adventure racing. “I came to this sport in a roundabout way,” says Richardson. “I raced bikes for about eleven years. Then I had a back injury that was so aggravating I had to quit racing. When I discovered adventure racing, I figured I could still mountain bike and it sounded like a lot of fun.” Richarson explains that you don’t have to be an elite athlete to succeed in this sport. “But everything is done outside, so you’ve got to be someone who enjoys the outdoors.”
At 45, Richardson enjoys every bit of it, racing on two teams, Gold Rush Adventures and Dirty Avocados. “I train between twelve to fourteen hours a week,” he says, “upping my hours when I am closer to a racing date. I’m a family guy, so I try to be efficient—that’s why cycling to work is so important for my schedule. Racing fits well with being a firefighter since on-the-job fitness is really an important component of my work responsibilities.” Richardson, who has participated in the full gamut of racing events, including the seven-day Primal Quest and three-day Baja Travesia, says adventure racing is 60 percent physical and 40 percent mental, very similar requirements to those of a fireman. “The mental training is practically the same,” he says. “You build a giant toolbox of abilities, and pick the tools appropriate to whatever challenge you confront. This technique works for me whether I am racing or putting out fires.”
While newbies to adventure racing may think that acquiring multi-sports expertise is critical to their success, it’s actually not the biggest hurdle. “The biggest challenge is finding a good team that is compatible with you. You have to stay within 100 yards of each other and finish together. What I see all the time with new racers is that they have a lot of pride and don’t ask for help when they get into trouble.” Successful teams share compatible goals, he says. “You will have friction if someone wants to win versus someone who is just interested in finishing.” With a relatively small group of adventure racers in the San Joaquin Valley, Richardson says newcomers will need determination to find the right match. “I went though a lot of people to find a compatible team. The internet is a great tool to find lots of information about this sport and find the folks, who like me, love it and live it.” SJM
To see the entire article and pics go to San Joaquin Magazine online and click on “Digital Edition”, then use the page seletor to view pages 44-49.
2008 was a remarkable year for the Dirty Avocados in many ways.Aside from the obvious – we got not one but two teams across the finish line at Primal Quest – this team and its members had numerous amazing accomplishments.
As I reflected back on the year, I noted that some of the more remarkable achievements were not evidenced in the race results but were moments and circumstances of overcoming obstacles that the casual observer would not even notice.For instance, throughout 2008 no Dirty Avocado team DNF’d.If you understood just how difficult it is to finish an adventure race and an expedition race in particular, you would understand just how amazing that really is.
Other amazing things that most just wouldn’t know:
- Jen continuing on at Baja Travesia after falling into the cactus.It was weeks before all of the needles came out.
- Brian feet at PQ were trash after the first trek.He continued for 8 more days, finishing PQ on some of the worse feet I’ve ever seen. Three (3) weeks later he finished an Ironman triathlon.
-DP finishing PQ on the second worse feet I’ve seen.He had to take antibiotics after the race to heal the infections on his toes.
-Will raced for 9 days at PQ with bronchitis.
- Adam and Jen continuing on after almost drowning during the riverboard section of PQ.
-Brian, Susan and Mike continuing to race at Baja after being lost for over 12 hours on the first mountain bike section.Going from 4th to out of the top 10 is so difficult mentally – many would have just dropped out.
-Will’s stepping up his biking as evidenced by his performance at the 24 hours of Cool and PQ.
-Will, Brian and Mike continuing on at PQ after injury forced Susan to drop.It’s very difficult to continue to race unranked and many teams simply won’t do it.
-The entire team pulling together to get all of the training and certification done for PQ.Without a doubt, we stepped up to the starting line as well prepared as any team.
In addition to these behind the scene accomplishments we did have some outstanding race results:
-1st over all at Tahoe Big Blue (Mike, Brian and Rhonda)
-2nd over all at SF Oyster (Adam, Aja and DP)
-5th over all at Whiskeytown (Adam, Brian and Jen K)– with Mike and Susan taking 4th over all on a different team
-8th over all at Baja Travesia (Adam, Adam and Jen R.)Mike, Susan and Brian took 13th.Mark finished in 10th with Gold Rush Motherload.
-8th (unranked) over all at Gold Rush (Will, DP and Aja)
-29th at PQ (Adam, Adam, DP and Jen.)Will, Brian and Mike finished the long course in 18th -unranked.
-Mike winning the Masters championship at the 24 hours at Cool and 4th over all.
-Brian and Will completing their first 24 hour solo mountain bike race.
-Brian completing his first Ironman Triathlon
-Brian taking 5th overall at the StinsonBeach 20K.
In addition to all this hard work we raised money for the Make-A-Wish foundation and sent a child to Disney World.
The Dirty Avocados established themselves as a true team.These accomplishments are not the result of one person, but a group of people supporting each other to make each stronger and faster then he/she would be by themselves.And through it all, we became better friends and better teammates.
2008 was a great year.At the end of it all, I can truly say that I’m proud to be a Dirty Avocado.
06.18.08
Ramona, CA Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles, Inc. is a dominant choice for many team’s athletes for Primal Quest Adventure Expedition Race outside of Big Sky, Montana on June 21-July 2, 2008.
“Our bikes are the real deal, designed to be efficient, and provide increased traction and control, and ride quality, even in the most adverse and exhausting conditions that can dominate expedition class adventure racing,” says Ellsworth’s founder, president and CEO, Tony Ellsworth.
Primal Quest is a North-America-based expedition adventure race involving extensive, multi-sport travel in challenging backcountry terrain while following strict, low-impact guidelines. Since its inception in 2001, the race has attracted world-class athletes and established itself as the premiere event of its kind in the U.S. Part of the event’s success is due to high-profile television coverage for the race and substantial prize money for winning teams. Primal Quest is said to be “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition.”
Ellsworth is beyond proud to be sponsoring the following teams and athletes with the their efficient, high-quality, race-proven bikes to take on the course:
Team Merrel/Zanfel-Primal Quest Team #2 with Robyn Benincasa and Travis Macy will be riding Truths. Robyn will be sporting her new Project Pink Truth for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Awareness. Robyn Benincasa has proven to be one of the most recognizable names in adventure racing with 36 expedition-length adventure races in her pocket, all with incredible finishes rarely below the top four. She is a fan and athlete favorite hands down! Ellsworth has supported Robyn and her team since 2006 through all of their adventure competitions.
Team Nike ACG/Gore-Tex-Primal Quest Team #27 featuring Julie Leasure on her Project Pink Epiphany and Epiphany outfitted Ken, Mike and Pete. “Thank you Ellsworth for inventing the Epiphany. We have been avid mountain bikers for many, many years and this is the greatest bike that we have ever ridden,” says Team Nike ACG/Gore-Tex.
Team Enduring Freedom/Hudson Trail Outfitters, Ltd.-Primal Quest Team #79 made up of Special Forces and Army and civilian personnel Michael Spiller, Patrick Henry, Christine Bone and Scott Olson. They have had 20 top 10 finishes and 15 top three finishes. Highlighting Scott Olson, who has recently returned from active duty in Afganistan and is in the Army Special Forces, will be riding a Truth for Primal Quest.
Team Dirty Avocados-Primal Quest Team #62 from Northern California has boasted many podium finishes in major adventure races around the world. Adam Doti, the captain, will be riding a Truth, along with Donato Polignone. Also, Jennifer Rignoni will be on a Project Pink Truth.
Some of the women adventure race athletes will be riding Ellsworths Project Pink Truths and Epiphanies. Project Pink was created to help fund and support Breast and Ovarian Cancer awareness, research and clinical trials. Every pink bike sold equals a $50 donation from Ellsworth to either The Susan G. Koman Foundation, or The Marsha Rivkin Center.
Ellsworth bikes are hand built and all have been prototype-tested and race-proven for the best performance possible. The Truth, specifically, is the most energy efficient, low fatigue, lightweight and dependable bike available on Earth. The Epiphany is known for being “The Holy Grail of Full Suspension Mountain Bikes” and Ellsworth’s most popular off road biking machine.
Check out the Primal Quest website: http://www.ecoprimalquest.com/wp-primal/ and the List of Teams with link to blogs: http://www.ecoprimalquest.com/wp-primal/teams/
About Ellsworth Bikes
Ellsworth Bikes is a USA based designer and USA based manufacturer of the highest quality mountain, road and recreational bicycles. The company is known for its elegant and artistic craftsman-style approach to bike design and manufacturing is committed to true Sustainable Business practices and Local manufacturing and is the holder of multiple design and utility patents. To learn more about how Ellsworth Bikes is ready for growth in 2008, visit www.ellsworthbikes.com.
Ellsworth Bikes: Energy, Efficiency and Environment.
Adventure racers have long had an affinity for off-road triathlons as a way to lengthen their race season and build up individual event skills. Off-road triathlons such as the nationally recognized XTERRA series offer adventure racers an opportunity to cross train with challenging events when not participating in adventure races.
Off-road triathlons and adventure races are sort of the fraternal twins of multi-sport racing; they don’t look exactly alike, but they share a lot of the same traits. In both types of events racers mountain bike and run on a variety of rugged terrain, take to the water for at least one leg and transition between events rapidly.
On the other hand, there are some major differences between the two events. Most adventure races are run by two, three, or four-person teams, as opposed to the solo format of off-road triathlons. In most adventure races (AR’s), team members must always stay in sight of each other or risk being penalized. Additionally, every team member must complete every section of the course. This means that any team is only as fast as its most challenged team member.
In another departure, AR requires teams to navigate using maps and compasses. Teams typically appoint a captain and a navigator and those team members are responsible for making sure that the team knows where it’s going and is prepared to get there. A wrong decision can seriously erode a team’s confidence and performance. With off-road tris, however, the course is pre-marked and solo racers are only responsible for themselves. There is no getting lost in an off-road tri.
The sheer variety of necessary gear in an AR indicates that adventure racers must be skilled in other activities besides navigation. Adventure racers typically must also be able to ascend ropes, rappel, perform well on a ROPES course and solve puzzles, among other skills. Since off-road triathlons don’t involve navigation, team dynamics and extra skills, racers can concentrate on perfecting their running, biking, and water skills.
Racing in off-road terrain is challenging but a lot of fun. Mountain bikers and trail runners looking to experience their first off-road race, yet who aren’t ready for the added stress of team dynamics, comprehensive gear requirements, and tricky navigation found in adventure races, should consider signing up for an XTERRA race or similar event. Of course, the added challenges found in an AR are all part of the fun for those wanting to take it to the next level.
To find out more about off-road triathlons and to see event listings, visit
By Aja Cook and Todd Jackson • Photos by Rich Cruse/XTERRA
Aja Cook is a member of the Dirty Avocados Adventure Racing Team and an Xterra competitor. Todd Jackson is director of the Big Blue Adventure Race Series.
Less than twenty years old but considered one of the fastest growing sports in the world, adventure racing is an outdoor multi-sport competition that has its roots “Down Under,” in Australia and New Zealand. Here in the U.S., the over 400-mile Primal Quest remains the most prestigious race on the circuit—race locations have included Colorado, Lake Tahoe, the San Juan Islands, and Montana, among others; this year’s race will take place in the Badlands of South Dakota. All adventure racing events include some combination of orienteering and navigation, cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling, and climbing (with such related rope skills as rappelling, ascending, and traversing). Events can last anywhere from a few hours—a ‘sprint’—to eleven days—an ‘expedition’ (see sidebar on pg. 47). The races are essentially co-ed and include from seven to twenty teams that consist of three to four members each.
