“Holy crap, another obstacle race?”

This sentence became the conversational theme in adventure racing circles this past year. Some AR race directors have seen this glut as an assault on the very product they produce.  Other’s are not so sure.

Canada, the USA and specifically Ontario has seen an avalanche  of new short, run, obstacle-style races that are drawing 1000′s and have ‘literally’ flooded the market.  Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, Mud Hero, Metcon Blue to mention a few (there are lots more).

When I talk to people about adventure racing, the conversation quickly turns to,

“Oh like one of those races where you climb over things and get muddy?!”

I hang my head and mutter a response resembling “Uh… No”.

Let me be clear, the largest threat to adventure racing is BRAND CONFUSION. Eco-Challenge now long gone, and Primal Quest no longer on TV, the whole notion of “the elevator pitch” for adventure racing is tough, if not impossible. How do you explain to someone what adventure racing is, without any real comparables in the market? CARA the mostly unknown and under supported governing body in Canada  and the slightly more recognized American USARA, has not been able to mount a guarded defence of the sport’s name. Mark Burnett, “Mr. Reality-TV” even tried trademarking the term “adventure racing” back in 1992 when Eco Challenge was a prime-time market success.  It seemed over-protective at the time but his branding vision would come full circle with the use of the words; Adventure Racing, to describe this local new phenomenon called obstacle racing. When a new sport hi-jacks an old sport’s term, it becomes an issue. After all who is to determine what “adventure” is?

Yeah , I'm an Ironman!... NOT!

And this is where the conflict arises. Adventure race directors and racers get their hackles up when someone tries to take away their hard earned accolades and reputation.  It would be akin to, Ironman Triathlon branding a new sprint triathlon and allowing people to wear a shirt with the Ironman logo on it – claiming the title of Ironman finisher. All, without having done the work of covering 113 miles of swim, bike, run.

Joe Desena who is the Co-Founder of the Spartan Race Obstacle Run (who was an adventure race director first)  says “Let’s be honest here: certain adventure races involve a lot more hardship and deprivation than a two-hour obstacle race. Adventure races are tough and only feasible for the top 5 % of obstacle racers. The requirement to be proficient at navigating, mountain biking, kayaking, running, and operating on very little sleep makes adventure racing not for everyone.”  The difference between adventure racing and Obstacle Racing is Significant.

It’s the definition that is in question as some obstacle-style races, such as Metcon Blue and the Punisher Adventure Race claim in the title of their race to be an adventure race. The reviewer who does AR, did a review of the Punisher AR,  click here for race review and he is clear to make the distinction between an actual adventure race and this event. It’s not a slam, it’s just different.

My definition of adventure racing is that of a purist. 

• Human powered travel and must include biking.
• Has to be a team based event. (Solo racing has become popular but I think adventure racing should adhere to a team structure – even if it is 2 people.)
• Must have navigation. (That’s a map and compass people, not a gps or a smartphone scavenger hunt.)
• Winter races won’t really include padding, but if there is open water, then there should be paddling.
• Incorporate at least 3 disciplines (trek, bike, paddle) (snowshoe, ski, trek,) (snorkel, paddleboard, tube) You can add whatever else you want into the mix after 3, and I’m happy.

Here is the wiki on adventure racing which is very similar and mirrors what I believe adventure racing should be: ADVENTURE RACING WIKI

With only so many dollars in people’s disposable income for adventure and fun races, will this be the early slow death of adventure racing?  Will adventure races (in the classic sense) have to adapt and become more like the obstacle races or suffer the fate of low registration which equals a slow and untimely demise?  Should adventure races stay the course and keep putting on more challenging and difficult races like the 8-hour, 24-hour or 36-hour race models? If the market for obstacle races is in fact different than the market for adventure races, is there even a problem?

As an event creator you are by definition an entrepreneur.  An entrepreneur’s greatest asset is adaptability. If you are a wiley, forward-thinking race director, then you have to embrace the new obstacle course phenomenon. Embrace it and leverage it.

The notion that Obstacle courses are stealing your AR racers is a loosely based connection. A few teams may opt out of doing a race in July because Tough Mudder is on the same schedule but the reality is that Obstacle racing is an experience and not a competition . Obstacle racing has pulled hundreds of thousands of people from behind their desks and out of their garage, beer-fridges and mobilized them to do something that is more similar than different from adventure racing.

With these races getting thousands of people, the pool of participants for adventure races to capitalize on is huge. EXAMPLE: A large adventure race in Ontario gets 300-500 people. Warrior Dash in Ontario in 2011 got 10,000 participants click here for results .  Let’s talk more numbers, you can’t argue with the successful marketing of the obstacle racing world – the Spartan race hit 110,000 competitors in 2011 and has 1.6 Million likes on Facebook.   Obstacle races do show that people want to be challenged and aren’t afraid to try something new and get muddy, (Sound familiar?)

One of the downfalls of adventure racing is that the barrier to entry is relatively high. I’ve often said that the toughest part of an adventure race is getting to the start line. The process of getting your gear together, pre planning with your team and coordinating the race weekend can be extremely time consuming and difficult. But the above list, is in part why Adventure Racing is so epically, rewarding.  You will never go to work on a Monday after an adventure race and be able to concentrate on anything other than the highs and lows, the teamwork, the comraderie or the mistakes you can’t wait to fix…in your next race.  See: Racer information package and GEAR list for an adventure race (see page 9)

On the flip slide, Obstacle racing allows people to overcome Newtons First Law of Motion, the principle of inertia and get involved in a more limited preperation schedule than adventure racing.  These races get people off of the couch and involved in a fun adventure with limited risks.  ”An object in motion tends to stay in motion” is the thought behind an obstacle-racer contemplating a greater challenge like an Ironman triathlon or a Storm the Trent or Momar adventure race.

If you still aren’t ready, try finding great instructors that teach Adventure racing training courses - this is one way to ensure a positive experience.

Obstacle racing is not a fad, the Tough Guy in the UK has been around since 1987, and I used to regularly check it for inspiration for my previously owned race ESAR. The only animosity I have towards obstacle racing is that I didn’t come up with the concept in North America first!  The Emergency Services Adventure Race which still sells out today, was started back in 2003 and included:

• Climbing Walls
• Rope sections
• Lots of mud
• Water
• Special tasks
• feats of strength
• Hill climbs
• Actual military obstacle courses
• Lasted at least 3 times as long
• Plus had lots of other stuff like biking, trekking, paddling, teamwork, and Navigation, no big deal:)

It will be interesting to see if people will regularly sign up to do the same obstacle race year after year. I feel that people will probably not go back again to the same race and host site as they have already checked that off of their list. The experiential learners may seek an event that poses a greater challenge.  According to Warrior dash’a Joe Desena’s quote,

“Adventure races are tough and only feasible for the top 5 % of obstacle racers“.

This is the 5% to leverage – who knows, maybe it’s more?  Capturing this new-style of racer and gently guiding them to a sport that can change a person’s outlook on every aspect of their physical and mental capability is a duty.  As an adventure racer, I know what it means to cross the finish line where the requirement was my best physical and mental capabilities, my compassion as a teammate and the skill of finding my way out of a brush-strewn, rocky, hillside with only my map and compass.  The two styles of racing are so similar in perception but world’s apart in adventure.

Obstacle racing will be the death of AR, if the guardians of the sport fail to market the glory, the adventure, the teamwork and the endless intangible rewards properly. The failure of Adventure racing companies to embrace this new genre of races is an oversight at best. These new races are a validation of the adventure seeking market, so ‘AR people capitalize on it!’ Whatever they want to call themselves after the race whether it is a “warrior, or spartan, or hero”, it is better than confusing the issue with calling themselves an “adventure racer”, regardless,  these participants are your target market.

The natural progression is a logical leap that starts with, couch potato; to weekend warrior; to “I want to drink some beer after and get a t-shirt”; to “I want to do something truly challenging, like a real adventure race”.

Obstacle racing provides that intermediate step or “stepping stone” that allows people to envision themselves doing the impossible, and seeking that next more difficult challenge.

Is obstacle racing the death of Adventure Racing?  Perhaps, it’s just a new beginning.