What is Adventure Racing? Who is Team DART-nuun?

Our team put together a short promo video that SHOWS rather than tells you what adventure racing is all about. Team DART-nuun racers have been racing with GoPro HD cameras mounted to our bikes, boats, heads and helmets lately just so we can bring this footage FROM THE GNAR straight to YOU!

What happens in an Adventure Race over 24 to 100+ nonstop hours of racing is hard to imagine...or even remember! With severe sleep deprivation in multi-day races, sometimes we don't even remember the scenes we capture with our cameras, or the reality captured on film is different than our "altered" perception at the time. Sad, but true!

I hope you have as much fun watching it as we had making it!

Team DART-Nuun-SportMulti: Ultra Endurance Racing from 1iOpen Productions on Vimeo.

Adventure Racers = ROCK STARS in China

...and in Ecuador, Brazil, New Zealand...but that's for another post.

Adventure Racing's presence in China goes back to the 1990s with the Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, which is now called the Wulong Quest. The top teams from New Zealand, Europe and the USA have made the journey nearly every year to compete for one of Adventure Racing's largest prize purses in some of the most epic landscapes imaginable.

During my visit to Hong Kong a couple months ago, I spent a few days paddling surfskis in Deepwater Bay, traversing Lamma Island by foot and enjoying the hospitality of ex-pat Ryan Blair, co-owner of the largest adventure race/outdoor event promotions company in SE Asia, Asia Pacific Adventure. During my stay, Ryan opened my eyes to how big the adventure racing and multisport scene is in Asia, how sponsors-many large American companies who do NOT sponsor AR in the USA-have been onboard in Asia for years.

For years I have noticed the popularity of AR/Multisport in Asia, specifically the Mild Seven and Wulong Quest. During a recent trip to Thailand I turned on my hotel room TV in Bangkok and actually saw ESPN Asia covering adventure racing on their broadcast (footage of Tecnu/DART's Kyle Peter and Mari Chandler!) like it was the freaking NBA! It's nice to know that somewhere in the world, our awesome sport is appreciated and even celebrated. It just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

Check out the following footage and you will see how adventure racers get the "rock star treatment" in Asia.

Team AXA Sports Club at the 2011 Wu Long Mountain Quest, China (long vers.) from scott cole on Vimeo.

Don't Die Wondering

"Unless you're willing to have a go, fail miserably, and have another go, success won't happen."

LISTEN, naughty little monkeys.

It's time for a splinter under your fingernail, some disruptive leadership that might even piss you off.

~OR~

Conversely, this might affirm your *choice* to be HAPPY. Maybe you are CHARGING LIFE and sharing your passions and love with everyone you meet. Maybe you are rocking it full-steam regardless of what cards you were dealt...and maybe there is one important part of your life that remains neglected.

OK, it's time to ruffle your feathers. Listen up and think about where you stand.

Who are you? What are you afraid of? What are your Fears? Dreams?

What will you settle for in this life? What HAVE you settled for in this life? What are the excuses the little devil on your shoulder whispers into your ear, time and again? Do you really believe the negative self-talk?

The CHALLENGE we all face is to actively manage our focus and mindset. This is hard to do without defining our values and beliefs. It sounds almost simplistic, but tell me right now: how you rank your values and how you design your life congruently. I'll wait.

We have heard the expression "Iron sharpens iron", but an interesting study also says that the morbidly obese tend to hang out together as well. Are your beliefs congruent with those of your peers'?

Certainly I am NOT using my own life as an example for this discussion, as I have failed repeatedly in every area of life imaginable as often as I have succeeded. This is socratic, not didactic; directed at myself more than anyone else!

The happiest people I know are on their own paths with insatiable needs to learn more, do better and grow. They are obsessed with LIFE and excellence and most importantly filled with gratitude for what they CAN do...not what they can't.

One thing these people have in common is their affinity, not avoidance, of "impossible" challenges. They know failure is part of the process, and are HAPPY with the process. They acknowledge obstacles as they inevitably come and work around without breaking stride.



Kyle Maynard is a "truly unstoppable badass".



Are you living in a way that avoids pain, the path of least resistance? Where is it leading you? Are you waiting for conditions to be 'just right' until your life is "the way you want it to be"? (SPOILER ALERT: Not going to happen!)

The clock is ticking...relatively faster as you get older. What would it look like if you just went for it, 100%? What would that look like? What would the impact be? Can you see it?

Are you going half-ass or full-ass?

Don't die wondering.

breathe

"BREATHE" from Paul Schneider on Vimeo.

This CrossFit inspired piece is an experiment in sound, small moments, dynamic build and human intensity.

It's a race against the clock that we all must face, and a reminder to breathe, because you can.


Main piano track is Fugitif 1 by Swod: bit.ly/​jGkUvc

Directed & Shot: Paul Schneider (helloandcompany.com/​commercials/​paul-schneider)
Edit: Andrew Maggio (framecycle.com)
Sound Design: Paul Schneider & Andrew Maggio

DEADLIFT!

If you are an athlete that doesn't regularly incorporate Deadlifts into your training, you're missing out. Perhaps you have never been taught proper form, which is a great reason NOT to do deadlift, as proper form and focus is imperative. I encourage all non-deadlifters to learn proper form ASAP (visit a weighlifting or CrossFit coach) and incorporate this exercise immediately. In the interest of your time, I linked up a video below that most eloquently explains and illustrates why this is the case.

The benefits extend (sorry) far beyond strengthening your posterior chain. Check out the short video below from CrossFit founder Greg Glassman as he explains WHY the deadlift is one of the top two most beneficial exercises, and what this means for YOU, regardless of your age or health and fitness goals.




Keep Charging Life!

SC