Extreme Rambling?

As I've become fond of saying, adventure racing is unimaginably hard. That's not entirely true, if you actually watch an event, as I did last weekend, it's all too easy to imagine just how hard it is; in fact the main point seems to be a game of 'how dead can you get' played out over the battlefield of the outdoors.

But does adventure racing have any relevance to the average outdoor person? The climber, walker or mountain biker who just wants to go out and have an adventure rather than a race? That was the question I was asking myself and others all the way through the Salomon X-Adventure World Cup round in Snowdonia last week.

Lesson 1: Be Prepared

All adventure racers have a list of compulsory equipment which is checked before the event begins. It's based on what they need to survive the event and it's not a bad principle for any trip into the outdoors. Think through what you're going to need and check it off, maybe against a list. Of course the reason racers are checked is because left to their own devices they'd start the race with two Mars Bars and a plastic bin liner...

In the pre-race briefing and check there was so much adrenaline lying around I nearly tripped over the bloody stuff. Nuff said.

Lesson 2: Get An Early Start

Getting an early start at the Salomon X-Adventure

The start of the Salomon took place in near darkness under a giant inflatable Stonehenge thing which looked like it'd come from the set of Spinal Tap, or was it bad news. Of course it punctured, but not as badly as semi-pros from Spain, Team Buff. They turned up late and in the frenzied effort to make up for lost time, one member slipped and smacked his knee on a rock big time. They never managed to make up the disadvantage and while the rest of the teams were yomping along the first leg, a fell run up the Devil's Kitchen path and along the Glyders, they were busy collecting penalty points.

Lesson 3: Read The Map

The Salomon links a number of check points - you can choose any way to link them, and the obvious one isn't always quickest. A slightly longer bike ride turned out to have an easier climb than the more obvious short route and most of the teams spotted it straight away. Look at the contours, not just the lines.

Lesson 4: Always Wear Yellow

Yellow, an ideal outdoors colour?

Yellow clothing is lighter than, say, black. If you wear as much yellow as possible, it'll all add up, er, maybe.

Lesson 5: Work As A Team

Adventure racers take this to extremes - they have strange fishing lines on the rear of their mountain bikes to be able to tow weaker team members and bungees coming out of their packs, but there is a lesson there. To succeed they have to be aware of relative strengths and weaknesses. Each team is of mixed sex and often the woman just isn't physically as strong as the men, but as Liz Cowell, of third-placed team Salomon Pilgrims pointed out, different people bring different strengths to the group, so use them. And remember, there's no point in going faster than the slowest member.

Lesson 6: Stay Hydrated

Most racers use hydration systems. That might seem over the top for a walk, but little and often is the ideal way to keep hydrated and sucking it through a tube is far easier than having to stop and take out a water bottle every ten minutes. Try a bladder in your existing rucksack, you won't look back, honest.

Lesson 7: Don't Abseil Down Waterfalls (unless you absolutely have to...)

Don't go there unless you really have to...

One element of the event was an abseil down a waterfall for which there was no rational reason - they could have walked round it. Watching people getting soaked and tired as they landed in the plunge pool at the bottom brought home the importance of staying dry, but even more of keeping determined and upbeat in a crisis.

Lesson 8: Go Light On Kit

The lighter your kit, the easier it is to carry and the fresher you'll feel at the end of the day. Lightweight fleece and waterproofs are generally available and worth buying. The racers use purpose-built packs from Lowe, Salomon and Karrimor. They're light and comfortable as long as you don't try to carry too much and the elasticated compression systems make them great for general biking, walking or running, though the back systems may be warm in hot conditions.

Lesson 9: Go Light On Your Feet

Racers tend to wear trainer-type race shoes or fell running shoes throughout the race. In the case of the Salomon, this meant mountain running across the Glyders as well as cycling, canoeing and abseiling. No-one's suggesting you should wear trainers for walking, but modern lightweight boots can cope with a lot if you give them the chance and the weight saved means less fatigue at the end of a day in the hills.

Lesson 10: Don't Give Up...

Moving as a team, not a bad outdoor skill

Okay, adventure racing's about being cold and tired, but one thing it can teach you is determination and the importance of boosting morale especially when things look bad. In a race which covers 140 miles like this one, a lot of the difference between the top teams is down to sheer bloody mindedness. In a crisis situation on the hills being similarly determined could save your bacon.

Lesson 11: ...But Use Your Head

Tactical thinking's crucial too. The teams have to make decisions on the hoof about when to stop and rest, when to carry on and, in the case of the Salomon, which team members do each leg. The same's true when things go wrong in the mountains. Ten minutes of thinking things through and deciding on the best course of action could save your life - frequently victims of mountain exposure are actually carrying all they need to surive, they've just never taken the decision to stop and get it out of the pack.

Lesson 12: Buy A Huge Renault Scenic Off Roader

Actually I just put that in to keep Renault happy, but they do seem quite good at hauling loads of kit around.

Lesson 12.5: Read The Terrain

One of the toughest legs of the Saloman race was a stage running across a relatively level section of open moorland. Only problem was that the 'ground' was a mix of gorse, heather and unforgiving bog. It was the first time big gaps really opened up, but on the map it looked innocuous. The lesson? Never assume ground that looks easy actually will be easy.

Lesson 13: You Don't Need To Go Racing To Have An Adventure

Pretty obvious really. Racers are like cats with balls of wool (no, not literally) but they're driven by competition - you don't have to be that way. Just getting out into the hills at your own level is a brilliant way to spend a day or two. If you want to try racing, great, but as the finishers slumped across the line to the accompaniment of a DJ and sound system on Barmouth beach, it felt an awfuly long away from the hills. Which I suppose it was.

An adventure, race or not...

The Salomon X-Adventure World Cup Round The easiest way to get a feel for the Welsh round of the Salomon X-Adventure World Cup is to throw a few statistics around: over 140 miles in two days; more than 4000 metres of ascent; 50 teams; swimming, fell running, orienteering, abseiling, canoeing, mountain biking, the er, flying fox (a death wire). Four people per team including at least one woman, or one bloke if you're a women's team. Only three of the four compete in any single leg, which take place between pre-determined points. Tactics and planning are as important as fitness - deciding when to rest and how long for, or who does which leg is vital as is nutrition and determination. Dynamics within the team make a real difference. Some use bungees to tow weaker members on running and biking sections, but weaker members may be stronger at say, swimming or navigation. Make no mistake, it's a big undertaking and to compete seriously calls for a huge level of fitness, training and dedication.