Primal Quest is an expedition-length adventure race that has been called one of the most difficult athletic events in the world and is cited as the most prestigious expedition event in North America. The race once featured the largest prize purse in adventure racing, and has been called the Super Bowl of adventure racing. Each race lasts up to ten days, with winning teams completing the course in approximately six days. Each team is required to have four members and must be co-ed.
My journey began shortly after I graduated from college (1988). I was living with my parents in order to save money for a new house and started to run and lift weights to get out of the house. I entered a few 5k and 10k races to give me something to train for. I ran my first marathon in 1995. It was the Marine Corps marathon and I finished in a little over four hours.
Training also consisted of hiking the local D.C. metropolitan trails. It was a cheap date and I found a lot of great places I never knew existed. The “ Billy Goat Trail” on the Maryland side of Great Falls was a place I frequented. I used to watch the kayakers playing in the whitewater. I decided to take a lesson in whitewater kayaking in the fall of 1996. This new hobby turned into an obsession and I was paddling almost every day thereafter.
My goal for kayaking was to be able to run Great Falls. My training took me to many rivers around the country. I took up whitewater slalom racing to hone my skills. I became a nationally ranked slalom boater, albeit, at the bottom of the list. My first experience running the falls was incredible. The adrenaline rush was almost too much. I felt sick to my stomach and almost lost my breakfast as I went over the route with my experienced guide. Running the falls is always a different experience. The water levels are never the same. Trees and rocks change the flow of water and the weather can affect the difficulty of the run. I often recounted tales of my river antics and on my high school twenty-year reunion I was overheard telling the latest episode of my river fun.
Three nights later, I was taking the Metro to the circus when I got the phone call that would change my life. It was from a girl I went to high school with. She had overheard my river stories and her husband needed a teammate for an adventure race. The race was in three days. I told her no problem. Her husband was not so sure of racing with someone he had never met, so; we met at Fountainhead Park the next morning for a “ training session”. I guess I passed the test. It’s ironic how my trip to the circus ended in me being teamed up with a bunch of crazy teammates that could easily be confused with circus performers.
The number of races, and the length of the races have grown exponentially. My training has continued to get more bizarre. I have been night trekking; century rides at night, and doing ultra marathons to prepare. The ultimate goal for me is Primal Quest 2008. I hope my body holds up for the unrelenting punishment. Most people think the race is all about the physical aspect. I know better. The mental portion of the race will be the most difficult. There is no amount of training that will get the mind ready. I am just glad I will be with my incredible teammates for the support I will need.
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