Iconic Adventure Race Primal Quest Spawns Sprint Series

By Frances C. Fisher

Nothing captures the imagination of outdoorsy people like adventure racing — the soaring peaks, river-threaded valleys, and all the pain, heartache, and glory in between. For years we have watched seemingly superhuman athletes compete in impossibly scenic surroundings that look like outtakes from the Lord of the Rings.

Now, it’s time for mere mortals to shine. The makers of Primal Quest – the extreme race that challenges contestants’ bodies almost as much the limits of their inner strength – now bring a more accessible race to everyday athletes (you know, the ones with jobs, and kids, and commitments) who still want a chance to get outside and push their bodies to the max.

The author atop Lone Peak Mountain in Big Sky, Montana, site of Primal Quest: Montana in June 2008.

The Primal Quest Sprint Series debuts on May 10^th at Pocahontas State Park, near Richmond, VA. The race will pack more substance into 4-6 hours than most people will get into all year. The 7,000+ acre park offers plenty of space for racers to run around and get dirty, then rinse off or paddle through Beaver Lake and Swift Creek, the nautical mainstays of the park. Sprinkle in some mountain biking, ropes courses, and map-decoding (don’t forget your compass!) and you’ve got an action-packed, multi-sport race for outdoor enthusiasts ranging from beginner to advanced and anywhere in between.

It might be called a sprint, but don’t let that fool you! 50-yard dashers need not apply. This race will not only test your endurance, but also your cunning and wily ways – smart, tactical decisions can even the course between hares and tortoises.

At very least, the Primal Quest Sprint Series is a day in the woods you’ll never forget – but for some, it could be much more. This first race is in some ways a warm-up for the much longer Primal Quest 2008: Montana this summer. Scoring well in the upcoming races (May, October, and four more next year) could also add up to free entry in Primal Quest 2010.

Maybe that’s getting too far ahead, though. Sure, the sprint series could give participants the experience and inspiration they need to go big in an expedition-length race. For most of us, though, it’s a way to live the dream of a superhuman adventure in the wild – and still get home in time for dinner.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 11:03 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.