Get Lost Racing

Get Lost in Season 1: Trek and Trail Master the endurance sports that make up off-road racing by learning what they are, how they work, and what makes them great. What the heck is Get Lost Racing? The Get Lost Racing Podcast, hosted by Kyle M. Bondo, is a podcast about defining off-road racing disciplines! Each episode takes a look at an off-road sport and explains what it is, how it works, and how you can experience it. How am I going to do that? By teaching you what they are, how they work, and how you can experience them. One discipline at a time. Why one discipline at a time? Ask yourself, "What is off-road racing?" Some define it as a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments. Where does a mountain bike fit into that definition? Isn’t a mountain bike race an off-road race? Then you get someone to raise their hand and ask, "Don’t you mean endurance racing?" To which others define endurance racing as a form of motorsport racing which is meant to test the durability of equipment and endurance of participants. Motorsports again! Only this time its teams of multiple drivers attempt to cover a large distance in a single event. Sound like the motorsports rampage of the Baja 1000, not the mountain bike endurance race of the Whisky 50. Still, others might try to call it endurance sports. So what is endurance sports? Now, this is where it starts to get tricky. Endurance Sports is a relative description of just about any sport depending on the nature of the athlete in the sport. It could go on to describe any intense effort that lasts over 1 or more hours. A trail runner could consider a 5-mile run as an endurance sport, while an ultra-trail runner doing 100 miles would feel very differently from that definition. You could be overly scientific and determine that endurance sports are prolonged efforts in which you use your aerobic system more than your anaerobic system. Or you could use my definition, which is an off-road sport (like a 12-hour adventure race) that starts off fun, but then at some point in the middle, you find yourself saying, "Why do I do this?" Only to come full-circle about 10-minutes after it's all over, loving what you just did and wanting to do it again. The point is, off-road or endurance sports are very hard to define. No matter how you try to define it you'll always be left with someone pointing out that you forgot to consider one sport or another. The Mission of Get Lost Racing The Get Lost Racing Podcast is an attempt to explore each would-be off-road and endurance sport I can find, and find out what makes it tick. My plan is to select only sports that meet these three rules: #1 - It can’t have a motor #2 - It must take place in a rural, rugged, or non-paved environment, and #3 - It must look somewhat fun to race If it meets those rules, it's on the list. So far, those rules create a very long list! But it also provides plenty of off-road and endurance sports to chose from as I go through each one. We’ll see if changes over time. And we’ll also see if I can find some definitions for off-road and endurance sports that can improve on what's out there now. I Look Forward to you Listening Meanwhile, I look forward to having you join me on this journey of sports mastery. My wish is that you find some of these off-road sports interesting, and maybe even try a few yourself. Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 1: Trail Running Get lost in the endurance sport of Trail Running by learning about the gear you need, where to start, and how you get into the trail racing community. What the heck is Trail Running? Trail running is a sport just like it sounds, where you run on trails. But unlike the paved version of running, trail running has some nuances and a culture that requires you to embrace some things that you may not be prepared to do if your into 5K’s or marathons, and anything in-between. Now a trail run normally extends 5 to 10 miles into the wilderness. Now you could talk about trails in the Southwest, or trails along the West Coast with big open areas near cities, not too far away from urban environments. However, most trail runs are in the woods and far away from civilization. Episode Highlights Trail Running Introduction Trail Shoes Hydration Emergency Equipment Racing Community Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 2: Adventure Racing Get lost in the endurance sport of Adventure Racing by learning what it is, what gear you need, and what training to should have before you start racing. What the heck is Adventure Racing? Adventure Racing Introduction Endurance Disciplines How It Works Required Gear Types of Races Where to Start Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 3: Cross-Country Mountain Biking Get lost in the endurance sport of Cross-Country Mountain Biking by learning what it is, what gear you need, and how to start racing it. What the heck is Cross-Country Mountain Biking? Cross-Country (XC) Mountain Biking Introduction Required Gear Skill Levels Required Types of Races How It Works Where to Start Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 4: Orienteering Get lost in the endurance sport of Orienteering by learning what initial gear you need and how you get into the foot and trail orienteering community. What the heck is Orienteering? Orienteering Introduction Required Gear Skill Levels Required Types of Races How It Works Where to Start Get Lost Racing Show Links Orienteering USA Attack Point Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 5: Enduro Mountain Biking Get lost in the endurance sport of Enduro Mountain Biking by learning what gear you need, what skills you have to develop, and where to get your lobotomy. What the heck is Enduro Mountain Biking? The Enduro (short for Endurance) is a Gravity competition that combines all the best parts of Downhill racing into a multi-day event. An Enduro is by far the most exciting event in mountain biking right now considering how it does not require riders to exhaust themselves with climbing hills. Most Enduro events include 5 to 8 downhill races, where the uphill parts are used as a prelude. Racers can get a drink, take a nap, or even walk to the summit of their next downhill stage of the race. Because that made Enduro riders seem lazy, some race promoters decided to have an Enduro that made the Uphill (UH) parts a race right alongside the downhill parts. For every world championship format of Enduro is four other formats that mix it up to include just about anything. Since formats for Enduros vary, most national competitions replace the need to grind up hills in favor of a gentle ski lift ride to the top. However, not having to ride uphill does not make it any less daunting. What Enduro lacks in hill climbs it makes up for in multiple downhill rides, usually over a weekend where riders ride downhill trails over and over again. Some events even require riders to remove their chain in a “chainless” ride down the hill, with only pure gravity and skill to get them to the bottom. Most Enduros take all the rider’s best times over the multiple events, rank them, and add the time differences up. When the final numbers are tallied, they make the final race a pursuit-style cross country or Super-D race. This is where each rider gets a head-start based on their times in the previous stages and makes the competition a “winner take all” race to the final finish line. The end result of this format is an event that forces riders into a level the playing field. While Enduros try to combine all the skills of mountain biking into one event by requiring riders to be more well-rounded, the international competition is still centered mostly around downhill riding. Episode Highlights Enduro Introduction How it Works Types of Races How it is Changing Get Lost Racing Show Links Crankworxs -- Enduro World Series Giant Toa Enduro Sea Otter Classic Oregon Enduro -- Oregon Enduro Series, Bend, Oregon Blue Ridge Adventures -- Pisgah Stage Race, Brevard, North Carolina Rapid Ascent -- The Redback Stage Race, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 6: Mountain Bike Orienteering Get lost in the endurance sport of Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) by learning how it works, what gear you need, and where you can race it. What the heck is Mountain Bike Orienteering? The sport of mountain bike orienteering (MTBO) is a mountain bike race where riders use a map and compass to navigate the course by finding orange/white flags (controls or checkpoints) in the correct order. The goal of any MTBO racer is to be the fastest rider to find all of the controls (in the correct order) faster than anyone else. If you do that, you win! Unlike a typical mountain bike cross-country (XC) race that requires you stay with a lead pack, MTBO riders can be all over the course with no one knowing how far or near they are to first place. Adding to the mental challenge of having to read a map, paying attention to which trail is which, and making good route choices is what makes MTBO both physically and intellectually satisfying. MTBO is more than just a being a good mountain bike rider; it also requires you to be a good thinker and decision maker. Map reading, navigation, and quick decisions can actually make you faster on an MTBO course than a rider who is in better shape than you. However, when you mix natural speed (based on a good physical foundation) with excellent navigation skills, you create an athlete that is both fast and smart. This is why MTBO America’s slogan is Fast brains make fast bikes! Episode Highlights MTBO Introduction How it Works Types of Races Equipment Used Where is it Raced Get Lost Racing Show Links MTBO America Orienteering USA International Orienteering Federation (IOF) World MTB Orienteering Championship 2017 Junior World MTB Orienteering Championship 2017 Austrailian MTBO Championships 2017 Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 7: Bikejoring Get lost in the endurance sport of Bikejoring by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Bikejoring? Bikejoring is an endurance sport made from the perfect blend of mountain biking and dog handling. Placed together into one grand event, this sport has all the feel of an Iditarod sled race, but without the need for snow. An offshoot of sledding, bikejoring (or bikejor) is an endurance sport that attaches a pair of sled dogs (or team) to a mountain bike via a towline. The dog team then pulls the mountain bike rider (or driver) over a soft trail or dirt road course either during a time trial or paired heats. The catch is that the mountain bike has no chain. All the power comes from the dogs along a straightaway with the fastest dog team and rider over three runs wins. Most courses avoid paved or gravel roads to keep from injuring the dog paws Since the dogs have to remain in front of the mountain bike at all times, any driver can be beaten by a team with more control. Episode Highlights Bikejoring Introduction How it Works Types of Races Equipment Used Where is it Raced Get Lost Racing Show Links Bikejor.com International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) K9 Trail Time - Bikejor Training IFSS Dryland World Championships 2017 Sled Dog Central - Spokane Dirt Rondy United States Federation of Sleddog Sports (USFSS) Disabled Sports USA Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 8: Dual Slalom Mountain Biking Get lost in the endurance sport of Dual Slalom Mountain Biking by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Dual Slalom Mountain Biking? Riders ready? Watch the Gate. Beep… beep… beeeeeeep… bang! The start gate drops and two mountain bike riders quickly accelerate out of the starting chute of what will begin a full speed, 60-second assault of the Dual Slalom course. Unlike any other style of mountain bike racing, the dual slalom is the most intense, enjoyable, and spectator friendly mountain biking event there is. The details are simple. Dual slalom consists of two racers battling it out next to each other on two almost identical single track courses. In less than a minute, these riders must race against each other while navigating berm turns, tabletop jumps, drop in sections, and their own speed. Fastest to the bottom of the hill wins the run, and the time difference is recorded. Then they head back up to the top of the hill, swap lanes, and race again. The slowest rider from the first run has to overcome the deficit in the second run or be eliminated. The combined time from two runs determines the winner. The mechanics of deciding the winner is also a simple process. Qualifying runs will determine the racing order in a bracket system. But not all qualifying methods are the same. During the qualifying ride, riders can be: Randomly paired up with a simple playing card draw (Red paired with black, high paired with low) -- BMX style Matched with even bib numbers in one column going down, with the odd bib numbers in the other going up First come, first served using a coin toss to decide who gets what track Allowed solo rides down the course to determine placement based on time Regardless how you decide the pairing, the goal is to get both riders to race against each other and get a finish time at the bottom of the course. During the first round of competition, the top fastest qualifiers race against the bottom slowest during the first round. Racers then compete in a knock-out format until ultimately two riders are left and a winner is decided. Granted, the faster riders have to ride more rounds, but with both riders riding both sides of the course, any advantage one track gives is countered by the disadvantage the other creates. This provides a fair and balanced way of determining the winner. Episode Highlights: What the heck is dual slalom mountain biking? How does dual slalom work? What gear do you need to race dual slalom? What Mountain Bike works best? How do you train for a dual slalom race? How do you win a dual slalom race? Where do you race dual slalom? Why should you race dual slalom? GLR Episode Links Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, CA Crankworx Whistler, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships -- Snowshoe, WV USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships -- Missoula, MT Gravity Soul, Frederick, Maryland 2017 Mid-Atlantic Cup (MAC) Slalom Series Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games, Mammoth Lake, CA (Sometimes has Dual Slalom races) Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 9: Ultrarunning Get lost in the endurance sport of Ultrarunning by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Ultrarunning? You might be familiar with some very popular marathons like the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. All of these races are limited to 26.2 miles. Some consider a runner who runs multiple marathons to be an Ultra Runner. However, the be considered a true ultrarunner -- especially by those that consider themselves ultrarunners -- you need to go beyond the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. And in most instances, take your ultrarunning off-road and into the wild. Ultrarunning has many names: endurance running, ultramarathoning, ultra trail running, and even beyond marathon running. Whatever you call it, Some consider a runner who runs multiple marathons to be an Ultra Runner. However, the be considered a true ultrarunner -- especially by those that consider themselves ultrarunners -- you need to go beyond the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. And in most instances, take your ultrarunning off-road and into the wild. Ultrarunning has many names: endurance running, ultramarathoning, ultra trail running, and even beyond marathon running. Whatever you call it, Ultrarunning has many names: endurance running, ultramarathoning, ultra trail running, and even beyond marathon running. Whatever you call it, ultrarunning is essentially the sport of competing in events with courses measuring 30, 50, or 100 miles in distance. As the distance increases, the number of finishers dramatically drops off. Many try to compete in these events, but due to the extreme distance, ultra running has one of the highest DNF rates in endurance sports. Far higher than other extreme races like the Ironman or XTERRA triathlons. In fact, some ultra running events like the Barkley Marathons 100 Miler are so difficult, they have seen entire races suffer a 100-percent did not finish (DNF) rate. Not all 100-mile ultra races are created equal, but most are so hard that you are required to show proof that you completed shorter races (30 to 50 Not all 100-mile ultra races are created equal, but most are so hard that you are required to show proof that you completed shorter races (30 to 50 milers) to even register. This makes the world of ultrarunning and ultra racing a special sub-culture of runners that are unique among endurance sports athletes. The key to ultrarunning is the ability to be resilient and just keep going even when the going is painful. While there are a lot of positive people running ultras, complete with smiles and happy faces, it takes a very determined individual to push through the tough times that running a big Ultra can produce. Episode Highlights: What gear do you need to start Ultra Running? How do you start Ultra Running? Where do you a race in an Ultra? How do you Improve your chances of finishing an ultra run? What do they not tell you about ultra running? GLR Episode Links Leadville Trail 100 Race, Leadville, CO Badwater 135 - Death Valley, CA Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run, Silverton, CO Fat Dog 120 Trail Race - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Spartathlon - Athens to Sparta, Greece The Barkley Marathon - 100 Mile Run (Not an official website) Trail Runner Magazine - 20 Beginner-Friendly Trail Ultras Reckoneer - Build Your Own Ultra Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 10: No-Snow Biathlon Get lost in the endurance sport of No-Snow Biathlon by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is No-Snow Biathlon? To understand No Snow Biathlon, you need to first know what a biathlon is. The biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and precision rifle shooting. Competitors race for miles around a trail system whose total distance is divided into either two or four shooting rounds. Shooting round is divided into one-half standing and one-half in the prone position. For each shooting round, the biathlete must hit five targets and receives a penalty for each missed target. If you miss any of the targets, extra distance or time is added to your total running distance/time in the form of mini penalty laps. The contestant with the shortest total time wins. Recreationalists, endurance racers, off-road enthusiasts, and even potential biathletes now have more options than ever before to enter the world of biathlon without snow. Newcomers to trail running or even roller skiing can also find the no-snow biathlon experience to be a welcome distraction. For those interested in taking the no-snow principles into the alpine, any endurance conditioning that creates a strong physical base can benefit anyone looking to build an off-season, cross-country skiing physique. With only a little bit of creativity, potential athletes in snowless regions can develop their own opportunities for simulating the near-real world conditions you will find in a biathlon event. Episode Highlights: What is the biathlon? What is the no-snow biathlon? What gear do I need to start in biathlon? What makes the no-snow biathlon different from biathlon? What skills do I need to be competitive? Where do you a race in a no-snow biathlon? No-Snow Biathlon Gear Links Jenex Roller Skis Wood Roller Skis Men’s Trail Running Shoes Women’s Trail Running Shoes Where to Shoot in Virginia NRA Range Services Nordic Marksman, Inc. Gun Broker (Biathlon) No-Snow Biathlon Race Links U.S. Biathlon Team USA – Event Run and Gun / Gears and Guns Biathlon Weekend, Flat Rock Ranch, Comfort, TX Friends of Oil Creek State Park – Summer Biathlon, Rouseville, PA Pennsylvania Biathlon – Gravel Biathlon, Altoona, PA Whistler Biathlon Society – Summer Biathlon Series, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Trek and Trail 11: XTERRA Triathlon Get lost in the endurance sport of XTERRA Triathlon by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is XTERRA Triathlon? The XTERRA Triathlon is a brand named version of a Cross or Off-Road triathlon series raced around the world. The XTERRA is officially the creation of TEAM Unlimited LLC -- a company based in Honolulu, Hawaii. TEAM Unlimited started the series as the Aquaterra in 1996 and later renamed their version of the Cross Triathlon to XTERRA. Now with over 42 races in 33 different countries, XTERRA is the most popular version of the Cross or Off-Road Triathlon format. The XTERRA Triathlon requires competitors to perform well in three equally difficult stages: Open Water Swim Mountain Bike Trail Run Since XTERRA is active in having its brand associated with endurance sports, many of their XTERRA triathlons also include a duathlon event consisting of: Trail Run Mountain Bike Trial Run The first trail run is usually an abbreviated course to roughly match the swim times, with the mountain bike and trail running stages the same as the triathlon. XTERRA has even branched out to include a XTERRA Trail Running series to coincides with its XTERRA triathlon series. But for the sake of this episode of Get Lost Racing, I'm only going to focus on the XTERRA Triathlon series. What the heck is XTERRA Triathlon? Who can race a XTERRA? How does a XTERRA Triathlon Race work? What is XTERRA Culture like? How do you get ready for a XTERRA? What kind of gear do you need for XTERRA? Where can I get help training for my XTERRA? How do you get serious about XTERRA? How do I race in the XTERRA World Tour? Why do XTERRA? XTERRA Gear and Info Links VIDEO: XTERRA Promo XTERRA Couch to Trail Program Top Mountain Bikes Top Trail Running Shoes Top Triathlon Wetsuits VIDEO: 2016 XTERRA Pan American Championship Highlights VIDEO: 2016 XTERRA World Championship Highlights Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Get Lost in Season 2: Packs and Peaks Well... out getting lost racing, of course! But that's not all. I've also been working on Get Lost Racing Season 2. This Get Lost Racing Season 2 Teaser talks about what is coming in my next 12-episodes. Titled the season of Packs, Peaks, and Passions, Season 2 of GLR is a tribute to Outdoor Exploration. Season 2 of Get Lost Racing will premiere on January 7, 2018, with the first of 12 episodes titled Get Lost in Peak Bagging! Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Packs and Peaks 1: Peakbagging Get lost in the endurance sport of Peakbagging by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Peakbagging? Peakbagging is an activity in which hikers, hillwalkers, fast packers, and mountaineers attempt to reach the summits of a collection of peaks. Usually those above some height or prominence in a particular region, or having a particular feature. Sometimes this is also called hill bagging, mountain bagging, Munro bagging or simply “bagging”, peak bagging goes beyond just reaching a mountain summit. Why do Peakbagging? Peakbagging is not like your traditional mountain climbing expeditions. It is an endurance sport that blends the core elements of hiking, ultrarunning, and orienteering, but avoids the technical skills of a hardcore rock climber. To be a peakbagger, all you need to do is have the passion and desire to want to collect a series of peaks from an abstract list. The goal is to not to summit only the mountain, but to climb all the peaks around the mountain in the fastest, not hardest, way possible. And have your only reason for doing it be: “because it’s there”. Time to go tag and bag some peaks! And that is the endurance sport of Peakbagging. Peakbagging Links Peakbagger.com: http://www.peakbagger.com/ Peakbagger.com Peaks List: http://www.peakbagger.com/listindx.aspx The Harvey Manning Peak Challenge: https://trailrunnermag.com/people/culture/harvey-manning-peak-challenge.html Discrete Peak Series: http://theprobar.com/introducing-the-discrete-peak-series-trail-running-and-peak-bagging/ Discrete Peak Series: http://rock.discreteclothing.com/peak-series/ 10 Perfect Peakbagging Trips: https://www.backpacker.com/stories/10-perfect-peakbagging-trips The Peak Bagger: http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/hiking/the-peak-bagger/ Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Our Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Reckoneer Media. Please check out Kyle's other podcast: Merchants of Dirt Podcast. What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Packs and Peaks 2: Bikepacking Get lost in the endurance sport of Bikepacking by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Bikepacking? If you mixed backpacking, hiking, orienteering, and endurance mountain biking into one sport, you would have bikepacking. Bikepacking is a form of outdoor exploration and camping where you travel only by mountain or road bike over an extended distance for several days. In fact, some mountain bike enthusiasts claim that growing interest in bikepacking is what brought fat bikes out of obscurity and into the mainstream. Bikepacking has the unique characteristic of requiring a rider to travel under their own power, carry everything he or she needs to survive, and camp for at least one night. This can include a route as short as a two-day, 20-mile out and back, or a long as the 4,700+ Trans America route across the United States. Each rider is responsible for carrying all their own gear. No, this does not mean some water, a few granola bars, and a spare bike tube. Bikepackers go out for the long haul. Their common gear load-out consists of camping gear, change of clothes, food, water, bike repair tools, communications, navigation, and safety gear. All evenly distributed among a group of strategically placed body and bike mounted bags. The end result is a bike covered with seat, handlebar, frame, and fork bags, and a rider with a backpack and lots of pockets. Over time, bikepackers fine-tune their logistics and only carry what they need based on the kind of route they intended to ride. But what starts with just a backpack and a destination can quickly turn into an expedition into some of the most beautiful but remote areas of the world. Why do Bikepacking? To become a bikepacker, you have to be into it for the long haul. Where completing a route for your own personal challenge IS the goal, and not making good time or going fast. This is why bikepacking is not for sprinters. It is a methodical journey where you have to be comfortable with: Riding alone with your own thoughts Walking your bike for miles before you get to ride it again Learning how to survive a long, long way from any help These are epic “self-supported” adventures. Sure, you’re going to see things that 90-percent of the country will never see. And you’re going to do it with just your trusty metal steed of a mountain bike, and what you carry with you, to keep you alive. Nobody knows how hard bikepacking is until they have ridden into the wilderness and had to sleep in the dark. Only to find out they’ve only traveled a fraction of their route, and now they have to start riding for the second day. It can be a greatly rewarding experience. You can carry yourself to locations and vistas that no motorized vehicle can get to, and backpackers only dream of. But don’t come to bikepacking on a whim. You have to want to do this sport, and be good at logistical planning, if you want to survive it. And that is the endurance sport of Bikepacking. Time to go pack your bike for an adventure! Bikepacking Links Bikepacking.com Bikepacker.com Bikemag.com Bunyanvelo.com Goodrotations.co Adventurecycling.org Toms Bike Trip Districtbicycles.com - Treys Beans Bikepacking Racing Links Tour Divide Ride the Divide Movie Trailer Trans Am Bike Race Inspired to Ride 10 Bikepacking Races to Put on Your Calendar Bikepacking Gear Links Fenix Lighting Restrap Revelate Designs Pika Bikeworks Apidura Timbuk2 Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Our Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Reckoneer Media. Please check out Kyle's other podcast: Merchants of Dirt Podcast. What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Packs and Peaks 3: Fell Running Get lost in the endurance sport of Fell Running by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Fell Running? As endurance sports go, Fell Running is about as easy as it comes. First, you run to the top of a hill. Then, when you reach the top, you run back down. The first one to run up and down the hill wins. See, simple. Or is it? Why do Fell Running? Who doesn’t like hills? It seems like throughout human history, there have been people who ask “who can run up the hill the fastest”. Fell Running is no different than any other kind of running with one very important exception -- elevation. Elevation makes Fell Running what it is because anyone can run on flat, even terrain. It’s when you add a big hill into the mix, that you have the attraction to Fell Running. And not to be left out of this is the changes we Americans make to any popular endurance sport that comes out of Europe. We take it and make it our own. So what has Fell Running become in the United States? That's right -- Mountain Running! Leave to us Americans to make everything bigger. So when you come to America, remember -- We don't Fell, we Mountain! And that is the endurance sport of Fell Running. Time to go find some hills... or... mountains to run!   Other GLR Episodes You Might Like GLR S2:E2: Get Lost in Peakbagging GLR S1:E10: Get Lost in Ultrarunning GLR S1:E2: Get Lost in Trail Running Fell Running Links Fell Running Guide Fell Running Iceland looks Terrifyingly Fun Rough Guide to Fell Running 60-second Guild to Fell Running Best Fell Running Shoes Reviewed Fell running: an introductory guide The Bob Graham Round: Running the Fells with Friends (full version) Fell Running Guide - Lake District Fellrunner.org.uk The World's Toughest Running Races The Dragon's Back Race Trailrunner.com Race Calendar Legendary Trail Races Loon Mountain Race's The Boss US Mountain Running Championships - Loon Mountain Loon Mountain Race US Mountain Running Team World Mountain Running Association USATF Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.

Packs and Peaks 4: Rucking Get lost in the endurance sport of Rucking by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Rucking? Rucking is simple. To Ruck, all you need to do is put a little weight on your back and go for walk. That is rucking. I know. Too simple, right? Well, don’t overthink it. Rucking is something very special when it comes to endurance sports. My first experience with rucking was very personal. The group I rucked with were all veterans from every branch of the US Military. As a US Navy Vet myself, this was a familiar group of guys and gals. The goal was simple: ruck for 4-miles around town. Only before we started, we stretched out together, said a quick prayer, and then someone hoisted up an American Flag on a pole. As a group, we started rucking -- almost in a formation -- with the Stars and Stripes leading the way. It was very emotional -- especially as a Vet that has been out of the military for a while. It was a chance to associate with other Vets with similar backgrounds for a few moments. Rucking is more than just walking with weight on your back. Rucking is a community that just so happens to have a good endurance activity connected to it. If you’re looking for a community that will accept you -- veteran or not -- so long as you wear some weight on your back -- then rucking is for you. And that is the endurance sport of Rucking. Time to go find some friends and do some hard things when them! Veteran Crisis Line If you are a Veteran in emotional crisis or know of a Veteran in emotional crisis, you or their loved ones can call the free and confidential Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to connect with a caring, qualified VA responder who can deal with any immediate crisis. Rucking Links GORUCK.com GORUCK.com - What is Rucking GORUCK.com - How to Ruck Rucking: The simple fitness technique that will change your weight loss routine (for good) The Fitness Trend Men Everywhere Can’t Get Enough Of The Art of Manliness - Podcast #314: Building Better Citizens Through Rucking Cardio for the Man Who Hates Cardio: The Benefits of Rucking VIDEO: Rucking Gear Tips Remembering 22 Rucking Event VA Releases Veteran Suicide Statistics by State Veteran Crisis Line Mission 22 Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Other GLR Episodes You Might Enjoy: GLR S2:E2: Get Lost in Peakbagging GLR S1:E10: Get Lost in Ultrarunning GLR S1:E2: Get Lost in Trail Running Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout. 

BONUS: Memorial Day and Mission 22 Join Get Lost Racing in supporting Mission 22 and stand united in the war against veteran suicide. What the heck is Mission 22? Mission 22 is a charity fighting a War Against Veteran Suicide and they are losing. Which is why they need your help! According to the Department of Veteran Affairs study, each day over 20 veterans takes their own lives. But together, we can win the War Against Veteran Suicide. Join Get Lost Racing in supporting Mission 22, a charity dedicated to letting our Vets know that they have an army behind them. Your donation dollars to Mission 22 assist them in getting Veterans treatment when they need it the most: RIGHT NOW! Veteran Crisis Line If you are a Veteran in emotional crisis or know of a Veteran in emotional crisis, you or their loved ones can call the free and confidential Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to connect with a caring, qualified VA responder who can deal with any immediate crisis. Mission 22 Links Mission 22 Mission 22 Contribute VA Releases Veteran Suicide Statistics by State Veteran Crisis Line Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form.  

Packs and Peaks 5: Canine Biathlon Get lost in the endurance sport of Canine Biathlon by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Canine Biathlon?  The name is a bit misleading. No, you don’t ski and shoot dogs. Think of canine biathlon as a backyard obstacle course race mixed with a trail run that you do with your dog. Trail running and obstacle course racing - this is where the "bi" part comes in biathlon. It’s the K9 part that adds an extra special element to this event. Who’s doesn’t want to race with their dog?  Well -- you and your dog have to navigate a maze of trials and obstacles over a 3.5-mile course. These obstacles are divided into water and purpose-built challenges that both you and your dog have to defeat together. Some obstacles require you to both go over, under, or through under your own power. Others require you to carry your dog or allow your dog a break while you complete an individual challenge.   Originally designed for military, police and government K9 handlers, canine biathlon has evolved into something that anyone with any kind of dog can participate in and when I say any size dog, I really mean any size dog. From well trained German Shepherds to little tiny Terriers, if the dog loves to run and can listen to your commands, it can participate in the Canine Biathlon. And that is the endurance sport of Canine Biathlon. Time for you to start training... it’s ok... your dog will wait for you!   Canine Biathlon Links U.S. Canine Biathlon U.S. Canine Biathlon US Canine Biathlon In Anniston 2017 Biathlon 2016 US Canine Biathlon | 2016 U.S. Canine Biathlon Event - Facebook Iron Doggy Vaper Wake K9 Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Other GLR Episodes You Might Enjoy: GLR S2:E2: Get Lost in Peakbagging GLR S1:E10: Get Lost in Ultrarunning GLR S1:E2: Get Lost in Trail Running Outdoor Reckoneering Links Reckoneer - Business School for Race Directors Merchants of Dirt Podcast - Outdoor Event Management Our Sponsor Gagglepod - Become Podcast Worthy What Do You Think? I want to know what you think about my podcast! Please leave me feedback by doing the following: Go to the Merchants of Dirt Podcast iTunes page. Click View in iTunes under the show artwork. Submit a review and give it a 5-star rating! Thank You for Listening Thank you so much for listening to Get Lost Racing Podcast. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to me @MerchantsofDirt on Twitter, by Email, or my Contact Form. Join the Conversation If you're thinking about creating a race for this discipline, please join my Facebook group: Race Promoters' Hangout.  Veteran Crisis Line If you are a Veteran in emotional crisis or know of a Veteran in emotional crisis, you or their loved ones can call the free and confidential Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to connect with a caring, qualified VA responder who can deal with any immediate crisis.

Packs and Peaks 6: Rogaine Get lost in the endurance sport of Rogaine by explaining how it works, what gear you need, and where you can go to get lost racing it. What the heck is Rogaine? When I say the word Rogaine, the first thing that might come to mind is a popular hair-care product that helps balding men regrow hair. However, this kind of Rogaine is really just an Australian acronym for a special type of orienteering that can trace its roots back to the 1940s. The name Rogaine is actual the combination of its three founders: Rod Phillips Gail Davis Neil Phillips By combining their names into Ro-Gai-Ne they created an acronym for “Rogaine”. Now, if you are participating in a rogaine event, you are technically a ‘rogainer’ doing some 'rogaining'. All three of these racers were members of the Surrey-Thomas Rover Crew which organized the world's first rogaine. The name was formally adopted by the Victorian Rogaining Association in 1976 and has since become an endurance sport throughout Australia, Europe, and North and South America. But it is not a name without controversy. Because of that conflict with the American Hair Care Product “Rogaine”, many American orienteers have a problem with the name. During the 12th World Rogaining Championship (2014): Black Hills, South Dakota, in 2012, there was an attempt to have the name changed from Rogaining to Map Trekking. Although the overall effort failed, the issue still comes up in orienteering circles and forums every year. Many like the term “Rogaining” and point out the roots of the word pre-dates the hair care product. However, others have resorted to calling it Map Trekking even though Orienteering USA still uses Rogaine as the name of the discipline on their website. Nothing like an endurance sport with a built-in drama!  Rogaine Links Rogaining Rogaining to Map Trekking (2012) Rogaining to Map Trekking (2016) Orienteering USA - Rogaine International Rogaining Federation (IRF) Orienteering USA - Rogaining Events Internationally Rogaining Federation Events Rootstock Racing - The Crooked Compass Adventure Until then, I hope you Get Lost Racing! Other GLR Episodes You Might Enjoy: Other GLR Episodes You Might Enjoy: