Why aren't there more solo opportunities for adventure racing?

-Jennifer Matzner, Roanoke, Va.

Adventure racing was first created in 1989 as a team sport-with good team dynamics at the core of being successful. It developed as a co-ed team event, and virtually all events now consider the co-ed division as the premier class-a cool and unique aspect, if you ask me. If solo is truly your thing, though, many races do offer the solo racer a spot (providing you can demonstrate your ability not to endanger yourself alone on a rugged course.) Keep in mind that days by yourself out in the woods is hard time. I recently talked to a couple of top-ranked navigators who did especially difficult races as solos. They told me stories of going 10 hours without seeing another human and yelling at the top of their lungs in the darkness in hopes of hearing a return yell. It can be creepy. Sometimes, teammates are really good to have.

How do I improve my navigational skills in adventure racing?

-Sherman Westrich, Washington, D.C.

Reading a topo and using map and compass skills is an essential part of adventure racing. How to improve? First, get the skills: www.maptools.com/tutorials.html is a great resource for learning the basics of UTM coordinate use. And then? Practice, practice, practice. Being able to quickly and intuitively discern features and possible routes from a topo map is crucial to a successful race. The best way to learn is to go out and do it. Find an area that you are comfortable in-like a place you’ve been trail running or biking for years. Then take a USGS map and a compass and practice “straightlining,” or going off trail from one feature to the next. For instance, you might have a trail that goes from a ridgeline all the way down to the confluence of two creeks, but it takes three miles to do it. Practice going straight there-and keep track of as many factors as you can: What vegetation grows where? Which way did the topography “pull” you? What was easier travel, ridgeline or gulley? Can you keep track of specific features? Always remember leave-no-trace ethics as well. Going off trail is fine, but be aware of minimizing your impact on the surrounding terrain.

How do I train for sleep deprivation during a multi day adventure race?

-Aileen Perkinson, Atlanta, Ga.

I’ve never really found a good way to simulate the “sleepmonsters”-the weird feelings and hallucinations that crop up 36 to 48 hours into a big adventure race. I’ve always found that 36 hours is the cut-off for thinking about incorporating a little sleep into your race. Between 36 and 48 hours, you can grab the occasional 5 or 10 minute “power nap” for some pretty amazing results. A good rule of thumb: add an hour of sleep per 23 hours of racing in events beyond 48 hours. Luckily, I’m able to handle the monsters pretty well…but when I crash, it’s ugly. A couple of years ago, my team was fighting for the win in one of the South’s epic 40-hour races and we were paddling to the finish (paddling seems to zap me the worst!). About halfway through the seven-hour final paddle, I snapped awake to the screams of our female teammate as our boat careened into an embankment and almost flipped. We were only an hour or so away from the finish-but it seemed prudent to stop for a quick ten-minute power nap. Caffeine supplements like Vivarin and No Doze definitely work to some extent, and drinks like Red Bull help as well. But lack of sleep is the biggest contributor to poor judgments during a race. Sacrificing 10 minutes in a 36-hour race is worth it if you prevent a five-hour navigation mistake.

Jay Curwen is an elite adventure racer and co-owner of Black Dome Mountain Sports (www.blackdome.com) in Asheville, N.C.