Countdown To Epic Adventure Race

Paul Shippey and Paul Mandel make last minute preparations for an epic running adventure, which traverses the Rocky Mountains from August 22- 27.

In case you were wondering how the Gore-Tex TransRockies race came about, it’s actually based on the GORE-TEX® TransAlpine-Run in Europe and the TransRockies mountain bike race in Canada. The two events abroad were so successful that they decided to stage a version on US soil, home of the title sponsor Gore-Tex!

Since it started in 2007, the TransRockies Run has evolved into one of the fastest growing, best known, and most grueling stage races in the world. TransRockies has grown from 112 racers to 264 last year. 

Stage racing in general, where runners cover specific distances each day and sleep at night, has become increasingly popular in recent years.  Each year, new races pop up in exotic locales around the world.  Among the best known currently are the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara desert and the TransAlpine Run in the European Alps.

The Colorado event consists of a multi-day point-to-point format, which allows athletes to access and traverse great mountain scenery, while building camaraderie, overcoming adversity and sharing a singular adventure.

The 2010 GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run course runs from Buena Vista to Beaver Creek, through the heart of the White River and San Isabel National Forests. The course includes a mix of single-track and forest road with nearly 25,000 feet of elevation gain, reaching altitudes of over 12,500 ft.

The race is fully supported which means that racers carry a limited amount of mandatory gear, such as: a rain jacket, small first-aid kit, a survival blanket, hat and gloves, etc.  All meals are tastily prepared and runners’ tents are set-up every night by crews of worker bees. There is even a hot-water shower truck for athletes to rinse off the dust and grime after each stage.

Another element that sets the TransRockies run apart is its two-person team format, which means you are only as good as your teammate.

During the stages athletes are supported with feed and aid stations along with a fully equipped and mobile medical team. Each day’s run is filmed by a professional TV crew who produce footage, which is shown during the daily awards ceremony recognizing the stage and overall leaders.

Each morning, the racers will leave the race village en masse and tackle the day’s course before arriving at the finish where the Event Team has moved in and rebuilt the village from the night before. With gear bags, tents, showers and food waiting, the racers can spend the rest of the afternoon and evening trading stories, healing wounds and recovering in preparation for the next day’s run.

Team EverymanTri

Our TransRockies rookie team - EverymanTri team consists of myself (Paul Shippey) and Paul Mandel, this is our first attempt at this epic adventure. Trying to find people to offer a rookie advice was a challenge, but I finally tracked down Jonathan Toker of Team SaltStick, who placed fifth in last year’s race in the Open Men category. Jonathan has done the six-day race twice, but this year he will tackle the solo division in a new shortened 3-day version of the event.

We asked Jonathan what the key to success in the main race is?

What is the recipe for success in a stage race like TransRockies?

You need to adopt a happy go-lucky approach to racing TransRockies, don’t get too worked up over it. It’s all about working together with your teammate. You have to have empathy for him or her and work around issues such as not feeling good on a particular day etc. Strong communication with your partner is the key!

What’s the most challenging aspect of the race?

It’s the repeated exposure to running over six days. The recovery is the hardest aspect. Some athletes don’t eat or drink enough and they pay the price in performance. The altitude can also be quite a challenge.

How does one figure out how much gear to race with?

Try to have less than more, but there are rules that stipulate one has to carry space blankets, first aid kits, etc. It depends a lot on the weather too. Two years ago it snowed at high elevations, which caught some people out who ran without the right gear.