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what makes AR cool?
The 'can-do' nature of adventure racing means that AR occurs throughout the year, in nearly all conditions.
It's a team sport so you would do well to start going to watch events in your area, networking with people there and getting yourself invited to AR meetings (yep, they're a sociable bunch). Once you find a group you connect with, you'll find motivation... and invaluable support is now yours!
equipment
Although international elite AR is arguably the biggest budget-breaker in endurance sport, there's no need to be intimidated at the entry level. You'll need a mountain bike, hydration pack and running gear to get into the sprint events.
It's only the bigger events that require some investment in better hiking gear, cold weather clothing, and possibly trekking poles and canoeing and climbing equipment. Racing the big international by-invite-only events could set each team member back more than R50,000, while a beginner's Sprint AR will cost you less than R100 if you already have the basic gear. There's something for everyone in between too.
training for novices
Be patient with your preparation. See it as a journey rather than a destination. Ease into your running by doing 2-3 weekly jogs of less than 3km at a time. Include walking in this mix. Joining a hiking club is a good idea to get offroad mileage, and meet new people at the same time.
Do some of your riding on the road (your long distance slow riding), with occasional MTB rides to keep your technical skills sharp. Weekly strength training will improve your core strength, either at a gym or using suitable weight repetitions, press-ups and pull-ups at home.
Should you progress further, the longer 250km+ events may require at least 10 hours a week of running, hiking, biking and strength preparation. Beginners will get by with little or no training for sprint events provided they have a reasonable base from individual sports like running or cycling.
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