Erik Schlimmer tells the story of how he learned to fastpack the Adirondacks, a grueling 110 miles and 19,000 vertical feet of climbing, in five days with only 11 pounds on his back.
When this issue hits the gyms and stores, the story that inspired this column will be old news, but I’m writing about it anyway because I think it raises some really important issues in the active community.
Battle of the Sexes
Considering the solo and nonstop nature of these rides, it’s not surprising that there’s a vast difference in numbers of men versus women involved in the randonneur lifestyle. In the PBP ride, for example, men made up more than 93 percent of the starting field. But the number of women in other endurance sports has increased in recent years. According to UltraRunning magazine, nearly 30 percent of those who finished an ultramarathon last year were women, and Steve Kirby, director of USA Ultra Tri, says he’s seen a recent surge among women in double and triple Ironmans. “We’ve definitely seen more women out there in races. They’re some of our best competitors,” he says.
There are certainly benefits to being a female ultra athlete: Endurance swimming, which is fairly matched between the sexes, is one of the few sports where some women can actually swim stroke-for-stroke with the men—Davies has placed no lower than fourth overall in all 15 Manhattan Island Foundation open water races she’s completed, winning four, including the two-mile Governor’s Island swim last summer. And while men generally outnumber women three to one in most adventure racing events (despite co-ed requirements), Bartoletti, a 37-year-old public finance banker, has no problem being among the select few. “I’m not as physically strong as most male racers, but mentally I can give them a good run for their money. Plus, I’m a girl. Therefore, I’m smarter.”
Support Along the Way
Regardless of the athlete’s gender, one thing’s certain in ultra racing: Everyone needs a little help to get them to that finish line. And usually, that assistance comes in the form of a support crew who sees that each athlete satiated with enough energy and water, that blisters are properly bandaged, and that they have a comfortable place to sleep. For some athletes, keeping friends and family close by reduces loneliness throughout these isolating journeys. During extra-long swims, Davies’ crew will hoist hot drinks and gels her way in a fishing net. Other times, they’ll write inspirational messages on a white board and hang it over the edge of the boat as she cuts through the water.
Whether they’re bonding with teammates on the race course or filling their free time with training this ever-growing enclave of athletes seems to be always ready to hit the roads—or the water—for their next great adventure. Perhaps, as cyclist Aaron suggests, these extra-long journeys are merely an escape from reality (most ultra athletes have full-time jobs, some have families). “When you go out for long distance rides or runs, says Aaron, “All of your worries and cares about everyday life just disappear.”
Three steps to going the extra distance
Looking to take on the ultra challenge? Here are some tips to consider and resources to check out before you go the ultimate distance.
TRAIN WISELY. As an ultra athlete, you’ll probably spend most of your wakeful moments working out. But there’s no need to overdo it: Stick to a slow pace and take short breaks if you need to. And aside from your regular workouts, plan to do just a few extra-long runs, rides, or swims per month to let your body adapt to the distance and build up much-needed mental toughness.
RACE LOCALLY. For your first race, chose one that’s local (or at least on the east coast), so that the weather and terrain are similar to what you’re training in. Plus, less travel equals more time for you to mentally prepare.
GET FRIENDLY. Though most ultra athletes eschew group training, you can still set up a support system with like-minded people to get you prepped for races. Network with other ultra athletes (see the links below to find some), and, if possible, arrange for friends to accompany you to races. It’ll be easier to keep plugging if there are friendly faces waiting at the finish line.
For more info and race calendars for various ultra events, check out these sites:
New York Ultrarunning (newyorkultrarunning.org)
Randonneurs USA (rusa.org)
Manhattan Island Foundation (nycswim.org)
USA UltraTri (usaultratri.com)
New York Adventure Racing Association ( nyara.org
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