→ America’s Toughest Race 2021 - With Renee (5th Place)
→ Teannaway Score-O 8Hr 2021 (2nd Place)
→ Mary S Young Score-O 90:00 2021 (1st Place)
Q&A
– Why do you want to participate?
I want to participate in the One Water Race because I believe in the power of human connection and coming together around a common goal of bringing awareness to the threatened health of our waters. Just like droplets of water from around the planet, I love how all of the athletes will unite in the archipelago to not only test ourselves in competition but also form new friendships and bonds as we take on the extreme challenge together.
– Have you taken a similar challenge before?
Yes, over the years I have fallen in love with orienteering combined with endurance challenges which has evolved from short course races and score-o’s to the adventures I undertake now which include both organized events like 24hr Rogaines or expedition adventure races like America’s Toughest Race and unsupported solo objectives. Living in Central Oregon I am extremely fortunate to have a backyard mountain playground for heading out the door for long challenging adventures.
– What are your strengths?
I believe my strengths include positive and supportive team attitude, steady and consistent endurance, high functioning with sleep deprivation, navigation especially night time, fun hallucinations, experience, resourcefulness, and unique custom gear design and fabrication.
– What are your weaknesses?
My weaknesses include the cold, hydration, biting insects, and kid nobody, at 46 I ain’t as young as I once was!
– What will be your biggest challenge?
I really anticipate my biggest challenge to be the cold and so it is important for me to go into the race with perhaps a few extra kg’s of insulation buffer and the right gear to support our adventure. Luckily, we live in an area with cold mountain lakes and the Deschutes River right here in town that is fed by snowmelt so we can fully test our kit and train prior to heading over to Sweden.
– Have you been to the Stockholm archipelago?
I have heard so many wonderful things about the beauty of the archipelago but unfortunately, I have never been to Stockholm. However, I grew up in New Jersey with a neighbor family, the Uganders, who have since moved back to Stockholm and it looks like they may be hosting our team at their home on Scarpo just East of Vaxholm
– What do you know/think about the terrain?
I’ve been pouring over maps, satellite imagery, videos and any other resources I can get my hands on and I am super excited about the terrain. I think the water to land and land to water transitions will be tricky at times and we will have to stay sharply on top of our navigation but nothing scares me, it’s all exciting! Also, coming from 1100m elevation with dry dusty lava moon dusty soil I am excited about adventuring at sea level with the rock and flora of the archipelago.
– What are you most looking forward to?
Honestly, I am most excited to meet new people and make some new friends. Of course I’m looking forward to the adventure too, but the lasting connections between teams that come from extreme tests of endurance like this are truly magical.
