What’s Ian Adamson up to these days?
Jacqueline Windh (photo: Dan Campbell) / 26.08.2007
Ian Adamson is the most successful adventure racer that this sport has ever known. Since 1991, he has logged multiple first place finishes in races including the Raid Gauloises, EcoChallenge, AR World Series, Raid World Cup and Primal Quest – although he notes that former team-mate Mike Kloser is now closing in on his total wins! Ian announced his retirement from racing last January, following a year that saw him at the top of the podium with Team Nike for both Primal Quest Utah and ARWS Sweden. We were wondering over here at SleepMonsters if retirement has finally slowed the guy down or what, so we caught up with him for a little chat.How is retirement treating you? Are you still racing?
My days are both busy and fulfilling. Not travelling 200 days a year helps, and it allows me to put energy into my personal relationship and my home life for the first time. I am not competing - in fact I haven\'t competed since the AR Worlds last year. I am maintaining my fitness, and this has included the odd road bike race (did I just say I hadn\'t competed?). I believe that I am still fit enough to race, but my fitness level is definitely down from where it was.
What’s taking up most of your time these days?
I’m busy producing races. I have a big event in Denver, CO coming up September 1-2 called Newton 24 & 8 Hours of Triathlon and Duathlon. I’m really excited about it – it’s our second year running it. Producing events is a considerably more complex, stressful and expensive proposition than directing. When I was only a director I was just a contractor, taking no financial risk! But as producer, I\'m six figures into the investment in the 24 Hour Events, and it looks like this event will just break even. I get offers from promoters and corporations to help direct or produce events, and I aim to build this so I have a real income! It’s fun getting back to the triathlon end of things - I started racing triathlon and adventure racing both about the same time, in 1984 in Sydney, Australia, so I have come full circle back to my roots with this race.
So what’s different about this event from a regular triathlon?
These are set-time as opposed to set-distance triathlons. There are actually four versions going on of the race: 24 and 8 hour triathlons as well as 24 and 8 hour duathlons. They are similar to 24 hour mountain bike or running races - that is that athletes aim to cover the greatest distance in the time allotted.
There is no swimming at night (6:30 pm to 6:30 am) Originally this was a permit restriction, and we kept the rule this year because it adds a strategic dynamic. The overall goal of the race is to accumulate the most number of completed triathlons (or duathlons) in the alloted time. The first three legs have to be in swim-bike-run order, and anyone on the team can do them. Once the initial triathlon lap is completed, legs can be done in any order and by anyone. Since there is no night swimming, teams need to bank their swims on the first day and adjust on the second day as necessary.
There are both solo and relay versions. Last year the winning solo (a Canadian woman, Iona MacKenzie) covered 215 miles. The winning relay team covered 322.5 miles.The relay format fosters camaraderie and teamwork, aspects more common to adventure racing than triathlon.
We also provide a host of event features not seen in other races, such as: athlete lounge with bar, movie theatre, food and other beverages (largely free), the world’s best goodie bag, including Newton Running shoes, high tech running shirt and much more, valued at over $250 - up to 5 times the entry free of some of the races!
Do you have any plans to organize adventure races?
My original goal (and something I\'m still working on) was to produce 24 Hours of Adventure, a paddle - mountain bike - trail run event, in the coolest location with the best trails and all of the best features of the triathlon and duathlon versions. It would be a short course, team relay, and tons of fun. My 2008 and beyond plans include working with a major television production company on a high profile, expedition length international race series. I have already done one site visit and the company is discussion with several international locations and a multi year agreement with a major television sports outlet.
Ian’s Newton 24 & 8 Hours of Triathlon and Duathlon www.24hour-events.com takes place September 1-2 at Cherry Creek State Park in Denver, CO. Keep an eye on our US site www.sleepmonsters.us for an exclusive report following the event.
