Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race; Interview with Bruce Duncan

Press Release / 23.10.2010

The ninth edition of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race will take place on the edge of the world's third largest icefield in the stunning fjordland region of Chilean Patagonia â€“ and race organisers Nomadas are aiming to break their record of 14 competing nations for the next event in February 2011.

Places are filling up fast, with a maximum of 15 available due to the event's self-imposed environmental and logistical limitations, but Briton Bruce Duncan, two-time winner of the race with team Helly Hansen Prunesco, has already signed up to return for a third time in 2011, racing for Team Adidas TERREX.

When he first competed, in 2009, he had never done anything longer than a weekend race but here he explains why the lure of Chilean Patagonia is drawing him back again â€“ and why those who might be keen but nervous about taking on the challenge should get out there and give it a goâ€¦

Q: Why do Patagonia?
BD: There are countless adventure races all around the world, but this one really stands out. It's in pretty much the most remote place in the world that you can get to, apart from Antarctica, and it's amongst stunning scenery. It's a proper adventure, getting out there in the middle of nowhere for five, six, seven days.

Q: Before you did your first race in 2009 you had never done anything like it, what were your fears and how did you overcome them?
BD: I've always aspired to do a long adventure race having seen them on television and although I was in a team that was doing long races I hadn't done one up to that point. I went in eyes partially open to what was going to be ahead and prepared as well as I could. I was very fit at the time, which helped, but I only had a couple of weeks notice so I didn't have great preparation. It was very hard, but given the training and races I had done before, I realised it's no harder than a weekend race â€“ it just goes on longer. It's all a state of mind, anything is possible if you have a good team around you, and with all the adventure you are having it makes it seem a lot easier.

Q: What experience should someone coming into this have?
BD: You need to have experienced being right at your limit so if you've only done a five-hour race go out and do a 24-hour race - there's plenty of them around - just to experience the sleep deprivation and the mindset you have to get into. Get out, do plenty of kayak training, plenty of running long distances and get out on the bike because there are some long miles to cover on the bike.