“It takes a certain kind of mental strength to do this, or a little bit of crazy, and I’m not sure which side of the line I’m on.”
Multisport endurance racing traditionally involves swim, bike and run. For Mark Loeffler, it also encompasses paddling, bush-wacking, portaging, mountain biking, scrambling down embankments carrying a bike, being chopped up by blackberry bushes and orienteering through the night.
This was Mark’s second year racing The Wilderness Traverse – a 30 hour paddle, trek and bike event that requires a team of four to navigate a course through the rocks, swamps, lakes and rivers of the Canadian north. The team receives the course map 45 minutes before the start, and it is up to the navigator to select a route for the team to follow.
Packing for the event is an event in itself. The organizers provide a list of required gear that must be worn or carried, and it’s up to each competitor to decide what to carry for their own nutrition and comfort. Mark discovered that the best piece of gear was the pair of weather-proof pants that were very effective against being torn apart by the wild blackberry bushes. The bright side…he got to eat fresh blackberries to supplement his nutrition while on the course.
Compared to last year’s attempt, the weather was drier and warmer, and Mark was prepared with a bike that better suited a technical course and didn’t fall prey to ‘chain suck’ (when the build-up of mud causes the chain to fall off!). He also managed to accomplish 90% of his training plan, which got him to the start healthy and ready to go.
Mark and his friend joined a duo who they had not met previously to form a team called Icarus Flight School. Fortunately, the team did not melt down like their namesake, but they did encounter a few challenges along the way. Running out of water, second guessing route decisions, missing a portage put-in spot and having to navigate past a washed out bridge (hence, the embankment scramble carrying the bikes) were simply part of what makes the Wilderness Traverse so compelling.
For Mark, riding his bike at 4:00am in the woods was energizing and created a natural high without relying on caffeine supplements to stay awake. “Just don’t sit down!” says Mark. “You have to out-run the yawns.”
To train for the event, Mark participated in the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice mountain bike event to gain experience in technical riding in the dark. With trail running, paddling and strength training to round out his training, Mark’s recovery has been easier than after his 70.3 earlier in the year. (A giant steak breakfast and 13 hour sleep helped a lot!) Despite paddling, riding and trekking continuously for longer than a day, most of it is done in zone 1 or 2. You just have to keep going!
What’s next for Mark? He is all about adventure with friends, and is open to suggestions. More trail running and a return to next year’s Wilderness Traverse are definitely in the plan. Maybe a bike trip in Colombia or Sea to Sky race in Dubai? It depends on how the negotiations go with his other half.
