The best adventure races in Australia

Kathmandu Coast to Coast is one of the toughest multisport events in the world with 243 km of cycling, running and paddling. It attracts a 1000 participants field and requires a lot of endurance, skills and simply luck to finish. Here is cross-interview with Aussie AR and multisport stars - Tim Boote (VIC), Guy Andrews(QLD), Bern Dornom (VIC), James Pretto (VIC) and Alex Hunt (TAS). We've asked these questions - scroll down for some inside, pain and good advise.

1. 1-2 sentences to describe how was your C2C 2019.
2. Your highest and the lowest moments and how you pushed yourself through.
3. Main lesson you have learnt.
4. One training advice for 2020 first - time comers.
5. Will you be back?  

“The trekking leg was like a mini Godzone ”  said Leo Theoharis from team Thunderbolt at the finish line, while Kim Beckinsdale’s first phrase was: “This is the hardest course I have ever done”.

The inaugural edition of Alpine Quest finished yesterday and participants faced the extreme weather conditions only possible in the Australian Alps: 35 degrees temperature on the first day with teams trying to keep cool and hydrated turned into +5 and pouring rain on the second day with teams struggling to keep warm.

The epic 140 km course took teams on a journey from the Omeo Valley over the Bogong high plains into the Falls Creek resort with 5200m of elevation gain.

After a 2 hour bus drive descent to the start at the historical Hinnomunjie bridge teams took off 30 seconds apart to negotiate rapids of the famous Mitta Mitta river.

The probability theory did not fail us this year and brought stunning weather to the East Gippsland. The Event had clearly seen increased numbers and local support. Inclusion in Adventure Cup series brought a few star athletes in; James Pretto from Melbourne managed to secure neck to neck win over his long-time rival, local adventure star Tim Boote; whilst Bern Dornom proved to be fastest lady over her rivals Maria Plyashechko and Marlena Ahrens. First team home was local "VT and The Meat Eaters" with Rod Smith, Joel Claxton and Patrick Howlett showing great performance in bike, run and kayak legs respectively.

AJ Crew asked a few questions to Lesa Muir, East Gippsland Challenge participant:

- How did you get involved into Adventure Racing?

Stage 4 melanoma cancer diagnosis prompted me to get out and start living life to the full, and nature was where my heart and soul wanted to be. 

My first race was a 48 hr adventure race in Albany WA and because we needed to be able to navigate I also fell into Rogaining. After many 24-hour races both in Australia and overseas I moved onto longer distance expedition races (XPD, Expedition Africa, GodZone). I would now say that most of my downtime is spent adventuring in some capacity, it’s more just a way of life than a sport these days.

Check out how good you are as a team player and how you will fit in your Alpine Quest team

Imagine you can get anyone into your team.

1. I am talking all the fastest guys from Coast to Coast or other events. 
2. I’d join Avaya or Silva. 
3. I would like to have a team of good friends who are similar level to mine and keen to train and race with the same goal as I have. Would be good if we can train together from time to time, catch up for a chat and know each other really well.  

What role will you play in a new team? 

1. I’m a captain of course, I’m the most experienced in my team and know what it is all about. 
2. I will just follow everyone, I haven’t done a lot of races, my team mates know what to do. Read more

King Valley Challenge has been on my bucket list since its inception back in 2010. The first attempt I made was in 2013. 

I woke up unwell on the morning of the event and battled with FOMO, while helping with boats in between paracetamols.

Since then I had participated in only one other relay race, where I took turns with Serge, juggling participating and parenting. 

This year somehow the stars aligned and we hit the road to King Valley late Friday afternoon, with me planning to race and Serge there to support me. 

A lack of training never could stop me from racing, but it was a slightly nerve-wracking atmosphere on the eve of the race, my emotions all over the place, regretting going somewhere and whinging about getting too lazy. However there could be no turning back, except maybe if I fell sick (that had already happened once, so I could not be that unlucky!).