Great Races, Incredible Places - 100+ Fantastic Races Around the World

Informationen zum Autor Kimi Puntillo is a two-time Guinness Book World Record holder! and a journalist and lecturer whose work has appeared in The New York Times ! Wall Street Journal ! Forbes ! on NPR! and more. When not running across the lava fields of Hawaii! she lives in New York City with her yellow lab! Beethoven. Klappentext Guinness World Record holder and journalist Puntillo takes readers on a fascinating journey to more than 100 thrilling marathons! races! and other running destinations around the world. "Because it´s there" George Mallory, the British mountaineer, made this phrase famous when questioned why he attempted the daunting feat of climbing Mount Everest. (It took another 29 years before Sir Edmund Hillary made the first successful summit in 1953.) You may find yourself uttering the same response when asked what in the world inspired you to run one of the races described in this section. Whether you are sailing through the most turbulent body of water in the world, fending off hypothermia in subzero temperatures, or scaling rocks above tree lines, these races will test your endurance. Although they sound exhilarating, don’t take these adventures lightly. They require serious training to perform your best and help avoid disasters. Competitors preparing for adventure races have gone to extremes, both in effort and creativity, to simulate course conditions that they’ll be encountering. For subfreezing marathons, contenders have gone as far as putting treadmills in industrial walk-in meat lockers. Waterlogged courses have inspired people to train by running through streams. Race directors can provide essential information on pre?paring for intense environments that they’ve selected for their event. Additional details from doctors and other pro- fessionals should be sought accordingly. Before the Ant?arc?tica Marathon, I learned that it’s common for ships to face huge swells sailing across Drake Passage. Speaking at length with my doctors about seasickness, I found the best pre- ventatives suitable for my personal needs. For high altitude courses, I sought advice from specialists who published studies in medical journals on the physical effects and dangers of acclimatizing. Appropriate technically correct gear is also vital. Whatever sneakers, leggings, and tops are comfortable on your routine run may not transfer to severely cold temperatures, even if you add layers. Although layering is important to retain body heat, it’s just as imperative to plan for it to escape in a timely manner during the race. Otherwise, you may find a sweaty, wet layer that may eventually freeze, sticking to your skin for miles. Quality gear varies greatly, even when comparing well-known brands. Different skin types can favor one wicking or insulating fabric over another because the fibers of various patented materials such as Polartec® or CoolMax® have different thread patterns and textures. Trail-running shoes instead of your trusted road-running sneaker may be more suitable for the course, requiring you train in entirely different footwear. Your best bet is to test out gear, subjecting it to the mileage and weather it will endure, well before arriving at the race start. Researching and preventing potential pitfalls makes all the difference during your adventure race. It also provides perspective on whether you’re cut out for an inherently unpredictable trip, or would prefer a race that’s more conventional. If you are up for the challenge, take your pick among these Incredible Races and devote time to research and train for the extreme conditions. Then, get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll be asked to recount over and over again the minute you cross the finish line. ANTARCTICA MARATHON & HALF-MARATHON The Lost Continent LOCATION: KING GEORGE’S ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

Product details

• Authors: Kimi Puntillo
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Inc.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 24.03.2009, delayed
• EAN: 9780553385328
• ISBN: 978-0-553-38532-8
• No. of pages: 240
• Subject: Guides > Sport