One Record Setting Swim Complete, Another Prepares To Begin

While we're on the subject of aquatic adventures today I had a couple of stories about some epic swims cross my desk in the past day or two. The first of which is a team of South African relay swimmers who set a world record by swimming 350km (217 miles) in 106 hours. That's a very impressive feat considering that adds up to nearly 4.5 days in the water.

The team, which consisted of Russell Tucker, Greg Tucker, SanMari Woithe, JC van Wyk, Brenton Williams and Ralph West, took turns swimming 3.1km (1.9 mile) laps in the Marina Martinique at Jeffreys Bay. They began their record setting swim last Wednesday and finished up over the weekend after continuing non-stop, day and night, through rain, wind and electrical storms for much of that time. At night they were accompanied by paddlers who stayed close to ensure their safety.

Congrats to the team for completing this epic swim. The grind that they had to have felt over the course of those days must have been incredible. Swimming lap after lap, even as part of a relay team, takes a great deal of endurance and I have a lot of respect for these athletes.

One athlete who is ramping up for an epic swim of his own is Ben Lecomte. In April he is planning on embarking on a solo-swim across the Pacific Ocean that will begin in Tokyo and end in San Francisco. Outside Online has a good article today about Ben's quest, which will cover more than 8850km (5500 miles) of open water. He expects to be in the water eight hours a day, averaging roughly 64km (40 miles) per day. At that pace, it will take him five months to complete the crossing.

Lecomte, who once swam across the Atlantic Ocean, will use a GPS device to keep track of his position at any given time. That will ensure that he begins his swim at the correct spot each day as he'll spend nights resting aboard a sailboat. That rigid tracking will allow us to follow his progress but is also a requirement for Guinness to officially recognize his achievement.

While he'll have to deal with the physical demands of the swim, not to mention potential shark encounters, Outside notes, Ben's biggest concern could be getting enough food. It is estimated that he'll burn in excess of 8000 calories per day and it can actually get to be tiresome to consume enough food over weeks of that kind of exertion.

Just reading about either of these long-distance swimming events makes me tired.

Expreso De Los Andes Update: Challenges Abound!

It has been a few days since I last posted an update on the Expreso De Los Andes expedition which currently has Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely, and other members of the impossible2Possible crew running across the South American continent. Since we last checked in, the team has been making steady progress although there have been a number of serious challenges to overcome as well.

For those who haven't been following this adventure so far, endurance athletes Ray and Kevin are attempting to run from the Pacific Coast in Chile to the Atlantic Coast in Argentina. To do so they'll have to cover approximately 1700km (1056 miles) and cross over the Andes Mountain Range. Along the way, they're interfacing with a number of classrooms where they hope to inspire students and teachers alike to pursue a healthy lifestyle and mix exercise into their daily routine.

Over the past week the runners have covered significant chunks of mileage, although not the distances they had hoped for. By now they had hoped to be running in the neighborhood of 70km (43.4 miles) per day but tougher than expected conditions haven't helped to facilitate that. For instance, temperatures have been very warm and the trails that they are running haven't always been the best either. On top of that, Ray suffered an injury to his quadricep muscle which has slowed him down some as well.

Those aren't the only issues they've been dealing with however as they've also faced some strong headwinds which have made it tough going at times as well. They've also had their fair share of encounters with the wildlife too including a variety of snakes, insects, and tarantulas. As if all of that wasn't enough, the entire region they are running through received torrential rains yesterday which flooded the entire area. As a result, the planned path of their run is currently underwater and some of the main roads are dangerous as well. That means they're likely to see little progress today although they are continuing ahead as scheduled.

The team has moved into Argentina now and the hope is that once the Andes are completely behind them that the distances can amp up to 100km (62 miles) per day. But in order for that to happen the weather conditions must be right and the runners need to be fully healthy. They still have several weeks to go before they are done, but considering Ray and Kevin's track records, we know they'll do everything in their power to reach the finish line, aka the Atlantic Ocean.

Sahara Challenge 2012 Update: Jukka Conquered The Desert!

A few weeks back, on February 5th, Jukka completed the journey in just 31 days. The run started in the shadows of Morocco's Anti-Atlas mountains and proceeded south through the desert until he reached the Mauritania border, at which time Jukka had already entered the Sahel Desert. Averaging nearly 52km (32 miles) per day, the ultrarunner actually completed the challenge a few days ahead of schedule.

As I write this, Jukka is already back home in Finland, where I'm assured that he is resting and recuperating from this long run. But I'm also told that he is already planning his next endurance challenge for either 2013 or 2014, which will of course involve running across yet another desert. Can't wait to hear what's next!

Congratulations on completing the Sahara Challenge Jukka!

Expreso De Los Andes: Crossing The Andes

As I mentioned last week, Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely, and the rest of the impossible2Possible team have started their Expreso De Los Andes expedition. Over the next few weeks, they will be running west to east across the South American continent, covering more than 1700km (1056 miles), while also inspiring students and educators back home to adopt a more healthy and active lifestyle.

When last we checked in with Ray and Kevin, they had dipped their toes into the Pacific Ocean and were just getting underway. The plan was to ease into the run with a few days of shorter distances to get things started. In this case, "shorter distance" means about 45km (28 miles), which would eventually climb up to 70km (43.4 miles) per day once they felt acclimated. That didn't take very long however, as the runners have already started hitting those marks, and yesterday alone Ray ran more than 100km (62 miles).

The team has also now crossed the border between Chile and Argentina and are firmly into the Andes Mountains, which will of course be their biggest challenge. When they first got underway, the heat of the austral summer was taking its toll, but now that they are hitting the higher altitudes of the journey, cooler weather has set in. Those cooler temps bring a bit of relief of course, but now the team is dealing with thin air at altitude and long, steep climbs up the mountains.

To get a sense of what the conditions are like, check out the video below. It was shot a few days back when the team covered approximately 65km in a single day, of which 35km was climbing. The views are spectacular of course, but when you're running at altitude, I'm not sure you feel much like taking it all in. Still, it looks like they're having a great time on this adventure.


Expreso de los Andes Day 7 - 65km from GOi2P on Vimeo.

Brits Win 2012 Patagonian Expedition Race

While I was away playing in the snows of Michigan's Upper Peninsula last week, a lot of things went down in the world of outdoor adventure. One of those was the completion of the 2012 Patagonian Expedition Race, which once again proved to be an amazingly challenging start to the adventure racing season.

As expected, the team of Adidas TERREX - Prunesco took first place for the fourth year in a row, completing the 375-mile course in 147 hours, 39 minutes. That gave them a comfortable win over second place winners Team EastWind, who finished nearly 12 hours behind at 159 hours, 25 minutes. Third place went to Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers, who crossed the finish line 162 hours and 31 minutes after starting.

At the closing ceremonies, race organizers announced that they had come up with a new way for endurance athletes to suffer in the beautiful Patagonian landscapes. On September 30th of this year, the first ever Patagonian International Marathon will take place in Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most spectacularly beautiful settings on the planet. More details are sure to follow, but this sounds like a marathon that a lot of outdoor-adventure athletes are going to want to take part in. Stay tuned for more.

Congratulations to all the teams that raced in this year's Patagonian Expedition Race. But especially to the winners, who have now thoroughly dominated this race for the past four years. Considering how challenging the event is, that is one impressive feat.

Ultrarunners Set To Run The Planet

Two ultrarunners, one a legend in the sport, the other a neophyte, are set to launch an ambitious new television show entitled Run the Planet, which will send them to a variety of locations across the globe, where they will take part in a series of long distance running challenges.

Starting February 25th, New Zealander Lisa Tamati and Australian Chris Ord, will start the first of those challenges by attempting to run 126km (78.2 miles) between Hermannsburg and Alice Springs, in Australia. Along the way, they'll cross that country's famous Red Centre, where temperatures will routinely approach 40ºC/104ºF.

Lisa and Chris' run will follow a famous route that was taken back in 1922, when an indigenous stockman named Hezekiel Malbunka covered the same distance in order to save the life of a missionary by the name of Carl Strehlow. At the time, Strehlow was in desperate need of medical attention, and someone needed to go to the telegraph station to request assistance. It was agreed that Malbunka could get there faster on foot than by horse, and he did so – in just a day and a half. Once he had completed his mission, the runner then turned around, and ran back to where he started, besting his old time by completing it in just a day. Fortunately, Tamati and Ord won't have to make the return trip.

Their new show, Run the Planet, will put Tamati at center stage. As an ultrarunner, she has already completed some impressive runs, including traverses of most of the major deserts of the world. It is estimated that Lisa's runs have covered enough distance to send her around the globe four times. Her partner, Ord, on the other hand, is new to the sport of ultrarunning, and over the episodes of the series, you'll see him learn from Tamati, while building his own skills and level of endurance. In any given episode, the duo will be attempting runs of anywhere from 80km (49.7 miles) to 350km (217.4 miles), across a wide variety of terrain and under a host of conditions.

Exactly when the new show will begin airing is still up in the air, but my friends in Australia and New Zealand should definitely keep their eyes peeled. No word on whether or not it'll cross the ocean to North America yet, but I'd certainly tune in.

Expreso De Los Andes 2012: They're Off

Last week I mentioned that Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely, and the impossible2Possible crew were getting ready to launch their Expreso De Los Andes expedition, during which they'll be spending the next few weeks running west to east across South America. The run did get underway as expected, and the athletes began by dipping their hand in the Pacific Ocean and then starting to head east. They'll finish when they reach the Atlantic Ocean near Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The video below gives us glimpse of what their first day was like. They managed to cover 45km (28 miles), but after the find their rhythm, they hope to amp that up to closer to 70km (43.4 miles) per day. That isn't going to be easy however, as the terrain will be very demanding, including a traverse over the Andes Mountains, and it is also incredibly warm where they are at right now. Still, Ray and Kevin are two very experienced endurance athletes, and if anyone can complete this run, it will be these two. It should be fun to follow their progress.



Expreso de los Andes Day 1 - 45km from GOi2P on Vimeo.

Patagonian Expedition Race Update: Closing In On The Finish

One of the toughest adventure race on the planet, the Patagonian Expedition Race, continues in Chile today, where 12 of the 20 teams remain in the competition and are heading towards the finish line. As usual with this event, the weather has been unpredictable at times, the course has been unforgiving, and things haven't gone exactly as planned. Still, the athletes are battling the environment, the elements, and each other, to take home the top prize.

As of this writing, there is a familiar name atop the leader board. Team Adidas TERREX-Prunesco has passed through the final checkpoint and are now headed for home. They seem like a lock to once again claim the championship, although Team EastWind and the GearJunkie/YogaSlackers are still in pursuit. At this point however, it appears that those two teams are dueling it out for podium positions behind he defending champs. Team Kauri and Cyanosis are currently further back in fourth and fifth place, but not completely out of striking distance should someone ahead of them falter or make a navigational error.

I'm told that paddling conditions early on in the race were extremely challenging, with a few boats taking on quite a bit of water on the heavy seas of the Magellan Strait. One team was also forced to withdraw after they went off course on one of the early kayaking stages. Returning to dry ground didn't necessarily  help maters either, as high winds and occasional rain have made the course a challenge in general. Of course, this is all typical for this race, so no one competing there should be too surprised.

Barring some strange turn of events, look for Adidas to wrap up another title by tomorrow, with most the remaining teams staggering in by the next day. The race is scheduled to end on the 22nd, so teams will likely be short coursed to make it home by the end of that day.

Expreso De Los Andes 2012 Expedition Begins Tomorrow

A month ago I posted the announcement from the impossible2Possible team that they would be setting off on a new expedition, this time to run west to east across South America. This new adventure was dubbed the Expreso De Los Andes 2012, and it is set to officially get underway tomorrow.

The plan is for ultra-runners Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely to being their journey in the Chilean city of Concón, which sits along that country's Pacific coast. From there, they start running east, with the intention of covering roughly 1700km (1056 miles), before eventually ending at the Atlantic Oceain in Buenos Aires, Argentina. To get there, they'll first  have to traverse the Andes Mountain Range, and deal with running long distances at higher altitudes.

In the early stages of the run, Ray and Kevin intend to average about 70km (43.4 miles) per day. Once they clear the Andes however, they hope to amp those distance up to as much as 100km (62.1 miles) per day. They'll be aided along in the journey by a support crew, who will drop water and supply caches for them ever 20-30km as well.

As usual with any of the i2P expeditions, this run has an educational and inspirational component to it as well. On the Expreso De Los Andes expedition, the team is hoping to inspire young people to become more physically active, and to do that, the've enlisted a number of teachers and school administrators in a physical challenge program. One of those administrators is George Singfield, who is preparing to run a half-marathon in May. "Principal George," as he is known, happens to be diabetic, so he is learning the importance to taking care of his health, while improving his physical conditioning for the run. He, and a number of others, are hoping to inspire the children in their classrooms and schools by leading by example.

According to the i2P Twitter feed, the crew arrived in Santiago, Chile yesterday and, they should be making their way to Concón today, with the intention of setting out on schedule tomorrow. Throughout the run, we'll be able to track Ray and Kevin's progress on the expedition's official website, where they'll regularly be posting updates and videos.

Round-The-World Cycling Race: Change In Name, Still Underway Tomorrow!

Yesterday I posted a story about the Global Bicycle Race, which was suppose to get underway tomorrow from Greenwich Park in London. It turns out there is a lot of history and backstory to that event which has led to it actually being cancelled. But, the World Cycling Racing - Grand Tour has risen from the ashes, of the GBR, and that race will actually launch tomorrow as expected, with many of the same goals as the original event.

This new race will feature 10 riders covering a minimum of 18,000 miles as they ride around the world. They still hope to complete their circumnavigation of the planet, and return to London, in time for the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, but if they want to set a new speed record in the process, they'll have to go considerably faster than what I posted yesterday. In that story, I wrote that Vin Cox was the current world record holder, having circled the globe in 163 days. Turns out, British cyclist Alan Bate actually holds the record, which stands at 96 days, 10 hours, and 33 minutes. That means that for a rider to break the record, he'll need to average 190 miles per day.

The Grand Tour website notes that this event will be five times longer than the Tour de France, but that's really only half the story. Sure, the length is considerably greater, but riders in the peloton of the TdF have teammates and other riders to lean on when things get tough. The cyclists in this Grand Tour will mostly have to go it alone, which can really take its toll on a daily grind of riding that will stretch on for months.

Much like the GBR, the riders in the Grand Tour will be allowed to travel a route of their own choosing. They will still have to pass through antipodal points on the globe and they must continue riding in the same general direction the whole time, i.e. east to west or vice versa. Each of the bikes will be equipped with a GPS tracking device which will broadcast their position every ten miles or so, allowing us to follow their progress online and to ensure that all of the cyclists cover the required distance before they finish back in London.

So while the name of the race has changed, and a few of the details are different, the first round-the-world cycling race is still scheduled to get underway tomorrow. It should be an interesting event to follow.

Want To Race Around The World On A Bike?

This Saturday, one of the most amazing and difficult races I've ever heard of will get underway, when 20 riders set off on the first ever Global Bicycle Race. As the name implies, this competition will send the cyclists competing in it on a round-the-world ride that will be unlike any other.

The race will begin on Saturday at Greenwich Park in London and the riders will then attempt circle the globe, and return to the park, in less than 160 days, which will coincide with the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games that begin in London on the 27th of July. If they do manage to arrive back at the start in under 160 days, it will also represent a new world record for circumnavigating the globe on a bike. That current record is 163 days and is held by race organizer Vin Cox.

There are several possible routes that the riders can take, which you'll find posted on the race's website here. Each route covers approximately 29,000km (18,000 miles) and touches four or five continents, depending on which way a rider decides to go. They can also choose to travel either East to West, or vice-versa, with both options providing interesting strategic gambles.

Throughout the race, each rider will carry a GPS device which will not only broadcast their current position, allowing us to follow along at home, but also keep track of the milage that they've covered. Riders will also be required to send a text message to update their status at least once a week, and take photos and video of their journey, and visit anti-podal points on the Earth, which is a fancy way of saying they must be opposites sides of the planet. They're also required to ride the same bike the entire way, although replacement parts are obviously permitted.

Other than that, the riders are allowed to devise their own routes, have their own sponsors, and even elect to have a support team with them. This freedom of approach is an interesting aspect of the competition, and opens up the door for some true adventures along the way.

To find out more about this event, which I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about over the next few months, go to the Global Bicycle Race's official website.

Good luck to all the competitors.

The 2012 Patagonian Expedition Race Begins Tomorrow

The calendar reads mid-February, which can mean only one thing! It's time for another edition of the Patagonian Expedition Race, which continues to be one of the toughest, most grueling events on the adventure racing schedule each year. The race gets underway tomorrow, with 20 coed teams setting out on a 600km (372 mile) course that is guaranteed to push them to their limits.

Organizers of the event promise that this year's course will be the most scenic and breathtaking ever. That's saying something considering how spectacular the natural landscapes in Patagonia truly are. The teams will set off from Tierra del Fuego, make their way through the Darwin Mountain Range and find themselves paddling the Beagle Channel, while enduring the always fickle Patagonian weather.

As usual, the athletes will be trekking, mountain biking, and kayaking across the course, with plenty of navigation and climbing mixed into the challenge as well. The fastest of the teams will probably take about a week to finish the race, although ten days is the cut-off point. As always with this race, it is difficult to predict however, as shorter courses have taken longer due to the remote setting and the weather, which always seems to have an impact on the outcome.

Stay tuned for updates over the next week or so. The team to beat is no doubt Adidas TERREX / Prunesco, but there are plenty of strong contenders in the field, and the race could be as wide open as ever.

10 Great Adventure Races For 2012 From Nat Geo Adventure

Endurance athletes and adventure racers who are still considering where they'd like to compete this year will love the latest top ten list from National Geographic Adventure. This time they give us Ten Great Races in Amazing Places for 2012.

First up on their list is the Patagonian Expedition Race, which actually gets underway next week. As the name implies, this competition takes place in the wilds of Patagonia. Over the past few years, this race has held down the first spot on the adventure racing calendar and it has earned a reputation as one of the most challenging, physically demanding, events of the year. The remote location, highly unpredictable weather, and grueling route are just a few of the hurdles for the coed teams to overcome.

Other races that earn a nod on the Nat Geo list include the Race2Adventure, to be held in Guatamala in March. This competition features daily stage runs for prizes, but also mixes in some other adventurous activities, such as rafting or cliff diving after the competitions end for the day. Colorado's Iron Horse Bicycle Classic earns its place with the other races for its unique competition. Riders in the event actually race a train into Silverton. The ride is just one part of a full weekend of activities that take place in May.

Whether you're an endurance runner, triathlete, adventure racers, or just a weekend warrior looking to have some fun, you'll find some kind of competition that will appeal to you on this list. So start planning now, get into shape, and be ready to take on any one of these great events.

Running Across Death Valley To Inspire Others

On March 24th of this year, runner Ryan Mills will set out to run the length of Death Valley National Park. The course he has chosen wanders north-to-south and will cover 184 miles of total distance. He hopes to finish in just eight days, and along the way, inspire others to lead a more healthy, active lifestyle.

With that goal in mind, Ryan hopes to create a documentary of his expedition, which will follow his desert adventure. To help fund that film, he has set up a Kickstarter page where he is seeking funding for the project. He hopes to raise as much as $6000, which will go directly to paying for the logistics of the journey, including renting Jeeps, purchasing GPS equipment, and other items to keep him and his support crew safe while out in the field. As of this writing, Ryan has already been pledged $1286 towards that goal.

Our friend Ray Zahab ran across Death Valley back in August of last year, and found it to be quite a challenge. At that time of year, the temperature can be extremely hot, but it is the difficult terrain that can really make this a daunting task. In March, the average daily temp is about 80ºF/26ºC, so it shouldn't be as tough for Ryan in that department, but the rugged terrain will be no less difficult to negotiate.

Lets hope the team gets the funding they need so we can all follow along in March.

New Ocean Rowing Race Announced

Have you ever wanted to row across an ocean? If so, then I have good news for you, as there is a new ocean rowing race on the way in June of 2014. The Pacific Rowing Race, as it is officially known, will begin in Monterey Bay, California and end in Honolulu, Hawaii, covering more than 2100 nautical miles in the process.

Most of the details are still being filled in, including entry fees and specific starting and ending dates, but you'll find some of the preliminary info on the race's official website. Already in place is a short FAQ that answers some very basic questions about ocean rowing in general, and there are also pages dedicated to the history of the route, boats and equipment to be used, what to expect out of the weather, and more.

Obviously paddling for 2000+ miles over open sea isn't for everyone, but it is great to see a new event of this type being launched. Since it is still more than two years away from starting, it also gives plenty of interested rowers an opportunity to plan and prepare. If you happen to be one of those people who could possibly compete in this race, you can register your interest with an online form found here.

2012 Untamed New England Adventure Race Sold Out!

It may still be early into 2012, but clearly adventure racing teams are already gearing up for another great year of competition. I received word this morning that the fourth edition of the Untamed New England race, which is scheduled to take place June 19-24, has already sold out its allotment of 50 teams. That's a great sign not only for that particular race, but the health of the sport over all.

This year's edition of Untamed New England will be four days of non-stop racing over a wilderness course in The Forks, Maine. It will feature coed teams of four in the main division, although two and three -person teams are accepted, as are crazy individuals who want to go it alone. This will be an unsupported race that will also serve as a qualifier for the 2012 Adventure Racing World Championship, which will be held in France later this year.

For more information on the event, checkout UntamedNE.com, where you'll find more information on the course, the mandatory team gear list, and a list of teams that will be in attendance.

Hopefully the news of this early-season sell out for Untamed bodes well for other races taking place in the U.S., and other parts of the world, this year. Despite a sluggish economy, adventure racing seems to be continuing to grow across the globe, and I'm happy to see more and more people discovering it.

Video: What Is Adventure Racing?

Adventure racing is one of those outdoor sports that is difficult to convey to people who have never seen or heard of it before. The concept of a team of athletes, competing in a race that goes on for days, often in remote corners of the globe, just doesn't make an impact on people who are unfamiliar with how much dedication and training goes into preparing for an event.

The video below, which seems to be the first in a new series entitled Wild Racers, serves as a good introduction to the sport, giving viewers a glimpse of the action – not to mention suffering – that the racers go through while out on a course. It is beautifully shot by a company called NuthinButShorts out of Australia and holds a lot of promise for future episodes.



WILD RACERS :: WHAT IS ADVENTURE RACING? from NothinButShorts International on Vimeo.

i2P Announces Expreso De Los Andes 2012 Expedition

The crew over at impossible2Possible are gearing up for another expedition, this time turning their sights back to South America and the Andes Mountains. This morning, they launched a new website to share all of the details of their Expreso De Los Andes 2012 expedition, and as always with i2P, the mission goes well beyond just an adventure in the wild.

Starting February 18, Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely will set out on foot from the city of Concón, which sits along Chile's Pacific Coast. They'll begin heading east and won't stop until they reach Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic Coast of Argentina. The 1700km (1056 mile) run will traverse the South American continent and include a very challenging crossing of the Andes Mountains along the way.

The plan is for Ray and Kevin to start out averaging about 70km (43.4 miles) per day, even into (and over!) the Andes, and then increasing the pace to 100km (62.1 miles) once they have put the mountains behind them. A support crew will place resupply caches about ever 20-30km as well, keep the runners will stocked with food, water, and gear along the way. Those are some very impressive numbers when you consider that much of the journey will be conducted on mountain roads and trails, and sometimes over open terrain as well. But both of these men are experienced ultra-runners who have faced similar daunting situations in the past.

If you're familiar with i2P, than you already know that the organization always manages to weave an educational element into each of their programs. On previous expeditions to India, Bolivia, the Antarctic, and a host of other destinations, the members of the team have always interacted with students in classrooms in a variety of locations, looking to inspire them through adventure, while also educating them about some of the more pressing issues of the day. The Expreso De Los Andes expedition will be no different, although it has a few new elements to the formula as well.

This time out, the i2P team is focused on health and physical activity, and they're looking to inspire not only the students, but teachers and administrators as well. To help in that cause, they've enlisted school principal George Singfield, who is transforming his life from one that is lacking in on the sedentary side, to one that is much more physically active. "Principal George" has worked with Ray to develop a training program, and while the guys are busy running across South America, he'll be preparing for the Ottawa Half-Marathon, which takes place at the end of May. George, who also suffers from diabetes, also has his sights set on a 50km trail run event in the fall as well.

The teachers and students in George's three schools are also being challenges as well, and the i2P staff has created some very basic conditioning and running programs for them to undertake too. The hope is that by following Ray and Kevin on their adventure, and watching their Principal reshape his life, that others will be inspired to do the same. The program is open for other schools to join in as well, and a special Student Challenge section has been created on the website that will allow everyone to get in on the fun and share their own experiences as well.

I'm always amazed at how ambitious the i2P projects are. They are such a great blend of education and adventure, and I love that Ray and the team have found a way to inspire young people in this way. This looks like it'll be another great example of that, and I can't wait to follow along with the daily updates, blog reports, and videos from the field in February.

Casting Call: Adventure Racers Needed For New Television Show!

Television production company Pilgrim Studios is looking for participants for an upcoming reality show that sounds a bit like a made-for-television adventure race. The new series in entitled Unbreakable and will send contestants out on a three day long "outdoor obstacle course" that will feature "barriers to climb at night, trenches to swim during the day and brain-teasing puzzles striking when you least expect them."

To launch the new show, Pilgrim has teamed with the organizers of the Spartan Death Race, which is a notoriously grueling two-day event that tests endurance athletes both physically and mentally. They're looking for contestants from all walks of life and it doesn't matter if you have any experience in adventure racing or not.

To apply, simply send your name, location, phone number, and a recent photo of yourself to UnbreakableCasting@gmail.com. Be sure to also include a brief explanation why you should be included in the competition as well.

For more information on the show and the eligibility requirements, click here.

Earn A Wild Card Entry For The UTi Rhodes Run in South Africa

Looking for a new challenge for 2012? Then look no further than the UTi Rhodes Run, a grueling 52km (32.3 mile) race through the beautiful Drakensberg mountains of South Africa. This year's race will take place on July 14, in the heart of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and as always, the course will wander through rough terrain that offers the potential for encounters with wild animals.

This will be the 24th edition of the Rhodes Run, and over the years, it has earned a reputation for being quite the challenge for long distance runners. As a result, the race sells out very quickly. But runners who are looking to take part in the event, but weren't able to get their application in on time, still have some hope. Athletic footwear company Inov-8 is giving away a "Wild Card" entry to the race and accommodations in the race village for the weekend of the run.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is send a photo of yourself, wearing Inov-8 shoes of course, to facebook@rebel-inc.co.za. They'll choose a winner from the entries, which will earn one lucky endurance runner a free-entry into this iconic South African race.

Find out more details on the Inov-8 Facebook page and good luck!