5
MUST-ENTER EVENTS
Get on your bike, put your best foot forward or show some muscle...The Turf
Games
June 14-15, southwest LondonA new and welcome kid on the fit
block, Turf Games is a functional-
fitness event that combines the
camaraderie and competition of sport
with a fitness environment. ‘Turf’
refers to your territory – the gym,
studio or CrossFit box you’re
representing, for example. This huge
team event will see more than 900
athletes and 2.5K spectators come
together in Rosslyn Park, Barnes,
over two days of competition. Friday
is the Corporate Cup for workplace
teams, Saturday is Elite and Everyday
Athlete Day. Challenges comprise all
the sorts of movements you might do
at the gym – kettlebell reps, box
jumps, burpees, tyre flips – but with
a sports-day-style twist. Ministry of
Sound DJs, food and bars will provide
a party atmosphere for spectators
and athletes. Team entry costs from
£325, turfgames.com.Mountain Mayhem
June 21-23, Northamptonshire^Billed as the world’s longest-running 24-hour
endurance mountain biking event, Mountain
Mayhem takes place at Marston Lodge, a
700-acre farm in rural Northants. There are
options to ride solo, in pairs or as a team.
Sponsors Cycle Surgery will be there to offer
advice and repairs. Bring the kids to take part
in free Mini Mayhem cycle events all weekend.
Tickets cost from £92, mountain-mayhem.com.l START STEADY Ideally, you’ll have 12
weeks to train but even if not, don’t put in
all the hours straight away. Establish a solid
fitness base before challenging yourself.
l REST IS IMPORTANT Even as the
event draws near, three days’ training a
week is fine. Resting to allow your body to
recover is vital. If you train two days in a
row, take the third off. Take a rest week half
way through training where you do less.l HEAD OFF-ROAD Adventure races
challenge you with undulating, uneven
terrain, so while it’s important to get the
running miles in, doing less but on off-road
trails will be more beneficial.
l BUILDING BRICKS As your training
plan kicks in, ‘brick’ sessions become
important. This means combining running
and cycling with minimal rest in between
to replicate the race day experience.l DON’T SWEAT THE WET STUFF
No kayak experience? No problem. It’s
easy to pick up, even on the day, and
you only kayak for 1km. Treat this as the
fun third of your race and don’t put any
time pressure on yourself.
l DON’T OVERDO IT In the final two
weeks of training, go easy to allow your
body to recover, so you reach race day
fresh, not exhausted.Training tips for adventure racers
Bernard Smyth, Quest adventurer and trainer at Ultimate Conditioning, has this advice for your first event