“No successful endeavour begins with doubt.”

When I woke up this morning, those words were written into a pad I keep on my bedside table.  It is a habit I have had for catching those random thoughts that come into my head at any given hour of the night or day.  The hardest part about this habit is deciphering the reasoning why my brain has decided to churn out any given thoughts at any given time, not to mention the cryptic nature of my handwriting.  It is like a need a secret decoder ring or something.

What makes these words stand out is their clarity of understanding and the clear and concise way in which they were written…and the fact that I don’t remember writing them.  I have to admit I was a bit spooked at first.  It was if someone else entirely had grabbed my pen and paper and noted this brief, but legible thought.  I never had nightmares of monsters under my bed, but I am beginning to.  They would be more like Sir Edmund Hillary, Ernest Shackleton, Robert F. Scott, or Richard E. Byrd kind of monsters; the ones who dedicated their lives for the discovery of an unexplored world for the love of their country.

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One of the other great challenges that I face on my “Quest for PQ: The DMB Project” is the lifestyle of my work.  I have always been a big believer that you should not live to work.  I believe that your work should fund your lifestyle and after many attempts, I think I have the right combination.

I am currently living and working in The Hague, Netherlands for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (www.opcw.org) as a chemical weapons inspector and health and safety specialist.  This allows me to live in Europe, which has always been a dream of mine, and to travel to the ends of the world for my job.  I go to those many great nations and many great locations that once used their powers for evil instead of good in the science of chemistry by developing and producing stockpiles of chemical munitions.  In fact, where I am right now is not the end of the world, but I can definitely see it from here.

The question I get a lot is, “What ever possessed you to do that?” and for me the answer is simple:  lifestyle.  I am on the road at least 70% of the year.  When I am not on the road for work, then I am travelling for fun and leisure or making those rare of trips back to my home in the Pacific Northwest.  I call Portland, Oregon my “base camp” and return there as often as I can.  The rest of the year I keep a flat in Amsterdam which resembles the lost luggage department at the London Heathrow airport rather than a place of quiet, comfortable residence.

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The plan is coming together for a great adventure:  Not only for Primal Quest, but also for my fortieth birthday.  I have a snappy name.  I have the support of friends and family.  I have the support of Primal Quest to share it all with you.  Now what is next?

How about tackling the gargantuan task of how I am going to transform myself.

Although I do have some background in the science of physical fitness, I lack much of the motivation and follow-through that it takes to be an elite athlete.  That family trait went to my sister Caren.

I am fortunate to have come from good stock.  My mother seemed to have a thing for Scotsman and so I am born of primarily Scottish descent with a little German, Irish, and whatever else you want to throw in to the mix.  Basically, I am a mutt; but a good mutt.  I am loyal, hardworking, honest, and with a feisty energetic spirit.  Therein lies the problem; I get bored very easily.  I have all the makings of a great case of adult attention deficit disorder, that is, if I thought it were true.  In fact, my mother best describes my childhood behaviour as “a bull in a china shop”.  I guess my project title isn’t too far off.

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Awhile back we mentioned that the search was on for a team of adventure athletes from South Dakota to make up the “home team” when Primal Quest comes calling next summer. It seems like the search is over, as the following press release was sent out today.

Primal Quest Adventure Racing: Who Does These Kinds of Races?

PIERRE, S.D. - Next summer, South Dakota will host Primal Quest Badlands: the World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition, a 10-day expedition adventure race totaling 600 miles. That leaves many asking, who does these kinds of races?

“Adventure racing is just as much an interpersonal journey as it is a physical one. Every person who strives to race these races must be committed, motivated, positive, persistent, prepared and check their egos at the starting line,” said Robyn Benincasa, captain of Team Merrell Zanfel.

Teams who have entered into the Primal Quest Badlands race will face terrain and challenges like never before. Many of these teams have trained and competed with one another for years and are focused, determined individuals who want to do well together. There is an emphasis placed on teamwork, rather than individual achievement.

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Today we have the second installment of Todd Phillips’ Primal Quest Blog. Over the coming weeks and months, running all the way up to Primal Quest Badlands, presented by SPOT, he’ll be sharing his ups and downs as he preparing to competing in The Worlds Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition.

Every great adventure needs an even greater name; at least that is what I think.  When considering how I was going to recreate myself as an adventure racer, I really thought that a snappy, meaningful title might go so far as to describe things when I am not doing such a good job at it.  Like a product of my generation I looked to popular culture such as movies, music, and television for inspiration.  As previously mentioned, I am sequestered in the bowels of the tempestuous Russian Federation with plenty of time on my hands and so it seemed only fitting that I scan through the selection of movies I have with me for some inspiration.

When it comes to cinematic, feel-good stories I first thought of “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner.  I’m sure you know the storyline, but let me refresh your memory:  a seemingly normal, down-and-out farmer begins hearing voices that tell him to build a baseball park for dead ball players to play and he can’t sleep or do much of anything else until he finishes it.  Considering that Costner’s character age during the movie (40-ish) is about the time when latent patterns of schizophrenia begin to develop, I couldn’t help but admire his singular focus towards a seemingly unobtainable goal and the fact that I was close to the same age.  It seems we had something in common; the singular focus part.  No comments on the state of my mental health for doing so.

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Peak.com has announced the winners of their Primal Quest Blog contest, with the top prize of $500 going to Jeremy Olson, captain of Team Lucky/Ryan’s Express Freight for his winning entry found here. The second place winner was Avril Copeland of Team Hunky Dorys who won $250 with her rhyming entry available here. 

Following Primal Quest Montana Presented by SPOT, Peak.com wanted to hear the best stories from the race and encouraged teams to share their experiences on their website. For several weeks after the Montana event, web traffic to the blog pages were monitored, with the winner being determined by the number of  “views” that the post generated.

A growing adventure sports community, Peak.com is quickly becoming one of the top online social networks for adventure athletes. Members gain the ability to create their own blogs, post photos and events, create maps, and stay abreast of news in the endurance sports community.

Congratulations to both Jeremy and Avril for their winning posts. Well done!