The first story is a brief overview on the history of Primal Quest and adventure racing in general, while the second article gives a preview of Primal Quest Badlands and what teams can expect in South Dakota next August. The final story is an interview with mother-daughter racing team of Kathy Roche-Wallace and Melissa Hughes who competed in Montana in 2008.

The Bare Essentials web interface is a slick and easy to use, with plenty of content to read. It’s easy to page through the virtual edition, or jump directly to any article you like by typing it in at the top of the page. Thee are also tools for zooming in on the page or printing the stories that you like. 

Thank you to Bare Essentials for this outstanding coverage for Primal Quest fans down under.

Photo by Andres Vargas

The first half of the episode is focused on Restop and their personal portable sanitation systems that allow hikers, campers, boaters, or anyone else in the backcountry to safely and cleanly dispose of human waste, protecting themselves and the environment in the process. This approach to keeping the environment clean is shared by Primal Quest, which makes us proud to have Restop on board as one of our partners for the 2008 race.

In the second half of this episode, we learn a lot more about the SPOT Messenger, which has quickly become the must have new gadget for outdoor enthusiasts. John talks about how the Messenger can be used by friends and family to track someone nearly anywhere on the planet, and doubles as a personal locator beacon allowing someone to call for help, even in remote locations. Each Primal Quest team will be carrying a SPOT Messenger, which will link directly into our online tracking system which will give fans of the race nearly real-time updates of where teams are at on the course, while also updating the leaderboard as well.  SPOT is the presenting sponsor for Primal Quest Montana and we couldn’t be happier to have such a great partner assisting us in bringing race coverage to an entirely new level. 

You can listen to the entire episode by clicking here, or as always, subscribe directly to the show through iTunes. 

It’s called “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition”. It’s Primal Quest. And while some of the best adventure racers on the planet are gearing up for the big event, the creators of Primal Quest have created some shorter races to attract novices. Today on Endurance Planet we hear from Primal Quest CEO Don Mann.

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“I can’t say enough how lucky I feel to have raced with the same three guys for four years,” says Jari Kirkland. “I know that this is the exception to what a lot of people have experienced, and I would never take it for granted.”

Jari (whose name is pronounced “Yari”) races on Colorado-based Team Salomon Crested Butte with Jon Brown, Bryan Wickenhauser and Eric Sullivan. “They really are family to me. I look forward to a few more great years with them.”

Prior to getting started in AR, Jari had been racing Xterra. She met Jon at a race, “another 24 hour solo race where, in the middle of the night, you ride up to about 11,500 feet, put your bike on your back and hike over a 14,000 foot peak. It was a bit crazy.” Jon told her that his team was looking for a girl to compete with them in a race called Primal Quest.

“So I lipped off and said I would do it – when really I knew nothing about it. Then, less than three weeks later, I was in Tahoe at Primal Quest!” Jari had practically no training, and most of the gear that she raced in was borrowed. “But that is how it started, and it’s a perfect fit for me.”

Jari started in sports when she was young. A self-proclaimed “airforce brat”, while in school she competed in soccer and swimming. Later, at university on a sports scholarship, she competed in swimming and cross-country – a combination that made for a smooth transition to triathlon after she graduated. She turned pro in Xterra in 2004, and a year later set the solo women’s record at the 24 Hours of Moab mountain bike race – a course record that still stands today.

Since 2004, when she joined team Salomon Crested Butte, AR has been her main focus. She and teammate Jon dated for three years, but broke up a year ago. “We’ve still done randonee and adventure races together. It has been hard for me, but for now I am sticking it out.”

One of this team’s obvious strengths is indeed just how committed to one another they all are. Unlike some teams, who fly in from all over to unite for a competition, Jari, Jon, Wick and Sully live close enough to one another that they can train together. “We see each other once a week on average,” says Jari. “We are all friends as well as teammates. Together, we are the core. The only time someone else races with us is because one of us is injured.”

Jari is the team’s navigator – a role very seldom taken on by a woman. She believes that this is because of guys’ greater physical strength. “You have to be on top of the maps at all times,” she explains. “To be constantly pushed to your physical limit while also trying to navigate is not ideal.”

Like many woman AR competitors, Jari does well in the longer races. “I seem to be able to get stronger as the days go on,” she says. Biking is her strongest discipline, and her current goal is to become a better runner.

Also, as for many women racers, another of her strengths is mental: she just will not quit.

Jari was certainly pushed to her limit at PQ 2006 through both heat and exhaustion. She could not keep any food down, and was worried that she might not be able to stick it out to the end of the race. “But the guys were so great. They would just hand me food and tell me to eat it – one cracker at a time. I feel blessed that I get to race with such great guys.” She acknowledges that not all woman racers get to have such a good experience with their teammates.

“We all suffered something terrible in that heat. There is something to be said about bonding with your friends and teammates though suffering together.”

The team’s suffering and teamwork at PQ 2006 paid off. Team Salomon Crested Butte placed a very respectable fifth.

Jari and her guys are looking forward to new challenges, along with perhaps a little more suffering together, for PQ 2008. “We would love to be in the top three. I think that, if we have a flawless race, we could be first – but with adventure racing, time is your friend. A lot of these people competing have been racing for ten or more years. We are still a very young team. So our goal is to be strong, and to come in the top three. I think that we can do it.”

Canadian team Supplierpipeline finished a respectable tenth at PQ 2003.  The following year, they bettered that with ninth place at PQ 2004.  Then, in 2006 they moved right up to fourth place.  If Bob, along with teammates Denise McHale, Greg McHale and Scott Ford, can maintain this momentum, we should expect to see them cheering at us from the podium at PQ 2008.

“Our goal is to win!” affirms Bob.

Although the team will be racing under a new banner this year (they are currently looking for a new sponsor), the core group of Bob, Denise, Greg and Scott will remain the same.  Bob is the first to admit that there are some Canadian teams who have been on the international AR scene longer than they have, and also some Canadian racers who are doing extremely well competing on American teams.  But, as far as recent performance goes, this team is undoubtedly right at the top of the Canadian AR scene.

Bob explains that, after a strong year in 2006, this past year has not been a good one for the team.  “We attended Bimbache Extreme last March in Spain, where I managed to fracture my femur in a mountain bike crash.  I’m still recovering, and not yet able to run.  We’re hoping PQ 2008 will be our next big race together.”

Bob has been focussed on the Adventure Racing circuit since 1998, when he decided to slow down on all of the other things he was competing in – mountain biking, triathlon and running events – to devote himself to AR.

“AR caught my attention, since it combined the elements of the outdoors with competition.  I’d always competed in various sports growing up, like hockey, soccer, baseball, golf and snowboarding.  But it wasn’t until after university, when a friend and I decided to run a marathon, that I started training for endurance sports.  I ran my first marathon in 1997, and then began cycling, swimming and paddling shortly thereafter.”

Bob raced with Canadian team Running Free until 2003, when he moved over to Supplierpipeline.  He is also a Race Director  – for both the Adventure Racing Canada Series and the Keen Adventure Sports Games.  He used to work for a large Canadian bank on the Toronto Stock Exchange, as a trader and trading support analyst but, as he puts it, “That seems like a lifetime ago.”  Since 2001 he has devoted himself to AR – training and racing – and working in related activities to support himself.  In addition to his work as a race director, he has worked for a multisport store, and he also has his own distribution company.  “It would be tough to take a normal nine-to-five job, since we require so much time for training and racing.  In 2006, I was on the road travelling for over 3 months of the year.”

Bob’s main role on the team is as navigator.  “If I keep us on track, and look after myself physically, that’s pretty much all I need to do.  Our team discusses race strategy as a group, and we tend to adjust our strategy on the fly as the race and course unfold.”

Changing strategy “on the fly” was a big part of Supplierpipeline’s PQ 2006 experience.  After running in first place alongside team Nike for the early part of Day One, later that same day they found themselves stopped in a TA, eventually slipping back to 19th place as other teams continued on through.  One of Bob’s teammates was suffering from heat exhaustion, and the only option the team had to remain in the race at all was to stop, rest and rehydrate.

They did it right – after a few hours of recovery time, the team headed out again.  Over the coming days they slowly but steadily worked their way forward through the pack.  By Day 7, nearing the end of the race, they were closing in on third-place Team Merrell.  They were back in the running for a podium position!

In what ended up being the most exciting battle of the competition, Supplierpipeline and Merrell fought it out over the last kayak section.  The Canadians even led on the water for a short time, but a poor route choice that pulled one boat into an eddy gave Merrell the final advantage.  Bob and teammates missed third place by mere minutes.

The team will be back for PQ 2008, and they are looking for their place at the top of the podium.  “I’m sure the route will be every bit as epic as past PQ courses,” says Bob.  “I like the sounds of all the states they’re considering – mostly because I haven’t been to any of them, and I look forward to experiencing the new terrain.

Photo by Dan Campbell 

ad·ven·ture

1. An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.
2. An unusual or exciting experience.
3. Participation in hazardous or exciting experiences: the love of adventure.

Primal Quest would like to introduce you to Kraig Becker and The Adventure Blog. Kraig’s blog is a great source for news, commentary, and insights on adventures and adventurers from around the globe. Becuase the topics he covers are more or less first cousins to adventure racing we are happy to announce that selections from Kraig’s blog will be available on the Primal Quest website.

To kick off our latest feature, we bring you a recent interview with Primal Quest Director Don Mann. Read the full interview below and see what new things Don has to say about Primal Quest 2008 as well as learn about his recent mountaineering exploits and future plans.

Adventure Blog: First, let’s start with Primal Quest. How are preparations for the 2008 race coming along?

Don Mann: Preparations for the 2008 race are coming together very well. We’re still waiting on final approval of some permits, but the process has been very smooth so far, and I don’t foresee any late issues arising. The officials in the state where the race will be held have bent over backwards to accommodate us and provide everything we need. I couldn’t have asked for a smoother process.

On a different note, we’re not ready to announce anything just yet, but we’re in talks to bring Primal Quest back to television again. I wasn’t very happy with the way that the event was covered last year, as I felt that they missed too many of the great human interest stories. This time we want to treat Primal Quest more like the Olympics, focusing on the athletes’ stories, many of which are very compelling. I’d like to see Primal Quest as a 10 or 12 part series focusing on the racers competing against each other, but also the course itself. I think it has some exciting prospects.

AB: That’s good to hear! So the final location and course have been set?

DM: It has. We were actually working on three courses in three different states at the same time while we were sorting out all the details, but now that we’re in the final stages of getting the permits, we’re getting close to announcing the actual location.

AB: Care to give the Adventure Blog an exclusive and announce the location now?

DM: (Chuckling) I’d love to! But until everything is finalized, we can’t make any formal announcements. Hopefully soon though.

AB: Primal Quest is legendary for its challenging courses. How will this year’s course stack up to those in previous races?

DM: Last year’s race was the fourth Primal Quest, and racers rated the course as the toughest yet. I remember Robin [Benincasa] crossing the finish line and collapsing on the ground saying “Never again!” Ian [Adamson] retired after that race. The fact that the course was 500 miles in length, unsupported the whole way, and extremely hot and dry, led many of the veterans to declare it the toughest course in PQ history. This year, they’ll retract that statement.

Because the weather will be much more moderate this time, and teams will be supported, we felt that we could make the course even tougher. There will be much better support options this time out, but the teams are really going to need it.

AB: What advice would you give to teams preparing for this year’s course?

DM: Run hills. Lots and lots of hills. The more comfortable they are with running hills, the more prepared they’ll be for the course. Also, in the past, Primal Quest has been criticized for not having enough navigation, and that will change this year as well. Teams preparing for the race should focus 90% of their time on running hills and orienteering. Those skills will go a long way in keeping them competitive.

Of course, they shouldn’t neglect the other disciplines either. The mountain biking segments will be particularly challenging as well. They won’t be quite as technical as they were in Utah, but the biking legs will be much more challenging up and down. Especially up!

AB: Is this the year we’ll see someone finally knock off Nike?

DM: As long as Mike Kloser is on the team, I’m not sure anyone can compete with them. Last year I saw him cross the finish line dragging a teammate, carrying two packs, while conducting an interview, all the while making it seem easy. He’s an incredible athlete, and with him on the squad, Nike is practically untouchable in the field. Right now, I’m not sure anyone can beat them in a race of this length.

AB: What does the future hold for Primal Quest? Where do you see the race heading?

DM: We have a lot of plans for the future of the race. First and foremost, we want to make sure that it becomes an ongoing annual event. We don’t want to see the race taking another year off. I’m also hoping to take the race to an international location in 2009 as well. In fact, this could be the last year that a Primal Quest of this length is held here in the States…

AB: Why is that?

DM: There is just too much bureaucratic red tape to cut through. Getting the permits for the race isn’t always as easy as it has been this year, and in some locations there is opposition to us being there at all. I hope to continue to have Primal Quest in the U.S. in some form, but it may be a shorter race.

AB: And where would you like to see the race held when it goes international?

DM: We’re already in talks with several different locations, with British Columbia and Costa Rica leading the way right now. We’re also considering Vancouver Island, Iceland, or even some place like Tanzania, although there are different logistical issues to deal with there.

We’re also in negotiations with two resorts outside the U.S. to create a Primal Quest branded stage race in the same vein as the Mild 7 races that are, unfortunately, no longer being run. Teams would compete in a different discipline each day, trail running in one stage, paddling in another, and so on.

We think the PQ brand is a very strong one, and we want to leverage it in some unique new ways. We’re considering launching a series of sprint races, 4 to 6 hours in length that would also fall under the Primal Quest banner

Finally, we’d also like to partner with smaller races. Help them promote themselves and the sport. Offer guaranteed entries into the race for their winners, and so on.

AB: Much like you’ve done already with the Coastal Challenge and the USARA Championship?

DM: Exactly. We’ve already made the same offer to two other races as well. The winners of The Wild Onion and the New York Adventure Racing Association will also get guaranteed slots in the 2008 race.

AB: Wow. Those are some ambitious goals! As a fan of adventure racing in general, I really like the sound of all of that. Switching gears some, I understand that you went to Denali this past spring and reached the summit. What was that like?

DM: It was an amazing experience. I really wanted to do Everest, but I didn’t have the time or budget, so I elected to go to Denali instead. When we arrived at base camp, and you couldn’t even see the summit, it was covered in clouds and mist. We began to go up the mountain and at times I would look up and think to myself “We’re going up that? You’ve got to be kidding!” But we kept going, kept making progress, and as we got near the top, we saw other climbers coming down, with discouraged looks on their faces. Some of them had been there for days, waiting for their opportunity to summit, but the weather wasn’t very cooperative, so a lot of climbers went home without having a chance to reach the top. As we continued to go up though, the weather cleared, and we saw the summit for the first time. The weather window stayed open, and after 13 days on the mountain we reached the top. It was a phenomenal experience to stand on the summit. Denali was easily one of the best experiences I have ever had in the outdoors. It was amazing.

AB: Since Denali, you’ve also climbed Pike’s Peak and Longs Peak as well. What kind of mountaineering background do you have?

DM: I’m new to the sport actually, and just now getting into true mountaineering. I was a lead climber on my SEAL team, but the military approach to climbing is very different. I’ve also done some climbing while participating in adventure races of course, but not what I’d call real mountaineering.

When I was younger I use to race motorcycles, and I started running to get into better shape to become a better rider. But I found that I really enjoyed running, which led to marathons, which later led to triathlons, which in turn led to adventure racing. Now, at the age of 50, I’m focusing on mountaineering, and I’m very excited about it.

AB: Next you have your sights set on Kilimanjaro. Kili isn’t as technical as Denali, what appeals to you about it?

DM: I’m looking forward to climbing Kilimanjaro with my wife. We climbed Longs Peak and really enjoyed it as an activity we could do together. I’m hoping that she’ll find that she enjoys climbing as much as I do, and we can go on future climbs together as well, like Aconcagua.

AB: Which route are you taking up Kili?

DM: We’re doing the Machame Route. The “whiskey route.” We opted to take the extra acclimatization day, just in case. Afterwards we’re going on safari as well.

AB: After that, it’s on to Everest in the spring? Which side do you intend to climb from?

DM: I’m not really sure yet. Honestly, I would love to climb Everest, and I had planned to, but now I’m not sure I have the time or money to do so. There are plenty of other mountains in the Himalaya to climb that are a lot less expensive. Right now, I’m thinking I’ll climb Ama Dablam instead. I’m told it’s one of the most beautiful mountains in the World. After that I’d like to do some climbing in the Tetons and give Aconcagua a shot as well.

AB: Denali? Kilimanjaro? Aconcagua? Possibly Everest? Are the Seven Summits in your future?

DM: Possibly. I like the idea of going for the Seven Summits, but Everest and Vinson are the real show stoppers. Their costs can be pretty prohibitive. [Editor’s Note: Someone sponsor this guy!]

I would love to go to Antarctica, even if I don’t climb Vinson. I’ve recently read the book Endurance about Shackleton’s adventures in the Antarctic, and it’s really inspired me to want to go there and see the place for myself.

AB: Finally, what draws you to climbing and adventure racing? Have you always felt the lure of adventure?

DM: Yes, I always have felt that lure. Even as a child I have memories of wanting to do adventurous things. I’d always wander off into the woods and do all kinds of different things. Later I turned my attention to racing and jumping motorcycles, and as I said, that led to running and adventure racing. Mountaineering has become my new passion, and I’m loving it so far. Life is an adventure!

In PQ 2006, they surprised all by putting in a strong showing for such a new and inexperienced team, taking 8th. Now, with two years’ more international racing experience under their belts, they are hoping to continue that tendency to improve in PQ 2008.

The team has been racing under the sponsorship of Orion Health, a medical software development company, for two years. Captain Wayne Oxenham, 35, raced his first adventure race with his brother in 2003, and won it, in spite of “never having seen a topo map in our lives” and not having a compass. A year later he started racing with Stuart Lynch, 30, and they found themselves winning more races. They brought in Brent Edwards, 29, for his navigational experience and then, last year, Anna Berthelsen, 24.

The boys on the team are all born-and-raised Kiwis, all three of them raised on farms. Anna is actually Australian, having grown up in Tasmania, but she has been living in New Zealand since her teens.

Each team member plays a particular role on the team. Stuart praises Wayne as “the glue that holds us all together, and the consummate team player, never flinching from sacrificing himself to ensure the team gets ahead.” Brent is the main navigator, having come into AR from an orienteering background. Stuart, who shares in navigation as well, is also valued by his companions for his all-round strength and skill. Anna is the newest and youngest team member. She modestly says that the main strength she brings to the teams is being “the girl”, but her team-mates also praise both her great skill at moving quickly over rough terrain as well as her willingness to learn.

All four team members are in agreement about what their greatest strength is: good teamwork. “We are all good friends and have spent lots of time training together,” says Anna. “We are always communicating during the race, and doing whatever we can to help each other out.”

Another strength that this young team has is that they are all very good all-round athletes. “We are all quite skilled in most disciplines – except perhaps inline skating and swimming – so as a team we don’t really have an Achilles’ heel as such,” says Stuart.

All four team members are also in agreement about what their team’s greatest weakness is: a lack of experience in big international races. Stuart notes, though, that “the good thing is that we do seem to improve with each race we do.”

Brent gives an example. “After PQ 2006, we had a good look at where we lost time to the “fast teams”, and identified that we were literally losing hours over a race in transitions. I think that we were so focused on getting to the transitions, that we relaxed when we got there.” This is something that they have worked to improve, now communicating about what they need to do at the transition before they get to it so that, once there, they can just focus on getting out and on the move again as quickly as possible.

Another aspect that the team is working to improve on is their sleep strategy on longer races. Stuart finds that he has trouble sleeping well the night before a race, which then affects his performance during the competition. Anna is still experimenting with sleep patterns, trying to figure out how much she can push herself with sleep-deprivation without compromising her health during the longer races. Brent notes that “Our sleep routine still needs to be worked on, and this is something that will come through more race experience.”

For a team with almost no international race experience, this young team did surprisingly well with their 8th place finish at PQ 2006. (Back then, Anna was not yet a part of the team). The boys have great memories of the race: “…a race that I will remember for a long time…full of wicked scenery and challenges…you got the feeling you were part of something big…a huge learning curve on what is required to be a world-class adventure racer…”

Wayne, Stu, Brent and Anna are all excited about being part of PQ 2008. With all of the international experience they have gained since racing in Utah, they have their sights set high. “Aiming for the top three,” says Captain Wayne.

“We are a much improved team from PQ 2006,” adds Brent.

Team Orion Health will definitely be one to keep an eye on at PQ 2008. For now, they continue to rack up more international race experience – look out for them at ARWS Championship race Ecomotion Pro in Brazil this month, and at the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge in December.

Photo provided by Team Orion Health

Hear from PQ Director Don Mann, PQ course designer and AR superstar Danelle Ballengee, and officials from the The Centennial State.

Primal Question
BY DEVON O’NEIL
summit daily news
August 23, 2007

SUMMIT COUNTY – Ever since he agreed to take over the most prestigious and richest adventure race in the world this past spring, Don Mann has wanted to stage the 2008 Primal Quest in one place.
| Read the Full Article |

Michael Tobin’s Balancing Act

Michael Tobin juggles the moment as he juggles his life – a few moments with newborn son Jack, a few words to wife Jenny, chatting with a nosy reporter on the phone… all as he packs up to leave for a five-day adventure race in China.

Michael entered the crazy world of AR relatively late, while in his mid-thirties. But rather than work his way up through the ranks, Michael (now 43) pretty much started out right at the top. And through the years, he has just stayed there. Since competing in his first adventure race in 2000, his impressive list of international AR wins includes EcoChallenge 2001, Raid World Cup 2004 and 2006, ARWS 2004 and 2007, as well as every edition of Primal Quest (Telluride 2002, Lake Tahoe 2003, San Juan Islands 2004, and Utah 2006). Some of his other titles include Xterra World Champion 2000 and 24-hour Orienteering World Champion 2004, as well as countless other victories in Xterra triathlon and duathlon.

Michael’s move straight into the world’s top AR team was no accident. He grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho, and both of his parents were into the skiing scene. By the time he was in his teens, Michael was already competing in alpine, nordic and freestyle skiing over winter, and in soccer and tennis in the summers. As part of his soccer training, he took part in a foot race up the ski mountain, which he won. “That’s when I realized that I had the potential as an endurance athlete.”

He competed through the 90s in duathlon. Meeting Jenny, an accomplished triathlete, was a turning point in his career. “She taught me to swim!” he says, and he moved into triathlons.

Moving into AR was a natural next step for Michael, so he and a few friends signed up for a race in China in 2000. “The next year, I received a phone call from Robyn Benincasa from team Eco Internet, asking me to fill in for Mike Kloser for a RAID race in Utah. Then I was asked to race at the World Champs in Switzerland and, later that year, EcoChallenge in New Zealand.” Over the years, Eco Internet morphed into today’s Team Nike, who rightfully call themselves “the world’s winningest adventure racing team.”

Michael feels fortunate to have raced with some of AR’s most legendary figures: Robyn Benincasa, Ian Adamson, Danelle Ballengee, Sara Ballantyne, Mike Kloser, Keith Murray, Steve Gurney, John Howard on support crew, Richard Ussher, and John Jacoby. He pauses after reciting the list. “Actually, I don’t think I’ve raced on the same team as John Jacoby – but we’ve sure worked together to get through some races.”

Athletic accomplishments aside, what strikes anyone who comes across Michael is that he is just a plain nice guy – even in the midst of grueling competition. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Michael Tobin,” says Primal Quest’s Director Don Mann. “Not only as a very accomplished world-class athlete, but as a person. Michael is a real gentleman, who never seems to lose his good nature or sense of humor while racing.”

Michael credits Jenny with much of his success. “My biggest plus is my wife. She’s the one doing the juggling. She knows I need to train to do what I do, and she cuts me a lot of slack. I definitely train less than I used to – but I am very efficient about it.” In addition to two-week old Jack, the couple has a three-year old daughter, Mikella.

In spite of his racing schedule, Michael manages to get a lot of family time. “I’m really lucky that I don’t have a full-time job, so I can be home and helping a lot. That might change, but I’ll take advantage of it while I can.” He also feels that the professional AR scene has “quieted down” a lot – instead of being off most weekends to compete in 24 hour races, he finds he is now traveling less, to just a few bigger, longer races each year.

“It’s still hard to be away from my family even for ten days. I think of those serious climbers, who are gone for months at a time. I don’t know how they do it.”

Michael says that, through the years, he has seen a lot of sports boom and then flatten and then come back again. “I feel that AR is doing really well, as far as the amount of races and the participation. Everyone talks about EcoChallenge – it really is a sorely missed event. I think that Primal Quest has the potential to be that premier event. It has lots of national visibility – it just needs the stability to rise to that legendary level.”

Michael will be back defending Team Nike’s title at PQ2008. “I love racing in the west. I’m really looking forward to that. I am rooting for the organization, it is just super that they are bringing it back and they should be commended.”

Don Mann is looking forward to seeing Michael back at PQ too. “It is a lot of fun to watch him and Team Nike coming into a CP, typically in first place. Michael will jokingly comment about how hard the competition is, but look as fresh as ever. It will be a real pleasure to witness them race at Primal Quest 2008 in defense of their hard-earned title.”

Photo by: Jacqueline Windh/windhphotos.com

GoFAR revolutionizes adventure audio through podcasted interviews with the world’s elite adventure racers, mountaineers, climbers, triathletes, runners, expeditionaries, and industry leaders.

Check out the interview via the GoFAR site or on iTunes!