General best practices, considerations, and links to more information.
Selecting a Team and a Race
Picking your team and your event is the first step in your adventure. For your team, success hinges on trust and communication when things inevitably go south; make sure everyone is crystal clear on the shared goal—is it to win, or just to finish? You need alignment on fitness, pacing, and how you’ll handle stress and conflict, so train together beforehand to test that dynamic. Equally important is choosing the right race; look honestly at your team’s collective experience and consider starting small (like a 6-hour sprint) before jumping into a multi-day expedition. Check the duration, the expected terrain (mountains versus coast), and the logistics to ensure the race matches your team’s budget, available training time, and overall comfort level. A well-matched team and race selection are your foundation for an incredible adventure. Additional detail on team making here. If you need assistance finding teammates, you can use resources like this or contact your race director. You can search for “race lists” or “race series” here to view other sites’ lists, or find a curated list of races here.
Gear
Getting your gear sorted well before the event is critical—not only to avoid last-minute scrambles, but because the best way to train is to train like you’ll race, using all of the gear. Your selections should be appropriate for the expected weather, terrain, vegetation, and water exposure, and suited to your body type and race conditions. Aim for items that are lightweight, quick-drying, non-chafing, and durable enough to handle abrasion. Always test all gear in conditions as close to race expectations as possible. Be sure to review the mandatory gear list on your race website and understand any gear-staging opportunities. Check out a more detailed list of items and recommendations here.
Training
The core principle of adventure race training is to mimic race conditions as closely as possible. Start by reviewing the race details, contacting the race director for clarification, and reading reports from similar events to understand what to expect. Gradually build your fitness and skills across each discipline, aiming to peak about one to two weeks before race day. Plan at least one full team training session that replicates expected race challenges, including transitions and navigation under fatigue. Since navigation is the most critical skill in adventure racing, your designated navigator should dedicate extra time to refining map and compass work in diverse conditions. A more in depth overview can be found here. You can explore free training plans online such as Michigan AR and Quest, or consider hiring a coach.
Just Before Race Start
The hours leading up to a race are often hectic. You and your team may have traveled long distances, slept in unfamiliar places, and now face a mountain of tasks—sorting gear into the right bags, reviewing new rules and maps, and getting your body warmed up for a long, demanding effort. Some of that stress is simply unavoidable, but being mentally prepared for the chaos can make a big difference. The best way to stay calm and set yourself up for success is to have your gear highly organized and use written checklists for key tasks. The more efficiently you can get everything in place, the more time you’ll have to focus on reviewing the course, strategy, and navigation details. Revisit your team goals and safety plans before the start, and make sure everyone knows how to communicate clearly under stress.
Racing
If you’ve done the preparation, race day is about execution and adaptability. Focus on steady pacing, efficiency in transitions, and smart navigation—trust your compass and double-check decisions before committing to a route. Listen to your body and your teammates; pay attention to hydration, fueling, and early signs of fatigue or injury—small issues handled early prevent big problems later. Expect things to go wrong at some point—every team faces challenges—but staying calm, methodical, and supportive makes all the difference. Above all, remember why you’re out there: adventure racing will take you through incredible landscapes and shared moments that few experiences can match. Take a breath, look around, and enjoy the ride.
Additional Links
– Search for “resources” in the “AR Links” table here
– USARA New to Adventure Racing
– Endless Mountains Team Roles (Archived)
– Hart Adventures Training Guide (Archived)