Adventure Stories - Field Notes 87: Ultra Running Experiences Revealed

Is it possible to train for the Canadian Death Race when you’re a flatlander? What’s the best piece of gear? Ever tried rubbing alcohol foot soaks prior to long runs? What’s real; what’s not? What’s our role in the universe and the natural world’s role to us? How does this all relate to the Kauri Forests in New Zealand? Does reflecting on that allow us to move ahead and dream up new adventures? It’s all in this episode.
Adventure Storytellers: Gavin Harmacy, Greg Pressler
From: Calgary, AB and Portland, OR

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This week's featured adventure stories

Gavin Harmacy's Adventure Story: Sufferfest at the Canadian Death Race

Gavin Harmacy, Canadian Death Race Finisher and owner of Ski Uphill Run Uphill

Gavin Harmacy's training plan for the Canadian Death Race:

Include a plastic trash bag in your kit*
Soak feet in rubbing alcohol*
Avoid mosquitoes by running with burning mosquito repellant coils*
Fuel with a partially cooked chicken*

*not recommended or endorsed by Boldly Went

Gavin, made a bold life pivot and moved from the Winnipeg flatlands to the Canadian Rockies where he and his partner Joel, are taking a stab at creating the life they want.

Part of that life includes helping inspire their local community to get into the mountains to go exploring and that’s what led them to open up the awesome local Canmore business, Ski Uphill Run Uphill. If you’re in Canmore check them out. Not only can you buy anything you need for your trip into the Canadian mountains, but you’ll also be able to get the best beta on local trail conditions from them at the shop.

Greg Pressler's Adventure Story: Things I've Seen

Greg Pressler, Trail Runner, at Vol State Ultra

Greg Pressler at Vol State Ultra Run

Greg's a Boldly Went favorite because of the way his stories are artfully practiced and told. This one has layers of meaning and, in addition to listening several times, we found it helpful to mull over his written words of "Cathedrals in the Sand" published previously on Gemini Adventures.

Listen to more by Greg Pressler in previous episodes of the Boldly Went podcast

Cathedrals in the Sand: Ancient Kauri Forests of New Zealand

Tāne Mahuta, a 2000 year old tree in New Zealand

Have you ever heard of the Ancient Kauri Forests in New Zealand? Last week I stood in front of a 2000 year old Kauri tree, it’s called Tane Mahuta. As I stood there I breathed in the oxygen that Tane Mahuta and the other trees in the forest poured out, and as I breathed out, Tane Mahuta and his friends were gulping in the carbon dioxide that I had just left. I stood with my feet planted on the ground, just as the trees stood rooted in the same earth.
I was part of the tree and the tree was part of me. We shared air, we shared earth. We were connected.

It took my breath away to stand at it’s base and strain my neck back to see the top of it. I felt overwhelmed by how it towered over me. Tears welled in my eyes at this realization.

I imagined what it would be like to be 2000 years old… that means that this tree existed in the time of Jesus; it was there when the Maori arrived, I wondered if it felt the ripples from earth shattering wars taking place throughout the years. I wonder if the tree mourned the loss of so many of it’s comrades.

Colonizers started chopping Kauri trees for timber to build their houses then to support ship building in the World Wars. Modern day tourists and outdoor recreationists are continuing to put these ancient Kauris at risk by transmitting a fungal disease called Kauri Dieback on their shoes and clothes specked with dirt from forests to forest.

A Kauri tree is very slow growing, and it takes 400 years to reach adolescence; longer to achieve maturity. Because of deforestation and a fungal root infection, their are only 100 mature Kauri trees left in New Zealand. It’s as Greg describes the slow development and the many natural forces that take place to form the Cathedrals in the Sand.

The New Zealand Government has taken a bold and progressive stand and has implemented protections for the ancient Kauri forest for the sole sake of preserving the Kauri forest. It’s bold, because the intention is to protect the Kauri for the sake of the Kauri. They have gone so far as to close off entire sections of forest to all human entry to avoid ongoing spread of the disease. I think it’s bold because they are taking a collective stand and saying that the protection is for the land. The land only exists for the land. It does not exist for the enjoyment and recreation of the people.

It’s bold, because a government is acknowledging that we, humans, are the ones responsible for destroying the environment and that we have an obligation to protect it. It’s acknowledging the grandeur of a living being of 2000 years old. It’s a government that is able to recognize just how trivial human existence is where those living the longest among us, the most ancient humans are just over 100 years old.

The natural world is old.
Humans are young.
We are connected.

The natural world exists for it’s own sake.
Humans are reckless consumers.
We are dependent.

As we continue through the holiday season, don’t be reckless consumers. Reflect on your own majestic experiences. A wonderful gift for those you care about, and your adventure buddies, is for you to share your inspiring stories with each other and, like Greg said in his story, get ready for your new day where you can redefine your adventure.

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Music

Ukelele Jam. Maricz.
Tape Deck. Endless Love,
Don’t Close Your Eyes (Instrumental). Josh Woodward.

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