It had been a while since the four of us raced together. The last time was a few years ago in Panama—a grueling five-day event in very intense heat. We swore we’d never do another race like that again: one without much navigation that relied mostly on roads and trails.
Fast forward a few years, and our team had just won Expedition Oregon, earning us a free entry to the World Championships in Ecuador! At first, we hadn’t planned to go, but the allure of a free entry and the promise of a unique course convinced us. Encouragement from each other—“The course won’t go too high,” “It’s Ecuador; it can’t be that hot!”—sealed the deal.
Still, none of us felt particularly excited or had the fire that we usually have. Deep down, we knew we were signing up more for the experience and privilege of racing at the World Championships than for the thrill of it. I remembered my last race in Ecuador, a decade ago, which had been an unforgettable adventure full of navigation and super long legs. It took us from the high peaks to all the way down to the ocean. With that memory in mind, we decided to embrace the challenge and dubbed the event an “epic double date.”
Arrival and Pre-Race Jitters: Without time to acclimate, we arrived just a day or two before the race. The altitude of the host city, Cuenca, hit us immediately, but we resolved to do our very best. Our mantra became: “Race hard, learn, adapt, and enjoy.” Despite some pre-race chaos—delayed flights and a broken bike spoke— for the most part, we stayed relaxed and focused on our goals.
The start of any race is my least favorite part—nerves are high, and everyone sprints to stay in the lead pack. Knowing we couldn’t keep up at altitude, we paced ourselves. Early on, a wrong turn while pushing our bikes uphill cost us over an hour. It was frustrating at first and I’ll be honest, we were all a bit disappointed for few hours, but after a while we pulled together, shared stories, and adjusted our plans to regain our momentum.
Constant Adaptation: The Heart of Adventure RacingThe first trekking stage was a grueling 17-hour ordeal. By the next transition area (TA), we learned the course had changed, requiring significant packrafting and trekking adjustments. Adapting our sleep schedule, we pushed through to tackle as much of the river section as possible in daylight.
The river turned out to be a highlight—class II/III rapids that were splashy, fun, and engaging. Although we paddled some sections in the dark, we navigated well and entered the TA feeling energized and excited for the next stage, a 190 km or so bike (it had also changed mid course) with a ropes course in the middle of it.
Stage 4: Biking Challenges and Small VictoriesThe transition from packrafting to biking was tough; as breaking down the boats and then building up the bikes is always a challenge and takes longer than you want. Sleep deprivation hit Alex hard on our way up to the climb site, so we stopped for our first significant rest—90 minutes outside a small town. Though not everyone slept well, the rest gave us the strength to tackle a long climb to the ropes section. I was so happy to be on my infinity seat, for the entire bike ride, I had no saddle sores or pain in my butt. I was also in flats which made it so I didn’t have to carry my trekking shoes for the climbing portion – huge win.
This climbing stage was another highlight: rappelling, ascending, and canyoneering in a stunning area. Ropework is a team favorite, and we relished the mini break from biking. But the next stretch brought blazing heat and endless roads. At one point, heat exhaustion forced us to stop in a village, where we napped and enjoyed a rare indulgence—a huge plate of the most delicious chicken and papas fritas. A woman, who was obviously very popular in the village was making it out of her home and had a line up of locals. After eating, we passed out under a shelter with a cool breeze. It was magic and one of my most favorite memories of any race. Once done with our nap, we woke up as the sun was leaving and we were able to push so much harder. While we had never tried stopping for that long in the middle of the day, it was fun to try it and see how it worked for us. For this particular race, I think it was a great idea!
The “Underwear” TrekThe next trekking stage was relatively straightforward, with little navigation required. To combat the heat, we all set out in just our underwear (and Karine and I even took off our bras), we enjoyed the freedom and the airflow. Both of these things along with a fun chase game kept us all stoked and moving the entire trek, well, until we hit the very last climb. Most of the trail led us through lush forests and alongside waterfalls, a welcome respite from the sun.
Reaching the highest point of the trek—3,600 meters—was a challenge. Sleep deprivation hit Jason hard, and as rain and fog descended, he struggled to control his movements. It took all of us working together to get him safely down the mountain to shelter. After a longer sleep, Jason was himself again, though he had no memory of the ordeal what so ever.
The Final PushThe last stage was a bike ride with a climbing section. We once again set our sights on catching up with a Kiwi team, Forever Forests who were an hour and a half ahead of us at the time- it turned the chase into a fun game. By taking a higher trail route, and not ever really stopping, we gained time and caught up at the climb site.
Though we initially planned to race to the finish, we decided to ride together instead—a decision that, while slower, added camaraderie to the final stretch. Navigating through the city in the last hour was chaotic, but we finally crossed the finish line together, securing 12th place.
Celebration and Reflection
Our “hot, sweaty, grueling double date” was over. We didn’t podium or crack the top 10, but we won the “most fun” award in our hearts. A few days later, we celebrated with a visit to Piedra de Agua, the second-best spa in the world, where mud rubs, contrast pools, steam baths, and delicious food revived our spirits.
While the race wasn’t our favorite in terms of the course, the shared experience, lessons learned, and bonds strengthened made it all worthwhile. Adventure racing is about more than competition—it’s about adaptability, teamwork, and finding joy in the journey. This experience reminded us of this and lit the fire under us for more races to come. But first, we all are very much looking forward to some skiing in very cold weather!
Gear and Food we used and LOVED:
USWE Packs: Both the Ultra and the Pace
4HourFuel: Jason and I made it 80% of our calories for the race, Horchata and Spicy Ramen were the best sellers of the race.
Infinity Seat: Jason and I had ZERO saddle sores or chaufing and we didn’t have to wear bike shorts, instead, Jason rode in his underwear and me in my Maipo Patagonia shorts. It was absolutely amazing.
Ellsworth Truth Bikes: I could climb every single hill no matter how steep it was, I could also bomb down all the steep hills. I felt comfortable and so in control. I loved every minute on my bike!
Skin Doctor: Skin Doctor kept our feet in tip top shape. Not one blister from any of us. This stuff is absolutely magic.
Fenix Lights: Both the BC 26 R and the HM 65R were our staples and work horses this race. We had 10 hours of darkness every night so good bright lights were absolutely clutch. As always, they were easy to use, durable and super bright
Hoka Tecton X3: These shoes with the build in gators were awesome. The race was mostly on trail and road, so the cushier Hoka’s were key. There was also a TON of downhill, having the Hoka Tecton saved my quads and gave me much needed cushion and traction.
Patagonia Maipo Shorts: These shorts were worn on all three bike stages- adding up to over 400 km of biking! I have never worn the same bike shorts for all of a 5 day expedition race, so this is saying ALOT. In short, they were so comfortable, breathable and perfect to wear with the Infinity Seat! 100% perfect combo!
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