*There are no spoilers in this article
671km in 11 days, that’s only 61km per day. How tough can it be? The World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji deserves its audacious name. It is 671km of paddling in open ocean, bushwhacking through jungle and swimming in freezing rivers. The race took place in September, 2019 and is currently airing on Amazon Prime. The show is hosted by Bear Grylls who is former British special services. Grylls is beyond over the top with his commentary however he is extremely likeable. His enthusiasm and energy are boundless and admirable.
I catch myself glancing at my watch during the work day, counting down the hours until I get to watch more Eco-Challenge. My wife Lindsay and I have watched 7 of the 10 episodes. We watch TV before bed and we’ve been having trouble turning off the show. Our 10 year old Norah and 7 year old James have taken to sneaking out of bed to watch with us. We usually send the kids back to bed but we’ve been making an exception for Eco-Challenge.
The teams are made up of very inspirational people and the kids are learning some great lessons. Each team has 4 racers and one support person. Travis Macy is the captain of my favourite team, Team Endure. I’m a big fan of Travis’ book, the Ultra Mindset. I’ve read the book twice and come back to it often as a reference. Travis races with his father Mark Macy, an adventure racing legend. Mark is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s and it’s touching to watch Travis and the rest of the team support Mark. Our family is also cheering for Team Summit from Spain, led by Emma Roca. It’s great to see a female captain – a great example for Norah. Roca is a bad ass, extremely tough, cool headed, and strong. I really admire her grit and determination. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Team Canada Adventure. This team kicks butt in Canadian fashion – fierce yet modest and understated. We definitely feel the national pride when they’re featured in episodes.
I used to adventure race years ago, it’s been over 6 years since I’ve entered one. I’ve been very happy competing in ultra marathons. Eco-Challenge has peaked my interest though, and Lindsay and I have been discussing doing an adventure race next year. Norah has even asked if she could race with us. The team aspect of adventure racing is very attractive. I’ve spent countless hours on my own during ultra marathons and I like the thought of racing with 3 other people. It’s almost time to watch our nightly episode and I’m looking forward to following along with the adventure. The World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji has been a great family experience so far and I’m excited to see which team will win the $100,000 grand prize.
