UNLOCKING A TEAM-FIRST MINDSET FOR 247 MISSION RIVINGTON

Hyrbid Elite 15 competitor, and 247 coach and athlete, Jake Dearden knows exactly what it takes to excel in an endurance race like Mission Rivington. This is why a team-first mentality is the key.

The vast majority of endurance races and ultra marathons are solo endeavours. You may start with a training partner but, as the hours tick by, everyone ends up being a lone wolf. The inevitable hurdles, both physical and mental, that crop up during endurance events have to be crossed alone. Just you in your own head.

The 247 Rivington Race is new take on endurance racing. Competing in teams of five, one of which must be female, teams run a 5.1km trail loop at the top of the hour, every hour, from 7am until 7pm. In the meantime, other team members can work on a Ski-Erg machine.

You receive points for every team member that runs (as long as at least two do) and extra points for distance on the ski. The team with the highest total at the end of the event wins. Strategy and teamwork are vital.

Having recently completed The Speed Project – a team-based running endurance race from Santa Monica, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada - leading a hard-charging team of 247 athletes as one in their 247 race clothing, Jake Dearden is an expert on navigating the realities of competition as a group. These are his notes on staying the course and finishing strong as one.

COMMUNICATION FOR THE WIN

“Communication is going to be the key to whoever wins this, in my opinion. You’ve got to keep everyone feeling fresh, so if people need breaks then you must see that and let them rest.

“12 hours is a hell of a long time to be running and skiing. As a team, make sure you’re talking and letting each other know, honestly, how you’re feeling. The worst thing you can do for the team is suffer in silence.”

DO YOU NEED A CREW FOR ENDURANCE EVENTS?

“Having sixth person as part of the team is going to be a huge advantage. They’re not actively doing the event, but they are organising everything else. When you are fatigued and tired, it's harder to make decisions. Someone externally handling that is really helpful.

“They could be organising hydration, they could be organising fuel and calling the shots on strategy. Crew members are just as important as the athletes, if not more important. It’s the ultimate hack for events like this.”

ADAPTING TO THRIVE IN ULTRA MARATHONS

“Before you start any event like this, sit down and plan out a solid structure for how you think it’s going to go. Then think about everything that could go wrong for your team.

“Over 12 hours there are bound to be things that go wrong. Someone might get injured, someone may not be able to run and only ski. The team that can react to those changes best will be the winner.”

THE TEAM-FIRST MINDSET

“You have to take ego out of it. Everyone wants to feel like they won’t ever slow down or won’t need to take a single break. Lots of people come from a running or fitness race background, which are very self-focused. But that’s not what it’s about.

“If you’re slowing the team down, you need to take that on the chin and allow the people feeling strong to take over for a while. Likewise, if somebody isn’t feeling it on the day, you’ve got take up the slack and raise the bar. Either way, you’ve got to always take one for the team.”

HOW TO WORK IN SHIFTS AT MISSION RIVINGTON

“12 hours is a long time. It's a hell of long time. But I think alternating shifts is a good plan. If you've got two strong runners in your team, then keep them on the running.

But if you've got four strong runners, then it might be best to alternate the runs and each person only does 5k every two hours.”

THE BEST TECHNIQUE FOR THE SKI-ERG MACHINE

“Firstly, no matter what anyone says, wear gloves. You need to be wearing gloves or you're going to get blisters. Doing a 10k ski yoga ruins your hands and you’re going to be doing more than that over the 12 hours.

“Stay nice and reserved and don’t push it. It’s more important to make sure transitions on the ski-erg are fast. Don’t dawdle. If the machine isn’t moving, your team isn’t moving.”

JAKE’S TEAM-FIRST MANTRA FOR THE LATER HOURS

“Use your teammates as motivation. You’re not just doing this for yourself. You’re doing it for your team. You can’t let them down. Have the mindset that you’re willing to do anything for them. Do your job and ride that adrenaline. You’ll push further than you ever thought possible.”