September 12 through 13 marked the 25th annual United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA), partnered with the Ozark Foundation, National Championships. Held in Bentonville, Arkansas, this endurance race tested the physical and mental limits of its competitors.
Thirty hours of non-stop trekking, mountain biking, and paddling brought the racing community together from all across the country.
For the first time ever, students from Brunswick’s Full Steam Ahead Adventure Race Club had the opportunity to be a part of this group. As two of the youngest competitors in the entire race: sophomore Logan Kisselbach and senior Jossalyn Henry, alongside Jesse Tubb, the founder of GRIT Adventures, represented Brunswick as team Full Steam Ahead. Tubb has been racing for 18 years and took the spot for Lillian Cheesman, a senior, who was injured a week before the event.
The team covered nearly 120 miles in total over the course of 27 hours. This alone is an amazing accomplishment for two highschoolers, but a two week notice with minimal conditioning makes it even more impressive.
“We went on a couple mountain bike sessions together to make sure everything was working. At that point you can’t cram conditioning in as that would likely lead to a negative effect” Henry explained. Besides the short notice and limited training, this was also the longest endurance race both Kisselbach and Henry had ever competed in.
With all of these factors in mind, team Full Steam Ahead placed 13th in the co-ed division.
Both Kisselbach and Henry also expressed the importance of working as a team. Each member had a specific role, which made the process of the race go much smoother. Kisselbach acted as the “rabbit” which he explained meant he would run to get the checkpoints once the team found them, as well as the backup navigator.
Henry was the main navigator of the group. “I always find working with the team is the most rewarding part of the race. Everyone has each other’s backs, and we are all in it for the same goal.” Henry said when she was asked what it’s like working as a team.
Both are proud of their individual and their teams’ accomplishments. “We finished better than half the teams there, and for a team with a two week notice and two highschoolers I think we did really well.” Kisselbach commented.
Mr. Johnson, director of Full Steam Ahead club stated, “I don’t know how to put into words just how remarkable they did. Tubb was really there as a guide, he let them make the decisions and that’s a testament to those kids’ willpower, grit, and perseverance.” Johnson competed as well with his team Broad Run Off Road, securing 5th place in the male division and 14th overall.
