Seconding - An Introduction

Have you got what it takes to be a bike mechanic, podiatrist, navigator and motivational speaker, all in one? Can you turn a muddy patch on the side of the road into a cushy bed & breakfast?

Adventure racing is a team sport. Without a good second, a team is often completely lost. But there’s a whole lot more to seconding than simply being a mindless packer transporting the team’s equipment from one point to another.

Somebody got the athlete there, somebody will take care of the athlete during the race and somebody will take them home again. Its simply a question of whether the event organisers or the athletes give official recognition to the special people behind the scenes.

A second is the trusted friend who lives in the heart and mind of the athlete. When conditions become unbearable and the pain is too much, it’s the second who in the space of a few minutes miraculously replenishes your spirit, repairs your injuries and equipment and provides the motivation to carry on. If there were no seconds, the Adventure Racer would have to focus on a lot more than just getting to the finish.

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Good Luck!