Interview: Don Mann of Primal Quest

I got the opportunity to interview Don Mann the other day. He’s the brainchild of the Primal Quest Adventure Race series. Don is arguably the biggest organizer in the sport of Adventure Racing. Don has staged more multi-day, multi-sport races than any other individual in the world.

He not only commands the PQ, but has pioneered a PQ Sprint Series of 4-6 hour races that are fast and furious.

Here’s what Don had to say…

Wade: How the heck did you find yourself in this job?

Don: Back in 1995 I was on Team Odyssey. I booked our travel and did alot of logistical planning for our team for the races around the world. At the time it cost $16,000 per team to do it. I thought it would be easier and less expensive to do a race series in the U.S.

Then I planned the Beast of the East and people loved it. Then 7 years ago I went to Hawaii to do some team building with Bill Watkins. And now we have Primal Quest because of Bill and his wife’s support. (Bill discussed the race with Don and then Dan Barger was CEO/Race Directory for 3 PQs.)

Wade: Regarding the Primal Quest Sprint Series; it is billed as “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition”!! What aspects of the races make them “the most challenging?”

Don: The sprint series will be 4-6 hours races. The winner should finish in around 4 hours. It will include trail running, technical mountain biking, and non-technical paddling. There will also be ropes obstacles; a cargo net, rope bridge, and low crawl. We will also have “log pt” which is running and working together while carrying a telephone pole.

Wade: The big PQ race this year starts June 21^st in Montana. What were some of the other locations considered, and why was Montana chosen?

Don: Colorado, Idaho, and Montana were three locations we considered. We had friends in Colorado and Idaho who planned beautiful courses. But when we got to Montana and saw the course we knew. Conrad Anker and Jay Smith are out there working on the mountaineering part of the course right now.

Wade: What kind of loot can the winners of Primal Quest Montana expect to take home?

Don: $100,000 in cash. It costs $12,500 for a 4 person team. Newsweek called it “The Superbowl of Adventure Racing!”

Wade: For our Adventure Racing up-n-comers reading this, what would you say is the best advice you can give them on training for a race like Primal Quest Montana?

Don: If you’re an outdoor lover these are for you. Adventure Racing is a thinking persons sport. And, it is easier to train for an Adventure Race than other sports because there is less chance of burn out from the variety of training options you have. You can go to the gym, road ride, trail ride, paddle, or run depending the weather or how you feel that day. You can grab a bike, do some trails, then do them faster. It becomes so fun you don’t even realize you’re training any more. But, do it because it’s fun.

Good advice Don. Thanks so much for the interview!

Everyone be sure to check out EcoPrimalQuest.com for all the details on the Montana race as well as the sprint series.

8 comments March 3rd, 2008