SOLE Blog

May 28th, 2009

Team SOLE interviewed by The IC/RC Chronicles

Intense-sponsored Team Sole is consistently one of the top adventure race teams in the world. We caught up with Paul Romero, Team Sole captain and Intense Cycles pal, and teammate, Karen Lundgren, to try to get an idea what's going on in the head of an adventure racer. Paul's son, Jordan, is quickly following in Paul's footsteps, aspiring to become the youngest person to summit the 7 biggest peaks on the planet.

Q: So, Paul... Adventure racing. How does someone get inspired to become a world-class adventure racer?
Well, it's sorta something we're born with. It's a gene that we're unfortunately born with. It's far from the smartest thing to do with our bodies and minds, and you are either born with it or not. It's an incredibly difficult sport to become proficient, and to become world-class level has been a long, long road. I don't recommend it to anybody, pretty much.

Q: Do you have to enjoy being lost in the wilderness?
Hell no. I don't know anybody that enjoys this. Getting lost is the worst. It shows total lack of skill, focus and teamwork... all the things we strive to stay on top of. We have been 'lost' twice while having raced in 24+ countries. Once in a dark, dark, cold night in the canyons of central Mexico. We were neck and neck for the lead going into a massive 35km mountain run, and came out 10th or so after a horrendous night spent in a canyon dodging the grim reaper. Truly nearly bought the farm, and very lost at the same time. That was hell.

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of an Adventure race? Why?
Pretty much for sure, it is the teammate aspect. The races are so mentally and physically demanding, everyone must be of the same mindset, goals, and strategy. This is hard when you are going days on end, with no sleep, hellish conditions...oh, and racing for a lot of money.

Q: Nutrition is obviously a big part of competing at your level. What does your typical diet look like? Race diet?
This is double secret stuff here... and what we get paid to coach/consult about it. But it's not secret we are hardcore advocates of the Hammer Nutrition products. They are the most reputable and well researched products in the world. The guys that design it have assured us nobody tests this product more than us. It has worked beyond belief.

Q: How do you train for such grueling survival events?
At this point, it's our complete lifestyle. About12 months out of the year, we are either recovering from or packing for a major expedition. It's fun, but hard freakin' work. We live for it at this point. Oddly we keep getting more strong and our bodies more reliable. Most in the sport break down, but with our nutrition and recovery program, we keep rocking.

Q: You've been known to occasionally pop in at endurance bike races. Just having fun or are you intentionally trying to make the other competitors feel pathetic?
Ha. It's for fun. Unfortunately, I don't see much prize money in these events, so we can't give too much attention to them at this point. It's good people, and good times, but the loop design is dreadful. Frankly, I don't know how those guys do it. Racing from Mammoth to Tijuana...I'll start tomorrow morning and race for a six pack. But loops for a couple grand... I'm not doing backflips to get there.

Q: Spider 29r.... weapon of choice?
Hell yeah.The VPP is sick. Running RockSolid WhiteBros fork, 1x9 with Q ring, rear brake only (for most courses). American Classic Wheels. Got my bike down to 22 and change. Anyone over 5'6" not running 29er is just lying to themselves. You'll see in 5 years.

Q: I see you won the (2008?) 12 hours of Bootleg solo. Walk in the park?
NOT a walk in the park. Bootleg is a brutal place to ride. The course that Sarah Kaufman designed was fun as hell... for the first 6 hours, then it got tough. You can't loose focus for 3 seconds on that course, or you have a mouth full of volcanic rock and buying a helicopter flight to the fine folks at the trauma center. We joke there, it's a good reason the rock and hillside is red. Everyone donates blood there.

Q: So, your son, Jordan, is on a mission to become the youngest person ever to top the 7 summits. He's 12.
He's feeling real pressure now to carry through with this. It was a casual thing at first. Now there are sponsors, media and big league climbing world watching his every move. It's a wild ride right now. Hard to believe we are doing this.

Q: Not many 12 year olds aspire for such a goal. Does Jordan have a strict training regimen?
It's not strict. It is big, but not strict. He's doing road bike riding, TONS of skiing in the freestyle park, cross country running and he's a sick snow shoe runner. All this makes him very diverse and clever. His strength now is impressive. He's now at my side, not hanging on to my pace. Scary to think where this may go. It's all up to him though.

Q: Mountaineering is often a testament of will. How does Jordan stay mentally focused and driven when in action?
Again, it's a genetic thing. He was 9 when this all started and he hasn't stopped staring at the top of the mountain. There has been so much noise, distractions and nay-sayer's. His focus is pretty admirable. Most of his friends are doing nothing of the sort.

Q: 2009 is going to be busy for you, the team, and Jordan. What's the focus and goals?
We have our best odds yet, for winning the world championships of adventure racing this year. It takes place in Portugal, a region and event that I'm intimately familiar with. I won this event 3 years ago and have been going back every year. It's extremely technical racing, and cold and rainy. Very mentally tough event. It will have 13 disciplines and be 6 days nonstop.

The team also will be in Sweden for the daunting 1000km MONSTER, as it's called. Nonstop expedition from central Sweden up to the north border above the Arctic circle and back. We know this region a bit, the race will have glacier travel, river boarding, white water kayaking, very tough bush travel, even some 'pro tour' style road cycling stages in addition to some 'world cup' XC mountain bike travel, so they promise. Other than that it's the usual stops on the tour such as Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

Karen and myself will be in Nepal, climbing on/around the Everest area training, and establishing the groundwork for Jordan next year to go climb for the Big E. Additionally Jordan is preparing for the big climb in Papua New Guinea, Carstensz Pyramid, a 16,000' peak with a 3000' granite face at the top. We hope to go to Tibet/China to climb over 8000 meters (27,000') in summer so Jordan can train and know this feeling. He'll end the year with a massive polar expedition to Antarctica. This is more expensive and logistically challenging than even Everest.

Q: What do you guys usually do in down time?
Ha. I never miss an episode of John Stewart, Steven Colbert and the Office. I usually catch those at 1am when my front door stops revolving and phone stops ringing. Also hoops, K and I love NBA. We took Jordan to watch Lebron play recently, and now he's hooked too. We are are fortunate to be alive to watch this guy play.

Q: What's the beer of choice?
Heineken. Room temp. I lived in the Virgin Islands, where ice was rare, and noontime 'greenie' time prepped me for life. But first choice is tequila on the rocks.

Q: What's the go-to pre-race meal and/or ritual?
Our team makes a habit of looking at each other in the eyes, and commit... to never never quit. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. It seems to work. Meal- Acai is my morning ritual.

Q: Your personal mantra? Jordan's?
Jordan's: AD ALTA (latin, for to the SUMMIT) Team SOLE: GO FAST, TAKE CHANCES...words to live and race by.

Posted by: Matt Lambert at 3:42 p.m. in Athletes | Comments (0)