For Forster sisters Sharon Brown and Brooke Dormor, adventure races are more than just an opportunity for them to test their physical and mental endurance.
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The multi-disicpline races, which can include trekking, running, riding and even rock climbing, also offer a welcome respite to their sometimes stressful careers, with Brooke an acting principal and Sharon a clinical nurse unit manager.
“We both have fairly stressful jobs, so the races help put things into perspective,” said Brooke.
The duo will again take to the wilderness when they tackle the Wildside Adventure Race, to be held in Bulahdelah from October 1.
It’ll be the third adventure race the duo have competed in, although they’ve competed in numerous other long distance runs and endurance events.
It's a real team thing, you rely on the support of your teammates
- Brooke Dormor
According to Brooke, there’s a number of reasons the sisters have taken to the adventure format with such gusto.
“It’s a multi-discipline thing – the navigation in particular, we love it because we had to learn how to do it,” she said.
With races sometimes stretching over multiple grueling days, relying on the support of teammates is crucial.
“You’re out in the bush for hours, sometimes you mightn’t even see any other competitors,” Brooke said.
“It’s a real team thing, you rely on the support of your teammates.”
Being able to compete alongside one another is also an “awesome” attraction for the sisters, despite initial concerns that the two might end up “bluing” given the fatigue factor associated with these races.
“It’s awesome, ‘Shaz’ usually leads from the front and I bring up the end,” Brooke said.
“We manage it very well. We’re very well versed in each others strengths and weaknesses, so we know when to back off one another.”
The duo will compete in the Bulahdelah race as two-person Team Travel Play Live.
The race will take place over 100-200km of rugged Mid North Coast bushland, with 12, 24 and 36 hour categories for competitors.
This event will include mountain biking, paddling, trekking, orienteering and trail running.
Organisers Fully Rad have also added in a few surprises scattered throughout the spectacular forests and rivers surrounding Bulahdelah, requiring problem solving on the run.