N.L. triathlete steps things up with 580-km adventure race. Yes, you read that right

A well-known Corner Brook triathlete recently pushed the limits of his endurance even further, in a 580-kilometre adventure race in British Columbia.

Carl Barrett, as part of a four-person team, took part in Expedition Canada's Adventure Racing World Series Qualifier in late May. The event includes trail running, mountain biking, paddling, orienteering and rappelling. Participants have up to a week to complete the course.

Barrett, 52, and his Team, Four-ward Motion, placed first out of the three teams in the masters' category, and 10th overall out of 20 teams from all age categories.

"I guess it's the epic nature of it. It's one of these things that is going to take you outside your comfort zone," said Barrett, in explaining why a long-distance adventure race appeals to him.

For many years, Barrett has participated in triathlons, which combine swimming, cycling, and running, and he's promoted the sport of triathlon to novice participants.

His first standard-distance triathlon was in 1998 in Corner Brook, the first year the city was on the circuit for the ITU Triathlon World Cup.

In more recent years, he's competed in two World Triathlon Championships — in Chicago in 2015 and in Abu Dhabi in 2022 — as well as five marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2021.

But a three-sport event that takes place in a single day is quite different from an adventure race that takes place over many days, in which sleep is optional.

"Pacing yourself over six days is a very different experience," said Barrett. "You end up depriving yourself of sleep in order to continue moving."

Barrett estimates he slept about 10 hours total during the entire six-day endurance race.

"You're learning to function and move as fast as you can while being