Travis Macy, while only 23, knows how to handle the agony of expedition adventure racing. He grew up watching his father, endurance legend Mark Macy, compete in the world’s most demanding contests, like the Badwater Ultramarathon and the Leadville 100. Today, the CU graduate from Boulder has logged several top podium finishes at expedition adventure races across the globe. Last month he was named to the Outdoor Industry Foundation’s elite roster of Outdoor Idols, a campaign to raise the profile of young outdoor athletes.
How did your dad’s racing affect you?
Exposure to the suffering and rewards of such events as a child and teenager allowed me to start adventure racing at a relatively young age. My dad continues to be an inspiration and outstanding teacher of mental toughness.
What is your best training technique?
I spend a lot of time snowshoeing at high altitude during the winter. It’s the best training I know of for building leg strength and cardiovascular fitness.
What was your worst injury?
I broke my collarbone into five pieces in a mountain bike crash on the Kokopelli Trail this May. I had to miss Primal Quest, but surgery (titanium plate and 10 screws) fixed it up and I’m ready to go.
Most frightening moment?
Flipping my kayak in an ice-lined, fast-moving river in Sweden.
How do you push through mental fatigue?
I think about my family and friends at home, who I know are cheering for me and urging me on.
What is the sickest thing you have ever seen?
Primal Quest featured an impressive and daunting ropes course that took teams hundreds of vertical feet up and over Moab’s Castleton Spire and Rectory rock formations.
Who do you admire most?
I admire many people for many reasons. I particularly like people who face adversity with a smile, use creativity to turn challenges into opportunities, and dedicate time and effort to improving other lives.
What music revs you up for a big contest?
Nice, calm music, like Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.”
Best advice you ever received?
Do your best at everything you do. Being a good person is the most important thing. From my parents.
What do you know now that you didn’t know then?
We didn’t sleep quite enough at the Adventure Racing World Championships last month in Sweden, and were knocked out of the top five when two teams passed us late in the race. Next time, we’ll try to sleep more and go faster.
Do you ever think that adventure racing has become a battle of attrition with the winner simply the team/person who can suffer the most and keep moving?
No, not really. Every team that finishes an adventure race – particularly a multiday expedition race – keeps moving through severe suffering, adversity and hardship. The winner is the team that uses a positive attitude to handle these challenges most efficiently.
