Top 3 Powerful Takeaways From the Dynamic Father and Son Duo, Jeff and Hunter Leininger
Adventure racing is an amazing sport that you can do with your kids, your spouse, or your brother or sister. And when you’re able to accomplish something special like that as a family, it strengthens your bond.
I had father and son Jeff and Hunter Leininger on Tales of Toughness podcast. Jeff has completed over 100 expedition and adventure races and Hunter is the world's youngest adventure racer. Together, they made up two fists of Team AR Georgia on the World’s Toughest Race.
Here are some of the takeaways from our conversation:
1. The arc of parenting
Jeff had to go through this arc of parenting with Hunter throughout all the races they’ve done together. Hunter has transitioned from needing support to standing on his own and now pushing his dad to new heights. This arc is such a healthy transition between father and son, which something most parents have to face. And adventure racing has facilitated this journey for them.
People underestimate what kids are capable of doing. But if you just give them the chance and the opportunity, they can pretty much wow you. Foster their talent because they have the potential and capabilities.
2. Strategies in adventure racing to gain ground
What the top teams are looking for is a way to cut time and save energy. Look for shortcuts. Jeff’s team was able to save 16 miles of paddle hours because they found a quicker route. Another part of their strategy was to target their rock climbing by sunrise so they have the whole day to see what’s in front of them. In adventure racing, you’re always fighting the cut-offs and a lot of the cut-offs are in the rope sections. There are dark zones at the ropes and you have to be there at a certain time.
3. When you know it’s time to switch the game plan
When Team AR Georgia got to a section in the challenge that just drained everyone, they had to switch their game plan from pushing themselves to just enjoying the remaining three or four days of the race. So it took long hours of conversation within the team when they finally made that decision to switch their priority to just stay safe and finish the race without injuries. Giving up wasn’t an option for them because pulling the trigger could just be the worst thing ever. But the safety of your entire team always has to come first.
If you want to learn more about Jeff and Hunter’s adventures, check out the Tales of Toughness Podcast on https://gosonja.com/podcast.