Running against the wind

The Ten Island Race. A race that challenges local Islanders and elite athletes alike, to run, swim and kayak across ten jagged islands, through treacherous waters, over distances longer than a marathon, all the while competing against the elements. For the men and women at Caterpillar Marine, the mindset is the same whether they are getting ready to compete in the race, or designing and building world-leading propellers. They have a fighting spirit as well as the conviction that through teamwork they can overcome any obstacles.

The archipelago off Sweden’s west coast. Rustic houses that stand, as they’ve done for hundreds of years, against a backdrop of white-capped waves and gray skies. A small, tight-knit community, where the Islanders share a special bond forged by a lifetime of harsh weather amid windswept granite and the open sea. This is also home to Caterpillar Marine. For the people working there, it’s in their blood. That sense of never giving up, no matter what they are faced with. That inherent trait comes from growing up surrounded by the rugged nature and powerful elements of the islands.

A TRADITION IS BORN

Dan Eliasson is an Islander. A multisport devotee himself, Dan had long dreamed of developing an adventure race in Sweden because he’d grown bored with traveling to compete. When he heard that the non-profit organization Missing People Sweden was searching for a fellow Islander who had gone missing but lacked resources, he suddenly had all the reason he needed. So in August of 2013, he and his friend Pär Hallgren launched the Ten Island Race to benefit Missing People Sweden. The turnout was only 60 people, almost all of them local amateurs. Now in its third year, the race has grown steadily since its modest beginnings and is attracting an increasing number of experienced athletes.

Matt Gorbaty is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marines and a seasoned triathlon competitor, so it’s fair to say he’s no stranger to physical challenges. Still, when he agreed to compete in the Ten Island Race last year, he had no idea what he was in for. The 2015 race, which took place mid-August, hosted 250 participants from across Europe, and in some cases – like with Matt Gorbaty, who flew in from Japan – even farther. More than a competition, it’s become an event involving the entire island community, and this year it’s all for the benefit of Världens Barn, an organization dedicated to raising money for children around the world in need.

MAN VS. NATURE

By multisport competition standards, the Ten Island Race isn’t especially long. It’s the terrain that makes it grueling. The course crosses 10 islands, where teams of two vie to be the first to reach the highest point on each before making it over the finish line. To get from island to island, competitors must kayak 18 kilometers and swim 2300 meters through the open sea. And the on-land part isn’t any easier. For 26 kilometers, participants clamber over pitted, crooked rock that is frequently soaked by rain and seawater. Trails are virtually non-existent. As one shell-shocked competitor put it afterwards, “This isn’t running. It’s bouldering.” On average, the course takes eight hours to complete.

THE HOME-TURF ADVANTAGE

It’s different out here. To the locals who live and work here every day, the terrain comes as no surprise. They’re familiar with the big waves and constant wind and know how to handle themselves on the rocks. This levels the playing field considerably. As Dan points out, even the less experienced Islanders are able to hold their own against more accomplished athletes from out of town because they’re more relaxed, and therefore able to hold a strong, steady pace. But for all its challenges, the Ten Island Race has only ever had one purpose: to be fun. The rugged landscape is unlike any other on Earth, and participants consistently rate the course as the most beautiful they’ve ever seen.

As Matt Gorbaty prepares for 2015, he remembers the community’s enthusiasm as one of the high points of last year’s competition. “It turned out to be one of the hardest races I’ve ever done,” he says, “But also one of the most rewarding.” For the men and women working at Caterpillar Marine, living and working in these elements allow them to relate to the experiences and challenges their customers face in their daily work. They understand that the only way to do a good job, no matter what it may be, is to put themselves in the shoes of their customer. Only then, from that perspective, can they truly realize what it takes. Knowing the terrain, training and delivering is crucial, whether in the Ten Island Race or in business.