WHITEHORSE, YUKON, CANADA — “You have to have an unbeatable mind,” said retired U.S. Navy SEAL Josh Friedman, about chasing a dream.

“Make your dream a reality. If you have a dream, make that dream a vision. Cement that vision in your mind and take the steps necessary to make that vision a reality,” Friedman, 55, explained. “I have found that if you take the necessary steps, and persevere through the trials and tribulations, that dream can be reality.”

Friedman and 56-year-old Mountain Mike’s Health Food Store owner Julie Kirk had a dream that started over four years ago: to enter and complete the grueling 444-mile-long Yukon River Quest, the world’s longest annual canoe and kayak race.

The race’s mission statement is: “To challenge paddlers in a world class wilderness event — a race to the midnight sun — the Yukon River Quest.”

“We are Spirit of America, mixed tandem kayak racing team,” wrote Friedman on their Facebook page. “We love kayaking and the spirit of adventure!”

“Our inspiration for doing the first race was simple. We just thought we could do it,” said Friedman. “Sounds crazy because Julie had no race experience, kayak or otherwise.”

Friedman’s previous racing experience came from competing in Ironman Triathlons, where he was a five-time finisher and World Championship race qualifier. “But I hadn’t raced in years so this was a huge undertaking and we knew we might be in over our head,” he said “but we always knew we would finish.”

They did complete that race in 2014, took last place, but they met their goal of finishing in 68 hours, 45 minutes and 29 seconds. “That race we suffered,” explained Friedman. “The learning curve was steep, but it lit the fire in us that we could get better and so the challenge was on!”

In 2015, they once again set out, challenging the fast flowing river, navigating rapids and obstacles, from Whitehorse to Dawson City. They bettered their time significantly, finishing in 57 hours and 16 minutes.

Undaunted, they set out in 2016, and despite a bad back injury, they pushed through, bettering their time again, finishing in 57 hours and 15 minutes. Friedman considered giving up when he injured his back, but extrication can take days, so they just continued to paddle.

“Every year we have found the river poses different challenges for us. We enjoy putting ourselves in a position of unknown circumstances and being able to find whatever it takes within ourselves to overcome these challenges before us,” said Friedman. “The challenges come not only from the river, but also from ourselves. Being able to overcome a mental or physical barrier at a particular time of weakness.”

In preparation for the 2017 race, the team worked with Mike Davis, owner of Iron Mike’s Family Fitness, establishing a training routine. They also incorporated yoga into their training.

The race is both physically and mentally draining. The competitors paddle almost straight through, with only two mandatory breaks. The first is seven hours and the second is three hours. “A good support crew is vital to the team,” explained Friedman. Their support crew, consisting of Ian Kirk and Ivie van Lent, are in charge of taking care of all their needs during the rest stops.

This year, team Spirit of America started the Yukon River Quest along with 87 other teams. Thirteen countries were represented: Australia, Belgium, Canada (eight provinces/territories), France, Germany, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Togo. By the end of the race, the river had taken its toll — 19 teams had scratched, but Friedman and Kirk were not among them.

“The Yukon River is so big and vast. In some places it’s a mile wide,” said Friedman. “There are numerous channels and back channels that you could potentially get lost in. Finding the right route, the straightest route, and avoiding dangerous obstacles in the river is huge. Staying alert at all times is a must and can be extremely challenging after paddling through the night.”

Despite the challenges, the race offers experiences many people never have the opportunity to experience. “Paddling through the midnight sun is probably our favorite. It’s a special time and place you can only experience on the Yukon River,” shared Friedman about competing at a time and place when there is nearly 24 hours of daylight.

“Every year we try to better our time from the previous year,” said Friedman. In addition to that goal, competitors must complete the race in under 55 hours to be eligible for the prize money, something than the team had not yet achieved.

On June 28, the Spirit of America set out again, challenging themselves against one of the toughest kayak and canoe races in the world, backed by their support crew and sponsors, Gaston and Judy Holland and Sealskinz USA.

They navigated the river and the Five Finger Rapids safely without capsizing the boat, pushing through the days until they could finally see the Moosehide Slide, a landmark indicating that the finish line was near. They completed the race in 54 hours, 27 minutes and 33 seconds, breaking their record, and finishing in under 55 hours, and coming in second place in the Mixed Tandem Kayak Class.

“There’s a certain drive that begins to kick in when things begin to get hard or you begin to struggle,” said Friedman. “The harder things get or the struggle, the deeper you have to dig within yourself to find what it takes to persevere. The motivation comes from getting in that space and coming out of it OK, that you can be there, get through the tough times and keep going. It’s a learned feeling that you know. Coming out the other end is exhilarating.”

Is the team from Moyie Springs going to take on the Yukon River Quest in 2018?

“Every year, at the end of the race, we’ve always told each other that’s the last one. It takes a couple of months to clear our head and begin mental preparation for the next one,” said Friedman, then added, “So far we’ve always been back.”