In a little over a week, Primal Quest Badlands will start in South Dakota. There are approximately 35 teams participating in what has been dubbed “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition. As of the end of last week, that number has been reduced by one more as Team Nike has withdrawn after Mike Kloser was injured in an serious accident last week while mountain biking. He was taken to the hospital with a broken collarbone, a collapsed lung and 5 broken ribs. The team made the decision to withdraw from this year’s event and will not be back to defend their title (5 and holding).

Team Merrell/Zanfel Adventure (2nd place PQ Montana-2008) will have a replacement for the team’s captain this year. Denise McHale (on Team Peak Adventure last year in Montana) will take Robyn’s place on this year’s team as she has gone under the knife again to have her other hip resurfaced (one was done in 2007).

There are a lot of other experienced teams out there this year that will be focusing on that top spot while competing in an an epic location. Some of the teams to watch are Team Bones, nuun-FeedTheMachine, and Salomon/Crested Butte. However, do not count Merrell/Zanfel Adventure out of the equation just yet.

For those not familiar with Primal Quest (or checking out adventure racing for the first time):

Primal Quest Badlands is an expedition-level adventure race in which endurance athletes from around the world will compete with one another and against a 600-mile wilderness course. The 600-mile course through the Black Hills and Badlands will encompass various disciplines including:

Trekking/Off-road running
Mountain biking
Caving
Flat-water swimming
Kayaking
Fixed-line ropes course
Teams must pass through a series of mandatory check points along the course, the details of which will be disclosed during the pre-race brief when competing teams are provided maps and course passports. Racers change from one mode of transportation to another at designated transition areas. Transition areas and check points are staffed with race officials and medical personnel, as well as more than 75 volunteers from around the world.

Teams travel non-stop, day and night and the winning team will finish the race in approximately six days. Other teams will take as many as ten days to complete the course, and others will complete shortened courses as deemed necessary to reach the finish line.

We wish both Mike and Robyn a speedy recovery.