Seeking END-WET Volunteers || Wilderman 2022

Submitted by beek on Sat, 05/21/2022 - 09:06

# END-WET

It's finally Spring-ish here in the Grand Forks area, which means that END-WET (https://endracing.com/end-wet) is somehow almost upon us again! Race day is June 18th.

We are looking for a few more volunteers for END-WET. It looks like a fast year on the river (see the course book for some flow information: https://endracing.com/end-wet/course-book). Head to the volunteer page to let us know you're interested: https://endracing.com/volunteer .
Support paddlers get $160 per boat, we can supply a boat if you don't have one.

# Wilderman

The Wilderman offroad ferrous-metal-distance triathlon is scheduled for July 16-17 this year. Details and registration available at https://endracing.com/wilderman/ . See who's signed up already at https://endracing.com/wilderman/roster .

We're looking for volunteers there as well, so head to https://endracing.com/volunteer to let us know who you are. The race is 28 hours or so, but we don't expect everyone to be available for the whole time.

# Feedback

Questions, comments, or pretty much anything you want to talk about can come to

- email hello@endracing.com

- Twitter https://twitter.com/endracing

- Instagram https://instagram.com/endracing_gf/

- Facebook https://facebook.com/endracing

- YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/endracing

- Mastodon/Fediverse https://mspsocial.net/@endracing

See our detailed blog post about social media here: https://endracing.com/blog/social-media-navigation

 

Extreme North Dakota Racing newsletter

The END-WET 2022 Guest Swimmer is....

Submitted by Don on Mon, 04/18/2022 - 15:47

Hello everyone,

I'm very excited to be announcing this year's guest swimmer!

This individual holds the 27-mile course record for END-WET, set in 2013 at the age of 45. And returns to the event with excitement to be completing another swim in her own backyard.

Introducing our guest swimmer for 2022, Karen Zemlin

Karen is a lifelong open water swimmer with a love for wind, waves and distant horizons. Karen has been swimming nationally and internationally. Failing at her initial attempt to swim the English Channel in 2015, and embracing the failure. She returned in 2019, and her successful time of 10:17 made her the fastest woman 50+ to swim the English Channel, ever.

Karen has completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. Her swimming accomplishment are recognized in 3 Hall of Fames, including being the first person to represent open water swimming in the Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame.

Karen continues to work towards her goals, knowing you earn it by wanting it bad enough to work for it. She and other Minnesota marathon swimmers are busy working on pioneer swims that will create destination marathon swims in the upper Midwest.

Other Notable Marathon Astonishments:

  • English Channel, 10:17, Second faster time overall for swimmers 50+ male or female, with the 3rd fastest swim of the channel in 2019 at age 51.

  • Karen has swum Lake Mille Lacs twice and in 2019 had the first official documented swim of Lake Mille Lacs via the Marathon Swimming Federation.

  • Karen’s 9 hour 44 minute Catalina Channel swim was the fastest swim by a women in 2018. Karen’s Catalina observer saying “She was all business. Got in, swam like a maniac, got out. And, just like that, all done!”  

  • 2018, Ron Collins, founder of the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim said, “Swimming on a calm day, going the length of Tampa Bay in less than 10 hours is an amazing feat. Karen was able to battle choppy 1-2 foot waves and a 15-knot wind right from the start to win the event.” 9:55

  • Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, 3rd place, age 46, in 7:23 (2014)

  • Henley Marathon swim (2015), 1st place overall, River Thames just 4 days after being pulled out of the English Channel less than a mile from France for hyperthermia.

  • She is a member of the Half Century club for the English Channel and Catalina Channel for swimmers 50+ years old.

Welcome Karen!

The End of END-SURE?

Submitted by Tim Bauer on Sat, 03/05/2022 - 09:11

March 16, 2013, the inaugural END-SURE began at the West Trailhead of the North Country Trail on the Sheyenne National Grasslands. I participated in the 50k distance (only option) with a starting temperature of -10 degrees F. Following a track made by a snowmobile I traversed 25 miles before I was gingerly taken from the final checkpoint on a snowmobile. Officially a DNF. I was cold to the core, but satisfied with my effort.

 

On March 29, 2014, I doubled the distance starting and finishing at the Sheyenne Oaks Horse Camp and RV Park. Andy and Grant waited a long time in the darkness to see the glow of my headlamp in the distance. A campfire, a couple of hot bratwursts, and congratulatory words helped numb the pain exuding from my blistered feet. 

 

Since that time I have been involved both as co-director and solo director of the event. Distances of 25k and 100 miles were added. March weather has provided balmy, as well as brutal conditions. Routes have been adapted and adjusted to the realities of the surface conditions. Volunteers have driven vans, grilled food, endured the cold, built campfires, searched for off course participants, and been vital to the event. There has been nothing predictable about END-SURE other than adventurous participants!

 

This will be my final year of directing. Many circumstances in life, both professional and personal, have provided fodder for introspection. I have enjoyed the planning, the people, the hospitality, and the sense of community. The emotional and physical energies expended while gratifying, no longer counterbalance the effort to provide the event I envision. Simply stated, the fun factor has faded. What will happen to END-SURE? I am not sure. Unless a person or group of people express interest in assuming leadership, it will end. Everything, every person, every event has a life cycle. Changes are made. Traditions and participants ebb and flow. END-SURE is an organic, enlivening, and adaptive experience which has served a purpose. 

Thanks to all of you for years of connections in conditions which mirror our lives! In my perspective life is an ultra experience. 

 
 

Pages