Revision of The Wilderman from Mon, 08/05/2013 - 10:30

About: In 2003 I participated in the first ever offroad iron distance triathlon, the MXT, in Park City Utah.  I finished in 20 hours, give or take.  It was the first race I had ever done where people were allowed to be hooked up to an IV during the event and then continue.  It was epic.  But it was discontinued.  Why?  Maybe it was overdone.  It had corporate sponsors.  Maybe it was too hard  (only 68 people finished) - so hard that it wasn't accessible.  Maybe it didn't make money.  Who knows.  

According to one researcher, more people have been to the moon than have completed an offroad ironman (check out a brief history of the endeavor HERE).  Crazy.  But I'm not sure how long that is going to last, because the off road ironman is coming back.  But this time it's with ENDracing - a grassroots extreme endurance events company based out of, of all places, North Dakota.  And we like 'too hard', have never used big corporate sponsors, and for some reason didn't really get into the whole making money thing.  But we do put on great events.  

If you thought Ironman was the end of the road - the big enchilada - the pinnacle of multi-disciplinary solo effort endurance sports - think again.  

Think Harder---Think Better---Think Cheaper---Think Wilder.

Welcome to the Wilderman

Race Details:

Date:  August 9th and 10th, 2014

Location:  Pembina Gorge, near Walhalla, ND.

Price: (less than 1/4 the price of IronMan!)

  • Before March 31st - $150 pp
  • Before June 31st - $175 pp
  • Until August 2nd - $225 pp

Registration Cap:  Registration will open on Jan. 1st, 2014.  Race will be limited to 250 participants.

Amenitie/Lodging: There are accommodation options in Walhalla (camping and motels, 11 miles from race start), Cavalier (camping and motels, 30 miles from race start) and Langdon (camping and motels, 25 miles from race start).  The Pembina Gorge is located approximately 1.75 hours drive from Grand Forks, ND and 1.5 hours drive from Winnipeg, Manitoba.  We will post more details about accommodation options by the time registration opens. 

The course:  The course will involve a 2.4 mile swim in a reservior, a 112 mile bike ride (in two laps - approx. 50% gravel roads, 50% single and double track, or creek riding - with a few river crossings thrown in for good measure), and a 26.2 mile run (25% gravel road 50% trail, 25% creek running). It is going to be challenging with many descents into and out of the 400 foot deep Pembina Gorge.

Swag:  Something cool and sustainable and functional - TBD.  Past swag has included custom swiftwick socks (the best on the planet), HooRags, Ibex shirts and arm warmers.

Other Details:  Course map will be posted before registration opens.  Registration includes pre race meal and post race refreshments (finish times will vary widely).  Course will have a cutoff, TBD, but somewhere between 24 and 30 hours.  

Tattoos:  We will aim to have tattoo artists on site to provide those finishers that want to get a W-dot tattoo to commemorate the occasion.  Ok, we may be joking, but we may not!