First day of school updates.

Val is back from South Dakota, telling amazing stories about PQ race. We will need more beer to listen them all!

Meanwhile we started scouting 2010 Calleva Race course. It's too much difference between August, when the race takes place, and any other time of year.

The season is not over yet and we have few more short races coming. Dima got good training in the last 7 days: 104 miles biking, 16 miles paddling, 4 mile river swim and 40 miles running. The last 24 miles of running were on the Green Way trail from Potomac to Clopper lake and back:

Val and Druce interview from PQ

Val, Druce and the rest of the team are doing great! They are solid on full course and ready to finish strong:

Primal Quest starts tomorrow

Just 18 hours to this big race. Val and Druce are in South Dakota with team FIVE TEN / NUMA. Mark jointed international Team Endurox R4 for this 10 days race through the Badlands (what’s a name!). Good luck guys, we will be watching you!

Unfortunately this year the PQ is less than half full. Only 32 teams are shown so far on the leaderboard. There are two reasons for such low turnout: the price tag and injuries that set back many racers. $10,000+ registration fees, plus race specific gears, transportation, accommodation… A very few teams can afford such expenses in present economical conditions.

Also we can declare 2009 the year of numerous injuries. Team Nike is out of PQ because of Mike Kloser mountain biking crash. Team Merrell/Zanfel Adventure lost Robyn Benincasa due to hip injuries. Many racers, non-racers and just friends of mine had knees, hips, ankles and even head injuries. I couldn’t avoid bad luck as well and even participated in a crutches party earlier this year: