Adventure Racers face an Xtreme Challenge

(Milwaukee, WI) It is one of the most grueling one day, multisport endurance races in the country. Mid-America Xtreme announces the seventh annual Mid-America Xtreme Adventure Race will be held July 30, 2005 in the wild back country of the Nicolet National Forest of north-eastern Wisconsin.

The event lasts eighteen straight hours of what many would say borders on the impossible, but forty mixed gender teams of four competitors each, beg to differ. Teams must work together if they hope to complete this grueling event and find their way through the fifty mile course by hiking, mountain biking, orienteering, rock climbing, rappelling, bouldering, swimming, and whitewater rafting down the rivers which criss-cross this 650,000 acre wilderness area; an area larger than the entire state of Rhode Island.

Mike Polzin, founder of Mid-America Xtreme, and race director for this event says he chose Nicolet National Forest because of its varied terrain and rugged beauty. This diverse eco-system, characterized by meandering streams, crystal-clear spring fed lakes, old growth forest, cedar swamps and towering rock outcroppings, will be the perfect back drop for the event.

To make the event more challenging, the entire course is a mystery until just before the event gets started. Teams must learn to navigate on the fly through unfamiliar territory, or risk becoming hoplessly lost. In addition the race will start in the early hours of the morning, so competitors must find their way in the dark. "The race is a lesson in adversity. The entire event is designed not only to be physically challenging, but also mentally challenging. Teams must learn to adapt, or succumb to the course in defeat. If the entire team does not finish the race as a complete unit, they will be disqualified.", says Mr Polzin.

The competitors are varied, consisting of first time racers, Navy Seals, triatheletes, to world class competitors who have competed in the Eco-Challenge(tm). This mix creates the makings of some very interesting race dynamics. Some teams compete with the simple goal of making it to the finish line, others will sprint though the entire course in hopes of clinching a victory. What ever the teams goal, none will find this race an easy feat. This race has developed the reputation of being the most difficult one day events of its type.