Stubborn Mule Adventure Race - FAQ

Q: Will maps be pre-plotted?
A: Not necessarily, we recommend being prepared to plot given UTM coordinates.

Q: Can you give me an estimate of how much single-track? Just trying to decide on tire choice.
A: 30-hr race: 10?-20 miles single track. 12-hr race will be 5-10 miles of single track. There is a decent amount of gravel road too.

Q: What is a "TA"?
A: A TA is a transition area, where you will be switching one from event to another. For example from biking to paddling.

Q: Is there a possibility we could encounter bears or other dangerous animals?
A: Our staff has not encountered any bears while working on course design this year, but we can't say it's not possible. Use good sense out there!

Q: Where can I shower after the race?
A: The nearest showers are at Marathon Park or the Schofield Aquatic Center.

Q: Can 12-hour teams use hybrid bikes?
A: A mountain bike will certainly make your race more enjoyable, particularly on the singletrack sections, but we also want to keep the 12-hour race accessible to everyone. So, while not ideal, yes, a hybrid is ok for 12-hour teams.

Q: In addition to water, do we need to pack our own food?
A: Yes! Race organization is not providing food during the race.

Q: This is our first race, what should we bring beyond the mandatory gear?
A: Food to last you 12 hours, long pants, long sleeve shirt, spare bike tubes, tire levers, bike repair kit, tube patches, a small bike pump, electrolyte replacement, waterproof map case, waterproof bag.

Q: What do we do in case of emergency?
A: If it is truly an emergency, please call 911. There will be an emergency plan in your racer instructions.

Q: What do we do if we get lost?
A: Recovering from getting lost is a big part of the sport. We've all been there! You will always be fairly close to roads and major highways. It is a good practice to keep a recovery plan in mind, so that if you get lost, you know which direction to go to get to the nearest road/highway.

Q: Do 12-hour teams need glowsticks, bike lights, water purification, etc?
A: Please refer to the gear list

Q: How many miles is the race?
A: Mileage by team will vary depending on route choice and strategy. Expect to spend 1/3 of the race in each of the three disciplines: running/trekking/land nav, biking, and paddling. Mileage estimates were announced in the Update #1.

Q: Does each member of the team need to perform all of the events or can the events be split among the members? Eg, is there a relay option?
A: The Stubborn Mule is a traditional adventure race in the sense that teammates stay together through the entire race; it is not a relay

Q: Our team is racing the 30-hour race and we are trying to figure out travel logistics, do we need to check in on Friday, July 15? When could we expect to be done on Sunday, July 17?
A: One goal with Stubborn Mule is to set this up so that teams within a 4-5 hour drive should not have to take any days off work to race it. There won't be any pre-race activities on the night of the 17th. So whenever you arrive in Wausau that day is up to you. The race start is targeted for 6am on the 16th, with a pre-race meeting shortly before that. Race cut off is targeted for noon on the 17th. Post-race - there should be a meal ready when you finish and any awards/prizes will be presented asap so teams can grab a nap if they want and head home on Sunday.

Q: Will the race fill up?
A: Right now we have lots of room for your team, but we expect many entries to roll in just prior to the end of early registration. As we reach capacity, we'll post a note on 180Adventure.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Q: How tough will the navigation be?
A: We fully expect every team to be challenged not only with navigation, but also with decision-making and strategy throughout the race. Some CPs will definitely be easier than others. Plan to be doing some long legs in difficult terrain with many route choices.

Q: Where is the race start?
A: Within 30 minutes of Wausau, WI. The actual start location will not be revealed until closer to the race date.

Q: If our team brings our own paddles and pfds, will we need to carry them?
A: Those who use their own paddles and pfds will not need to carry them any further than those who borrow equipment from the canoe livery.

Q: If I sign up as a solo racer, and at a later time decide to race with a team, can I switch my registration from solo to a team registration?
A: YES!

Q: If we sign up as a three-person team, and at a later time decide to race as a 4-person team, can I switch my registration from 3 to to 4-peson?
A: YES!