Last week I had the opportunity to watch a growing phenomenon in running, ultra trail marathon team racing. The 6^th annual Dances with Dirt (DWD), 100km (62 mile), five person relay was held in the Pinckney Recreation area. Its field of more than 1200 participants is part of a growing list of adventure runs around the country.

Advertised for having insane terrain, many runners from the Midwest and Canada knew what they are getting into when they entered their teams in the DWD. They craved the novel and intense sensation gained from a not so typical experience.

The course was made up of the fifteen legs aptly named for the risks involved. Names like Ricochet, Go to Hell, This Sucks, The Stupid Leg and Zoom to Glory. Not all of these legs were on a trail. Some runners were required to bounce though swamps, trudge though knee-deep mud or duck under thick brush. For the most part, runners could follow florescent pink ribbons to get to their destination. Few runners came out unscathed but most were happy to recount their war stories at the finish line. All were excited to see how they stacked up against their competition. Teams that chased each other along the course were not necessarily racing against each other because the event is handicapped for age and sex.

Overcoming the obstacles of the course was only half the battle. Teams competed with their creativity. Names such as Barbie's Revenge, Trail Tramps, Maumee Mudpuppies, Measurable Uncertainty and Too Dumb to Say No gave you a brief insight into their weird minds. Some were dressed in unusual attire (sometimes matching) and team vans were boldly decorated. Some teams combined to rent their own bus. I was surprised not to see a limo. With over 200 teams moving to each handoff, congestion was somewhat controlled by the "parking rats" and a one vehicle per team limit according to race organizer Tami Duquet.

Runners wanted to be part of the insanity and to be able to use their great spirits while bonding with other intelligent, self-sufficient and independent minded athletes. They may have looked like ordinary people but they were seeking something extraordinary. They wanted a cohesive building experience by being part of a team that was willing to take risks not found in everyday working life. Some sought to find a measure of their own toughness. Others seemed hardwired to create an experience that could only be truly understood by complex thrill seekers. For sure, they were seeking an alternative energy source that could only be gained from bonding with each other and crossing the finishing posts together as a team.

Tip of the Week: Can’t wait for a porta-john? Keep some spare tissue paper in your shorts just in case.

Upcoming Race of the Week: September 15, 8:30 AM, Kensington Challenge in Milford, _ mile, 5km and 15km. Call 248 684-9433