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Extreme race on starter's orders Endurance challenge starts in sea
(about 12 hours later)
One of the toughest extreme sports events to be staged in the Highlands is due to kick off on Saturday. One of the world's toughest extreme sports events is being staged across the Highlands.
Sixty teams from 22 countries are to compete in the Wilderness ARC - the 2007 Adventure Racing World Championship. Sixty teams from 22 countries are competing in the Wilderness ARC - the 2007 Adventure Racing World Championship.
The race involves navigation, cycling, mountaineering and kayaking and is to run until next weekend. The endurance race involves navigation, cycling, mountaineering and kayaking and is to run until next weekend.
The course covers more than 310 miles (500km) and will see stages take place around Fort William. The course covers more than 310 miles (500km) and began with competitors swimming in open seas off Rum.
The mixed-sex teams of four include 20 from the UK as well as others from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Trinidad, South Africa, Sweden and the US.The mixed-sex teams of four include 20 from the UK as well as others from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Trinidad, South Africa, Sweden and the US.
The event has been included in the Highland 2007 Year of Culture programme. A monster course full of truly dramatic and strenuous challenges Phil Humphreycourse director
The event began with the 196 competitors diving into the water off Rum to swim through open seas.
The course traverses Loch Ness, Glen Coe and Britain's highest mountain Ben Nevis before finishing in Fort William.
Course director Phil Humphrey said: "This is going to be a huge test for the competitors - it's a monster course full of truly dramatic and strenuous challenges.
He added: "We expect half of the teams not to finish."
Top performers will try to make do with an hour of sleep a day during the whole race, and some competitors opt for no sleep at all.
Favourite to cross the finish line some time on Thursday are the current world champions, the equal male-female Team Nike from Colorado in the US.
Team Nike captain Mike Kloser said before starting: "It's beautiful up here. I think it's going to be rugged and cold. But we have got a solid team, and we came here to win."
The current British champions are Team Aberdeen Asset Management.
Team member Nick Gracie stressed the importance of navigation in the race, during which he expects to spend three days on foot, another day on a bike, and the remainder in a kayak.
He said: "This is the Olympics, this is the Cup Final, this is the world's biggest race without a doubt."
The six-year-old championship has a £25,000 prize fund and is taking place in Scotland for the first time.