SMAR FAQs

Registration/Administrative Questions

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?

YES!

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-person?
YES!

How do we add a team member to our team?
Please send us an email with your team name, your teammate’s name, email address, zip code and shirt size and we’ll make the necessary changes on our end. For payment, you can either use our online checkout

Choose the solo racer option for your chosen distance or you can send a check or money order to: 180 Adventure, 12779 N Pederson Rd, Hayward, WI 54843. If it is less than 2 weeks prior to race day, please use the online payment. Thanks!

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? When could we expect to be done on Sunday?
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 the night before the race. So whenever you arrive in the area that day is up to you. The race start is targeted for 7 a.m. on Saturday, with a pre-race meeting shortly before that. Race cut off is targeted for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Post-race – there will be a meal ready when you finish and any awards/prizes will be presented asap so teams can grab a nap and head home on Sunday if needed.

Will the race fill up?
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.

Can you provide hotel recommendations?
The race will start and finish in the Cable, Wi area. There are many lodging options in the area, from hotel rooms to rental homes to camping. I’d recommend a google search for “lodging in Cable Wisconsin” to start.

Can you provide more specific lodging recommendations, i.e., what location would be closest to the start?!
While the start is not at Lakewoods Resort, it would be a good choice along with Telemark Condos or any vrbo/airbnb in that general area.

Can we camp at the race start/finish?
This year we do not have an option for camping at the start/finish. The Day Lake and Namekagon Lake national forest campgrounds will be the closest public campgrounds to the race start.  You might also use a google search for “camping near Cable Wisconsin”. There are even more camping options, recommended by CAMBA here, including some primitive sites on some of the bike trails.

Race Day Questions

Will maps be pre-plotted?

  • 5-hour race: the entire course will be pre-plotted for you.
  • 12-hour and 30-hour, the first few sections of the race will be pre-plotted. It is likely you will receive some UTM coordinates later in the race to plot.

Where can I shower after the race?
Who needs a shower when you’re getting a Crud Cloth at the finish? The nearest hotel is Lakewoods, to the west on County M – they may be willing to let you use the showers near their pool for a small fee.

How many copies of maps do we get for a team of 4?
1 set of maps. Suppose there are 4 different maps covering the race area, you will receive 1 copy of each map, for a total of 4.

Do the activities happen sequentially, ie. Bike, Canoe, Trek?  Or can we chose any order in which we do the activities?
The event order or options will be shared in the race instructions that you receive at check-in on race day. For an example of what you might expect, you can check out our race instructions and maps from 2017 here: http://www.180adventure.com/sample-race-instructions-and-maps/. I recommend you check in as early as possible on race day to maximize your planning time.

Is there a single transition area where we can store gear, or do we need to pack all gear with us for the entire 5, 12, 30 hours?
It’s likely that you’ll be returning to the main transition area at least a couple times. More details on this will be shared at race check-in. 

What activities will we be doing at night?  Is it only kayaking or could it be biking, trekking etc.
Be prepared for any and all disciplines at night.

Could we see last year’s map?
Check out our race instructions and maps from 2017 here:  http://www.180adventure.com/sample-race-instructions-and-maps/.

When can we expect to get the racer’s guide and rules for 2019?
Race rules will be very similar to those published at the link above.  Race instructions will be given at race check-in: the instruction format will be similar to those linked above, but the event order and exact discipline details will be different. I will send out race updates no less than 1 week prior to race day with additional details. In those updates you can expect more exact distances, and trail type/distances for the biking sections (for example, how much single track, gravel, dirt, etc.

Can we use hybrid bikes?
A mountain bike will certainly make your race more enjoyable, but we also want to keep the races accessible to everyone, so we do not have any restriction on hybrid bikes. E-bikes are not allowed.

Can we use bike packing/gravel bikes like the Salsa Cutthroat or Otso Waheela C?
Yep! For 12-hour and 30-hour teams, I recommend that you be comfortable and experienced riding technical single-track on the bike that you choose.

In addition to water, do we need to pack our own food?
The race organization is not providing food during the race, but there will be a nice post-race meal and beverages at the finish line.

Is there a possibility we could encounter bears or other dangerous animals?
Our staff has not encountered any black bears while working on course design this year, but use good sense out there!

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

Do 5-hour and 12-hour teams need glowsticks, bike lights, water purification, etc?
Carefully review the appropriate gear list for your race:

How tough will the navigation be?
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. 30-hour teams should plan to be doing some long legs in difficult terrain with many route choices.

If our team brings our own paddles and pfds, will we need to carry them?
Nope!

Is canoe rental separate for this event?
Canoes or kayaks (solo teams) are included.

Can 3-person teams use one canoe and one kayak?
Three-person teams must use one canoe. The canoes have two seats, so you might consider bringing a third seat or cushion for your middle paddler.

Will we be coming back to HQ at all after the race starts?

Yes. You will receive more information on this at race check-in. We recommend checking in as early as possible so you can plan and organize.

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?
The Stubborn Mule is a traditional adventure race in the sense that teammates stay together through the entire race; it is not a relay.

What kind of kayaks are provided for the solos?
It’s the Riptide, at the bottom of this page

  • length: 14’2″
  • width: 27″
  • cockpit: 19″ x 33″
  • weight: 50 lbs

AR Newbie Questions

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

This is our first race, what should we bring beyond the mandatory gear?
Food to last you through the event, 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.

What do we do if we get lost?
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.

Will there be technical single-track in the 5-hour race?

You can expect wide grassy ski trail, gravel roads, two-track and perhaps a bit of pavement. You could mix in some single-track based on your route choice, but it is not a required part of the event course.

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