The Gnarly Bandit consists of four 100 mile races, followed by a 100k:
- Zumbro 100
- Kettle Moraine 100
- Black Hills 100
- Superior 100
- Wild Duluth 100k
There are three cruxes to the series: 1. Zumbro is early in the year, and quite often the snow isn't even off the ground yet. Very few people are trained up for it yet. 2. There is only three weeks between Kettle Moraine and Black Hills. 3. Superior.
Last year, I entered two of the races in the Gnarly Bandit series (Kettle Moraine and Superior) and finished them in respectable fashion. I conquered the third crux. And after running Kettle Moraine, I'm certain I can handle the second crux if I take Kettle extra easy.
I am formally throwing my hat into the ring to complete the Gnarly Bandit in 2016. I have learned a lot since the last time I tried it. I have the training, the knowledge, and the willpower to push through it. I have been on all of the race courses, except for Wild Duluth 100k. Fortunately, it shares some of the course with Voyageur 50 which I have raced before. So I have no excuse this time that I don't know what I'm getting myself into.
Only 4 months until Zumbro.
