It took months of planning, a steep entry fee, expensive gear, serious physical exhaustion, sleep deprivation, chess-like strategy and all with the ability to get along with the same people for 10 days straight, but …

… Scott Erlandson said Primal Quest was worth it and said he and his friends would do it all over again.

“We thought it was fun. Most people don’t understand why we call it fun,” he said Monday at the weekly meeting of the Albert Lea Noon Kiwanis Club.

Erlandson, a 41-year-old Albert Lea resident, participated in Primal Quest, an adventure race that took place in South Dakota’s Black Hills and Badlands in August. It was a 10-day, 600-mile race that combines many sports: running, cycling, trekking, climbing, caving, paddling and orienteering, among others.

All participating teams were co-ed with four members. The team he was on is called Team WEDALI, which stands for “We Eat Dust And Like It.” His teammates were Justin Bakken of the Twin Cities and siblings Andrea and Jason Nielson of Iowa. Their Web site, www.wedali.com, provides photographs and results of recent competitions. There are other members of the team who take part in other competitions, too.

When Primal Quest finished in mid-August, Team WEDALI finished in fifth place of about 33 teams, beating many competitors who Erlandson said pretty much do adventure racing for a living.

“For a lot of these guys, it is their job. It’s kind of a hobby for us,” he told the Kiwanians.

The teams mountain biked about 340 miles, with only about 30 of that on pavement, he said. They paddled about 60 miles, and they trekked — the adventure racing term for foot travel — about 180 miles. Don’t forget running a 26-mile marathon to kick things off, too.

He said they made an effort to travel nearly the entire time, usually sleeping only two or three hours. They skipped sleeping one night, and on another only slept 20 minutes.

The race took through cities of Rapid City, Sturgis, Deadwood and Lead and to notable landmarks of Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse Monument, The Needles and Badlands National Park.

“I had not spent a lot of time in western South Dakota, but it is a beautiful area,” Erlandson said.

How did Team WEDALI place so high? Erlandson credited their ability to get along. Spending 10 days together — no one is allowed to lag behind — can drive some teams to frustration.

“We had no negative comments,” he said. “A lot of people can’t say that. That was cool.”

Sharing duties helped, too. Erlandson managed the food and drink. Bakken was an ace at orienteering. Jason Nielson helped with double-checking the navigation. All made sure the weight was balanced so they could travel as a group.

Erlandson said his goal was to finish, and the team imagined they might be near the top 10 or 12 teams. Placing fifth was an achievement, he said. He said they had a good last day, passing three or four teams.

The entry fee for the team was $11,500, and he couldn’t begin to estimate the cost of the gear. However, for placing fifth, one prize the team receives is free entry in the next Primal Quest. Where that will be is undetermined.