Real. Authentic. Racing.

There is no barbed wire. No fire pits. No zombies.  No Gimmicks.

For 20 years now XTERRA has hosted authentic endurance sports challenges – off-road triathlons and trail runs – for those who believe the obstacles provided by Mother Nature are awesome enough.

It all started in 1996, when mountain biking and triathlon met in a duel of the fittest on the island of Maui. The race consisted of a rough water swim, a mountain bike race, and a trail run. It represented a bold new racing format that attracted outdoor enthusiasts, adventure seekers, mountain bikers and triathletes. The mountain bikers brought their laid-back style and bold self-assurance. The triathletes brought their hard-core training and avid dedication. They soon discovered a common “Live More” spirit that pulled them together. The relationship flourished into an internationally-recognized brand called XTERRA, and today there are tens of thousands of athletes not only taking part in the races, but truly living the lifestyle.

A fitting representation of this “XTERRA Tribe,” more than one-thousand of America’s top outdoor athletes, are headed to Utah to race against the best-of-the-best for the title of XTERRA National Champion in two weeks time.

The main event, the USA Championship triathlon, starts with a one-mile swim in Pineview Reservoir (4,900-feet elevation), follows with an 18-mile mountain bike leg that climbs more than 3,000-feet to the top of Sardine Peak (7,300-feet elevation), and culminates with a 7-mile trail run featuring another 600-feet of climbing on trails around Snowbasin Resort in the Wasatch Range.

Pros will race for $80,000 in prize money, dozens of cameramen will position themselves around Wheeler Canyon and the Wasatch Range to capture all the action for a nationally syndicated one-hour TV show, and amateurs who qualified will have a go at winning a national title.

To qualify for the main event athletes had to finish in the top 15 of their division at one of the 60 XTERRA Point Series races held across the country since March.

Those who didn’t qualify can race the same distance in the XTERRA Utah long course event, and there is also a half-distance sprint race open to everyone along with relay-team options.

All three triathlons will be held Saturday, September 19 and on Sunday it’s the trail runners turn on the mountain.

The XTERRA Trail Run Nationals half-marathon features scenic views, technical trails, and big climbs. The half-marathon, plus the 5K and 10K trail runs are open to everyone, and it’s important to note that you don’t have to be fast to join in the fun. For some, it’s just about finishing and that’s okay as XTERRA is all about perpetuating the healthy, active, outdoors lifestyle.

In addition to the races XTERRA will host an expo in downtown Ogden on Friday with free kids races, vendor booths, a Paul Mitchell hair cut-a-thon for charity, and evening dinner parties. Then on Saturday from 8am to 10pm the streets shut down for a massive, community wide block party as Ogden hosts its 14th annual Harvest Moon Celebration with a wealth of family-friendly activities including live music, a farmer’s market, kid’s activities, arm wrestling, pumpkin decorating, and fantastic fare from Historic 25th Street’s incredible restaurants.

There is great entertainment to be found at Snowbasin Resort as well highlighted by the spontaneous, ecstatic, and sometimes tear-jerking displays of emotion at the finish line for the races.

While it is an epic spot for winter sports (think 3,000 skiable acres and 3,000 vertical feet) Snowbasin is also ideal in the summer time and when the fall colors turn the mountain landscape into a kaleidoscope of colors, it’s simply spectacular.

For more info and links to registration visit www.xterrautah.com, or call toll-free to 877-751-8880. Live More!

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