An Albert Lea man is competing in a 10-day, 600-mile race that combines many sports: running, cycling, trekking, climbing, caving, paddling and orienteering, among others.

Forty-one-year-old Scott Erlandson is part of a four-person team called WEDALI that as of this morning was in eighth place in Primal Quest, happening this year in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota.

All teams must be co-ed and travel together. Scott’s parents, Kent and Sue Erlandson, were headed to South Dakota on Wednesday so they could see their son and his teammates cross the finish line on Friday or Saturday.

“I think the Badlands are going to be really tough,” Kent said.

The first part of the race was in the Black Hills and the second portion is in the Badlands. The team hit the 300-mile mark Tuesday — half done — but “the next 300 miles are not going to be easy.”

Kent didn’t speculate Scott will sleep on the ride back to Albert Lea. He said he will sleep.

This sport that combines many outdoors sports is called “adventure racing.” It originated in New Zealand in the 1980s. The team in first place as of this morning is from New Zealand.

Primal Quest was founded in 2001 as an effort to bring a world-class adventure race to North America. The first was in 2002 in Telluride, Colo. Last year, the race was held in Montana.

There are 31 teams that competed in Primal Quest 2009. Twenty-three are still in it as of this morning. Here are the top 10:

1. OrionHealth.com

2. Merrell/Zanfel Adventure

3. Salomon/Crested Butte

4. Bones

5. nuun-FeedTheMachine

6. Team iMoat

7. Merrell’s Hagl’fs Multimania

8. WEDALI

9. Team Endurox R4

10. Technu Extreme/Staphaseptic Adventure

The Web site describes Primal Quest as: “Teams of experienced backcountry adventure athletes journey across expansive terrain using only a map, a compass and combined skills. Successfully finishing requires much more than stamina and mental fortitude. It requires selfless teamwork, spirit and absolute determination.”

Joining Scott Erlandson on Team WEDALI are Jason 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.

To find the status of WEDALI in Primal Quest, to go www.ecoprimalquest.com and click on “leaderboard.” If you click on “tracking,” you can see where the teams are on the route. The finish is in Rapid City, but keep in mind the fastest haven’t necessarily collected all the checkpoints. Some teams skip checkpoints. The leaderboard is what matters.

Because the teams of four cannot leave anyone behind, they work as a team, said Kent Erlandson. For instance, their bikes have rods to connect strong riders with weary riders. Kayaks have ropes so robust paddlers can haul beat ones. When the most tired teammate needs to sleep, they all sleep.

Kent added that safety and being eco-friendly are major aspects of the competition.

He said Scott’s job on the team is nutrition. He carries the food. He makes sure they eat the right food. He handles iodine pills for water, among other duties.

“Since college he always liked biking and that naturally progressed to running,” Kent said. “He grew up in family that never did any camping. Now he likes to sleep under the stars.”

Bakken’s wife is flying out and will ride back in the car with the Erlandsons. The Nielsons’ parents will join the Erlandsons to watch the finish, Kent said.

Watch the Tribune’s Score Board each day to see how Wedali does in the competition.