Why Time, Not Distance, Should Guide Your Event Choice

When choosing your event for the Merrell Spring or Summer Challenge, it’s important to focus on the estimated race time rather than the total distance. Here’s why:

Each year, the courses are uniquely designed based on the terrain of the event location. Some years, the course may be in a region with rolling hills or flatter terrain, allowing for longer distances. Other years, the event may be in a mountainous area, where even a shorter distance takes much longer to complete. Because of these variations, distance alone doesn’t accurately reflect the challenge—you need to consider the time spent on the course.

Our course designers work with a set target for winning times:

    3-hour event: Approximately 1 hour each of kayaking, biking, and hiking.
    6-hour event: A balanced mix of disciplines over a longer duration.
    9-hour event: A full-day adventure for experienced teams.

For example, in one Merrell Summer Challenge event, the distances looked like this:

3-HOUR EVENT
Kayak 5km
Bike 18km
Hike 3km

6-HOUR EVENT
Kayak 5km
Bike 30km
Hike 8km

9-HOUR EVENT
Kayak 5km
Bike 32km
Hike 23km

For the Merrell Spring Challenge, the rafting stage is typically around 10km, with biking and hiking distances in line with the Summer Challenge.

Rather than fixating on kilometers, ask yourself: Can I bike and walk for a few hours? Most people can! Choosing your event based on time ensures you have the right challenge for your team’s ability, making race day an exciting and achievable adventure.