Without our valued partners, Primal Quest wouldn’t be the event that it is. Each day, over the course of the race, we would like to take the opportunity to thank those partners that have contributed to the success of PQ and have helped us to put on the best adventure race in the world.

Last year in Montana, Primal Quest joined forces with SPOT, who had recently introduced a revolutionary new device that was all the rage in the outdoor community. The little orange gadget, known as the SPOT Satellite Messenger, was getting rave reviews for its ability to track people in the wild, and be used as an emergency rescue beacon should the need arise. But both SPOT and the Primal Quest staff has another use in mind for the Satellite Messenger; namely tracking the teams while out on the course.

At the time, none of us had any idea how the units would perform in an adventure race, but when the race was over, we all knew that the sport had been changed forever. The SPOT allowed for more accurate tracking of the teams, and gave fans at home the chance to follow along like never before. Adventure racing was turning into a spectator sport, and the feedback was tremendously positive.

Now, in 2009, we can’t think of any other company that we would want to partner with to provide our tracking and online leaderboard needs. The SPOT not only changes the way we follow the sport, it makes the athletes safer on the course as well, and the PQ medical team is grateful to have the technology on our side as well. It was a no brainer that SPOT would once again be our presenting partner in the Badlands.

We would like to thank everyone at SPOT for supporting not only Primal Quest, but adventure racing as a whole. We are proud to have you on board once again this year, providing tracking for fans following the teams on the Internet and keeping our teams safe in the field. Without you, there would be no Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT.

In this latest video, which comes are way courtesy of Bryan Thompson, the first three teams to cross the finish line reflect on their Primal Quest experience. You have to love the expression on the local weatherman’s face when the team tells him they’ve gone 600 miles on nine hours of sleep, and none in the previous 36 hours.

• OrionHealth still hasn't reached the finish line and appears to be sleeping at the moment. Meanwhile, Merrell is narrowing the gap. #
• Orion is back on course this morning after overnight nav issues. Merrell and Salomon/Crested Butte are in hot pursuit. #
• Brutal winds are making it slow going for the three lead teams that are hoping to make it to the finish line today. #
• Orion's SPOT device isn't updating at the moment. We have a staff member standing by to reset it for the final ride into Rapid City. #
• http://twitpic.com/ejf5n – He is fine and in good spirits. He is committed to making the trek, he just wanted to know the best way to wo … #
• One hour until Orion is expected to reach the finish line. We really mean it this time! #
• http://twitpic.com/emmcw – A crowd starts to gather at the finish line in Memorial Park, where Team OrionHealth.com is expected soon. #
• Orion is approaching the finish line in Rapid City. They'll be here shortly! #
• http://twitpic.com/emsek – Team OrionHealth.com crosses the finish line of Primal Quest Badlands Presented by SPOT! #
• OrionHealth.com has crossed the finish line first at Primal Quest Badlands! #
• We've barely had time to take a breath, and now Salomon/Crested Butte is approaching Rapid City. They should be in within the hour. #
• Salomon/Crested Butte have returned to Rapid City! They are the second team to cross the finish line at Primal Quest Badlands. #
• http://twitpic.com/endt8 – Team Salomon/Crested Butte chow down on pizza right after finishing #
• http://twitpic.com/enqyr – Team Merrell crosses the finish line #
• http://twitpic.com/enriu – Team Merrell went the last 100 miles with a duct-tape rigged tire after it bursted in the Badlands #
• With three teams in, the excitement dies down for now. But Team Bones is expected to arrive around 2 AM tonight. #
• Team Bones is rolling along on their night ride into Rapid City, and the finish. They should be home by 1 AM. #
• Team Bones has crossed the finish line in Rapid City. They are the fourth team to reach the end of Primal Quest Badlands. #

Another team has completed the quest and reached the finish line. This time it’s Team Bones, who made it into Rapid City well after dark, which did nothing to dampen the spirits of the spectators who came out to cheer them on. They are the fourth team to finish Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT.

“He has the social graces of a water buffalo.”

“Why are we doing this? Oh well, I guess it’s too late now.”

 “Equal opportunity screw-ups, eh?”

“I saw a rattlesnake all coiled up. I had my trekking poles, so I had to poke it.”

“Just remember, it will be worse tomorrow.”