Posted: July 28, 2005

Multisport: It's Not Your Average Race - It's XTERRA And It's Coming to a City Near You

HONOLULU - (July 25, 2005) - XTERRA is a name associated with worldwide adventure, extreme multi-sport events and challenges that touch the soul of every participating athlete. XTERRA is now bringing that same spirit to cities across the country for the recreational athlete.

The XTERRA® Trail Run Scramble Series offers "do-able adventures" for runners looking for the challenge only nature and XTERRA can offer - leaping over rocks and roots, climbing hills and trails and running through creeks and ravines. A SCRAMBLE is a twisting, turning escape from pounding the pavement. A SCRAMBLE is fun.

It's not your ordinary weekend run. It's an off-the-wall, in-your-face challenge that puts nature at the forefront and tests your determination and endurance.

The XTERRA Scramble Series will be held in a variety of cities nationally in 2005, some of which are a part of a Nissan XTERRA USA Championship weekend.

The XTERRA Scramble Series is sponsored by Nissan, Gatorade and Paul Mitchell.

XTERRA Scramble Series 2005
Date/Location
July 23, Milwaukee, WI*
August 13, Keystone, CO*
August 14, Baltimore, MD
August 25, Hartford, CT
September 3, Chattanooga, TN
September 11, Knoxville, TN
September 17, Albany, NY
September 24, Akron, OH
October 1, Lake Tahoe, NV*
October 1, Athens, OH
October 8, Cincinnati, OH
October 15, Boston, MA
October 16, Athens, GA
October 22, Columbus, OH
October 22, Maui, HI*
October 29, Dayton, OH
November 5, Cleveland, OH
November 20, Atlanta, GA

*asterisk indicates races that are part of a Nissan XTERRA USA Championship Series weekend

Distances will vary between 5K and 10K based on local terrain opportunities, but all of the courses will require some level of agility from an entry-level participant.

The runs are aimed at the health and wellness runner looking for an off-road running challenge while benefiting childhood education and fitness.

The inception of the XTERRA Scramble Series came from the XTERRA Foundation's goal to reach out to at-risk children and teach them how to deal with adversity and competition at an early age. The more opportunity a child has, the better the odds for a successful outcome.

Each event has partnered with a local non-profit organization which will benefit directly from the XTERRA Foundation and the XTERRA Scramble Series. The local beneficiary will be directly tied to the community and fulfill the Foundation's mission of reaching out to kids by having both a direct financial benefit and the chance, in most venues, to participate in the event itself.

"The Foundation offers XTERRA a chance to make a difference by teaching kids about a healthy lifestyle and a healthy approach to competition and the training that goes with it," explained Tom Kiely, CEO of XTERRA and Team Unlimited. "We're athletes, not educators, but we do understand the concept of 'prepared to win.' We want to pass this on to kids across America."

Registration for any Scramble event associated with a Nissan XTERRA USA Championship Series is available at XTERRAPlanet.com. Information on any of the events also can be obtained by calling (877) 751-8880 toll-free.

XTERRA began as an off-road, multi-sport competition on Maui in 1996. From there it has grown into the XTERRA Global Tour including over 78 events in 13 countries with thousands of participants. XTERRA is now the world's fastest growing multi-sport event.

XTERRA's philosophy plays into every event initiated and produced: "We are a world community, accessible to anyone with enough heart and determination to defy physical difficulty. Mother Nature is our greatest competitor. We transcend national borders. We are brought together by a shared challenge and we are forged in spirit, friendship and respect."

CONTACT: Suzanne Deatherage, (859) 426-1952