Each team participating in Life's Short Pentathlon will consist of teams of 1 - 4 people. There is a limit 60 participants.

Each team member needs to register separately, and can join and / or create a team depending on the order of each team members registration. For example, Team member 1 creates a team, and Team member 2 joins that team when she/he registers. Teams will be required to complete the first 4 events as individuals, relay style.

Solo Relay Events

1. 5K Run
2. 5K Enduro Bike
3. Inflatable Downriver Course
4. Stand Up Paddleboard buoy course

Team Event

5. Log Splitting and Fire Building Skills Mastery

The relay can be completed in any order by any team member, as long as each team member completes 1 event.

The log splitting and fire building skills mastery event will include all team members building a fire together using only:

1. An axe and or hatchet (or both) provided by the participants
2. 3 - 12 inch log sections - provided by event
3. 1 box of matches - provided by event

When a team has built a fire that reaches 2 feet above the fire-pit, your time will stop and your finishing spot will be determined.

The Life's Short Pentathlon is scored on a point system similar to a modern pentathlon. Each of the pentathlons' 5 events are worth a maximum of 20 points, for a total of 100.

Race Info

The race will consist of 5 stages, Life's Short Pentathlon will be scored like a modern pentathlon. Each event is scored individually and worth 20 points depending on the finishing spot of the team. I.e., the first runner back will receive 20 points, the second 19 points, etc. These points will be cumulative towards a total of 100 possible points. The first 4 events will be relay style, with all teams doing the fire building at the same time. The higher you finish on each event, the higher your score will be, but the first 4 events must be completed back to back with no breaks.

The race will be relay style and will begin with a 5k run, followed by a 5k mountain bike, then a ducky race race down the Williams Fork River for a 1/2 mile followed by a Stand Up Paddleboard course around a lake with 2 buoys. Once teams complete the Stand Up Paddleboard section of the course, they will proceed to the main lodge for the final event, the fire building competition. Teams will all start at the same time on the fire building, and will be considered finished with the challenge when their fire reaches a height of two feet.

Run description

The trail run is a loop consisting of a 1.6 mile uphill on a single track trail, followed by a 1.6 descent on dirt road back to the base area of the lodge. When the runner arrives at the base, they will pass their team relay object to their team member to start the biking portion of the race.

Mountain bike description

The mountain bike trail will be a loop course, with bikers starting off at the lodge and heading up the dirt road for the climb for 1.6 miles. Upon reaching the ridge line, bikers will drop back towards the lodge on a single track trail. The trail consists of loose dirt and rocks, sweeping turns and smooth, tight single track through the fields above the valley floor. Bikers should be prepared for intermediate level mountain biking. There are a few optional jumps on the course as well. When bikers reach the base they will head towards the ducky put in and pass off their relay object to their teammate(s) for the ducky portion.

Downriver race description

The ducky race stretch consists of a approx. 1/2 mile stretch of the Williams Fork River. There are no named rapids but expect and be able to navigate swift water to the takeout. Any sort of inflatable craft is allowed but inflatable kayaks, i.e. duckies, are the recommended craft. Please bring your life jacket and be prepared for spring runoff and high water conditions. This will be an exciting stretch. Upon reaching the takeout, team members will pass their relay object to their teammate to begin the Stand Up Paddleboard portion of the race.

Stand Up Paddleboard description

The SUP course will be a lake course with 3 buoys that participants must navigate around before returning to the shoreline. After completing the SUP course, racers will head towards the main lodge where the fire building contest will happen.

Fire building description

All team will start the fire building at the same time. Each team will be provided 3, 12-14" logs and a box of matches and can utilize a hatchet of any size in their attempt to build a fire the quickest. A fire will be judged as "lit" when the flame reaches 2 feet tall by the judges. Since each team starts the fire building at the same time, it provides an opportunity to make up lost points from earlier stages.

The team with the highest cumulative point total from all 5 events will be deemed

Grand Champions of Life's Short 2017!

Camping is available onsite for $10 for Saturday night only and $15 for both nights (Friday & Saturday), . Camping will be paid for directly to the ranch upon arrival at the property.

There are also rooms and cabins for rent directly via the Aspen Canyon Ranch, if you'd like a more upscale accommodation. Contact Aspen Canyon Ranch directly for those options. The cabins also have hot tubs overlooking the river and are pretty sweet so check them out. If you'd like to make a weekend out of it, the Ranch is also offering 15% off ATV rentals, horseback rides and fly fishing trips during the weekend of Life's Short.