ISHPEMING, MI— Some call it the most difficult single-day mountain bike race in the country.
Organizers pick the hardest possible route from North Marquette to Ishpeming for the 100-mile Marji Gesick, which kicks off Saturday morning in Marquette.
The race is the brainchild of the 906 Adventure Team. Director of Adventure Todd Poquette says the trail is root-infested and rock-covered with short, steep climbs, and those who participate find out what they’re made of.
“People don’t actually fully grasp what they’re capable of, and most of us need some sort of challenge from a friend or some other entity, perhaps that we respect, to draw us out of our comfort zone and to risk failure and to take on a big challenge. Then through that process you come out of it on the other end realizing you can do things that you only thought other people could do,” he says.
Poquette says around 60 percent of racers usually quit before the finish. And what do those who push themselves to the brink and complete the Marji Gesick in under 24 hours win? A wooden token. Yep. That’s it.
Around 1,000 racers are expected to show up in Marquette Saturday.
Poquette notes $27,000 will be donated from the race to the organizations that build and maintain area trails.
