The use of a couple of .45-caliber peacemakers - with 7-inch barrels - proved that Primal Quest is no ordinary race.

Racers gathered in the dark before the start, anxious to get going early Friday. Through the morning mist, outlines of the athletes could be seen making last-minute preparations to their gear and a few competitors were catching a moment of rest.

"It is so hard not to get amped up with everyone else at the starting line," said Tom Thomas captain of Team Soar out of California. "You don't want to push the pace beyond what you can sustain for 10 days."

As a sunshine ray peeked over a hillside to light Bear Butte as a guide, the pistol shots at 5:30 a.m. Friday started the 152 participants on their 600-mile endurance adventure through the Black Hills and Badlands.

An early-morning crowd of a couple hundred people bombarded the teams with cheers and took photos as the racers passed. Within a couple minutes the lead racers were out of sight but fans could still monitor their progress courtesy of SPOT and its live Internet display of the course map and each team's location.

"That was the best start we've ever had," said race director Don Mann. "South Dakota is the best thing that's ever happened to Primal Quest, and I'm not just saying that. This place is special."

The 38 teams began their outing with a 27-mile marathon. By 9 a.m., the leading teams started arriving at first transition area - the Alkali Creek horse camp - where teams undertook 12 miles of orienteering, using maps and compasses to find hidden flags. From there, they hopped on mountain bikes for a 15-mile trek to Bethlehem Cave for more orienteering inside.

"I'd be amazed if they got through the orienteering at either the camp or the cave without spending three to four hours at each spot," said orienteering director Sean Fahey.

"We're going to treat it like a weekend full of activity," said Team South Dakota member Eric Hansen. "We set a goal of making it to Bethlehem Cave after the first day, then we want to push on to Silver City by Sunday."

By Friday's end, the leading teams were expected to reach the fifth transition area, located just outside Deadwood. If they were lucky, the athletes would get two hours of sleep before moving on to the next phase of the course.

"Unfortunately, some of the people are going to push themselves over the brink," Mann said. "Some will push themselves to the point of dehydration, exhaustion and to hallucination."

"This is the second-longest race in sports history," he said. "Unfortunately a lot of them won't finish. But they are on a journey that they'll never forget."

Day 1 leaders: Orion Health of New Zealand. The four teammates were arriving at the Deadwood area on mountain bike. Salomon/Crested Butte was in second place, about five miles behind.

Team South Dakota: In 21st place at news deadline, biking toward Bethlehem Cave.

Today: Leading teams will be around the Lead-Deadwood area, heading to Cheyenne Crossing at Spearfish Canyon.