RAPID CITY - A member of the South Dakota squad in the Primal Quest Badlands left the team a week ago, citing personal reasons.

The team, which aims to be the first home-state team to finish the 600-mile endurance race, is currently looking for a replacement.

"We have a couple of candidates that want to do it," said team member Gary Haven. "It is just a matter of whether they fit the team or if the team fits them."

The absence of a team member a month from the challenge presents an added obstacle.

"It's huge. We have really only four to five weeks of training," Haven said. "The three of us are totally committed to it. It's just another hurdle that you have to go through."

Haven said other teams have had to replace team members because of injuries and other reasons.