Useful Information

Previous experience: Generally experience is not required to take part in one of our challenges. This is not to suggest that it is unnecessary to train for the event prior to the official start, at least if you want to complete it. For any of these challenges 80% of completion will be due to mental endurance, this can be helped by training. In many cases previous competitors will run seminars or mini-events in the style of the main event that you can use to help you practice - check out the forums for more information. In the case of the more extraordinary events such as the Polar challenges, prior pre-event training is part of the package (but probably still not sufficient on its own).
How to afford it: You know you want the challenge, so you can do it!
One way is to contact your favourite charity and propose to use the event as a way to raise money for them. Given sufficient commitment on your behalf they may subsidise your entry in return for some minimum amount to be raised.
As well as this (or instead of, but having a cause helps) you can raise sponsorship, for instance by wearing company logos and using your event to attract media attention prior to, during and after the race.
Of course, if you win some events, the prize may include a free or reduced entry to the next one (but mostly the prizes are not going to pay your way)
Insurance: Well, these events are intended to push you to the limits, so insurance is a good idea during the event. Perhaps less obvious is that your injuries from your pre-event training or changes in your plans may prevent you from attending the event, so cancellation insurance from the first major payment date is recommended.
Are the events well organised, are they organised by us
: All the events we feature have have dedicated teams behind them. Often those teams organise just that event, or specific type of event, so have detailed knowledge in the requirements. Undoubtedly they have either been organising the events for many years or taken part in many similar events.They will be out on location with you.
It is hard to imaging the scale of some of the organizations, for instance the Marathon des Sables has 700 competitors, and a crew of 200. Your not in the most friendly of landscapes so things will take time, and organised chaos is probably the best to hope for.
The Extraordinary does not arrange the events, in some cases we look after the registration/paperwork side of it. We are here to let the organisational teams do what they enjoy - run the event.
Why can I be ejected from an event I have paid for?: Most, if not all, of the events we feature has a set of rules that you must abide by. Failure to do so can result in anything from time penalties to financial loss to expulsion from the event. The rules are there for safety and for fairness and it is your responsibility to abide by them. The rules will include passing medical checks, having the correct documentation, not deviating substantially any set route and lots more.
How will I feel when I get home?: Many people go into a kind of depression after one of these challenges, just because everything else seems dull and boring by comparison (never mind that sometime during the event you probably wanted to be home!). You'll miss the camaraderie, the bond between people who don't even speak the same language, the awesome scenery the elation of crossing the finishing line and the sheer excitement of watching and taking part in an extraordinary event. You may be difficult to live with for a few days and it is hard to share the experience with someone who has not been there. Just ask some of those who have done it about the event...