The North Face

Jan 30 | Lizzy Hawker Named Athlete of the Year

By The North Face

 

The International Association of Ultrarunners named Lizzy Hawker the 2011 Athlete of the Year. Among her other accomplishments throughout the year, Lizzy established a World´s Best Performance in the Commonwealth Championships, Llandudno with a distance of 247.06km, and raced to her fourth first place finish at The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc in August.

Congratulations Lizzy on an incredible year and a well-deserved honor.

Dec 05 | The North Face Endurance Challenge Championships Recap

By The North Face

Mike Wolfe after finishing first in the Endurance Challenge. He endured 50 miles, even after hitting his head on a tree early in the race Photo:Tim Kemple

Race bibs for The North Face Endurance Challenge Gore-Tex 50 Mile Championships this weeked north of San Francisco read like a veritable “Who’s Who?” of the endurance running world. In its fifth year, the race boasts a $10,000 prize purse for first place, magnificent views of the Bay Area and serious bragging rights, which attracts an elite field of ultrarunners from all over the world. Check out iRunFar's full coverage of the event for more behind-the-scenes details.

The North Face global endurance runner Mike Wolfe of Helena, MT battled it out for 50 miles to come in first place with a time 6:18:57, edging out his steepest competition and earning a course record by a full 15 minutes. Dakota Jones of Durango, CO, who trailed Wolfe by mere minutes through the last 20 miles, came in a close second with a time of 6:21:43 and was followed by Adam Campbell of Vancouver, British Columbia with a time of 6:34:28.

Mike Wolfe is all smiles after his first place finish

“It was really close the entire race,” an exhausted, but elated Wolfe said at the finish line. “We were really well-matched, [Jones] was killing me on the downhills, but I was just a stronger climber. It really came down to climbing that last hill, and I was able to pull away.”

New Zealand’s Anna Frost was the first female finisher with a time of 6:56:00, followed by Ellie Greenwood of Banff, British Columbia with a time of 7:07:16, and Mary Beth Cadwell of San Anselmo, CA with a time of 7:28:29.

Anna Frost after taking first place in the women's race and earning her $10,000 prize

Other top athletes who participated in The North Face Endurance Challenge Championships, included: 2011 San Francisco Marathon winner and USATF 100K Champion Michael Wardian, two-time Western States winner Hal Koerner, winner of the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France Lizzy Hawker, and Western States Champion Geoff Roes.

An additional three races were held Sunday, including a Half Marathon, 5K and 10K. The weekend’s events end The North Face Endurance Challenge Series, which held events in Bear Mountain, NY, Washington, DC, Kansas City, MO, Madison, WI and Atlanta, GA earlier this year.  However, The North Face Endurance Challenge will return next year with at least one new race addition, beginning in May 2012. For information on The North Face Endurance Team and where they’ll be next, head to www.thenorthface.com or www2.thenorthface.com/endurance.

Oct 06 | Helen Cospolich: The North Face Endurance 50K – Ilhabela, Sao Paulo, Brazil

By The North Face

  
When my flight was booked and I finally got my Visa to Brazil, I only then began to think that I was in fact headed 13 hours south to an island in South America to run a jungle 50K. So I packed my bags and boarded the plane, bringing with me the course map to study, a quick guide to Portuguese, and two pairs of trail running shoes for the race. I anticipated it being warm in Brazil (because that is all I’ve ever heard of the country), so I didn’t bring many clothes. Yet somehow I forgot that because it’s in the other hemisphere, it was still winter there. Needless to say, I could have used more warm things.

I arrived in Sao Paulo after a long flight, cruised through customs, and looked for someone holding a sign I might recognize. There was The North Face logo, and Rafael Niro, Brand Manger for The North Face Brazil. He ushered me out of the busy airport and off to the island of Ilhabela, nearly 3 hours away by car and ferry. Once on the island, I was introduced to a variety of native foods and customs. I had the chance to try some fruits I had never heard of and try to get used to the motorbikes whizzing dangerously through the streets. We even drove 20 minutes to a quiet beach on the end of the island to enjoy a little bit of sunshine on what was otherwise a cloudy and cool week. The North Face team in Brazil welcomed me with open arms.

Race morning was cloudy, cool and wet. Since the 50K event didn’t begin until 4 p.m., I had the rest of the day to visit the expo area and watch the Xterra triathletes in action. The expo was set up on the beach near the hotel, and the area was busy with athletes and spectators enjoying the scene. I got acquainted with banana-flavored gels and acai protein bars. The North Face had a large covered area filled with photos and product and people looking to buy sporting equipment. It was a busy day for everyone, as many of the TNF staff planned to run the 9K or 18K events later that evening.

As the rain continued, I began to get concerned about trail conditions, especially on the top of the mountain where we planned to run. Everyone kept telling me it would be “moody” out there (muddy). Not knowing much about the course, I envisioned muddy jungle trails with roots, vines and rocks, which later proved to be correct. Over the course of a couple of hours before the race, I changed my clothes several times and decided to bring the waterproof jacket I had used for UTMB and to wear my Single-Tracks. It was probably overkill, but I really didn’t know what to expect out there.

At 4 p.m. we all gathered at the start of the race on the beach. The gun went off and it was a fast start on the cobbled streets of Ilhabela for a 10K loop. Immediately, I was able to identify my competition – one Brazilian woman – and decided to keep my eye on her. As we headed out of town, we climbed through some neighborhoods, past a bustling bar, through someone’s backyard with laundry strung from the trees, and onto a dirt road that led up the mountain. The rain was falling steadily by then, and when we did hit a section of single track as it started to get dark, I got my first taste of what it’s like to run in the mud in the jungle... lots of slipping and trying to keep my balance among rocks and roots.

Over the course of the next 30K, I traded places with the Brazilian woman several times. I would catch her on the uphills, only to have her pass me on the sustained downhills. I gained some time on the technical trail sections, but once we summitted and headed down the other side of the mountain, she was right there with me again. The rain continued to fall and the roads and trails became large, messy puddles. We entered some single track and I proceeded to fall about 20 times, on my behind, on my face, on my side, to the point that I had mud in my mouth and up and down my body. I was relieved when we waded through a waist-deep stream and I was able to get some of the grime off me. In addition, the rain had created a dense fog on the mountain and I was forced to dim my light in order to see the road and trail. I tried to keep my speed, but felt like I was fighting the conditions.

We hit the beach on the other side of the island and followed torches along the length of the sand. A little stray dog decided he wanted to run with me for awhile as well (which I’ve heard is actually pretty common at races in Brazil). With the rain falling steadily, it was a relief to make the turn and start heading home. I powered up the next few climbs, as the rain poured down. I have never before run in that kind of rain. I saw some large, hairy spiders and giant grasshoppers, and heard a variety of tropical birds and monkeys in the trees above my head.

At the top of the final climb I found myself alone, in the dark and rain, and wondering if I had somehow gotten turned around on the trail. I passed a couple of male runners who didn’t speak English, and came to an aid station where it seemed the kilometer marking was wrong, but the volunteers couldn’t understand my concern, so after a few minutes (and some broken Spanish) I figured out I was headed the right way. It was all downhill from there.

The run into the finish was fast and slick. The cobblestones of the streets of Ilhabela kept my attention on the footing until the very end of the race at the beach. I crossed the finish line in the sand, grabbed a pear (fruit is the aid food of choice in Brazil, it seems), and had a minute to reflect on this very different running experience in Brazil. I had finished second, only a few minutes behind the first place woman. We spoke in broken English and took pictures with the other runners, who all seemed excited about the experience. It was the first 50K many of them had ever attempted. And then, of course, it was time to party… something the Brazilians know how to do well! What a wonderful opportunity to spend time in South America and to represent The North Face with a great group of people at a special event. It will be exciting to see the sport of ultra running grow in Brazil. I am proud to be a The North Face Endurance Athlete and to be part of the TNF international family.

Aug 24 | UTMB: Pre-Race Interviews (Cont.)

By The North Face

The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is right around the corner.  Today we're featuring IRunFar.com's pre-race interview with two of the men of The North Face Endurance Athlete Team, 2010 UTMB Champion Jez Bragg and Mike Wolfe. Check out the full post here. You can also read interviews with two of The North Face women competing in the 103-mile race here.

 

As this article goes up, the iRunFar team is on its way to cover the 2011 The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. (Well, I’m running it, too.) I know it’s overused, but this very well might be the most competitive 100 mile race in history.

Let’s start with one hell of a rematch – everyone the top five at this year’s Western States will toe the line in Chamonix on Friday. That includes, Kilian Jornet, Mike Wolfe, Nick Clark, Jez Bragg, and Tsuyoshi Kaburaki. To that you can add 2010 Western States champ Geoff Roes, 2010 The North Face Endurance Challenge champ Miguel Heras, 2011 Hardrock 100 second place finisher Dakota Jones, two-time Western States champ and The North Face runner Hal Koerner, SEVEN-time Western States champ Scott Jurek, as well as a slew of top Europeans and Asians.

As with all races, not all who entered with be out there on race day. On the American side, the no shows include Anton Krupicka (recovering from a broken leg), Karl Meltzer (back injury), and Dave Mackey (scheduling conflict). I’m sure there are similar withdrawals from the overseas crowd.

 JEZ BRAGG

iRunFar: We last saw you at the Western States 100 in June, where you ran to 4th place and a blazing sub-16 hour finish. How has your summer of recovery and then training been since then? Did you bounce back pretty quickly or take a nice break?

Jez Bragg: The recovery – train – taper phase between Western States and UTMB has been a bit blurred to say the least. I recovered pretty quickly from Western States so I really just threw myself straight into UTMB-specific stuff without too much of a break. I did quite a bit of road cycling and swimming to supplement the running early in the summer, which I always find works well to spin the muscle soreness away. With only 9 weeks between the two races it’s not a lot of time, but I’ve done all I can and I’m definitely feeling ready to go. My real focus has been on building leg strength. I know I can run 100 miles pretty quick, but there are obviously a few lumps and blumps along the way at UTMB, so plenty of long days going up and down the mountains has been top of the agenda.

iRF: It looks like you spent some time training in the Alps during July. Did you train on the course or on similar terrain? How did that go for you? Are you feeling like you’ve been able to train to your potential?

Bragg: I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the mountains over the summer – several days in the Lake District (North West England), a couple of weeks in the Alps and a few days in Snowdonia (North Wales) too. The Alps training was brilliant. I fastpacked the ‘Walkers’ Haute Route’, a high level route between Chamonix and Zermatt, then did a 3-day training weekend with The North Face Team covering the full UTMB route, as well a load of other single training days. As a whole, it’s all gone really well and should pay dividends in the race. It’s a difficult balance to strike with UTMB training. It’s obviously a super hard race so it follows that the training needs to be pretty hardcore too, but it’s so easy to over step the mark and completely trash your legs before you even start. With a bit of luck I’ve got it about right. We’ll soon find out….

iRF: You’re UTMB’s defending champion. What’s it like returning to the race in this way? Are you going back this year to defend your title or to run your own race? Or, do those two goal equate to each other for you?

Bragg: A bit different! Last year was a strange one. It was a great experience which gave me a taste of winning a big race, but it wasn’t the real UTMB race. I’m looking forward to running the full distance and seeing what happens. I will always run my own race and that definitely won’t change just because I’m wearing race number one. I know how to bring out the best in myself and that’s not necessarily battling it out at the front from mile one. It’s a long race and a lot can (and will happen). It’s gonna be very, very interesting.

iRF: One thing we’ve noticed about you is the joy you seem to derive from running in wild places. Is the scenery of the UTMB course at all motivating to you?

Bragg: I love nothing more than running solo in a super remote places. The UTMB course is very inspiring for me. Every time I go round, and I think it’s over ten times now, I’m just in awe of the incredible views – it certainly never gets boring. UTMB is very special race and the biggest reason for that is the beauty of the course and surroundings. When you’re feeling super tired and overwhelmed by the challenge, you just need to catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc or one of the other mountains to draw some extra strength to keep you going.

iRF: The UTMB men’s roster has some serious talent on it. With whom are you looking forward to spending some time out on the course? Who are your top five picks for the men?

Bragg: It’s certainly going to be a great race for the spectator. I enjoyed running with Mike Wolfe last year. We’re very similar in ability and we seemed to spur each other on a lot, so hopefully we will be get chance to run together again. Other than that, any english speaker will do! We all know how friendly the ultra community is, even amongst the elites, so it would be great to get to know some new people through running together out on the course – what better way to get to know someone that going through hell and back out on the UTMB course?! I’m going dodge that top 5 question. I think we know there is a young spaniard who will take some beating…..

MIKE WOLFE

iRunFar: You placed second at the Western States 100, just four minutes back of Kilian Jornet. That must have been a performance you were proud of. How did recovery go for you? And, in the two or so months between WS100 and UTMB, what kind of training have you been up to?

Mike Wolfe: I was definitely happy with my performance at WS this year.  I felt great afterwards.  I think it was the fastest I’ve recovered after a 100.  I was generally fatigued for a bit, but that’s it.  Since WS, I have just been focusing on lots of vertical, in terms of training.  I was able to get in a good hard block of training late July through first couple weeks of August…. we’ll see whether that pays off in a few days, I suppose.

iRF: It looks like you might have raced and won a 50k in Montana earlier this month, the HURL Elkhorn 50K. We imagine it was a UTMB tune-up race. How did you feel during it? Did you experience the results you wanted for the day?

Wolfe: I decided to run the Elkhorn 50km two days prior.  It was during my big block of training, and I did it solely as a “beat myself up” training run.  Elkhorn was right at the tailend of a BIG 12-day block for me.  My legs were fatigued, but I got out of it what I wanted, then put in 11k of vert in 20+ miles the next day.

iRF: You’re obviously quite fit. And, you’ve been to UTMB before, having placed second there last year, so you know all about the Euro-racing scene. Signs point toward this being a pretty spectacular race for you. What do you think?

Wolfe: I try not to ever speculate or go into races with any significant expectations on myself.  I want to run my heart out, and I am excited for the depth of competition. Ultimately, for me, it’s about pushing my personal limits and relishing the love of the mountain environment (and, at UTMB, enjoying the amazing spirit/culture for this race).  The competition always pushes me to explore my limits and that’s what its all about.

iRF: You put up a good fight against Kilian at WS100. What will it be like to compete against him and other top Euros on their home turf?

Wolfe: Tough, and tougher. No doubt about that. In addition to Kilian, there are a bunch of top Euros that will certainly be pushing up front.  They have the advantage of training over here and course knowledge.  But, no excuses.  We are all equal when the race gun goes off.

Aug 23 | UTMB 2011: Pre-Race Interviews

By The North Face

The 103-mile The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is just days away and our friend Bryon Powell over at iRunFar.com is on the ground in Chamonix, France getting the full scoop. Check back here at the Never Stop Exploring Blog, or at I Run Far all week for race updates. You can also get real-time updates by following @thenorthface or @iRunFar on Twitter.

Today, we're featuring Bryon's pre-race interview with two of the women of The North Face Endurance Athlete Team, Lizzy Hawker and Helen Cospolich. Check out the full post here. You can also read interviews with two members of the men's team, Jez Bragg and Mike Wolfe here.  

 

Many a fast femme will be running the 103-mile The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc this week. Five different ladies have won UTMB in the past. Three of them will face off at this year’s race: Lizzy Hawker (’05, ’08, ’10), Krissy Moehl (’03 & ’09), and Karine Herry (’06). They’ll be joined by the second, third, and fourth place finishers from last year’s race: Nerea Martinez, Agnes Herve, and Fernanda Maciel. Two strong Americans will be joining Moehl in representing the states: Darcy Africa and Helen Cospolich. We caught up with two women’s contenders for the 2011 The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Lizzy Hawker (post-2010 TNF UTMB win video interview) and Helen Cospolich (pre-2010 TNF UTMB video interview).

Lizzy Hawker

iRunFar: You have a lot of experience with UTMB. You won in 2005, 2008, and 2010. In addition, in 2009, you were second to Krissy Moehl. What’s it like returning to race that you know so well? What’s it like returning to a race as a defending champion, knowing that the women’s field is deep with talent?

Lizzy Hawker: The UTMB becomes something that is so much more than just the incredible challenge of the race itself. Every runner, every volunteer and every supporter becomes part of something truly special – the shared passion and dedication make this so much more than just a race – more a shared journey of exploration and endurance within the greater journey of our own life.  I’m just looking forward to the challenge of going deep within myself and making my own journey, while sharing the experience with so many.

iRF: How has your training been going this summer? Have you had any particular training days or trips that were really good or memorable? What kind of training do you do? Lots of days in the mountains? Speedwork? Some of everything?

Hawker: Training during the summer race season inevitably includes something of everything – and is specifically focused towards the races that I am next aiming for.  Thinking towards UTMB then two memorable training stints were a 2-day solo run over the route of the UTMB in June, and a 2-day solo run following the Tour de Monte Rosa just last week.  Each time, I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the mountain environment and felt a deep joy in the freedom of being able to move …

iRF: We understand that you’ve raced this summer, most recently winning the 78km Swiss Alpine Davos in late July. For iRunFar’s readers who might not be familiar with this race, can you tell us about it? Can you also tell us about how you felt out there? Did winning that race instill in you some confidence for UTMB?

Hawker: The 78km Swiss Alpine is a beautiful and challenging race and it was a privilege to return for my third win.  Each race stands alone, but the end of one race is the beginning of the journey to the next (a week later I won a 2-day double mountain marathon). Each and every race is unique with its own challenges and demands – but each gives you something to learn and something to take forward to the next race.  These last two races gave me a deep joy and reminded me that if we dig deep in there to really ‘be in ourselves’ at every moment of the race – then surely we can reach beyond what we believe possible.

iRF: Krissy Moehl is returning to UTMB this year, as you know. Who else do you see as your competition out on the course? Are there any other runners with whom you’re looking forward to racing?

Hawker: It will be a privilege to be part of such a deep and talented women’s field, but for me the important thing is to focus on the race rather than to think about the competition.  I hope just to run the best that I can at each moment of the race, to give ‘all’ that I can, to feel joy in my run, and to share an incredible experience with so many people.

Helen Cospolich

iRunFar: We last saw you when you finished the Western States 100 in 20:44 back in June. After that, you went on to win the Silver Rush 50 in July. Have we missed any other summer races for you?

Helen Cospolich: This year I did most of my racing in the spring as preparation for WS100 in June, so my schedule was intentionally heavy then. I raced Way Too Cool 50K in March, Spring Desert 50 Mile in April, Miwok 100K in May, and then Dirty Thirty 50K in June leading up to Western. Because Western was a focus for me, I spent much of my training time on flat ground working on speed, and I think it paid off in my early season races as I PR’d in all of them.

iRF: How has your training been this summer? We imagine UTMB is a goal race. That said, how have you structured your training to lead up to this race?

Cospolich: UTMB is a goal race for sure, but it’s been an interesting season leading up to it this year. I think I’ve found that racing two 100s in one summer pushes my limit for training. Last year I focused solely on UTMB by running the mountains all summer, starting in June. This summer I was still training for WS100 in June, and there was too much snow up high to run the peaks until mid-July. So I feel a bit like I’ve had to cram my vertical training into a month or two. I’m not sure how it will work out for the race, but I do keep telling myself that the altitude shouldn’t be a problem because I live at about 10,000 feet. I’ve spent the last few weekends running 14ers and ski areas. On the weekdays, since I’m working, I’ve been leaving the house as early as 4:30 a.m. to put in some mountain trail running before work. I’ve seen a ton of bears this summer, too.

iRF: You’ve raced in Europe before, and you placed seventh at the 2010 UTMB. Is course knowledge and experience with the abroad racing culture important? That is, is this an advantage for you?

Cospolich: Yes, absolutely! While we didn’t see all of the course last year with the mudslide and reroute, I got a really good sense of the culture and the “scene” of the race, as well as the trails. I went into it last year expecting a course as technically difficult as the Hardrock 100, and was kindof shocked that it wasn’t at all like that. Yes, there’s a ton of vertical, but the trails are so well-used over hundreds of years that they are easily distinguishable, and pretty runable in most places. Last year I was so intimidated by the whole scene of the race, but this year I’m happy to be returning knowing what it’s like. And I think in some regards it’s easier to run your own race when there are so many people around you. I enjoyed being relatively anonymous last year and hope it will be that way again this year.

iRF: You must have a few goals for the race. Can you let us in on perhaps one of those goals?

Cospolich: Honestly, I haven’t yet pieced together my goals for this year’s race. I’m working on that now and should have a good sense of it after I study the other competitors and the course more. There are a lot of very fast American women running this year, but to my knowledge, few of them have done this event before. I’m actually more concerned about the Americans than the Europeans. I think we will have a great American showing there for both men and women! I came off of Western States a little burnt out, raced the Leadville Silver Rush 50, and then I got the stomach flu and spent a family vacation at the beach. When I returned to Colorado I jammed my leg pretty good on a scree face at 13,000 feet, but I’m feeling pretty good now and trying to enjoy the taper leading up to the race and gain motivation over this time. I figure maybe it’s a good thing that I’ve been really busy with work and getting my daughter ready for school and extracurricular activities, which start the week I’m away. But overall, I’m excited to run in the Alps and really looking forward to racing UTMB again.

Sep 20 | Cool Weather Running Essentials

By The North Face

It may still be perfect weather outside, but before we know it cold temps, snow, rain and early darkness will be here. Get your closet set up now so when the weather changes, you’ll be ready to go. Below are some of our new favorite fall and winter running essentials. (Click the product name for more info)

Apex Climateblock Full Zip - $159

There are no excuses why you can’t go for a run with this jacket on your back. Brand-new performance jacket is designed with a windproof, breathable soft shell fabric at body that’s treated with DWR (durable water repellent) finish, with stretch elastane knit at sides for unrestricted movement and comfortable strides. Shaped collar eliminates abrasion from zipper at chin. Reflective tape all-over for visibility hits.

 

Krakatoa ½ Zip Hoodie - $125

Providing no excuses, this new performance fit half-zip hoodie features highly wind and water-resistant stretch knit fabric with DWR (durable water repellent) fabric at exterior for added weather-resistance. Super packable and lightweight, hoodie includes binding at hood and cuffs for a precise fit. Cinch at rear hood provides next-to-skin coverage during forward motion.

 

 

Stormy Trail Jacket - $149

New winter running jacket designed with intense athlete input to create a performance-fitting, breathable, protective piece for foul weather. New waterproof, breathable, seam sealed HyVent® Alpha fabric maximizes breathability by controlling the fabric pore size and permitting air flow while still maintaining durable waterproof protection. Pumping moisture from inside out keeps user drier than average HyVent® fabric. Single hem cinch-cord designed for easy one-handed, mid-stride use.

 

Kenetix Tights - $65

A compression fit tight designed with breathable mesh panels at back of knee for maximum breathability where you need it most. Stretch fabrication permits unrestricted movement, while wicking properties keep you cool and dry. Zip pocket at back features glow-in-the-dark pull to easily spot on late night/early morning runs.

 

 

E-Tip Glove - $40

Comfortably work your phone, MP3 player, or laptop mouse pad with warm hands thanks to gripper palm and click-wheel-compatible thumb and index finger. Stretch knit shell ideal for three-season wear.

 

 

 

Scully Beanie - $25

When training takes you into cold conditions, adorn this lightweight, breathable beanie for protection and warmth that won’t slow you down. Flat-locked seams eliminate abrasion.

 

 

 

Flight Series Arm Warmers - $25

Crucial for days on the trail when it starts or ends a bit cool, these compact arm warmers are body mapped and constructed with seamless knit-in textured venting to increase breathability in key areas. Warmers are fitted to move with your body, without pinching or binding.

Aug 20 | Rainier Triple Threat- Join Us!

By Sam Thompson

With the incredible protected natural beauty right outside our doors here in Washington state, ultrarunning adventurer and TNF athlete Sam Thompson (the first person ever to run 51 marathons in all 50 states plus D.C. in 50 days) and all around adventurer Brock Gavery (one of Outside Magazine’s 2008 “Fittest Real Men in America”) have teamed up once again to tackle some serious expedition adventure right in their Pacific Northwest backyard playground.  Army Ranger and Mountaineer Gavin Woody will also now be joining the voyage, so we welcome our 3rd team member to make this a true Triple Threat.

With plans to tackle Mt. Rainier like it’s never been seen before, the Rainier Triple Threat seeks to inspire others to find as much adventure as they desire right out their back door.  Our journey begins with the team riding our bicycles from our homes in Seattle to the base of Mt. Rainier at Paradise.  We’ll then gear up for a single push climb of the iconic Mt. Rainier.  Following our descent, we will embark on the third leg of the Triple Threat- circling Rainier by running the awe-inspiring 93 mile Wonderland Trail.  In the spirit of the many adventurers who have gone before us, we hope to inspire others to find their own personal adventure and tackle their own goals, whatever those might be. Join us on Facebook and Twitter and join us in getting outside this weekend for some adventure... whatever that might be (take your kids for a walk, go hiking, running, biking, climbing, whatever!)!

Jul 24 | The Challenge Tres Rios 2011

By The North Face

 
The North Face® Challenge 2011 in Tres Rios is a unique challenge for all trail runners and mountain bikers of all levels. Competitors will encounter varied terrain ranging from semi-technical trails to steep climbs, all the while enjoying beautiful panoramic views of the forest and the Irazu and Turrialba Volcanoes.

Mountain Bike:  85k - 35k
Ultra Trail/Running:  85k - 40k - 20k - 10k

Event Date: July 23, 2011

Jun 17 | Hal Koerner on the Upcoming Western States 100

By The North Face

The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run is next weekend. The North Face athlete Hal Koerner is aiming for his third consecutive win of this grueling race. Our good friend Bryon Powell of iRunFar.com caught up with Hal.

(Reposted with permission from iRunFar.com.)

Bryon Powell of iRunFar (iRF): Hal, what was you last big training week for Western States and what did it look like?

Hal Koerner: I’ve been bringing a bad ankle back to life, but I hit 120 miles this week and will stay there until next week. [That's] probably more than I would like [to run] at this stage of the game, but since I got a late start after Miwok I needed to gain back a little confidence.

I ran our Lithia Loop Marathon course twice and then threw in a few 10-15 milers with 3,000 ft of sustained climb. It’s all trail and it’s steep just like the canyons.

I’ve had to hit the sauna as the temps here have been less than ideal, but 1-1.5 hours at a time begins to get the mind ready for the onslaught.

iRF: How has you approached change to this final large week over the past few years, if at all?

Koerner: As I mentioned earlier, my taper has usually begun the first week in June, so I have probably stretched that out 7 to 10 days, but I still feel good and I know I can be rested in time.

I usually run pretty big or large aggregate miles over Memorial Day weekend and that seems to be a nice “last push.” This year I couldn’t risk injuring my ankle any more and decided to break up the mileage and rest after a long spring season of running. For the most part, June is a couple hours on the trails with 2,000 ft of climb. It’s mixed up and down for the most part, but I can throw in some sustained stuff, as well. I find it’s just good to be on trail to mix up the foot falls and to try and build up the quads on the uneven, steep down hills.

iRF: You ran very well at Miwok. Nearly 40 minutes faster than you’ve ever run it, if I’m correct. Do you think your Western States training season has gone better than the previous two years? How has it been different?

Koerner: I have had a pretty stellar year all things considered. Miwok went well and, yes, a huge PR. I have usually raced Miwok as part of a successive build-up in late April and early May, ergo I am pretty beat up by that point. Other times, I have run too hard and blown up, so to have completed such an all around effort this year was pretty special. I was on top of my pace, nutrition, and course knowledge and, with the fast field, we were able to push all day.

I imagine that will bode well for WS, too. I think it’s too easy to get caught up in all the miles and forget how fresh one needs to be for the big day. Recovering from a tough spring takes time and I think getting that dialed and listening to my body has been able to get me over the hump. If you are going to have anything left at mile 60, you better be well rested.

I didn’t enjoy being behind Tony for most of the day [at Miwok] and that helps with the mental aspect should that happen at States. I feel there will be a small pack up from, but that there will be some shuffling of the leaders. All that experience [WS] should be helpful.

For iRunFar's full Western States preview, visit http://bit.ly/ct4q36

May 28 | Comrades Marathon and Starfish Greathearts Foundation... Go Team TNF!

By Sam Thompson

The legendary Comrades Marathon is happening in just 3 days, and is the largest ultra-marathon on the planet with over 16,000 entrants. This race is just under 90k's of fun and hard charging through the heartland of South Africa, and it's a race I've always dreamed of taking part in. Comrades will be in the global spotlight this year more than ever with the world's cameras already pointed on South Africa as the world anxiously anticipates the start of the 2010 World Cup in just a few weeks.
Another reason for the added excitement surrounding Comrades this year relates to some incredibly fast American (and British!)  runners who will be running in a race traditionally dominated by the locals. I'm extremely excited about following the race live online, and am confident that our contingent from The North Face will do amazingly well. A group of my friends and teammates from The North Face is traveling to South Africa (or already there at this point), and they will most assuredly be a force to be reckoned with! Kami Semick, Lizzy Hawker, Nikki Kimball, and Michael Wardian will all be toeing the line this Sunday, and I wish them all the very best race possible.
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of hearing a brief presentation from my friend Kami Semick detailing not only the history and significance of the Comrades race, but also explaining what is a far more important part of the team's trip to South Africa. Kami and the team are on a mission to raise support and awareness for the Starfish Greathearts Foundation and their incredible work. While most people are painfully aware of the AIDS epidemic plaguing South Africa, I (and I think most others) was not aware of the impact this has had on orphaning millions of vulnerable children. There are more than 2 million children in SA alone orphaned by AIDS, with over 90% of these children being NOT HIV positive. Starfish is a fantastic organization that is focused solely on nurturing these orphaned children and working to break this destructive cycle. With the world's attention focused on South Africa in the coming weeks, I encourage you to spread the word about this great organization, and hopefully this will be a platform for increased awareness and an impetus for real change there. Please consider supporting my friends' efforts and the work of Starfish by visiting their page HERE.

Here is the story of Carol, who cares for 97 children herself, and is aided by Starfish;