The North Face

Mar 04 | All in a Winter's Day

By Sam Thompson

Speaking of the Single-Track, here it is in action again through the course of a day last week! I love the sunshine as much as the next guy, but winter in Seattle's just not supposed to look like this. This video is my day in a nutshell, and it was a lot of fun, but with climate change in mind it was a bit alarming too.

All in a Winter's Day from Sam Thompson on Vimeo.

If this ain't global warming, I don't know what is. I'm loving the sun, but it's just not normal!

Mar 03 | Single-Track Shoe

By The North Face

SINGLE-TRACK SHOE:   Athlete Tested. Terrain Proven. Watch this superb road and trail hybrid in action. It is the preferred shoe for the Brazilian Jungle Marathon and Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB).

Learn more about the Single-Track, go to:  Men's  |  Women's

 

Feb 16 | Profile of Lizzy Hawker, Ultra-Distance Runner

By The North Face

She's an endurance athlete and 100km world champion. Her dream is to encourage people to realize the sanctuary of the mountains, the richness of our environment and our responsibility to protect it, and the value of challenging yourself both physically and mentally.

Learn more about Elizabeth Hawker.

 

Jan 12 | Kami Semick Named Runner of the Year, TNF Ultrarunning Team Takes Top Honors

By The North Face

Kami Semick has been named Runner of the Year by UltraRunning magazine.

Semick won all six races she ran in 2009, including two world championship events, the IAU 100km World Championships in Belgium and the IAU 50km World Championships in Gibraltar. She was also the winner of three of North America’s most competitive events, the Miwok 100km race and the American River 50 Mile, both in northern California, and the White River 50 Mile near Mt. Rainier in Washington. Semick, who also won the award in 2008, received first place votes from all 20 of the voters, the first unanimous selection since Ann Trason in 1998. Semick’s win at the 100km World Championship was voted  Outstanding Performance of the year and her IAU World Championship 50k was named fifth.

Michael Wardian and Hal Koerner took third and fifth place, men, respectively, in the Men's poll for Runner of the Year. Koerner's Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run win was named fourth best Performance of the Year - Men.

     
Kami Semick Hal Koerner Michael Wardian

 

Nov 04 | Kami Semick Wins, Michael Wardian Takes Third, At The IAU 50K World Trophy 2009

By The North Face

Kami Semick Wins, Michael Wardian Takes Third, At The IAU 50K World Trophy 2009

Gibraltar, Spain, set the stage for The North Face athletes to take top honors in 50K race

 

The North Face athlete Kami Semick took first place, women, in the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 50K World Trophy 2009, in Gibraltar, Spain. She won with a time of 3:29:48. The North Face teammate, Michael Wardian, took third place, men, with a time of 3:00:56, just 41 seconds behind the second place winner. This is the first time running the race for both.

 

Held on a slow, rolling 8K loop, the course boasted many sharp turns and a handful of steep hills, forcing runners to slow down in places. Conditions were hot and humid at 77° F with 86 percent humidity. The race started at 2.30PM, smack in the middle of the afternoon heat.

 

“The conditions were difficult and the course was challenging, but I felt relaxed and strong through most of the race,” Semick said. “I focused on running for place instead of time because of the challenging conditions.”

 

Semick took the women’s lead at around the 10K mark and continued to build a steady lead by more than eight minutes. Wardian led the men’s close competition for most of the race, and despite being passed at the 43K and the 47K, he was able to lock in his pace and secure his best finish ever for an international competition and representing the United States.

 

“I am so pleased with the effort and winning a Bronze Medal,” Wardian said. “I have some work to do to improve and come back with a Gold Medal next time for the USA—I can't wait to get back training and look forward to competing again in the near future.”

 

The IAU 50k World Trophy is an invitation-only event. Athletes qualify through races held throughout the world.

Oct 27 | Get Inspired - See Amy Run

By The North Face

World record set at The North Face Endurance Challenge Mid-Atlantic Regional. Amy Palmerio Winters crossed the Gore-Tex 50 Mile finish line in a time 10:18, setting a new world record for below the knee amputees by almost 2 hours! Amy also qualified for Western States by completing the 50 mile course in less than 11 hours.

Click here to read Amy’s race recap.

Oct 15 | Brazil Jungle Marathon Update

By The North Face

We just heard from The North Face team in Brazil at the Brazil Jungle Marathon. Nikki Kimball, Tracy Garneau and Mike Wolfe are rocking the grueling 200K course.

Nikki and Tracy have been running together so far, finishing roughly a half an hour ahead of the next woman each day. It's speculated they have a two hour lead right now. Both Nikki and Tracy are feeling really strong, and are becoming crowd favorites, with race crew members and locals cheering them on as they wrap up each day. Both are in the top ten as of this posting.

Mike has been running in the top three each day, switching off lead with South Africa's Ryan Sandes. Mike took a time hit on day one with a violation (no details yet) and lost half an hour, but reports show he is steadily making it up, predicted to finish in the top three if he keeps his current pace.

Today is the long stage, about 80K, so it will be a challenging one. From our photo team on location: "This thing is a killer!"

A good race report can be found in today's article from The Times Live: http://bit.ly/4w0gTl

Oct 15 | Introducing the 2009 Brazil Jungle Marathon

By The North Face

The North Face at the 2009 Jungle Marathon from Hennie vJ on Vimeo.

Sep 23 | Tsuyoshi Kaburaki, Endurance Runner

By Dean Karnazes

Let me be the first to welcome our newest endurance runner to join The North Face Athelte Team. Tsuyoshi is one of the most famous trail runners in Japan. Click here to learn more about this multifaceted athlete.  I'm proud to welcome him.  He's one extraordinary dude!

 

Sep 15 | I hope this inspires all of you!

By Dean Karnazes

Hey there, 
I was listening to NPR on the way home the other night and it was The World from the BBC, which is the British news, and guess who they featured--Diane Van Deren, my ultra friend!  It was crazy.  They did a multi-part interview and feature of her.  It was a really well-done piece.  Just thought you'd be interested.  Read all about Diane's story! 

All the best,
Dean