The North Face

Feb 04 | Jez Bragg:: Te Araroa Expedition - "The Finish Line"

By The North Face

Start: Riverton (2,988km)
Finish: Bluff (3,054km)
Distance for the day: 68km
Cumulative distance: 3,054km
Distance to Bluff: 0km

At 1601hrs on Saturday February 2nd 2013 after, 53 days 9 hours and 1 minute setting from Cape Reigna, I finally completed my long journey down the Te Araroa trail, arriving in Bluff – lands end on the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island. Gathered there waiting were my crew, Mark & James, my wife Gemma, my mum and my mother-in-law, Hilary.

Damiano from the Storyteller Collective was there capturing the moment on photo and video, just has he done so magnificently throughout the expedition. They sprayed me with champagne and we danced around the landmark yellow finger post like we’d just won the lottery. There were bystanders around too, probably wondering what the heck was going on, but none of us gave a hoot. It was raw emotion for me; all my heart and soul, sweat and tears, had been put into realizing this moment, and it almost happened too suddenly to take it all in. I’ve been a robotic state for most of the time since I started – in my own little bubble – and I think it’s going to take several days to snap out of it. My body is also going to want to know what the heck is going on when I don’t run tomorrow; so I think some wind down jogging/ walking is going to be important.

So how did the day unfold? Well in the usual manner really. A 5am alarm call felt a wee bit harsh as we had all been up late last night – I only got in from the trail at 9.30pm – but there was a nice buzz in the air from the thought of the finish. It was exciting to think about the day ahead, but that doesn’t make it any easier to get out the campervan door with so much cumulative fatigue in my legs, not to mention the mental tiredness. But once out, and 10 minutes or so up the road, everything started to warm up and then we were away. The sky this morning was incredible, the colors rich and colorful, before the sun eventually rose from the sea and brought the day to life. Once through Riveton, the route was straight on to the beach for 25km around a nicely curved, sandy bay, and it was a lovely spell for solitude and reflection which was exactly what I needed after many weeks of relentless and intense running. The running was far from easy with a mixture of sand and shingle, but I felt strong from thoughts of the finish and kept moving on at decent pace.

From the end of the beach it was on to the road all the way through to the outskirts of Bluff, skirting to the west of Invercargill, most of it on the shoulder of Highway 1. It wasn’t all that much fun and the tarmac was unforgiving underfoot, causing further soreness in my feet and ankles. But the soreness wasn’t really occupying my thoughts, it was more occupied with thoughts about finishing. I had music on the go to help switch off, but it seemed to bring on regular emotional streaks where I was breaking into tears. I’ve said before that this run has worn me down and exposed my inner emotions, and there were so many examples of that today.

By lunchtime at 1.15pm I had 50km under my belt, and thoughts of a mid-afternoon finish were starting to get muted. I didn’t really stop long for lunch, I just wanted to get the job done, so it was straight back on the road through to the outskirts of Bluff. So all that was left was a 7km stretch of trail around the Bluff peninsula to the Stirling Point fingerpost, the official finish to the trail. The first 3km of this section was rough running through long grass from marker post to marker post, but then I hit the millennium trail, and nicely graded gravel track leading all the way to the finish. It was a real blast. No tomorrow to save myself for, nothing to lose, no reason to hold back. But no time to really prepare myself for stopping; that’s the bit which is going to feel very strange.

We’re now sitting in the communal room of Bluff campsite, sharing photos, drinking cider and beer, and starting to reflect and share the memories. Where do you start? I’ve spent 53 days reflecting, and now I need time to reflect. Work that one out – very strange. But one thing I know I will be doing for sure is taking a week’s holiday with my wonderfully supportive wife. I feel like the luckiest man alive….

It’s hardly suffice, but just initially I want to say a massive thank you to my incredible support guys, James and Mark. They have given up nine weeks of their life to support me with this expedition and words can’t express how grateful I am to them both for what they have done. It is with great sadness that this team will split up from tomorrow – it really has been an incredible team effort – I have just been fronting it.

I hope to share some of my reflections about the expedition as a whole over the coming days. I too don’t want it to stop, so I will get a few more posts out.

And finally a big thank you to everyone who has followed my journey and provided so many supportive comments and feedback. I hope you have enjoyed it all as much as I have.

Jan 07 | Mike Foote:: Death Valley to Mount Whitney

By The North Face

Adam Peterman and Mike Foote on the summit of Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft elevation)

On December 21st I had the honor of sharing the cold and wind swept summit of Mt. Whitney in the southern Sierras with high school senior Adam Peterman. Grinning into the sun I snapped photos of the cross country runner I have coached for four years as he raised both arms in triumph while trying not to let his skinny frame be knocked over by the 50 MPH gusts we had battled all morning. Adam had just realized one of the biggest goals he had set for himself in his 17 years on this earth and I had front row seats to witness his achievement.

It was 12:15 PM and only 31 hrs prior we had set out on road bikes from Badwater, Death Valley 155 Miles away with the ambition of standing on this rocky perch.  This moment was the apex of months of planning, preparation and hard work for Adam’s high school senior project: To go from the lowest point in the contiguous United States to the highest under his own power while raising money for Outdoor Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to getting youth outdoors.

Only a couple of months ago Adam asked me after practice one day to be his mentor for his senior project, an assignment which all Hellgate High seniors must complete. After getting to know Adam over the last four years I was well aware of his drive and ambition to do extraordinary things.  He is an incredible athlete, and at one point in the XC season was ranked 5^th in the country while maintaining his honor roll status. I knew he would bring this dedication to whatever project we chose, and it came as no surprise to me that he responded with a wide eyed smile when I asked him what he thought of Death Valley to Mt. Whitney.

Shortly thereafter Adam decided that he wanted to raise money for Outdoor Nation.  It is not lost on him that he lives within a five-minute bike ride of a wilderness area with a dozen trailheads a stones throw from his home in Missoula, MT.  Adam has taken full advantage of these open spaces for years and knows how fortunate he is to have these resources at his fingertips, and therefore wants other youth to have the opportunities he has grown up with. 

With the goal of raising $5,000 we worked towards promoting our trip as well as we could. We drafted press releases and developed social media pages, blogs and websites.  Adam did local TV interviews before school and wrote articles for online media all over the country. Book ended by tight schedules and 17 hrs. of driving there and back we had literally a two day window to make this trip work.  With all the prep and planning we had done, we were left with only the hope that the weather would hold for us. We checked the forecast obsessively and crossed our fingers as the dates approached. And on a cold and cloudy mid-December afternoon, we drove away from Missoula in a packed Subaru with the compass pointing south.

As they say, the rest is history. The weather held and we set off from Badwater, Death Valley under a blue-black starry sky. We biked all day long. Adam bonked early on the first climb, then recovered, then bonked again. We pushed our bikes in the dark the last two miles up the icy switchbacks of the road to the Mt. Whitney Trailhead.  Adam crumpled into his sleeping bag without an appetite and questioned his ability to push to the summit the following morning. Accompanied with a little tough love, I focused on getting calories in him and let him go to sleep with the plan that we would just wake up and see how he felt after he got a little rest. 

The following morning I handed Adam a bowl of steaming oatmeal around 3 AM.  He had his appetite back and I could see a fresh flicker of resolve in his eyes as he wriggled out of his sleeping bag.  We passed two groups along our route to the summit who stated quite matter of factly that no one would be able to reach the top on that day, citing strong winds. Yes the winds were strong, but the skies were clear and we were buoyed by confidence with each foot gained in elevation and the subsequent and rewarding views of the stunning Sierras. With the mantra, “everything came together, so that everything could come together” we came closer and closer to our objective until we were standing right on it.

Crouching on top of Whitney trying to catch my breath in the thin air through a tired smile and watching Adam do the same I couldn’t help but think of the day we met four years ago my rookie season of coaching. Adam was a short and scrawny incoming freshman who showed promise, but lacked confidence in himself at times.  I’ve seen Adam progress and grow since that day so much, but nothing was as stark as our brief time together on the highest point in the lower 48. Watching Adams grit and determination while fighting altitude, fatigue and wind that day I saw not a scrawny kid, but a well poised young man with the world at his fingertips.  And I couldn’t have been more proud to be a part of his moment.

Adam triumphant

As a competitive ultrarunner, I have had the fortune of standing on the podium of some of the biggest Mountain Races in the world. Pushing my body to its limits in the mountains is what I live for.  But my trip with Adam two weeks ago reminded me that my life as an athlete is not what defines me. It turns out that being a supporting actor in the journey of a good kid and helping him realize the things that he is capable of feels just as good as any finish line I have ever crossed.

Help us reach our goal of $5,000 dollars for Outdoor Nation. We are Halfway there!

  Mike showing his Montana Pride

Dec 11 | High School Student Embarks on Expedition to Support Outdoor Nation

By The North Face

Mike Foote (Left) and Adam Peterman (Right) training for their expedition by climbing Stuart Peak in Montana

Next week, high school senior Adam Peterman of Missoula, Mont. will attempt to bike, hike and scramble his way from the lowest point in the contigious US to the highest in an effort to inspire more youth to get outside. As part of his senior project, Adam will travel from Badwater in Death Valley, Calif., to the 14,505-foot summit of Mount Whitney beginning December 20 and attempt to reach California’s highest peak in less than 48 hours entirely under his own steam.

Our very own Mike Foote, who won The North Face Endurance Challenge Chile in October and came in third overall at the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc earlier this year, is Adam's cross-country coach and project mentor and will act as the support crew during the expedition.

The goal of the expedition is to raise money and awareness to benefit Outdoor Nation, which is dedicated to reconnecting millennials with the outdoors. Outdoor Nation host summits around the country, awards grants for outstanding project ideas, leads outdoor activities and works with youth in an effort to mobilize a movement to get the next generation of outdoor leaders. Peterman’s goal is to raise $5,000 through his Outdoor Nation Crowdrise page.

The inspiring and active Adam wanted this senior project to combine his passion for exploration, while also helping other kids his age connect with nature – particularly those who don’t have easy access to front-country recreation. 

Adam and Mike setting up the Mountain 25, which they'll use when camping at Whitney Portal

“Living in a city as accessible to the outdoors as Missoula, Montana makes it easy to forget how fortunate I am to live in a place as so connected to wilderness,” says Peterman, “this is a very rare opportunity to have, and above all other factors in my life, I feel like developing a passion for the outdoors has benefited me the most.  I would like other people my age to be able to experience the same, and the nonprofit Outdoor Nation does just that.” 

The attempt will be split into two days, the first day consisting of the 135-mile biking section, made famous by the Badwater Ultra Marathon, and the second spent hiking the 22-mile round trip to Mount Whitney’s summit. Peterman hopes to accomplish this 135-mile ride in 15 hours, where he will finish at the trailhead to Mount Whitney and make ascent to the mountain’s peak.

Donations to Peterman’s expedition to support the next generation of outdoor leaders can be made through Crowdrise for a chance to win gear from The North Face. Follow Peterman’s expedition on Facebook, the expedition official website and The North Face Never Stop Exploring Blog.

Aug 31 | 2012 TNF UTMB Course Changed - Start Delayed - LIVE NOW!!!

By The North Face

The 2012 The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc course will be changed due to wintry conditions. It will be at least 100k and started at 7 pm local (CEDT) time on Friday (11am PST). The route will only pass through France. The Grand Col Ferret is impractical. Instead, the course will go through Val Montjoie and Valle de Chamonix.

For those curious, Val Montjoie is the north-south-trending valley containing Notre Dame de la Gorge near its southern head, Les Contamines, and Saint Gervais near its northern mouth. And, Valle de Chamonix is the northeast-southwest valley containing Argentiere on its northeastern head, Chamonix, and Les Houches near is southwestern mouth.

The start time is confirmed for 7 pm local time (CEDT) Friday night with the winner expected to finish around  5:30 am Saturday morning and a 9 pm Saturday cutoff. The course will be approximately 100k (62 miles) with 6,000 meters (20,000′) of climbing. Update: There will be no drop bags.

The aid stations will be, in order:

• Les Houche
• Saint Gervais
• Les Contamines
• La Balme
• Les Contamines
• Les Houches
• Argentiere
• Finish

Here’s the elevation profile for the 2012 UTMB alternate course.

 

The race has started and can be followed live on The North Face Facebook Page UTMB LIVE

For more updates please check The North Face Journal UTMB Page

Thanks to our friends at I Run Far for this update and all the TNF UTMB information.  To see more about The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc check www.irunfar.com

 

Aug 30 | The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc Celebrates its Tenth Year With the First Ever Live Race Webcast

By The North Face

For the tenth consecutive year, The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® will kick off in Chamonix, France on August 31, 2012, and for the first time ever, the renowned trail race will be streamed via a live webcast at Ultratrail.tv.

The 104.3-mile The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) course spans 3 countries – France, Italy and Switzerland – and covers an elevation gain of 31,555 feet around the peaks of Mont Blanc, making it one of the most challenging and grueling ultra-distance races in the world. In a year that saw a record number of registration requests, fans will be able to experience the joy, pain and tension at the head of the pack as amateur and professional athletes alike take part in the race.

In its tenth year, the race is growing on an international scale with 74 countries being represented in 2012. Participating again this year is The North Face runner Mike Foote of Missoula, MT, who was the first American to cross the finish line in 2011, placing 11th overall at a time of 24:25:12. UK ultramarathon runner and The North Face athlete Lizzie Hawker, who won the 2011 women’s field with a time of 25:02:00, will be seeking her fifth top finish this year. They will be joined by fellow The North Face athletes Rory Bosio of Truckee, CA and Helen Cospolich of Breckenridge, CO, all of whom will be wearing and testing an innovative new fall rain jacket prototype developed by The North Face, as well as The North Face Better Than Naked Crew with FlashDry.

“The scenery and support of the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc are unmatched anywhere in the world,” said Cospolich, who is running the race for the third time. “Running up and over high peaks, through small villages, across three countries and all to the cheers of large crowds make this race a very special event.”

The webcast, which can be viewed on The North Face Facebook page and Ultratrail.tv, will feature live news updates, behind-the-scene stories, commentary from previous winners and pre- and post-race conferences, as well as special feature episodes on race preparation, recovery and technical trail-running advice.

Select runners will also be allowing fans to follow their progress via the LiveTrail APP. Each participating runner, tracked by a chip, will provide data such as location, ranking and timing each time he/she goes through a checkpoint, with updates being linked directly to their Facebook© and Twitter© pages. Fans can access the LiveTrail APP on http://utmb.thenorthfacejournal.com, which will also feature daily text, video and photos posts.

Aug 28 | 2012 The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc

By The North Face

 

We are really excited to invite ultra-running fans all over the world to watch the drama and excitement unfold from the first ever live webcast of The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Web-TV, 27th August- 2nd September, 2012, connected by ultratrail.tv.

With more than 6,000 runners from 73 nations, the world-renowned The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc will allow fans, family and friends to listen, watch and share the joy, pain and tension at the head of the pack as amateur and professional athletes alike take part in one of the worldís great ultra-races.

The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Web-TV first images, sounds and emotions in both French and English will begin with the live start of the Petite Trotte on Monday August 27th at 22:00. From August 28-29th, click on special feature episodes on preparation, race, recovery and technical trail-running advice provided by special guest presenters.

84 hours of non-stop live webcast coverage starts Thursday August 30th at 06:00 with the start of the TDS, covering CCC and UTMB races until 20:00 Sunday September 2nd 2012. Each day from Thursday-Sunday at 09:00, 13:00 & 20:00, anchorman Gilles Chappaz will present 15-minute live news updates with special guests including MÈtÈo France's meteorologists & previous race winners.

Also broadcast live will be two event press conferences ñ the official pre-race conference, nd Thursday August 30th from 18:00 -19:30, and the post race conference, Sunday September 2 11:30 -12:30, featuring the winners from each race.

Social media users can also follow their favourite athletes via the LiveTrail APP. Runners can share their race in real time with their family, friends and communities via posts on their Facebook© and Twitter© pages. Each runner, tracked by a chip, provides data such as location, ranking and timing each time they go through a checkpoint. LiveTrail APP, a widget that connects the live tracking with the runnerís social media profiles, automatically posts their location details on their Facebook© and Twitter© pages. Connect to LiveTrail APP directly from personal runnerís page on the race website or on http://utmb.thenorthfacejournal.com.

Reporting in real-time from Chamonix, starting with the children's race Mini-UTMB Thursday August 30th from 15:00 -18:00, throughout the whole weekend, race highlights and behind-the-scene stories will be posted on The North Face Facebook© page at regular intervals. From the start to the finish line, live updates will be posted from the course via Twitter©. 

Check back here daily for updates from The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc!

 

Jun 21 | Western States Countdown: Pre-Race Q&A with Lizzy Hawker

By The North Face

Q: This is your first time running Western States, but you're no stranger to rough, mountainous terrain. Is there anything you've been adding to your training to help you prepare for this race in particular? 

Of course, this is my first time running WS100, so it is all a big unknown to me, but Western States is said to be a fast runnable course, rather than rough mountainous terrain, so I think a mixture of faster long trainings helps.  My own training has been hindered by injury during the past months. I'm still not 100% , so I will be standing on the start line of WS100 with a mixure of apprehension and hope!  It is hard to say where I'm 'at', but what I can say is that I'm looking forward to giving absolutely everything I've got on the day ... and that is all I can ask.

Q: What is it about the Western States 100 that makes it one of those "bucket list" races that ultrarunners have to do at some point in their careers? What made you want to add it to your calendar this year? 

It is a race with a long history, and it will have a very strong field this year - so I am very happy for the opportunity to be here, and to be a part of this 2012 edition.

Q: You've been running in your new spring athlete kit from The North Face, and you'll be racing in it this weekend. Is there anything piece or product feature in particular that stands out as a must-have, or one that you are really enjoying running in? 

The running skort - never did I imagine running in a skirt, but it is really comfortable!

 

Jun 19 | Countdown to 2012 Western States 100

By The North Face

This weekend in Squaw Valley, California, runners will gather to participate in one of the most well-known and challenging ultramarathons in the world -- The Western States 100. Steeped in a rich history, Western States is often considered  a "Who's Who" of the running community. Last year, The North Face athletes swept six of the top 10 podium spots and this year the prospects look great for the eight of our endurance athletes who are preparing to run this season, including 2011 Men's Endurance Challenge Championship winner and 2011 Western States second place finisher Mike Wolfe. Four-time Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc winner Lizzy Hawker will also be making her Western States 100 debut. 

The course runs along the famed Western States Trail ascending from the Squaw Valley floor (elevation 6,200 feet) to Emigrant Pass (elevation 8,750 feet), a climb of 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4½ miles. From the pass, following the original trails used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850’s, runners travel west, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet before reaching Auburn.

Most of the trail passes through remote and rugged territory, accessible only to hikers, horses and helicopters -- and of course, runners.

Check back this week and next for updates on all of our Western States athletes, race results and athlete race reports. Follow the conversation online with #WS100, and as always, check-in with our friend Bryon Powell and team at iRunFar for the most comprehensive, in-depth video and from-the-trail coverage. 

Mike Wolfe crossing the finish line in second place in 2011

 

May 07 | UPDATE:: The North Face Endurance Challenge Series Kicks off in Bear Mountain, NY

By The North Face

Over the weekend, 2,000+ friends helped us kick off The North Face Endurance Challenge Series at the first stop in Bear Mountain, NY. Bear Mountain was the first in a series of six trail and road race events all over the country, with distances ranging from 5K to 50 miles. 

For the second year in a row, The North Face runner Jordan McDougal (7:25:21) took first place in the 50 Mile regional championship race and beat his previous time by more than two minutes. Jordan was followed closely by a fellow The North Face runner Leigh Schmitt (7:34:20), and Bear Mountain veteran and 2009 Champion Ben Nephew (7:43:15). Aliza Lapierre (9:19:18) snagged first place for the women in the 50 Mile race, followed by Ashley Kumlien (10:29:54) and Laura Buckholz (10:39:07). 

Jordon McDougal (TNF athlete/defending champ) comes in to mile 20.7 steps ahead of Mike Dixon. Leigh Schmitt in 3rd only 10 seconds back

Inspired by her mother, Ashley will be participating in all six of the Endurance Challenge races to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis through her organization MS Run the US, inc. With $50,000 in fundraising under her belt running across the country, her goal in 2013 is $500,000 to help find a cure for MS. 

Jordan and Mariana will have the opportunity to compete in series championship race on December 1 in San Francisco for the chance to win $10,000. Check here for full race results.

To register for any of the other five race events throughout the year, visit: thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge

 

The marathon begins!

Washington, DC - June 2-3 (Trail)
Madison, WI September 15-16 (Trail)
Atlanta, GA October 13-14 (Trail)
Kansas City – November 17 (Road)
San Francisco, CA - December 1-2 (Trail)

In addition to The North Face Endurance Challenge, The North Face global endurance events include The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (Europe), The North Face Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji (Japan) and The North Face Lavaredo Ultra Trail (Italy). For more information about The North Face global endurance events check out www.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge 

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.