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.

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.

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

 

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

 

Sep 09 | Dreams of a Journey ...

By Elizabeth Hawker

Give me a spark of nature’s fire. That’s all the learning I desire.
ROBERT BURNS

The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc 2009 - I had my dreams of a journey. But sometimes you realise your dream, and sometimes you realise your dream in a different way to how you had imagined.

For me this year the hardest part was getting to the start line - photo shoots, commitments, talking to people, interviews, journalists - it is a world away from the physical and mental space you are in when you run. So, for me things get easier once a race starts, simplicity and focus - all then you have to do is to run. You are alone - only you can make your race - you are alone and free - you, your body, your mind, the mountains and the challenge …

Sometimes in a race you fly - you feel the flow - you feel the joy - and you run. But sometimes there will be something that saps your energy and your focus. This time the humble foot gave me a bit of grief! But the support from everyone - friends, family, TNF, other runners, volunteers, and those out on the trail - the encouragement, the smiles, the wishes of ‘bon courage’ - that is what UTMB is about - sharing something special in a good spirit.

I’m still half disappointed - 2nd place - and slower than my best time. But for that day it was the best that I could give - and so for that I have to be happy. I realised my dream to run the very best that I could, and to complete and just to take part in UTMB is something special. It means a lot. Krissy Moel (first lady) had a truly great run, and I’m happy we had this chance to meet.

In so many ways, UTMB gives you a big spark from nature’s fire.

That spark lights the hours, the days, the months after …

That is what is so precious.

- Elizabeth Hawker

Aug 24 | Just one short week and a few hours...

By Elizabeth Hawker

Alone, in the clear air and searching sunlight, we are afoot with the quiet gods, and men can know each other and themselves for what they are.
A.F. MUMMERY

Just one short week and a few hours …. we will be standing together in the Place du Triangle de l’Amitie in the centre of Chamonix. Together and yet each alone. Alone with our own thoughts - our own hopes, expectations, fears and doubts. Excited and yet trepidatious.

People ask how time passes in a long race, but it does. The running becomes almost a moving meditation helping you through the times when you feel great and the times when you feel like you can’t go on. There are moments of camaraderie with your supporters and fellow runners. But there are moments of feeling entirely alone.

In many ways we will be alone up there in the clear air and searching sunlight. Alone in the sense that it is only us that can make our race. No-one but ourselves. That is why in some ways the race is like life. The hours ahead will bring us to know ourselves deeper, to know ourselves for what we are.

Whatever may come, whatever the hours ahead will bring, there is something to remember - race or no race, there is no victory except the joy you are living while you are ‘dancing’ your run. (Fred Rohe in ‘The Zen of Running’)

Run … and find that joy. In the race … and in your life.

- Elizabeth Hawker

Aug 06 | Running is an art...

By Elizabeth Hawker

The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.
EMILE ZOLA

Running is an art ….. So maybe we need a little bit of a gift …. But even when we have the gift, we need to do a little bit of work …

Endurance - it’s more than just competing in ultra distance races - it is more than simply running. It’s the lifestyle of never looking for the easy way out. It’s finding opportunities whatever the situation. It is a freedom, if you have the courage to seize that freedom. It’s an exploration towards the edge. For each of us this ‘edge’ will be in a different place. And that place will be constantly changing. It is the journey to find that edge which maybe teaches us more about ourselves.

But back to the moment … Another weekend, another race - 78km in the Graubunden. I’ll make the start-line, but with cracked ribs and sore grazes from the last race - I’ve come to an edge before I even start. And the last race - less than two weeks ago - the IAU World Trail Championships (68km and ±3500m) - Bronze Medal for Great Britain. Just a little bit of the magic seemed to come back …. until my head forgot to race, and I fell, and I fell again!

So for now my work is to allow things just to flow, just to be what they will … and to run for the love of it. One step at a time.

- Elizabeth Hawker

Aug 01 | Motivation

By The North Face

If you are tired of training:
- Look forward to the exceptional and overwhelming atmosphere in Chamonix!!!
- Have a look on the website and the wonderful pictures of the Mont Blanc
- The more you are training in advance the less pain you will have during the race!

If you are tired of running during the race:
- You will have to face situations where you don’t want to stay on the track anymore - then you can motivate yourself with the next check point! The check points often offer delicious cheese and other motivation boosters!
- Think on the finish - you can do it! Think on the extraordinary feeling to cross the finish line in Chamonix - goose skin…. I can promise: you will never forget your finsih - crossing the finish line will give you reward for all pain and trouble!

- Elke Streicher

Jul 28 | Western States 100 – my thoughts from the race…

By The North Face

5am, 27 June 2009
Squaw Valley to Auburn
100.2 miles on a mixture of single track trails and fire roads
18,000ft up, 23,000ft down

Western States completely lived up it's reputation as the biggest and best 100miler in the US. It’s undoubtedly up there in the world standings too. Why? Because it has all the attributes of a great race and more; a historic route (it was used by prospective gold hunters to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains when they headed west in the mid 1800s), wild terrain, plenty of climb and descent, beautiful scenery, well-stocked aid stations with the most enthusiastic volunteers I have ever come across, a river crossing, extreme temperatures, a highly competitive field - the list can go on and on.

My race was like a dream. I took so much pleasure from actually being in the race - from taking part, from running the fabulous Western States trail - that despite all the low points I went through, I loved every single minute.

What I enjoyed most was the great sense of freedom that the wild surroundings provided. Most of the time I was running solo, it almost felt like I wasn't taking part in a race - just me, the trail and the environment, moving along as gracefully and efficiently as I could, enjoying the scent of the pine and the muted silence from the wooded surroundings.

The sense of freedom was helped by running lightweight. The Xenon double bottle waist pack was a perfect choice keeping bottles securely stowed and hands free to eat. The Voza trail shoes equally rose to the challenge, providing a great balance of comfort, lightweight speed and protection. It was a setup that worked well and allowed me to concentrate on running the race rather than worrying about kit and comfort. When I negotiated the notoriously hot series of canyons I also grabbed an E50 bottle holder. Filled with ice and water I used it to dowse myself down, keeping my core temperature as low as possible despite the soaring temperatures on the trail.

The race itself was an exciting affair. I paced it well, moving through the field consistently over the course of the race to a point where I could challenge for a top 3 spot in the last few miles. That I did, moving into 3rd place with a mile to go and ultimately finishing just 2minutes behind the 2nd place runner in a time of 16hours 54minutes.

The finish at Placer High School Stadium in Auburn made all the effort, all those long hard training runs and all the commitment worthwhile. It had been an incredible experience, one which I felt privileged to be part of.

- Jez Bragg