The North Face Endurance Challenge Championships Contest
October 4, 2010 by Bryon Powell · 183 Comments
[Note: This contest is now closed. Winners were announced here.]
We’re teaming up with The North Face to provide a lucky winner with free entry into his or her choice of any The North Face Endurance Challenge Championship weekend race (December 4-5 in San Francisco’s Marin Headlands), a full Better Than Naked running outfit, and a pair of TNF Single-Track shoes. All you have to do to enter is to let us know why you’d like to run one of the TNF EC championship races.*
The North Face Endurance Challenge Championship Weekend
This year, each of the five TNF Endurance Challenge locations features a full weekend’s worth of exciting trail racing. For the fourth straight year, the 50-mile championship race headlines the showcase of races. Run on Saturday, December 4, the 50-mile race through the Marin Headlands will feature what could be the US’s best ultrarunning field of the year. Up for grabs is $30,000 in prize money with $10,000/$4,000/$1,000 going to both the top three men and top three women. Oh, and there are big bragging rights on the line as most competitors head into an off-season.
If you don’t want to run the 50-mile championship race, but still want to challenge yourself on Marin Headlands trails that weekend, there are a ton of other trail race options. On Saturday, December 4, The North Face will also host a 50k, a marathon, a marathon relay, and a kid’s run. For those hoping to wrap up their season with a shorter race, there will be a half marathon, a 10k, a 5k and another kid’s run on Sunday, December 5. After covering the 50- mile race on Saturday, iRunFar’s Bryon Powell will be running one of Sunday’s shorter races.
As noted above, the winner of this contest gets a free entry into whichever race he or she wants to run. (Travel and lodging are up to the winner.)
Better Than Naked Apparel
The North Face's forthcoming Better Than Naked men's crew.
Next spring, The North Face will be launching a line of Better Than Naked performance running apparel. The line features super lightweight breathable and weather-resistant materials… that make it better than running naked. While the human body also lacks reflective features, each piece in the Better Than Naked line makes up for this evolutionary deficiency.
When released, there will be three Better Than Naked items available for both men and women: a jacket, crew shirt, and short. The winner of this contest will receive a full his or hers set that includes a Better Than Naked jacket, crew, and short well before they’re available to the public! (Note that the line will also include a women’s Better Than Naked singlet.)
TNF Single-Track Shoes
As clothes can enhance the running experience, so too can shoes. Thankfully, The North Face is rounding out the winner’s kit with a pair of the company’s award-winning Single-Track shoes. As a team of iRunFar reviewers has previously put this hybrid trail runner to the test, we’ll direct you to our The North Face Single-Track review.
To be eligible to win this huge prize package, you need not write a huge essay on why you’d like to run one of the The North Face Endurance Challenge Championship weekend races. A short note will do. The winner will be drawn at random. Entry is open to anyone anywhere! Be sure to leave your name and town. The contest will close Friday, October 15th at 5 p.m. PDT. We’ll announce the winner along with all the other One Miillionth Pageview contest winners on Monday, October 18th.
Related articles:
- The North Face Endurance Challenge Championships Filling Fast! The GORE-TEX 50 mile race at December's The North Face Endurance Challenge Championships is filling fast!...
- Relentless Forward Progress: The North Face and Smith Optics Contest A contest with The North Face and Smith Optics to celebrate the launch of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons....
- 2010 The North Face Endurance Challenge Championship Results Results of the 2010 The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championship presented by GORE-TEX....
Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell
Would love to do a TNF Endurance Challenge – I’ve run three ultras so far and am hooked. Love TNF’s commitment to the sport with gear and sponsorship of races. They put on great, challenging races, and I’d love to be a part of one. I’ve got family in the Bay Area and would love to travel out there to see them and compete/complete.
Would love to run an Endurance challenge. I’ve completed 15 50K’s and two 40 milers and am looking for a 50 mile race for my next step towards the 100!
Thanks
Jay
I’ve never been to San Fran, I need some new gear, a free entry to a race would make me feel like a sponsored pro, and I want to run with Bryon! Thanks irunfar!
Kevin Schraer, Tucson Arizona
Marathon or half M sound great in December!
Best,
Yi
Sunnyvale,CA
Dude, that’s my homeland! I’ve been an East coaster since first grade but originally from the Bay area. I’ve never had the chance to race out there, this would be perfect timing as my sister just moved to Sausalito…hook it up!
Ashley from Charlotte, NC
I am really looking to enter a trail race and would love to try a 50K. This would be perfect since one obstacle for me is the cost of entry fees. I’ve run two marathons in Malaysia-the Penang Bridge Intl and Borneo Intl marathons-which are class act events for about $25! My birthday is Dec 3rd, so how about a cool birthday present! :-)
Thanks,
Stu
While I’ve run just one marathon, I’ve recently become very infatuated with trail running and found that I can go much further on trails than on the can-be boring asphalt. I’d love to do the race.
Cameron Mehl
Bossier City, LA
Count me in!
I am most definitely in on this one!
Zak
Portland, ME
I am definitely in for this contest.
Josh
Crown Point, IN
I would love to run at The North Face Endurance Challenge Weekend! I love the promo videos they have put out for the races. Looks like a ton of fun! Count me in!
Kelly Hubley
Ridgecrest, CA
Because it’s fun to run somewhere other than around the stinky little town.
Joe
Pierre SD 57501
This is one of my dream races to run. TNF Endurance Challenge Championships would be a great running getaway from Central PA to San Fran the first week of December. And another ultra for the year would be a great way to end it.
Would like to do this race ‘cus I’m stuck running roads/trails in central Indiana and going to California would be a helluva nice change from Indiana in December!
Mark
Indianapolis, IN
Count me in.
Claudia
Lawrence, NY
That shirt looks awesome
Fell in love with TNF gear after doing the TNF EC in VA. Their stuff fits well on my skinny butt.
Getting ready for my second marathon this month, and my first 50K in Dec.
I would love to run at the North Face Challenge!! I have been looking at this one for months. I am competing in my first half at the begining of November with my husband (also his first). Free entry and new gear is always a great motivation boost for the new runner that has grand dreams of making it to a 50 mile and an ironman =0)
Thanks irunfar!!!
Larissa
San Mateo, Ca
I do 50 in my sleep!
I would love to built a bit of my wardrobe, and the new line sounds amazing!
I have actually been looking into these races online and they look awesome. My cousin Megan Lund, is actually on the US Mountain Running Team, and her performance has really inspired me to try mountain running myself. I’m certainly not ready to start with mountains though, so I’m looking into trail races that I can do. The 10k on Sunday would be great first trail race for me to do, but I also need the gear.
Thanks for the contest irunfar,
Bryan
Rohnert Park, CA
I would love to do this and win the free gear too!
I would LOVE to be able to run the North Face Challenge 1/2 marathon in SF. I have wanted to participate in the VA challenge the last two years in VA. The start is only one mile from my house but I’ve had to travel that weekend both years. I’m running Marine Corps Marathon in Oct. and the Disney marathon in Jan so the 1/2 marathon in SF would be excellent timing.
Thank you,
Maureen
Sterling, VA
I’ve just recently completed my first marathon and would love to run one out of state. As much as I love spontaneity, if I win I’d enter in one of the shorter distances. An ultra would require a little more notice and training for this girl.
Because if I win…I am so there!
Garrett Blattner from Lawrence, KS
Thanks!
I would love to challenge myself with this. It would be a great test for myself.
Would absolutely LOVE to run the 50 miler!!!! Getting back into incredible shape, but am POOR and cannot afford entries (insert big sigh here). No, really, really poor (day job-work with homeless addicts, great job, horrible pay–afternoon job coach HS xc, again great job, almost no pay…), PLUS I just turned 40 and want to see what these old legs have in them.
So after busting out some heavy mileage and chasing some fast kids, I am TOTALLY ready for a 50!!!!
Beggin is not beneath me….
Signed Karen
Morrison, CO
I want to run the 50 mile to celebrate my 40th birthday and plus to see if I can do it!
Angela
Chico, CA
Nate from Grand Rapids, MI
This stuff looks great!
Teresa
Vista, CA
my north face shorts are always in my car just in case
Chris
Oceanside, CA
I will be in dire need of a break from work in December and a weekend on California trails would be good medicine. I ran my first 50K in the beginning of this year and would love to bookend the season with another.
Maria
Duluth MN
I would love to enter the race because I am looking to complete my first ultra. TNF is great at supporting and taking the ultra community to the mainstream.
Andy Smith
Exton, PA
I’ve been running the Marin Headlands trails for over 30 years. North Face has done a great job of highlighting great trails around the nation for its North Face Endurance Challenge Series.
I love the TNFEC races. I have done the courses in Madison, Seattle, Bellingham, SFO and next week I am heading to the race in Atlanta. With all that running, I sure could use a new pair of TNF Single Track shoes!
I would love to win a chance at the North Face Endurance Challenge, but I have no experience with such a race/distance. Not to mention, my students (I am a high school principal) might miss me too much if I won….so I hope someone more deserving (who could actually complete the race) wins….good luck to everyone.
Is this Global?
Just done 50km in the local TNF challenge last weekend.
Would love a chance to try one in the States.
Archer Wee
Singapore
I turn 40 this year so what better
way to celebrate than to do a big
run with some new gear:-)
I’m from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Pick me please! I am a poor medical student who can still run fairly fast + want to race and redeem myself this year from my embarasing loss last ;)
Love trail running and love TNF gear.
Denver, CO
Ran the half-marathon in the Madison TNF Endurance Challenge. Need to reproduce the fun of that race and better the finishing time on the left coast.
I want to see how far I can really run. Forrest Gump didn’t have TNF on his side, so I should go twice as fast and far.
Cham McCutchen
Warrior, AL
Dear Santie Clause
Last year you gave me coal. I hate coal. I’ve been a good boy this year and would like an early present. I know you can tell if I’ve been good or bad but if you take out the time in July I barbecued my sister’s Barbie’s dolls heads off, it would be a fairly good year. Boy that was fun. But really Santa, I’ve been good ever since.
Jason
Calgary, AB
I would love a break from the Chicago city streets and bike paths for some clean air and great views.
Thanks, Trent from Chicago
I would love an excuse to run in SFO, especially such a huge event!
Dave
Santa Monica, CA
Sign me up for a chance to run in such a great event with good gear.
Dan
Lake Waukomis, MO
Would love to run a 50M at this event! Done tons of them on my horse my horse, time for me to run a 50 solo.
Rusty Toth
Scottsdale, az