We just received word that the 2018 The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championships, which were scheduled for this Saturday, November 17, have been canceled due to air-quality concerns. In iRunFar’s nine-plus years of covering races live, this is the first time a race has been fully canceled. Our hearts go out to those whose lives have been affected by California’s wildfires.
Poor air quality has been present in the region for days due to the large and destructive Camp Fire, located about 160 miles northeast of the San Francisco Bay Area in Butte County, California.
The race organization is donating the entire cash prize purse ($30,000), clothing, and the extra food and drink not being used for the event to firefighting and relief efforts.
Below is the race organization’s full announcement. You can visit the race’s website for the announcement, as well.
Thanks to The North Face, BUFF, and Jaybird for supporting iRunFar’s TNF 50 race coverage. 
Prayers to all those effected by the Fires and Runners – Volunteers to remain safe,
It’s very cool to see TNF helping with the announcement of the donations. Thank you TNF for demonstrating tangible leadership and offering up more than simply thoughts and prayers.
+1
There are countless miles of work and sweat now rendered into non-existence (two of my own office mates were signed up for the 50K), but I applaud TNF’s decisions.
There are a million other races folks can run. That fitness doesn’t go away overnight.
It was the right decision, and TNF handled it with grace.
Does anyone know whether some of the elites fly over to the east coast to start at JFK50?
I’d expect from two-to-four folks that made our previews to head east to run JFK instead.
Walmsley ought to sue for lost wages (sarcasm font).
@its_a_joke: I hear he’s getting the CR anyway.
That’s classy and good of the race organization to make those donations. Sorry for all the runners who’ve worked hard to prepare, but yeah, TNF made the right call.