North Face Endurance Race Challenges Local Runners

Over the weekend Algonquian Park hosted the Mid-Atlantic North Face Endurance Challenge, which was a multifaceted running race that wound through Great Falls Park and along the Potomac Heritage Trail.

There were seven race options ranging from the Gore-Tex 50 Mile to a 5K race. The courses featured ever-changing terrain – 50 percent single track, 40 percent dirt or gravel double track, and 10 percent gravel roads. While the overall elevation changes were considered moderate in difficulty, the Great Falls sections featured intense elevation changes with steep climbs up to 300 feet. The River Trail, widely regarded as the marquee section of the event, featured a three-mile section that required tiptoeing and hopping along bluffs high above the Potomac River.

On Saturday, the endurance runners set off with the 50-miler, 50K, marathon and marathon relay. Sunday saw the half marathon, 10K and 5K races take off. On hand both days was Dean Karnazes, an ultamarathon runner who is currently listed as No. 27 on Time Magazine’s List of the World’s Most Influential People.

The Refuel with Chocolate Milk Tour assisted athletes with their post race recovery. Several medical journals have published indicating that chocolate milk meets, and in some cases exceeds, the post-workout recovery benefits of an equal-calorie sports drink, and research shows that milk is better at restoring fluid levels than water and other sports drinks after exercising under hot conditions.

The natural low-fat drink has high-quality protein and key electrolytes such as calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium. To assist in post race recovery, when runners crossed the line, they were handed a medal, a carton of chocolate milk and then lead to a post-race massage tent.

Algonquian Park hosted a finish line festival complete with music, refreshments and food. It was a true family event with free samples, product trials, demonstrations and raffle prizes from The North Face, Gore-Tex, Jeep and more.