How do the Endurance Challenge Events Stack Up?
As you consider each Endurance Challenge event, you will note that we have included a rating system for each race. In this way, we try to give you a broad idea of the course’s elevation change, technical terrain, overall difficulty, and even scenery.
But that, admittedly. Does not give you the full story. For example, how does the Madison Accelerade 50K compare to the Endurance Challenge Accelerade 50K Championship in San Francisco? To answer that question, we present these rankings:
10K & Half Marathon Comparison
Overall Difficulty – Ranked from most difficult to least:1. Bear Mountain, NY (steep and as technical at they come)
2. Seattle-Bellingham, WA (occasionally technical with one very steep section)
3. San Francisco (overall, not very technical, but with sustained climbs and descents)
4. Washington DC (rolling course with some sections that require close attention)
5. Madison, WI (non-stop hills on run-able terrain)
50K & 50-Mile Comparison
Overall Difficulty – Ranked from most difficult to least:1. Bear Mountain, NY: Relentlessly steep – potentially the most difficult 50-miler east of the Mississippi and definitely one of the most challenging in the country.
2. San Francisco, CA: Fire road sections and stunning scenery offset the fact that this is a bear of a course: relentless ups and downs, with some very technical sections.
3. Seattle-Bellingham, WA: Big climbs, steep sections, and dicey mud combine to make this a true test.
4. Madison, WI: Rarely a flat spot, with rollers that will always tax the calves or quadriceps – very run-able stretches will make road-runners feel right at home.
5. Washington, DC: – Along with Madison, a great first-time ultramarathon, with gently undulating terrain, scenic vistas over the Potomac, and some rock scrambling thrown in for good measure.
Is this your first 10K, Half Marathon, or Trail Race?
Below we have compiled a list of other, well-established races which compare favorably to Endurance Challenge events in terrain, elevation change, and overall degree of difficulty.Since many of our 10K and Half-Marathon runners are running their first-ever trail race, we have included some road races which are similar in terms of elevation change and difficulty. Still, road runners tackling their first trail run at the Endurance Challenge are advised to visit the course ahead of time, practice running off-road, or run at least one trail race beforehand to have an accurate idea of what’s ahead.
| Endurance Challenge Event | 10K | Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic Regional Washington DC | Under Development | Under Development |
| Midwest Regional Madison, WI | Under Development | Under Development |
| Championship San Francisco, CA (Marin Headlands) | Under Development | Under Development |
| Northwest Regional Seattle-Bellingham, WA | Under Development | Under Development |
| New England Regional Bear Mountain, NY | Under Development | Under Development |
Is this your first 50K or 50-Mile race? Make sure you choose the right race for your ability level and training.
As you look toward registering or preparing for an Endurance Challenge Accelerade 50K or 50-Mile race, be sure you are prepared for what awaits. Not all Endurance Challenge courses are created equal. To better frame the difficulty of each course, we have compiled a list of other, well-known and well-established 50K and 50-Mile ultramarathon in the country that compare favorably to these Endurance Challenge events.| Endurance Challenge Event | 50K | 50-Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic Regional Washington DC | Promised Land 50K (VA) Strolling Jim 40 (TN) Nipmuck Trail Marathon (CT) Laurel Highlands 50K (PA) |
JFK 50 (MD) Tusseyback 50 (PA) Bull Run Run 50 (VA) Mountain Masochist 50 (VA) Mohican 50 (OH) |
| Midwest Regional Madison, WI | Ice Age 50K (WI) H.U.F.F. 50K (IN) Strolling Jim 40 (TN) Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon (SD) |
Ice Age 50 (WI) McNaughton Park 50 (IL) Mohican 50 (OH) Kettle Moraine 38 (WI) |
| Championship San Francisco, CA (Marin Headlands) | Headlands 50K (CA) Diablo 50K (CA) Nine Trails 38 (CA) Bighorn 50K (WY) Quad Dipsea (CA) |
Ice Age 50 (WI) McNaughton Park 50 (IL) Mohican 50 (OH) Kettle Moraine 38 (WI) |
| Northwest Regional Seattle-Bellingham, WA | Chuckanut 50K (WA) Bighorn 50K (WY) |
White River 50 (WA) Where’s Waldo 100K (OR) |
| New England Regional Bear Mountain, NY | Escarpment Trail Run (NY) Mountain Mist 50K (AL) Stump Jump 50K (NC) |
Massanutten Mountain 100 (VA) Hellgate 100K (VA) Mount Mitchell 40 (NC) Zane Grey 50 (AZ) |
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CONTACT US
Address:
The North FaceŽ Endurance Challenge
c/o Hawkeye
2828 Routh St. Suite 325
Dallas, TX 75201
Email: endurancechallenge@hawkeyeww.com
Phone: 214-451-1913
Fax: 214-451-1910