Race Overview
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Race Date | Start Times | Finish Line Festival | Timing with ChampionChip | Rules | Crew/Handler and Pacing Instructions | Headlamps | Environment First | Gear Bag Drop | Parking & Shuttle Info | Hotel | Medical Info |
Situated in the visually stunning Marin Headlands just north of the city, The North Face Endurance Challenge Championship course has surprised runners with both its scenery and amount of elevation change. Participants are encouraged to train for repeated uphills and downhills of several hundred feet at a time. A majority of the course covers run-able fire road (very little technical single track) overlooking the Pacific Ocean., with occasional glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge.Ratings:
Elevation Change:
Technical Terrain:
Overall Difficulty:
Scenery:
Race Date
Saturday, December 6, 2008Start Times
50 Mile: 5:00 a.m.Accelerade 50K: 7:00 a.m.
Half Marathon: 9:00 a.m.
10K: 9:15 a.m.
Finish Cutoff Times
50 Mile: 7:00 p.m. (14 hours)Accelerade 50K: 5:00 p.m. (10 hours)
Half Marathon: 1:00 p.m. (4 hours)
10K: 11:15 a.m. (2 hours)
50 Mile On-Course Cutoff Times:
It is essential that participants select the appropriate race distance, based on their preparation and experience. For their safety and the safety of others, runners not reaching the designated cutoff points by the designated times will be removed from the course. No exceptions will be made. Continuation on the course will be unofficial and at the risk of participants.
Aid Station 5, at mile 21.3 will serve as the first of two hard cutoff points. Runners must reach this point 5 hours and 58 minutes after the start of the race. Aid Station 8, at mile 36, will serve as the second of two hard cutoff points. Runners must reach this point 10 hours and 5 minutes after the start of the race.
For park information and driving directions, please visit:
Please check back for details
Finish Line Festival
Finish Line Festival Schedule:9:00 a.m. Finish Line Festival Start
11:00 a.m. Food and Beverage Service
11:30 a.m. Awards Ceremony: 10K
12:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony: Half Marathon
2:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony: Accelerade 50K
3:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony: 50 Mile
7:00 p.m. Finish Line Festival Ends
Timing with ChampionChip®
The North Face Endurance Challenge utilizes the computerized ChampionChip timing system, which records each runner's actual running time to the second. Chip timing starts a runner's time when they reach the starting line instead of when the gun goes off. Your finish time is calculated precisely when you cross the Finish Line.http://www.championchip.com/home/
To pick up your black loaner chip, you must present your bib number at the designated ChampionChip booth Saturday morning. You may NOT use your own ChampionChip, due to new technology being used by the timing company.
All black loaner chips must be surrendered at the Finish Line. Failure to do so will result in a $70 replacement fee.
Please do not forget to wear your computer chip. If you do not wear your computer chip, you will not be timed and will not receive a finisher's medal or be eligible for awards.
Please see below for runner check-in schedule at the ChampionChip booth:
- 3:45 - 4:30 a.m. 50 Mile
- 5:15 - 6:30 a.m. Accelerade 50K
- 7:15 - 8:30 a.m. Half Marathon
- 7:15 - 8:45 a.m. 10K
Sports Stats
190 Colonade Road, Unit #6
Ottawa, ON K2E 7J5
Canada
Rules
Race Officials have the right to remove any runner from the course deemed necessary for their safety and the safety of all others.All participants/attendees/pacers/crews must adhere to the following rules:
- Numbers must be visible on the outside and front of runners’ clothing.
- Any runner dropping out of the race must notify a volunteer at a staffed Aid Station and MUST check in with the Race Director at the Start/Finish area if you drop out of the race. The athlete will be responsible for paying a large bill if a Search and Rescue team is sent out on their behalf and they are not on the race course.
- All Runners: It is your responsibility to check in at each Aid Station
- Absolutely no littering. If you or your pacer abandon anything (e.g., drink cups, gel packets, banana peels, clothes, etc.) on the race course, you will be disqualified and prohibited from entering any future Endurance Challenge events. Bury human waste at least six inches deep, 200 feet from water sources and 50 feet from any trail. Recycle bins, trash cans and bathrooms are readily available and accessible throughout the course.
- No weapons, personal alcohol, glass bottles, smoking, illegal drugs or pets will be permitted on the premises, including the Start/Finish area.
- For your safety and the safety of other runners, if you miss a cutoff, you must notify a volunteer at a staffed Aid Station and you MUST check in with the Race Director at the Start/Finish area.
- Only attempt to pass another runner when it is safe for both you and the other person.
- When passing another runner, do so to their left, unless it is unsafe, and announce your intention to pass by saying, “passing on your left” (or right, if it is unsafe to pass on their left).
- Provided it is safe to do so, you must yield to any runner who announces his/her intention to pass, by stepping off the trail.
- Be prepared to share the trail with runners, hikers and any other trail users coming from the opposite direction.
- Violating any of these rules will result in runner disqualification.
Crew/Handler and Pacing Instructions:
- Designated Aid Stations for crews and pacers: Please see Aid Station section.
- Crews must administer support only at designated Aid Stations (see Aid Station
- section for complete list).
- Crews must check in at designated Aid Station and follow the direction given by Aid Station staff on where to set up and assist their runners.
- Pacers are not allowed on the course prior to mile 27 (thus, no pacers are allowed in 10K or Half Marathon races).
- Pacers cannot meet runners at locations other than those designated (see the Aid Station section).
- Pacers must check in and sign a release waiver at designated Aid Stations when joining their runner.
- Pacers must wear a bib number provided by Aid Station staff.
- Pacer numbers must be visible on the outside and front of clothing.
- Runners can be accompanied by only one (1) pacer at a time.
- No pacers are allowed on-course prior to the first Aid Station designated for meeting runners.
- No “muling” (pacers carrying runner’s gear or nutrition/fluids).
- No vehicular or bike pacing allowed.
- When leaving their runners, pacers are required to check in at an Aid Station (see Aid Station chart) before leaving the course. Failure to check in will result in automatic disqualification of their runner.
- Violating any of these rules will result in runner disqualification.
Headlamps
50 Mile Runners:For safety reasons, all 50 Mile competitors are required to have operating headlamps at the start of the race and have in their possession until one (1) hour past sunrise, approximately 6:45 a.m. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Any runner reaching the Shoreline Hwy Aid Station (mile 41) after 3pm is required to have a headlamp in his/her possession before checking through.
You may either keep your headlamp in your possession throughout the day or provide an additional headlamp in your Shoreline Hwy drop bag. Please remember to bring your drop bags to packet pick up on Thursday or Friday.
Accelerade 50K Runners:
All Accelerade 50K competitors reaching the Tennessee Valley Aid Station (Mile 27) after 3pm are required to have a headlamp in his or her possession before checking through.
You may either keep your headlamp in your possession throughout the day or provide a headlamp in your Tennessee Valley drop bag. Please remember to bring your drop bags with you to packet pickup on Thursday or Friday.
Environment First
As part of its commitment to community and conservation, The North Face, in partnership with The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program, will be planting trees to zero out the climate change “footprint” of each of The North Face Endurance Challenge events.Gear Bag Drop
- All participants can check gear bags at the Runner Gear Check Area located near the Start Line. You must provide your own bag. You will be provided with a sticker that will be clearly marked with your bib number, which you must adhere to your bag. Your bag will remain at the Runner Gear Check Area and can be claimed at the Finish Line Festival.
- Accelerade 50K and 50 Mile participants may pack a gear bag with extras to be dropped at a specified Aid Station. Only certain, pre-specified Aid Stations will accommodate gear bags. Gear bags must be dropped off at packet pickup on Thursday or Friday to allow time for crew to place at specified Aid Station. You will be provided a sticker that will be clearly marked with your bib number and the station to which it is to be delivered and adhered to the bag. Bags without stickers will be left at the Start/Finish Line and will be available for retrieval at the Finish Line Festival.
- The North Face and The Endurance Challenge cannot be held responsible for lost bags.
- All gear Bags must be picked up at the Gear Check Area by 8:00 p.m. Saturday night. All Gear Bags remaining after 8:00 p.m. will be disposed of.
- Recommended Gear Bag Needs
Please limit the weight of your gear bag to10 lbs. Each athlete will have items that are specific to their own needs at the drop. The following list is a suggested starting point for what may benefit you along the way.
- Extra Race Clothing: shirts, shorts, underwear, socks, shoes, rain gear, gloves, hat and towels
- Electronics – ZUNE, head phones
- Food – Energy bars, gels, sandwiches, snacks
- Drink – (Water, Accelerade and Accel Gel will be provided on course) Additional powders, drinks & supplements that you may choose to use during the Endurance Challenge
- First Aid – (Aid Stations will have First Aid available): Antacids, ibuprofen/asprin, sunscreen/sunblock, lip balm, blister protection (moleskin, blist-o-ban, Body Glide) analgesics, baby wipes, towels, scissors, Visine, antibiotic ointment, bandages
Parking & Shuttle Info
50 Mile & Accelerade 50K
Half Marathon
10K
Finish Line Festival:
Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Fort Barry
Bunker Road & Simmons Road
Sausalito, CA 94965
**Please note there is NO parking on-site at the Finish Line Festival. Please review the parking and shuttle information above for your specific race distance.
Hotel
Holiday Inn Express-Mill Valley
160 Shoreline Highway
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: (415) 332-5700
Medical Info
Medical assistance will be provided on-course and at finish area. Look for medical volunteers wearing RED shirts for complimentary help before, during and after the race.
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