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The NorthFace 100
A SELL-OUT FIELD TAKING ON THE NORTH FACE 100 THIS YEAR
When entries opened on Dec 1st 2010, eager runners rushed onto The North Face 100 website to register their position on the start line of what is the premier 100km trail run on the continent, and arguably in the southern hemisphere. In just two weeks all 850 places were filled. A record sell-out in the events 4 year history.
Each year since '08, the field has doubled and sold out in even less time. Event organisers forced to impose a limit on the size of the field.
And now, for the 850 runners lucky enough to get their entry, the count down is on. And come 7:00am on May 14th, 2011 in the sleepy Blue Mountains village of Leura, their nerves will be rattling like steel cages, awaiting the starting gun.
Tension among the front runners will be peaking with the return of 2010 tie-breaking winner Andrew Lee, as well as female 1st and 2nd place getters Beth Cardelli and Julie Quin.
What will really change the game though in 2011 is the largest field of international competitors to date. In total 13 countries will be represented, including a number of high profile international ultra distance runners such as Killian Jornay and Ryan Sandes, just to name two.
The newest member of The North Face Athlete Team, NZ ultra-runner Lisa Tamati is visiting especially for the event. Although more suited to long (especially desert) races over 200km, she is excited to be running in the event and visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time. Lisa will be using it as a lead up to a number of big projects later in the year.
"I have never run the blue mountains before and I am really looking forward to the scenery and being part of this epic race. 100km is never a mere sprint. Its a hugely long distance but it is not my specialty as I am an asthmatic and have a small lung capacity. I am doing a lot of mountain running and stair climbing, trying to train for the conditions in the blue mountains, but I won’t racing full-out in this event as I aiming for two huge events later in the year at which I want to peak", said Lisa.
A new and exciting feature of The North Face 100 this year is a 1 km race designed for kids, to provide a fun and supervised way for them to have their part of the action during the week-end. There is no entre fee, and kids will be introduced to the sport of trail-running in a fun, challenging and rewarding environment. The 1km-4-kids will start on Sunday morning at 10.30am. Registration at 10.00 am.
Endurance comes in all distances. Find yours in The North Face 100.
"Never Stop Exploring"
www.thenorthface.com.au/100
