The following is my race report for the 2011 North Face Endurance Challenge Marathon Relay... The course was a tough 6.55 mile trail loop that offered a total elevation gain of 1,212 ft along with many rocks and mud to negotiate.

This race intrigued me the minute I heard about. It sounded like New Jersey's idea of a mini Barkley 100 mile Marathon Heck, only 3 people finished last year. You had to complete four 6 mile loops. Each loop had a two hour time limit. Over 90% of the course would be off trail going through brush, mud, small ponds, streams, rock beds, concrete swimming pool fills with putrid water, and three steep climbs

This past weekend on April 2nd The lost brook trail 5 & 10 mile race came to life. One of our Mountain Peak Fitness / Campmor team members Philip Germakian organized and directed his very first trail race to benefit the Tenafly nature center. The

This past Sunday the MPF Campmor trail running team had its first meeting and training run in Harriman State Park. We stood in the pouring rain greeting each other, some meeting for the first time. We enjoy training in any weather conditions and today the weather called for 100% chance of rain with a high temp in the low 50’s and the conditions of the trails being 90% covered in ice & snow.

Our team is comprised of passionate trail runners who want to promote trail running and help preserve our trails for the future. We have partnered with our favorite outdoor retailer, Campmor and Saucony to showcase there support of trail running in our community.

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year! Here are a few pictures of our clients in action from 2010. Thanks to everyone and we look forward to a great 2011.

My rest period has come to an end and I have so much fire in my belly to adventure and explore the trails like never before. I am so looking forward to what next year has too offer; will I get into Western states again ha, ha probably not, since there is roughly a 15% chance.

After 4 days camping, hiking and for Joe, epic mountain biking, I have to say I haven’t seen beauty and calmness of this magnitude since my days in Alaska. The Wasatch mountain range is magnificent in beauty and inspiring in its grandeur and I can’t wait to be surrounded in its glory.

2 weeks ago, Joe and I headed to Virginia for a training weekend that included a 50 mile trail run.  We decided the Bel Monte 50 mile endurance run would offer a great opportunity to train on hard terrain, especially since the MMT 100 is right around the corner. 

Here are just a few photos I took during our trail run in Southern Harriman State Park of New York.