Long distance running is a selfish sport. It requires long hours of training and the races can sometimes last for days, even weeks. Involving the family in any meaningful way is usually next to impossible. That is the beauty of fixed time, short loop courses.

For the first time ever TNF 50 Miler started without rain. Yes, it was a little chilly at 4:00 am but they had heaters that you could stand by to keep warm before the 5:00am race start. They sent us off right at 5:00 am It was pretty tricky for the first 30 minutes with everyone crowding on a rocky trail in the dark but as soon as the sky started to lighten up our headlamps were no longer needed.

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.