This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Park City is a resort town, known for relaxation and vacation.
However, for a couple of days in October, "vacation" will be the last word on the mind of trail runners from all over the world as they charge through 50 miles of Park City trails at 10,000 feet in elevation in the North Face Endurance Challenge.
"It's not the North Face cake walk," says Nick Moore, director of the Park City race.
The Endurance Challenge will come to Utah for the first time, one of several stops on the 2014 North Face trail race series; others include New York, Washington, D.C., Canada, Wisconsin and California. The Utah series, held on Oct. 4-5, will feature race increments starting at a 5K all the way up to a grueling 50-miler through Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort.
"We're really excited," Moore said. "I think this race course — out of all the venues we go to all around the world — I think this could be the most beautiful race course we have."
Stuart Johnson, the local ambassador for North Face, helped design the course and said he made sure to mix popular trails and hidden gems into the larger races for locals and visitors alike to see the highlights of the Park City landscape.
He said he wanted racers to get the feeling that "they were running on top of the world."
"We really bounced a lot of ideas off of each other. We wanted to make the courses challenging, but we wanted to make them runnable," Johnson said.
Moore highlighted Park City as a perfect location for the race series because of the scenery, about 400 miles of available trails, and significant elevation — similar to previous races in South America in the Andes.
"When we go into a market, you have to look for a venue or venues that can handle a 50-mile trail run. You're not talking about a downtown SLC park — you need land mass," Moore said.
Registration fees for the trail run range from $50 to $115 for individual racers and $185 for a marathon relay event team, depending on the event. North Face athlete Dean Karnazes, featured in a promotional video for the event, said the Utah series stands out from other trail running series because of its professional approach, offering everything from moral support to high-end aid stations along the race route.
"One thing we really pride ourselves on at the North Face is making this a really enjoyable experience," Karnazes said during the video. "Yeah, there's going to be some pain for you out there, but we make it a really great experience."
Racers from all levels and backgrounds are welcome to the event, "from the weekend warriors to the elite," said Moore.
"It's always good to challenge yourself," Moore said. "Come out and give it a go."
North Face Endurance Challenge
Where • Park City
When • Oct. 4-5
Cost • $50-$185 (Tribune readers may enter the discount code SLCT20 online at checkout)
• For information on how to register for the race visit, http://bit.ly/1jHPlWS
• For information on volunteering for the race, contact Stuart Johnson at stuart.johnson1984@gmail.com