The North Face Endurance Challenge September 5, 2008

After athletes raved about the scenery and layout, The North Face Endurance Challenge returns to Great Falls Park and the Potomac Heritage Trail in 2008 (this year, one month later, to avoid the heat). The course keeps runners on their toes with ever-changing terrain. Overall, it consists of 60% singletrack, 30% dirt or gravel doubletrack, and 10% gravel carriage road. The Great Falls sections are highlighted by some intense elevation changes, with steep-but-run-able climbs up to 300 feet. The River Trail covers what is widely held as the marquee section the event: up to three miles of tip-toeing and hopping along bluffs high above the Potomac River. The tedious-but-scenic time it takes to cover this section is more than offset by cruisey sections of undulating trail in the river basin.

Official Website: http://www.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/races/2008/wdc_overview.html