This article was written by Andy Wacker, founder of The Trail Team and social media manager for the American Trail Running Association.
The group
It all started with a group of trail runners, a prank, and a Strava segment.
Will “The Jog Father” Jensen lives near Central Park in Denver, Colorado. For the last few years, he and a few friends have met on Thursday nights at 8:00 for a run. The route could be a local neighborhood jog, or even a run to Union Station for a beer and a train ride home. No matter what, the group run happens every week.
Some of the Thursday night runners. Left to right: Gonzo, Josh, Brad, Tim, Will. Photo: Andy Wacker
The Strava segment
In January 2021, Niels Oomkes, one of the Thursday night runners, decided to “Everest” the local hill in Central Park. According to the Everesting website, (https://everesting.cc/) it’s simple, “pick any hill, anywhere in the world and complete repeats of it in a single activity until you climb 8,848 meters (29,000 feet) – the equivalent height of Mt Everest.” While Niels wouldn’t complete Everesting in a single activity, he came back to the hill week after week. By March 2021, Niels’ friends started noticing, as he approached 900 laps up and down the 0.15 mile, 34-feet Strava segment to work his way toward Everest height.
The prank
Then came the prank. Will and the Thursday night crew created a fake Strava account in the name Peirre Petitmont. Will linked his watch and told the group. The plan was for the group to take turns throughout the month running up the hill, so Pierre would rise in the leaderboards to claim the local legend status over Niels. Niels completed Everesting the Central Park hill, found out about Pierre and the whole group had a good laugh.
Keeping track of laps. Photo: Andy Wacker
The challenge
In April 2022, the group decided to create a fun challenge to commemorate the prank. Run as many laps as you could up The Central Park hill in a day. No entry fee, no official rules. At least two members of the group, Gonzo, Niels, and Tim completed 100 laps for 50k and 3,400 feet of climbing in the inaugural edition. The whole group and their families joined in and a tradition was born.
I came out to watch and join in on a few laps in this year’s edition on April 16. It was a cool, but dazzling sunny Colorado bluebird morning. Runners started at 7ish, but by the time I arrived at 9:30am, a few runners were just joining. Seth decided he was finished. He took a finishing sticker and wrote 45 in the blank space reserved for the number of laps.
I ran a lap with Josh, who just marked the 50th lap tally on his nondescript bib. Will, who was on a short break, said “I’ll do one more.” This was a common refrain I heard repeated lightheartedly over the next two hours.
I step off at the aid station at the top of the hill and cheer. Josh comes around on lap 60. Seth, who has just finished a beer run, high fives Josh.
Josh asks, “What’s a good time to start drinking beer?”
Seth asks, “What lap are you on?”
Josh answers, “60.”
Seth, without a moment’s hesitation says, “60.”
A little later, the runners form a tunnel at the top of the hill. Mike, who is 62 years old, is about to complete his 62nd lap. Will runs “one more.” Mike keeps going and finishes 65 laps for the day.
Gonzo Jimenez, a local chocolatier, and star of the Netflix show, Bake Squad, rounds out the day with 100 laps totaling an impressive 32 miles. Three others completed the marathon distance.
Mike finishing 62 laps. Photo: Andy Wacker
A community
The event is a beautiful example of the community in trail running. Family members jump in for a few laps even if they aren’t seasoned runners. Friends man the aid station complete with sodas, cookies and various fluids. Kids run 5k. Everyone cheers and supports each other. No awards, just bragging rights and pure fun.
I ask Will about the future of The Challenge and he says, “I want to do it again.” The entire group concurs, so we’ll plan on a 100-lap challenge up Central Park hill in 2024. Are you in?
