Announcement from the Chaski Endurance Collective. Team Chaski coaches Ashley Brasovan and Dani Moreno are national trail running champions and past members of the US Mountain & Trail Running Team. Challenge participants Max King, Mario Mendoza, Michael Wardian and Renee Metivier are past members of the US Mountain & Trail Running Team.
‘Chaski Challenge’ Offers Running Fans Opportunities for Free Virtual Race, Professional Athlete Broadcast, and Fundraising for Covid-19 Relief.
Boston, MA – Get ready for the Chaski Challenge – a mass-participation virtual road race welcoming participants from around the globe, from the weekend warrior to the elite runner! The free event featuring five- and 50-kilometer distances as well as a team relay will culminate in a live, professionally broadcast “Festival of Records” race where elite runners will attempt to topple not one, but SEVEN world records, all while raising money for Feeding America’s COVID relief program.
Max King at the 2019 Broken Arrow Skyrace VK.
So, how will this work?
First, runners will register on the Chaski Challenge website, with a 100% direct, optional donation to Feeding America for COVID-19 Relief.
The Open Race will begin at 4 p.m. EDT on June 5; runners will have 24 hours to run either five- or , 50-kilometer races, or both, as well as the option to compete as part of a scored five-person team. Runners can participate outdoors (where permitted), inside their residences, or on treadmills. Participants will submit their results on the Chaski Challenge website. The fastest male and female runners at each race distance along with the fastest relay teams will win prizes from race sponsors and be featured on the professional broadcast.
The Professional “Festival of Records” Race will begin at 5:30pm EDT once the Open race has finished, allowing all participants and their families and friends to watch these world-class runners on a free, live webcast. The race will feature nine professional runners competing on treadmills for cash prizes, while they chase world records for the half marathon, full marathon, 50-kilometers, and 100-kilometers.. The webcast will include live video of the competitors along with compelling commentary and live race visualizations and tracking.
- Event Dates: Open Race: June 5-6, 2020; Festival of Records broadcast: June 6, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. EDT
- Event Location: World-wide; free professional live-streaming via www.Chaski.run
- Anticipated Field: Reach 500K-600K; Open Race: 1,000 to 10,000; Broadcast; 10,000-100,000 viewers
- Benefit: “Pay what you can” model with direct donation to Feeding America for COVID relief.
- Prizes: $2500+ in cash and merchandise prizes for both open and professional races
- Partners: Squirrel’s Nut Butter, Nuun Hydration, HOKA ONE ONE, Athletic Brewing Company, Gu, Formula Running Center, Ghost.Express, Strive Trips, Alta Andina, InsideTracker, more spaces open.
Michael Wardian running trails in Marin County, California.
About Chaski Endurance Collective – Chaski is reinventing online coaching, with a community model designed to empower athletes of all levels through human-to-human, personalized, and adaptive training and innovative events and content. For more information visit www.chaski.run or follow @chaskiendurance.
It’s Going Down (7x): The Chaski Challenge Festival of Records
Never before has a race been able to guarantee a slew of world records by world-class athletes. With so many races cancelled this spring and summer, Chaski has created an event to offer elite athletes a space to highlight their fitness, blow the current treadmill world records out of the water, and provide a compelling, fun, and conversation-provoking event for the running world.
Some of these records will go down, 100%. The only question is how many, and by how much.
The Full Elite Field Includes:
Women’s Half Marathon
Current World Record: 1:20:43 – Jenna Wrieden (USA) – 2014
Start Time: 7:15pm EDT | Approx Finish Time: 8:25pm EDT
Sara Hall – 1:08:58 PB – 10x US champion, multi-time Team USA Member, top US marathoner of ‘19
Renee Metivier (pictured top of page)– 1:10:52 PB – 4x US champion, 6x Team USA, Top 15 all-time fastest US marathoner
Men’s Half Marathon
Current World Record: 1:03:37 – Tyler Andrews (USA) – 2015
Start Time: 6:00pm EDT | Approx Finish Time: 7:00pm EDT
John Raneri – 61:51 PB – Top 15 NYC Marathon, Top 10 NYC Half, 2x US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier
Adam Holland – 63:36 PB – Multi-time ultramarathon world record holder, England Athletic 50km Champion
Men’s Marathon/50km
Current World Records: 2:20:45 – Paul Zwama (NED) – 2018 | 2:56:35 – Matthias Kyburz (SUI) – 2020
Start Time: 6:00pm EDT | Approx Finish Time: 8:45pm EDT
Michael Wardian – 2:54/2:17 PBs – multi-time national champion & Team USA, WR holder, Olympic Trials qualifier
Max King – 6:27 (100km) / 2:14 PBs – World Mountain Running Champion, World 100k Champion, US 100k record holder, 4x Olympic Trials
Tyler Andrews – 2:46/2:15 PBs – #2 all-time US for 50km, 3x Team USA, 50-mile US Champ, 2x Olympic Trials
Mario Mendoza at the 2018 Trail World Championships.
Men’s 100km
World Record: 6:40:35 Phil Anthony (GBR) – 2014
Start Time: 12:00pm EDT | Approx Finish Time: 6:40pm EDT
Mario Mendoza – 100km Debut (off-trail) – 6x Team USA, 5x national champion, Former 50K Treadmill WR holder
Women’s 50km
World Record: 6:40:35 Phil Anthony (GBR) – 2014
Start Time: 4:15pm EDT | Approx Finish Time: 7:45pm EDT
Regina Lopez – 50km Debut – Spartan trail national champion, US Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier
