The North Face Endurance Challenge runs for second year in Ontario

The North Face Endurance Challenge is a series relatively new in Ontario. Its second running took place on Blue Mountain over the weekend.

Runners keen on signing up for races that include high elevation gain and wooded and technical terrain have plenty of choice when it comes to entering a race that’s part of The North Face Endurance Challenge. The event offers a 50 miler, 50K, marathon, half-marathon, relay marathon, kids races and a 10K.

Bouguin is now 13 minutes back of Atkins as of 6th Line Aid (65.3K) in 6:15. Skeels is 21 minutes back, 6:23. #ECSON pic.twitter.com/J9hctNgATL

— Endurance Challenge (@thenorthfaceECS) July 18, 2015

#ECSON #HalfMarathon runners begin their 13.1 mile trek. Good luck out there. pic.twitter.com/iAQ2zEWCKX

— Endurance Challenge (@thenorthfaceECS) July 19, 2015

Trails take runners along the ski trails of Blue Mountain (Ontario’s point of the highest elevation gain) and paths along Georgian Bay. This weekend was one of the hottest weekends so far this summer in this part of Ontario so runners dealt with both the heat and the hills.

#ECSON Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K runners. Who’s ready for some hills? pic.twitter.com/LkMR9b9fwk

— Endurance Challenge (@thenorthfaceECS) July 19, 2015

The women’s marathon was won by Deanna McDoom. She ran the course in 4:58:59. She was the only female runner to go under five hours. In second place was Rania Lutfiwho ran a 5:07:13. Chelsea Pineiro placed third in 5:23:45.

The men’s marathon also saw big gaps between the top three runners. Raphael Payo won the race with a time of 4:05:05. Second to him was Ryan Edington clocking a 4:18:36 and Ian Firla who ran 4:23:58.

Our Half Marathon winner at #ECSON is Luka Senk in 1:51:42. #trailrunning pic.twitter.com/TWOW3FKjc9

— Endurance Challenge (@thenorthfaceECS) July 19, 2015

The half-marathon was won by Luka Senk in 1:51:42. Behind him was Robert Hamilton (2:00:08) and Robert Brouillette (2:01:06). The women’s champion was Fabienne Gordon. She ran a 2:20:34. Following her was Esther Kendall in 2:23:13. Robyn Allen placed third. Her time was 2:23:35.

Participants of the endurance challenge receive a medal, technical shirt and smartwool socks as well as a post-race meal.