Aussie Vibram Team Five Fingers Takes on The North Face 100

Last Saturday, the Australian Vibram Team Five Fingers team completed the The North Face 100, a 100Km race through the Blue Mountains. The team raced in KSO Treks and the Fall 2010 (not yet released) Sport Trek Five Fingers.

Team member, Max, comments on the race:

Video, race report and photo gallery after the jump.

Team Vibram FiveFingers in The North Face 100

Race Report:

It was a clear, crisp morning in the Blue Mountains last Saturday, as 600 competitors lined up at the start line of what is widely agreed to be the toughest 100km race in the world, The North Face 100.

The team event is a two person relay, 50k each. Amongst them were two Team FiveFingers, one mixed and one male.

It was a fearsome challenge. Sally and Jase started off near the back of the pack, a move that quickly lost them time as slower runners bottlenecked in the tight single tracks. As the field spread out Sal and Jase began to get a good rhythm going and work their way up the field.
The terrain included picking our way through treacherous rocky ridges, up and down near sheer inclines and a total of over 3000 stairs and rope ladders hanging off a vertical cliff. The number of casualties was incredible, only 393 made it to the end. Injuries ranged from broken ankles and feet to concussion and trauma from falls.

Team FiveFingers (Sally and Jase first 50k, me and Scott the second) ran shoulder to shoulder the whole 100k. 2 running in KSO Trek, 2 in Trek Sport. The Fives were amazing over the incredibly technical terrain. Loose rock-faces, creek crossings, steep wet rocky ridges were no problem thanks to the grip, sensitivity and protection of the Treks.

Even the night running was awesome.

Scott and I took the baton at Ford’s Reserve and pushed the pace pretty hard, getting from the halfway point to the 89k checkpoint in 4hrs 35min. But the grueling 100 minute climb to the 89k marker and a broken headlight made the last 11k real tough. The sadistic organisers also kept some of the steepest (both up and down) and most treacherous/technical running for the end. We were hoping to break 6hrs but poor visibility, cramp and tired legs saw us take some big hits on the toes as we tried to keep the pace up (but not our feet  )

Scott especially took some huge hits, with a suspected broken small toe and several others very close to. I was luckier but still copped some beauties, one sending me flying off the track and over the edge, narrowly saved by spiky tree branches that I managed to hang onto. It was too dark to see just how big a drop it was. Probably best too.

Coming through the finish line at around 9.30pm was one of the best moments of my life. A great victory for Team FiveFingers and for the simple belief that we are all born to run. We just need to keep our feet on the ground and believe in ourselves and our bodies.

By doing so we start a positive chain reaction that can reach further than any of us can imagine. Our support team, Steve the photographer who filmed us during the event, all out there day and night ensuring we had water, supplies and the warmest and loudest of welcome at every checkpoint. It was amazing, inspiring, and the initial spark that brought all these fantastic people together was obvious to anyone who looked down at their feet. 

Loving the Fives!!

Some of the other gear we raced in is worth mentioning because it was just amazing.
Zensah calf compression is the best in the world without a doubt (Runner’s World mag in US said so but now it’s official )

X-bionic Fennec top and shorts; Swiss designed, made in Italy. It sure isn’t cheap but we ran in 25 degree heat and then at night in -4 degree cold in shorts and a short sleeve top and it all felt the same.. not hot, not cold, just perfect.

Team FiveFingers next outing is the Gold Coast Marathon.

Max, of Team FiveFingers, is bringing the shoe revolution to Australia at barefootinc.

Thanks and good luck at Gold Coast!