O2X Summit Challenge Series: Only 30 days and counting to Maine’s Sunday River event

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) – As race day approaches in Maine, O2X Summit Challenges is fine tuning the course and watching registration numbers climb in the run-up to the second event of its Northeast series, coming to Sunday River, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014.

To register for the O2X Summit Challenge at Sunday River, go to http://o2x.com/pages/sunday-river-challenge

Taking trail running off the trail and adding a festival atmosphere, O2X Summit Challenge (www.O2X.com) courses are tailored to runners, weekend hikers and nature lovers across a range of fitness levels. The Sunday River Single Diamond course (3.33 miles with 1,314 feet net elevation gain) is designed for runners with 5K and 10K experience, while the Double Diamond course (5.98 miles with 2,135 feet net elevation gain) will challenge hard-core runners and avid skiers getting ready for the upcoming season.

After the summit finish, racers get a scenic lift ride down to BaseCamp.

“O2X Summit Challenge Series is a first-of-its-kind mountain running experience that brings fitness back to its outdoor roots and builds a sense of community at each and every event,” said O2X co-founder Gabriel Gomez.

There’s still time to get training support with the mobile app Unleesh (www.unleesh.com), an experiential learning app that allows O2X to deliver daily workouts designed to maximize performance on the mountain. Unleesh provides easy-to-follow instructions with images accompanying each exercise in a given workout. To receive the training plan, download Unleesh on iOS or Android by searching “O2X.” Those who prefer the good old map-and-compass style to mobile apps can sign up for the O2X email list and receive a PDF copy of a 33-week workout.

“The Unleesh app will help users establish a fitness baseline and structure their workouts with the perfect blend of duration, intensity and recovery right up to race day,” said O2X co-founder Adam La Reau. “It’s like having a personal coach training you to peak for O2X events – you don’t have to worry about going too hard or too easy, too long or too short – with the Unleesh training app, you’re in good hands.”

Boston band Element 78 will headline the post-race celebration, as cash and prizes for category winners are given away throughout the night – including the “O2X Rise Higher Award” which will be awarded for the most inspiring racer, as nominated by racers and spectators prior to the event. Climbing pioneer and featured speaker Arno Ilgner will address methods of overcoming obstacles in both life and athletics “The Warrior’s Way.”

Sunday River’s South Ridge Lodge will be home to a vibrant weekend-long “BaseCamp,” offering a variety of local foods and beverages. There will also be limited on-site camping, training-and-performance exhibits, slack lines and bouldering walls and a farmer’s market-inspired gathering of local fare. Come Friday for dinner around a blazing bonfire and pitch a tent. Breakfast will be served the morning of the race and food and drinks during the rest of the day.

The dynamic range of sponsors, partners and local supporters represented at BaseCamp include Juti Organics, Defense Mobile, Delta Dental, CamelBak and Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation. There will also be activities with local non-profits supporting the environment and a creative and fun kids race.

As environmental leadership is a stated goal of the O2X Summit Challenge series, zero impact waste management will be spearheaded by REVERB, a company which also “greens” the concert events of Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Brantley Gilbert, Phish, Maroon 5, Guster, John Mayer and others.

O2X organizers are committed to working with local suppliers to reduce shipping impact, avoiding single-serve packages and donating salvageable foods in the local area after the event. All O2X courses are built to U.S. Forest Service guidelines, and organizers are committed to a first-of-its kind Remediation Pledge to leave the mountain in better shape than they found it.

ABOUT 02X SUMMIT CHALLENGES

Taking trail running off the trail and adding natural challenges, a summit finish and a festival atmosphere, O2X Summit Challenge (www.O2X.com) courses are tailored to runners, weekend hikers and nature lovers across a range of fitness levels. The events will also include a first-of-a-kind “remediation commitment” from race organizers to leave each venue better than they found it. O2X is a member of 1% for the Planet (www.onepercentfortheplanet.org), EPA Wastewise (www.EPA.gov/wastewise), and Leave No Trace (www.lnt.org). Upcoming events include Sugarbush, Vt. (Sept. 13, 2014), Sunday River, Maine (Sept. 27, 2014), Loon Mountain, N.H. (Oct. 18, 2014) and Windham N.Y. (Oct. 25, 2014).

For more information, please visit O2X.com or go to facebook.com/O2Xchallenges.


By press release