Yesterday, Asics announced its annual search for amateur runners to take the Beat the Sun challenge, which starts and finishes in Chamonix, France on June 21—the longest day of the year.
Interested participants can sign up at the Asics #BeatTheSun online community and commit to a personal running goal for June 21. The event in Chamonix offers amateur runners a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to team up with expert athletes in a unique relay race. The race sees eight intercontinental teams battle it out around a multi-terrain course to become the first team to beat the sun around Mont Blanc (Europe’s highest peak) in the time between sunrise and sunset.
Competing against each other and the daylight, teams have just over 15 hours to cover the 31-mile course. Each runner will complete two relay sections of between 2 and 12 miles across varied altitude and terrain crossing France, Italy and Switzerland.
Those who join the #BeatTheSun community will receive access to an exclusive online training program, developed by Asics pro athlete coaches and aimed at helping runners achieve their goals by June 21. The first online training module will begin on March 1 and includes strength, running nutrition and trail-specific advice.
On April 25, ASICS will announce 50 finalists for the event in Chamonix who will then undertake an elite training program in full preparation for the event. Those who don’t make the final 50 can continue to take advantage of Asics’ training tips and advice to help them complete their own personal challenge on June 21.
