WORDS BY LIKE THE WIND – PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE NORTH FACE
From distances to weights and from bib numbers to elevation gain, numbers are everywhere in our running lives. This is why The North Face has created Run The Numbers, the latest Summit Series Trail Running collection.
Sometimes the numbers can be overwhelming. The distance to be covered. The metres to be climbed and descended. The cut-offs that need to be avoided. The weight of the compulsory kit. Even the amount of calories needed to achieve the results we seek.
But runners in the mountains have an uncanny way of staring down the numbers and making them more manageable. At the start line of a race, you’ll see digits and diagrams scribbled on forearms, denoting the number of cols or passes to be crossed or the times by which each checkpoint needs to be reached. Talk to a trail runner and they may well tell you that they are just taking each section of the course at a time – those individual milestones will add up to a successful race. Take a look at the runners’ backs and you’ll see packs with kit that has been carefully selected based on numbers such as the weight of each item or a jacket’s waterproofness rating, or perhaps just the number of previous races on which an item has accompanied the runner.
Ultimately the right numbers will contribute to creating success on the trails, whatever that looks like for each individual runner.
The North Face recognises the importance of the data. What better source for those numbers (and to get an understanding of the factors that will make the difference) than the athletes supported by the brand?
The Run The Numbers Summit Series Trail Running collection has been created hand in hand with athletes, for athletes. The development of the collection is based on the understanding that when the stakes are high and you’re pushing the limits of what you think is possible, kit that provides the ultimate in comfort and performance is vital. The North Face is able to draw on years of innovation to deliver kit with race-proven performance and packable protection at minimum weight.
Athletes are at the heart of the development of The North Face’s Run The Numbers collection. Here are two of the amazing people whose numbers provide a glimpse of their talent and dedication.
IDA-SOPHIE HEGEMANN
AGE: 26 YEARS
RACE WINS: 7
STUBAI GLACIER FKT: 19H16M11S UTMB INDEX: 734
Ida-Sophie was born in Duderstadt, Germany, and started her running career on the track. But soon the mountains came calling – since switching, she has not looked back. Her wins include the Marathon du Mont Blanc and the eight-stage Transalpine run… twice!
GERMAIN GRANGIER
AGE: 33
RACE WINS: 14
UTMB 2021: POSITION 5 UTMB INDEX: 880
Born in the Maritime Alps of southern France, Germain initially raced on skis and bicycles in the mountains, eventually switching to running after his cycling career ended. Attracted by the simplicity and speed of trail running, Germain loves how ultra events allow him to escape and grow as a person.
Athletes such as Ida-Sophie and Germain rely on their fitness, their wits and – of course – their kit to achieve their dreams as runners in the mountains. The Summit Series trail running collection offers runners of all abilities everything they need.
Running and numbers go hand in hand. Let The North Face help you create the numbers that tell the stories of your runs in the mountains.
Find out more at www.thenorthface.com