‘Chaski Challenge’ Offers Running Fans Opportunities for Free Virtual Race,
Professional Athlete Broadcast, and Fundraising for Covid-19 Relief
Super-stars Sara Hall , Michael Wardian Headline Professional “Festival of Records” Race
New Haven Road Race, New Haven, CT; Sept. 2. Photo by Mike Scott 2019.
Boston, MA – Get ready for the Chaski Challenge – a mass-participation virtual road race welcoming
participants from around the globe, from the weekend warrior to the elite runner! The free event
featuring five- and 50-kilometer distances as well as a team relay will culminate in a live,
professionally broadcast “Festival of Records” race where elite runners will attempt to topple not
one, but FOUR world records. All while raising money for Feeding America’s COVID relief program.
So, how will this work?
Michael Wardian at the 2017 Boston Marathon. Photo by Scott Mason
1) First, runners will register on the Chaski Challenge website , with a 100% direct, optional donation
to Feeding America for COVID-19 Relief.
2) The Open Race will begin at 4 p.m. EDT on June 5; runners will have 24 hours to run either five- or ,
50-kilometer races, or both, as well as the option to compete as part of a scored five-person team.
Runners can participate outdoors (where permitted), inside their residences, or on treadmills.
Participants will submit their results on the Chaski Challenge website . The fastest male and
female runners at each race distance along with the fastest relay teams will win prizes from race
sponsors and be featured on the professional broadcast.
3) The Professional “Festival of Records” Race will begin once the Open race has finished, allowing
all participants and their families and friends to watch these world-class runners on a free, live
webcast. The race will feature nine professional runners competing on treadmills for cash prizes,
while they chase world records for the half marathon (men and women), and full marathon and
50-kilometers (men). The webcast will include live video of the competitors along with
compelling commentary and live race visualizations and tracking.
Event Date: Open Race: June 5-6, 2020; Festival of Records broadcast: June 6, 2020 at 6 p.m. EDT
Event Location: World-wide; free professional live-streaming via www.Chaski.run
Anticipated Field: Reach 500K-600K; Open Race: 1,000 to 10,000; Broadcast; 10,000-100,000 viewers
Benefit: “Pay what you can” model with direct donation to Feeding America for COVID relief.
Prizes: $2500+ in cash and merchandise prizes for both open and professional races
Partners: Squirrel’s Nut Butter, Nuun Hydration, Ghost.Express; more spaces open.
About Chaski Endurance Collective – Chaski is reinventing online coaching, with a community
model designed to empower athletes of all levels through human-to-human, personalized, and
adaptive training and innovative events and content. For more information visit www.chaski.run or
follow @chaski.endurance .
Chaski Endurance Collec ve
Race Website: www.Chaski.run/challenge
It’s Going Down (4x): The Chaski Challenge Festival of Records
Sara Hall , Michael Wardian, John Raneri, and Tyler Andrews lead star-studded field
Never before has a race been able to guarantee a slew of world records by world-class
athletes. With so many races cancelled this spring and summer, Chaski has created an
event to offer elite athletes a space to highlight their fitness, blow the current treadmill
world records out of the water, and provide a compelling, fun, and conversation-provoking
event for the running world. These records will go down, 100%. The only question is how far.
Women’s Professional Half Marathon
Current World Record
1:20:43 – Jenna Wrieden (USA) – 2014
Sara Hall
1:08:58 PB – 10x US national champion, multi-time US World Championship Team Member,
fastest American marathoner of 2019 )
Dani Moreno
1:17:19 PB – 3x U.S. National Championship team member, 50km Trail National Champion
Regina Lopez
1:14:33 PB- Spartan trail national champion, US Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier
Men’s Professional Half Marathon
Current World Record
1:03:37 – Tyler Andrews (USA) – 2015
John Raneri (61:51 PB, Olympic Trials qualifier) Full Field TBA
Men’s Marathon/50km
Current World Records
2:20:45 – Paul Zwama (NED) – 2018 | 2:56:35 – Matthias Kyburz (SUI) – 2020
Michael Wardian
2:54/2:17 PBs, multi-time national champion & Team USA, WR holder, Olympic Trials qualifier
Tyler Andrews
2:46/2:15 PBs, #2 all-time US for 50km, 3x Team USA, 50-mile national champion
Mario Mendoza
2:49 PB – Former 50K Treadmill WR holder, 6x Team USA, 5x national champion
Chaski Endurance Collec ve
Race Website: www.Chaski.run/challenge