The Vasque PROJECT is our effort, through sponsorship of trail races through North America, to foster trail running competition, community and stewardship. Vasque employs a rigorous selection process in order to partner with the best race series in vibrant running communities. These partners are selected because of their dedication to providing runners with the ultimate race experience and also because of their dedication to giving back to the community and environment. Racers can feel confident that they are going to get a great experience when they participate in a Vasque Project race series. There is something for everybody – the races vary is distance and difficulty – everything from faster 5ks to rigorous ultras over challenging terrain. When you sign up for a Vasque Project race, you can feel confident that the experience will be positive and designed to push your limits and you’ll be supported by an active and dedicated running community.
In 2009, the Vasque Project has a major sponsor: our friends at Boa Technology. Our partnership works because their technology reinforces our brand pillars of Innovation, Fit and Performance. Thanks to Boa for their support!
Come join us! See our blog for our 2009 calendar.
The Vasque Project 2009 includes 45 trail races in 12 states and Canada:
The Great Eastern Series in Charlottesville, VA
The Rock/ Creek Trail Series in Chattanooga, TN
The Great Lakes Endurance Series in Northern MI
The Golden Leaf Half Marathon in Aspen, CO
The Cougar Trail Series in Seattle, WA
Rogue Trail Series in Austin, TX
Fast Trax Trail Series in Edmonton, Alberta
DINO Trail Series in Indianapolis, IN
Peter’s Canyon Trail Series in Irvine, CA
Grand Teton Races in Alta, WY
The River City Ramble ½ Marathon and 5k in Red Wing, MN
PROJECT THANKS
The trails means a lot to us at Vasque and what better way for us to say THANKS then to give back to places where we run, hike and enjoy life? PROJECT Thanks is the stewardship arm of the Vasque Project. Through this program, Vasque has partnered with our race series directors to select a marquee organization in their race community who is working to preserve the local environment. Our dedicated race series partners have pledged to divert a portion of each races’ registration fee to this organization and Vasque has pledged to match the collected amount. Vasque also helps our race partners communicate this effort to participants, as it is the racer’s registration that it the catalyst to the give back. Race participants can feel great, knowing that part of their registration amount went to a worthy cause and because of their act of participation in a Vasque Project race, Vasque has pledged an additional amount. The community benefits, the sport of trail running benefits, the environment benefits and we all ultimately win these races.
We are honored to be giving to these organizations in 2009:
The Trail Running Club and SPCA in Charlottesville, VA - through the Great Eastern Series.
The Wilderness Trail Running Association (aka Boonies) – through Rock/ Creek Trail Series
The Navarino Nature Center in Northern Michigan - through the Great Lakes Endurance Series
The Independence Pass Foundation in Aspen, CO – through the Golden Leaf ½ Marathon.
The Kings County Trail Maintenance Group in Seattle, WA – through the Cougar Trail Series
The Trail Foundation in Austin, TX – through the Rogue Trail Series
The Strathcona Wilderness Centre in Edmonton, Alberta – through the Fast Trax Trail Series.
The Parks and Recreation Group in Indianapolis, IN – through the DINO Trail Series
The Conservation Corps of Southern CA in Irvine, CA – through the Peter’s Canyon Trail Series
The Teton Valley Trails and Pathways in Alta, WY – through the Grand Teton Races.
The YMCA Y-Pals Program – through the River City Ramble ½ Marathon and 5k.
Race bib image used courtesy of JMKphotography