Jay Challenge
Encyclopedia
The Jay Challenge has historically been a combination adventure race and triathlon
that occurs yearly in and around Jay, Vermont
. It is a three-day event comprising a 26 mile kayak
trip from the northern to southern end of Lake Memphremagog
, a 30.5 mile run over rough terrain and 65 miles of mountain biking. It claims to be "the largest offroad stage race in North America", with 700-1000 racers each year. There is no cash prize and no sponsor. The course record, held by Mike Morris, is 19 hours and 20 minutes. Phil Bubel, has won the race in both 2005 and 2006.
In 2007, the Jay Challenge has been scaled back to only the running portion, and temporarily re-titled "The Ultimate XC Challenge." Participants hailed from 34 US states and 3 countries.
In 2008, the Ultimate XC Series has expanded to three ultra-running races which include Quebec in June, Jay, Vermont in July, and Moab, Utah in November.
The last running of the Jay Challenge was in 2008.
The Vermont edition of this race series is a 33 mile "marathon" and an 18-mile "half-marathon." The course is almost completely on private property and almost 100% trails. The trails are rugged and muddy and include a variety of brook running, river crossings, steep hills, technical descents, bushwacking, and even a sand pit. The race is limited to 400 for the full race and 200 for the half. Most runners who complete the full race take 2-3 times as long as their best times for a road marathon.
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
that occurs yearly in and around Jay, Vermont
Jay, Vermont
Jay is one of the northernmost towns in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, located on the Canadian border. The population was 426 at the 2000 census. Jay is named for John Jay, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The US Census Bureau estimated that the town's population had...
. It is a three-day event comprising a 26 mile kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
trip from the northern to southern end of Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog is a fresh water glacial lake located between Newport, Vermont, United States and Magog, Quebec, Canada. The lake is long with 73 percent of the lake's surface area in Quebec, where it drains into the Magog River. However, three-quarters of its watershed, , is in Vermont. The...
, a 30.5 mile run over rough terrain and 65 miles of mountain biking. It claims to be "the largest offroad stage race in North America", with 700-1000 racers each year. There is no cash prize and no sponsor. The course record, held by Mike Morris, is 19 hours and 20 minutes. Phil Bubel, has won the race in both 2005 and 2006.
In 2007, the Jay Challenge has been scaled back to only the running portion, and temporarily re-titled "The Ultimate XC Challenge." Participants hailed from 34 US states and 3 countries.
In 2008, the Ultimate XC Series has expanded to three ultra-running races which include Quebec in June, Jay, Vermont in July, and Moab, Utah in November.
The last running of the Jay Challenge was in 2008.
The Vermont edition of this race series is a 33 mile "marathon" and an 18-mile "half-marathon." The course is almost completely on private property and almost 100% trails. The trails are rugged and muddy and include a variety of brook running, river crossings, steep hills, technical descents, bushwacking, and even a sand pit. The race is limited to 400 for the full race and 200 for the half. Most runners who complete the full race take 2-3 times as long as their best times for a road marathon.