The North Face® Unveils Endurance Challenge

SAN LEANDRO, California – May 31, 2007 – The North Face®, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative, and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment, and footwear, today announced The North Face Endurance Challenge, presented by Gore-Tex. Hosted by internationally recognized endurance athlete Dean Karnazes, The North Face Endurance Challenge will welcome the planet’s athletes to push and exceed their personal limits.

The North Face 2007 Endurance Challenge Series will include (4) regional events and (1) Championship event. From August through December 2007, five endurance events will span the country, starting in Washington, DC, passing through Connecticut, Washington, and Iowa, and culminating with the Championship in San Francisco, California. Each offers options for runners of all levels at an array of distances, including: 50 Mile, 50K, Half Marathon, and 10K. Each men’s and women’s regional 50-mile champion will take home $1,000 and a trip to the Endurance Challenge Championship in San Francisco in December, where $10,000 will go to the top male and female 50-mile finisher.

The Endurance Challenge is expected to attract some of the country’s top ultra-endurance runners. In addition to host Karnazes, several The North Face Endurance Team athletes will attend, including 50K national trail champion Kami Semick, 50-mile national trail champion Nikki Kimball, and 25-time Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run finisher Tim Twietmeyer. Many other runners are expected to embrace The North Face Endurance Challenge as an opportunity to complete a distance they have never previously covered.

“The North Face is dedicated to Endurance and The North Face Endurance Team continues to explore the outer limits of the imagination,” said Joe Flannery, Vice President of Marketing, The North Face. “We believe in this quest and continue to build exceptional product and events such as The North Face Endurance Challenge that enable others to push their limits.”

In 2006, The North Face kicked off a strong Endurance initiative through The North Face Endurance 50, in which Karnazes ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. Over the course of the event, thousands of runners from across the country and around the globe took part, many running farther than they ever had. The North Face Endurance 50 helped inspire The North Face to challenge all athletes to seek their own definition of endurance.

“I’m thrilled to continue to share in the enthusiasm around endurance and testing one’s limits,” said Karnazes. “Many people around the globe joined us last year to test their preconceived notions of what is possible. I’m looking forward to seeing them, and others, as we continue the journey with The Endurance Challenge.”

As part of its commitment to community and conservation, The North Face, in partnership with The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program, will be planting trees to zero out the carbon emissions of this event, including set-up, break down, and transportation.

For more information, please visit: www.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge.

About The North Face®
The North Face®, a subsidiary of VF Corporation, was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains. Additional information about The North Face® can be found on the company’s website, www.thenorthface.com.

Press Contacts:
Pamela Bennett
510.618.3654
pam_bennett@vfc.com

Amy Goldhammer
510.618.2815
amy_goldhammer@vfc.com