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Inaugural XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Debuts in 2008

20+ Half-Marathon Distance "Xduro" XTERRA Trail Runs held around the World.

In 2008 XTERRA is taking trail runs to the extreme with the half-marathon distance "Xduro".  More than a dozen endurance runs across the U.S. and several more around the globe will ready runners for the ultimate Hawaiian experience - the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship at Kualoa Ranch on the island of Oahu.

The inaugural XTERRA Trail Running World Championship is scheduled for December 7, 2008, a week before the Honolulu Marathon.

"After 12 years of producing trail runs alongside our XTERRA off-road triathlons we've learned that our audience wants a bigger challenge than a 10k," said TEAM Unlimited CEO Tom Kiely.  "What the market told us was to create a series of half-marathons that have a physical challenge parallel to that of a road marathon, but with Mother Nature along for the ride."

The XTERRA Trail Run World Champs will be held in conjunction with the XTERRA Trail Running Series, a collection of 50 trail runs of various distances twisting on crooked, dirty, and rocky paths from Malibu to Japan.  Tentative Global Tour stops for the 21k "Xduro" include New Zealand, Japan, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

The final stop in the Series will certainly satisfy even the most adventurous runner.  Kualoa Ranch, located on the northeastern side of Oahu less than an hour from Honolulu, is a 4000-acre working cattle ranch spread from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea. The ranch terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand beaches to awesome verdant cliff faces. Kualoa Ranch has been the site of television shows and Hollywood films such as Jurassic Park, Windtalkers, Pearl Harbor, Godzilla, Tears of the Sun, 50 First Dates, and LOST.

In addition to the epic location, the World Champs will immerse participants in a festival atmosphere with live music, great food, and family entertainment.  Shorter distance trail runs, races for kids, a walk-a-thon for charity, and relay team competitions will also be offered.  

"XTERRA is thrilled with the growth of its Trail Running Series launched two years ago, and we think the longer distance focus will push it to whole new extreme in terms of participation and challenge," said Janet Clark, President of TEAM Unlimited/XTERRA.  "XTERRA Trail Runs give runners an opportunity to explore some wildly natural environments and challenge Mother Nature's diverse and unique offerings from roots and rocks, to stream crossings and unexpected scenic vistas."