THE CHALLENGE
We’re flipping the script on Winter GRIT and heading to sun-soaked climates to kick off 2026.
Welcome to Winter GRIT: Wipeout Edition, as we search for the biggest and best breaks on planet earth.
The stoke is high for our January distance goals, so join us as we head out the door to our favorite running spots, racking up miles along the way. Whether that goal is 25 miles or 300 miles, we know it will be swell. Earn one distance badge after another as you paddle out for more and surf into shore.
The urge to go farther out will be all-consuming. Your bodies will ache, you’ll get tossed in the froth, the riptide may sweep you away. It’s likely you’ll need the thickest wetsuit available to stay warm in the ice cold temps. But as we’ve seen over the past 11 editions of GRIT, we can assure you this: you will survive.
Of course, the most important part of this entire challenge is the community we’ve built over the years. We’re basically family at this point, supporting each other through all the turbulence that Mother Nature can throw at us. Of course, we’re always welcoming new GRIT groms to join us, so if you’re just getting into the sport– jump in, the water’s fine.
We’ll get to all the prizes and swag, but first:
On the festivities front, we’re going all-out this year. Our end of GRIT celebration will be on the coast of Florida at The DONNA Marathon Weekend from January 30-Feb 1 in Jacksonville Beach. The race weekend supports The DONNA Foundation, an organization near and dear to our hearts. Over the last 6 years of GRIT, we've been able to donate $73,000 to the foundation, whose mission is to provide hope, support, and financial relief to those living with breast cancer.
Thanks to our partnership with ASICS and your help, we’ve been able to serve 275 families through their CareLine.
As always, a portion of every GRIT registration will go towards The DONNA Foundation, as well as 100% of all donations from participants at checkout.
Here’s where it gets even better: This year, we’re inviting you to be a part of that special weekend. Aside from the many activities we’ll be putting on (including a post-race party for all GRIT participants), we’ll also be giving away a super special grand prize to one lucky winner. That winner will receive a 3-night trip package for one (1) adult to DONNA Marathon Weekend, including room, airfare, and a race entry! (All other GRIT participants will receive a special discount code for one of the races that weekend.)
If you’ve done GRIT before, you know about our legendary swag. We’re keeping it simple and timeless with this go-around, as each participant will get a beautiful Asics heavyweight hoodie, embroidered on the chest with the Asics and Believe in the Run logos. Plus, each week of January we’ll be giving out great prizes from our sponsors: two pairs of ASICS shoes up to $180 value.
Then there are the grand prizes of ASICS shopping sprees for each mileage tier, as well as a tidal wave of gold for those who go to Jaws and beyond: two grand prizes (male and female) to the top elevation gainers for the month, and two grand prizes (male and female) to those with the most mileage for the month.
We’ll make it a point not to break you, if you promise to be our blue crush.
Grab your board, the water’s fine!
HOW IT WORKS
Choose a distance goal from the levels below. Run those miles anytime between January 1 and January 31. Run more if you’re feeling good. Log your miles and land on the leaderboard. Get digital badges and a sense of incredible accomplishment. Join our Facebook group to be part of a community that stays together and celebrates our wins through the coldest month of the year.
CHECK OUT THE LEVELS:
- LEVEL 1) 25 Miles – Gold Coast, Australia
- LEVEL 2) 50 Miles – Cloudbreak, Fiji
- LEVEL 3) 100 Miles – Mavericks, California
- LEVEL 4) 200 Miles – Pipeline, Oahu
- LEVEL 5) 300+ Miles – Jaws, Maui
All registrants will also receive a race bib and access to our Strava club and private Winter GRIT Facebook group where we share our running journeys along the way. There’s where we’ll have our weekly photo competitions, including our infamous face-cicle challenge!
Running outside of the U.S.? You can still join for free and get all of the GRIT graphics and join our GRIT community online.