Dear SUMMIIT family,

This is a difficult letter to write.  After nearly 8 years of providing events to this incredible community, SUMMIIT Challenges will be ceasing all operations effective November 15th, 2026.

The Reason:

In 2019, we set a lofty goal for ourselves:  Provide a first-class, community-centric virtual event experience while keeping these events free for all participants.  People over profit, always. 

For years, community generosity helped to offset the majority of our operational costs, but for the past two years we have operated at a substantial net loss.  We have been diligently exploring options throughout the last 18 months, and regrettably, continuing to provide these events at scale is no longer sustainable. 

Our History:

Through PeloFondo, STRIDE, CLIMB, and STAGES, we built something together that I never fully expected.   What began as an event to challenge physical endurance ended up forging one of the most incredible communities of individuals that I have ever seen.  In the last 8 years, over 40,000 athletes came together to log over 5 million miles and 320,000 hours of effort across 34 events.

Our Legacy:

Those numbers represent so much; laughter, encouragement, exhaustion, pride, tears, and an incredible amount of determination. Many of you showed up while fighting battles of your own; stress, health issues, loss, or simply the weight of what you carry on a daily basis. You clipped in anyway. You laced up anyway. You showed up for yourself and your teams.

Together, we helped to fund research for Alzheimer’s, ALS, Skin, Breast and Blood cancers, mental health, and much more.  We drilled a fresh water well, that will continue serving the 220 members of a community in Africa for the next 30 years. We financially supported community members through many personal and health crises. 

These events were never just about the miles. It has been about discovering what was possible both individually, and as a community.  However many events you have participated in over the years, your energy and resilience are the reason this incredible community exists.  You are the why.

What Happens Next:

  • Remaining medal inventory is available at a steep discount through November 1st, at which point the online stores will close.
  • The SUMMIIT app will remain available throughout the end of November, at which point it will be pulled from the app stores and all historical data will be deleted from our servers.

To every volunteer, team lead, and participant: thank you for believing in a free, community-centered model, and for showing up and pouring your heart into this community.

I have always been fueled by the stories that have come out SUMMIIT.  If one moment stands out for you, a ride, a run, a conversation, a friend made along the way, I would love to hear it.

SUMMIIT Challenges may be closing, but the SUMMIIT family does not end here. Carry that spirit into your own rides, runs, and communities, and remember that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.

With gratitude and a full heart,
Landon Arnold
Founder/Owner, SUMMIIT Challenges | PeloFondo