Endurance Evolution was co-founded in 2008 by Michigan State University Triathlon Club teammates and friends Joel Gaff, Jr. and Eric Tingwall.  The company began as an event management company specializing in triathlons and running races. The company grew from a single event, the Traverse City Triathlon, to three events (adding the Glen Arbor Solstice Half Marathon & 5K and Sleeping Bear Marathon) by 2012.

Having been race directors, athletes, spectators and volunteers, Gaff and Tingwall realized there was a better way to manage a race. Instead of cookie-cutter races that move from town to town each weekend, they built first-class experiences around scenic, challenging courses and professional customer service.

In 2013, Tingwall stepped aside and passed his half of the company along to another Eric – Eric Houghton.  Houghton and Gaff had been friends since high school, and were excited for the next chapter of the company’s life. In 2013 the Traverse City Trail Running Festival was added, as well as the Runaway Hen Snowshoe Scamper.

Endurance Evolution also added a timing services division in late 2013. Within a year or so the team was timing over 40 races around northwestern lower Michigan.

Houghton stepped aside in late 2015, and Gaff began his tenure as the solo owner/operator.

After several years of living between Traverse City and Portland, Oregon, operating the company remotely much of the time,  Gaff decided to sell Endurance Evolution’s events and timing services division to Race Day Events in early 2021. It was a bittersweet moment for Gaff, but the best option to ensure long-term success of the events, as it was becoming challenging  operating the company remotely much of the time.

Since 2021 Gaff has been focusing much of his time as Race Director of IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City / Ironman 70.3 Michigan, and IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon, as well as developing his skills as a software developer.  He’s currently exploring ways that Endurance Evolution can evolve into its next chapter, especially in the realm of software development for endurance events and timing services.