Grand Traverse Mountain Run & Bike This Weekend

Adidas Outdoor will be a presenting sponsor for the first time at the third annual Grand Traverse Mountain Run & Bike, Sept. 3 – 4, 2016 in Colorado. Participants will run 40.7-miles on trails from Crested Butte to Aspen and will mountain bike 41-miles on Sept. 4 from Aspen back to Crested Butte. The summer race has been growing in popularity since its inception, and is part of the historic winter Grand Traverse that has been taking place for more than 20 years.

Adidas Outdoor announced its pre-order sales for trail running footwear for spring 2017 increased more than 62 percent from last year.

The collections include the Adidas brand’s Boost energy return foam, Continental Rubber and Gore-Tex waterproof membranes.

“The outdoor trail running category is one of our strongest areas,” said Greg Thomsen, Adidas Outdoor managing director, U.S. “Adidas has a very rich heritage in trail running, having developed the first trail running specific shoes more than 25 years ago with improvements and technical advancements every year since. Today’s market place has evolved tremendously with different demands and a new generation of ultra-runners. Our designers are relentlessly focused on creating new products that enable today’s outdoor athletes to go farther faster and to live without limits. We continue to push the boundaries of design technology to support the dreams of every level of trail runner and outdoor athlete.”

Earlier this month, for the first time, Adidas Outdoor was the title sponsor of the Aspen Backcountry Marathon & Half Marathon, which further supports the brand’s dedication to the sport of trail running. The marathon saw an increase in participation by more than 150 runners with the addition of the half-marathon course, and featured runners from across the globe including Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Italy and the U.S. The fifth annual race featured a new single-track route that was environmentally friendly, following the principals of Leave No Trace, the center for outdoor ethics. Adidas Outdoor plans to support the event next year, remaining the title sponsor.

“There was more to the Aspen marathon than just participation; it was the overall experience for the runners,” continued Thomsen. “We have partnered with the city of Aspen for a few years now, and are working together to help introduce consumers and outdoor enthusiasts to this uniquely beautiful mountain town during the summer months. Events like the Aspen Backcountry Marathon are just the beginning of what we plan to do together in the future.”