Relentless Forward Progress: Pearl iZUMi and Much More Contest

With a long background in high performance cycling apparel, Pearl iZUMi has made a strong push into the the running world. Now, not only do PI make great running clothes, they also make exceptional road and trail running shoes. If you win this contest, you’ll have the good fortunate of trying both PI apparel and shoes. This contest is also chock full of other great prizes from Ryders Eyewear, RoadID, GU Energy, Hydrapak, and Alter G.

We hope you don’t mind that this is the fourth in a week’s long series of giveaways to celebrate the launch of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons. (Feel free to spread the word.)

Today, we’re kicking things off with the Pearl iZUMi synchroFuel, the Boulder company’s swiftest and most responsive trail runner. It weighs in at 10.5 ounces and features a seamless upper. Rumor is it’s insanely comfortable. You should also check out PI’s other trail shoes … as well as their road shoes. It’s still snowy up here in the Wasatch Mountains, so I’m spending some time in my sleek PI Streak II road runners and am loving them.

Pearl iZUMi’s Phase technical top is a relaxed fit, highly wicking run layer with 50+ SPF with direct vent mesh panels. It’d be great for that warm, bright day sometime in the future when the sun may shine in up here in Park City. At $33, it’s also a piece that everyone can afford. The winner will get to pair the Phase top up with PI’s Infinity LD Short for his or her long trail runs. It has sweet pockets, including two front holster pockets with velcro tabs, and, in the back, two zippered pockets. Sweet! The Infinity LD Short’s Minerale liner dries 50% faster than regular performance poly. The short also has reflective elements, as any good trail short should.

Ryders Eyewear is Karl Meltzer’s choice for sunglasses. Need I say more? Too bad – I will. Ryders makes some great sunglasses and keeps them quite affordable. It’s hard to beat their price/performance value. For example, Ryder’s Nitrous, which the winner will receive, ranges from $40 for the base options to a max of $70 for the photochromic versions. The Nitrous has great airflow, a medium fit, and a blizzard of options, from interchangeable to photochromic to polarized lenses. Ryders also makes a ton of other great trail running sunglass options, including my favorite, the Shot, which I wear in both basic (when I’ll be on the roads or otherwise mostly out in the open) and photochromic options.

On the nutrition front, the winner is going to get to try the whole span of GU Energy products with a GU Performance Energy Sampler containing every GU product available (except GU’s brand new GU Brew Electrolyte Tabs). That means trying GU Brew, Chomps, gels and Roctane. You won’t catch me out on a long run without a handful of GU Energy products.

If you’re looking to combine fueling and hydration, look no further than Hydrapak‘s Gel-bot. The groundbreaking Gel-bot is a waterbottle with a gel reservoir in middle. It’s a waterbottle that shoots gel OR water OR water AND gel at the same time. That’s right, the Gel-Bot from Hydrapak is the James Bond of water bottles, using a patented (and simple and easily-cleaned) system to deliver your calories as well as your hydration. Don’t take my word for it: take Nathan Yanko’s.

We may think we’re in control on the trail… but sh!t happens. Yes, it’s VERY low probability, but you could go unconscious on the trail. I’ve seen a buddy go unresponsive after a fall in the Tetons and shudder to think what would have happened if I’d not been there. So, you really, really need a Trail ID Road ID. Speaking of which, I really need to get one myself before I start ramping up my mileage. These days, the company’s even linking Road IDs to internet-based info, so you can easily update your contact info any time.

While unfortunate, most ultrarunners end up injured from time to time. Often the best way back from an injury is to run, but if you’re still injured, you can’t run. The AlterG might just be the answer. This product, developed by NASA scientists, is a phenomenal piece of equipment: an anti-gravity treadmill that adjustably takes up to 80% of your body weight while you run. If you win, you get the option to go for a free ten-minute trial run at a participating installation.

Finally, the winner will receive an iRunFar Headsweats hat to keep him or her comfortable and stylish year-round.

How To Enter
CONTEST CLOSED 6 a.m. MDT Thursday, May 5. Congrats to Mariko of Portland, OR for winning this awesome contest!

[Note: Styles and sizes are subject to availability. Fear not, the winner will be well taken care of!]

Related articles:

1. Relentless Forward Progress: Salomon and Julbo Contest A contest with Salomon and Julbo to celebrate the launch of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons....
2. Relentless Forward Progress: Mizuno and More Contest A contest with Mizuno, CamelBak, and GoMotion to celebrate the launch of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons....
3. Relentless Forward Progress: Montrail and Mountain Hardwear Contest A Montrail/Mountain Hardwear contest to celebrate the launch of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons....

Filed under Contests · Tagged with Alter-G, Gu, Hydrapak, Pearl Izumi, RoadID, Ryders

Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell