A Discussion of the Pros and Cons of Ultrarunner Sponsorship

Below is the fourth and final post in the iRunFar series on ultramarathon sponsorship in 2008. While the three prior posts have covered large ultrarunning teams, smaller ultrarunning teams, and individual ultrarunning sponsorships, this post focuses on how sponsorship of ultramarathoners affects the sponsors, the sport, and the sponsored ultrarunners themselves. Actually, the post itself [...]

2008 Ultrarunning Teams and Sponsors – Individual Sponsorships

This is the third post in the iRunFar series on ultrarunning sponsorship in 2008. This post focuses on sponsorship of individual ultrarunners – both elite and not – rather than teams. The two previous focused on largest nation-wide ultrarunning teams and smaller or regional ultrarunning teams. Come back next week for the series’ final post [...]

2008 Ultrarunning Teams and Sponsors – The Small Teams

Here is the second in the iRunFar series on ultrarunning sponsorship in 2008. While the previous post focused on the largest nation-wide ultrarunning teams, this post will focus on smaller nationwide teams as well as a few local trail running squads. Next week’s report will focus on individual sponsors for both elite and non-elite ultrarunners [...]

2008 Ultrarunning Sponsorship: The Big Teams

The scope and nature of ultrarunner sponsorship has changed greatly in 2008. One primary cause of this change is the former 800-pound gorilla of ultrarunner sponsorship, Montrail, greatly reduced the size of their team. That change is in large part responsible for the significant trend towards sponsorship focusing more narrowly on elite ultramarathoners. Another trend [...]

Wasatch Speed Goat Racing Team

Beginning in 2009 (if not sooner), the Wasatch Speed Goat Racing Team will join the ranks of sponsored ultrarunning teams. To join the team, runners will need to have 6 races on their schedule including at least 100 miler. According to Scott Mason, WSGRT Captain and top goat over at the Wasatch Speed Goat blog, [...]

Size of Montrail-Nathan Ultrarunning Team Reduced for 2008

Beginning in 2008, the Montrail-Nathan running team will be reduced from its current size of nearly 90 runners to 15 or 20. I am one of the many who will not be returning to the team next year. While I have heard the future team status of a few M-N teammates, I will let those [...]