Everyone, it’s time to ramp up your training! I discovered Altra running thanks to my good friend and am excited to announce my new partnership with them! To celebrate, every participant at Rusch Academy: Gravel Less Traveled cycling camp will walk away with a new pair of Altra trail running shoes and an exclusive neck guard, an exclusive Assos Trail Jersey, a Sea To Summit Lightweight Dry Sack (just like the ones I used during my Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 race), a Feed Zone cook book, and MUCH MORE!
Registration is filling up! Join me June 5–9 for a cycling camp like no other to unlock your mental and physical performance potential!
March 26th, 2019
(Logan, UT – March 26, 2019)
Altra is excited to sign seven-time World Champion athlete Rebecca Rusch to its Elite Team. Rusch is known for her athleticism across multiple sports, including mountain biking, adventure racing, whitewater rafting and climbing. She is also a best-selling author, columnist, event producer, motivational speaker, firefighter and activist.
“I discovered Altra thanks to my good friend, and now fellow teammate, Emma Roca,” Rusch said. “I ran with her and admired how smooth her running gait was as I watched her shoes lightly touch down on the trails. On our way home she said to me, ‘you run well, but you can relax more and you need better shoes.’ We talked about Altra and the reasons she loves them—FootShape™ toe box and plenty of cushioning for ultras. Emma and I have both experienced how your feet take a beating during events like adventure races if you don’t have the right shoes. If your feet aren’t happy, the rest of you can’t go forward. Emma’s recommendation was good enough for me and I’ve only worn Altra on the trails since that day.”
Over her three decade career, Rusch has gained many awards, accolades and titles. Some highlights include: first person to ride the entire length of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, four-time Leadville 100 mountain bike champion, first female ascent rock climbing El Capitan in Yosemite, summited Mt. Kilimanjaro by bike, course record on the Kokopelli Trail with a time of 13:32:06, voted Outside Magazine’s “Top 40 Women Who’ve Made the Biggest Impact” in 2017 and Men’s Journal “23 Most Adventurous Women in the Past 25 Years” in 2017.
Along with her athletic accomplishments, Rusch has also written a best-selling book, made an award-winning documentary and started a charity. Her book Rusch to Glory tells her personal story of how she abandoned a predictable life to wander the world and become one of the greatest female endurance athletes. Her film Blood Road is about the emotional journey she took in 2015 as she pedaled 1,200 miles on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in search of the crash site that claimed the life of her father during the Vietnam War. Rusch also recently launched the Be Good™ Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports unexploded bombs (UXO) clearance in Lao, protects public lands–our playgrounds–and helps fund other important efforts to use the bicycle for positive impact.
As a new member of the Altra Elite Team, Rusch is excited to represent the brand during her racing, hosting and speaking events. Some of her 2019 schedule includes the Sea Otter Classic in April, Red Bull Project, #JointheRusch Ride and a Blood Road screening in May, Dirty Kanza XL and Rusch Academy Gravel Less Traveled training camp in June, Rebecca’s Private Idaho and The Queen’s Stage Race in August, a ROAM Retreat in October along with more big expeditions and adventures planned in the Fall.
Since her run with Emma Roca, Rusch quickly became a fan of the Lone Peak for her training and racing needs across multiple sports.
“My favorite trail shoe is the Lone Peak 4 thanks to its cushioning that supports long days on your feet, but doesn’t feel clunky or cumbersome,” Rusch said. “This shoe has great trail grip on mixed surfaces, space for your toes to spread out and a fit that stays put but doesn’t bind. Wearing these kind of feels like supportive freedom for your feet. That’s the best way I can describe it.”
She’s also become a big fan of the Altra Escalante 1.5 for the roads and the Altra Vali for everyday wear and as her go-to travel shoe.
Learn more about Rusch’s events and appearances through #JoinTheRusch and follow the Team Altra Facebook page to stay updated on her accomplishments.
About Altra
While working at a running store, Altra founder Golden Harper was frustrated that modern running shoe technology caused poor running form and had not decreased running injuries. His passion to create a shoe that followed the science produced Altra’s FootShape™ toe box, Zero Drop™ platform and Fit4Her™ female-specific shoes. Since its founding in 2011, Harper and co-founder Brian Beckstead have grown Altra from one to 30 shoe styles, winning multiple Editor’s Choice awards and distribution in more than 60 countries. Join the conversation @AltraRunning and #ZeroLimits on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Contact: Colleen Logan, VP Marketing, clogan@iconfitness.com