GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run Welcomes "The Bachelor", Ryan Sutter

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 12, 2012 - BOULDER, Colo. – The GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run, one of the United States’ most storied trail races, announces it has partnered with GORE RUNNING WEAR™ (www.gorerunningwear.com) to serve as the official outfitter for the August 14 – 19, 2012 race. TransRockies Run has also announced that Ryan Sutter, the original “Bachelor” from the ABC television show, will tackle the event’s six-day race with teammate Johnny LoFaro.

Engineered for road and trail runners, GORE RUNNING WEAR™ utilizes GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® fabrics to design functional and technical running apparel. Four hundred runners and 100 volunteers will receive a jacket with additional product prizes going to the winners of Stage 3 and Stage 6.

A lifelong athlete who has transitioned from professional football to off-road triathlon and trail running, Sutter is also a fire fighter for the Vail Fire department in Vail, Colo. and will be racing on behalf of nature-based rehabilitation organization, First Descents, and HIV-awareness organization, GrassRoot Soccer.

Sutter has participated in some of the country’s most extreme physical challenges in an effort to build awareness, raise money, and inspire others to act. This summer will be no different. In a span of ten days in August, Sutter will complete the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, rest for two short days, and then run the 116 mile GORE-TEX® TransRockies.

“Racing the TransRockies and Leadville ‘double’ will be the most epic 10 days of racing of my life,” Sutter said. “There will be times when I will feel like I simply cannot pedal one more stroke or scurry up any more vertical, but I will have my amazing teammate from the fire department keeping me motivated along with the inspiration of knowing I am contributing to two hugely meaningful charitable organizations.”

For the GORE-TEX® TransRockies run, Sutter and fellow firefighter, LoFaro, will race in GORE® RUNNING WEAR pieces like the X-RUNNING LIGHT AS Jacket, which offers WINDSTOPPER® Active Shell technology for lightweight, maximum breathability and easily compacts to the size of a fist. Sutter and LoFaro will race in footwear sponsor La Sportiva’s Raptor, a lightweight technical trail shoe perfect for every type of terrain.

Race winners will receive the GORE RUNNING WEAR™ ESSENTIAL GT Jacket, which provides durable waterproof and breathable protection with GORE-TEX® fabric technology. Volunteers will receive the MYTHOS SO LIGHT Jacket, with WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell technology, and 360-degree reflectivity.

“Participants of the GORE-TEX® Transrockies Run include a group of driven, adventure-hungry individuals, who need to be prepared for anything, whether they are running or volunteering,” said Kevin King, marketing associate for GORE RUNNING WEAR™ in the U.S. “The jackets are designed with the highest-quality technologies available to protect runners in any environment to make their comfort and performance levels as high as possible. We’re looking forward to another great event.”

Sutter has close personal ties to the organizations for whom he’s running and riding. Founded by Sutter’s friend and former “Survivor” television show star and cancer survivor, Ethan Zohn, GrassRoot Soccer is an organization using soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to stop the spread of HIV. Founded by Brad Ludden, First Descents provides adventure therapy including rock climbing, kayaking and surfing to young adult cancer fighters and survivors. Information about the charities and details about how to make a donation can be found here.

This year’s GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run will cover 116 miles through the Colorado Rockies, beginning in Buena Vista and finishing in the resort community of Beaver Creek. Entries remain open for the individual RUN3 race as well as the six-day team competition. Runners can register at www.transrockies.com.