ElliptiGO Project Athlete Makes Colorado Running Hall of Fame

San Diego, Calif. (March 17, 2014)— The ElliptiGO Project, a group of elite athletes focused on using innovative training tools and techniques to improve performance, today announced that Simon Gutierrez will be inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame on April 9th, 2014. One of the first athletes to join the Project in 2012, Gutierrez has had an exceptional mountain running career that includes winning the Mount Washington Road Race and the Pikes Peak Ascent three times each. He has been the Masters Mountain Running World Champion three times and a member of the USA World Mountain Running Championship team a remarkable seven times.

Gutierrez’s inspiring career was nearly cut short in 2010 when he suffered complications from a common knee surgery. In the months that followed, he almost lost his leg and was told he would never run again. After subsequent rehabilitative work, Simon improved the health of his leg up to the point where he could exercise again. “That’s when I started using the elliptical machine because it allowed me to perform weight-bearing activity without any impact on my knee,” said Gutierrez. “Six weeks later I learned about the ElliptiGO and went for a ride. I couldn’t believe it – I could push myself but had no pain at all. It was a truly magical moment because I felt like I was running, something I never imagined I’d do again.”

Gutierrez continued to cross-train heavily on the ElliptiGO, defying the odds and making a triumphant return to racing in 2011. That year, even though he hadn’t been able to train at his usual running intensities or volume for nearly two years, Gutierrez surprised himself and his supporters by besting his 2009 Pikes Peak Ascent time by more than three minutes. He has continued to defy the odds, not only with his return to running, but by outperforming elite competitors nearly half his age.

“We’re thrilled that the Colorado Running Hall of Fame is officially recognizing Simon and his numerous achievements,” stated Bryan Pate, Co-Founder of ElliptiGO. “To win the Pikes Peak Ascent or Mt. Washington once could be the pinnacle of someone’s career and he’s done it three times each. He’s truly had a remarkable career and he continues to impress us every time he races. We’re proud to be a part of his story and look forward to helping him get to more starting lines healthy and ready to race.”

The Colorado Running Hall of Fame recognizes Coloradans for their remarkable achievement and influence on the sport of distance running. The 8th annual induction ceremony and reception will be held on Wednesday, April 9th at the Denver Athletic Club with Olympic running legend Frank Shorter, an inductee in the inaugural 2007 class, as the keynote speaker.

The ElliptiGO Project is currently recruiting elite athletes with ambitious goals who are interested in exploring innovative new ways of getting faster and staying healthy. For more information about The Project, visit the website at www.theelliptigoproject.com.

About The ElliptiGO Project
The ElliptiGO Project exists to make runners faster through innovation. It is currently growing membership, adding new innovative running tools, and affiliating with other organizations that share the same goal of improving athletes’ performance through innovation. The Project tests new training techniques through competition, both on the track and on the road, and reports its findings with candor. www.theelliptigoproject.com

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Media Contact:
Erika Dessert
erika@elliptigo.com
858.876.8677