Fourth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series Kicks Off

Sponsored by La Sportiva, the Trail Runner Trophy Series, the world’s largest off-road running series, got underway on March 3 with four races in Indiana, Arizona and Maryland. Now in its fourth year, the 2007 Series encompasses over 115 races from March 1 to September 30. Over 20,000 Trophy Series participants earn points for completing events as well as bonus points for top age-group or overall placing. Runners clash in two divisions: (1) marathon and shorter and (2) ultramarathon (including any races longer than 26.2 miles—the marathon distance). The new website, www.TrailRunnermag.com, houses Series news and highlights

Trophy Series participants compete for valuable prizes from sponsors, such as credits towards trail-running shoes from La Sportiva and a chance to become an honorary member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team. The winner of this honorary position will receive four pairs of La Sportiva trail-running shoes and a team apparel package including socks, headlamp, singlet, t-shirt, shorts, warm-up jacket and headwear.

Goodie bags filled with great products and coupons from Injinji, Julbo, Kahtoola, Mont-bell, Spenco and Petzl are awarded to the top male and female finishers in each age group. The season’s male and female Trail Runners of the Year in the marathon-and-under and ultramarathon categories will be featured in Trail Runner’s December issue.

To serve the 20,000 Trophy Series participants and growing trail-running community at large, Trail Runner magazine launched a new website earlier this month. A digital supplement to the seven-year-old publication, the new www.trailrunnermag.com is a one-stop shop for trail running enthusiasts, competitive trail runners, trail-race directors and running-store retailers. A dedicated section of the website will host Series overall point standings, monthly news reports and prizes.

As the leading publication for one of North America’s fastest growing sports (40 million participants according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation’s 2006 report), Trail Runner features in-depth editorial and compelling photography that informs, entertains and inspires readers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors and improve their health and fitness through the sports of trail running, adventure racing and snowshoeing. With paid circulation growing 125% in four years, a new website dedicated to all facets of the sport was the next logical step in Trail Runner’s continued support of the trail running community.

For nearly 80 years, La Sportiva has been leading in technical outdoor-footwear innovation and design. We do this because we believe. We believe your trail-running shoes should never come between you and the planet—they should ground you to it. La Sportiva is always inventing, always rethinking, always dreaming. Trail runners ourselves, we recognize the thin line between dream and belief. And then we erase it by designing the best shoes on the planet. www.sportiva.com.

For more information about the Trail Runner Trophy Series, contact Elinor Fish, Associate Editor at 970-704-1442, extension 12, or email: efish@bigstonepub.com For more information about La Sportiva, contact Kristin Carpenter-Ogden of Verde PR at 970-259-3555 or email: kco@verdepr.com