SKORA Introduces Ambassador Team: 21 Running Experts Who Didn’t All Start That Way
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SKORA, Inc, the innovative maker of premium, lightweight performance running footwear proudly introduces the SKORA Ambassador team. A collection of 21 athletes from all walks of life, who are passionate about running, and especially natural running. Read more about the SKORA Ambassador team at http://skorarunning.com/who/ambassadors/
“SKORA’s Ambassador Team is comprised of expert runners, but they didn’t all start that way,” said Tyler Hurst, SKORA Ambassador Team Manager. “We look for people who are emotionally connected to running and to the SKORA brand. We especially like working with running shop staff, who see all kinds of issues, people and product.”
“The point of Team SKORA is to engage with all runners, not just elites,” said David Sypniewski, Founder and CEO of SKORA. “Running is for everyone. We want to help people Love Their Run Again, and our Ambassadors are an amazing part of our outreach to help accomplish this goal. It also allows us to continue proactively cross-promoting with running shops, supporting our retailers and providing a service to the consumer.”
ADAM SIERAKOWSKI
Baltimore, MD. 8th triathlon season, with dozens of Olympic and Half-Iron distance races. Hopes to make the jump to the overall podium this season, “as I have been spending less time sidelined by injury, thanks in part to embracing minimalist running”. Attends John Hopkins University, working towards a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).
Follow: mannotmachinery.wordpress.com
TEAM SKORA
ALEX BRIDGEFORTH
Began training for first marathon in January 2011 after almost failing a two mile test for the Army and vowing to never be that slow again. Completed first 50-mile ultra marathon on December 8th, 2012.
Follow: addicted2running.com
Instagram: @alexbridgeforth
Twitter: @alexbridgeforth
ANDREW MCLEAN
“You know you are a shoe nerd when you can name the kind of shoe based on tread pattern. What I like most about my line of work is the connection all of us as runners have. Whether someone is training for their first 5K, or an upcoming 100 miler, they all have their stories. I find minimal shoes makes running fun again for people. Running goes from being a chore, to a new exciting experience as they retrain their feet and legs to operate as nature intended.”
BEN GREENFIELD
Owner of the Superhuman Coach Network, host of “Get-Fit Guy”, blogger at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and practitioner and wellness coach at WellnessFX. Greenfield is also a frequent contributor to LAVA magazine, Fox News, AskMen.com, the Huffington Post, PTOntheNet, OutThere magazine, and other popular triathlon, fitness, and nutrition publications and websites.
Follow: bengreenfieldfitness.com
Facebook.com/bengreenfieldfitness
BRADY BENNETT
Recently married (just finished one year!) biochemist, runner, triathlete, writer, amateur photographer, and outdoor enthusiast. Running competitively since the age of 14 and for Berry College. Now working on a Masters of Public Health degree before medical school with a goal of starting medical clinics in the third world that seek to provide the same level of care seen in the United States but also provide a haven of emotional and spiritual relief as well.
Follow: Facebook.com/brady.bennett.77
BRIAN FISHER
“For me, running is a journey.” Trained and competed in North Carolina, New York State, and New Zealand. Passionate about local beer and anything fermented. “Simplifying my running by wearing SKORA shoes; they become an extension of my feet rather than a modification.”
Follow: twobackpacksoneworld.com
Facebook.com/twobackpacksoneworld
COURTNEY MELIA
20-year-old triathlete studying Middle School Math and Science Education. Started triathlon career at 12 years old. Competed on HS cross-country, swim and crew teams. Competed at the State Championships in cross-country and swimming and qualified for the 2011 USAT Collegiate National Championships.
Follow: cgirltri92.blogspot.com
DAVID REESE
Husband, father of two young girls, full-time student, part-time personal trainer, landscape architect, and ultra-marathon runner. “My ultra-runner mom signed me up for the Lake Chelan half marathon in an effort to channel excess energy in 2009. After running my first mountain ultra trail race I was hooked. Ultra-distance trail running defines me as a person: motivated, tough, reckless, and passionate about nature. That is how my running adventures began, and I hope the adventure never ends.”
Follow: reesesrun.blogspot.com
ERIN NIELSON
“Minimal shoes opened my eyes to purposeful movement and listening to the messages my body was sending, improving my form, and racing times. Furthermore, hip pain that plagued me for years while training disappeared when I switched to minimal shoes.” M.S. in Health Promotion, certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, enjoyer of group fitness classes from Kickboxing to Pilates and employee at Born to Run, a minimalist running store in Seattle. Favorite race distance: Half marathon.
Follow: healthyandhappy.wordpress.com
JARED FAYER
With a job as sales manager for a medical device company Fayer is constantly on the road and looking out for new locations to do some type of training. “It’s always fun to discover a new place to go out for a run in a city that I didn’t know. I’d say running is by far my first love because it’s just me and the road where I can throw on some sunglasses and zone out while training.” Restlessly waiting for the day when he can run a race with his young son.
Follow: trirunningdad.blogspot.com
KEITH LEVASSEUR
“In 2008, I decided it was time to get into shape to avoid continuing to buy bigger sized clothes. The first mile was painful, but with persistence it wasn’t long until I was able to run a few miles.”
Since then, Levasseur has run well over a hundred races spanning all distances, from 1 mile (4:58) to 100 miles. Favorite distance: Marathon and ultra distances
Follow: Facebook.com/klevasseurrun
KYLE KRANZ
“During my freshmen year of high school I was wearing size 42 pants and weighed 230 pounds and depressed. Years earlier I had been in a car accident. In the past I had been quite athletic, but was reduced to having constant back pain for 2 years. I was never teased in front of my face, but behind my back I’d catch remarks from classmates and even relatives. I was “big Kyle”. The mental and physical pain I was very hard for me.”
Now Kranz is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a degree in Clinical Nutrition with Dietetics Specialization, has run thousands of miles, biked across North Dakota, finished an Ironman triathlon, and ran 100 miles in a single day.
Follow: RunningOnTheWhiteLine.com
KYNDRA HOLLEY
Runs the website www.peaceloveandlowcarb.com, twice published cookbook author who is passionate about living a low-carb, primal lifestyle and helping others to eat healthier and lose weight in the process. Working towards becoming a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. “I have managed to put off over 50 pounds and am continuing to work on conditioning and toning. With each pound I lost, I gained a little more self-worth. I began to feel empowered and passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and really start pushing myself to achieve goals that I hadn’t thought possible when I was overweight and unhealthy.”
Follow: peaceloveandlowcarb.com
Facebook.com/peaceloveandlowcarb
MAX PETERSON
“It is incredible how other things in life go better for you when you find a passion and you find out about yourself and the limits of your body. I fell in love with ultra distance, and spending that much time on your feet, you really get to learn about your body and your feet most importantly. I switched over to minimalist shoes because in the minimalist shoe you actually get to connect with nature and feel the amazing benefits of the ground and the natural forces that the earth allows for you. “
Follow: beyondthepavement.blogspot.com
MICHAEL MEDANICH
After suffering a knee injury and full ACL reconstructive surgery, Medanich was steered to triathlon, and was able to compete in the Ironman tri in Galveston about a year and a half later, which proved to be enough inspiration to keep running real.
Follow: Facebook.com/michael.medanich
NICK LOGAN
Like many other triathletes, Logan was instantly hooked on the sport of triathlon and since then, has competed in over 80 running races and 60 triathlons; including 4 Ironman’s and most recently qualifying for Team USA at the 2012 national championships. USA Cycling Level 3 Certificate and USAT level 2 coach.
After suffering running injuries from wearing bulky footwear early my career as prescribed by health professionals, I switched to wearing lighter more flexible shoes after reading Born to Run and doing some of my own research. Now, I strongly believe that minimalist footwear is essential to avoiding injuries and strengthening the body and I stress that with my clients.
Follow: endurancefilms.com/racingteam/author/nicklogan/
PEYTON HOYAL
2009 Track & Field All-American in the Marathon Event. Training to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials. Australian Institute of Sport Certified coach. Currently Distance Learning Coordinator and Head Middle School Track Coach Watauga High School in Boone, NC.
Follow: pulseracingteam.blogspot.com
STEVEN STAM
English teacher, writer, and Track/Cross Country coach in Jacksonville, Florida. “In 2010 I embraced the minimalist running movement and went from a life of hard training followed by injury-induced breaks, to injury free, real running and in the past year have completed four marathons. In addition to longer distances, I run numerous races ranging up from mile sizzlers, but can be found most days chasing after high school runners during practice.“
Follow: Facebook.com/steven.stam
TAYLOR BLACK
“During the day I run Fizzy Media and teach the LSAT and GMAT for Kaplan Test Preparation. I have been minimalist running as long as I have been a runner, thanks to reading Huckleberry Finn. I didn’t start running as an intentional pursuit until graduate school in Boston, both as a way of learning the city and decompressing from long days of study. Somewhere on those winding city streets I fell in love with long distance.”
Follow: taylorblack.org
TAYLOR GUPTON
My passion for the sport and successful training helped me earn a scholarship to run cross-country and track in college. Gupton trains in the beautiful High Country region of North Carolina and competes at a high level today, significantly improving PRs and inspiring others along the way.
TYLER HURST
When not busy taking pictures of feet for Instagram, you can find Tyler reviewing hard cider and finding cool Portland things to do for freelance writing projects. A mini-celebrity on Twitter, Hurst is tied in with audiences covering many topics. Moving from SKORA ambassador to Brand Evangelist, Hurst works in the field to produce events and spearhead relationships in the Pacific Northwest.
Follow: tdhurst.com
SKORA Links:
SKORA: http://www.skorarunning.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RunReal
Twitter: @SKORARunning
About SKORA: Based in Portland, Oregon, SKORA builds premium, lightweight performance running footwear that encourage a more bio-mechanically correct, natural stride. The distinctive look and feel of SKORA footwear is based on the function and benefit of a minimalist design philosophy we call Run Real. For more information on SKORA visit www.skorarunning.com.
Media Contact:
Alli Noland
Terra PR
307-733-8777
