Vail, Colorado to Host the Ultra Race of Champions (UROC) in 2013

October 3, 2012, Charlottesville, VA—The Ultra Race of Champions (UROC), the championship event for the sport of ultra distance running announced today that the event will be moving to Vail, Colorado in 2013.

The concept of a World Championship that rotates its venue is well known to the world of sports, with the Olympics being the most prominent, but it is completely unprecedented in the world of ultra distance running. As the championship event for the sport, the Ultra Race of Champions (UROC) presented by Competitor Magazine is larger than a single course or a single location. This move to Vail, and the future prospect of other iconic locations in the United States and abroad, solidifies the Ultra Race of Champions as the ultra running championship and once again, moves the sport forward.

“We are very excited about this move” says Gill, the Ultra Race of Champions Race Director. “Vail is an iconic location with a vibrant mountain culture and experience in hosting World Championships. Part of the mission of the Ultra Race of Champions is to showcase the most beautiful places in the United States and the World that make this sport so unique. Vail could not be a better backdrop for the 2013 race.”

With Vail Village as the finish location, Gill and Dr. Francesca Conte went to work designing the best possible course. “The course that we have laid out is a point-to-point course,” says Dr. Conte. “It will start in Breckenridge, run through historic downtown Frisco, Copper Mountain ski area, downtown Minturn and finish in Vail Village. The beauty of the course is unprecedented, and having these spectacular locations as media and spectators hubs, reinforces our mission to maintain the race as media and spectator friendly.” “We have been overwhelmed by the support of these Colorado communities” says Gill. “Colorado was the next logical move for us, as many elite athletes live and train there.” The race organizers want to emphasize that the move to Vail is contingent upon US Forest Service permit approval.

“As the region’s destination marketing organization charged in part with event recruiting, we could not be more thrilled to be selected as the location for the finish of the Ultra Race of Champions. This event is a wonderful fit with both our outdoor recreation as well as our health & wellbeing focus” says Chris Romer, executive director of the Vail Valley Partnership. “September is a wonderful time in the Vail Valley and we are happy that both Minturn and Vail were selected to be key components of this race.” The office of Congressman Jared Polis is also in support of Vail as the location for the 2013 Ultra Race of Champions, since the race reflects Colorado’s mission for a healthy lifestyle.

Gill and Dr. Conte have big plans for the Ultra Race of Champions (UROC). This move to Colorado is only the first step, and they hint it will not be the last one. “We are looking far into the future” says Dr. Conte. “A rotating Championship will definitely be in our mission moving forward, and we are always looking for the locations which will best represent the race and the sport itself.” Gill and Dr. Conte have the support of some of the most influential elite athletes in the sport. The Ultra Race of Champions Elite Advisory Council, comprised of Geoff Roes, Dave Mackey, Ellie Greenwood, Ian Sharman, Michael Wardian and Devon Crosby-Helms has been instrumental in the continued success of the race. “Their expertise has really helped us to take this race to the next step, and we can’t thank all of them enough” says Gill. The partnership with Competitor magazine has also greatly contributed to UROC’s success and popularity. “Competitor magazine has brought UROC to a whole new, wider audience,” says Dr. Conte. “We value this partnership because of the great reach of Competitor magazine and we look forward to building upon it in 2013.”

“Having the Ultra Race of Champions in rotating venues is a great idea,” says Brian Metzler, editor in chief of Competitor Magazine. “It will provide an entirely different set of variables — including terrain, altitude and weather — for both elite and recreational runners to deal with, and that’s one of the core tenets of ultrarunning. Central Colorado offers pristine trail running terrain and the point-to-point format of the course from Breckenridge to Vail should be enticing to both runners and spectators alike.”

The date for the 2013 event will be September 28th, pending US Forest Service permit approval. The race is open to everyone. Elite athletes interested in competing at the 2013 Ultra Race of Champions (UROC) should contact Gill at gillbadtothebone@gmail.com or Geoff Roes at grroes@yahoo.com. Companies interested in sponsoring the 2013 Ultra Race of Champions (UROC) should contact Cynthia Bruggeman: cynthia@speckled-hound.com. For more information about the race, please visit www.ultraroc.com



About the Ultra Race of Champions

The goal of the Ultra Race of Champions is to create the Championship Event for the sport of Ultra Distance Running. Elite runners are invited based on the recommendations of a UROC advisory panel and their performances at key events in the sport all over the world. Elite runners are also invited based on the recommendations of the Ultra Race of Champions Elite Advisory Council. The UROC Elite Advisory Council includes some of the best ultra runners from around the World: Geoff Roes, Dave Mackey, Ellie Greenwood, Michael Wardian, Devon Crosby-Helms and Ian Sharman. www.ultraroc.com



About Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports

By directing premiere road and trail events Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports strives to motivate runners of all backgrounds to challenge themselves. For over 11 years, Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports events have reflected owners Gill and Francesca’s decades-long knowledge and passion for running. www.badtothebone.biz

About Competitor Magazine

Celebrating 25 years, Competitor magazine is the world’s leading voice of endurance athletics. Competitor engages active people from runners to cyclists and outdoors adventurers to fulfill one simple mission: to inspire a healthy, active lifestyle. Competitor empowers readers across the country, with world-class journalism and photography, to become community leaders through their adventurous lifestyle and courageous spirit. For more information about Competitor, including advertising rate cards and editorial calendar, visit CompetitorMediaKit.com. For the latest running news, training advice and more, visit Competitor.com.