ALTRA Footwear continues sponsorship of Runner’s World Half & Festival

The following press release is from ATRA Switchback Corporate Member ALTRA Footwear. ATRA will be attending the 2016 Runner’s World Half & Festival on Oct. 14-16, 2016 in Bethlehem, PA.

ALTRA Footwear Signs Long-Term Extension with Runner’s World To Continue as Presenting Sponsor of Runner’s World Half & Festival

EMMAUS, PA – January 7, 2016 – Runner’s World and ALTRA Footwear have reached an agreement for the innovative shoe brand to remain as presenting sponsor of the Runner’s World Half & Festival through 2020. ALTRA, the innovators of biomechanically inspired footwear designed to enhance natural running technique, first signed on as the presenting sponsor for the 2012 inaugural event.

The fifth annual Runner’s World Half is planned for Oct. 14-16, 2016 in Bethlehem, PA. Bethlehem is nine miles from Emmaus, where Runner’s World’s parent company, Rodale Inc., is headquartered.

“We are proud to have partnered with Runner’s World since the inaugural Runner’s World Half & Festival, said Brian Beckstead, ALTRA’s Vice President of Sales. “The event provides a unique platform for ALTRA to present our products and concepts to an influential running audience and it’s been beneficial to us during our early growth years. The addition of the ALTRA Trail Run in 2015 was the next step in our partnership, and we look forward to what ALTRA and Runner’s World can imagine together during the next five years.”

The Runner’s World Half & Festival originated with a Kids Run, 5-K, 10-K and half marathon in 2012. In 2013, the Dog Run debuted, and in 2015 the event added the 3.8 mile ALTRA Trail Run presented by REI. The total mileage of the four road races is 26.2 miles, the distance of a marathon.

“ALTRA has been an excellent partner right from the start. They have been at the center of our annual celebration of running that the Festival was created to be.” said Runner’s World Publisher Molly O’Keefe. “Their love of the sport and their commitment to keeping runners of all abilities healthy and comfortable constantly shines through, in the products they produce and in the way they approach the running public. We’re elated that they will remain our partner in this event for the next five years.”

For more information or to register for any of the races or events, log on to www.RWHalf.com or get instant updates on twitter (@rwhalf) and Facebook (Runner’s World Half & Festival).

About ALTRA

ALTRA Footwear is now the ninth-largest running shoe brand sold in the run specialty channel, after impressive growth from its founding in 2011, according to data from NPD. ALTRA’s running shoe innovations are born from long hard runs in the Wasatch Mountains, just minutes from ALTRA’s Utah headquarters. Founder Golden Harper invented a cushioned Zero Drop shoe and a foot-shaped toe box, features that are now found on every ALTRA shoe. Harper is a former All-American runner who loves to trail race and run to the top of difficult mountain summits. In 2015, Co-founder and VP of Sales Brian Beckstead finished UTMB Ultra Trail Mont Blanc in 518th place out of 2600 starters, then two weeks later placed 71st of 230 starters at the Wasatch 100. ALTRA® Footwear and iFit® technology are registered trademarks of ICON Health & Fitness, the world’s leading health & fitness innovator, based in Logan, Utah. Follow @AltraRunning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and #EmbraceTheSpace and #ZeroLimits.

About Runner’s World

Rodale Inc.’s Runner’s World, the largest and most influential media brand in the running space, is the essential guide for everyone who runs. The brand provides all runners—men and women, from beginners to hardcore marathoners—with the advice and information they need to pursue their goals, the inspiration and entertainment they crave, and a sense of authentic community they won’t find anywhere else. Runner’s World is everywhere its readers and customers are—in print, online, on-screen and on the ground. Through authentic events such as the award-winning Runner’s World VIP program, and the award-winning Runner’s World Half & Festival (www.RWHalf.com), Runner’s World editors forge deep connections and have meaningful interactions with our readers as an organic part of the running community. Runner’s World publishes 18 international editions: Argentina, Australia/New Zealand, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.