The American Trail Running Association (ATRA) has announced a new program for 2019 – Spotlight on Specialty presented by Saucony. This program will showcase specialty run and outdoor retail stores focusing on their commitment to trail running as evidenced through programs, brand inclusion, events and more, said the trade group.
Each month on the Trail News section of ATRA’s website, a specialty run or outdoor retail store will be featured to include contact information and location, years in business, and trail running programs or events the store organizes or supports. One of the goals of the program is to share innovative and successful programs and ideas that have helped grow and support the trail running community in the specialty run space.
“In this modern time of online shopping, locally-owned businesses have been feeling the impact in their cash registers,” said ATRA executive director Nancy Hobbs. “Through this new program presented by our friends at Saucony, we hope consumers see the value of run specialty and shop locally and support the many programs offered in their trail running communities.”
“At Saucony, we believe in the transformative power of running, and our specialty run and outdoor retail partners are the torchbearers of all the goodness that running brings,” said Anne Cavassa, president of Saucony. “These specialty retailers sell more than shoes; they create a space where runners can call home, a place where the local trail running community can share their off-road experiences and trail-running spirit. We’re honored to join forces with ATRA to further help grow and support the all-important specialty run space and trail running community.”
Added ATRA president Adam W. Chase, “At last year’s Austin-based The Running Event ATRA hosted a panel of specialty running shoe stores and the discussion emphasized trail running successes. From that esteemed panel we learned the importance of community events and how a local shop can become the epicenter and gathering place for trail runners. Hopefully Spotlight on Specialty presented by Saucony can serve a similar place for sharing and allow running retailers to learn from one another and help to grow their local communities of trail runners.”
Running stores featured through Spotlight on Specialty presented by Saucony, can be members of ATRA at the single track level or higher. Included in the single track level is a new sub category – Specialty Run. Members at this level will be listed on ATRA’s home page under this new category.
