361 Degrees is challenging the run specialty retailer community with the launch of ‘The 361 Cup’, the first official retail racing league. Kicking off mid-2019, the league will be comprised of teams from run specialty retailers who will compete at local races over an eight-month period to win the opportunity to run the final race in early 2020 and take home the coveted $50,000+ prize purse.
The 361 Cup will be hosted at a California location, 361’s home base, with the location being announced at The Running Event in Austin, TX on November 28.
The purse of $50,000 has the potential to increase as the number of teams participating increases. The initial goal will be to have 50 teams participate and with every incremental team that enters, an additional $1000 will be added to the purse.
The league will officially kick off on June 1, 2019 and go through January 30, 2020. To participate, teams must be formed from a pre-qualified 361 Degrees run specialty retailer in the U.S. and Canada and comprised of a minimum two men and two women. The teams will need to race a minimum of two verifiable chipped 5K races, with their aggregated time being submitted for the chance to be one of six teams flown to California for the final 5K race.
“We are excited to kick off the first-ever retail racing league for our industry. Our goal is to excite and create competition within the run specialty market cumulating in the opportunity for several athletes to win some hard-earned cash and serious bragging rights,” said Ike Alvear, head of sales for 361 Degrees.
The secret to winning the cup is the creativity and tactical maneuvers of the teams. The teams will have the opportunity to bring one non-employee to the team, aka “the ringer.” Team members will receive a 361-Degrees racing kit and retailers will receive special in-store POS materials promoting the 361 Cup, shout-outs to the teams via social media and a healthy dose of competitive spirit.
“The $50,000 purse to the winning team puts the money directly into the hands of the people who need it most, the young athletes. The young people who are working full or part time to fund their passion of running and who are not otherwise getting any support, or very little, and could benefit greatly,” said “The Comish” Scott Dvorak, owner of Charlotte Running Company.
