Alta announced it had finalized its 2021 Elite Ambassador Team with Ryan Montgomery and Justin Grunewald. Throughout this year’s sponsorship, each of the 20 ambassador athletes will represent Altra at events and on social media, share their experiences and wear Altra footwear for training and competition.
Montgomery is preparing for a 100-mile race while coaching and empowering runners. Completing his first marathon at 15, Montgomery has since broken the 13-hour mark for the 100-mile distance in the USATF 2019 National Championships, qualified for Team USA in the 2021 24-hour Championships and competed in other mountain races in Altra shoes.
“As a dynamic ultrarunner who loves running all terrains, I am excited to join Altra’s Elite Ambassador Team and have their support on the roads and trails and walking into client meetings,” said Montgomery.
Grunewald lost his wife to cancer and worked to overcome his grief through running and working with his nonprofit, Brave Like Gabe. With aspirations to be a 100-mile race expert, Altra’s technical footwear options provided Grunewald to descend steep mountains and achieve long distances. Grunewald set the Afton 50K and Wild Duluth 50K course records and won local Minnesota 50K races. He is currently training for the CCC of UTMB.
“As I hope to transition into longer, bigger mountain races, I know Altra will support me in all my running aspirations,” Grunewald said.
Altra’s Elite Athlete Team also includes marathon runner and activist Jordan Daniel, Olympian Alysia Montaño, Olympian Kara Goucher, trail coach Kriste Peoples, podcast host Tina Muir, new mom and ultrarunner Amanda Basham, mental health advocate and ultrarunner Meredith Edwards, and Hall of Fame mountain biker Rebecca Rusch.
“We are so proud of our Elite team,” said Shanna Burnette, head of Altra’s global community and partnerships. “Each athlete fully embodies Altra’s values and has overcome boundaries while they continue to pursue their goals.”
Photo courtesy Altra
