Soleus, a premier sports watch, GPS and Heart Rate Monitor company, announced Team Soleus Elite headlining with Kara Goucher, Alysia Montaño and Nick Symmonds. The trio will be exclusively wearing the sports watches, GPS and HRM in their training, racing and day-to-day lives.
Soleus is honored to partner with three of the best athletes in the sport that transcend outside of race day. They are all advocates for the sport who not only inspire and motivate but also evoke positive change. At its core, Soleus firmly believes in empowering runners and athletes everywhere to make their moments, not moments pushed by a corporate agenda. Soleus welcomes the athletes as a part of their family, and the team will be there to support Goucher, Montaño and Symmonds individually and collectively. The athletes not only will be a part of the technology input and performance aspects that continue to fulfill the needs of all athletes, but they will also be a part of the design input as well. Soleus has created design forward sports watches that have been at the forefront of their inception since 2009. Their style driven, functional watches have attracted many athletes who value both performance and design aesthetic while maintaining a family based culture focused on authenticity, passion and joy in all they do. The Soleus belief system and dedication to excellence is what attracted the trio to the brand’s family.
“I have been following the three athletes for several years and have the upmost respect for all of them from both an athletic standpoint and a personal one”, said David Arnold, Founder and CEO of Soleus. “The three of them have taken risks in their careers and a stand for the true sport of running, and I cannot image a more perfect trio to represent the true essence of Soleus. I am both humbled and excited to welcome Alysia Montaño, Kara Goucher and Nick Symmonds to Team Soleus.”
Goucher has a successful and ongoing running career alongside being a dedicated wife and mother. Goucher made her marathon debut in New York City in 2008 and placed third. In 2011, she was fifth at Boston with a PR in 2:24:52. She competed in both the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 London Olympics where she placed 11th in the Olympic Marathon. In January of this year, Goucher moved back home to Boulder, Colorado to ramp up her training with college coach, Mark Wetmore and C.U. assistant coach Heather Burroughs. Goucher is the first professional runner to partner with an apparel company and a shoe company in a collaborative environment. She signed with women’s running apparel company Oiselle in March and Skechers Performance running shoes at the beginning of May of this year. With the support from Oiselle, Skechers, Nuun Hydration and Soleus, she will be gearing up for a Fall marathon in addition to pursuing her third Olympics Games.
“I am thrilled to be a part of Team Soleus,” said Goucher. “To me, Soleus means freedom. The products are simple to use, yet have incredible technological elements. They allow you to get out the door and train hard but don’t complicate the process. When you get home from a run, you can easily see your results. And, I absolutely love the messages on the back of watches. It shows that Soleus has soul. They get athletes.”
Montaño is one of the most recognizable track runners of all time in addition to becoming a new mother and welcoming her first child with her husband in August of this year. Montaño is an Olympian, American Record Holder, four-time USA National Champion and World Bronze Medalist. She is a powerful competitor with a vivacious personality and generous spirit. She is most recognized by the flower that she tucks in her hair for every track meet to show her femininity and style while being fierce on the track. When Mary Cain broke the 800m high school record in the Prefontaine Classic in June 2013, Montaño took the signature flower she wears in her hair and placed it in Cain’s hair. A true testament in sportsmanship and generosity that was seen everywhere. Montaño signed with Asics in April 2013 and is excited about the future with Asics and Soleus. Montaño plans on taking time to settle in as a new mom, aid in her charity partners’ foundations and gear up for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Soleus, they are a company that is on the rise in terms of performance innovation of timing devices”, said Montano. “I believe in the spirit of the company and its desire to truly help grow positivity amongst not only the running community, but the athletic community. With their enthusiastic inspirational quotes emblazoned on their timing devices, I am certain that Soleus will help add a tremendous amount of positive momentum and numbers to the fast growing athletic community.”
Symmonds is a stand out professional track star and pioneer in the advocacy of change in the sport. Symmonds is a two-time Olympian, five-time USA National Champion, and World Silver Medalist. In addition to being one of the most accomplished runners, Symmonds is a catalyst for fair and ethical treatment of professional athletes. He challenges the current status quo and is a positive and effective voice for Track and Field, and his voice is heard well beyond the running industry. His out of the box thinking and fight for sponsors makes him a force to be reckoned with on and off the track. He signed a footwear and apparel contract with Brooks in January 2014. Together with Suja, Melaleuca Wellness, Hanson Dodge Creative and Soleus, Symmonds is excited to head into the 2014 outdoor track season and pursue his goals of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I am very excited for this announcement”, said Symmonds. “Soleus is an innovative company with high quality products doing fun and exciting things in the world of running. I am very happy to be a part of Team Soleus.”
