Frisco, Texas – Race production and running outreach company The Active Joe has signed an agreement to sponsor the Western States Endurance Run for the next three years. This renews a sponsorship where The Active Joe has supported the endurance event for the last six years.
The Western States Endurance Run is the oldest and most well-known 100 mile race in the United States, running along the Western States Trail from Squaw Valley, California, to end in Auburn, California. After volunteering at the 2012 race, The Active Joe owner Libby Jones fell in love with the event and wanted to get more involved in helping it continue to succeed and flourish. A race producer herself, Jones was impressed with the mission of the non-profit Western States Endurance Run Foundation. Besides producing their race, the foundation helps set standards in the organization of 100-mile endurance events and promotes trail stewardship, which is further emphasized by their role in the maintenance and support of the Western States trail. The WSER Foundation further supports medical research into ultrarunning that helps the sport and the community.
As part of the sponsorship, The Active Joe chooses a sponsored athlete each year from the qualified runners who apply to the lottery, and the chosen individual receives an automatic entry. Everyone is invited to read up here on how to apply for the sponsored athlete spot for the June 2020 race. All applications are due November 15, 2019. The Active Joe's company name is based on celebrating "The Average Joe" who gets active, so our sponsored athlete spot is open to all interested runners to apply! Reminder: you do still have to have a qualifier for the 2020 Western States 100 race and will need to apply for the race during the race's application window in November (in addition to applying for the sponsored spot).
Rocky Racoon 100 miler USATF Championship 4th place female finisher (2019 sponsored athlete Kelli Coleman on the left)
“I’m happy that we can continue to support this historic ultrarunning event and therefore support the sport as well,” Jones said. “Moving into our seventh year of sponsorship is a great feeling!”
Info on Past Sponsored Athletes:
June 2019 event: Kelli Coleman of Dallas, TX
June 2018 event: Pam Smith of Salem, OR
June 2017 event: Jess Mullen of Seattle, WA
June 2016 event: Michael Wagner of Albuquerque, NM
June 2015 event: Robert Lopez of Seattle, WA
June 2014 event: Jennifer Kimble of Dallas, TX
The Active Joe was founded in 2008 with the mission of providing running outreach to the local community. The organization produces 3 trail events, including North Texas' first 100 mile running event, the Dinosaur Valley Endurance Run 100 Mile, 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, and 5 Mile each fall. The company also has 3 road events and between road and trail, the company caters to 7,000 participants annually. All events are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. Owner Libby Jones has been an active member of the leadership of the Dallas-Fort Worth running community for many years and is an avid ultrarunner herself. For more information go to www.TheActiveJoe.com.
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