The track season is heating up and we’re in the midst of one of the best meets in the world. In Eugene, Oregon, athletes are vying for a podium spot at the USA Track & Field Championships. It’s not quite the drama of an Olympic year, when the stakes are even higher, but it gets the people going.
Heading into last year’s race, we produced a short film to celebrate the relentless pursuit embodied by amateur runners. For every track athlete earning a professional salary, there are dozens more doing it simply for the love. It’s what makes these “top-three-or-bust” races so intriguing.
But here’s the problem - no one saw it!
We ran into a small legal issue: In one second of footage, you could see a race bib that contained registered Olympic marks. The cease-and-desist letter came immediately and we pulled the film. At the time, we were too busy to make the adjustments required to comply. But last month I rediscovered the film. Now you can watch it, ever-so-slightly edited from its original version. |
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STRATA SINGLET
Peak temperatures and podium-worthy efforts call for the best of the best, and in my humble opinion, the Strata Singlet stands alone. Made with advanced performance technology to keep you cool and resist odor, it’s equipped me for some of my best summer performances – like winning my age group at the Falmouth Road Race. The singlet and tee are the most technical tops we have. Try them the next time you toe the line.
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STRATA BODYWEAR
Last summer, we expanded our Strata Collection beyond classic racing singlets and shorts, incorporating premium bodywear into our fastest franchise with the Strata Speedsuit, Strata Zip Bra and Strata Half and Short Tights. Since then, our athletes have won World Championships, set personal bests and made Olympic teams sporting our signature sash. Made in Portugal, we like to say that the high-performance Strata bodywear is expertly engineered to meet you at your best. And the athletes proved it. |
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STAMATA MARATHON TEAM
The marathon trials are a defining goal for serious runners, most of them amateurs who balance running with their daily responsibilities. As champions for the running class, we not only understand that ambition, but we support it. Last month, we introduced Tracksmith Stamata, a women’s marathon team led by Stephanie Bruce, designed to provide hands-on mentorship and resources to a select group of women as they chase the sub-2:37 marathon goal.
Inspired by the grit of the first woman to complete the marathon distance, a Greek trailblazer named Stamata Revithi, the team will bring women with that same determination together, all working toward qualifying for those coveted marathon trials. Applications are currently under review. Stay tuned as we bring the team together and document their journey.
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SUMMER RAYS
For the first 13 weeks of summer, Boston gave us rain every single weekend. And now that we’ve made it to August, we finally have clear skies. At last, I’m getting use out of the new UV Long Sleeve – a lightweight, breathable layer that blocks the sun’s rays for however long you wear it. No more reapplying SPF (or more accurately, forgetting to reapply SPF). Just endless summer miles, hours outdoors and a smart performance top that’s available in both men’s and women’s silhouettes.
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THREE FEET HIGH AND RISING
For those of you reading this far down, you get a sneak peek of our third shoe - the Eliot Range. Joining the Runner and Racer, the Range is a highly-technical trail shoe constructed with a full-Merino bootie under a lightweight shell and a custom Vibram® outsole. Two summers ago, I wore the first prototype at the Vermont Overland Trail Race. 24 months and many singletrack miles later, we’re ready to launch a tailored head-to-toe trail offering. The Overland Collection will be available August 8th in our three stores and online globally starting August 11th.
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A MAJOR COUNTDOWN
We recently launched our Fall Marathon Collection and with it, a celebration of race day and all that comes with it. While much of the collection is currently available online, there are a few pieces that we reserved for those who make it out for marathon weekend. This year’s pop-up exclusives include accessories inspired by marathon legends, and the ritual. We have painter’s gloves similar to the ones Bill Rodgers wore religiously on race days, and a cap that takes cues from Joan Benoit’s winning kit from Los Angeles ‘84 and onward. Plus, a Trackhouse Crew that might just become your lucky last layer.
We’ve just begun announcing marathon weekend events for the fall marathons, with Sydney and Berlin details already available. If you’re starting to make those travel plans, don’t forget about Tracksmith.
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FROM THE RUNNING WORLD
Quick Splits
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It's Only Two Laps
The highlight event of this USA Track & Field Championships for me is the 800m. It’s one of the toughest finals to make - having to run three hard rounds usually results in big surprises. But the semis just wrapped up and it mostly went as expected. Athing Mu-Nikolayev just missed out on the final, which would surprise people who haven’t been following along; but she’s yet to show her previous form. Maybe the biggest surprise was 16-year old Cooper Lutkenhaus, who almost fell with 350 meters to go, charging down the final stretch to earn an auto-qualifier to the final. If you like fast, physical racing - you’ll want to watch the 800m finals on Sunday. |
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Commit to Consistency
Success in running requires an honest level of commitment over a long period of time. It’s the idea behind our No Days Off campaign: not that you should run every day, but that every day you should make good decisions about becoming a better runner. It’s also a concept that applies outside of running, which is why I wanted to highlight Mario Fraoli’s consistency in publishing. Author of The Morning Shakeout newsletter and podcast, Mario recently published his 500th issue. As a day one subscriber, I marvel at the incredible body of work he’s produced over a decade. Congrats, Mario |
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