tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post2249594859131480501..comments2024-02-11T00:54:20.373-08:00Comments on A Trail Runner's Blog: Montrail-Nathan Ultrarunning Team to Disband in 2008Scott Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096284778835123584noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-37683271000246358622007-11-28T08:44:00.000-08:002007-11-28T08:44:00.000-08:00Montrail did contact me after I posted my first co...Montrail did contact me after I posted my first comment and I am thrilled to say they will continue to support my running addiction. Although it is unfortunate that they have drastically downsized the team,as jls points out by some 70 folks, they have been extremely generous over the years and I would imagine that size of team is unsustainable. They now have numbers more in line with what other companies are supporting. I hope to see everyone out on the trails in '08.<BR/>bevAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-40502220351356450032007-11-27T20:43:00.000-08:002007-11-27T20:43:00.000-08:00According to Kendra's 11/21 blog http://borgrunner...According to Kendra's 11/21 blog http://borgrunner.blogspot.com/ post, with a listing of the new Montrail team, your assertion about Bev is unfortunately incorrect, Scott.<BR/><BR/>and I do not believe 'disbanded' is overstating the issue. Just ask the 70 or so folks who got cut from the team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-66580857905802596772007-11-26T04:32:00.000-08:002007-11-26T04:32:00.000-08:00Thanks for the comments, folks. I've had a few cla...Thanks for the comments, folks. I've had a few clarification e-mails sent in as well. I may be overstating the issue by saying "disbanded" - Montrail will retain sponsorship of 15-20 athletes, and from what I can tell it will remain formed as the Montrail/Nathan Team. <BR/><BR/>Bev - if you didn't get the memo, you're probably still on the team! It appears the only ones notified were those who will no longer be on the team.<BR/><BR/>- SDScott Dunlaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16096284778835123584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-87042197137099243722007-11-24T13:38:00.000-08:002007-11-24T13:38:00.000-08:00Very unfortunate. Montrail had an amazing collecti...Very unfortunate. Montrail had an amazing collection of athletes. Hopefully another team will spring up in its place.kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11878270709941552558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-76437556500525138722007-11-23T23:44:00.000-08:002007-11-23T23:44:00.000-08:00Scott,Just to make it clear, the M-N Team is not d...Scott,<BR/>Just to make it clear, the M-N Team is not dibanding in 2008. The team is definitely still on, but at about 1/4 of its 2007 size.<BR/><BR/>I wish I could say more on the why's and what's about Montrail's decision, but I just don't know. I do, however, feel extremely fortunate and proud to be one of the chosen few for next year.<BR/><BR/>Seansaschasdadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06920379008380900505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-9557132145188814692007-11-23T06:11:00.000-08:002007-11-23T06:11:00.000-08:00I too got the email that I was dropped for 2008 af...I too got the email that I was dropped for 2008 after running on the Montrail team since 2001. I have never been a super ultrarunner and was always the lowest level sponsoree(in terms of gear). I recieved 14 pairs of shoes over the course of my 7 year ties with Montrail or about $1350 worth of product. I raced in around 100 ultras/marathons/and big group runs wearing a jersey sporting thier name and would answer questions about their shoes to anyone at any time. If I convinced 14 people to buy their shoes over these last 7 years then their money was well spent.<BR/><BR/>It is not surprising to me that the bigger company (Columbia) has changed its marketing of Montrail. My hope is that they do not change the product in the way many would say Mountain Hardware gear has changed since THEY were acquired by Columbia.I am a runner. "We are what we repeatedly do"https://www.blogger.com/profile/02521853843930270632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-18217540011743949082007-11-21T20:16:00.000-08:002007-11-21T20:16:00.000-08:00This year was my third year with the Montrail team...This year was my third year with the Montrail team, and I am by no means a household name in ultra running circles. As I said on Kendra's blog site, I was honored to be an ambassador for Montrail and figured that it was more for my character than my talent. It was really cool that Montrail did sponsor a wide variety of people and that by doing that captured the heart and spirit of ultra running itself. Anyone who has been at WS when the clock turned <BR/>30:00 can attest to the fact that those people making it to the track just before and just after the cutoff are cheered for as much as the victors. <BR/><BR/>I love this sport and look forward to new adventures all the time. I'll keep my blog going and stay connected with friends that way.<BR/><BR/>Besides trying some new races this year I hope to venture into some of Idaho's wilderness areas.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913229719116694754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-47535319314402536592007-11-21T18:41:00.000-08:002007-11-21T18:41:00.000-08:00Like Bev, I didn't get the email either but, rathe...Like Bev, I didn't get the email either but, rather, heard it today from a friend on Team Inov-8! Too rich.<BR/><BR/>I'm keeping my blog. :) <BR/><BR/>Scott, see you at 9 Trails.RunSueRunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13925226086216692972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-365624098544624122007-11-21T18:23:00.000-08:002007-11-21T18:23:00.000-08:00That's too bad. I read Olga's blog about this too ...That's too bad. I read Olga's blog about this too and it's suprising to see teams like these disappearing. Olga is right on about the team feeling like a family. Teams and groups make people feel like they belong to something much more. This is why Team-In-Training and similar groups work so well. I know that since I got on with the Marathon Maniacs, I've enjoyed participating in races alot more and seeing the same folks who wear the same colors and sharing the victory of crossing that finish line every time.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13275664685558526436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-87344564451767650472007-11-21T17:30:00.000-08:002007-11-21T17:30:00.000-08:00For the list of runners on the Team go to Kendra's...For the list of runners on the Team go to Kendra's blog from Montrail blogsite.<BR/>Thanks for cheering, Scott. We'll be running, racing and involved in every way, sponsorship or not. Team gave us an opportunity to be noticed, thus meet more folks out there. It gave us a sense of a family inside of Ultrarunning family. We still are - both. I agree that decreasing Montrail team by so much (not that part of it was expected) and disappearing Vasque team is somewhat is sad. But sometimes revenue from sponsoring athletes considered to be not productive by mother-companies (at least that's my take, that Montrail itself has nothing to do with it). Oh, well. Go run merry:) I'll see you folks as much, if not more, in years to come! And be sure, I give hugs no matter what color shirt I wear!Olgahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00493291972954387932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-12566554568057155942007-11-21T17:08:00.000-08:002007-11-21T17:08:00.000-08:00Scott - it appears that not every runner got the e...Scott - it appears that not every runner got the email . Do you know who is still on the team?<BR/><BR/>Hard to believe this wasn't worth the expense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-82712204937801423712007-11-21T15:50:00.000-08:002007-11-21T15:50:00.000-08:00First Vasque, now Montrail. I feel for all the peo...First Vasque, now Montrail. I feel for all the people let go with nothing but a polite e-mail. AJW, sounds like you're one of the lucky few who gets to stay. The selection of the athletes they kept is certainly "interesting". I would love to know what their criteria were. They kept a great bunch of people who are great athletes, but they also let some real deserving folks walk. The selection was clearly not strictly based on results (from what I've heard, arguably their best runner is no longer on the team), and it was clearly not based on loyalty (many people who were on the team from the get-go are out). <BR/><BR/>I admit I have no idea whether sponsoring ultrarunners is an effective marketing tool for these companies. But, if it ever was, I can't imagine it has somehow ceased to be so. As Scott says, the sport is as popular as it has ever been. Witness the 16% chance of getting into WS through the lottery this year! <BR/><BR/>-JJasper Halekashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11847345062954257085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-57701272243357051872007-11-21T10:36:00.000-08:002007-11-21T10:36:00.000-08:00I agree that some sort of Montrail blog continues....I agree that some sort of Montrail blog continues. I was not updated that much, but when it was it was real stuff about races, gear or training from the athletes. Hopefully it does not turn into what the North Face ultra blog is. No offence to those runners, but its not blogging when corporate give you a topic and the athlete replies with a paragraph or less. It's not a very personal look into the athletes that the Montrail blog was giving.Travishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16053996084667042894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-89410777477276818212007-11-21T10:30:00.000-08:002007-11-21T10:30:00.000-08:00Scott,Great post. I, for one, have enjoyed being ...Scott,<BR/><BR/>Great post. I, for one, have enjoyed being part of the Montrail team for the past three years and have always appreciated their active involvement in our sport. That said, every one of us knows that some day we'll have to return to buying our own shoes and that's just the way it is. I have absolutely no doubt that our incredible sport can survive any corporate shakedown that comes its way. That, of course, is what we all love about it!<BR/><BR/>Happy Thanksgiving!<BR/><BR/>AJWAJWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-54208325115687325702007-11-21T09:44:00.000-08:002007-11-21T09:44:00.000-08:00a lot of the guys on these teams are my inspiratio...a lot of the guys on these teams are my inspirations in ultra running. seeing how they train hard and compete provides a lot of motivation for a new comer like me. hope the disband doesn't affect their attendances at races.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-85774259783812490912007-11-21T08:50:00.000-08:002007-11-21T08:50:00.000-08:00I didn't even get the email! This is the first I ...I didn't even get the email! This is the first I heard about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860166.post-44849740594926695342007-11-21T07:58:00.000-08:002007-11-21T07:58:00.000-08:00As a sponsorship consultant, I always found the Mo...As a sponsorship consultant, I always found the Montrail-Nathan Ultrarunning Team sponsorship to be one of the most effective ones I know about. Of course, that's just from the outside looking in and without really knowing budgets, goals, etc. <BR/><BR/>I'm sad to hear that this sponsorship is over.Dave - Atlanta Trailshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13870521955679174148noreply@blogger.com