With a performance trail line in place, Saucony is further solidifying its commitment to trail running with the signing of American ultrarunner Katie Asmuth, a mom of two, a nurse practitioner and the recent winner of the 2021 Bandera 100K. With her win at Bandera, Asmuth earned a Golden Ticket to the legendary Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, starting Saturday, June 26, in Olympic Valley, CA.
In addition to Asmuth, Saucony’s growing trail roster also includes Grayson Murphy, the 2019 U.S. Mountain Running Champion, 2019 World Mountain Running Champion and the 2019 XTERRA Trail Run World Champion.
“Katie has been an ultrarunning legend in the making and we’re excited and honored that she is joining the Saucony family,” says Anne Cavassa, Saucony president. “She didn’t let a hard fall and a broken nose stop her from winning the rugged Bandera 100K, showing her natural true grit. She’s now set her sights on Western States, the world’s premier ultrarunning event.
“Besides the endurance needed to run the distance, Western States takes patience, planning and perspective; as a mom and healthcare worker, she brings it all to the challenge,” Cavassa continues. “Katie surely embodies Saucony’s ‘Dirt Power’ goodness, running with joy and gratitude and sharing her uplifting spirit with the entire trail community.”
“We continue to strengthen our commitment to the trail running community by delivering boundary-pushing product like the all-new Endorphin Trail; creating authentic partnerships with trail organizations such as the American Trail Running Association and acidotic RACING; and joining forces with athletes like Katie and Grayson, who truly embody the brand’s trail-running spirit,” adds Cavassa.
“My partnership with Saucony was an easy fit into my life,” says Asmuth. “Their emphasis on ‘Dirt Power,’ which embodies the confidence, strength and freedom that comes from running in nature, clearly resonates with me. They are proud of my work as a nurse practitioner and a mom, and I’m proud to run for a mission-oriented company that believes in the transformative power of running.
Asmuth, 34, ran her first ultra in 2015, 10 months after giving birth to her first son. In 2019, she won the Zion 100 Mile and Bear 100 Mile. She lives with her husband Pete and two sons, Noah, 5, and Liam, 3 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. As a family nurse practitioner, Asmuth practices at Venice Family Clinic with a mission to care for underserved and low-income populations on issues like uncontrolled diabetes, women’s health, and substance abuse.
Asmuth is coached by David Roche, the 2014 USA Track and Field Trail Runner of the Year at the sub-ultra-distance.