GU Energy Labs has announced its line-up of athlete ambassadors – ranging from amateur runners to world champion triathletes – ‘who demonstrate the importance of performance nutrition and strategic nutritional planning’.
Some of the athletes highlighting the 2016 roster include ultra-runner Rob Krar, cyclist Sonya Looney and the Every Man Jack triathlon team.
Rob Krar has been voted Ultra Runner of the Year (twice), and is a two-time (2014, 2015) Western States 100-mile Champion. The Flagstaff, Arizona resident has also won the Leadville 100 and currently owns the fastest known time (6:21:47) for running the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim. A native of Ontario, Canada, Rob twice represented Canada at the Triathlon World Championships prior to moving to the US.
“GU played an important role during one of my proudest accomplishments early in my ultra-running career, my Grand Canyon Rim-Rim-Rim Fastest Known Time,” said Krar. “After that there was never any doubt GU would take care of me on any adventure I tackled.”
Sonya Looney is a soaring star in the cycling world, with a self-professed goal of ‘Be Brave. Do Epic S***’. The endurance mountain bike racer is the defending World 24 Hour Mountain Biking champion, is a four-time US National Champion and has a palmares stuffed full of other wins and podium finishes in events such as the Breck Epic and TransAndes.
She has also given TED talks and is the founder of the ON Dirt Series, a widespread event that combines speaking engagements with rides to inspire others to ride.
Every Man Jack (EMJ) has, in only a few short years, become a force in the triathlon world, growing from a local San Francisco club to a national US powerhouse, scoring overall amateur titles at IRONMAN Lake Tahoe, IRONMAN Arizona, IRONMAN Texas and IRONMAN Coeur D’Alene as well as IM 70.3 overall amateur wins at Vineman, St George and Boulder. In 2014, all four top amateur spots at Escape from Alcatraz were EMJ athletes.
The team is also noted for its commitment to philanthropy, having raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity in recent years.
“Team Every Man Jack is a good example of what we’re looking for in our athlete ambassadors,” noted GU Energy Labs Director of Marketing Lauren O’Connor. “They’re serious athletes who know the value of expertly engineered nutrition during their training and racing. The team really represents the greater athletic community and truly have a passion for triathlon.”
Krar, Looney and EMJ join a roster of representatives including ultra-runners Max King and Magdalena Lewy Boulet, adventure racer and cyclist Rebecca Rusch, off-road triathlete Emma Gerrard and 3x IRONMAN World Champion, Mirinda Carfrae.
“Our sponsored athletes are an extension of our organization, and they demonstrate our commitment to fuelling athletes through their training and racing,” O’Connor added. “More than that, they’re a critical part of the development of our products. The physical demands of their sports provide valuable insights to their needs. Athletes expect the absolute best in performance nutrition, and we want to ensure that GU consistently delivers.”
GU is a leading sports nutrition brand founded in Berkeley, California, in 1993. GU’s products help athletes hydrate, energize, and recover optimally before, during and after demanding endurance activities.
