PUMA and Jumping Fences, the event producer of the San Francisco Marathon, have announced a three-year partnership. This marks PUMA’s first-ever apparel and footwear sponsorship for a US marathon.
The race weekend kicks off on Friday, July 21st at Fort Mason Park with the event’s Health and Fitness Expo. Saturday, July 22nd races include: ultramarathon, 5k fun run and Lollipop Family 1k.
On Sunday, July 23rd the Full Marathon, Bridge Half Marathon, City Half Marathon, San Francisco 10K and San Francisco Marathon 5K get under way.
“We are honoured and excited to embark on this three-year journey with the San Francisco Marathon,” said Allison Giorgio, Vice President of Marketing at PUMA North America.
“Ever since our re-entry into the running category we have been seeking opportunities to connect with local running communities and elevate the race-day experience and performance for every type of runner. The San Francisco Marathon’s rich history and commitment to the local community allows us to engage with runners in an authentic way and continue making strides in the category.”
The partnership will include event sponsorship of all the weekend races and exclusive footwear and apparel rights. PUMA will also be the lead sponsor of the San Francisco Marathon’s Run365 Training Program, one of the largest training programs in the Bay Area.
The 8-week long program kicked-off on Saturday, May 27th offering a space for the running community to train in group runs no matter their experience level.
With a long history of delivering performance footwear for track and field events, in 2021 PUMA saw a chance to disrupt the performance road running category and decided to re-enter the category with the launch of its NITRO foam technology.
According to PUMA… ‘NITRO foam provides superior responsiveness and cushioning in a lightweight package for all types of runners.’
Since then, the brand has sponsored some of the fastest long-distance US female runners, such as 2021 Olympic bronze medallist Molly Siedel, as well as Sara Vaughn and Dakotah Lindwurm.
In time for the 2024 San Francisco Marathon, PUMA will release a limited-edition NITRO style in the San Francisco Marathon colours as well as apparel that will be available to purchase at the event’s Health and Fitness Expo.
“This partnership with PUMA is a genuine fit and natural next step for the San Francisco Marathon,” said Lauri Abrahamsen, Director of Operations at Jumping Fences.
“The PUMA brand is centred on supporting a culture of collaboration, community, and humility – these are the essential ethos of endurance running. We know that the only way to succeed together in the athletic community is to have shared values and an ever-evolving vision for the future.”
www.puma.com
www.thesfmarathon.com
