Today, global performance running lifestyle brand Saucony launched a video series titled “Call Us Runners,” which offers an introspective look into the lives of four people to highlight what it means to be a runner across different backgrounds and experiences.
The video series underscores that running is an energy and feeling, and not an identity or label. Runners are creatives, students, caretakers, and teachers. The series includes short films featuring rap artist Trinidad James, owner and CEO of Black Girls RUN! Jay Ell Alexander, Saucony athlete and engineering student Grayson Murphy, and Saucony athlete and professor Jared Ward. The four runners share their experiences of breaking the status quo and giving back to their communities, families and friends through running.
“During the past few years, the pandemic-growth of running has continued to evolve with seasoned runners running more and new runners joining the community,” said Anne Cavassa, Saucony president. “With this boom has come a new spirit of what being a runner truly means, recognizing the multidimensional human being that goes beyond the act of running. And, while runners value the profound transformational power of running that makes every part of their lives better, they embrace their whole selves beyond their weekly mileage. Trinidad is an artist; Grayson is an engineering student; Jay Ell is an entrepreneur; and Jared is a dad. They may call themselves ‘runner,’ but they are so much more, and this video series celebrates that spirit.”
“We have to break down barriers, saying come as you are and we will meet you there,” said Alexander. “You know, I am a mom, I’m an entrepreneur, I’m a best friend. But being a runner helps me to kind of be better in all of those roles as well. So, when people say, ‘no, I’m not a runner,’ well, no, actually, you are. But you are so much more as well, and you don’t have to define yourself by a particular pace or being a particular size because you have so much more to bring to the table.”
Saucony’s mission has always been rooted in uplifting communities and helping people find joy in running. Recognizing there is a responsibility to make the industry a welcoming one for runners of all experience levels and backgrounds, the “Call Us Runners” series aims to redefine the parameters people place on what it means to be a runner.
The “Call us Runners” video series can be viewed here:
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60 second: https://youtu.be/_XTSnW_Xycw
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Grayson – https://youtu.be/_qlnBC-aS5s
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Jared – https://youtu.be/6uBQ_82Rij8
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Trinidad – https://youtu.be/Mvh-1JoScCA
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Jay Ell – https://youtu.be/34syGfOS8lY
About Jay Ell Alexander
Jay Ell is the owner and CEO of Black Girls RUN!, the non-profit organization that was created in an effort to tackle the growing obesity epidemic in the Black community and provide encouragement and resources to both new and veteran runners.
About Trinidad James
Trinidad is a Trinidadian-American rapper and figurehead in Atlanta rap. He launched onto the rap scene following his 2012 breakout hit, “All Gold Everything” and has collaborated with artists including Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars, T.I., 2Chainz, and Young Jeezy. He’s released seven projects, keeping up on a consistent clip as he feeds his fanbase.
About Grayson Murphy
Grayson is a decorated mountain runner who started running professionally six years ago. Murphy won the 2019 World Mountain Running Championships in her debut at the event. She is also a six-time XTERRA trail run world champion and engineer in training.
Jared Ward
Jared Ward is a long-distance runner, Olympian, father, husband, Brigham Young University professor and coach.
About Saucony: Saucony, the ‘Original Running Brand’ and a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), is a leading global performance running brand that fuses innovation, style and culture. Widely recognized for award-winning technologies including PWRRUNTM PB, PWRRUN+TM, and SPEEDROLLTM, Saucony creates innovative technical and lifestyle footwear and apparel across Road,
Trail and Originals. Founded in 1898, Saucony exists to inspire and serve all humans to live their best life by providing access to running, self-expression and creating a better world. For more information, go to www.saucony.com.
