Altra Announces Partnership with Elite Distance Runner Frank Lara

October 14, 2021

Up-and-coming young road runner brings new talent to the brand’s growing elite roster

DENVER (Oct. 14, 2021) /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ — Altra, a leading innovator in the performance footwear category, has announced the signing of professional road runner Frank Lara to its Elite Athlete team. Lara, who is the 2020 USATF 15K Road Race champion, will further strengthen the brand’s exceptional lineup of sponsored athletes, and enhance Altra’s representation on the road.

“Our goal at Altra is to inspire people to unlock their full potential and find joy along the way, and our Elite Athlete team is the true embodiment of those ideas,” said Shanna Burnette, Community and Partnerships Manager at Altra. “As we continue to build out this community of stellar athletes and humans, we could not be more proud to add Frank to the team. We’re honored to support him as he pursues his goals and continues to push boundaries.”

At just 23 years old, Lara already boasts an impressive resume of achievements. A graduate of Furman University in South Carolina, he was a standout runner for the Paladins throughout his collegiate career, earning second-team All-America honors in the 10,000 meters at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships. Since turning pro, Lara has notched personal-best times of 13:27.20 in the 5K (2021), 27:43.13 in the 10K (2021), and 61:48 in the half marathon (2020). He also owns the fastest known time on the legendary Magnolia Road run in Boulder, Colorado, clocking in at 1:21:24 for the 15-mile ‘pavement-to-pavement’ segment.

With Altra as his official footwear partner, Lara will utilize a range of styles from the brand’s innovative lineup to elevate his training and racing, as well as testing future models, which he says make him feel “completely free.”

“As an Altra athlete, I’m confident I’ll be able to take the next steps in my running career and become one of the best distance runners in the country,” Lara said. “Furthermore, the values Altra stands for are the ones I want to emulate. From their promotion of natural human movement to their commitment to being an anti-racist company, Altra is headed in the right direction. I am beyond excited about what we can accomplish together.”

Born in Mexico City and raised in Houston, Texas, Lara now resides in Boulder, where he trains with Roots Running Project. Outside of running, he works part-time as a community manager for Strava. Lara can be found on twitter at @dancefrankdance, or on Instagram at @dance_frank_dance.

To learn more about Altra, its Elite Athlete team and its commitment to inclusion and diversity, visit www.altrarunning.com

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About Altra

Altra was founded in the backroom of a small specialty running store in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Since the beginning, the goal has been to create innovative and purposeful running shoes that help people run more naturally. Altra’s unique platform includes a Footshape™ toebox that allows the toes to relax and spread out which enhances stability and encourages natural running form. Balanced Cushioning™ platform that positions the heel and forefoot at an equal distance from the ground, cultivating optimal alignment, better form and a low-impact landing. Altra is on a mission to unleash human potential by inspiring the world to move naturally. Be a part of our journey and follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. #altrarunning