by Larry Eder
Chris Fox retires from college coaching, photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletics
Justyn Knight, photo courtesy of Reebok
In the 1980s, there was a new wave group from Australia, The Spit Enz, they had a one hit wonder in the US titled, “History Never Repeats“. The song seems quite appropriate in the $17.5 billion business that is running footwear. For a brand to stick out (and mind you, we monitor 47 brands), they need to have A) consistently great product, B) great service, C) support the sport, D) communicate constantly and effectively with key influencers, core runners and places where newbie runners hatch.
Reebok, which is the oldest actual running brand, has rediscovered running. As most keen observers of the sport will tell you, if you want to be a player in sports footwear, you MUST be authentic in running. Reebok is pulling out the stops and adding to Reebok ZAP Fitness (which has kept Reebok’s foot in running for nearly a decade, with all types of runners and four in top ten in Boston in 2018), with the Reebok Boston Track Club.
How did they do that? First they went and got a real coach. Chris Fox, a former world class runner, who ran for Athletics West, then, built Syracuse University track and cross country from scratch. At Syracuse (thank God, Brien Bell is interim head coach), Chris Fox built a program, developed runners, but helped runners believe in themselves. Coaches, the great ones, are confessor, confidence builders and cheerleaders (as well as fine technical coaches). Each year, for the past decade, I would see Coach Fox at the 1k mark of the NXN in December. I have always enjoyed our chats, but most of all, he has built a program at Syracuse that has developed young athletes into champion.
It is nice to see that Reebok signed Justyn Knight, a fine runner and NCAA champion. We will keep you updated on Reebok’s continuing build up in running.
Reebok is building this relaunch around several shoes, here are two videos on key product for 2018 (Launched May-July 2018), Reebok FloatRide Run, Available May 1, 2018, and Reebok FloatRide RunFast Pro.
Running is the key to all that is success in performance athletic footwear. Consumers get it, real runners wear certian shoes, and that is why brands such as Nike, adidas, New Balance have busted their butts to stay authentic. Look at Brooks and HOKA ONEONE, both have and continue to put their money where their mouths are. Brands that cut back see their sales drop drastically in running, as they pursue the flavor of the month. It may not be sexy, but running is real business, and even with Amazon trying to take over all, running continues to grow.
REEBOK INTRODUCES THE
REEBOK BOSTON TRACK CLUB
Former Syracuse Cross Country Coach Chris Fox Named
Head Coach, and Former Syracuse All-American Justyn Knight is
First Founding Member of New Elite Track Club
BOSTON, Mass. – July 23, 2018 – Today, Reebok announced the formation of the Reebok Boston Track Club, a new pro running club which will compete in elite running competitions around the world and play a key role in the research, curation and innovation of future Reebok Running product. Highly accomplished running coach Chris Fox will lead this new elite running unit.
In addition to unveiling the new club and Fox’s stewardship, Reebok also announced the signing of former-collegiate All-American runner Justyn Knight as a foundational member of the team. Knight, a distance runner from Toronto, Canada, was the 2017-18 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country and 5000-meter champion for Syracuse University – under the tutelage of Coach Fox. He was selected as an All-American seven times throughout his career.
“Reebok has a long history in Running and is a brand that has always helped athletes push the limits of performance,” said Knight. “It’s an honor to be the first member of the Reebok Boston Track Club and be part of the Reebok family. I obviously know Coach Fox well and I’m excited to work with him to develop and hone my skills on the track in the years to come.”
In addition to competing in the top running competitions around the world, the Reebok Boston Track Club will play an integral role in the research, curation and innovation of future Reebok Running product. The team will build on Reebok’s long-held, pioneering roots in the running community and bolster the brand’s drive to transform the category through hands-on research and bringing new innovation to the market.
“I know the value both of great coaching and ground-breaking technology. I had an inspiring coach myself when I was developing as a runner, and I look forward to guiding the Reebok Boston Track Club” said Fox, a West Virginia native with more than 30 years of experience coaching college athletics at elite programs around the country.
“As a team, we want to win each time we step on the track, but as part of the Reebok brand, we also want to use our expertise to help take Reebok Running to the next level,” said Fox.
“This is a great day for Reebok Running. The Reebok Boston Track Club will help us elevate our product offering and solidify our presence as a major player in the category,” said Reebok President Matt O’Toole. “To have Coach Fox lead this team, and Justyn as a founding member, gets us off to a great start. Coach Fox’s expertise in coaching athletes through technique, mental toughness, and creating a winning team culture make him the perfect leader to not only lead the club, but also to help us in the development of Reebok performance running product.”
“We’re also excited that our home, the city of Boston, with its long and storied history as one of the best running cities in America, is recognized with the formation of this new club,” said O’Toole. “It’s fitting that a world-class club, shares its name with a world-class city.”
In addition to Knight, Reebok also announced three additional Reebok Boston Track Club team members: Jamaican distance runner Kemoy Campbell, Former Penn State runner Tori Gerlach, and Former Syracuse starMartin Hehir. The Reebok Boston Track Club will begin competing in late 2018.
Reebok Running has made large strides forward in innovation and design in recent seasons, introducing the award-winning Floatride foam cushioning technology, as well as its Flexweave upper technology. The Reebok Boston Track Club will play a central and integrated role in the design and innovation process to inform the creation and modification of future running products.
