Ultimate Direction Athletes Climb to the Top at USATF Mountain Championship Races

May 3, 2023

Two athletes from UD’s roster join Team USA after top performances

BOULDER – May, 2023/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Grayson Murphy and Joseph Gray, long-standing members of the Ultimate Direction athlete team, took home wins and earned spots on Team USA at this past weekend’s USA Track and Field (USATF) Vertical Mountain Running Championship hosted at New Hampshire’s Sunapee Scramble. Both Murphy, based in Arizona, and Gray, based in Colorado, won the Vertical Mountain Running Championship titles and Murphy also took the female win at the Classic Up/Down event earning her the USATF Mountain Running Championship title.

Both athletes, now members of Team USA, are slated to compete at Italy’s Challenge Stellina International Meeting of Nations in August. “We are beyond proud of Grayson and Joseph, and know the focus they both put not only into their training, but into their families, careers, and brands they work with like Ultimate Direction,” said Robyn Howard, Director of Brand and Marketing for Exxel Outdoors, Inc. “Both have been a part of the UD Athlete Team for several years and have tested our products to ensure they meet the demands of runners who participate in very difficult events like those this past weekend. We look forward to seeing where they both continue to climb!”

“Ultimate Direction plays a pivotal role in my training/racing by allowing me to carry fuel for long days and even when I may be remote. I’m able to use UD’s lightweight hydration vests to pack the essentials and not have to worry about if I get lost or if I can’t find a drinking spot,” stated Gray. “On top of that, some of the apparel such as the Ultra Jacket are life savers especially on weekends where weather can flip at any given moment like this past weekend. Being notorious for forgetting my gloves, the Ultra Jacket makes it easy for people like me because not only does the jacket keep you warm and dry, it also has gloves built into it!”

“This weekend I wore my UD gloves in the wet, cold, and windy conditions and my hands stayed super warm and dry,” shared Murphy. “Leading up to the weekend I relied on my UD running vest to carry fuel during my long runs. Being out on the trails for 16-18 miles at a time can take a long time, so carrying my water and fuel in my hydration vest is key to being able to complete the run.”

For more information on Ultimate Direction and its athlete team, please visit ultimatedirection.com or contact Mindy Smith at mindy@darbycommunications.com.

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About Ultimate Direction

In 1985, Ultimate Direction invented the first waist pack for carrying bottles. A few years later, they designed the first hand-held water bottle carrier and numerous innovations defining the hydration pack category for endurance and every-day athletes. Over 30 years later, the brand remains the authority on hydration for self-propelled activities and critical to the world’s most passionate athletes. Ultimate Direction is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado. Visit www.ultimatedirection.com for more information.