Brooks is taking their path operating group to new heights in 2025, including a formidable roster of athletes who’re set to make waves within the path operating world. With a deal with each up-and-coming skills and seasoned professionals, their newest additions signify a few of the greatest within the sport throughout the globe, from Canada’s Rémi Leroux to the U.S.’s Chris Myers and Spain’s Ricardo Cherta. We’ve a more in-depth take a look at these three trailblazers, highlighting what makes them ones to observe as they gear up for the 2025 season.
Rémi Leroux: a ardour for racing and the Brooks group tradition
If there’s one factor Leroux loves, it’s racing. The 27-year-old path runner from Waterloo, Que., has examined his legs on nearly each sort of terrain—highway, ultra-distance and vertical kilometres—however has discovered his candy spot in sub-ultra path racing. “I’m an enormous fan of racing!” he says. “One of many benefits of doing shorter races is that the restoration time afterward is sort of brief, which permits me to race steadily.” With a packed schedule that may embrace as much as 20 races a 12 months, Leroux prioritizes key occasions whereas sustaining a constant coaching load—at all times maintaining a tally of the following problem.
Leroux claimed the title of 2024 Canadian Mountain Operating Champion, a victory that solidified his place as one of many nation’s prime path runners. Greater than only a private achievement, Leroux says the race additionally represented the rising power of Canadian mountain operating. “It meant so much to me, and it was so nice to see many Canadians from totally different provinces make the journey to Quebec to take part within the championships,” he says. Now, along with his sights set on the Mountain Operating World Championships, he’s desperate to see how Canada’s strongest-ever group performs on the worldwide stage.
This season, Leroux joins the Brooks group, a partnership that looks like the proper match. “I’m tremendous grateful to have the chance of partnering with Brooks,” he says. “Their assist will enable me to proceed enhancing as an athlete and compete at my highest stage within the greatest path races on this planet.” The group tradition is one other big draw for Leroux, who says he’s wanting ahead to coaching and racing alongside a few of the greatest athletes within the sport.
Sierre-Zinal is a serious goal on Leroux’s 2025 calendar. After lacking the race final 12 months as a result of sickness, he’s keen for an additional shot at one of the aggressive path races on this planet. “I like racing with high-level competitors, and Sierre-Zinal could be essentially the most aggressive path race on the market, so it needs to be a blast,” he says.
Colorado’s Chris Myers: a breakout 12 months and massive targets with Brooks
Myers grew up within the excessive desert of southern California, the place a love of exploring the outside ultimately led him to path operating. Now based mostly in Boulder, Colo., he balances a profession as a visible results artist with coaching at an elite stage.
2024 was a breakout 12 months for Myers, highlighted by a Golden Ticket and a top-10 end at Western States 100. “The largest distinction was committing extra critically to operating and shifting to Boulder,” he says. “Being in an elite group and coaching at elevation made a big impact. And discovering a bunch of ‘small boys’ like Jon Rea, Justin Grunewald and Finn Jacobson-Schulte pushed me to that subsequent stage.” Adjusting to Colorado meant adapting to winter coaching. “Operating on snow and ice is tough, however the summer time trails make up for it,” he says. “And the competitors is not any joke—a few of these ‘straightforward’ runs are something however.”
Myers says that tackling Western States as his 100-mile debut was an eye-opener. “I believed prime 10 could be extra achievable, however ultrarunning is evolving—individuals don’t blow up like they used to. Preventing for tenth place with a dash end was wild.” He says he’s nonetheless determining his best race distance, however leans towards longer occasions. “Extra technique, extra problem-solving—it fits me.”
Now backed by Brooks, he’s excited for what’s forward. “They assist athletes by means of the highs and lows. Feeling seen as an athlete and as an individual appears to be one among their sturdy fits, that is new to me and I really feel that it’s going to be an thrilling and fulfilling partnership.”
Spain’s Ricardo Cherta: pushing new limits with Brooks by his aspect
Cherta is not any stranger to pushing limits. The Spanish mountain athlete, who calls the Pyrenees house, has made a reputation for himself on this planet of skyrunning, the place pace and technical ability outline success. Now, at 27, he’s setting his sights on a brand new problem: long-distance path races.
“This variation comes from a want for brand new challenges and to push my limits in a unique sort of racing,” he says. “Although it’s the identical sport, long-distance races are a totally totally different recreation. I like coaching and spending time within the mountains, and lengthy distances are the easiest way to find new locations and study extra about myself.”
A kind of challenges is UTMB (Extremely-Path du Mont Blanc), the legendary 170-km race that exams even essentially the most seasoned ultrarunners. Cherta has been right here earlier than, however this 12 months, he plans to take a extra calculated method. “UTMB is a extremely advanced race due to the gap, the terrain and all the pieces surrounding it. This 12 months, my plan is to arrange extra particularly all through the season and to study from previous errors. Ultras are all about that—gathering experiences and changing into a greater model of your self.”
His latest signing with Brooks marks a serious milestone in his profession. “Being with Brooks is a step ahead in my operating profession and a terrific alternative to proceed rising inside a group and construction designed for top efficiency,” Cherta says. “I like the way in which they perceive athletes’ wants, in addition to the eagerness and values they stand for.”
Wanting forward, Cherta is set to profit from this subsequent chapter. “I see myself having fun with the game as a lot as I do now, constructing an extended and profitable journey with Brooks and competing on the highest stage on this planet’s most necessary races.”
Different athletes to hitch the Brooks group from Europe embrace Anthony Felber, Laura Hampel and Guillaume Tiphene. From the U.S., standout runners like Courtney Barnes, Sydney Petersen, Taylor Stack, Barrett Grey and Kristina Randrup will group up to make sure the Brooks group is primed for an unbelievable 2025.