Outside athletes will typically scoff on the rising variety of legacy manufacturers collaborating with celebrities. From The North Face promoting an attire line with Kim Kard9ashian to On Operating releasing a set impressed by FKA twigs — these releases appear to depend on identify recognition quite than a honest partnership with artists passionate for the outside.
However for Ben Gibbard — the 48-year-old frontman for traditional indie rock band Demise Cab for Cutie — collaborating with out of doors manufacturers makes a whole lot of sense.
Gibbard, a longtime runner and lover of the outside, proved himself “the true deal” this week by ending all 100 miles of the infamously troublesome Western States ultramarathon. And it took its toll.
He started affected by warmth exhaustion about midway by the race. Having already climbed to a excessive level of almost 9,000 ft, the vocalist and guitarist informed Runner’s World that he couldn’t even see straight.
Nauseous and seeing double, he lay down and began shivering, at the same time as volunteers put blankets on him. He ultimately felt higher after the help station volunteers gave him some heat soup broth. So he returned to the path, ultimately making his method to the end line of the 100.2-mile race.
“I can’t consider I made it, and that was a really tough patch,” he informed Runner’s World. “If it wasn’t for the volunteers on the support station, I by no means would have made it.”
Gibbard, who wore GS:CCD footwear from Speedland, will now debut a collaboration with the model, the GS:TMT.
And it’s each lovely and technical.
Speedland x Ben Gibbard
Gibbard is clearly far much less within the social media influencing that defines on-line life for a lot of of his musical friends. In truth, Gibbard’s Instagram account — the place he has over 90,000 followers — has only one submit from 2023: a handwritten textual content block that merely states, “go exterior.”
That is smart. When he’s not performing, Gibbard is probably going working or getting exterior. The Seattle resident has completed over 20 path races since 2012, together with a number of ultramarathons.
That zeal for the outside, and path working particularly, led to his shoe collaboration with Portland-based Speedland. The model’s founders are longtime followers of Gibbard’s music, nevertheless it’s the musician’s out of doors credentials that impressed the shoe’s design.
“Removed from a typical superstar endorsement, this partnership stems from Gibbard’s severe credentials as an ultramarathoner and his deep connection to the area’s path working tradition,” Speedland stated in a press launch.
GS:TMT Particulars
The GS:TMT is a technical ultramarathon shoe named for Washington’s Tiger Mountain Path, the place Gibbard typically trains for occasions just like the grueling Cascade Crest 100-mile race.
The shoe additionally introduces a number of firsts for Speedland’s GS line, that are tailored for long-distance path working. It has the model’s longest lugs but: 6.5mm on a brand new Michelin FiberLite outsole.
That’s essential for the technical, root-heavy terrain of the Pacific Northwest, in keeping with Speedland.
The higher additionally will get a minimalist improve with a single layer of ripstop mesh, whereas retaining Speedland’s PerformFit Wrap system and twin BOA Li2 dials.
At 10.5 ounces for a males’s measurement 9, the shoe lands in a candy spot between ultralight racing flats and burlier mountain runners. A 37mm heel stack supplies cushion for extremely distances. Furthermore, it’s attainable to customise the shoe by including an non-compulsory Carbitex GearFlex carbon plate ($35).
GS:TMT: Pricing & Availability
Speedland’s collaboration additionally contains direct help for the Tiger Mountain Path Affiliation. The model will host a path work day and donate proceeds to keep up the identical trails that impressed the shoe — a follow the model has maintained throughout all its artist collaborations, Speedland stated.
The GS:TMT sells for $275, with supply beginning in August. You’ll be able to place your preorder on the Speedland web site.
