Think you’re fast? Put your miles where your mouth is and show us what you got. Sign up and you could win a spot in the first -ever MTL “GetGKT” Race, and with it, a shot at joining our elite roster of sponsored athletes.
The fastest male and female participants to complete our custom route, spanning 3.2 miles with a 2,201 ft climb, will be crowned the Merrell FKT champions and awarded an exclusive athlete contract for 2024.
Sign up here.
Need a little extra nudge? See what our current athlete team has to say about running for team Merrell:
Aum Gandhi | USA Trail Team | Career Start: 2020
Merrell has given me the keys to live my dream of being an endurance athlete. When I first became an ultra runner, I never thought I’d be doing the things I do, much less as a sponsored athlete. The most important thing to me in working with a brand is aligning with a company that shares my values. As an athlete that is a person of color, I am one of the handful of athletes in my community that represents the sport of trail running. In addition to that, I believe in lifting others up and giving back to the community. Merrell has stood behind me from the very beginning and they have been very supportive of my vision as a brand. As a company that believes the outdoors is for everyone, I am proud to be an MTL Pro Trail Athlete for Merrell. 
While being a sponsored athlete and consistently creating content can be time-consuming, it becomes effortless when surrounded by such incredible support. As an athlete, I am also happy to work with a brand that is so transparent and flexible. I truly believe that I can give any feedback and it matters to everyone, from the bottom all the way up to the CEO. Gratitude is the best way I can describe my authentic Merrell experience.
Rachel Tomajczyk | USA Trail Team | Career Start: 2021
Ever since my childhood, I harbored a dream of running professionally and representing the US teams. Merrell has given me the opportunity to pursue and accomplish those dreams by believing in me and supporting me financially. I joined the Merrell team in 2022 and that year I made the USA World Championship Mountain Team. At the World Championship, my team won a gold medal in the Vertical Mountain Championship and bronze in the Classic Mountain Championship. Wearing the USA jersey and standing on the podium with our national anthem playing was a moment I had dreamed about for years and Merrell helped that dream come true.
As a Merrell athlete, I receive financial support that enables me to fully dedicate myself to training, racing, and recovery. I’m also able to test out prototypes and give feedback on shoes and gear that Merrell creates, so by the time it’s on the market, I know I’m racing in the best shoes and gear possible. Besides the financial support and support through gear, I have a whole team of employees who support me. Each person I have encountered exudes positivity, encouragement, and unwavering support. This sense of belonging makes me truly feel like an integral part of the team and motivates me to strive for excellence on the trails. Although it may appear that I am alone on the start line, I carry the spirit of the entire Merrell team with me when I’m out there.
Reid Burrows | North American Trail Team | Career Start: 2019
There are two aspects that stand out to me about my experience as a Merrell MTL Pro Trail Athlete. Firstly, I appreciate that the brand recognizes my human side. I’ve struggled with my identity for much of my life and running full time has definitely caused me to put a lot of internal pressure on myself. Merrell as a brand is more interested in my story, struggles and personality than they are in my performances. As a story driven brand, it’s been pretty clear that failure is not seen as a negative with this brand, as long as you walk away with an interesting story and are able to articulate your experience. 
Secondly, this year I have not competed in a production shoe, and I likely won’t for the remainder of my season. That’s right, I’m in the process of developing a prototype with the shoe product design team. It’s been an incredible experience so far, and the most gratifying part, some of my feedback is already being implemented into a product that will be going to market in 2024. The design team makes me feel valued, and the shoes themselves are the fastest shoes I’ve ever put on my feet. I feel valued and appreciated by the entire team at Merrell, and that helps me put in the miles as well as race my heart out on race day.
Don’t forget to sign up here!