A Day in the Life of a Salomon Running Rep
A glance into the life of Laura Jamroz as a Pacific Northwest Field Marketing Rep for Salomon.
Late last summer/early fall, I decided to finally branch out and attend my first running group. Little did I know, it was a shoe demo for the Salomon DRX Defy GRVL shoe. I was stoked to meet some fellow runners and head out in a fresh pair of kicks to try. The Salomon rep introduced herself and got me a pair in my size. Once we started running, I ended up cruising next to the rep — Laura, and we chatted the entire run.
Fast forward about 8 months or so, I’ve gotten to hang with Laura a numerous times on some group runs, demos and see her around often. After getting to know her, I realized how rad her job at Salomon is, and I thought you all should know too!
Here’s a little interview I had with Laura about her role and what it’s truly like being a rep for an incredible brand like Salomon.
Without further adieu, meet Laura!
Where are you from, where are you currently located, and what is your current job with Salomon?
I was born and raised just outside of Rochester, NY. I went to college in PA and then moved to southern UT for 9 years. I’ve lived in western Washington since the end of 2020.
In 2022 I become the PNW Field Marketing Rep for Salomon Footwear and Softgoods!!
What’s your professional background as it relates to the outdoor industry?
While living in southern Utah I worked as a guide and outfitter, leading adventure trips in and around Zion National Park. I also managed many of the operations at the guide shop, including staff training for a group of about 40 employees. When I moved to Seattle I worked as a retail assistant manager at the headquarters of a large outdoor apparel brand. These experiences, plus a lifetime of running, skiing, and hiking helped me have a skill set well suited for my current role.
Describe a Day or Week in the Life at your job at Salomon.
My job essentially boils down to Salomon hype-women! Put another way, I help to elevate Salomon footwear and apparel through education and activation in the PNW.
My job varies greatly in the day-to-day, but on a weekly basis I connect with stores to make sure their staff understand the Salomon product on their shelves - features, technologies, materials, uses, etc, as well as partner with stores or run clubs to put on footwear demo experiences.
And when I’m not on the road visiting all my accounts in WA and OR, I am generally planning or prepping for future events. For example, we ran a Salomon Aero Glide 3 demo event with a track workout back in March (which I know you joined!).
What do you enjoy most about working for Salomon as a company?
First off, there are so many wonderful, smart, passionate people at Salomon that make working here great. As a brand, I love that Salomon is always innovating and pushing toward whatever is next, never content to settle. Also, I am so genuinely stoked on Salomon gear, not only for trail and road running, but skiing and hiking too!
What do you think is something people don’t know about brand reps? Give us the inside scoop!
I keep an ever-expanding list of restaurants recommendations for when I visit Portland, which is part of my territory and a place I travel frequently. I aim to try a new restaurant whenever I’m down there.
Also, it’s probably not a surprise, but podcasts, audiobooks, and long phone calls are a traveling rep’s best friend. A rep that I used to work with would use long drives as an opportunity to do some skincare by putting on a sheet facemask and letting it marinate for a while.
Tell your readers to please leave all their best food recs along the WA/OR i5 corridor in the comments! [ok readers, you heard her!]
Who is someone in the running scene that inspires you? Could be professionally, could be an athlete, anyone!
My dad! He is the one who got me into running. I completed my first local 10k with him, and he is the reason I signed up for my first half and full marathon. We ran a 50k together near the Grand Canyon and it was such a special experience to run (and walk, and power hike) every step together.
What’s your current favorite Salomon shoe?
I have so many favorites from Salomon – my top shoe for the trails is probably the Genesis or S/Lab Genesis and for the road it’s the Aero Glide 3 [guys…Ryan here…seriously if you haven’t tried the Aero Glides, they are insane. So good…ok back to Laura]. Although the new Aero Glide 3 GRVL is quickly becoming a go-to for runs on various terrain. My favorite hydration vest is the ADV SKN12 and my favorite ski is the QST 106!
What’s your favorite Salomon shoe of all time?
I’m going to stick with Genesis and S/Lab Genesis as all-time favorites for now, but I’m always curious about what’s coming in the future. A favorite quote from Salomon’s founder comes to mind here:
“What fascinates me the most is what I’m going to invent tomorrow.”
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The top things I love about being a Field Marketing Rep are:
Getting to run with new people in new places all the time
Helping runners address an issue they’ve been experiencing with a Salomon product solution
The insane day-to-day variability in my work
Where’s your favorite place your job has taken you?
In late spring last year, I got the opportunity to travel to France for the first time to visit the Annecy Design Center / Salomon HQ. I loved getting to connect with the brand and its heritage at a deeper level during that trip. I spent a few personal days in Chamonix running, hiking, eating pastries, and drinking espresso and wine. I’d love to go back in the summer months when the alpine terrain is accessible to run parts of the TMB and to do some rock climbing!
What’s something you’re looking forward to in the coming year with Salomon?
I am very much looking forward to being back at the Broken Arrow Skyrace, at Palisades Tahoe, to support the Golden Trail World Series in June. The Broken Arrow event is a super fun trail race weekend with an incredible community and a race distance for everyone.
If you are stuck on a desert island, and all you can bring with you is one Salomon product, what is it and why?
I’m bringing my ADV SKN 12 hydration vest & XA Soft Flask Filter – lets count that as 1 piece of gear. The filter bottle for obvious reasons…and the hydration vest because you just never know what you’re going to have to carry around a desert island?? Coconuts? Supplies? Pretty shells from the beach?
What’s your favorite event you’ve ever been a part of in your job?
There are too many favorites to list them all. Near the top of my list is each Golden Trail Series event I’ve been a part of. It’s so cool to be a part of the energy, connect with the athletes, and to work with my fellow Salomon Field Marketing Reps from across the country.
What’s your favorite distance to run?
Variety is the spice of life - I enjoy mixing it up, running from 3mi to 15mi, various terrain, various speeds, sometimes solo and sometimes with a friend or run group.
Any races planned this year for yourself?
I’ve run everything from 5k to 50k and for right now I’m into 13-20 race mile distances. I’m currently training the Ogden Half Marathon (road) and am signed up for the Backcountry Rise 20 miler in early fall (trail).
Not a race, but I’d really like to run point-to-point through the Enchantments this year, I’ve never done it!
Who’s your favorite Salomon athlete and why?
It’s obviously the GOAT, Courtney Dauwalter. She’s performing at an absolutely insane level in the sport, shattering records and pioneering new achievements. I love that Courtney is so totally herself in all environments – eating candy, telling jokes, wearing the clothes that make her feel comfortable, and never making a big deal about her incredible success. I hope to meet her one day.
Anything else we should know about you or your role?
Salomon is expanding its field marketing team in the US, so if this role sounds fun and rewarding to you, keep your eyes out for future opportunities to join the team!
Closing Thoughts
There you have it! A glimpse into the life of Laura, a Salomon Field Marketing rep in the Pacific Northwest region. I’ve spent months thinking about how cool of a job a field marketing rep is and I realized that we don’t get to hear from them too often. Many times we focus on the athletes and product people at a brand, but I think seeing and hearing from the team on the ground floor is just as cool.
I’m sure I didn’t cover all of the questions, so if you’re reading this and you have any questions for Laura, please drop them below and ask her anything!
Huge shoutout to Laura for taking the time to share about her role at Salomon!
Catch ya’ll on the next one!
— Ryan from Into the Wild