International Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race
The International Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race is a skyrunning competition held annually in May at Mount Elbrus, Russia. At 5,642 meters (18,510 feet), Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe and one of the Seven Summits. Richard P. Burgunder III was honored to be among the 169 participants from Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, and the United States who were invited to compete in the 2023 Red Fox Elbrus Race. Following an eight-year hiatus from competition, Burgunder placed 49th overall with a time of 2:25:48 in the Skyrace and 92nd with a time of 1:22:06 in the Vertical Kilometer. During the Skyrace, Burgunder battled extreme weather conditions, which included sustained winds of 50 kilometers per hour, blinding snow, near zero visibility, thunder, and lightning. Summiting was not possible due to the deteriorating weather conditions, which forced the high-altitude judges to change the turnaround to Pastukhov Rocks at 4,550 meters (14,930 feet). By shattering misconceptions and inspiring people to achieve greatness under turbulent geopolitical conditions, Burgunder utilized sports diplomacy as an engagement tool to strengthen diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States. Later, in collaboration with the editors at Russia Beyond – the world’s largest community of people interested in Russia – Burgunder wrote “How an American Conquered Russia’s (and Europe’s!) Tallest Peak.” The Russia Beyond article reached an international audience by being featured in over 25 countries.
International Summer School in the Russian Language and Culture
The International Summer School in the Russian Language and Culture is a four-week university program for those with an academic or professional interest in the Russian language. Richard P. Burgunder III was honored to be among participants from six countries who were invited to attend the 2019 session at ITMO University. This program taught Russian as a foreign language through instruction, project work, and extracurricular activities. By working directly with citizens, institutions, and private sector organizations, Burgunder employed cultural immersion as an effective tool to bridge new differences among participants from Russia and the West. His experiences were profiled in an ITMO News article: “Russian Language and Culture Summer School: Leading the Way to Better Career Prospects.” Later, in collaboration with the editors at Russia Beyond – the world’s largest community of people interested in Russia – Burgunder wrote “Why This U.S. Entrepreneur Came to Russia and Converted to Orthodoxy.” The Russia Beyond article reached an international audience by being featured on 20 websites in 16 languages.
International Security and Intelligence Programme and Conference (ISI)
The International Security and Intelligence Programme and Conference (ISI) is a four-week university program for those with an academic or professional interest in intelligence and contemporary security threats. Richard P. Burgunder III was honored to be among the 66 course participants from 14 different countries who were invited to attend the 2018 session at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge. The program was hosted by the Cambridge Security Initiative (CSi) in partnership with the Department of War Studies, King’s College, University of London. This prestigious program explored Western spycraft, international security, and intelligence through a British lens. With guidance from leading intelligence experts, Burgunder examined the resurgence of piracy in East Africa. His research project was entitled “Has Al-Shabaab Exacerbated the Resurgence of Piracy in the Horn of Africa?”
SERV Supporting Athletes (SSA)
SERV Supporting Athletes (SSA) originated from Richard P. Burgunder III’s work as an advisor to more than 50 professional athletes from nine countries. The goal was to form strategic partnerships with leaders in the sports industry, including GoPro Mountain Games, Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. (P3R), and SERV International. Burgunder launched a global fundraising program for humanitarian aid by engaging third-place 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon finisher Jonathan Kibet of Kenya through sponsorship with SERV International. The successful effort fed more than 7,200 people in impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic and Kenya, communities which were engulfed in famine. By working with prominent citizens to address enduring development challenges in their local communities, Burgunder utilized sports as a catalyst for international development to feed marginalized and vulnerable populations in developing countries.
PowerBar Field Marketing Associate (FMA) Program
The PowerBar Field Marketing Associate (FMA) Program was an innovative experiential marketing program in select markets nationwide to support PowerBar ’s sponsorship of the endurance sports community. Richard P. Burgunder III was honored to be among the 48 individuals selected to the 2012, 2013, and 2014 PowerBar FMA Programs. PowerBar supported endurance athletes and grassroots events by donating samples and providing resources where necessary. As the face of this initiative to the endurance community and with the goal of ensuring that the brand was presented properly, Burgunder increased brand awareness for PowerBar by educating athletes on the benefits of using the company’s products at marquee events. These events included the Gran Fondo New York Cycling Race, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Colorado Tough Mudder, GoPro Mountain Games, BOLDERBoulder, Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, Warrior Dash, Komen Race for the Cure, Baltimore Running Festival, New York City Marathon, and the XTERRA America and World Tour of Off-Road Triathlon and Trail Running. Through his marketing efforts, Burgunder was spotlighted as the FMA of the Month for April 2012 and awarded the first-place bonus six times. With the sponsorship of 500 races averaging 1,500 participants across the nation in addition to 890,000 samples distributed to potential customers, the PowerBar FMA Program significantly increased brand awareness across the endurance sports community.
Team XTERRA Trail Run (XTR) Ambassador Program
The Team XTERRA Trail Run (XTR) Ambassador Program members were a carefully hand-selected group of athletes who exemplified the XTERRA “Live More” brand and who became an invaluable part of the XTERRA promotional team. Richard P. Burgunder III was the first athlete selected to the XTR Ambassador Program and became known as the “dean” of XTR Ambassadors. Burgunder led the Ambassador Program for nearly 10 years and was profiled as a featured athlete in XTERRA Planet Magazine’s “Trail Runner Spotlight: Ambassador Rich.” He established himself as one of the most decorated runners in XTERRA Trail Run history after winning five XTERRA Regional Championships in four different regions (2009 New England, 2011 Ohio, 2011 and 2012 Pocono, and 2013 Utah). Additionally, he was a featured speaker at the 2012, 2013, and 2014 XTERRA Trail Run National Championships, was the first American to compete in the XTERRA Japan Championship – Trail Run 30km, and was a competitor in XTERRA Trail Run events in more than a dozen different states. With more than 300 XTERRA off-road triathlon and trail running races in 20-plus countries worldwide, the Team XTR Ambassador Program was an immensely successful grassroots marketing campaign.
PowerBar Team Elite (PBTE)
PowerBar Team Elite (PBTE) was a grassroots athletic ambassador program that supported athletes, coaches, and other athletic influencers from across the world. Richard P. Burgunder III was honored to be among an elite group of athletic ambassadors selected to represent PowerBar across a range of sports from regional teams and local educators to world champion competitors. By establishing himself as an influential athletic ambassador, Burgunder was selected four consecutive times to represent PBTE in 2008-2009, 2010-2011, 2012-2013, and 2014-2015. Through his athletic achievements, Burgunder was named Athlete of the Week for October 24, 2011, and for December 1, 2009. Additionally, he was a featured athlete in the Video of the Week for April 5, 2010.
Greatest Race on Earth (GROE)
The Greatest Race on Earth (GROE) was the world’s only marathon team relay series that consisted of four exotic marathons in Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai, and Hong Kong. Richard P. Burgunder III was invited and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank to represent the inaugural Team USA in leg one of the Nations Challenge – The Nairobi Marathon, which was the first of four races of the GROE 2007-2008. Competitors faced some of the most challenging environments in the world – including the high altitude of Nairobi, the humidity of Singapore, the heat of Mumbai, and the uphill terrain of Hong Kong. The 2007-2008 series saw the competition concentrate for the first time solely on the Nations Challenge, which consisted of 53 international teams representing 35 countries that vied for a cash prize pool of $1.5 million. Burgunder completed the 2007 Nairobi Marathon despite overcoming a near-death experience with hyponatremia, resulting in emergency treatment by U.S. Marines who were stationed at the nearby American Embassy. Team USA finished 28th overall.