2026 So Far: 100ks, a New Crew, and 1,450 Miles of River
Jason CartwrightShare
What a wild ride 2026 has been. Bike shops from Hawaii to the Bahamas, my first 100k, a brand-new crew of athletes, and our first grocery chain. And as of September 19, I'm rowing the length of the Colorado River. Virtually... but my arms don't know the difference.
Here's where we've been and where we're headed.
The Year So Far
Coast to coast (and then some)
In January we signed with our first national distributor, Coast 2 Coast. They've been crushing sales goals and getting Phun Bars into bike shops from Hawaii to the Bahamas and (almost) all points in between.
Still putting in the miles
We're not just making the fuel; we're still out there in the daily grind with you. This year I ran my first 100k, a few 50ks, and my first relay: the Wild West Relay. Five of us covered 200 miles from Fort Collins to Steamboat Springs.
There's something special about moving that far with a team and sharing the struggle together. Pushing our personal boundaries is what we live for. It's the whole reason behind Fuel for every element of fun.
Back in Leadville
It's always a treat to spend time in Leadville. This summer we were back at one of the premier endurance events of the year as a vendor for the Marathon and the 100 Mile Run. Testing yourself at those distances is one thing. Doing it all above 10,000 feet is another.
As a nutrition company, it's always a gut check to put your food in front of world-class athletes and wait for the verdict. We're getting more comfortable with it. Having folks like Andy Glaze (@amglaze) hyping our bars sure helps, and that first smile after the first bite never gets old.
Looking Ahead
Oh yeah, we launched an ambassador program!
Meet the Phun Bar Crew: 24 amazing athletes who joined the party this year. A 6x world champion mountain biker. A two-time CrossFit Games team champion. Ultrarunners, triathletes, cyclists, mountaineers, even a surfer... everyone out there chasing the best version of themselves.
1,450 miles of the Colorado River
That crew got me fired up. Running wasn't going to be enough this year.
So on September 19, my 48th birthday, I started virtually rowing the length of the Colorado River. All 1,450 miles. That's about 2,330,000 meters on the rower.
To make every meter count, I teamed up with Western Resource Advocates to raise money and awareness for this river. Thirty-five million people, plus countless animals, rely on it for daily life.
Follow the journey and the stories in the Phun Bar Strava Club. And if you want to pitch in for the river, every dollar goes straight to WRA.
Join the Strava Club Give to WRA
Hello, grocery aisle
To balance out the sports world, we've been working hard to break into grocery stores. It's been a slow burn for sure, but we landed our first chain! Central Market in Texas is in love with Phun Bars and is bringing all 5 flavors into their 10 locations.
Where you at, Texas?! You know what to do. Go empty those shelves.
Closing out the year at The Running Event
Bike shops, grocery, ambassadors... and to end the year strong, we'll be at The Running Event in San Antonio, December 1 to 3. It's the premier expo for all things running. The major brands (and the soon-to-be major brands) all show up, and buyers from running stores across the country come to see what's new and make deals for the coming year. It's another massive effort to push the envelope.
"Good enough" isn't on the menu
As a small business, we have to keep putting ourselves in new and challenging situations to grow. At this stage, we can't sit back and call it good enough.
More miles traveled. More weight lifted. More athletes eating the best energy bar on the planet.
Thanks for being part of the ride.
Jason
Phounder, Phun Bar
Fuel for every element of fun.