Fitness meets technology

MANILA, Philippines - The sport of running has come a long way from the simple sneaker-and-stopwatch combo. From advanced compression wear to high-powered watches and space age running shoes, running has never been more technologically advanced as it is today. While the simplicity of running makes it one of the easiest and most pleasurable fitness activities to get into, having an arsenal of the latest in tech makes that elusive Personal Best or “PB” just a little bit easier, or at least even more fun.

Gotta run

For runners who need an everyday training shoe, the Newton Fate and Kismet (P8,995) are a sure-fire guarantee of the most sublime experience yet. Long revered for its “natural running style’ and patented forefoot lug technology, Newton has created a core trainer in the Fate and Kismet that combines supreme comfort with light weight. Their signature feature is the five-lug Point Of Power (P.O.P.) platform, which works like a shock absorber in the forefoot to absorb impact energy and redirect this into forward motion. The result is a ride that takes the sting out of harsh pavement, but which propels the runner forward effortlessly. The mesh upper uses seamless stitching to ensure a chafe-free fit, along with 360-degree reflectivity for added safety in low visibility conditions. The Kismet adds an Extended Medial Bridge for additional stability, while the Fate is recommended for neutral runners.

Keeping pace

The benefits of training with Pace and Heart Rate are well known to serious runners. The Polar M400 is a treat for value-conscious athletes as it combines Heart Rate Monitoring with GPS tracking at just P14,495. The sleek Polar features a high contrast display and precision-machined details that are both fashionable and functional.

Aside from common Heart Rate Monitor functions like Time In Zone, Activity Tracker and Training Benefit, the M400 includes a host of innovative functions that will be extremely useful to the serious athlete. The End Time Estimator predicts your finish time for a given race distance, while a Personal Best function notifies you when you have broken a new personal record for a given distance.

For runners who love to explore but are afraid of getting lost in unfamiliar territory, a Back-To-Start GPS function lets you trace your route back home so you’ll never get lost wherever you may be. A daily activity tracker monitors your movements to increase your consciousness on staying mobile. When synchronized with your smartphone, the Polar Flow App provides the easiest way to sync the M400 with the new Flow web service, providing an instant view of training plans and data via your smartphone. This enables the user to easily access his training plan for analysis and reference. It can also be spec’d without the Heart Rate Monitor strap at P11,495.

Recover quick

They’re made for athletes, but these compression socks might as well be Tony Stark-approved. The Italian-made Ironman Recovery Socks (P1,995/pair) are the first of its kind in the market with celliant material, a synthetic polymer bi-component fiber made from polyethylene terephthalate with optically active particles embedded in the core. Celliant has been shown to increase oxygenation in body tissue and has been demonstrated to reduce minor aches and pains.

As applied in the Ironman Recovery Socks, this helps to shorten time to recovery, reduce foot and leg swelling, and relieve pain.

Light up the night

For ultrarunners who need durability throughout the night, and triathletes who are sick of groping around in transition before sunrise, Fitletic has the solution. The Fitletic Swift (P1,245 | 30 Lumens) and Swift Plus (P1,825|115 Lumens) are lightweight headlamps that weigh next to nothing but which offer enough power and comfort for most needs. Three high performance LED bulbs offer four modes of illumination in the Swift and another three modes in the Swift Plus. Foam padding and adjustable banding enhance wearer comfort, making them handy tools for setting up your spot in a darkened transition, or just lighting your path while you run.

For athletes who need even more versatility, Fitletic offers the Vivid (P1,695) and Vivid Plus (P4,025). The Fitletic Vivid features 120 Lumens of output and 190 hours of burn time powered by three AAA batteries. The Vivid light detaches from the headstrap to easily attach to several of the Fitletic running belts. The super light headlamp only weighs 3.5oz with batteries, but has a 120mm shooting beam and a safety strobe floodlight.

The Fitletic Vivid Plus offers the same versatility as the Vivid, yet adds even more power with 135 Lumens of output and 120 hours of burn time powered by a USB-rechargeable Li-Polymer battery.

Runnr is located at Bonifacio High Street, TriNoma, Alabang Town Center and Ayala Center Cebu. You can also check out the Runnr corners in Toby’s outlets specifically at Shangri-La Mall and SM Mall of Asia. For information, call 403-1787 or visit www.runnr.com.ph.