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Soweto Marathon is Back!

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Sold out year on year, The People’s Race, Soweto Marathon will officially open entries for the 2022 edition come Friday 27 May.

Taking place on Sunday 6 November 2022, the race route will continue to honour Soweto’s rich history as it takes runners through the tour of Soweto, so says Soweto Marathon Trust Chairman, Sello Khunou;

“We’re delighted to announce that all is on track to host the Soweto Marathon post our two year hiatus. The 27th edition will bring with it a tremendous gratefulness for life as we honour those lost to Covid-19 and all the struggles associated with the pandemic.  We also encourage all would be participants who have not vaccinated to do so ahead of the race in November for preservation of all our lives.”

The race will consist of three different distances – the 42.2km standard marathon, the 21.1km half marathon and a 10km run – all of which start and end at the iconic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Follow Soweto Marathon’s pages for more details

www.sowetomarathon.com

Soweto Marathon Facebook

Soweto Marathon Insta

Soweto Marathon Twitter


Go All Out on Global Running Day

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UA ALL OUT MILE Returns with Live and Virtual Events

From inspiration to perspiration the UA ALL OUT MILE provides the motivation, the coaching, and the training plan to run your fastest mile. Starting this May, unique stories from around the world will highlight thousands of runners achieving their personal best.

With virtual participation in 14 countries, Under Armour has almost doubled regional participation from last year’s challenge to execute a global event in both virtual and live formats. Teams and individuals alike will take on the 30-day mission to train with resources to fit into their existing routines with the ultimate goal to go ALL OUT just in time for Global Running Day.

YOUR FASTEST MILE

During the UA All Out Mile Competition Period, participants are encouraged to go ALL OUT and run their fastest mile anytime between June 1st – 5th. In celebration of Global Running Day, UA will kick off live events across the globe at cities across the US as well as in the UK, Thailand, Japan, and South Africa.  

Participants results will automatically be pulled from UA MapMyRun™ and appear on the FitRankings leaderboard, where they can see how they stack up against runners from around the world. Are you ready to see your name on the leaderboard? Prizing will be awarded to the top-3 males and top-3 females in each region!

THE MILE IS TOUGH. YOU’RE TOUGHER.

By joining the UA All Out Mile, you gain access to training routines and workouts from UA’s elite coaches, athletes, and Human Performance experts. Registration will automatically grant you access to a free 3-month UA MapMyRun™ MVP membership you will be able to log miles and access exclusive training plans and video tips throughout your journey to your best mile.  

On May 1st, the UA All Out Mile begins with a month-long Training Period. Whether you’re walking or running, connect your shoes or smartwatch to get personalized tips and training plans to help you go farther and faster.

First things first, you start by registering for the challenge,  click the ‘Join’ button, link UA MapMyRun™and start training to get ready for race day where you smash the UA All Out Mile!




Need Help Training? UA has you covered

Starting May 1, check here for training resources provided by UA athletes and UA MapMyRun™ experts to help push yourself to your personal best.

When you register for the UA ALL OUT MILE, you’ll have access to training routines and workouts from UA’s elite coaches, athletes, and Human Performance experts.

UA MapMyRun™ has the right tools to help you reach your peak fitness. Scan the QR codes (or tap on mobile) to view some of our favorite routines in the app


WHY WE RUN

At Under Armour, we recognize the power of sport. We know that youth participation in sport goes beyond the track, court, field, or arena. Being in sports at a young age leaves an impression that sets our youth up for a brighter future. 

That’s why we’re committed to awarding the top teams in the “Most Milers” competition with a $10,000 monetary donation back to the non-profit organization of their choice. All designated charities must have a connection to increasing access and opportunity for all young athletes in support of UA’s Access to Sport initiative. 

Sign up your local crew, club, or even create a team for your social followers to support youth sports in your community. Make a team. RUN ALL OUT. Make an impact.

PUMA Partners with Elite-Tier Boxer Athletics Club

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PUMA has signed a multi-year partnership with the Boxer Athletics Club which will see the global sports brand providing the top-tier running club with technical PUMA Running apparel and footwear.

Boxer Athletics Club was established in 2005 and the club’s elite squad includes multiple South African champion and Olympian Precious Mashele as well as Glenrose Xaba, who is also a multiple national champion on the road and on the track.

“PUMA has a growing family of elite distance runners, so partnering with a top-tier club to showcase our innovative product was the obvious next step” said Brett Bellinger, Marketing Director of PUMA South Africa. “By providing the best race day product and through a package of incentives we aim to support athletes to achieve their goals of breaking national records and excelling on the local and global stage.”

The technical product available to members of the elite squad will include the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite, part of the brand’s new running shoe range as worn by Mashele and Xaba.

Club manager Rhyn Swanepoel said the partnership with PUMA will boost Boxer Athletics Club’s commitment to supporting its athletes’ dreams, from winning races at provincial and national level in South Africa, to competing at World Championships and Olympic Games.

“Boxer also remains dedicated to uplifting the development of community sporting clubs. We will continue our work to enhance the presence of sports in disadvantaged communities and to lay a foundation for future athletes to be realised,” said Swanepoel.

Bring Your Running Shoe Game Up to Speed with the Flow Velociti Wind 2 — Literally

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Runners can experience light and effortless speed with the new UA Flow Velociti Wind 2

The Under Armour human performance and product development teams continue to create innovative solutions for runners to bring you the next generation of unparalleled performance running shoes. With the help of UA athletes and brand ambassadors, the UA Innovation Lab in Baltimore and UA Human Performance Center in Portland, Under Armour develops the best footwear that’s based on key insights and learnings from years of experience and research.

UA has always performed best when we’re disruptive: The UA HOVR Machina launched with the innovative Pebax® Propulsion Plate, and the first iteration of UA Flow eliminated the need for a heavy rubber outsole — and we’re not stopping there.


Technology moves fast and runners’ demands grow, and UA understands the importance of meeting the athlete where they need us. Expanding Under Armour’s Flow running shoe collection that debuted in early 2021 with the UA Flow Velociti Wind and its disruptive all-in-one cushioning system, the UA Flow Velociti Wind 2 is here to bring runners up to speed — literally. The Flow Velociti Wind 2 features the same groundbreaking singular, ultra-responsive and long-lasting midsole compound as its predecessor. The UA Flow cushioning platform eliminates the need for rubber on the outsole, drastically reducing the weight and giving runners the feeling of light and effortless speed — the feeling of the wind at your back.

What is UA Flow

UA Flow disrupts the design of a traditional running shoe with its lightweight construction and by completely eliminating the rubber outsole, removing the 56 to 85 gram weight it typically would add to a traditional running shoe. UA Flow is the lightest midsole technology in UA’s current running lineup, bringing unparalleled lightweight cushion and long-lasting technology to the run category. The foam has naturally sticky traction, so traditional bulky overlays of the past aren’t needed. UA Flow offers runners great energy return, amazing consistency and reliable durability that will keep you reaching for your new favourite pair run after run!

“UA FLOW is a game-changing cushioning technology that expands our capabilities for delivering the best experience and product solutions to the runner. The Flow Velociti Wind 2 delivers speed without sacrifice-keeping the runner protected, delivering amazing energy return, and putting the wind at their back with every stride, every run, every day.”

– Douglas Smiley, Senior Global Product Line Manager for Performance Run at Under Armour


Warp Upper + Tatami Stitch Heel

The UA Flow Velociti Wind 2 is designed for speed over longer distances and engineered to provide great responsiveness, energy return and grippy traction so you can run with confidence. The new shoes feature the groundbreaking super-engineered upper solution, UA Warp, that adapts to the runner’s foot throughout their stride. It features supporting tapes that act like seatbelts on the foot, placed precisely where our biomechanists found them to be most helpful for a runner. The tapes are in tension when you need them and relax when you don’t — eliminating any buckling and pinch points from traditional uppers built with continuous materials.

 The UA Warp upper then moves in unison with the foot, supporting it in each step to help unlock performance by improving the efficiency of the foot-to-shoe interface in each stride. UA Warp locks you onto the UA Flow midsole without getting in the way of the foot’s natural movement.

New for the UA Flow Velociti Wind 2 shoes is the Tatami Stitch Heel: a premium solution that delivers a more consistent lockdown around the heel, a moulded EVA sockliner with added comfort and resiliency and cushioning for high-mileage performance.

The UA Flow Velociti Wind 2 launches in South Africa from 14 April and is  priced at R3 499, it will be available online and at UA Brand Houses across SA.



SHOP NOW

PRODUCT DNA:

  • Launch: April 2022
  • Weight: 236 grams
  • Price: R 3,499.00
  • Heel: 26mm
  • Forefoot: 18mm
  • Offset: 8mm
  • Connects to UA MAPMYRUN™: tracks and analyzes your running metrics to help make you a better runner
  • Warp™ upper optimizes containment with lightweight lockdown & allows maximum breathability
  • One-piece Flow midsole provides responsive & long-lasting cushioning
  • Flow technology eliminates the rubber outsole, creating a more lightweight & seamless ride on any surface
  • Outsole material is super-durable & increases ground traction

So Much More Than Just a Watch!

Roxanne MartinTried & Tested3 Comments on So Much More Than Just a Watch!

The HUAWEI GT3 RUNNER Reviewed

Avid trail runner, open water swimmer and photographer by profession, Barbara Cole, was more than willing to test the new HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner and share her views on it with us.

Unboxing & First Impression

The watch really has a super-premium look and feel, and it really struck me how light it was when I first took it out the box. Wearing it around my training crew only reinforced my first impressions, with so many comments of how slick it looked, and again, how light it was. You don’t realise you are wearing a watch until you look at your wrist. The only wish-list item I would ask for is that the watch came with interchangeable watch straps, so you can change it to match different looks, and add some colour, but that’s just me.

Design

The watch looks great, but it is still tough enough to handle some proper wear and tear, showing that it is manufactured using premium and robust materials. I love that you can tailor-make the face of the watch with multiple faces that you can download off the app, and I had a lot of fun with this feature. I also love that one of the watches features like your heart rate analysis are a simple touch away off the main screen, while your current heart rate is shown all the time.


The only problem I experienced, which is more of a pet-hate for me, was that I had to deliberately lift my arm every time I wanted to see the time. Personally, I would prefer an option to show the screen all the time, albeit on a dimmer light, but still playing around to see what I prefer.

User Experience

I absolutely love the user experience of the watch in terms of the touch screen. It’s amazing, and makes it so easy to navigate between settings, as well as being super responsive, too. With one button on the side of the watch to access the main menu of options, it was super easy to navigate between all settings. You very quickly get used to how the touch screen operates. And if you’re like me, you aren’t a manual reading type person, you will still easily be able to find your way around the watch.

I found the set-up incredibly easy, downloaded the app to my phone, and linked the two easily. The only issue I did have was linking the device to my Discovery App in order to track my activities for Vitality, but to be honest, I don’t think it’s a Huawei issue.

Workout Modes Used

I’m currently nursing an injury, so not actively running, and thus I used the following modes:

  • Indoor Swimming
  • Indoor Cycling
  • Open Water Swimming
  • Outdoor Walk


What I loved

I loved the open water swimming mode! It picked up my heart rate so quickly and read it accurately, even in the water. What was super interesting here was that it recorded my distance in steps, too, adding to my daily step goal, so I’m definitely not complaining! I am concerned about long-term wear and tear from the salt water, but this watch seems to be built for it.

The detail in terms of each session that you can look at on the watch after a session is incredible, and then the extension into your app on your phone is there if you want to find out more, giving you a wealth of stats and figures after a workout. The options in terms of workouts available is also pretty impressive, with just about every activity I could think of.

Battery Life

This was excellent! They say you’ll get 14 days on the lowest energy mode, and on average my battery life was around 10 to 12 days, including workout modes, which I used most days. So, using all the features of the watch, still got me to just under two weeks. What was also great is that it charges very quickly, going from 5% to 95% in an hour on the wireless charger.


Health Integration Features

Sleep Tracking: I really like this feature, and although I am not one to sleep with my watch on, when I did so, the watch was very accurate in terms of sleep time and patterns. It was also insightful for me to see the level of detailed feedback you get from the watch when downloaded into the app, explaining sleep cycles and how much REM sleep versus Deep Sleep you get, and what this means.

Stress Management: This is not really a feature I would normally pay much attention to, but it was interesting to see that it did correlate to times where I was more stressed. I think the extension of this is how you then manage your stress levels, so that your Central Nervous System is not stressed continually at a level that is detrimental to your health.

GPS Accuracy: The watch supports five satellite systems, which should make it very accurate, but when I did compare it, in one open water swim, to another watch, the readings were slightly different. That said, the Huawei does recalibrate all the time, so I would imagine it would be more accurate overall, and the important point to note here is that it did accurately track the route I followed.


Fun Features I Enjoyed

  • Barometer
  • Compass

Last Thoughts

Overall, I really love this watch! The one obvious drawback, though, is that it’s not supported by STRAVA, and I think that’s pretty important, particularly with who their target market might be in terms of being performance-driven. Hopefully this is something that is addressed in the near future. The other drawback is that some features don’t work with an apple iPhone system, and the watch is better with an Android system.

On the whole, I think a watch like this can contribute to one making better decisions for yourself in terms of your health, as well as being more aware of how your body is reacting to daily situations, and what steps you need to take to counteract any negative impacts on your health. If a watch was a motivator to get moving, this would be it!

Win a VIP Totalsports Two Oceans experience worth R50k with HUAWEI WATCH GT3

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The recently launched HUAWEI Watch GT 3 has already won three accolades from top global media outlets for sleek and sturdy design, great battery life, accurate health and fitness monitoring, overall great performance, and more! Boasting leading innovations, the industry puts it forward as one of the top-performing smartwatches.

To celebrate this award-winning watch, Huawei is giving you the chance to be one of three runners to win an R50k VIP race experience for this year’s Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon!

But first, let’s look at what makes this watch so special!

It has a Great Spec

A fashionable watch, it is available in both 46mm and 42mm options, with comprehensive upgrades from the previous model, including the new interface design. It also comes with accurate health and fitness monitoring through HUAWEI TruSeen™ 5.0+, long-lasting 14-day battery life, and a built-in AI Running Coach feature.

With breakthroughs in health monitoring and scientific training, the watch is designed to make life easier for users, helping them achieve their fitness goals through specialised scientific data.


 Health and fitness monitoring has always been one of the HUAWEI wearables’ core strengths, and this watch provides a comprehensive upgrade.

The all-new TruSeen™ 5.0+ hardware upgrade in HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner provides vastly improved heart-rate monitoring, even for hard interval training. Experience reliable readings, equalling those of a chest strap, with 97% accuracy within 10bpm.

Upgraded Health Tracking

HUAWEI TruSeen™ 5.0+ heart rate monitoring technology changes how the watch reads heart rate. The back of the watch has eight photosensors in a circular layout, with two sets of light sources, an 8-in-1 LED lens light-emitting chip, and a multi-channel system for receiving light signals. Added to that is the curved design, to create better light penetration. All of this requires lower power consumption, resulting in a more comfortable wearing experience.


It is important to stay active in order to stay healthy, but let’s not forget the importance of sleep when it comes to health. Thankfully, the HUAWEI Watch GT 3 is equipped with HUAWEI TruSleep™ 2.0 sleep monitoring technology. It can perform sleep stage monitoring, real-time heart rate monitoring, sleep breathing monitoring, and assessment of sleep quality, all without disturbing the user’s sleep. It can also automatically detect the user’s duration of sleep and present a comprehensive structure of sleep and naps (including light sleep, deep sleep, REM, and wakefulness), accurately identify six typical sleep problems including difficulty falling asleep, light sleep, easy awakening at night, early awakening, multiple dreams, irregular sleeping habits, and provide hundreds of suggestions and personalised services to scientifically improve the user’s sleep quality.

Great Battery life and Excellent Display

Global media outlets call the HUAWEI Watch GT 3 a truly compelling smartwatch, with great battery life as well as an excellent display, giving it a 4-star rating.

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 perfectly marries natural aesthetics with technology. Through a new design language, high-end materials and colourful design, it sets a new trend for wearable design. Boasting a 14-day battery life in smart mode, the longer battery life ensures users can wear it all day and use it continuously, even during sleep.


 Whether you are wearing it for workouts, meetings, or sleeping, you can always stay connected and enjoy the many features.

Accurate Fitness Tracking

In reviews, media have called it the most accurate smartwatch Huawei has made. Offering 100 workout modes, including 18 professional workout modes, 12 outdoor workouts (running, walking, mountain climbing, hiking, cross-country running, cycling, open water swimming, triathlon, skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, free training, and golf) and 7 indoor  workouts (walking, running, cycling, pool swimming, free training, elliptical machine and rowing machine). No matter what sports you are interested in, the HUAWEI Watch GT 3 is ready for the challenge.


 With the GT 3, Huawei combines scientific consideration and user experience to develop the AI Running Coach. It will be based on the weekly plan implementation and the body’s feedback to automatically adjust the training plan, to ensure that the plan is suitable for the user.

Your Chance to Win!