Last Wednesday, Under Armour invited a few bloggers including yours truly to meet their sports ambassadors and experience some of the workouts they do. We met up at Kerry Sports at Shangri-La The Fort (and that’s a massive complex that needs its own blog post).
First up was Zoe Pond-McPherson, who won the Under Armour Test of Will for Southeast Asia. She is the resident gymnastics, mobility, and CrossFit coach at PrimalApe CrossFit, and she led us through a simple intro workout that had us squatting, burpeeing, and sit-upping our way to fitness. (And muscle aches the next day. Haha!)
Coach Zoe giving very clear instructions about the workout.
Thankfully I already do these exercises as part of my crosstraining routine, so I didn’t die. It was very interesting to be coached by the “fittest woman in the Philippines” though — definitely kept me on my toes!
Next, the Girls Run for Breakfast running group with Ms. Tessa Prieto-Valdes joined us for Coach Toni’s trademark Four-Minute Workout, which featured plyometric and aerobic moves that left us tongues hanging out.
(I was very glad I had skipped my scheduled workout that day.)
The GRFB group had already completed a run on the treadmills using the Charged Bandit 2 shoe, and were very positive about its potential as a training shoe.
UA triathlon ambassador Doray Ellis making high-knees look easy
I wanted a photo with Toni and Zoe in our Under Armour gear
sweaty selfie (swelfie?) with UA affiliate trainer Kat Geronimo-Garcia of MamaKat Fitness
All this exercise had its reward as Under Armour gave us all our own pairs of the Charged Bandit 2. I’ve already started using it in the gym for short runs on the treadmill as well as crosstraining. Full review to come soon.
It’s so nice to see all the different sports brands put a spotlight on running. The latest entrant is Under Armour with the launch of the UA Run Crew starting October 1. Led by Coach Jim Saret of APEX, the camp will run for 24 sessions and includes free hydration and an Under Armour shirt.
The first UA Run Crew session is a Saturday community run with Under Armour ambassadors Piolo Pascual and coaches Jim and Toni Saret.
Just like the APEX running program that helped Milo Marathoners achieve their running goals, the UA Run Crew with Coach Jim will be a step-by-step guide to help runners progress in ability and technique. In-depth seminars with fitness experts will teach runners the essentials such as dynamic warm-up exercises, injury prevention, and race day nutrition.
UA Run Crew sessions are divided into two types: conditioning, form, and speed training, and paced long runs.
Conditioning, form and speed training will be held from 7:00-8:30pm at the following days and locations.
Mondays and Wednesdays:
BGC – in front of Jamba Juice
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
QC – QC Circle, Planas Garden
MOA – SM BY THE BAY (near Vikings)
Paced long runs will be held on Saturdays from 6:00-8:00am.
BGC – in front of Jamba Juice
MOA – SM BY THE BAY (near Vikings)
QC – UP Diliman
UA Run Crew features monthly shoe trials, during which the first 20 male and female participants at the session will have the opportunity to try the UA Charged Bandit 2 running shoe.
Under Armour will also introduce the UA Record and MapMyRun digital applications that track and monitor the progress of runners. I already use UA Record, which is a sort of like a Facebook for athletes. I hope to see more of my friends on there logging their workouts!
Register for the UA Run Crew at the Under Armour brand houses at Bonifacio Global City and UP Town Center. For more information and to register online, visit www.coachjimsaret.ph.
Cecille Tresvalles-Tatierra
UA!!!!!