I wish I was into running — but I’m not.
Well, I have a love/hate relationship with it. If I can get into a “flow state” it’s fine. But it takes a lot of concentration to get there, i.e. it’s a constant battle between trying to focus on enjoying my surroundings and trying to ignore that burning sensation that takes over my entire body.
I want to enjoy it, because it’s actually nice to go for a run with mates and it’s a decent way to get in some cardio.
For me, it also comes down to the type of shoe I’m wearing. If the shoes are uncomfortable, if they’re too small, or too bulky, it makes it even harder to enjoy the process because it’s all I am focusing on.
And on top of that, it’s hard to know which brand to go for as they all claim to have the “best” shoe when it comes to running — and when you’re dropping a few hundred dollars, you want to make sure it delivers.
In saying that, Under Armour just released its new UA Flow shoes — UA Velociti Wind 2, and they sent me a pair to test out.
Let’s just say the shoe has definitely made the process a helluva lot easier. Has it converted me? Keep reading to find out.
For $200, you would hope the product delivers, especially with all the tech that’s built into it.
In a nutshell, they’re unlike any other pair of running shoes I have owned — and surprisingly they actually do what they’re designed to do — make your feet feel light.
Basically, there’s a reason why they’ve called it “wind”.
Insane feature
What the UA team have done is eliminate the rubber outsole running shoes usually have, which automatically makes the shoe lighter. It removes two to three ounces of weight the rubber would typically add to a traditional running shoe. Pretty cool.
This makes the shoe lighter and as Under Armour says, “helps you run faster”.
Obviously there’s no magic button to actually make you run faster, but the strategic design behind the shoe enables you to push your pace and tempo with a lot more ease.
“Running fast isn’t just about making the shoe light (though that does matter), it is more informed by the holistic design and engineering,” Under Armour’s senior global product line manager for performance run Douglas Smiley tells me.
“From a feel perspective, the UA Flow Velociti Wind 2 doesn’t have a rubber outsole, so there’s less between the runner feeling the ground.
“The ultra-flexible Flow midsole feels smooth, fluid and moves with the runner’s foot in motion, which allows for a quick turnover if the runner wants to push the pace.”
Mr Smiley said the shoe was something new and unique to UA’s run range and fills a white space where the brand was lacking as a “go-fast everyday trainer”.
“It’s unique in that it combines two new UA Run technologies — the Flow midsole unit and the WARP upper — into an unforgettable running experience,” he said.
Another pretty cool feature is that the shoes connect to the MapMyRun app, which provides personalised coaching.
Cool in-built tech
To be fair, all shoes in the UA running shoe range now have a chip in the shoe that can be synched to the app. It allows you to access all your running metrics, so you can track your progress.
When I asked Mr Smiley if the new shoe will help non-running lovers (ie me) enjoy it more, he said: “Great question.”
“What I can say is that every runner really loves the feeling of fast that the UA Flow Velociti Wind 2 was created to deliver,” he said.
“We all want our next run to best one, and to feel smooth, effortless, and energising.”
I tested out the shoe on a 5km outdoor run. At first I thought, “this doesn’t feel at all that different to my other trainers”.
But once I started to pick up pace, I noticed a big difference.
I felt my foot and the shoe working as one, allowing me to think less and enjoy my surroundings more.
I mean, it didn’t get rid of that ugly burning sensation you get with running, but because I felt lighter, it made the process more enjoyable.
Before I knew it, I was 1km in without constantly trying to talk myself out of the run. And to me that’s a win.
“The Wind 2 is really about the absence of sensation to not even hear your foot hit the ground or to notice the upper. But to really hone in and be in the moment of your run,” Mr Smiley said.
“If you’re thinking about your shoes during a run, we haven’t done our job as product creators.
“But if we can eliminate all distractions and allow you to get into a ‘flow state’ throughout the run, then we’ve delivered something special.”
Eventually, I got there. However if you’re asking if it has converted me, the answer is still no.
It has however made the process easier, and I believe that does come down to wearing the correct footwear.
“It will feel like the shoe is working with you and not against you — and it will feel more like a natural extension of your body instead of something you’ve put on,” Mr Smiley explained.
“No one shoe does everything perfectly, so it’s really about creating the right quiver of products that gets you to your goals quicker and with more purpose.”
The new shoe also has a pretty funky style.
More Coverage
Mr Smiley tells me it was designed to look sleek and aerodynamic and so far, “the feedback has been outstanding”.
“I just received a note this weekend from a UA teammate in Baltimore (in the United States) who set a marathon personal record in the UA Flow Velociti Wind 2,” he said.
“It might seem small, but anytime a runner has enough confidence and trust to run that distance in a new shoe like the UA Flow Velociti Wind 2, it’s a point of validation that we’re on a great path.”
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