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Nike’s famous running clubs are an integral part of the retail giant’s DNA, subculture and success. Whether you’re pounding the pavement in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy with an experienced Nike running coach or racing a friend who resides in Barcelona while you simultaneously trek it through Sydney via the Nike+ Run Club app, the brand has established a globally reputable and united motivation to lace-up and get moving.
Complimentary to this notion is the continually innovative designs of Nike’s footwear offerings, each cognisant of the user’s aesthetic needs as well. We only need to look at the feud that erupted at this year’s New York Fashion Week between Alexander Wang and Philipp Plein to know the fight for authenticity in the athleisure space has never been so brutal – and the public necessity to look good while training is peaking. Wang publically called out Plein – who was making his NYFW debut via his Sport collection – for knocking off the fashion staple’s 2014 runway show with H&M. From the athletic track runway to the actual looks themselves, the parallels were as similar as an overlook of every athleisure-inspired Yeezy season.
And while Nike favour being the spearhead in innovation to the sports industry over the fashion tribes in New York, London and Milan, as the athlesuire market is worth an estimated $1.5 billion in Australia alone (a 50% increase from five years ago), Nike knows it’s imperative for performance to meet style. Enter the Nike Air VaporMax.
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Seven years in the making, the release of this futuristic shoe marks 30 years of Air Max technology. With a flexible flyknit upper atop a radically reinvented air cushioning system, it’s getting a tick of approval from Nike enthusiasts who trialled the limited Australian drop.
“Comfort is the number one priority when running,” says Sydney-based personal trainer Rawson Kirkhope of Major Fitness. “And these are the most comfortable pair of running shoes I have ever worn. Nike’s Air VaporMax’s are lightweight which can be attributed to the flyknit design of the upper shoe. The other massive plus is the shoe’s stability. Anyone with weaker ligaments tends to over supinate (roll outwards) but with this shoe, the use of lugs means extra traction. We trialled the shoe via an urban run on a rainy (and slippery) night in Sydney and it felt as if I had the stability of a football shoe. Not one person lost traction.”
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As said enthusiasts continue to pace the Sydney pavements, Nike continue to roll out street and performance accredited innovation-after-innovation. To tide you over until the next drop, hit refresh on how you can prepare for running season.
7 tips to prepare for running season
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1. Get organised
“Sign up for a running event,” says Kirkhope. “This doesn’t have to be a 10 kilometre race, it can be a simple fun run. Having that commitment and staying organised will keep your training on track. For those in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, hit up Nike running clubs here. Or add the Nike+ Run Club app to your phone here.”
2. SHOP a good shoe
“You are going to be spending a lot of time in them,” explains Kirkhope. “So find a shoe that is comfortable to run in.” SHOP NIKE’S LATEST RANGE NOW
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3. Mix up your training
“Don’t run every single day, you will burn yourself out,” explains Kirkhope. “A common mistake runners make is they only train for running. Cap your runs to three or four days a week keeping in mind to keep them varied. For example, one day might include sprints, the next could be a five kilometre steady state run and the other could be hill runs. Hills are a great way to strengthen your posterior chain. Keep in mind too that resistance and cross-training should be part of your programming to strengthen your muscles and to help prevent injuries and increase speed.”
4. Recover right
“The repetitive motion of running causes muscles to tighten. This is when injuries occur,” says Kirkhope. “Focus on dynamic stretches when warming up – a dynamic stretch is one where you are moving as you stretch (like lunging stretches). This will activate muscles you will use during your run and improve your range of motion. After your run, hold a static stretch for 30-60 seconds. This will increase flexibility to the muscle tissue.”
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5. Fuel up
“It is so important to eat good quality food when training in order to fuel your body properly,” says Kirkhope. “Depending on the length of your run, you will need carbohydrates prior as they will provide the main source of energy during long cardiovascular activity. Then, you need protein to help your muscles recover afterwards like chicken, turkey, fish or beef.”
6. Add water
“Hydration is key,” says Kirkhope. “Make sure you set a schedule during your run where you can have a drink every 15 minutes. Sports drinks are also great as they contain sodium, potassium and some carbohydrates to keep you going.”
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7. Have fun
“Training is supposed to be enjoyable. Get some friends to join in with you and run to different locations to keep your workouts varied. Keep ticking off those goals!”
