fashionsandwich: Gear Up: Flash to train

Flash your sneakers that is, no boobs please - there are enough accidents on the road as is. I am talking about the latest technology in running shoes and training and fitness apparel. Designed to up the safety of the runners, walkers and cyclists on the road, with built in technology that reflects the lights of the cars shone on them. These are just one of many latest inventions in the training and fitness world where technology meets fashion, to enhance or protects fitness fanatics.

Why this sudden jump from fashion to fitness, you may ask?
Two reasons. At the end of last year, I moved slightly further up the mountains of Cape Town and slightly further away from my place of study. I could no longer walk to class and count those 4 km as part of my daily exercise. I needed a new way to stay fit and healthy - lucky for me my new place was closer to the mountains and ocean. It didn't take long to come up with a reachable new years resolution. I was going to take up running again. In 2014 I wanted to be able to run a 10 km under an hour and complete my first half marathon. I accomplished my 10 km goal in April and this weekend I am participating in the Knysna Forest half marathon.

The other reason my focus shifted to training gear was because of the great opportunity I had these past three weeks to intern at the PUMA Cape Town office in their merchandising division. I got a behind-the-scenes look at why they are selling the shoes and apparel that they do, how it helps the runner with their work out and why there is a need for great looking training gear.

That was a big puzzler for me in the beginning: ' Why do you want to wear beautiful clothes when you are sweaty and tired?'

After six months of being sweaty and tired, I came to the following conclusion.
Motivation.
It isn't always easy to put the TV remote down and head outside to train, but dressing in a matching sports bra and tights combo or a sleeveless shiny puff jacket and great looking trainers, makes it a little easier. You take more pride in your workout and the old saying applies that, 'when you look good, you feel good'.
And thanks to leading sport apparel companies such as PUMA we are not only getting better looking training gear, but also gear that helps you perform better.

If you don't believe me, just take a look at these shots.