ADVERTORIAL
MAPPING MILEAGE IN MY MACHINAS
In the past year , elite runner and Under Armour Brand Ambassador Kyla Jacobs has won the SA Cross-country Champs 10km title , medalled in the 5000m at the SA Track & Field Champs , and been a regular top-10 finisher in the SPAR Grand Prix 10km women ’ s races . She uses the Under Armour HOVR Machina 2 for her longer training runs on the roads , and we asked her what she thinks of the shoe .
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE SHOE …
“ The all-black Machina 2s do have that elite , ‘ tough ’ look that I really like . I found the Machina 1 a bit too rigid , as I race in more flexible shoes , but out the box the Machina 2s seemed to be a bit more flexible , and the innersoles offer a bit more support and cushioning as well .”
RUNNING IN THE MACHINA …
“ I use the Machina 2 for long runs , midweek semi-long runs as well as a few longer interval workouts or tempo runs . It ’ s lightweight , the HOVR midsole provides great cushioning , and the Pebax propulsion plate also helps to give me that extra ‘ pop ’ in tempo runs . I would recommend the Velocity Flow Wind or Sonic for middle to long distance races , and the Machina for medium to long training runs , as the shoes complement each other well .”
ON THE UNDER ARMOUR BRAND …
“ I am so proud and thankful to be associated with Under Armour . The brand is dedicated to giving us athletes the best , holistic fitness experience , from the online Under Armour Performance Academy , where they help you train your mind the same way you train your body , in order to unlock your full performance potential , to the Under Armour events , such as the Under Armour All out Mile , where they motivate , coach and incentivise you to beat your best !”
“ Also , Under Armour has hands down the best quality fitness apparel . Their attention to detail and continuous innovation leads to great products , such as the Under Armour Rush and Iso-Chill lines , where the fabric effectively wicks heat and sweat away from your body as you train . As athletes , we know that all the little things add up , and Under Armour is committed to excellence , right down to the tiniest detail .”
THE BENEFITS OF A PLATED SHOE …
“ I had never run in a plated shoe before , and initially I was hesitant to do so , as I was afraid that my plantar fascia would get tight from the shoe being a bit more rigid than I was used to . So , I slowly introduced the Machina into my training , to ‘ break in ’ the shoes and get used to them , and I have not experienced any issues . The shoe does take a few runs to get used to , but that Pebax propulsion plate definitely provides an energy-saving benefit , and a ‘ snappier ’ lift-off , that help me to run faster , for longer .”
ENJOYING THE MAPMYRUN AND CONNECTED FEATURES …
“ I really enjoy the data insights that MapMyRun and the Under Armour Connected ‘ smart shoes ’ give you . For example , I recently learned that your cadence is correlated with your weight . I never knew that ! I also enjoy the coaching tips that it gives me after each run , like telling me which areas to focus on in my stretching , like the knee joints , to optimise my form . But my favourite feature of MapMyRun is that it tracks each pair of shoes ’ mileage ! It sends me notifications when a pair of shoes has reached 50 , 75 or 100 % of its recommended lifespan , and when it is time to replace them . This helps me prevent picking up any injuries from running in worn out shoes .”
MACHINA 2 SPECS
Weight : 290g ( US 9 Sample ) Stack Height : 31mm heel , 23mm forefoot Heel-to-toe Drop : 8mm
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