TECH » NEW GEAR
CHILL BRO Core Body Temperature Sensor | RRP R5 200 | primebunch . co . za / core Those who understand kinesiology recognise that as we exercise our core body temperature rises . It ’ s simple : increased blood flow and heart rate , plus hard-working organs generate and store heat . This stress causes our bodies to slow and eventually shut down . Bigger engines generate more heat , which is why bigger athletes struggle , and why running races in hotter weather is slower . You no doubt know how much better you feel once doused with ice water on a run – the relief is instant . Much like a car , a cooler human body will run longer .
Our core ( internal ) temperature is thus very important in endurance sport . Those who learn to train in heat tend to fare much better . Peer-reviewed literature proves that heat training results in gains in haemoglobin mass , VO2 max , lactate
TALKING ITALIAN
Diadora Gara Carbon | RRP R5 999 | diadorasouthafrica . co . za Diadora first manufactured mountain-climbing boots in the recognised home of quality shoes , Italy , in 1948 . It ’ s been a long while since we saw much new in SA from the brand , best known here for football boots and cycling shoes , but they are back with a bang . The trail shoes are solid and comfortable and the daily trainer much the same , but this all-out carbon road and track racing shoe really caught our attention . Not just the gold colouring that suits race day goals and looks super slick – it ’ s the construction that feels fast .
Looking to create a competition shoe with unparalleled reactivity , they ’ ve created a new Pebax SCF midsole , called Anima PBX , which they say breaks the paradigm of traditional materials . They claim the compound ’ s reactivity reaches 80 %, marking an increase of up to 55 % compared to traditional materials – and reducing weight by up to 40 %. The 100 % carbon plate , meanwhile , has maximum curvature : high on the heel height , low on the forefoot and with high toe spring . It ’ s embedded in thermosetting resin extending throughout the length of the shoe , stiffening the sole to prevent the energy discharged by the runner from dissipating into the ground . It weights in at 230g , with a Matrix Mesh upper with carbon yarns to enhance the lightness . We ’ re excited !
Keep an eye on BikeRunTri . co . za for our full wear-tested review .
threshold , power output , and blood plasma during controlled lab studies .
Enter the Core body temperature sensor , a relatively accurate wearable measuring device that ’ s safe and convenient . You can use it for heattraining strategies to increase power and endurance on race day ; for strategically acclimatising to warmer climates ahead of race day ; and to track your core body temp in real-time and implement cooling strategies in order to efficiently pace your efforts . The compact ( 50x40mm ) device weighs 12g and has a rechargeable lithium battery – which will last six days on continuous transmission or up to six weeks on sleep mode . It ’ s waterproof up to 1.5m and connects to an app with Bluetooth BLE & ANT + connectivity .
AGENT ORANGE
Named Sport Race Fuel | RRP R449 | namedsport . com From the time we first tried a light , tasty energy bar we could tell this Italian brand was worth its salt – and carbs . When you have a long race or big training run you really need quality fuel to sustain your blood sugar and minerals when your body is siphoning energy reserves and sweating . The difference between a sugary “ sports drink ”, or worse a taurine-caffeine adrenalin bomb “ smart drink ”, versus a highquality formulated carb drink like this is massive . Running demands more from your body per minute than any other endurance sport , so just like you need a quality shoe underneath you , you need quality hydration and nutrition inside you .
This pro-endurance energy blend was designed to increase carbohydrate oxidation to up to 80-120g / hour by combining cyclodextrin and maltodextrin with another form of carbohydrate ( fructose ), which has a different transporter across the intestinal wall than glucose , so increasing the amount of carbohydrates that can be used and absorbed during endurance sports .
There are 40g of carbs per serving in a neutral flavour , and the product is gluten and lactose free . It ’ s not cheap , but if you train hard and value optimal performance and gut health , it ’ s worth a lot more than the DNF .
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26 | RUN FOR YOUR LIFE