Some of the gear listed here is essential for almost every long run. Other pieces are more specific to the weather, distance or terrain. Let’s get started:

The Feed Ice Bandana

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It is a useful piece of equipment for hot training days and races. It can be used as a standard bandana, but it also has a small zippered pocket for ice when extra cooling is needed. It sits around the neck and shoulders and can be adjusted to make it tighter or looser. For long runs in hot weather, it can be a very useful piece of equipment.

Another option for cooling is the CLIMACOOL SYSTEM, which includes a cooling vest. The vest should be worn over the jersey and contains a specialised gel that is frozen before use. Once worn, the gel slowly thaws and transfers cooling to the upper body, torso, abdomen and back, helping to reduce body temperature.

Leukotape

Leukotape can be applied to the toes before a long run to help protect them from rubbing and blisters. It is especially useful for long runs and races where the feet are exposed to friction for several hours. Applying it before the run can help prevent problems before they start.

BSN Medical, the company behind Leukotape makes two versions: Leukotape P and Leukotape K. Leukotape P is the original version. It has very little stretch, which makes it useful for areas where movement needs to be limited. It also uses a zinc oxide adhesive that sticks well, even when the tape gets wet or warm.

Leukotape K is more similar to Kinesio Tape or KT Tape because it stretches and allows more movement and is a bit wider than Leukotape P. This makes it useful when maintaining range of motion is important (like if you get blisters on your hips or shoulders due to the backpack), but that stretch is not necessarily an advantage when the goal is to prevent foot blisters.

Salty Britches chafing ointment

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Chafing can become a serious problem during long runs, especially in hot and humid conditions. Salty Britches protects the skin and reduce friction during long periods of running. It can be applied before the run to areas that are prone to chafing and irritation.

Another option for those who are based in Europe is Anti-chafing cream from Decathlon, works well to prevent the friction.

KT Tape Pro Extreme

KT Tape Pro Extreme can be used to protect the nipples from rubbing the t-shirt during long runs. A small piece of tape can be cut to the right size and applied before the run.

It stays in place well and can last for several days, which makes it useful not only for a single long run but also during a longer training period.

UltrAspire Lumen Ally 2.0

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This waist belt attachment is designed to use a Lumen light while carrying a water bottle around the waist at the same time. The webbing is breathable and stays in place once adjusted. Behind the light there’s a stretchy mesh pocket for a phone, gels, spare batteries or other small essentials.

There’s also a small pocket under the light for an extra battery, which is handy for races where a red light is mandatory.

Satisfy PeaceShell™ River Shirt

The PeaceShell™ River Shirt is a lightweight layer made for changing conditions. The fabric is soft, stretchy and dries quickly while also giving some protection from wind, rain and rough terrain. It weighs 168 g, so it doesn’t feel like much when worn and the regular cropped fit keeps it fairly simple.

There are two chest pockets for small essentials and two pockets on the upper back that can be used for extra storage or filled with ice during a race. The shirt also has snap buttons, cinched cuffs and flatlock seams. It’s a bit different from a usual running layer, but makes sense for colder runs, changing weather or when a little more protection is needed without putting on a proper jacket.

Arc’teryx Norvan Rain Jacket

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The Norvan Jacket is a lightweight waterproof shell made for running in bad weather. It uses GORE-TEX ePE fabric to keep rain and wind out while still allowing some breathability. At around 200 g, it is light enough to carry in a pack when the weather looks uncertain.

The jacket has a simple design with a fitted hood, elastic cuffs and a hem that helps keep the rain out. There are also vents for extra airflow and a small zipped pocket for essentials. When not needed the jacket can be packed into its own pocket, making it easy to carry on longer runs where the weather can change quickly.

UltrAspire Traverse Hydration Pack

The UltrAspire Traverse is a larger hydration pack for longer runs and races where more gear needs to be carried. It has a 10-litre capacity and comes with a 2-litre hydration reservoir, with enough space left for extra layers, food and other essentials.

The pack is designed to spread the weight across the back and hips, with adjustable straps to get a secure fit. There are plenty of pockets for keeping things organised, including space for poles, a jacket and smaller items that need to stay easy to reach. It’s more of an all-day pack than a minimalist race vest, but still keeps the setup fairly simple.

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

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The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are open-ear headphones designed for running and other outdoor activities. Instead of sitting inside the ears they use a design that leaves the ear canal open, so outside sounds can still be heard. This is useful when running on roads, trails or anywhere where being aware of the surroundings matters.

The OpenRun Pro 2 uses two different drivers to handle the sound and has up to 12 hours of battery life. The headphones are also lightweight and have an IP55 rating for water and sweat resistance. There are physical buttons for controlling music and calls and the flexible band keeps the headphones in place while running.

Garmin Fēnix 9 Pro

The Garmin Fēnix 9 Pro is a multisport GPS watch aimed at long training sessions, races and outdoor adventures. It has a rugged design and a large display with maps, navigation, training metrics and a wide range of sports profiles. The battery life is also one of its main strengths, especially for long runs and multi-day adventures.

For running it covers the usual basics such as pace, distance, heart rate and elevation, but also offers more advanced training and recovery information. There’s also built-in mapping and navigation, which can be useful on longer trail runs. It’s a fairly feature-heavy watch, but most of the extras make sense when the watch is being used for more than just tracking a run.

HOKA Challenger 8

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The HOKA Challenger 8 is a road-to-trail shoe made for runs that move between pavement, gravel and easier trails. It has a fairly simple setup with a cushioned midsole and a new outsole with 4 mm lugs for more grip when the surface gets rougher. The upper is made from a breathable mesh and has a wider fit than some previous versions.

It’s not really a technical trail shoe, but that’s also the point. The Challenger 8 works well for mixed routes where a full trail shoe would feel unnecessary. It’s a good option for everyday runs that can include a bit of everything without having to change shoes.

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Exactly one week ago something happened that has been living rent-free in my head ever since. It was a race, but not really a race in the traditional sense. There was no finish line, no fixed distance and no way of knowing when it would end. Let’s break it down for those who are not familiar with the format.

Last Soul Ultra

The Last Soul Ultra is a high-profile German Backyard Ultra event co-founded by running creator Kim Gottwald and 2014 FIFA World Cup champion André Schürrle.

The rules are simple, every hour on the hour, runners must complete a 6.706 km (4.167 miles) loop. If athlete finishes in 45 minutes, he will get 15 minutes to eat, sleep and recover. If he misses the next top-of-the-hour start, he is out (DNF). There is no finish line. The race only ends when one last runner remains. The exact location is also not disclosed in order to guarantee the safety and smooth running of the event (so no, on-site spectators are not allowed).

What makes this format so difficult is not only the distance, but the uncertainty. In a traditional race the distance is known before the start. It can be divided into sections, counted down in kilometres and eventually the finish line is getting closer. In the Last Soul Ultra, there is no such certainty. You only know that another 6.706 kilometres begins when the clock reaches the next hour. The race can last 10 hours, 50 hours or as we saw last week, 94 hours. You never know.

The mind over body

It is true that athletes often struggle with their thoughts before their bodies actually give up. The methods of pushing through that mind-body battle vary. Some athletes focus on small actions, such as counting steps in running or strokes in rowing. Others deliberately find something else to concentrate on when the pain starts taking over. Last week’s race showed me another method: don’t believe everything your mind tells you, especially when sleep deprivation starts affecting your perception. Every step is your evidence.

An athlete has to deal with a race like this in much smaller pieces. You cannot really think about running 600 kilometres at once. At some point the number becomes so large that it stops being useful. Instead you think about the next loop, the next hour and eventually the next step. It is a physical challenge, but it is also a very particular psychological exercise.

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Two runners took that exercise further than everyone else: Mark Dowdle and Ayyoub El Osrouti. Mark eventually became the last runner standing after completing 94 laps, covering 630.4 kilometres (391.7 miles). Ayyoub finished one lap behind him, completing 93 laps and 623.7 kilometres. After running for more than three days, the difference between them was one single 6.706-kilometre loop.

Lap 87

Oh, this lap was interesting. Some even called this hunting. By lap 87 Mark and Ayyoub had already been running for roughly 83 hours and had covered around 580 kilometres. At that point, you would expect the body to be operating somewhere close to its limits. Instead, Mark ran the fastest lap of his entire race: 38:16. His average across all 94 laps was 51:42, making Lap 87 more than 13 minutes faster than his overall average. Ayyoub ran the same lap in exactly 38:16.

According to Ayyoub’s post-race Q&A, Mark stayed behind him for two or three dark kilometres during the lap and stopped whenever Ayyoub stopped. Ayyoub then accelerated and at one point lay down in a field for around five minutes before continuing and still finishing the lap with enough time to sleep. He later rejected the idea that the encounter had mentally broken him.

Forward, forward

When your body starts hurting, your brain immediately tries to explain what that pain means. Your feet hurt, so the mind says you cannot continue. Your legs feel heavy, so the mind tells you they are finished. You feel exhausted, so the mind starts imagining how much worse the next hour will be. The pain is real, but the story built around it is not necessarily true.

The evidence is much simpler. You have just finished another lap. You are still standing. You are still moving. Your body has done exactly what it needed to do for the last hour. That does not mean you can run forever and it certainly does not mean pain should be ignored. It simply means that the feeling of “I cannot do this anymore” is not always the same thing as actually being unable to do it.

This is where the Last Soul Ultra format becomes particularly interesting. Every hour the athlete gets another piece of evidence. You completed the previous loop. You recovered enough to start again. You are moving forward. Instead of trying to predict what your body will be capable of five, ten or twenty hours from now, you can focus on what it is capable of right now.

One lap at a time, the impossible distance becomes manageable. Forward. Forward.

The shoe or the runner?

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Mark finished the Last Soul Ultra in the Speedland RX:LDVL, a trail racing shoe designed specifically for long-distance efforts. It is not a simple running shoe. It is built around the idea that the runner can change the shoe depending on what the effort demands.

The carbon plate is removable, the drop-in midsole can be removed and the fit can be adjusted through Speedland’s BOA-powered PerformFit Wrap and rear Velcro strap. The shoe itself is almost a little experiment in how much control a runner can have over the equipment carrying them through the race.

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But the more I look at the shoe, the less I think the interesting question is whether it is a good shoe. The interesting question is what happens when even very sophisticated equipment reaches its limits.

A shoe can cushion the impact. It can give your foot more protection. It can lock your foot into place and change how the ground feels beneath you. It can even give you a little more propulsion. But it cannot make the decision to start another lap. It cannot tell you that your feet are still capable of another 6.706 kilometres. It cannot decide whether the pain you feel is a warning or simply another uncomfortable part of the process. That decision still belongs to the runner.

We often think endurance is about how much the body can tolerate, but maybe it is also about learning how to interpret what the body is telling us without immediately accepting every conclusion the mind produces. The evidence is what you have actually done.

Zafiri Global Companion

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Zafiri has launched Global Companion, a new digital platform built for athletes travelling to unfamiliar cities. No static travel guides, but instead a real-time map that brings together running tracks, pools, bike shops, group rides and other training essentials in one place. Not bad!

It also goes beyond training. Users can find hotels, coffee shops and other places that fit into an athlete’s routine. I like the idea of turning a city guide into something more useful for runners and endurance athletes, especially when travelling and trying to keep some consistency in training.

Motorola

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Motorola has patented an interesting new wearable concept that combines a smartwatch with a smartphone. The device uses a flexible display built into the strap, working as a regular watch on the wrist and unfolding into a wider, phone-like screen when removed.

The idea could be particularly interesting for health and fitness. Instead of trying to read workout data, maps or longer health reports on a tiny watch screen, the device could unfold to give users much more space. It’s still only a patent, but it shows how wearable design could move beyond the traditional watch format.

PUMA x SAYSKY

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It’s been a bit quiet from PUMA’s side for a while. New PUMA x SAYSKY “Back to Business” collection takes the language of tailoring (pinstripes, restrained colours, clean silhouettes and polished details) and puts it into technical running gear. The result feels less like activewear made fashionable and more like a wardrobe designed for the way people actually move through their day.

The concept starts with a familiar routine for dedicated runners. A session can happen before sunrise, between meetings or after work, depending on the day. This collaboration seems to build on that constant relationship with running, creating a collection that connects performance clothing with references to office dress.

The collection combines SAYSKY’s Scandinavian aesthetic with PUMA’s running technology, including the Deviate NITRO Elite 4 and MagMax NITRO 2. Even the launch activation follows the idea. The brands are staging an “Out of Office Relay” through a Copenhagen office building, turning stairwells, lifts and parking garages into a race course.

What I find most interesting is the cultural shift behind it. The office is no longer necessarily a place you dress for, while running is no longer something you necessarily dress separately for. It feels like another small sign that the future of performance wear may be less about looking like an athlete and more about fitting into everyday life.

Nike Hybrid

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Nike is stepping into the growing hybrid training space with Nike Hybrid, a new footwear system built for athletes moving between running, lifting and dynamic movements. Instead of asking athletes to choose between a fast running shoe and a stable training shoe, Nike is introducing two purpose-built models: the Hybrid RN for everyday training and the Hybrid Fly for race day.

The Hybrid Fly combines ZoomX foam, a full-length carbon Flyplate and Air Zoom units with a wider base and more aggressive traction. The Hybrid RN takes a different approach, using ReactX foam and a forefoot Air Zoom unit to create a smoother and more stable ride for everyday sessions.

It feels like Nike is treating hybrid training as its own category rather than adapting existing running or training shoes to it. The Hybrid RN will launch globally on October 8, while the Hybrid Fly is expected in April 2027.

Suji X Momentous

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Suji is teaming up with Momentous to bring a more personalized approach to muscle health. The partnership combines Suji’s muscle-focused technology with Momentous’ expertise in performance nutrition, looking at how individual data can lead to more tailored recommendations.

It’s another sign of how the conversation around performance is moving beyond training alone. Muscle health is becoming a bigger part of the wider wellness picture, while personalized data is making its way into nutrition and recovery. For brands like Suji and Momentous, the opportunity is to connect these pieces and make recommendations feel less one-size-fits-all.

ASRV Sportswear

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ASRV’s AeroSilver UPF50+ Run Long Sleeve is another example of running apparel becoming more technical without becoming more complicated. The lightweight Nano-Mesh fabric uses silver-infused yarn for sweat-wicking and antimicrobial properties, while UPF 50+ protection adds another layer of functionality.

The details are everything. Flatlock seams, seamless side panels and a built-in lens cleaner are designed around small problems runners actually face. It’s a good example of how performance apparel is moving beyond the basic formula of fit, fabric and branding, focusing instead on more specific needs of the runner.

Xtep 160X 8.0 Ultra

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Xtep is pushing carbon-plated racing shoes further with the new 160X 8.0 series, launching globally on August 21. The top-tier 160X 8.0 Ultra features a new GT1200 carbon plate made with aerospace-grade carbon fiber, developed with materials manufacturer Zhongfu Shenying.

The interesting part is the material itself. The 12K carbon fiber is designed to be extremely light while maintaining high strength with a gold-colored PI coating added to improve durability under the repeated impact of long-distance running. Looks like marathon footwear is becoming a testing ground for advanced materials borrowed from other industries.

I have written almost 8 months ago about how to measure perception for footwear and apparel, but I keep thinking about how quickly the tools around us are changing.

We have traditionally treated perception testing as a fairly fixed process. The athlete comes into the lab, gets a standardised protocol, uses the product, fills in a questionnaire and gives us a few scores. Well, that approach is useful, but the tools available to us are changing and I think they give us an opportunity to make perception testing more useful without necessarily making it more complicated.

Spotify Running Mode

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Spotify’s Running Mode is not really about measuring the runner, but about adapting the running experience to the runner. We always ask an athlete for their favourite playlist to play during testing. It’s good, but we can always adjust this to them by selecting the type of workout, duration, tempo and the type of music they want to hear. Spotify then builds the soundtrack around those choices, matching the music to the selected pace and providing optional audio cues during the session.

What I find interesting here is not necessarily the Spotify feature itself, but the idea behind it. We can still have a standardised running session, but the experience around that session can be adapted to the individual athlete. I think there is something similar we could do with perception testing, especially when we are testing footwear or apparel.

For example we might have the same core questions for everyone, such as overall comfort, fit and preference, but we could also give athletes the opportunity to report something that is particularly relevant to them. If an athlete notices pressure around the forefoot, we could ask them to describe where it is and when they noticed it. If another athlete notices that the product becomes uncomfortable only at higher speeds, we could capture that information as well.

This does not mean that every athlete needs a completely different protocol. We still need standardisation if we want to compare products and athletes. But maybe we can start thinking about perception testing as a standardised framework with some flexibility around the individual experience.

I think this is particularly relevant for footwear and apparel because the experience of the product can change depending on the athlete and the situation. A shoe can feel comfortable for one athlete and too narrow for another. A garment can feel fine during an easy run but become restrictive during higher-intensity exercise. The product itself has not changed, but the experience of the product has.

This also means that we don’t necessarily have to ask every athlete exactly the same follow-up questions. We could have a standard set of questions and then allow the testing to go a little deeper when an athlete reports something interesting.

The problem is that this can quickly create more information for the researcher to deal with. If we collect structured ratings, open-ended comments and different testing conditions, we need to organise all of this before we can start making sense of it.

Claude Cowork

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Claude Cowork is interesting to me for a slightly different reason. It is designed to work across local files and perform multi-step tasks, which makes it potentially useful for the less exciting part of sports science: dealing with all the information we generate around a testing session. And yes, it works as a plug-in in Chrome, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook too. But the Desktop version is the best finding in my opinion.

A typical footwear or apparel study can produce a lot of different files. We might have questionnaires, athlete feedback, testing notes, product information and spreadsheets from different measurement systems. If we also collect biomechanics, physiology or environmental data, then yeah, we can quickly end up with a folder full of information that needs to be organised before we can even start analysing it.

This is the type of work where I think AI is genuinely useful. Not necessarily to tell us what the data means, but to help us get the data into a form where we can actually work with it.

Imagine having 40 athletes test two footwear conditions and each athlete provides comfort, fit, performance or preference ratings, as well as a few sentences about what they noticed. We can ask Cowork to organise the responses by athlete and product, identify missing data and bring all of the comments into one place.

We can then ask it to look for recurring topics in the comments. Maybe pressure appears frequently in one shoe or maybe the comments change depending on the running condition or the point in the session when the athlete was asked.

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And sure, we should still check the original comments ourselves. I would not ask an AI tool to decide what the athletes actually meant or to make the scientific conclusion for me, but I would be very happy for it to do the first pass through a large amount of qualitative information and help me find where I should look more closely.

This is probably where I see the biggest opportunity. We often collect qualitative feedback because we know it can tell us something that a rating scale cannot, but analysing many comments manually takes time. If AI can reduce the time required to organise and explore this information, we can spend more time thinking about what it actually means.

What I think this could change

The interesting thing about both examples is that neither requires us to throw away the way we currently work. Spotify is making the experience around running more personalised and Claude Cowork can perform multi-step tasks.

In the same way, I don’t think we need to completely redesign perception testing. We can keep the standardised parts of the protocol that allow us to compare products and athletes, while making the experience and the data collection a little more flexible.

We can still ask athletes to rate overall comfort and fit and control the running speed, duration and environment. At the same time we can also capture more information about what the individual athlete actually notices during the test. The important part is knowing where that flexibility is useful and where it would simply introduce noise.

Let’s say if I am comparing two shoes and my main outcome is overall comfort, I probably don’t need a completely personalised questionnaire. But if I am trying to understand why athletes prefer one shoe over another, the opportunity to capture individual comments and follow up on specific sensations becomes much more valuable.

This is also where I think the combination of subjective and objective data becomes interesting. If an athlete reports that a shoe becomes uncomfortable at a particular point in the test, we can look at what was happening at the same time. Maybe the running speed changed, maybe fatigue increased, maybe pressure distribution changed or maybe there is nothing obvious in the measurements we collected.

I don’t think we should expect the objective data to always explain the perception. Sometimes the most interesting result might be that athletes perceive a difference that we cannot currently measure. That could tell us something about the product, but it could also tell us something about our testing.

We don’t need more data

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Oh, I see it recently a lot on Linkedin. Frequent comments about too many wearables, too much data with sometimes no conclusion at all. We tend to forget that we can really make better use of the information we already collect. If a tool can organise hundreds of athlete comments in a few minutes, that is useful. If it can help us see a pattern that would otherwise take hours to find, that is useful too.

As the sports scientists we still need to decide what is worth measuring, what is worth asking and what the results actually mean. Personally, it feels like the most interesting part of where we are heading. We can keep perception testing structured enough to be scientifically useful, but we can also start making better use of the individual experience that sits inside that structure.

I think the future isn’t about designing the best perception questionnaire, but about building better testing environments around the athlete, collecting the right information at the right time and then using new tools to help us make sense of it. We already know how to ask an athlete how a product feels. The opportunity now is to get better at understanding the answer.

One8

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One8, the high-performance sportswear brand co-founded by a famous cricket player Virat Kohli and backed by Agilitas Sports, launched its footwear collection with a more experiential approach than a traditional product drop. Instead of a regular online drop, the brand partnered with District by Zomato to turn pre-orders into an exclusive launch event, giving customers across India access to the One8 Global Premiere in New Delhi.

The footwear is clearly inspired by the heritage of cricket, the Seam XVIII Signature serves as a tribute to the game. The finish, the seam and the construction draw directly from the match-day ball.

The move highlights how sportswear brands are increasingly looking beyond transactions and focusing on building stronger communities around their products. By creating an event around the launch, One8 gave early customers a chance to engage with the brand beyond just purchasing footwear.

WurQ

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WurQ, a sports technology company specialising in motion-tracking hardware and performance analytics is taking a different approach to understanding human movement. Its system uses IMUs (inertial measurement units) that measure acceleration, orientation and magnetic field, allowing the platform to map body movement in 3D space.

For strength training, this type of tracking can provide deeper insights into performance by analysing wrist trajectory, movement speed, training volume, power output, range of motion and repetition quality. In sports such as gymnastics, where body positioning and movement efficiency are critical, tracking the displacement of the athlete’s trunk and limbs can reveal details that traditional wearables often miss.

By incorporating multiple reference points (e.g. chest and wrist), their models can detect subtle variations in movement, offering more accurate recognition and a broader range of detectable exercises (100+ movements). Not bad!

Strava x adidas

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Strava and adidas have launched a new partnership that rewards users for staying active by converting GPS-tracked workouts into adiClub loyalty points. The integration allows runners, walkers, hikers and cyclists to earn points based on their activity levels.

The programme currently works differently depending on the market. In the United States users earn 3 adiClub points per mile for running, walking or hiking and 2 points per mile for cycling. In Canada users earn 2 points per kilometre for running, walking or hiking and 1 point per kilometre for cycling. These points can be redeemed for adidas products, experiences and Strava subscriptions.

However, there are some limitations. Only GPS-tracked activities qualify, meaning manual uploads and indoor treadmill sessions will not count. The programme is also currently limited to the US and Canada and users must agree to share their Strava activity data with adiClub to participate, so there is a growing connection between fitness tracking, loyalty programmes and personal data.

New Balance 1954R

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Washington D.C.-based boutique SOMEWHERE® secured an early exclusive release of New Balance’s latest silhouette, the 1954R, offering customers a first look before the sneaker receives its wider global launch.

The name “1954” comes from the average of those two model numbers, a small detail that captures the sneaker’s whole idea: a meeting point between two eras, the 2002 and 1906.

The shoe features a mix of pig suede, synthetic overlays and breathable mesh, while the midsole combines design elements inspired by both predecessors to deliver a balance of cushioning and stability. Rather than creating something completely unfamiliar, New Balance appears to be refining the formula that has made its lifestyle sneakers popular.

The 1954R represents also a broader trend in footwear: brands are increasingly looking backwards for inspiration while using modern materials and construction techniques to create something new.

On Cloudboom Strike 2

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The Cloudboom Strike 2 is On’s latest attempt to improve its marathon supershoe platform without completely changing the formula. Launching on July 30, 2026, the shoe will arrive alongside the Lightspray Cloudboom Strike 2, giving elite runners two race-day options built around the company’s newest performance technologies.

The Cloudboom Strike 2 is designed for race days and marathon-distance competition and introduces the new CloudTec Sphere™ cushioning system, which uses engineered channels to improve impact absorption and energy return. The goal is to help runners maintain efficiency and reduce fatigue during the later stages of a race.

The shoe also features a curved carbon Speedboard® combined with dual-density Helion HF Foam. According to On, the updated Helion™ HF midsole is 15% lighter than the previous generation, helping reduce weight while improving responsiveness. Other details? Weight: 191g, sizes: 36-49 and 5 mm drop.

Burtran Recharge™ Mask

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Burtran, an innovator in wellness technology, announced the Recharge™ Mask, an AI-powered recovery wearable designed to help users maximise short rest sessions ranging from 20 to 60 minutes. The device targets the growing recovery market, where athletes and professionals are increasingly looking for tools that support relaxation and performance optimisation.

The wearable combines EEG sensing, AI-guided personalisation, immersive Bluetooth audio, binaural beats, gentle warming therapy and complete light blocking into a single recovery system. The goal is to create a controlled environment that helps users transition from stress into a deeper state of relaxation.

As recovery becomes a bigger part of athletic performance, devices focused on sleep, relaxation and nervous system regulation are becoming an important category within wearable technology. Burtran’s approach reflects the shift from tracking performance after activity to actively improving recovery between sessions.

Garmin CIRQA™ Smart Band and... TrainingPeaks & TrainHeroic

Garmin has entered the screen-free wearable category with the CIRQA™ Smart Band, a health and fitness tracker designed for continuous monitoring without the distractions of a traditional smartwatch display.

The device follows a similar philosophy to Whoop’s wearable band, focusing on health insights, recovery data, and long-term lifestyle improvements rather than notifications and apps. Garmin’s key advantage is that CIRQA does not require a subscription, allowing users to access their health insights through Garmin Connect without an additional recurring fee.

The band also integrates with Garmin Edge cycling computers, allowing cyclists to view heart-rate data, activity information, and recovery metrics after training sessions. With more athletes looking for passive health tracking rather than another screen on their wrist, Garmin’s move shows how the wearable market is expanding beyond traditional smartwatches.

You thought that’s it… but no! Garmin is going strong this week:

Garmin also announced its acquisition of TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic, two of the biggest platforms for endurance and strength coaching. It’s a move that gives Garmin a much bigger role in how athletes train, not just how they track their workouts.

What’s interesting is that TrainingPeaks has always been platform-agnostic, working with Garmin as well as competitors like Wahoo, Coros, Polar, Suunto and Apple. Garmin says nothing is changing for now, but it’ll be worth watching whether the platform stays as open as it is today. If Garmin manages to keep that neutrality while tightening the integration with its own devices, it could end up owning an even bigger piece of the endurance training ecosystem.

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There are so many wearables that I regularly cover in my Wearable tech for athletes series. Most of the time the conversation is about technology (sensors, biometrics, recovery metrics and the growing ability to understand what is happening inside an athlete’s body).

Recently I started thinking more about another type of wearable, the one that does not collect data, does not need a battery and has been with athletes from the very beginning. Apparel.

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Looking beyond the shoes

Just two months have passed since Sebastian Sawe ran 1:59:30 at the TCS London Marathon on April 26. And yes, he was wearing the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.

The shoes naturally attracted most of the attention since they represent the current direction of elite running footwear. Extremely light, highly engineered and designed around marginal gains.

But what caught my attention was what Sawe was wearing: the adidas Climacool+ Singlet and adidas Techfit+ Endurance Shorts. At first glance, everything looked simple, a singlet and a pair of shorts, nothing that immediately signals innovation. But I have learnt that elite performance is often hidden in simplicity. The materials, the construction, the weight, the ventilation and the interaction with the body all matter. Over the course of a marathon these small details become part of the athlete’s performance environment.

The wearable we already have

When I was reading Jess’s LinkedIn post after the Sports Innovation Exchange in New York, it made me think about how narrow our definition of wearable technology has become.

We often associate wearables with electronics, devices that measure, track and analyze, but maybe we should also look at the equipment that athletes rely on every second of movement.

At the end of the day the apparel is not just something athletes wear, it is something they perform in. It manages temperature, helps control moisture, supports freedom of movement and removes distractions. It interacts with the human body continuously, even without producing a single piece of data.

In many ways, apparel was the first wearable technology and maybe the future of performance wearables is not only about adding more intelligence. Maybe it is also about improving the things that are already there.

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Less is more

I keep seeing lighter solutions appear across the market, like the Stellar Equipment Aerolight Wind Jacket that I covered in the last post. The idea is simple: to provide protection and functionality while removing unnecessary weight.

This same philosophy has transformed running shoes. The goal is not to add more features, but to find the right balance between performance and simplicity. It seems that the apparel is moving in the same direction. Less weight, better materials and more efficiency.

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The Techfit Endurance Suit

The adidas Techfit Endurance Suit is an interesting example of where this category could be heading. It moves beyond traditional ideas of comfort and protection toward garments designed around movement efficiency and biomechanics. Athletes are already comfortable accepting that shoes can influence performance through carbon plates, foam compounds and energy return, but when the same thinking moves into clothing, it still feels unfamiliar. I guess that is because the apparel is seen as something that simply covers the athlete, but maybe that definition is changing.

If a shoe can influence how efficiently we run, why couldn’t a garment influence how efficiently we move? Yomif Kejelcha stunned the world by becoming the second man in history to run under two hours wearing the adidas Techfit Endurance Suit. But this innovation also raises questions.

Robert Johnson, the co-founder of LetsRun.com, pointed out in his article that there is still need for more context around the claimed performance benefits. Like what is the baseline? Compared to what type of apparel does the suit improve running economy by more than 1%? How exactly was it tested? And will adidas publish the data?

These questions matter because performance technology should not only be exciting. It should also be measurable and understandable.

Conclusion

The best equipment is often the equipment that disappears once the athlete starts moving. And since wearable technology continues to evolve, we should remember that innovation does not always need to come with more sensors, more data or more complexity. Sometimes progress means making something lighter, simpler and better. Maybe less is more.

Noom At Home Labs

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Weight loss company Noom is offering an at-home biomarker testing kit for its U.S. members, expanding its platform into diagnostics and metabolic health monitoring. The biomarker test kits cost $125 and allow members to skip a traditional lab visit with results delivered in about a week and paired with access to medication support and behaviour change programs.

Noom’s kit tests for 17 biomarkers, what the company calls “clinically significant biomarker-based insights,” spanning cardiovascular health (ApoB, Lp(a), LDL, HDL, triglycerides), metabolic health (HbA1c), hormone balance (Total T, Estradiol, LH, DHEA-S), inflammation (hs-CRP) and vitamin levels (Vitamin D, B12).

The at-home blood collection and lab testing service enables members to establish baseline labs and track changes in key markers such as HbA1c, ApoB, triglycerides and hs-CRP over time. These results are designed to give users clearer insight into biological outcomes like blood sugar regulation, lipid profiles and inflammation levels.

For athletes tracking these markers can reveal hidden issues that may affect endurance, recovery, energy levels and training adaptation.

On Cloud X Tempo Pro

On is officially making its move into hybrid fitness racing with the launch of the Cloud X Tempo Pro. More than just a new shoe, the release marks the brand’s entry into one of fitness’s fastest-growing categories, backed by the signing of HYROX world-record holder Alexander Roncevic. The Austrian athlete worked closely with On throughout the development process, helping shape a shoe designed specifically for the unique demands of hybrid racing.

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The challenge with events like HYROX is that athletes need two very different things from the same shoe: running performance and workout stability. On’s answer is a combination of running-focused technology, including a full-length carbon Speedboard and Helion HF foam, alongside features built for sled pushes, lunges and other functional movements. A reinforced midfoot cage, integrated strap and Missiongrip outsole are all aimed at keeping athletes secure during the workout stations without sacrificing speed on the run.

What stands out here is how quickly hybrid racing is becoming its own product category. Running brands are no longer tweaking existing training shoes, they’re building dedicated models around the demands of these events. With the Cloud X Tempo Pro arriving globally in August 2026, On is betting that the future of performance footwear sits somewhere between a race-day running shoe and a gym trainer.

ŌURA x Counseal Health

One partnership that caught my eye was Counsel Health that is teaming up with ŌURA to bring AI-powered clinical care directly into the Oura app. Instead of just showing trends in the sleep, recovery or readiness, the app can help users understand what those signals might mean and connect them with a physician when it’s needed. It feels like a logical evolution for wearables.

For athletes this could be especially valuable. Most already rely on wearables to guide training, but knowing why the recovery score dropped or whether an elevated resting heart rate is just training fatigue or something worth paying attention to has always been the missing piece. Adding clinical context to continuous biometric data could help athletes make better decisions about training, recovery, illness and returning to peak performance without having to guess or spend hours searching online.

Looks like it’s another sign that wearables are moving beyond tracking and toward decision support. The real value isn’t collecting more health data, it’s helping people know what to do next. That’s a much more interesting direction for sports and health tech.

SOND

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Sond, an AI health company that uses voice as a digital biomarker, analyzes a short 30-second voice recording and picks up subtle acoustic patterns that can reflect changes in respiratory health, stress, mental well-being, and other physiological signals. The idea is that the voice carries a kind of “health fingerprint” that can be measured without any wearable, blood test or clinic visit.

For athletes training already relies heavily on signals like sleep, heart rate variability and perceived exertion, but voice could add another layer. A quick check-in might help flag early signs of illness, accumulated fatigue or nervous system stress before it shows up in performance metrics. It’s not about replacing existing tools, but adding a low-friction signal that’s always available. Looking forward to seeing this performing on live.

Strava MCP Connector

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Strava just launched an MCP (Model Context Protocol) connector. In simple terms, it’s a standardized way for AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini to securely access and work with your Strava data. Instead of manually uploading workouts or explaining your training history, the AI can understand it directly.

AI can analyze second-by-second heart rate, running pace and power, GPS data, cycling power and cadence, full training history and even activity from Strava clubs and events. That means athletes can ask questions like: Which workouts improved my fitness the most? Are my easy runs actually easy enough? How has strength training affected my running? How have my pace and endurance changed over the last few years?

This feels like the beginning of a new wave of sports tech. The value isn’t another dashboard or another metric. It’s finally being able to have a conversation with the data and that’s something athletes have been missing for a long time.

Stellar Equipment Aerolight Wind Jacket

There’s something interesting happening with jackets like the Aerolight Wind Jacket. They’re basically admitting that most wind layers fail after the first 10–15 minutes of actual movement. Athletes put them on thinking “this will fix the wind” and then immediately start negotiating with their own body heat. Stellar Equipment leans into that exact problem and just strips the idea down: don’t over-insulate, don’t trap heat, just manage airflow while movement. That’s the whole philosophy and it shows in how minimal the design is.

It’s not trying to be a rain shell, not trying to be insulation, not trying to solve everything at once. It’s basically built for that messy middle zone. Windy ridge runs, fast hikes, early starts where athletes don’t want to commit to overheating or freezing. The ultralight Airtastic fabric keeps it breathable enough that athletes forget it’s there, which is kind of the point: wear it until the weather changes, then it disappears into its own pocket.

And maybe that’s why this category keeps growing. The more people move between city, travel and outdoor activity in the same day, the less sense it makes to carry “full armor” jackets everywhere. Something like Aerolight feels like a reaction to that. Not revolutionary in a loud way, but very aligned with how people actually move now. Nice one Stellar!

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Every few weeks, an AI company announces a model that is better at science. Usually that means it scores higher on a benchmark, writes cleaner Python or answers biology questions more accurately. Those improvements are nice, but they don't really change how us scientists spend our days.

But I have to say the Anthropic’s new Claude Science feels different. Not because Claude suddenly became dramatically smarter. It didn’t. Claude Science isn’t a new language model, it’s a research workbench built around Claude. And that, in my opinion, is the more interesting story.

Messy day in the life of a scientist

If you’re a scientist, you know that doing research isn’t only about having ideas. A typical day involves searching the literature, downloading datasets, cleaning messy data, writing analysis code, fixing errors, regenerating figures and trying to remember which notebook produced Figure 3 from six months ago.

Science has become very computational, but our tools are still scattered everywhere. We jump between PubMed, GitHub, Jupyter notebooks, RStudio, command-line terminals, cloud storage and visualization software. Most of us have developed our own workflows to survive the chaos (and yes, we share them even in the lab to help others).

Claude Science is trying to bring all of that together. Instead of asking Claude to write a function or explain a paper, the idea is that you can ask it to help with an entire project. Search the literature. Analyze data. Run code. Generate figures. Keep track of what happened. Document everything along the way.

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One thing I liked in Anthropic’s announcement is that they don’t pretend this is a revolutionary new model, it’s still Claude. The novelty comes from everything around it. The integrations, the workflow and the ability to connect different pieces of a research project into one environment.

That reminds me a lot of what happened with software development. AI coding assistants became useful not because they knew more programming than developers, but because they became part of the development environment itself. You stopped opening a chatbot in another browser tab and started working with an assistant that understood your project. You’re still responsible for the science. But you’re spending less time acting as the project’s system administrator.

Reproducibility

One feature that caught my attention is reproducibility. Anyone who’s gone back to an old project knows the feeling of staring at a figure and wondering “How did I make this?” and searching for the old codes in the repository.

According to Anthropic Claude Science keeps track of the code, the environment and the conversation that led to each result. That might not sound exciting, but reproducibility is one of the least glamorous and most important problems in computational science. If AI can make that easier without adding another layer of complexity, that’s a genuine win.

I also like that Anthropic isn’t pretending AI never makes mistakes. Claude Science includes reviewer agents that are supposed to check citations, look for inconsistencies and challenge unsupported claims before they reach the user. They will most likely not catch everything, but I prefer this approach to the usual marketing narrative that the latest model has somehow solved hallucinations.

Remote computing

Another practical feature is support for remote computing. A lot of scientific analyses don’t run on your laptop anymore. They run on university clusters or cloud GPUs, and getting everything set up often takes longer than writing the analysis itself. If Claude can actually help manage those workflows, that’s the kind of improvement researchers will notice immediately.

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Although the announcement focuses mostly on biology and biomedical research, I don’t think this idea is limited to life sciences. Physicists, chemists, climate scientists, astronomers and anyone dealing with complex computational workflows face many of the same problems. The details change, but the constant switching between tools is universal.

What about the research data privacy?

For scientists, data privacy is obviously a major concern. According to Anthropic, the Claude Science app is designed so that raw datasets and computational resources remain on the user’s infrastructure. Content included in prompts and model responses is processed by Anthropic according to its standard retention policies.

How does it work? The application is currently available here in beta for macOS and Linux users on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, with Team and Enterprise users requiring administrator approval.

For many research groups, especially those working with sensitive biomedical data, the details of deployment and data handling will be just as important as the AI capabilities themselves.

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Is AI replacing scientists?

No. At least not in the way people often imagine. Every analysis still needs to be checked. Every figure still needs to make sense. Every conclusion still requires scientific judgment. If anything, tools like Claude Science may make scientific judgment even more important. AI can automate many of the mechanical parts of research, but deciding whether the results are meaningful remains our responsibility.

It seems that Anthropic seems to be asking a different question than most AI companies. They are trying to help with AI scientists to do science faster and more efficient. That feels like a much more useful direction.

Whether Claude Science becomes part of everyday research remains to be seen. Like every new tool, it will have to earn scientists’ trust through reliability rather than impressive demos, but it could end up saving scientists something even more valuable than computing time. It could save us time to think.

Hims & Hers Labs AI

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Hims & Hers, an American telehealth company that provides prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and personal care products has just launched Labs AI, an AI care agent embedded in its platform to help interpret biomarker lab results and provide personalised insight about the health.

The company launched its direct-to-consumer lab testing program for health biomarker testing back in November. Now Labs AI offer access to 130 biomarker tests across 10 health areas, including heart health, metabolism, hormones, inflammation and stress, as part of its strategy to extend into prevention and health screening.

The AI agent can identify patterns across those biomarker tests, explain to users why they matter and how they fit into a broader picture of health.

Google Fitbit Air

Well, looks like WHOOP has competitor, next to Garmin’s rumoured Cirque tracker.

Google has officially introduced Fitbit Air, a lightweight, screen-free fitness tracker built for continuous health monitoring. The device focuses on passive tracking of core metrics like heart rate, sleep and activity with all insights living inside the Google Health app rather than on the device itself.

Fitbit Air is designed around comfort and simplicity with a minimal form factor meant for 24/7 wear, including sleep. It connects to Google’s broader health ecosystem, where AI-driven coaching turns raw data into personalized guidance and recovery insights.

Google is also pushing deeper into AI-powered health support through the Google Health app, offering more contextual recommendations based on user behavior, sleep patterns and training load, all built on top of the data collected by the device.

Whoop Clinical Care

It’s been quite loud about WHOOP lately, especially when they raised $575M from investors including Abbitt and Mayo Clinic.

WHOOP has just announced a major set of health and AI updates across its memberships, pushing the platform well beyond performance optimization and deeper into clinical health.

The biggest move is the launch of live, on-demand video consultations with licensed clinicians. Rolling out first in the US, this feature will let members connect with healthcare professionals directly inside the WHOOP app, turning the platform from a tracking tool into something much closer to a personal health hub.

WHOOP is also adding Electronic Health Record (EHR) syncing. Through a partnership with HealthEx, members will be able to securely pull in their medical history, including diagnoses, medications and procedures and view it alongside their biometric data. That extra context makes the data even more useful. Instead of just seeing that recovery is low, members can better understand how medications, underlying conditions or recent procedures may be affecting strain, sleep and overall performance.

What’s more, WHOOP is introducing two important features on the AI side: My Memory and Proactive Check-Ins.

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My Memory gives members a place to shape how WHOOP AI understands them. Users can add, edit or remove personal details, goals, routines and life circumstances so coaching recommendations better reflect what is actually happening in their lives.

Proactive Check-Ins builds on that context to surface timely recommendations automatically. That could mean suggesting extra sleep before an important event or adjusting training after travel without needing to manually ask for guidance.

Members can also log behaviors, supplements and life events using voice or text, while WHOOP AI suggests new entries based on patterns it detects in their data.

Finally, Behavior Insights shows how those habits impact recovery over time, helping members see which habits are working and which aren't.

Taken together, these updates make it clear that WHOOP is no longer just building a wearable. It’s building a full-stack health platform that combines biometric tracking, clinical care and AI-driven coaching in one ecosystem.

Strava Physical Therapy

Strava is adding a new layer to how recovery shows up on the platform.

The company has introduced Physical Therapy as a recordable activity type, allowing users to log rehab and recovery sessions the same way they would runs, rides or strength workouts. The idea is to bring injury and return-to-training work into the same tracking system athletes already use every day.

Once recorded, physical therapy sessions appear in the feed and activity history, sit alongside other training data and can be tracked over time as part of a broader performance picture.

Strava is positioning this as part of a bigger shift: treating recovery not as something separate from training, but as a visible and structured part of it.

Xtep PB Master Program

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Xtep has officially unveiled its PB Master Program, a new global support platform for marathon runners under its XRUN ecosystem.

The program is designed to help runners chase personal bests through a mix of performance gear, structured race support and on-course incentives. Selected participants in partner marathons receive Xtep racing shoes and technical apparel with additional rewards for athletes who achieve new PBs during events.

PB Master is also expanding into a more connected race experience, offering runners access to structured challenges across multiple international marathons and encouraging participation through performance-based rewards and content sharing.

First launched at the 2026 Bergen City Marathon, the program will expand across more than 16 races worldwide, positioning Xtep deeper into the intersection of performance running, community and race-day ecosystem support.

RSVR Hydration

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Traditional hydration packs typically consist of a backpack containing a water reservoir. Sure, they can be effective, but add unnecessary bulk and can cause the water to shift during movement.

This new system takes a more integrated approach. The water is stored in a 1.8- or 2.8-liter translucent bladder that is shaped to lie flat against the runner’s back. Internal baffles reduce sloshing and a wide waterproof zipper makes filling, cleaning and adding electrolytes straightforward.

Rather than being placed inside a backpack, the bladder attaches directly to either a minimalist chest harness or a front vest with six pockets for snacks, tools, and other essentials. This modular design allows users to adapt the system to both short runs and longer outings.

The back-facing surface is lined with a soft-touch fabric and an optional mesh panel improves ventilation.

For trail runners, the concept offers a more streamlined alternative to conventional hydration packs by combining the reservoir and carrying system into a single, integrated solution. The translucent bladder allows athletes to monitor how much water remains, although in practice they would need to remove the system or ask another person to check it for them.

Another highlighted feature is the aerodynamic routing of the drinking hose under the arm rather than over the shoulder, although it is unclear how much practical difference this makes under real-world conditions. Looking forward to the reviews of this hydration pack.

MyZone Motivation Technology

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Myzone is pushing further into what it calls Motivation Technology, shifting the focus from simply tracking workouts to actually driving engagement and behavior change.

The company breaks down how motivational tech turns effort into engagement by combining real-time fitness data with behavioural science. Instead of just recording activity the system helps users understand effort, stay consistent and feel rewarded for showing up.

Heart rate-based tracking, effort scores and live feedback loops are used to make progress more visible and more social. Over time this turns workouts into something more interactive, where effort is recognized, shared and reinforced across gym environments and digital platforms.

The result is a shift from passive tracking to active motivation, where data isn’t just measured, it’s used to keep people moving.

Checking footwear in marathons always gives me surprising results. The 130th Boston Marathon on April 20th and the 46th TCS London Marathon on April 26th were no different.

After analysing the race results and gear data from both events, I pulled together something interesting: the top 10 fastest shoes from the Boston and TCS London Marathons for both men and women.

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130th Boston Marathon 2026 results (Top 10):

Men’s elite race

1. John Korir (KEN) 2:01:52 (course record)

2. Alphonce Felix Simbu (TZA) 2:02:47

3. Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:02:50

4. Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:03:42

5. Zouhair Talbi (USA) 2:03:45

6. Tebello Ramakongoana (LSO) 2:04:18

7. Charles Hicks (USA) 2:04:35

8. Richard Ringer (GER) 2:04:47

9. Alex Masai (KEN) 2:05:32

10. Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:05:35

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Women’s elite race

1. Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:18:51

2. Loice Chemnung (KEN) 2:19:35

3. Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:20:07

4. Mercy Chelangat (KEN) 2:20:30

5. Jess McClain (USA) 2:20:49 (American course record)

6. Irine Cheptai (KEN) 2:20:54

7. Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:21:52

8. Annie Frisbie (USA) 2:22:00

9. Emily Sisson (USA) 2:22:39

10. Carrie Ellwood (USA) 2:22:53

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Brand Count in Top 20 Athletes (Men + Women)

ASICS had the strongest showing overall and two winners wore different brands: John Korir was racing in an unreleased ASICS prototype and Sharon Lokedi in Under Armour’s Velociti Elite 3:

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Let’s take a look at the next race in London, just 6 days after Boston:

46th TCS London Marathon 2026 results (Top 10):

Men’s elite race

1. Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 1:59:30 (world’s first official sub-2:00 marathon)

2. Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 1:59:41 (fastest marathon debut / fastest non-winning time)

3. Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:00:28 (faster than previous world record mark)

4. Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:01:39

5. Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2:02:59

6. Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:03:23

7. Addisu Gobena (ETH) 2:05:23

8. Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:05:38

9. Peter Lynch (IRL) 2:06:08

10. Mahamed Mahamed (GBR) 2:06:14

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Women’s elite race

1. Tigst Assefa (ETH) 2:15:41 (women-only world record)

2. Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:15:53

3. Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:15:55

4. Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:19:13

5. Catherine Amanang’ole (KEN) 2:21:20

6. Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:23:44

7. Eilish McColgan (GBR) 2:24:51

8. Julia Paternain (ESP) 2:25:47

9. Rose Harvey (GBR) 2:26:14

10. Marta Galimany (ESP) 2:27:38

Brand Count in Top 20 Athletes (Men + Women)

Just 6 days after Boston Marathon Nike appeared to have the strongest overall presence with their unreleased Dev 164 /1011 and their marketing team even wrote”the times are changing” in their announcement about teasing the future of race innovation on April 24th), but Adidas was the one who delivered with the podium wins and world records:

In the men’s race adidas athletes took 1st and 2nd place with Nike finishing 3rd. In the women’s race adidas secured 1st place, On took 2nd with their Lightspray and ASICS completed the podium in 3rd.

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6 days of the difference

There are many reasons why the counts differ between the two races. The truth is that the top athletes in each race depend heavily on which sponsored athletes are present. If more athletes of one brand finish the race, this brand will naturally dominate the count.

Course characteristics

Boston Marathon is quite challenging and tactical, has hills and variable weather. The hilly, technical Boston course is often used by brands to test and debut their prototypes:

London Marathon is flatter and optimised for record attempts.

So yes, different brands can prioritise one type of course over another.

Geography and marketing priorities

Brands often concentrate resources where they expect the highest return. London is a globally televised record-attempt race and Boston offers prestige and a unique course profile. Fact is that adidas is headquartered in Europe (Herzogenaurach, Germany), so London will be important marketing event for this brand.

Summary

Across both races brand performance was heavily influenced by athlete sponsorship distribution, course characteristics and race objectives. Boston’s more tactical and hilly profile contrasted with London’s flat, record-focused course, while both events highlighted how prototypes and timing play a key role in elite racing outcomes.

Overall adidas emerged as the most dominant brand in London’s results (congrats to the athletes and adidas team for hard work!), while Boston showed a more balanced and experimental spread across multiple brands, reinforcing how context-driven marathon performance analysis can be.

adidas x Project R.A.P.

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I like to see how perception is being introduced by the biggest footwear brands. This time adidas introduced Project R.A.P. (Radical Athlete Perception), a platform that is using 3D printing to create bespoke sports products tailored to athletes and their movements.

The brand unveiled a new football boot developed with athlete feedback and data, offering a customized fit and support, tested by players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ademola Lookman. The Project R.A.P football boot is a future-facing live innovation concept and announcements regarding full product launch and future availability for consumers will be made in the coming months.

On Cloudsoma

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Guess there are shoes for every terrain. On just dropped Cloudsoma with CloudTec Connect™ cushioning system that adjust to uneven ground in real time.

Underfoot stability is enhanced by an updated Missiongrip outsole, featuring a new rubber compound and redesigned lug pattern for improved traction on wet and muddy surfaces.

The Helion HF hyper foam midsole with a 6 mm drop maintains a low-to-the-ground feel while effectively absorbing impact. A sock-like upper fits snugly around the foot, minimizing excess weight and delivering a secure locked-in feel.

These features make the Cloudsoma approachable for the fresh trail runners, but could also fit well for everyday city wear. Take uneven pavement, slick crosswalks and long days on feet are no match for a shoe designed to handle actual mud and roots. Nice On!

FIDLOCK x Twiceme

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Bike accidents happen, so this innovation can be very useful.

Known as the Snap buckle, the magnetic-closure device was created by German manufacturer Fidlock in collaboration with Swedish NFC (near-field communications) company Twiceme. It can be initially looped into the chin straps of any third-party helmet and subsequently be popped open or snapped closed with one hand.

Once you spot unconscious cyclist that was involved in an accident besides calling an ambulance you can tap an NFC-enabled smartphone (running an app) against the buckle. You will instantly be provided with rider information such as emergency contacts and medical details.

4iiii Viiiiva Heart Rate Monitor

4iiii just launched new Viiiiva Heart Rate Monitor with class‑leading battery life.

A single CR2032 coin cell delivers 540+ hours of use. This means that sports scientists can spend more time testing and less time swapping batteries, huge plus. Rated IPX7, the Viiiiva handles sweat, rain and full submersion. More? Viiiiva pairs with both ANT+ head units and Bluetooth apps like Zwift.

It tracks 30 to 240 bpm at 1 bpm resolution, so athletes can get precise readings and easy recovery rides. Used alongside a 4iiii power meter, the Viiiiva connects the external output in watts with the internal response in bpm. This gives a fuller picture of training efficiency and fitness progress.

4iiii's Viiiiva Heart Rate Monitor make sure that cyclists and endurance athletes do not have to choose between power data and heart rate data.

Kinomap x Golden Trail World Series

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You don’t have to go far to experience legendary trails from events such as Zegama-Aizkorri and Sierre-Zinal.

Kinomap, an interactive training platform for cycling, running and rowing has entered into a long-term partnership with the Golden Trail World Series as an official sponsor. Through this collaboration, fans can virtually run the iconic Golden Trail World Series courses from home using high-quality, geo-synchronized videos.

Users can connect smart treadmills and other compatible fitness equipment to experience routes with accurate elevation, speed, and intensity replication. Activities automatically export to Strava for performance tracking and community engagement.

Kiprun Kipnext Connect x Movmenta

Running brands have spent years refining cushioning systems and energy return, yet one long-standing issue of knowing when a shoe has genuinely reached the end of its life has remained unresolved.

Decathlon’s Kiprun is attempting to tackle that problem with the Kipnext Connect, a new running shoe developed in collaboration with London-based startup Movmenta.

The system relies on Movmenta’s Sollo sensor, a battery-free component weighing around three grams, integrated across the midsole and upper. The sensor uses electromagnetic signals to monitor how the foam compresses in its resting state with measurements taken primarily in the heel area, where most runners experience impact.

Data is accessed through a companion app by holding a smartphone over the shoe (similar to a contactless payment). The app translates the readings into a cushioning degradation percentage, offering a clearer picture of how much performance remains in the midsole.

The questions remain around how accurately the system reflects real-world wear and how useful the data will prove in day-to-day training, especially when translating foam compression into a clear recommendation for replacement is not straightforward with factors like running style, weight and terrain all influence how a shoe breaks down. I guess we will get to know more soon.

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In cognitive science discomfort is treated as a high-priority signal. It captures attention because it may indicate risk or the need for adjustment (Eccleston and Crombez, 1999). This explains why a running shoe that feels slightly off is so difficult to ignore. The brain continues to monitor it, not consciously, but continuously. That continuous monitoring is what we experience as discomfort.

Comfort on the other hand is not softness or cushioning or even the absence of pain. It is the perceptual response that emerges from how the brain interprets the signals generated by fit. Comfort occurs when the brain stops checking, when the sensory signals from the foot-shoe interactions are predictable and stable.

Fit is very different. Fit describes the mechanical relationship between the foot and the shoe: how the shoe contains, aligns and constrains the foot across length, width, volume and structure. Fit determines how forces are distributed, how the foot moves within the shoe and how the upper and heel stabilize the foot during dynamic motion like running.

The sensory system behind fit

The soles of the feet contain thousands of mechanoreceptors that detect pressure, vibration, texture and movement (Viseux, 2020). Signals from these receptors travel through peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and up to an area of the brain called the somatosensory cortex, which maintains a map of the body (Raju and Tati, 2022). The feet occupy a meaningful portion of this map, reflecting their importance in balance, posture and movement.

This means that every step produces sensory input. Pressure under the forefoot, tension across the upper, micro-movements of the heel and none of these are necessary good or bad. They are simply information. The brain’s task is to interpret that information and decide whether it is stable, predictable and safe.

The fit, brain, comfort chain

Fit and comfort are too often treated as the same concept, but they are not. The relationship looks something like this:

Most athletes collapse this entire chain into a single, immediate judgment. They put a shoe on, take a few steps and decide. Sometimes decisions are made even before wearing the shoe, based purely on looks or prior expectations. Such judgments happen too early and without understanding the mechanism behind them.

Traditional evaluation methods reduce this chain to a single question: “please rate the overall wearing shoe comfort in a 1-5/7/10 scale” (too many scales are another issue, but I will talk about it another time). This approach hides the underlying processes that truly determine comfort. To evaluate a running shoe properly, it is necessary to separate the input from the interpretation of the brain.

Comfort is dynamic

Interestingly comfort evolves over time. In the first few minutes, the brain is still building a model of the sensory input. A shoe may feel acceptable simply because it has not yet been fully evaluated.

If the input remains stable, attention decreases and the shoe begins to… disappear. If the input fluctuates, small inconsistencies are amplified. The brain continues to monitor and discomfort gradually increases. This is why a shoe can feel comfortable at first, but uncomfortable after 20-30 min of a run.

Measuring comfort-discomfort shift

To capture this shift from comfort to discomfort in a controlled and measurable way, I propose a following perception-based treadmill protocol:

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During a steady-state 30 min run at a standardized speed (10-12km/h), the athlete is instructed to press one of two buttons the moment their attention is drawn to a noticeable change in sensation. One button corresponds to muscle-related discomfort (fatigue, muscle soreness, increasing effort) and the other corresponds to shoe-related discomfort (pressure, friction, instability or fit issues).

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Rather than continuously rating comfort, this method can record moments when the system demands attention. The timing and frequency of these button presses provide insight into when discomfort appears, how it evolves over time and whether it is driven primarily by physiological fatigue or by the mechanical interaction between the foot and the shoe.

In this way comfort is not treated as a static rating, but as a dynamic process that can be tracked through shifts in attention. And sure, we can add simple RPE rating before, during and after the run. I recommend always spending some time with the athlete after each run and precisely asking about the location of the discomfort.

Softer is not always more comfortable

This idea also explains a common misconception that more cushioning does not automatically mean more comfort. Soft midsoles can reduce localized pressure, but they can also introduce variability and instability.

The body compensates, muscles work harder to stabilize and sensory input becomes less predictable. The brain increases monitoring. As a result, comfort may decrease and it’s not because there is too little cushioning, but because there is too much noise in the system.

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Measuring comfort

Comfort seems subjective, but we actually can measure it as it is multi-factorial. Well-fitted, lightweight shoes with soft midsoles and curved rocker-soles are generally perceived to be most comfortable (Menz and Bonanno, 2021) and simple visual analog scales can reliably capture overall comfort.

Comfort is an outcome and fit is often the multiplier. A well-fitted shoe creates the conditions for stable sensory input, allowing comfort to emerge. A poorly fitted shoe, regardless of its materials or cushioning, increases variability and reduces comfort.

Conclusion

Comfort is not a property of the shoe alone. It is a property of the interaction between the shoe, the body and the brain. Fit creates the conditions, the brain evaluates them and comfort emerges when the system no longer needs to ask questions.

Kiprun x Smoon

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I like the direction the brands are going. Kiprun, Decathlon’s running label, has teamed up with French menstrual-tech brand Smoon and released Run 900 running shorts with integrated seamless absorbent briefs.

The inner brief uses a three-layer system: a moisture-wicking top layer to keep the female runner dry, an absorbent core holding about two tampons’ worth of flow and a waterproof membrane to prevent leaks and control odour. Together this provides up to 12 hours of protection, enough for long training runs and races.

Mastering the final product took time. Decathlon and Smoon spent five years developing the product and Smoon brought proven expertise by selling over 250,000 menstrual swimsuits in the past three years. They understand how absorbent technology performs during movement and in wet conditions.

The best part? Maintaining regular exercise through the full cycle helps regulate premenstrual symptoms and supports mental wellbeing. So there are more reasons to run during menstruation, especially now that such shorts are available!

Kineon The MOVE+ Pro

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Red light therapy. It is more and more used as a non-invasive treatment, especially by athletes. How does it work? It uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to support the body’s natural healing processes. When this light is absorbed by the cells, it helps stimulate energy production (ATP), improve circulation and regulate inflammation. Sounds very scientific but it actually helps.

Unlike generic red light panels or handheld devices, the MOVE+ combines 660 nm red light and 808 nm near-infrared laser in a hybrid system of LEDs and medical-grade lasers. Quite a combination.

This dual approach delivers both surface coverage and deep tissue penetration. I like to see a technology that was well supported by robust medical literature. Nice one!

Helmet Head Anti-Acne Sports Patch

Sometimes the idea can come from watching kids play hockey and lacrosse. The combination of heat, sweat and friction from gear can impact the skin and confidence. Until now there wasn't a product specifically designed to prevent that, so Helmet Head created one specifically for athletes.

Helmet Head's Anti-Acne Sports Patch can be applied directly to the skin before wearing gear. It works by creating a breathable, moisture-locking barrier that reduces irritation and prevents breakouts before they occur.

The patches are dermatologist-approved and formulated with salicylic acid, tea tree oil, niacinamide and Vitamin C. The company maintains that its product can stay in place during practices and games while remaining nearly invisible. Such gear can be used in football, hockey, cricket, lacrosse, cycling, baseball and many more. I think the helmet is not even needed, maybe it could stop dripping sweat for runners and CrossFit athletes. Worth testing.

Superfeet Run Pacer Elite

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Superfeet’s Run Pacer is a performance insole aimed at runners who want a try out the brand’s top-tier tech without the premium price tag. It is designed to add bounce and responsiveness to the shoes.

This performance insole uses SuperRev foam combined with a contoured arch, targeted heel cushioning and a moisture-wicking top cover made from 100% recycled materials to help manage odour.

For those looking for more propulsion should take a look at Carbitex®, carbon fibre plate that adapts to the stride: flexible at easy paces and stiffer for high-speed efforts. It is paired with SuperRev foam for energy return and biomechanical support. What’s more it is designed to slot into moderate to roomy running shoes as a direct replacement for the standard liner. Maybe in the end we can boost bounce and responsiveness without buying an entirely new pair of shoes.

BRCĒ

We are thinking of ways how to tie our shoes so they don’t lose, but one brand went a step further. BRCĒ, a Michigan State University spinout, transformed a failed class project into a commercial athletic accessory. They launched a reinforced shoelace system designed to enhance durability and fit.

BRCĒ’s laces introduce engineered micro-ridge structures woven throughout the lace fibers. When the lace is tied and tension is applied, these microscopic ridges interlock with one another, creating a dynamic mechanical grip that holds up under motion, sweat, pressure and force.

According to the founders the laces give a stable, secure fit that stays even in intense and demanding sports. They shake off sweat, impact, weather, cutting and pivoting, kneeling, climbing, lifting and stay tied through long training sessions and shifts. Quite impressive, looking forward to seeing more of such innovations!

adidas Hyperboost Edge

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Talking about the woven… let’s dig deeper into this one. At the beginning of March adidas revealed the Hyperboost Edge, an all-new lightweight super-trainer set to begin a new era of road running.

Hyperboost Edge has been designed as the first adidas lightweight non-plated super-trainer. So no plates or stiffening elements, just a new foam that works naturally through the gait cycle creating a lightweight and propulsive ride. The shoe weighs just 255 grams (for men’s 8.5 UK) but delivers supreme comfort and high energy return.

The most interesting part is the choice of upper. It’s made from a woven material, what the brand calls a PRIMEWEAVE super-soft, hyper-light construction that delivers effortless comfort and reliable lockdown for a secure fit, though it remains to be seen how well it actually handles airflow and breathability.

On top of that, adidas has integrated heel pods that provide targeted cushioning and added stability around the heel, improving step-in comfort. I’m looking forward to seeing more testing of these shoes online!

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Many upper features are subjectives (perceived comfort, lockdown and flexibility), so brands increasingly rely on perception testing protocols to systematically evaluate athletes feedback. This article outlines a structured methodology for evaluating running shoe uppers using perception-based testing.

Upper perception testing

The objective of perception testing is to quantify subjective user experiences through standardised evaluation methods. The whole point of testing is to assess step-in comfort, fit and lockdown, breathability and temperature regulation, flexibility and adaptability during gait, irritation or pressure points, stability during lateral and longitudinal movement and overall perceived quality.

A well-designed protocol converts these perceptions into measurable data that product developers can compare across prototypes or competitive footwear models.

Best upper material for running shoes

Before designing the test protocol it is great to know which upper components influence perception.

For upper materials the common materials include engineered mesh, knit constructions, mono-mesh, synthetic overlays and thermoplastic reinforcements. Those materials influence breathability, stretch and structural integrity.

For fit, footwear designers look at lacing configuration, eyelet placement, mid foot structure, heel collar design and tongue construction. A well-designed fit system balances security and comfort without excessive pressure.

In terms of structural reinforcement, key elements include toe box, heel counter and lace cage (and laces). They contribute to stability and durability but may affect flexibility or comfort.

And last, but not least, the internal construction is there. Factors like seam placement, padding density and internal lining texture can strongly influence irritation risk and perceived quality.

Testing conditions

It is true that upper perception can change depending on conditions. Testing can happen in controlled conditions on a treadmill (less realistic, but repeatable conditions) or outdoor in the field (harder to control conditions, but the most realistic). I noticed trend that more and more brands test footwear outdoors, especially for the marathon or trail running, which is great - nothing will tell you more about the shoes than testing them in the live conditions, but I would still suggest combining both of the methods (indoor and outdoor) to get the best results.

Best practices

To improve data reliability blind the brand identity when possible (provide white colour prototypes, tape them, the best would be to compare the current model, new model and competitor’s model), randomise shoe testing order, standardise socks worn by participants (this one is often skipped and it really matters for breathability), control conditions (indoor vs outdoor, the best to measure on the same day) when feasible and ensure runners complete evaluations immediately after running. Consistency is essential for meaningful results.

Pre-run evaluation

Before running, athletes should assess the shoe immediately after putting it on. Measure the initial comfort, heel fit, midfoot pressure, toe box space and perceived quality of materials with the 7-point Likert scale (comfort: 1 - very uncomfortable, 4 - neutral, 7 - very comfortable, fit: 1 - very loose, 4 - neutral, 7 - very tight etc.).

Running protocol

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Typical running session includes 5-10 min treadmill warm-up, 5-10 min run on a treadmill. Then repeat the same protocol outdoors.

In the current protocol the shoe A is a current model, shoe B is a new prototype and shoe C is a competitors shoe. Athlete should run in each shoe for at least 5 min and rest for 5 min (so 10 min per condition). If you test trail running shoes, remember to elevate the treadmill (if your treadmill has such function), so athlete can run up and down on it to mimic the trail running conditions. Naturally the same should happen outdoor (uphill and downhill run).

Post-run evaluation

Immediately after running athlete completes a post questionnaire assessing key perception metrics including thermal comfort, moisture management, upper movement during stretching, pressure points, overall running comfort and overall satisfaction.

If a speed camera is available, it can also be used to evaluate upper flexibility during toe-off, as well as visible midfoot lockdown and heel stability. We can match the footage with the questionnaire, so it will give us the full picture.

We can also pay attention towards heel lift, tongue migration and lace pressure. The way of lacing also matters. Make sure every athletes uses the same system.

Qualitative feedback

Numbers alone rarely explain why runners perceive differences. Sit down with athletes, collect qualitative feedback through open-ended questionnaire responses, group discussions and post-run interviews. We often have 1 hour of the time and this time should be well spent. Example of questions can include: “describe any areas of discomfort”, “did the shoe feel secure during faster running?” etc.

Perception data with mechanical testing

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Perception testing should be combined with objective laboratory measurements, such as air permeability tests, material stretch analysis, abrasion resistance and structural stiffness testing.

Combining subjective perception data with mechanical testing provides a complete understanding of upper performance.

Conclusion

The upper of a running shoe is a complex system that strongly affects athletes comfort, fit and performance. Many upper features are subjective so structured perception testing protocols are essential for capturing reliable user feedback.

Combining step-in assessments, dynamic running evaluations and post-run questionnaires is the best way for footwear developers to systematically evaluate upper performance. When integrated with mechanical testing, perception data provides powerful guidance for refining materials, fit systems and construction techniques.

At the end of the day, well-designed perception testing helps ensure that running shoe uppers deliver the comfort, support and breathability that athletes expect.

truefuels CoreCtrl

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During exercise, approximately 75-80% of energy is released as heat and when heat production exceeds the body’s ability to release it, performance is limited, not by fitness or motivation, but by protective physiological limits.

That’s likely why performance nutrition brand truefuels, co-founded by Olympic Gold Medalist, Alistair Brownlee, launched CoreCtrl, a new product category focused on performance thermoregulation.

CoreCtrl is built on current sports science and informed by the research of Peel et al. (2024) and supports the body’s natural thermoregulation by enhancing sweat response, improving evaporative heat loss and reducing internal heat storage. The result is greater control, consistency, recovery and resilience when racing or training in hot conditions.

Researched benefits of CoreCtrl include increased sweat response and gland activation, improved evaporative heat loss, reduced internal heat storage and extended sustainable performance in hot conditions.

I like that it’s not stimulant, artificial cooling agent or hydration replacement, but it works alongside hydration and fueling, supporting the physiological systems already built into the body. Definitely worth checking by athletes (one serving daily for eight days prior to a hot race or heat-focused training block, mixed with 500 ml of cold water and consumed 30–60 minutes before exercise).

Ōura Health AI

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This well known smart ring company is launching an AI coaching model for women’s health, covering life stages from menstruation to menopause. Their first custom model will integrate clinical research with biometric data to provide context-aware, empathetic insights spanning cycle changes, pregnancy, midlife etc.

The new model within the Oura Advisor experience is built on established medical standards, peer-reviewed research and trusted knowledge sources vetted by Oura’s in-house team of board-certified clinicians and women’s health experts. It combines these foundations with biometric signals and long-term trends to deliver personalised and evidence-based guidance. And Oura is betting on Advisor to provide better outcomes.

“This custom model is a fundamental shift in how we responsibly deploy AI in health to meet the needs of our members,” said Ricky Bloomfield, MD, chief medical officer at Oura. “Women’s health is too complex - and too often overlooked - to rely on one-size-fits-all systems. By designing a model specifically for women and grounding it in trusted clinical science and real-world biometric data, we’re setting the standard for how responsible intelligence should be built and expanded across more areas of health, pairing rigorous science with the lived, longitudinal data that makes Oura uniquely powerful.”

One thing is clear - the progress is needed in how women’s health is understood and supported. Women who opt in to test the new model in Oura Labs will gain early access to the experimental model and the opportunity to help shape its development.

Fort

Well, this is interesting. Tesla engineers decided to join forces and launch Fort, a screenless strength training wearable, designed to track strength training for people who prioritize long-term health and longevity.

Most wearables require to manually log every rep, set and exercise, then deliver generic insights or underestimate strength-related fatigue. Fort uses heart rate and motion data to automatically track athlete’s strength workouts and provide thoughtful, actionable feedback that helps the athlete to reach the goals.

How does automatic tracking work? Fort uses an IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope) and a PPG heart rate sensor to recognize exercises, count reps, measure bar speed, and estimate proximity to failure in real time.

Something interesting for my colleagues in terms of strength metrics: session scores, per-muscle volume breakdowns, proximity to failure, time under tension, rep velocity, rest times and rep cadence. The rest of metrics: heart rate zones, VO2 max estimation, sleep stages (deep, light, REM), recovery scoring, overnight HRV, all-day activity and real-time stress detection. Nice!

adidas Adizero Dropset Elite

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I always get excited when I see when hard work of my former colleagues. New shoes built specifically for hybrid fitness racing merge the two footwear innovations - Adizero and Dropset. I don’t think I’ve seen dual-purpose fitness racing shoe before, that would be first. Adizero is focused on speed and Dropset on functional strength-training.

The shoe features Lightstrike Pro foam (ultra-light feel with high energy return for next-level speed), Energy Rim (perimeter support for guided motion and added heel stability), Continental rubber (thin diamond-pattern rubber for high traction on varied surfaces), engineered geometry (12mm heel drop for optimized body position and efficiency) and foot adapt sicklier (increases foot awareness and movement control). The shoe weighs 210g, has a 12mm drop, and features a stack height of 32mm in the forefoot and 44mm in the rearfoot, plus a 4mm sockliner.

The Adizero Dropset Elite will become available for hybrid athletes from March 18^th for €275 via adidas website.

PointFit PF-Sweat Patch

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This Hong Kong-based company decided to promote the product to professional athletes, so they can receive health updates regularly without undergoing repeated blood tests. PF-Sweat Patch is the world’s first ultra-thin wearable skin patch that tracks health conditions through sweat for preventive care and longevity.

It has also been clinically validated against the gold standard, blood biomarker tests. The first biomarker to be launched will be lactate for endurance & mitochondrial health with a modular design that supports future biomarkers such as cortisol, creatinine and glucose for comprehensive health insights.

Applying the patch is effortless: athletes can wear it on their skin, connect it to the PF app via BLE and access continuous biomarker(s) data during their run, cycle or any other activity. Looking forward to more updates from PointFit!

Working in big corporations requires working together in teams and that’s how the world moves forward. But nobody tells you how to be a good manager. You kind of learn it on a way.

Ask questions

Are you new? Great. Use the newbie card to your advantage for around three months. Ask as many questions to as many people as you can, even if you believe you are the only one who doesn’t know. You will make mistakes and you will find that your colleagues are usually quite willing to help you get up to speed. Do you think you look stupid by asking questions that you were supposed to know while getting hired? It could not be further from the truth. Every company has different way of doing things. You are not expected to know everything at first. One of the biggest mistakes managers do is thinking they need to jump in and exert their opinions right away to show what they are capable. Try to listen, ask questions and learn. Those first few months are the best time for doing it.

Build a team

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Stay open-minded and curious as you meet everyone. You will hear some things at first about the people, but start with blank page that they will fill while working with you. No matter what you are told, give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

You can create great things when you are not doing things alone. You are no longer trying to get something done by yourself. You can build a team that works well together, but at the same time remember to support team members in reaching their own career goals and make sure that work is done smoothly and efficiently.

Not every manager realises that it’s also the time to give up some level of control. You cannot make every decision by yourself. Your role as a manager is not to do the work yourself, even if you are the best at it, because that will only take you so far. The main job as a manager is to get better outcomes from a group of people working together.

Why, who and how

The reality of being a manager is that you can be the smartest, most liked and hardworking person, but if your team has a long-standing reputation for mediocre outcomes, then you cannot be a great manager.

The purpose is the outcome your team is trying to accomplish, known as “why”. Let’s not forget about the people, known as “who”. Are they good enough to succeed? Do they have the right skills? Are they motivated to do the great work? And last, but not least, there is process, which helps to understand “how” your team works together. Even the best team that does not know how to work together or what the team’s values are, will fail. And what I mean by the values is how we make decisions and respond to problems.

A great manager constantly asks himself how he can influence the why, the who and the how to improve the team’s outcomes.

Get to know people

In team setting, it’s not possible for a group of people to coordinate what needs to get done without spending any time on it.

But I think it’s important to get to know people that you will be managing. Their strengths and interests, what they need help with and how they are doing relative to expectations.

From sports science view, think of yourself as a coach who is there to support and help your people reach their goals.

Adapt quickly

The team will change, whether it’s goals shifting, people joining or leaving or processes evolving, but also what you do every day will change. Not everyone likes changes.

Support your people. Do not micromanage. There is nothing worse than not giving the space for creativity and testing things. But still make sure that they are on a track.

Motivate and be honest

If you can pinpoint a problem and motivate others to work with you to solve it, then you are a great manager. Remember to develop a healthy manager-report relationship and create an environment of support.

It’s always good to be honest and straightforward. Don’t beat around the bush, frame criticisms as suggestions: “Just as an idea, but have you considered… ?”. At the end they own their own decisions anyway.

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Trust people

You must trust people or your life will become impossible. This is true to all relationships: friendships, marriages, partnerships and the manager-report relationship is no different.

Trust is everything. It’s important for people to feel they can share their mistakes, challenges and fears with you. If they are struggling through the project task, they tell you right away so you can work through it together. If they are having issues collaboration with somebody, you hear it first from them and not from other people.

Be awkward

Yes, you read it right. Make sure your one-on-one meetings are a bit awkward. Why? Only the most important and meaningful conversations have that characteristic. It is not easy to discuss mistakes, fears and secret hopes if there are superficial pleasantries present.

Be human

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Strive to be human, not a boss. No one is perfect and managers are no exception. You will make mistakes. You will let people down. When that happens, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because you are manager, you cannot admit your mistakes or weaknesses. Apologise. Admit that you made mistake and do better in the future.

Recognise hard work

Recognition for hard work, valuable skills, helpful advice or good values can be very motivation if it comes from you as genuine and specific feedback. Every kind word about the unique strengths of the person can give them more fuel to achieve our goals.

Remember to not let the worst performers to dominate your time. Diagnose, address and resolve their issues as fast as you can and move on. The people who are doing well could be doing even better. Give them space for growth, support them.

Hire kind people

Hiring well is the single most important thing you can do. But hiring is not about filling holes, if you have this approach, you will never bring in the best people.

It is possible to find people who are talented, humble and kind. Do not compromise your values for someone who thinks is better than others and it is okay to bully others. You and your team deserve better.

When my line manager said that he felt that the new member would fit to the rest of the group, at first I did not understand. But then I realised that all of the team members had common treats. We were kind and hard working people. We were not afraid to ask for help and when the situation occurred, we were helping each other. No competition, just pure team work.

Seek support

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Fake it, till you make it, right? Not really. If you don’t know how to get things done, ask for help from people you can be real with. It’s such a relieving feeling when you can share your fears with people you can trust. Whether it’s a family member, friend or a group of trusted colleagues, find your support group. Sharing your struggles is not a sign of weakness, but it shows your courage and self-awareness.

Simply enjoy it

If you do your job well, then your team will thrive. You will build something that outlast you, that will be made stronger by all who become a part of it. Celebrate small wins with your team. Do not omit any occasion. Do not focus entirely on failures, see good in people and their progress.

Good luck in your path ahead. Go out with your team and make something great together!

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At first glance, the scene felt cinematic. Then I noticed something biomechanically interesting. The rowers were not using their arms. They were using their… feet.

As a former rower and current rowing umpire I have never seen something like this before. Of course I know how to row, but with hands. It was crazy to even consider feet as a substitute. Like how does it work? I needed to know more.

Unique rowing technique

When we entered the boat the female rower was already sitting low in the boat, leaning back slightly on the in-built back of the chair before starting rowing with her legs. Her feet pressed directly against the oar handles and the oars were tied with a rope to the oarlock. The motion was quite rhythmic, controlled and repeated for 2 hours. Whenever she needed to stop or change direction, she was switching to hands. So it was clear to me that there was some type of energy saving approach. But for the vast majority of boat ride she was using her feet.

This practice is known locally as chèo chân (foot-rowing) and has been used for roughly two centuries. It evolved not as performance sport, but as occupational necessity. And still viewed through the lens of biomechanics, it looks like a living laboratory of lower-limb propulsion, arch function and load management.

Well, it definitely raises many questions for footwear designers.

A first-class lever

Let’s do a bit of physics. From a rower in a boat perspective rowing is a first-class lever system: fulcrum is the oarlock (pivot attached to the boat), effort is the force applied at the handle and the load is the resistance of the water acting on the blade. The boat is in a moving coordinate system, thus the oar lock is constant.

The rower does not push against water directly. They apply force at the handle. That force rotates the oar around the oarlock and the blade transfers force into the water.

In Vietnamese foot-rowing, the legs generate the effort, but the plantar surface of the foot applies that effort to the lever. The foot is not simply bearing body weight, as in gait. It is applying cyclical force into a rotating lever arm under resistance.

The foot as a torque interface

Each stroke requires stable ankle positioning to maintain handle angle, sufficient arch stiffness to prevent midfoot energy loss, control under shear as the oar rotates and fine force modulation to avoid oscillation at the blade. This is not vertical loading. It is tangential force application into a lever system.

If the medial longitudinal arch collapses excessively under effort, part of the applied force is absorbed before torque reaches the oar. If the midfoot is excessively rigid, fine motor control at the interface may degrade.

In other words the arch functions as a structural regulator of torque transmission. And it does it without any footwear.

Lower-limb dominance and spinal economy

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Most of the rowers in Ninh Bình are women between 40 and 65 years old. Many row for three to five hours per day with little to no break.

From a load-management perspective, the strategy appears rational: hip and knee extensors generate the primary propulsion, while the trunk remains relatively upright and supported. Rather than large-amplitude lumbar flexion–extension contributing to stroke length, the spine seems to function more as a stabilising structure against the built-in seat back. Large muscle groups handle the majority of torque production, while the lumbar spine may experience less cyclical excursion under load. Over decades of repetitive work reducing dynamic spinal loading may matter more than maximising peak power.

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This is not elite rowing as seen in the Olympic Games. It is occupational endurance, optimised for repeatability rather than maximal wattage and the foot is central to that repeatability.

Barefoot transmission

The boat guides typically wear socks or go barefoot. There is no structured arch support, carbon plate, torsional rigidity system or energy-return midsole. Yet propulsion is sustained for hours. This does not argue against footwear innovation. It reframes the design question.

In gait footwear mediates ground reaction forces. In foot-rowing the foot mediates effort force into a lever. The design challenge shifts from cushioning to torque transmission. Like how much arch deformation is optimal before energy loss becomes meaningful? How does midfoot stiffness alter force timing? What level of plantar sensory input is necessary for fine control? And at what point does external stiffness replace intrinsic contribution?

These are not abstract questions. They are central to modern performance footwear, especially in systems that incorporate plates, rocker geometries and longitudinal stiffening.

Designing the gearbox, not just the cushion

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If the leg is the engine, the foot is the gearbox. In Ninh Bình, for decades that gearbox operates without external reinforcement under high repetition. Footwear designers effectively tune this gearbox. They alter longitudinal bending stiffness, torsional rigidity, arch constraint and plantar sensory filtering.

Two centuries of Vietnamese foot-rowing suggest something worth considering: before we ask how much energy a shoe can return, we need to ask how it modifies torque transmission at the arch. Because when propulsion is leg-driven and the foot is the interface with a lever, performance depends less on foam and more on how effectively force passes through the midfoot without being lost or over-constrained.

The women rowing in Ninh Bình are not testing prototypes. They are not optimising for podiums. They are optimizing for durability. And in doing so they offer footwear designers a rare gift: a 200-year field study in how the human foot behaves when it must transmit torque repeatedly, without breaking down.

ANTA KAI 3

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The first KAI3 colorway honors the Chinese New Year (also known as the Spring Festival), symbolising renewal, family and prosperity. These basketball shoes represent a fresh start, stepping into the new year with confidence and welcoming good fortune ahead. While Irving's sneakers are fashionable and meaningful, they perform well too.

And it seems those shoes are packed with innovation: TPU sidewall that enhances stability and supports torque, mid foot carbon plate that ensures stable support, heel padding that secures ankle lock-in, anti-slip texture which is built for quick stops and breakthroughs and full-palm nitrogen technology that delivers powerful rebound.

But my absolute favourite is the message on the outsole. It’s a reminder from Kyrie Irving that greatness does not start on big stages, it starts where you first fall in love with the game.

Thirdlove TempSync Active

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Performance fabrics are common in men's activewear, but women's sports bras have not received the same attention when it comes to fabric innovations for cooling and comfort. Until now.

The thermoregulating fabric is simple: 82% Nylon and 18% Spandex. And that’s not all. Their 37.5® technology actively regulates body temperature and helps reduce odour during any workout.

Adding to this thoughtful design like a thigh-slimming, anti-camel toe gusset, smooth-seam construction and a hidden back pocket and they can become new athletes’ favourites.

Clair

This is something that every female athlete (and not only) needs.

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Clair’s non-invasive wearable continuously tracks key hormones in real time, signalling huge shift toward women-first health tech in fitness and wellness. In fact the company claims it’s the world's first non-invasive, continuous hormone monitor.

It tracks health metrics in real time and puts them in the context of hormonal shifts, including skin temperature, which can reflect hormonal changes like rises in progesterone post-ovulation and resting heart rate to track cardiovascular patterns that fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle in response to estrogen and progesterone.

But that’s not all. It also tracks heart rate variability (HRV), which measures autonomic nervous system changes influenced by hormonal fluctuations, sleep monitoring to see how rest is affected by progesterone and estrogen levels, breath rate and respiratory changes linked to progesterone’s effect on thermoregulation and electrodermal activity with motion tracking, which captures stress responses and activity patterns that interact with hormonal states.

Generally speaking it helps understanding how hormonal changes affect the body, energy and sleep. Really looking forward to see how it works!

Asics Superblast 3

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We all remember the Superblast 2, which used a full midsole of Asics’ nitrogen-infused, EVA-based FF Blast Plus foam. This time the Superblast 3 replaces the bulk of that with FF Leap, a next-generation A-TPU superfoam previously found only in Asics’ elite racing shoes (the Metaspeed Sky, Edge Tokyo and Metaspeed Ray). According to Asics this change in underfoot provides 15.4 percent increase in energy return.

Stack height has also grown by 1.5mm to 46.5mm under the heel and 38.5mm in the forefoot, with an 8mm heel-to-toe drop. Even after using additional material the shoe is still 10 grams lighter than Superblast 2 (239 grams for a men’s size 9).

I like how this time the engineered weave upper has been revised for a sleeker fit. The most noticeable change is the lacing system, traditional punched eyelets have been replaced by cord loops on all but the top two rows. The design is intended to distribute pressure more evenly across the top of the foot and improve midfoot lockdown. Add to this generously padded heel collar and it rounds out all needed comfort updates.

The Asics Superblast 3 will release on March 1 through Asics’ website.

URUNN

Looks like Strava has a competitor. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Mo Farah has entered the fitness tech space with URUNN, a running app designed to provide elite-level coaching to athletes of all skill levels.

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The app was designed to mirror how elite athletes train under expert guidance, it adapts dynamically to each member’s pace, experience, lifestyle, recovery needs and target milestones. The best part? No two runners get the same plan. Every programme evolves based on real-time progress, just as a human coach would adjust and refine a training block.

The platform stands out by offering real-time audio and visual pace guidance from Sir Mo Farah, Adam Clarke and other elite coaches like Charlotte Purdue. The AI assistant is named Stride.

Training plans varies across all major distances. From 5K, 10K, half marathon, to a full marathon, with flexible durations from 6 to 28 weeks. Additional distances and training formats will be developed in future releases.

I actually want to test this one, this could be amazing for running!

What is mass perception?

Shoe mass (or weight) perception simply refers to how heavy or light a shoe feels to a runner. Interestingly this perception does not always match the footwear measured weight. There are few sensory pathways that contribute to mass perception: vision, hand handling and on-foot experience. Each provides different information and plays a different role in decision-making.

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Visual mass perception

Before touching or wearing a shoe, athletes can form immediate impressions based purely on visual cues. In retail or online shopping vision is often the first (and sometimes only) source of information.

Visual mass perception is influenced by midsole thickness, stack height, outsole coverage, upper layering, colour (lighter colours appear lighter in weight), geometry or even proportions.

How does it work? A shoe with a thick midsole may appear heavy, even if the materials keep the actual mass relatively low. Minimalist-looking shoe may appear light even though the weight can be much higher.

The truth is the visual tests alone do not provide reliable information about actual mass, but creates expectations. And these expectations may later influence how the footwear feels when handled or worn.

The hand test

The hand test is simple - holding the shoe in the hand. When held in the hand, perceived mass is mainly influenced by total weight of a footwear, upper thickness and outsole rubber coverage.

One study showed that the accuracy in weight perception by the feet was only 30% while the accuracy in weight perception by the hand went as high as 92%. That is simply because foot perceives mass poorly compared to the hand and perception of shoe mass comes more from handling shoes than wearing them. The findings seem to be true - many customers assess footwear mass in stores mostly by handling the shoe rather than wearing it. Taking into account the high accuracy of hand-based weight perception, this may be the most reliable evaluation method.

The foot test

The best way to do the foot test is when athlete evaluates the shoe while standing, walking or running. Most of the time, perceived mass is affected by midsole cushioning and energy return, rocker geometry (if the heel or toe doesn’t fully touch the surface because the sole curves upward, that’s the rocker shape), bending stiffness, stability features and weight distribution across the shoe. A shoe may feel lighter on foot if it provides smooth forward motion (reducing the effort) or efficient transitions, even though its actual mass is relatively high.

Great visual explanation of sensory pathways that contribute to mass perception are here:

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Factors influencing weight perception

There are three main factors that affect weight perception:

1. Physical - shoe absorbs sweat increasing the weight, muscle fatigue makes shoes feel heavier, biomechanics changes like dragging feet or shortening stride.

2. Psychological - effort perception increases with fatigue, placebo effect: belief in heavier shoes makes them feel heavier, mental fatigue.

3. Environmental - weather and terrain, temperature affects shoe materials: soften in heat, stiffen in cold.

Does shoe mass affect running economy?

It all started with first study, which quantified that across a range of running speeds, VO₂ increases by ~ 1% for each 100 g of mass added to each shoe.

Since then, multiple studies examined those results and not all were able to show that adding mass to shoes increases submaximal oxygen uptake. I will give you the recent examples:

Another study confirmed that adding shoe mass degrades running economy and showed that adding shoe mass slows 3000-m time-trial performance proportionally (0.78% per 100 g per shoe) and basically confirmed similar findings from the previous study (approx. 1% for each 100 g added per foot).

The newest study stated clearly that adding 100 g per shoe impairs running economy and performance in trained runners without changes in gait characteristics or neuromuscular variables. The experimental design looked like this:

I hope it explains why brands continuously aim to reduce footwear mass to optimize running performance.

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Perception testing protocol

While creating this testing protocol I took into account that there is limited time with each athlete. Everything should last for about 40 min of testing:

Besides usual performance testing (can use IMU, HR, but no Stryd sensor or pressure insoles as they can affect the shoe weight perception) and biomechanical analysis (markerless movement analysis, instrumented treadmill to measure ground reaction forces, gait parameters and pressure distribution during running), you can use rating scales (VAS, 1-10) or likert scales (1-7).

The most important thing is that the shoes should be white, so the colour does not affect the shoe mass perception (remember: lighter colours appear lighter in weight). This is why I propose at first blind test, so there are no doubts that there is any bias in the mass perception assessment.

What to keep in mind

When writing down the shoe mass in the protocol, don’t be surprised that most of the brands give them for men’s size 9 and women’s size 7. This is why the brands test the shoes mostly based on sample size, but among athletes it varies really. Always weight the shoe before the experiment (There can still be some variation in the final product due to manufacturing tolerances that can lead to slight differences in the weight of each shoe).

There is also one method to estimate roughly the weight of any shoe size by adjusting the weight by 2.6% for every half size up from the base weight:

Hope it helps and have fun during mass perception testing!

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References

1. Denis et al. 2025, Determinants of footwear perception in running shoes with different compression stiffnesses

2. Fan Yang et al. 2024, Perceived and biomechanics effects of running shoe centre of gravity shifting in amateur male runners

3. Fuller et al. 2015, The effect of footwear on running performance and running economy in distance runners

4. Franz et al. 2012, Metabolic Cost of Running Barefoot versus Shod: Is Lighter Better?

5. Greenya et al. 2024, Running shoe mass: Can feet tell any difference?

6. Hoogkamer et al. 2016, Altered Running Economy Directly Translates

   to Altered Distance-Running Performance

7. Keshvari et al. 2023, Sensory Perception of Varied Shoe Masses in Running

8. Rodrigo-Carranza et al. 2020, Influence of Shoe Mass on Performance and Running Economy in Trained Runners

9. Saxton et al. 2020, Somatosensory Perception of Running Shoe Mass may be influenced by Extended Wearing Time or Inclusion of a Personal Reference Shoe, Depending on Testing Method

10. Slade et al. 2014, Somatosensory perception of running shoe mass

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The Humanrace x adidas EVOLUTION PRO

adidas and Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace have unveiled the EVOLUTION Pro. This design study is based on Pro Evolution 1 marathon racing shoe with touch-reactive elements meant to create a sensory experience. I have to say this idea has drawn comparisons to Nike’s recently launched Mind series, which used pressure-based design elements to promote calm and focus around athletic performance. But adidas added more: widened sole, feather-light mono-mesh upper, 5D dot pattern across the upper and the three stripes branding with texture and tactile feel.

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Outsole features a blue-and-green marbled pattern meant to evoke the earth. I have to say this piece would be great for perception testing. Important: it is a statement piece, not aimed at everyday runners.

The Blue Tees Rainmaker Launch Monitor

On the surface, the new Blue Tees Rainmaker is similar in size and in basic functionality to recently launched Shot Scope’s LM1. But the Rainmaker is powered by Doppler radar technology that tracks more than 20 metrics (including spin), which puts this device in a unique space.

The Blue Tees Rainmaker is about the size of an iPad with a 4.3-inch LCD screen, it can be used indoors and outdoors and will let users know their metrics in real-time without having to immediately open the accompanying smartphone app. Not bad!

Aerobag

I won’t count how many cyclists I know who have been hit by a car and suffered severe injuries, thus his safety solution is definitely needed. Aerobag has been engineered to help maximise the safety without compromising performance.

The system utilizes a series of nine motion sensors to continuously scan the wearer and deploy the airbag system in the event that a crash is detected. The Aerobag system will inflate a network of tubes routed through modified straps on a cyclists's bib shorts, which are rated to offer protection for the neck, spin, hips and chest.

House of SportsShoes

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SportsShoes.com is opening in March 2026 a 5,000 sq ft experiential flagship, House of SportsShoes, on London’s Shoreditch High Street to bring its digital-first brand into the physical world.

The store will deliver an online ecosystem within a physical setting, offering a “no-bags-no-hassle” model where customers try products in-store and receive next-day home delivery.

Their dedicated Running Lab is planned to provide gait analysis, performance insights and expert product recommendations for runners. This concept reminds me of the polish retailer Sklep Biegacza, where athletes can rent shoes free of charge for up to 4 days and test them in-store on a treadmill.

Rally Orbital Massager

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The Rally Orbital Massager is a handheld personal care device that utilizes a rotating orbital motion rather than percussive vibration to deliver muscle therapy. Mainly for recovery and mobility support, it operates at variable speeds with a notably low noise output.

The tool includes three interchangeable attachments: The Flat, The Peak and The Echo that mimic different manual therapy techniques like broad pressure, targeted trigger point work and fluid motion.

Apex Cool Labs Narwhals

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This could be a great solution for F1 drivers. Stanford biologists have called palm cooling “better than steroids” for its ability to lower core temperature and ease muscle fatigue among athletes.

The handheld devices use copper tubes to draw heat from the palms, one of the few areas where blood vessels connect directly between arteries and veins. The method is more convenient than full-body submersion in ice water. Very interesting innovation, giving some space for future development of sports gloves and hats for the athletes.