Now, more than ever, casual runners are stepping up and pushing their boundaries through marathons, trails as well as other long-distance races. While their performance changes, so does the need for specialized footwear, and Under Armour has the answer.
Earlier this year, the sportswear brand unveiled the Infinite Elite under its new running range. Paying close attention to the requirements of endurance training, the performance shoe features a light and responsive foundation with a makeup of highly technical features. As runners make strides for new personal bests, it aims to take the focus away from the feet and to the finish line.
In a new Hypebeast-produced campaign, Under Armour invites three UK runners to test out the shoe on their typical inner-city running routes. Based in Manchester, Liverpool and London, they share a look at how they turn their environments into ultimate running circuits, swapping traditional race tracks for winding roads and uphill paths. As they put the Infinite Elite through the paces of their city routes, the campaign captures their approach to pushing their limits against the hotspots that keep them on their toes.
Hermen Dange
“Manchester is the ultimate running playground because you feel like you can take over the city,” says long-distance runner Hermen Dange who opens the series in his hometown. Like a typical day of training with his run club Made Running, the runner makes a beeline for the busiest areas like Gay Village and Piccadilly Gardens, showcasing how he embraces his city with open arms, rain or shine. As he pounds the pavements, “bringing the sound” to Market Street, Dange’s strides motivate him to take on the uphill stretch with grit and willpower. “Runners create the atmosphere, we bring the vibe to Manchester,” he expresses.
After pushing his stamina, he slows down his pace and ends his run in the lively Northern Quarter neighborhood. Here, he takes a moment to reflect on his running journey next to one of his favorite landmarks. “Every time I get a personal best, it makes me feel better, physically and mentally like I’ve just received a gold medal,” he explains. “I’m very competitive so as long as my feet are happy, the results will be even happier.”
Rubi Deschamps
From one northern English city to another, Rubi Deschamps shares a look into her run around Liverpool. “This is where I’ve grown up, it’s a place where I’ll pass by people that I know,” she says. Her go-to route is punctuated with cultural monuments such as Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane as well as local parks that bring back memories from her youth. Since Deschamps has been recovering from an injury, she has been seeking out the right shoes that give her the added support she needs to revisit these areas and “connect with her local community.”
Not only a nostalgia trip, but the route also poses a variety of challenges, particularly the runner’s final stop at Mossley Hill Field – the place where she first began athletics training. “I can almost feel the challenges of the hill just by looking at it,” she explains looking out at the task at hand. Launching herself upwards, the runner reaches the peak in less time than anticipated, finishing her run with a sense of euphoria, she says, “When I get to the top and overlook the city, I have this feeling of accomplishment – it’s an amazing feeling.”
Yaz Johnson
Heading down to the capital to round off the series, the visuals see part-time stylist and runner Yaz Johnson embark on a route that spirals from the markets on Brick Lane through to the skyscrapers on Liverpool Street. “I often do this route with my friends at 6 a.m.,” she says. Running through the city at the break of dawn isn’t for the fainthearted, but for Johnson, this small window of serenity as the city wakes up gives her a moment to reconnect with her inner thoughts. “You can zone into yourself and the rest of the world melts away,” she adds.
Amping up the energy, Johnson heads closer to central London where the cushioned silhouette comes in use through the commuter-filled zones. “When I’m running through the more busy parts of London, it feels exhilarating. You’ve got to weave in and out of people, being mindful not to be too disruptive,” she explains. Discussing her 10k races lined up next year as she ends her route with a cooldown on London Bridge, she looks down at her Infinite Elite and says, “They’re going to carry me through with no surprises.”
Stay tuned to Hypebeast to get a full run-down of how the running shoe performed in the respective city circuits.
To shop Under Armour Infinite Elite, head to the brand’s website or global stores now.