Go All Out with Under Armour

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Run Your Fastest Mile Thanks to Luke Mathews

Editor’s note: This feature is brought to you by Under Armour’s All Out Mile and their new Flow Velociti Wind 2 running shoe.



In celebration of Under Armour’s All Out Mile challenge, Olympian Luke Mathews shares his tips for running your best mile.

Under Armour have announced their new initiative aimed at getting people moving this Global Running Day: the Under Armour All Out Mile. The event provides runners of all abilities the opportunity to push their limits and log their fastest mile.

But before you explode off the start line, let us give you the down low on what it’s all about, as well as some expert tips from Olympian Luke Mathews. Let’s go!

The All Out Mile runs June 1–5 in celebration of Global Running Day on June 1. Over the five-day period, runners from all over the world are invited to take part and log their fastest mile via the UA MapMyRun app for a chance to get themselves on the global leaderboard and win some big prizes.

The three fastest men and women from South Asia and the Pacific (that includes us Aussies) will win $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively, plus some brand new Under Armour running kit. And if you register as part of a team you’re qualified for the “Most Milers” prize: The team with the most participants to run the All Out Mile will win a $10,000 donation to the youth sports charity of their choice. Love that.

If you’re thinking about it, sign up today and you’ll get free access to a suite of training resources to help you not only run a quick mile but also get more out of your training each and every day.

And if you’re lucky enough to be in Sydney on June 1 you can head along to the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground for the Under Armour live event. It’s happening 5–9pm and will feature music and live entertainment – maybe the vibes will give you that last little push you need to set a new fastest time.

“The mile requires a mix of both speed and endurance: you need to have fast turnover, but at the same time it’s too far to sprint.”

Riley Wolff

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Speaking of vibes, we’re getting big ones from the new Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 that dropped recently. You might remember the original UA Flow Velociti Wind – we had some Melbourne runners put it through its paces last year when it dropped, and Under Armour have made some refinements for version two.

At first glance, this new version looks very similar to the original but there are some subtle but important updates, the first being around the heel. While the upper retains the WARP technology for targeted lockdown, the heel area gets a new “Tatami Stitch” heel construction that’s designed to stabilise the Achilles and lock down the heel. One of the major causes of Achilles pain in runners is shoes that don’t provide heel stability, meaning the tendon has to do too much work and therefore gets irritated.

The WARP upper on the UA Flow Velociti Wind 2 otherwise offers similar fit characteristics to the first model, resulting in a good lockdown and a secure fit.

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The biggest adjustment for people getting into the first version of the UA Flow Velociti Wind was the ride: it offered a firm, responsive run, which is common for fast shoes but definitely takes some adjustment if you’re coming from a carbon-plated high-stack shoe. Under Armour have tweaked its insole – now with a moulded EVA sockliner, it’s a cool solution. Rather than increase the foam or compromise the performance of the shoe, they’ve added comfort inside the footbed. I’m into it.

Finally, in an era where competition is tight and everything counts, Under Armour have managed to strip out a few grams from the shoe, not that it was ever heavy to begin with.

I don’t know why I’m telling you about the shoe – why don’t I just ask Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Luke Mathews to let you know how he wears it?

The UA Flow Velociti Wind Wind 2s are super light and responsive … I use them for tempo sessions or even a long jog – they’re incredibly versatile. The shoe for everything.

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Now, let’s get into those mile tips I promised you earlier. There are very few people better equipped to give you pointers on the mile than Mathews. You see, the mile requires a mix of both speed and endurance: you need to have fast turnover, but at the same time it’s too far to sprint. Luke’s speed is well documented; it’s what helped him win bronze in the 800m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. And endurance? He’s got that, too: best on display when he won the national title in the 1,500m in 2019. And, while injuries have temporarily sidelined him, he hasn’t forgotten what it takes to run fast and win races.

It’s best to simplify the mile into three stages: beginning, middle and end.

Beginning: “Get out hard!”

I think that getting out hard can be taken for granted. Use the first 50m to explode out of the blocks. You won’t run at that pace for the whole race, but it gives you a great opportunity in finding the best position in the race. Olympics, World Championships, or any major race, are often won by the athlete in the best position.

Middle: “Relax!”

Once you get into your desired position, it’s time to relax. Be aware of what’s happening around you and have an understanding that a mile is actually quite a long race. Conserve as much energy as possible, without going backwards.

End: “Kick hard!”

Make a decision before the race of where you want to ‘kick’. It might be 200m out, or 50m out, or it might even be when someone else makes a move. Whatever that moment is, go hard, back yourself and don’t look back.

Running is a simple sport. We often complicate it. Get out hard, relax, then kick hard home. Simple.

So, there you have it. You now have everything you need to run your All Out Mile on June 1, and maybe even some secret tips to beat your mates, courtesy of Luke Mathews. Head to uaalloutmile.com to learn more and sign up today.

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