Under Armour Echo SlipSpeed

This is the shoe I am thoroughly enjoying right now. Under Armour rides that comfy space where it is performance gear but can also double up as part of your slick urban look (e.g. paired with jeans), a versatility that not many brands can exude. The UA Echo SlipSpeed is a cushy runner which will see you through many hundreds of training miles without breaking a sweat. Then comes its USP – the fact that its heel can be pushed down to transform it into a mule, instantly turning it from a snug-fitting trainer into an easy, around-the-city slip-on. I have been putting the ‘Expedition Green and Black’ colourway through the grind, and so far it is holding steady, no matter how much constant stress I expose it to and unlike the lighter hued versions, it camouflages dirt well. 

Smartwear

If you don’t record it or don’t post it on social media for bragging rights, did the workout really happen? Outside of this reason, there are other motives to log your workout data, and no, I don’t mean what your Apple watch throws up, that’s too basic. I would rather recommend a device from Garmin, Coros, or Suunto. They come in a range of prices and can log hundreds of exercises. To be honest, though, they are best for triathlons or activities of a similar nature, like swimming, cycling, and running. Some specific models have enhanced features for mapping or tracking waves and can thus also handle golf, surfing, skiing, and trail running, but basically, as long as you are displacing yourself, these watches log data better than when you do static workouts like weightlifting, pilates, yoga, or similar. Amazfit is a great budget option in both watch and band formats, which competes with other (pricier) bands from Polar and Whoop. As for rings, I’d wait for a few more iterations before recommending them as reliable workout logging devices. All of them keep the data and then process it (much better now with AI) to gauge your fitness levels and to help you build from there. The best form of training is consistent and keeps you injury-free, and logging workouts is a great way to achieve that. 

Online Training Memberships

With AQIs higher than our GDP, the best thing to do is train indoors. Yes, it’s monotonous, mundane, boring, and excruciatingly agonising—running on a treadmill, cycling on static bikes, or rowing with no water below—maybe that’s why a home gym is often called the ‘Pain Cave’. Well, it won’t be the same as the outdoors, but getting a membership to an online training platform, especially one with visual stimuli, can be somewhat of a saviour. Zwift, Rouvy, FulGaz (mostly for cycling, but Zwift is for running too), and EXR for rowing can help simulate outdoors-like conditions, especially when paired with smart trainers/treadmills/rowers. The result is that you feel as if you were actually executing the activity in the open with real-time ‘feels’ for when you go up an incline or zip down a slope. It’s more tuned in for cyclists, but runners can train on it too. The various programs can also groom you for your next race, anything from a 5k to a marathon. Access also connects you to a community where you can interact (or run or ride) with other enthusiasts from around the world. Most such apps cost upwards of USD100 annually, but all offer some free trials so you can see which one you like best. I use Zwift because a single membership allows me to run and ride. I highly recommend getting on one of these platforms as an alternative to gaining 5 minutes of longevity from a workout, only to lose almost 12 years by spending all that time outdoors in bad air.

Protein

For the longest time, I was wary about using protein powders, and even now, I am trading cautiously and slowly. I still prefer to get my protein the old-fashioned way—from natural food sources—but with each passing year, the requirement grows, and there is only so much one can consume. Protein powders, whether animal or dairy-sourced (whey) or plant/vegan (pea, soy, pumpkin seeds, among others), can help make up the daily quota. We need protein not just to build bulging muscles but even for basic upkeep of the body, from muscles and bones to cartilage, hair and nails to even our skin, all need protein to regenerate and grow. When one starts working out, the new muscles need ever more protein to build, or else the workouts just leave one looking drained and shrivelled from all the excess workload. 

Collagen

 Inasmuch as there is proof about protein intake being beneficial, collagen intake is a tricky one. For one, there are three types, and most products on the market focus on the variant supposedly enhancing skin quality, although there is much debate about whether our bodies can even absorb it and, after digestion, whether enough is left to actually benefit us. The same applies to Type II collagen, which is most beneficial for cartilage and bones. There are many brands touting innumerable benefits that just fall short of saying they can turn one into a superhuman Adonis. I would recommend: Ace Blend, Well-Being Nutrition, Your Healthy Life, Be. (a bit fishy) and for bones and cartilage, Tendocare Forte. I believe I benefited from that last one after a brutal ski injury, but I don’t really know if it was that or my body healing slowly, which led to recovery. Either way, if you want to try one of these, consult a professional medical doctor before proceeding. 

Hydrogen Rich Water

I don’t know how much you know about water, but it’s been around a really long time,and we humans, well, we need it a lot. Okay, you knew that, but do you also know about water infused with hydrogen molecules? Hydrogen Rich Water or HRW is the new pheno-mick (phenomenon-gimmick fusion), and I say that because the long-term mass-group studies are still underway. I tried it firsthand, and I can say one thing–HRW doesn’t taste any different from regular water. But here is why you too should be curious to explore–in small studies, the results are only positive. Adivaaa, a local manufacturer, claims that HRW can help with quicker recovery post-workout, and that it is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It is also an anti-apoptotic,meaning it reduces the loss of healthy cells and can thus help enhance longevity. While large-scale and long-termtrials are still ongoing, the good news is that there is no downside to consuming HRW instead of regular water. The Adivaaa HydroBeast bottle makes HRW from regular water by infusing it with molecular hydrogen, and this supersaturated water can then replace your regular hydration. You have to keep it sealed tight; otherwise, the gas escapes, and it returns to its normal state. The sealed, sweatproof BPA-free Tritan bottle comes with two caps: one for everyday use and one for on-the-go.