innovation at the service of performance improvement – ​​Technical magazine of sport Sport Training

In Under Armour, the mission is to make athletes better by giving them the performance solutions they didn’t know they needed and now don’t want to live without. To deliver the best possible performance solutions, “we start by listening to our athletes and then we get to solving their problems, which we make our own.” Now that world records that seemed unbeatable keep falling, and with qualifying events increasingly close, the world of running has risen to another level of demand in terms of footwear.

That’s where Under Armor made its entry. “Our research indicated that what you experience underfoot, specifically in running, makes a fundamental difference in terms of performance, which means starting from the bottom up.” To give each stride greater purpose, efficiency, momentum, and acceleration, UA decided to break the mold with the development of a new marathon shoe: the UA Flow Velociti Elite. Featuring award-winning UA Flow technology, this revolutionary shoe is redefining what it means to be fast for professional athletes fighting to cross the finish line first during race season.

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Race day is going to pick up speed (and get better)

The Flow Velociti Elite Collection It is specific for marathon and is made up of sneakers in both neutral and vibrant colors, among which a new variant in bright green stands out. Designed to rival the top competitors in this arena, the Flow Velociti Elite is great for runners who need a competition shoe that balances flexibility and cushioning. Every stride in the Velociti Elite is amplified by a full-length carbon fiber plate encapsulated in a soft foam midsole that compresses and acts like a spring, providing additional lift and energy return: the combination of both allows explosive takeoffs. Integrated dynamic WARP 2.0 upper offers increased breathability and lightweight containment, and Flow foam is extremely critical, creating a lighter shoe with a fluid ride. The Flow Velociti Elite also has a TPE insole that increases the resilience and rebound of each step.

“At UA we’re hyper-focused on creating the best shoe possible, which is why we never stop advancing.” They analyze everything endlessly, from the density of the foam to the overlapping of layers, passing through the choice of materials. Even the choice of laces and eyelets was factored in – not just for weight issues, but also to eliminate distractions and minimize friction. Thanks to their obsession with details, UA has created a shoe that offers a perfect fit from the first moment the runner puts it on.

When UA creates a shoe that truly revolves around speed and explosiveness, every design element—material, logo, and color—has to inspire and ooze speed. Color undoubtedly plays an essential role. “At UA athletes tell us very often that they like to train wearing more neutral or more understated colours, but on race day – with adrenaline running high and energy soaring – they want something flashy, expressive and electrifying.” Establishing that separation between the training colors and the race colors is another ‘click’ in the brain that alerts athletes that it is time to perform at their best.

“The word that our athletes kept mentioning when referring to the Velociti Elite was safety. Self-confidence. Nothing to do with ego or arrogance, but with having the absolute confidence to place their feet on the starting blocks knowing that they had a crucial advantage». Douglas Smiley, Director of Product, Under Armor Competition Running Shoes.

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Designed by and for athletes

All athletes want to be completely confident in their kit. That’s why UA used feedback and suggestions from its North American pro running teams to understand their circumstances, test, and validate. Professional Dark Sky Distance, Baltimore 800m, and Baltimore Distance runners, collectively known as the UA Mission Run, were an integral part of the wear-testing process from the beginning, wearing the shoes for their most important races and training sessions, offering a valuable feedback on the fly as the team created and modified working prototypes.

“While we created and modified, we were able to test the working prototypes live and direct, during the competition races, with the idea of ​​validating and receiving more comments and suggestions from the athletes. The general feedback was that we had created something special and unique, and that we had hit the nail on the head in our quest to deliver an explosive solution for race day in the marathon distance.”. Douglas Smiley, Director of Product, Under Armor Competition Running Shoes.

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Under Armor prides itself on providing athletes with the tools they need to perform at their absolute best – turning a good season into a career-defining season. Turning a great race into a life changing experience. Sharon Lokedi had a monumental run this fall, winning the New York City Marathon with the UA Flow Velociti Elite. He managed to give one of the biggest surprises in the history of the New York Marathon, winning it in his first participation with a time of 2:23:23. Pressure is a privilege, and the UA product team has managed to provide athletes with a solution that puts them in the best possible position to win. UA’s mission – to listen to athletes and make the changes necessary to solve their problems – was what kept the team focused on their goal when creating this winning shoe.

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Technical data (measurements taken by Sportraining on a US size 10):

• Midsole height in the heel area: 35mm.
• Midsole height in the metatarsal area: 27mm.
• Rocker delantero: 35mm.
• Midsole width in the metatarsal area: 117mm.
• Anchura upper metatarsal area: 105mm.
• Midsole/upper width differential in metatarsus: 12mm.
• Width midsole heel area: 77mm.
• Width upper heel area: 62mm.
• Midsole/upper width differential in heel: 15mm.
• Drop: 8mm.
• Weight: 210g.
• Plantilla: 4mm TPE (extractable).

Without a doubt, the Under Armor Flow Velociti Elite are shoes that have surprised us all due to the great performance they offer. Very fast, very reactive, very comfortable… what more could you ask for!

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???? More info at: www.underarmour.es

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