I
magine changing the way we think of
performance apparel as not just the
clothes you run in, but also providing a
competitive advantage. This is what Under
Armour’s rush line strives to deliver. “We
have created a responsive textile with infrared
technology that improves oxygen flow and
circulation, while recycling your body’s
energy,” says Dan Leraris, general manager
of men’s training at Under Armour.
The theory is that by capitalizing on the
notion that our bodies emit 110 watts of
energy every second, rush’s clot hing mater ia lwill harnesses this energy and transfer it to
your natural thermal pack.
Under Armour, in partnership with Los
Angeles-based tech company Hologenix,
“sourced from the earth a combination of
about 13 naturally produced thermo-reactive
minerals called far infrared rays,” Leraris
explains. The minerals are infused seam-
lessly into the yarn and knitted into the
material. “As your body exerts energy in the
form of heat, it interacts with the minerals
and converts them into infrared rays, which
will increase the blood oxygen f low and“Smart” Clothing for
Distance Athletes
Under Armour strives to embed a competitive
edge in their new apparel linere-emit it back into your body,” Leraris says.
“This recycled energy will help increase
circulation, promoting energy and recovery
by increasing blood oxygen f low, which is
key to athletic performance.”
When it comes to the psychology of
having a competitive edge, “athletes are
always looking for small things that will
help them improve,” says P rofessor Penny
Werthner, dean of the faculty of kinesiology
at the University of Calgary and a sports
psychology expert who works with elite
Canadian athletes. “Belief in one’s prepara-
tion and equipment can help an athlete be in
an optimal state,” she says.
Georgia Ellenwood, a Canadian heptath-
lete who is sponsored by Under Armour,
agrees with Werthner. “Staying focused is
probably the hardest part. Even if I get one
thing right, there is always something else.
If you don’t get that one per cent better, that
could be the difference between you coming
fourth or getting a medal.”
Although some may question the results
of infrared technology in responsive clothing,
the U. S. Food and Drug Administration has
classified Celliant (a brand-name synthetic
polymer bi-component fibre) as a medical
device and general wellness product. Armed
with nine clinical trials conducted by experts
in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry
and medicine, the testing provided encour-
aging results.
Dr. Darren Stefanyshyn, a professor in the
Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of
Calgary, conducted research on a group of
cyclists to measure the inf luence of Celliant
on athlete performance. “By comparing
the results of those wearing clothing with
infrared fabric versus regular fabric, we
found a small reduction in oxygen consump-
tion,” says Stefanyshyn. This means cyclists
were pedalling at the same power but with
less effort when wearing the mineral-infused
clothing, which could factor in a distance
at hlete’s success in event s such as a ma r at hon
or an Ironman.
Leraris is quick to point out, “You’re not
going to run your PB by wearing rush. You
still have to do the work, the training, etc.,
all the things that contribute to you being a
good runner, but over time, this will give you
an advantage that some athletes don’t have.
It’s about those incremental gains.”
“Performance is most certainly linked to
one’s level of confidence,” Werthner says.
Imagine that feeling when you put something
on and you feel superhuman. That’s what
Under Armour’s rush is counting on.”Marylene Vestergom is a writer and marketing
professional based in the Greater Toronto Area.By Marylene VestergomGeorgia Ellenwood
running in Under
Armour Rush apparel30 Canadian Running September & October 2019, Volume 12, Issue 6bodywork
lab ratBriceFerre