DECATHLON

When
she enrolled into the Singapore Sports School in 2011, Izlyn was a complete
beginner when it came to the fundamentals of track and field. She had taken it up
as a co-curricular activity in primary school out of interest where training
was relatively unstructured and dabbled in the “C” division inter-school track
and field nationals where she typically missed out on progressing from the
heats. A faithful decision to attend the admission trials – where she secured a
spot – marked a life changing moment that would mould and shape her into the
national athlete she is today over the next ten years.

The national 100m hurdle record holder, who currently studies and trains out of Singapore at the University of Georgia Southern has big plans - with her eyes set on a long-term training plan and progressive pathway that includes qualifying for the 2023 South-East Asian Games, Asian Indoor and World Indoor Games, and eventually the 2024 Olympic Games. Currently deep in the midst of a training block with her relay team preparing for the Commonwealth Games this month in Birmingham, we managed to catch our resident speedster during her break. Decked in her Decathlon training gear and brimming with excitement, our local ambassador shared with us that this will be her biggest outing in her sporting career to date as a national athlete.

Buzzing about the range and affordability of quality apparels available at Decathlon stores – she drew our attention to her favourite range - the KIPRUN collection.  As an athlete on a rigorous program, she loves apparels that are light, comfortable and breathable to accompany her on workouts. Her go-to top is the Kiprun Care Breathe Running T-shirt which she uses across all her different workouts be it strength and conditioning in the gym or hitting the tracks or roads for a sprint / endurance run. She pairs this with the Kiprun Running Shorts Tights (2-in-1) which offers full range of movement and a pair of built-in tights that helps prevent abrasions from long hours in the sun. Come race day she opts for tighter fitting tops such as the Kiprun Skincare Breathe Tank for speed as they hug the body snugly and avoid unnecessary movement restrictions during hurdling.

Aside from the fabric construction of the KIPRUN collection, she pointed out that for someone who usually prefers monotone colours, it was nice that the collection offered brightly lit / fluorescent colour options that allows her to shake her wardrobe up from time to time. Her personal favourite product is the Kalenji Jogflow 500K which she uses regularly during her endurance sessions. Blown away by how soft and light the shoes felt on her feet and the foot support it provided – she drew comparison to walking on clouds.

Knee
injuries due to hurdling have been one of Izyln’s biggest nemesis growing up
and to her astonishment, many runners also deal with the same issue. The root
problem she discovered, was that she was not using her glutes and hamstring to
execute her runs. This meant that most of the loading impact goes through the
knees, subsequently leading to injuries over time. To effectively activate the
core muscles and get them firing right – Izlyn recommends drills such as the A
skips and B skips which promotes the activation of the glutes, hamstrings, and
widens the range of movement of the hips. An important conditioning phase to
relieve significant load from the knees.

She
also pointed out how important it is for runners to do a pre and post workout
stretch routine. Many runners believe in warming up the body before working out
which will definitely help prepare the body for the workout ahead, but neglect
the same effort into stretching out after a workout, leading to compounding
effects on the body in subsequent workouts. Personally, her own routine
includes dynamic stretches before the workout just to give the muscles the
ideal amount of elasticity it needs prior to hurdling. A comprehensive static
stretching routine is than done after the workout or during recovery/rest days
that includes foam rolling.

The
budding athlete is only just getting started and we’re excited to see where her
hardwork and positive attitude will take her as she represents our nation –
onwards to greater things!

Fresh from surpassing his personal best by three seconds on his first outing representing Team Singapore in the 1500m event at the 31^st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam – budding national track and field athlete and Decathlon Ambassador Ethan Yan was already back to his weekly training routine when we caught him for a quick chat. 

Ethan’s passion for running started at a young age when his parents would take him out for family runs and the occasional local race. It was no surprise that he eventually decided to join his primary school’s track and field team and subsequently went on to compete - and excel - at multiple Singapore National Schools Championships from primary three up to junior college, even representing the nation twice at the ASEAN School Games in 2018 and 2019. The rest is history.

He has always resonated with Decathlon on a personal level – appreciating the wide range of products Decathlon offers as well as the low barrier of entry to performance training equipment for athletes of all abilities and background.  As a competitive athlete, the training he undergoes weekly places immense stresses on his body - to avoid injuries and speed up post training recovery, the first product that he started using in 2018 was the Decathlon small massage ball - which helped him target and massage tight muscles or deep tissues from the upper back down to the feet, something a conventional foam roller would not be able to access. 

Ethan’s current strength and conditioning routine consists of basic weight exercises that include a variation of squats, lunges, and step ups done every Monday and Thursday evening after a hard interval session on the track. There is also a strong emphasis on body weight exercises such as push ups, planks, and sit-ups coupled with a hip muscle activation and strengthening routine that is diligently completed almost every day of the week. He is a huge fan of the DOMYOS fitness resistance bands and yoga mats that he uses on a regular basis during these routines – owing to the versatility of the triple band pack, which allows the user to gradually build up their strength and progress over time and is easy to pack in your workout bag to supplement pre / post run movements.

Training in Singapore’s hot and humid conditions is a major pain point for all endurance athletes residing here and this is no different for him. He generally leans to apparels and shoes that are comfortable to train or race in, with high priority placed on them being lightweight and breathable.   His choice of apparels are Kiprun Care Breathe Running T-Shirt and Kiprun Light+ Running Shorts while his choice of shoe is the KD800 – a light and responsive shoe build for speed and with a breathable upper. Whether it’s a speed interval session or hill repeats the shoe’s dynamic cushioning and excellent grip even at top speed thanks to the new sole geometry and rubber design makes it a very effective trainer. 

With his first SEA Games experience post pandemic under his sleeve, the eye-opening experience of rubbing shoulders with many professional athletes and top runners in the region whom he got to interact with and learn more from, about training and racing at the highest level – will certainly push him to greater heights as he continues to hone his craft.

Lacing up for the next triathlon or marathon and in search of some new training gear? 

You might want to check out the brand-new Decathlon KIPRUN equipment that recently hit the shelves. Not only do they look good, but rumour has it there’s plenty of free speed packed in as well.

KIPRUN is the French sports retailer’s core running brand – and while it isn’t a new name – this season’s product launch looks set to take the global running scene by storm, with exciting additions to its performance range. This refreshing change is driven by the Decathlon footwear industrial division that has committed countless hours into research and development to design the next generation of shoes based off feedback from hundreds of runners and engineers, all while staying true to their vision of making performance sports equipment available to the masses. 

We got a chance to try out some of the latest products and here are our top THREE draft picks:

Performance Trainer: Kiprun KS900

Enter the Kiprun KS900. Decathlon’s top-of-the-range road shoe designed to offer premium shock absorption, stability and comfort for dedicated runners looking for a lightweight trainer that can keep up with the mileage. 

The shock absorption for the Kiprun KS900 is guaranteed for 1,000 KM – a claim only possible with a unique midsole unit made from MFOAM - a new material constructed from a thick, ultrasoft honeycombed EVA foam. To optimize the microstructure of the foam and understand how it responds - more than 70 laboratory tests were completed in parallel with user trials during the duration of the project that saw countless cycles of prototyping and iteration. 

A point worth mentioning is the development of a special rubber outsole that is glued onto the impact areas across the forefoot and heel. This provided excellent balance between the durability of the sole and the grip it offers when we took it out in wet conditions or unforgiving terrain. A highly versatile shoe, the Kiprun KS900 certainly paves the way towards Decathlon’s vision of an unbreakable running shoe that runs forever. 

KS900 retails at $120.

Performance Racer: Kiprun KD800

Decathlon’s design teams have developed an ultra-lightweight and fast running shoe for runners of all abilities that doesn’t break the bank - specifically geared towards race outings and days where the goal is to run fast and challenge your limits. Whether you’re gunning for a personal best in the 5KM or half-marathon, this is your go to weapon!

Put through rigorous testing over thousands of kilometres under real-life race conditions ranging from shorter road races up to full marathons by the Kiprun team, the KD800 is a robust product birthed from the fusion of lightweight components and new technology such as the unique Pebax® up’bar technology that enhances energy return and supports the runner with observable rebound over each stride thanks to the denser EVA foam at the front.

The work that Decathlon has put into its research is evidently showing in their product iterations. With new software that allows the team to achieve parametric textures and patterns that allow the foam design to be refined to a very specific volume, the KD800 foam features texture and geometry that does not compromise grip and traction even with its lightweight construction.   

KD800 retails at $110. 

Kiprun GPS500 by COROS

The icing on the cake would be the Kiprun GPS500 – a product born from Decathlon’s latest collaboration with COROS to develop a multisport GPS watch that measures running, swimming, cycling and triathlon movement. With a super competitive price to performance ratio given the variety of training options and customization the watch offers; this new product is fast making a statement for itself.

Featuring a robust 25 hr battery life in GPS mode and 30 days in watch mode, the watch is also compatible with Bluetooth smart heart rate monitor belts and sensors. It can be fully integrated with the COROS application and synchronised with STRAVA to ensure key training session parameters (time, distance, pace, cadence, V02MAX, training load, heart rate etc.) are all logged and transferred seamlessly, making it a great watch for the new or seasoned multisport athlete looking for a trusty device to accompany them on their fitness journey. 

With such a refreshing new performance line-up, the future certainly looks bright for Decathlon!

Kiprun GPS500 retails at $200.

Shop online now for these picks at Decathlon.sg, or on the Decathlon App, with free delivery over $60!