Running is easy.
Triathlons are fun.
When you sit down with athletes who are more than willing to open up about how both disciplines have transformed their lives, these phrases will automatically come out. It might not be an instant hit or a resounding “yes” to the listener, but it’ll make them think long and hard.
Fitness has become more than a fad in the Philippines in recent years. It has grown into a lifestyle, with people from all walks of life waking up to a new dawn. Instead of just lounging around and waiting for mom or hubby to call them when breakfast’s ready, they are now lacing their sneakers, swimming laps, or cycling towards that Instagrammable coffee spot up in the mountains.
Adding to the hype is the bevy of fitness apps, wearable technology, and online training programs that help them become the best version of themselves. Some require the bare minimum: a smartphone, a cheap smartwatch that can detect movement, while others come with five-digit price tags (secondhand devices come in a dime a dozen on Marketplace, but it can still be quite expensive) and a box full of features to boot.
There’s no prejudice here, though. For one, they’re made to guide anyone from greenhorns to record holders to improve their performance, go from fit to fitter, and for those proud social media posts.
Fitness apps require little or no tweaking or special knowledge to navigate. They’re easy to use, readily available to download, and have the basic necessities to motivate Filipinos to embrace an active lifestyle: basic training plans, real-time tracking, and personal coaching.
These apps also have the many benefits of an inclusive plan for runners and aspiring triathletes. Performance metrics such as pace, distance, heart rates, and elevation gain, among others, are displayed. This monitoring feature allows athletes to adjust their training or compare them with a buddy for some bragging rights on the side.
Fitness apps are connected to a user’s social media accounts as well. Aside from security, this gives them the ability to immediately share their milestones, join or discover groups, participate in virtual races and challenges, and so much more.
Complementing fitness apps are wearable devices like Smartwatches and fitness trackers. This is probably the next step for a budding athlete to consider in terms of training, monitoring, and even going the distance to check if they’ve slept more than their usual routine.
But for the serious fitness buff, wearables are all about data and performance. Most, if not all, are serious when it comes to the numbers that see on their display: a spike in their normal heart rate will make them slow down a bit; going too fast or too slow will make the gadget vibrate; and of course, GPS is their go-to for trail runs, new bike routes, and open water swims.
Online training programs, especially those that are free, are the icing on the cake and the final inclusion for the athlete-in-the-making.
It’s a blessing that people offer their services for free since not all have direct access to a coach. Bless their souls.
Online Training Programs: Personalized Coaching From Anywhere
Overall, fitness apps, wearables, and free online training programs are breakthroughs that do wonders to what is now the fitness revolution in the Philippines. It’s not a necessity, but it’s good to have one.
