RUNGRL Takes UA Pursuit: Flow Synchronicity Shoe Launch
by Nicole Lockhart, Contributor; Dominique Burton + Natalie Robinson , RUNGRL co-founders
For 25-plus years, Under Armour has continued to find ways to put the needs of athletes at the helm of their brand. Across the sporting world, their mission is to make all athletes better through science, passion and the relentless pursuit of innovation. It's one of many reasons why we were thrilled to experience their synergy up close and personal this past weekend.
This June, UA is releasing a shoe uniquely designed by women for women: the Flow Synchronicity. To launch this exciting new product, RUNGRL's Dominique Burton and Natalie Robinson joined Under Armour's UA Pursuit: Run event to get a first look. Curated for women, this exclusive event brought together expert-led and informative panels and training sessions for the attendees to test the sneaker ahead of its launch,
The two-day event took place in New York City's Meatpacking District, where RUNGRL co-founders Dominique and Natalie received a bespoke welcome package from the Run FAM at UA. The kit included full UA looks for two days of wear, plus sleepwear, Supergoop sunscreen, BLK Alkaline Water, a gym bag with a travel case, and a pair of the soon-to-be-released Flow Synchronicity sneakers. We're here for it.
During an "All-Out Run," attendees were led on a 1-mile speed sesh, putting the latest UA creation to test on the road while striving to run a personal best. Along the Westside Highway, the shoe held up against the hot summer day, thanks to its breathable knit upper structure that also makes the sneaker slim-fitted and less bulky on top. We'll go ahead and say that the Flow Synchronicity passes our wear test and is most recommended for runners who value form, speed, and rhythm. UA added thoughtful touches to the lightweight shoe that provide support to your arch while cupping your heel for maximum comfort.
Post-run, guests practiced breath work with Mike Watts, UA's Director of Global Athlete Performance. The evening concluded with a 'No-shower Happy Hour' in the Recovery Zone, which offered runners light bites, UA specialty cocktails, and tunes spun by a DJ.
UA Spokespersons and product experts Blake Simpson, Helen Woo, and Katie Lau held a panel to talk about what makes the Flow Synchronicity so unique.
"Lots of innovation, time, and studying of women's feet went into the new Flow Synchronicity shoe," they said.
On day one of the UA: Pursuit event, Natalie and Dominique were greeted by the VP of design for the Flow Synchronicity, Meagan Baker, who noted that most shoes are made with a man's foot in mind first (and are often crafted by male footwear designers). Using their signature UA Flow technology, she spearheaded this team and made sure that the shoe was light on the foot, helping women run even faster without losing the necessary cushion or traction for intense workouts.
Our very own RUNGRLs reported this shoe gave precisely what it promises in performance, wearability, and style. If a run flowed smoothly through the streets of New York City—the shoe is doing what it's supposed to do.
Dominique and Natalie's New York City experience continued with guest speakers that empowered the women in attendance to take control of their training. Dr. Carrie Jones, integrative functional medicine doctor, and Natasha Hastings, two-time Olympic gold medalist in Track and Field, spoke to the audience about Training The Female Body. They championed a woman's ability to use her menstrual cycle as a superpower. For female athletes, they stressed the importance of tracking your periods, understanding your hormones, and outlined how working out changes during your period..
"Take the information and prepare yourself for it," Hastings said. She found it helpful to track her cycles and build her Olympic training with mindfulness around it.
UA Athletes and influencers speak on a panel. From left to right: Courtney Thompson, Natasha Hastings, Alex Aust, Monica Jones, Victoria Brown, Emily Abbate. Photo: Natalie Robinson for RUNGRL
When it comes to training the mind, the female athlete is no less competitive than her male counterpart. In a session about 'The Competitive Mind of the Female Athlete,' UA Athlete and All-American Lacrosse player Alex Aust says that self-reflection is the magic to our growth. We agree that runners can learn a lot from their past performance. If you have a team around you, Aust says it's important to vocalize that you trust your team and that together you can achieve peak performance. This panel also emphasized the power of our minds over our bodies.
"Find a purpose to serve, not a lifestyle to live," said Monica Jones, boxer and UA Athlete.
Thank you to our Run FAM at Under Armour for hosting a great event and continuing to innovate with passion through science. The Flow Synchronicity is available for purchase now. We can't wait to hear your stories about how this shoe improves your next run.
Visit underarmour.com to grab the Flow Synchronicity shoe for your next run.
Nicole Lockhart
Contributor
Nicole Lockhart is a writer and runner living in NYC. She’s run races in support of such organizations as the Black Lives Matter, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, and CaringKing: Athlete's to End Alzheimer's. Her writing often highlights the experience of the marginalized as the central progressors of society. Her first novel "Unadequate" was self-published in 2014. She is the writer and producer of "All My Black Sons," which debuted at the Harlem International Film Festival in 2016. She has contributed to pieces in Apartment Therapy, NY Mag, and Violet Summer Zine. Her current project, "The Interior Creatures," is a poetry collection written while in quarantine on a 100-year old Corona typewriter.