Get up and Glow

C6 Tuesday, October 29, 2013 FITNESS & WELL-BEING PLAY LIKE A PRO GET UP AND ...................................... Lam Chih Bing [email protected] The deadlift is a very common exercise in workouts and it’s no surprise trainers put so much emphasis on it. It conditions the back, legs and even arms. It also strengthens your lower back, which is important for all golfers. In golf, posture and core strength are very important. The deadlift strengthens your postural muscles, which you need to use when GLOW addressing the ball. Remember, a good posture leads to more power and accuracy on the golf course. Part race, part street party, the Electric Run is one of a new wave of social sporting events that push the envelope on fun, writes Jeanette Wang An Electric Run in Indianapolis this month. A similar event planned for Hong Kong next year will feature a music and light show. 100 ou’ve probably heard course, but instead as a way to 20 to 30 (43 per cent) and 40 to example, was The approximate number of has of Hash House engage in a social experience 50 (46 per cent). Nearly one in launched on October Color Runs taking place this become Harriers and their with a group of friends. Most three respondents said they 11and has garnered year around the world hugely slogan, “A drinking participate [in MOB events] with encouraged at least five friends more than 5,000 likes successful, Step 1: Do a half squat with a straightened back and keep your club with a running friends and encourage others to to participate with them. without much growing from hands straight at all times. I have rubber bands on my weights Yproblem.” Recently, they have join in.” Two weekends ago, Kevin promotion. The Color about 50 runs last to provide more stability. been joined in the world of From 2011to 2012, McDonnell took part in a five- Run Hong Kong Facebook page year to more than 100 in at least simultaneous running and Active.com – home of the largest kilometre mud and obstacle race has more than 10,000 likes. 30 countries, including partying by another online endurance and race called The Major Series in This year, there were 32 Singapore and China. international group: ravers with community – saw an increase of Britain and says it’s interesting Electric Run events across the Guangzhou is set to launch its a running problem. 72 per cent in searches for MOB- how such events are attracting US and Australia. Next year, Hill run this weekend. Imagine thumping dance related events, Renouf says. many first-time racers. “It’s says there’ll be 70 events in 30 The five-kilometre event has music, flickering strobe lights, Active Network conducted a definitely helping people like me countries. For the US events, waves of people released every laser beams, glow-in-the-dark survey of MOB participants last who want a bit more to their they’ve partnered with 15 or 20 minutes. Participants sunglasses and thousands of year and found that the biggest race,” he says. DreamWorks animators, stage are splattered with colour at neon-clad bodies, dancing, reasons for joining such an event Such events, says Hill, have designers from Coachella (a US every kilometre, and when it’s gyrating and shimmying were the fun factor (86 per cent) been borne out of today’s music and arts festival) and over everyone looks like they through a five-kilometre fun run and because it was new and obsession with social media and other artists to create a one-of-a- have been tie-dyed. in the middle of the night. different (72 per cent). Most cater to what he terms “the kind experience. Renouf says fun runs are By March or April next year participants were women (58 GoPro generation”, referring to Participants are encouraged building a new base in the you could be part of the street per cent) and split among ages the popular high-definition to be a part of the show by running industry. The party that is Electric Run. CEO personal camera which people decorating themselves with glow competitive market is very small, and founder Dan Hill says use to film and broadcast their sticks, neon clothes, LEDs or while the base continues to they’re working on getting own sporting exploits. anything else their imagination expand. permits and finalising venues “People want to be a hero,” can come up with. All ages are “While there will always be a and event partners for the says Hill. “They don’t want to welcome and kids aged seven market for more traditional inaugural event in Hong Kong. Our participants spectate; they are really hungry and under run free. The fun endurance events for running, There will likely be two events on are more into for events where they can continues with a wild after- biking and swimming, we’re consecutive nights, he says, with participate in social and visual party. seeing a new audience enter the an estimated 40,000 music than ways.” The Hong Kong race will market that can eventually participants. running Social media has also been a feature all of Electric Run’s graduate to more traditional “I’m confident we’ll produce key driver of growth for these established stages, from endurance events,” says Renouf. Step 2: Slowly lift yourself up using the energy from your a show unlike anything [runners DAN HILL, FOUNDER AND CEO, ELECTRIC events. The Electric Run Hong “Electric Avenue” to “Rainbow Hill expects traditional races lower back. Remember not to bend your elbows or try lifting in Hong Kong] have seen,” says RUN Kong Facebook page, for Road”. Unique to the race will be to continue to grow as more the weight with your arms. Hill, who will be making his first a music playlist created by people are introduced to trip to Hong Kong next month. musicians from Hong Kong and running through fun events. It’s no mistake he calls it a elsewhere in Asia. However, he says expectations show and not a race. Electric Hill is not new to organising of what a race should be will be Run, says Hill, is a “world-class running events. In 2004 he higher. music and light show that also founded the Ragnar Relay Series, “In the past people cared happens to be a running event”. a 300-kilometre relay-style team mainly about a pretty course “We really try to push the race which has about 100,000 and if the race started on time. envelope in what a fun run could participants across 15 separate Now they want to be entertained be,” he says. events in the US. a little more, have better race T- The event is part of a new But Electric Run and other shirts and so on. The events that wave of fun runs termed MOB – fun runs – which are typically can meet that challenge are mud, obstacles, beer – events untimed and offer no rankings those which will do really well,” that are transforming the or prizes – are attracting more of says Hill. running world. The trend a lifestyle rather than running “That said, I don’t see includes events such as The crowd. anything changing for races like Color Run (also slated for Hong “What’s happening with the Hong Kong, Boston or Kong next year), zombie runs running is fascinating. It’s not London marathons. They’re and Tough Mudder. just runners any more, it’s institutions. If anything, their “We coined the term MOB to everyone,” says Hill. “Our participation base is going to describe events that are hyper participants are more into music keep growing.” social in nature and often team generally than running.” But can MOB events be based: mud runs, obstacle Travis Snyder had been a sustained once the novelty courses, adventure races and so competitive runner obsessed wears off? on,” explains Sam Renouf, Asia- with shaving seconds off his Renouf thinks they will Pacific general manager at times. He co-founded the Red evolve to meet participants’ Active Network, a company that Rock Relay in the US, which is demands, but the concept of Step 3: Stand straight and repeat steps one and two. manages online registration for similar to Hill’s Ragnar. providing a unique experience is Remember to focus your energy on the back. sports events and other But he realised there was a going to be around for a while. activities. need for non-competitive events “Experience is the new He says the Spartan Race, an for people to get fit and healthy luxury,” Hill says. Benefits: It gives you a more stable posture when you address the obstacle race which started in and have fun. He started “I think it’s a bit like a ball. A strong and stable spine generates more power in your swing. 2005 is believed to be the thinking of event ideas that Broadway play. Some events are Suggested reps: Do 10 reps for three sets. You can slowly increase pioneering MOB event. would appear less threatening to going to have more likes than the weights when you are more comfortable with this exercise. Lam “It’s all about the experience; the less active. others; some you do just once Chih Bing is a Singapore golf professional on the Asian Tour this audience isn’t concerned Runners are sprayed with dye during the Color Run (top); a zombie In January last year he started and you’re done.” about the scenic nature of a scares a participant in the Zombie Evacuation Race.

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