Under Armour in Running
I want to talk about a recent event in the world of running and the response to it that has left me a little angry ...
Recently, Under Armour has decided to enter the competitive side of running (they plan on making performance footwear and apparel) and are currently partnered with the media organization flocast.com. They are doing a new segment each week where they give an inside look into their production and some of the products we can expect to see from them. I think it is great that a company is doing this and showing the openness that they are to those of us who have been in the sport and care about where its heading.
Other people have not been so friendly. At the bottom of the page, there is a small space that allows the flocast user to leave comments on videos (while hiding in anonimity) and I have been shocked at the amount of negativity that can be found there about this company's entrance into the market. Some claim that it is simply a gimick and that they are only concerned with profit, others that they are only truly concerned with football and baseball and could never produce a good product, and some that have written them off even before they have started for other rediculous reasons.
For me, UA entering the Running market can only mean good things and progress. Sure, they may not have a proven product yet, but the bigger question is, are they committed to making one? Look what they HAVE done in football and baseball in such a short time-frame! They committed to making a top-of-the-line product and they threw recources behind it to ensure success. I have had the opportunity to speak with the UA Run Group and I assure you, they have that same committment towards running. Plus, you wouldn't tell a guy who runs 15:00 for 5k to stop running just because you don't think he will ever be a 13:00 5k guy would you?! We are a small sport and one that needs to be open and accepting, so if that is not who you are, then maybe YOU should leave the sport. I'd rather lose YOU than the 20 or so 15:00 guys you will push away. On top of that, who wouldn't want to see more competition (and more money) enter the Running Scene. I remind you that I was an economics major, and just as more good runners pushing each other produces better overall times, more competition in the market is going to produce better products and a greater investment into the sport we love so much.
Quit with all the hate folks and give them a chance to succeed. Constructive criticism is probably the best thing they can ask for right now and, if they listen closely, I know the running world will tell them exactly what it is they're looking for ... just check those comments below the videos! Who knows, maybe UA will even come out with something brand new that we haven't seen before and that all the haters hadn't thought of ...
Best of luck UA ... I'm a supporter!
Recently, Under Armour has decided to enter the competitive side of running (they plan on making performance footwear and apparel) and are currently partnered with the media organization flocast.com. They are doing a new segment each week where they give an inside look into their production and some of the products we can expect to see from them. I think it is great that a company is doing this and showing the openness that they are to those of us who have been in the sport and care about where its heading.
Other people have not been so friendly. At the bottom of the page, there is a small space that allows the flocast user to leave comments on videos (while hiding in anonimity) and I have been shocked at the amount of negativity that can be found there about this company's entrance into the market. Some claim that it is simply a gimick and that they are only concerned with profit, others that they are only truly concerned with football and baseball and could never produce a good product, and some that have written them off even before they have started for other rediculous reasons.
For me, UA entering the Running market can only mean good things and progress. Sure, they may not have a proven product yet, but the bigger question is, are they committed to making one? Look what they HAVE done in football and baseball in such a short time-frame! They committed to making a top-of-the-line product and they threw recources behind it to ensure success. I have had the opportunity to speak with the UA Run Group and I assure you, they have that same committment towards running. Plus, you wouldn't tell a guy who runs 15:00 for 5k to stop running just because you don't think he will ever be a 13:00 5k guy would you?! We are a small sport and one that needs to be open and accepting, so if that is not who you are, then maybe YOU should leave the sport. I'd rather lose YOU than the 20 or so 15:00 guys you will push away. On top of that, who wouldn't want to see more competition (and more money) enter the Running Scene. I remind you that I was an economics major, and just as more good runners pushing each other produces better overall times, more competition in the market is going to produce better products and a greater investment into the sport we love so much.
Quit with all the hate folks and give them a chance to succeed. Constructive criticism is probably the best thing they can ask for right now and, if they listen closely, I know the running world will tell them exactly what it is they're looking for ... just check those comments below the videos! Who knows, maybe UA will even come out with something brand new that we haven't seen before and that all the haters hadn't thought of ...
Best of luck UA ... I'm a supporter!
Darren, I absolutely agree with you and as a former business finance major I think that UA will help the sport tremendously. Some universities are already on board wearing their appearal such as UTSA. As far as the world of footwear is concerned Adidas and Nike have such a stronghold that I don't think any other brand will become as popular as them in our lifetime. Some brands have tried to do this such as Reebok, Aasics, and New Balance just to name a few and I don't want to say failed but just not have achieved the level of popularity that Nike and Adidas have. Another point I'd like to make is that some people just don't like change. They want to continue using a product that has worked for them and they stay loyal to it even through price increases. Take the Starbucks coffee company for example. They've steadily increased their prices in their stores all across the nation and continue to thrive. Me being a runner I like for others to get interested in the sport as well. I try my best to be seen running on easy distance days all over my area and at busy times in the day when I can. Maybe people who look on will want to get into running. I like to do most of my hard track workouts at a junior high school with a 400m track and let the younger kids get a glimpse of hard track sessions. What I think is wrong with the sport is that there arnt enough followers like you said. The largest market in running right now is marathons and half marathons and they really just arnt exciting to watch because, they are so long. With that said I feel that making track and field more popular is the key. Drawing in more sponsors such as UA who has recently jumped on board. Perhaps if UA, Brooks, Saucony, and Aasics to name a few more could afford to dump some money into track events and get help from celebritys they could start heading in the same direction as Adidas and Nike. Maybe none of what I just said really makes sense but that's how I feel about it. You professionals could consider getting yourselves out there and visible more often to the general public. I feel in our sport that advertising is the key to increased success and support financialy. Try to get on Lopez Tonight, Oprah, Rachel Ray's morning show, it doesn't matter. Just start getting more influence out there. TV is the most popular form of advertising. I've seen a number of athlete on shows similar to the one's I've mentioned and non were runners. Just somethin to think about. Sorry for such a long post but I had a lot to say.
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