UltraBoost 19, District App Highlights Adidas Recode Running Festival

Posted On March 20, 2019

Adidas presented the newest edition of its beloved running shoe line, the Ultraboost 19, during the Adidas Recode Running Festival held last March 16 at the Late Night? Bar in BGC, Taguig.

Scores of runners and fitness enthusiasts, including Adidas runners Manila group, joined the event which was highlighted with the unveiling of the UB19.

Attendees also got to try the features of the District, an app which can help you explore and re-discover your urban running playground using augmented technology.

The Adidas Recode Running Festival is the brand’s way of celebrating the urban running culture through creative expression and tapping the local running community. The festival is a series of community-based events that includes talks, runs, after-parties, film showing and more.

“The Recode Running Festival is a great way for our runners to experience a redefined way of running with the Ultraboost 19. Along with our adidas Runners Manila core team, guests of the event were able to explore the city and test out the shoe’s capabilities through the different challenges and checkpoints,” said sports and brand communication manager Jen Dacasin.

Introducing the UltraBoost 19

Adidas also introduced the fresh new look of the beloved  Ultraboost for 2019. The responsive neutral running shoe remains as the most cushioned running sneakers from Adidas. While there have been a few changes from the original UltraBoost, first seen in 2015, it still retains the core elements such as style and comfort.

The most obvious change of the UB19 is the removal of the plastic heel counter where the Ultraboost logo was. It was replaced by a 3D Heel Frame which offers the same, if not better, stability. In doing so, however, the heel frame now overlaps with the midsole which is a bit awkward in terms of its looks.

Adidas also improved the performance of the shoes by adding 20-percent more Boost material in the midsole which it says provides more energy to the runner’s every step. Complimenting this feature is a new torsion-spring design that allows more efficient strides.

Meanwhile, the Primeknit upper still gives you that snug and comfortable fit. However, the new one-piece Primeknit 360 now has a thicker layer that makes it less stretchy, but with better support than its predecessor. The shoes weigh 310 grams or 10.9 ounces and have a 10 mm midsole drop.

Currently, it retails for Php 9,300 and is available in four color schemes for men and seven color schemes for women. You can purchase the UB19 at any adidas outlet and online thru this link – https://www.adidas.com.ph/running_ultraboost

The UltraBoost 19 was launched globally last February 21. Our complete review of this shoe is in this link – Adidas UltraBoost 19 Review

Rediscovering BGC Using District App

After a short program for the Adidas Recode Running Festival and the introduction of the UB 19, runners then get to try out the District app. Everyone was given an hour to go as many checkpoints and earn as many points as they could.

The District app uses augmented reality much like what Pokemon Go does. However, instead of catching pocket monsters, you can use it to navigate any urban area with a District hosts which serves as your starting point.

For this event, the Adidas running store in BGC was the center of a virtual map filled with checkpoints which runners must go or pass through to receive points. There are no set distances or routes and you have to create your own strategy to get as many points you want.

Some checkpoints have any of the three types of challenges:

Time Trial– which asks you to perform a certain task which in our case was a 70 to 100-meter sprint depending on the checkpoint.

Discovery– wherein you need to answer a question upon arriving at the checkpoint. A correct answer will get you full points, and a wrong answer will get you a lower score.

Scan– upon arriving at a particular checkpoint you are asked to scan a particular image, mostly artworks before you are awarded plenty of points.

The app was fun to use, especially if you are with a group trying to compete for the top spot of the leaderboard which is updated almost real-time. Plotting your path and making sure you don’t miss a checkpoint was both challenging and fun. While the course was limited to a small area within BGC, it was a great way to re-connect with the city while moving.

However, having your phone at your hand and checking it every now and then to make sure you’re heading the right direction can be a bit distracting. You have to be alert and observe your surroundings carefully to avoid colliding with people or objects while getting to your objective.

Your smartphone should also have Internet connectivity for this app to work and a good GPS signal for real-time updates.

You can download the District app in the Apple Store or Google Play.