When the New Year rolls around, most of us are quick to draw up our fitness goals and set our sights on a new-and-improved self. Our sneakers take up residency by the front door and our fitness gear is laid out carefully the night before, all in an effort to see us out the door before the sun has even commenced its ascent skywards, all in an effort to remove the distractions and excuses that threaten to derail us from our fitness pursuits. But as the months accumulate on the calendar, the sidewalks become a little more empty, the gyms a little less crowded and it becomes clear that where some only ever make lofty goals to abandon them entirely, those who succeed live a mantra of hard work and consistency.
It’s not surprising then, that if you were to ask any seasoned professional or elite sportsmen just how they found success in their chosen field, they would tell you of the need to show up daily, give the training everything you have, and do so with consistency. Results don’t happen overnight, just like success isn’t instantaneous. Of course, it’s all easier said than done and when it comes to physical and mental strength, it takes determination and drive to work on these things daily because where motivation fails us, it’s discipline that comes out on top. For those who know what it is to live a lifestyle of relentless drive, you’d be hard pressed to find a greater opportunity to test your limits in the hope of achieving personal growth than Under Armour’s UA COMBINE.
The event presents the ultimate challenge, having become synonymous in the United States as a scouting competition where up-and-coming athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike can test their mettle against the benchmark required for certain professional leagues. For the uninitiated, UA COMBINE is open to athletes from any sport or training discipline, and incorporates tests covering a number of physical and mental disciplines designed by Under Armour’s Global Head of Athlete performance, Michael Watts, and four-time winner of ‘Australia’s Fittest Man’ title, James Newbury.
Over the course of eight tests, athletes will be required to test their strength with a 3RM bench press, their speed with a 40 yard dash, their vertical with a standing vertical leap, their power with a 20m sled push, their agility with an arrowhead change-of-direction speed test, their cognition with a reaction inhibition test, their stamina with strict pull-ups for reps, and their endurance with a 20m multistage fitness test.
All of this comes together to create an event that is a unique opportunity to challenge yourself, both physically and mentally. If all that wasn’t enough, there’s also the competitive aspect, which will see participants go head-to-head with 300 other athletes – 150 males and 150 females – in your own country. Cash prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place athletes in both the Men’s and Women’s division, with the winner receiving $5,000, second place pocketing $2,500 and third, $1,000 respectively.
Naturally, when you’re going to engage in a competition as demanding as this one, attention must turn to apparel and given that Under Armour are at the forefront of innovative design and technology that fuses style and functionality seamlessly, you can rest assured that they will have your outfitted with only the best. Those who register for the event will be provided with a head-to-toe Under Armour competitor kit to wear for the event.
UA COMBINE will head to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, while participants Down Under can await the competition arriving at Jenko Pavilion and the Stables in Sydney on September 17. As many begin counting down the days until the big opportunity to compete like a champion, it presents an opportunity to once again reflect back on those goals made at the start of the year and see just how much progress has been made in the interim. For those looking for some guidance in the lead up to the competition, training plans are available and cover everything from mobility and endurance, to strength and recovery, allowing you to train smart and ensure you peak come competition day.
For more details regarding registration and training place for UA COMBINE, visit the official website here. Good luck!
