PUMA Time: Sports Watches

Before the advent of GPS watches, i’ve been using ordinary chrono watches with digital readings for my runs and i find them still effective and very useful up to this day. When i’m on an ordinary, easy run and just want to meditate and enjoy the scenery, i don’t concern myself anymore with distance, calories burned, speed, pace or any of the gizmos that come with a performance GPS watch.

Even in races, a sports stop-watch will still give you an accurate finish time whether the distance given by the race organizers is accurate or not. I still see many runners using chronograph watches but don’t see them use it during start of races.

I am sometimes astounded when runners, after a race, complain about having to wait for their official times when they would have easily recorded theirs had they pressed the START button upon gun start and pushing the STOP button when crossing the finish line. If you did, voila! You just have recorded your race time. No need to wait for the results!

Nowadays, you can buy these digital sport watches in many stalls of malls, tiangges or ambulant vendors in busy streets for as low as P150.00-P300 a pop. But these are mostly of the counterfeit variety which may last from 2 months or up to 6 months, if you’re lucky. It’s still a good investment to buy original sports watches of reputable brands.

A tiangge watch store

Recently, at the Intercontinental Manila Hotel, i was invited to the launching of the PUMA collection of sports and casual watches which came in different styles, colors and function. The affair marked the introduction of the PUMA Faas watches which came in 2 models, the Faas 200 and 250.

The Faas, also named  after their running shoes and showcased by the fast Jamaican sprinters were introduced by the Global Senior Product Manager of PUMA, Jeremie Pannetier, Asia-Pacific Regional Sales Manager, Bill Young; L-Timestudio VP for Operations Reggie Serrano and the well-loved Sales & Marketing Manager, Judith Staples. Also present was the ever chummy Jeff Paulino, Sales Manager of Timestudio.

Also gracing the affair were four PUMA Watch models, two of them well-known local Kenyan runners, Jemuttai and Elliut.

Here are more details of the PUMA Faas watches as presented to us at the launch:

ABOUT PUMA TIME

PUMA TIME has taken a new approach regarding watches in order to meet the aspirations of its consumers. Our products represent modern designs for the wrist rather than technical devices that merely show the time. Every style perfectly combines the influence of sport, lifestyle and fashion under one creative umbrella. To reach the broad target audience of the PUMA brand, the collection is divided into 2 separate segments: ACTIVE and MOTORSPORT.

Part of the PUMA Watch Collection

Trend WATCH: ACTIVE – Time is really on our minds for 2012.  Time trials and time-winnings performances at the London Olympisc…Ancient Mayan calendar calling for all manner of potentialities…the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee…and it’s a leap year too.  But where to go, who to be with and what to wear nonetheless remain the big questions of our time!

With the Big Bosses of the PUMA Time series

Puma is pleased to present a range of sleek, sexy and sporty timepieces, each and every one calculated for maximum style and pure pleasure at competitive price points.  Our sleek silhouettes offer some of the thinnest, lightest and most easy-to-use timepieces on the market; reflecting our mission to create designs encompassing true style with freedom of use.

More of the PUMA styles

Great selection of watches (the cupcakes were good too!:))

FAAS 200 & 250

Faas’ signature design is inspired by the relaxed cool style of the world-class, record setting sprinters and runners from Jamaica.  Faas, which means “fast” in Jamaican, is a mere 9.6 mm thin, echoing the record-breaking 9.6 second 100 meter sprint, achieved at the Beijing Olympics.  It offers up key lap and sprint timing functions with an easy-to-read display.  The wristband design promotes breathability for ultimate comfort during your vigorous workout activities.

The Faas 200 for men & Faas 250 for women each come is a wide range of colorways ranging from nuanced neutrals to bright sportif pops, reflecting the emergence of the active sports look into must have style. Get one and get running!

Functions :

• 5 Operation modes : Normal Time, Chronograph, Alarm, Dual Time and Timer
• 1/100 Second Chronograph
• 100 Lap memory for split and lap time measurement
• Timer with countdown stop, countdown repeat and countdown up functions
• Normal Time : Hours, Minutes, Date & Weekday
• Dual Daily Alarms
• Dual Time
• 12/24 Hour Display format
• Auto-calendar
• Electrolight (EL) backlight
• Faas 200 – 38mm case size
• Faas 250 – 44mm case size
• SRP P2,850.00

(Press Release)

FAAS 200

Faas 250

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Puma watches are available at the Puma Time Kiosk in SM Megamall, Timegear and L Timestudio boutique.

Co-bloggers during launching of the Puma Time series

The Puma watch with my Adidas shirt looks good!:)

With Alfred, Patrick, Ivica, Mars, Cheryll and moi

Fooling around with Ivy and Cheryll before the launch

Nathan Water Bottle: It’s All In The Hands

Nathan Quick Draw Plus

BACKGROUNDER:

Hand-held Hydration Water Bottle

• Moisture-wicking, adjustable Airmesh hand strap
• 22 oz. (650 mL) Hydration Bottle with Clipless Cap
• Dimensional zippered pocket
• Incorporated, waterproof I.D./medical emergency card
• Reflective detail
• Weight: 4 oz

I’ve been using Nathan’s Speed 2 hydration belts for more than 3 years now and find it very convenient on long runs and races. I really dread those races that do not supply adequate hydration specially during the last few kilometers when all you see are just empty cups on tables, no cups at all or when water is far and few in between. Ugh!

Belt-type, the Speed 2

In marathons, it comes as a security of not worrying too much if enough fluids are provided and it’s a relief knowing that you have water at your disposal to get you by all throughout the race.

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I recently got hold (pun intended) of Nathan’s hand held version, the Quick Draw Plus and it carries about 22 ounces of liquids, which is more than what the Speed 2 can carry. If you’re not used to holding a bottle of water while running, this may be quite annoying and cumbersome at first which will take time to get used to. But once you get the hang of it, it’s not that bothersome at all.

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What’s nice about the Quick draw plus is its elastic hand strap which is really snug and secures your hand around the bottle without slipping off it. The strap is adjustable, conforms with the size of your hands and eliminates tension on the hand or finger muscles while gripping it. The strap comes with a mini-pouch which can hold your keys, gels, some cash or a small cellfone.

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For runners trying out this hand-held water bottle for the first time, i suggest strapping it alternately on both hands so when your right arm feels fatigued, you can transfer it to the left hand while giving the other hand a rest. Once you get accustomed to it, you’ll not even feel that it’s there except of course when the bottle is always filled-up!

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One thing i’m not used to doing is pulling up the nozzle with your teeth and drink from the small sprays of the nozzle and slapping it back to place. I really want the feel of gushing water into my throat so i unscrew the whole cap and gulp the fluids, like drinking from a water cup. It may be time consuming especially when racing, but i feel more quenched doing this.

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The Quickdraw Plus is currently available at all major running shops for about P990.00 (US$ 23.00). However, it comes free when you register for the Nathan Ridge Run to be held at Tagaytay Highlands on November 20, 2011.