Hi-Tec’s 2011 treadmill run destroying egos nationally

Hi-Tec’s Infinity Challenge – a worthy challenge

Two local runners bettered Hi-Tec Ambassador Martin Dreyer’s time-to-beat, set in East London, at the Cape Town leg of the Hi-Tec Infinity Challenge on Saturday. Will Robinson is the fastest over the inclined two-kilometre treadmill course at 6:58. He ran an incredible 3:45 and 3:13 split for each kilometre. Six seconds back was Denzyl Thys at 7:04. Nic de Beer equaled Dreyer’s 7:12.  

Running for the first time ever on a treadmill, Hi-Tec Ambassador Bruce Arnett set an 8:19 total. “I really didn’t have a good run,” says Arnett. “It is very different running on an inclined treadmill and trying to figure out your changing pace as the incline increases. On trail, you just run as you run.” He’s hoping to have a better run on Saturday and Sunday in Jo’burg and Pretoria now that he has some treadmill experience.

Jeannie Bomford’s women’s time-to-beat still stands at 8:31 and any woman to better this time stands a chance to win an entry to The Otter – African Trail run, a 42km trail run on the well-known Otter Trail on the Garden Route. Capetonian Melany Porter came close to Bomford’s time, finishing only 89 metres behind. The women’s race should be hotly contested in Gauteng this weekend. “It’s not as easy as it sounds,” says Ian Little, Hi-Tec’s Marketing Manager. “But it is not impossible.”

The pre-programmed treadmill gains elevation steadily over the two-kilometre course to make runners ascend 66 metres in total. Arnett recommends that challengers hold back for the first 500-600m.

“As the gradient increases your pace will decrease. Many of the runners who shot out of the gates were very tired over the second kilometre where they slowed to an eight or nine minutes per kay pace,” Arnett explains. He suggests that you try to keep a manageable pace and to adjust accordingly every time the gradient increases, which is about every 150 metres. “Two kilometers sounds like child’s play; don’t be misled. It requires a lot of effort to set a good time making this event a worthy challenge,” he adds.

The three remaining Infinity Challenge events will be hosted by Cape Union Mart stores in Jo’burg (Eastgate, 16 April), Pretoria (Woodlands, 17 April) and Durban (Gateway, 23 April).  Entry to the Infinity Challenge is first-come-first-run and entry is free. Stores are open from 09h00 to 17h00.

About the Hi-Tec Infinity Challenge
The Infinity Challenge is run on a pre-programmed treadmill that takes runners on an inclined two-kilometre course. In front of the treadmill, a plasma screen shows the participant’s avatar, relative to that of the Hi-Tec brand ambassador, on the course.
The first 50 participants at each event receive a special Infinity Challenge Buff®; runners setting the Top 3 times for the day receive a pair of Hi-Tec Infinity V-Lite shoes; and any participants who beat the brand ambassador’s time receive a Hi-Tec hamper. The overall national winner (man and woman) is awarded an entry to the annual The Otter – African Trail Run, a one-day race that traverses the entire 42km length of South Africa’s most iconic hiking trail, the Otter Trail. In addition, the names of all participants go into a draw for an entry to The Otter – African Trail Run.

About Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail shoes
Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail shoes are currently available from Cape Union Mart stores in the Grey/Green and Black/Cobalt (men’s) and Black/Silver/Melon (women’s) colourways. Shoes go into Due South, Sportsman Warehouse, Totalsports and a number of independent retailers around the country, during April.

The Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail shoe has a hydrophobic membrane (ion mask™ technology), breathable synthetic upper, which is also seamless. Heat seal overlays on the upper provide support and structure, while the molded toe cap offers protection from stubbing. The soft, contoured Comfort Tec sockliner offers foot-in-feel comfort while the dual-density Vibram® outsole provides grip on technical terrain.