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Here’s your weekly roundup of news, trends, and stories in the health and fitness space. A list of what’s happening, new innovations, interesting finds, and more.

This week we’re covering:

• Creatine gummies getting exposed.
• Saucony’s underground maze race.
• Ladder takes another jab at Peloton.
• And more...

Hope you enjoy!

Recent Headlines

SuppCo released their first “SuppCo Tested” report on creatine. Pulling samples of 11 different creatine products, including powders and gummies. The powders had strong results, while 4 of the 6 gummies failed. Revealing they have almost no creatine in them whatsoever.

• I don’t think these gummy findings are a surprise to most people. But it really raises a bigger question. How many other supplements are we trusting without knowing what's really inside? I mean, these gummies tested were best sellers on Amazon. And I’m not pointing the blame at Amazon, it’s not their job to make ethical supplements. I’m pointing my finger at the brands doing this shady stuff. It’s not right. The health & wellness space has an extremely bright future, but we can’t have a few bad apples ruin that. Credit to SuppCo for stepping up and doing the testing. This is the kind of transparency the space needs.

Dear Media Podcast Network acquires Obé Fitness. The network with 100+ female focused podcasts is looking to expand it’s tech offering with the women’s personalized fitness platform.

• Media is the new table centerpiece. Dear Media already has a massive, engaged audience of women. And now they’ve got a fitness platform to funnel that audience into. It makes perfect sense. This isn’t some brand new strategy, but I think we’re going to see it more and more. Companies starting with media, building trust and reach with a specific audience, then layering in the products they know those people want. Opposite to the old playbook where you build the product first, then market it.

Saucony hosts underground relay race, “THE MAZE”. A one of a kind relay race experience, where 20 run clubs battled it out in an underground parking garage. Including team jerseys, cheering zones, and an after party.

• This actually happened a couple months ago, but I had to highlight it because it was so cool. I’ve been seeing more of these underground, secret style races pop up lately. Cadence did something similar with their “Short Fuse” pop up relay race. These events tend to have smaller crowds, but they are mysterious and intriguing. Making for great stories, content, brand building, and community. It’s almost like an "anti run club" strategy.

New study finds glass bottles have more microplastics than we thought. With anywhere from 5x to 50x more microplastics than plastic bottles. Mostly coming from the paint flakes on the caps.

• All this microplastics stuff is exhausting. Seems like every week a new study comes out and we have to avoid everything. Live in solitude in the woods. My general opinion is that if you can avoid them, great. But it's not worth flipping your life upside down. It's the 80/20 rule. If you eat whole foods, move daily, and get good sleep - you're going to be healthy and feel good. AND not have anxiety trying to juggle 100 biohacking tips you heard online.

Ladder announces their newest fitness coach, Jennifer Jacobs. Jennifer was an instructor at Peloton in 2019 and also Ladder already in 2020. And this history was used to announce her return to Ladder in glamorous fashion. Teasing her return to a "bike” company and then flipping the script.

• Ladder continues to crush it on social. Their marketing always finds that sweet spot of sharp, playful, and totally in tune with their audience. They’ve taken jabs at Peloton before, but it never feels forced or bitter. It’s all in good fun and clever. Brand building that makes you a fan.

ICYMI On Social

• Creatine gummies getting exposed.
• Best new product launches in health and fitness.
• The growing problem of hearing loss.
• Last week’s health & fitness news roundup.