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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:

• Runningman is back for year 3.
• Bandit Running’s F1 style race.
• On opens first LightSpray facility.
• And more...

Hope you enjoy!

Recent Headlines

Runningman Festival is back for year three. The transformative community movement and mindset festival returns to Kingston Downs. Featuring a choose-your-distance race, immersive wellness activations, key opinion leaders, the world’s largest sauna, live music, a vendor village, and glamping.

• So I was at Runningman last year, and it truly was an experience unlike any other. The format, the people, and the activities all made for a 3-day experience that kept you on edge the entire time, in the best way possible. And it also ties into what I said last week about The Assembly. Events like this are so needed in the space. Events that have real energy, aren’t corporate and sterile, and truly show how great the wellness industry is.
• PS - I’ll be there this year and I partnered up with them for a discount for y’all. Use code “AOW10“ for 10% off your ticket 💪

Bandit Running hosted inaugural “Bandit Grand Prix”. An F1 inspired racing and spectating experience for runners. With qualifying 5K races and a 3K Super Final race at the end. All races took place on a technical, multi-lap circuit that winds through the interior of a Brooklyn storehouse and the streets of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

• Similar take to Runningman above. I absolutely love the creative, unique events brands are putting on in the space. This is exactly what people want right now. Your average consumer doesn’t want another overly serious, competitive race. They want something that blends fun, fitness, and community - in an experiential way. Making fitness feel accessible and exciting. People are craving real, in-person connection. Let’s keep this event trend going.

On opened the world’s first LightSpray production facility in Zurich. Essentially robot arms that make running shoe uppers in just 3 minutes. It includes 4 robots inside that spray a filament onto a mold to produce an ultra-light, one-piece upper shoe. And this process produces 75% fewer carbon emissions.

• This isn’t just about a cool robot making shoes quickly in Zurich. This is a glimpse into how performance footwear might completely change. First, speed. Prototyping and iterating on shoes within hours instead of months could mean way faster innovation for runners. Second, customization. Imagine getting a shoe upper sprayed to fit your foot perfectly, not just a generic mold. Third, sustainability. A 75% drop in carbon emissions is no joke, and the industry needs it. The future of running shoes isn’t just about carbon plates anymore. It’s about rethinking how they’re made, and how they can fit you, better.

Othership raised $8.5M and announces New York expansion. Closing an $8.5M SAFE note to debut a new location in Williamsburg, and a new 13K-sq-ft location to be announced soon.

• I wanted to highlight this because it signals what people are seeking. This isn’t just about sauna and cold plunge culture taking off. Like I mentioned above, people are craving in-person connection and a place to feel part of something. Tech overload and constant isolation in today’s world are draining people. And you can see it in how these third spaces are being embraced. It’s not a gym, not a bar, not a coffee shop - but a wellness centered community hub. Where people can reset, meet like-minded individuals, and remember what it feels like to be present. And that’s why Othership is working.

GymNation creates unique ice workout experience. A ‘cool’ solution that incorporates ice into exercises, making fitness sessions refreshingly fun and effective. Featuring blizzard sprints, polar pushes, frosted reps, a glacier grip challenge, and a post workout recovery chill zone.

• This is fun. Not everything in fitness needs to be a groundbreaking strategy. Sometimes it’s cool to see a gym throw 1,000 kilos of ice into a workout and get people excited to show up. Especially in a place as hot as Dubai, an ice workout actually makes sense. Good reminder that fitness can be fun too. I also made a video about this if you want to check it out.

ICYMI On Social

• The next generation wellness wearable.
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• The genius behind BPN’s G1M Ultramarathon.
• Last week’s health & fitness news roundup.