C3fit Performance Tights

For too long the dominant brand in compression wear in Singapore has been the 2XU compression wear. Now it looks like there is a worthy alternative.

The sidekick was given 2 C3fit compression tights to try and review. Last week she ran 15 km in the C3fit Impact Tights. This week, she did another 15 km in the C3fit performance Tights.

Compared to the Impact Tights, her first impression was that it was much less thicker. In her own words, "comfortable", "good" and lastly "wonderful". The last was when she was speeding past me in the last 1 km as I struggled to finish the run in the hot hot sun. She also claimed that it helps to speed up recovery and her legs wasn't so sore the next day.

In her opinion, it is similar to the 2XU Elite tights and so for those looking for a different brand of tights, this is a good alternative. If anything, for those bored of the usual black tights, C3fit tights do come in many variety of design and colors.

Read more about the C3fit compression wear here.

First Look - C3fit Impact Tights

I understand one of the biggest bane that ladies have about wearing compression tights is that it makes their bum look bigger. Especially for those ladies who have children, it is a given that their body shape changes and one of the area that grows bigger  is the bum. So many women prefer to wear a short over their tights or wear long ugly shapeless tops to reduce the visual impact. Is that true?

Now for these ladies, there is good news. For the first time ever in Singapore, there is a new brand of compression wear coming to town and it promises to hug the hips and bum so tight that it will make the tummy and backside look firmer and smaller. Not that I have tried it on since the last time I checked, I still don't look every bit a lady. But the sidekick have and she can testify to that!

The sidekick has been given 2 pair of C3fit compression tights to test and review. Here are here modelling the tights before our run on Saturday

What she has on is a pair of C3fit Impact Tights. Look at the beautiful side design.  But apparently, this is not any nice design. This unique pattern is designed to reduce muscle vibration along the key muscle groups and enhance blood flow. In fact, C3fit tights are certified as General Medical devices in Japan.

The design and fit of the tights wrap the knee snugly providing a high level of support similar to that of a knee guard. This design also reduces fabric brunching and slippage.

And of course the snug fit at the back and tummy. And incidentally, the recommendation is not to wear undies although the website did mention that if one need to wear one, (the undies that is), to wear a tight fitting one and not some granny panties. 

Ok so much for the technicalities. Now for the million dollar question. How does it feel and does it perform as well on the run?

According to the sidekick, it felt thick. In fact, she felt that it was rather warm. According to the website, it has some thermal effect so it might not be so suitable for our local weather. Other than that, in her opinion, it wrapped her legs very snugly and the different portion of the tights provide the necessary support and compression to specific areas reducing the onset of fatigue during running. She compared it more favourably than her other compression tights, the popular 2XU. Nevertheless she reckoned that while it is good for running, it will be more even more helpful for longer distance trail running. 

Look out for the C3fit coming soon to a running store near you. Meantime, check out the mumbo-jumbo here

Trail Splashing

A video of the water logged trails at the Tampines Mountain Bike trail. Video a bit long at 7 minutes though :) but the last bit is more fun.

Great place to run in

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

The biggest news this week for runners; oh okay, for trail runners at least; this week is probably not the Sundown Marathon but the forthcoming closure of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. 

Like most of the trail running friends, I too will miss the place not that I like it very much. But for trail runners and mountain climbers, this is the only place where one can get a decent workout while training for overseas trail races like the multiple trail races in Hongkong, Sabah, Vietnam and other countries nearby. For climbers, this is the only place to train in Singapore, inadequate as it may be at 163 metres high. Most of us who trains there are attracted to the 2 long flights of rickety staircases from Dairy Farm to the Summit.

So everybody training plans will be rudely shattered. There is absolutely no other place in the whole of Singapore that is similar in nature or has the ascent, limited as Bukit Timah Hill is. The next highest peak in Singapore is the 105 metres high Mt Faber and there are no steps like what Bukit Timah has. Which bring me to my wish list and what I hope to see/not to see from the repair/upgrading of the place.

1. No concrete steps. The uneven crooked steps are the main draw of the place for all those training at the place. This is the closest we can get to climbing and is similar to the steps in the Hong Kong trails. What I hope is that Nparks do not replace them with concrete evenly spaced steps like those at Mt Faber. Sure, concrete steps will be easier to walk for the multitudes of park visitors but it will kill the whole ruggedness of the place. So my hope is that these steps will be repaired where necessary but will remain. 

2. Minimum boardwalk. I know boardwalk protect the creatures and the on the ground but what we want is a rugged trail, soil mud and dirt. Install boardwalk only at the most vulnerable areas. Keep the place as natural as possible. If there is really a need to keep people off the side of the trail, perhaps having railings made of natural recycled wood and plants along the side of the trail might do the trick of preventing users from encroaching into the forest.

3. A proper toilet and a small cafe. Something like the Amenities Centre at MacRitchie Reservoir. Toilet should be big enough to accommodate the increased number of visitors that is expected to throng the place after the re-opening. It should also come with shower facilities for visitor to bath and change after trekking. A small cafe will be great for visitors to rest, have a drink and some refreshment. Oh a water cooler at the summit might be nice too.

4. Better accessibility. Currently there is no public transport to the place. Perhaps introduce a paid shuttle bus service from either Clementi or Bukit Batok MRT station on weekends. That will hopefully reduce the number of people who drives there and clogging up the roads and polluting the air.

5. Not a sanitized park. Last but not least, not another Bishan Park, Sengkang Riverside Park or Admiralty Park where everything is nicely cultivated and demarcated. No nice paved walkways, no granite chip trails and no cement stairs what is slowly happening at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. Minimum changes from current  and keep the place as natural as possible. Retain its ruggedness. After all that is what endeared most people to Bukit Timah Hill.

Too Hot is it?

Saw this guy at the Sundown Marathon.

I am no prude but still I think this sort of attire is very inappropriate. I know it is hot and humid here in Singapore but to wear what looks like an underwear for a road run? If this is a triathlon, I can probably accept that the guy wants to do a good timing and so do not want to put on a top or shorts after the swim. But this is a road race happening at 12.30 am in the cool morning. 

Seriously, is putting on a longer length short going to affect his running that much? Me think this guy is just a exhibitionist and probably getting a big high from running almost bare naked.