Taking on your first Tough Mudder can be a daunting task, no matter how fit you are. In addition to covering 19 mud-splattered kilometres on foot, you’ve got to get over, under, around and through some of the most physical, challenging and nerve-shredding obstacles ever invented. But if there’s one thing that sets Tough Mudder apart from every other obstacle course race, it’s the overriding atmosphere of camaraderie that permeates it from start to finish, making it a uniquely enjoyable experience.
With this sense of team spirit firmly in mind, a group of enthusiastic Tough Mudder novices including celebs and journalists have banded together – assisted by Sony – to help prepare for and eventually conquer their first ever obstacle course race. Once they were fully equipped with a selection of Sony SmartWear, including the Xperia™ Z3 smartphone, the SmartWatch 3 and the SmartBand Talk – all of which will help them track their training and enhance their performance – #TeamSony was officially born.
Read on to meet the team and find out how Sony’s SmartWear has been assisting the team’s Tough Mudder preparations.
Joel Snape
Age: 36
Occupation: Acting editor, Men’s Fitness magazine
Normal training: Brazilian jiu jitsu
‘I’ve been going for training jogs all over London to prepare for Tough Mudder, combining the music player and GPS system on my Xperia Z3+ from Sony to get directions piped straight into my ears while I’m listening to Girl Talk’s Coachella set,’ says Snape.
Vanessa White
Age: 25
Occupation: Singer/songwriter
Normal training: Interval training
‘Synching my Xperia Z3 and SmartBand Talk via Sony’s Lifelog app has allowed me to track my running by measuring how many steps I’ve taken, while also telling me how many calories I’ve burned – which is always good to know,’ says White.
Rick Edwards
Age: 36
Occupation: Broadcaster and writer
Normal training: Five-a-side football
‘I’ve been using my SmartWatch 3 and Xperia Z3 to monitor my running progress, using an app called RunKeeper,’ says Edwards. ‘That measures my mile splits, time distance and elevation, which is all crucial info for measuring my progress.’
Amanda Khouv
Age: 28
Occupation: Fitness editor, Women’s Fitness magazine
Normal training: Muay Thai kickboxing
‘Recruiting the SmartBand Talk from Sony as my personal trainer has helped ensure that I’m leading a much more active lifestyle outside of the gym,' says Khouv. ‘It synchs with my Xperia Z3 via Sony’s Lifelog app to measure my steps taken and calories burned, which really do add up.’
Here are just a few of the ways in which Sony’s SmartWear is enhancing #TeamSony’s Tough Mudder training
The Xperia™ Z3+ is Sony’s brand-new flagship smartphone and makes for the perfect exercise companion – it has up to two days’ battery life*, so it will see you through many a training session, and it also has outstanding waterproof design** so there’s no problem if it starts chucking it down mid-run. It’s also slimmer and lighter than the Xperia Z3 – plus it has an improved wide-angle camera, making it easier to fit the whole team in for your post-race selfie.
Having said that, with the SmartWatch 3 you can have the freedom to leave your phone behind if that’s what you want to do. The SmartWatch 3’s standalone functionality means you still have all the features you need right on your wrist. It can play your music, help map your routes and track every detail of your workout. Apps designed specifically for it such a iFit let you see real-time stats as you’re creating them.
The SmartBand Talk, meanwhile, is equipped with a built-in accelerometer and an altimeter sensor to track how far you’ve run, while also measuring the steps you take and calories you burn to give you a broader picture of your activity levels throughout the day.
Holding SmartWear together is Sony’s Lifelog app, a hub for recording all your activities to analyse, compare with friends – or in #TeamSony’s case, teammates – and plan future sessions. There’s nothing better for helping you stick to a training plan than seeing your progress clearly marked out ahead of you. Not only can Sony’s SmartWear help prepare you for Tough Mudder and its obstacles, it can also be a tool to help develop a fitter, healthier you.
You can pick up the new Xperia™ Z3+ at Carphone Warehouse now
*Usage conditions apply. More info
**Waterproof to a depth of 1.5m for 30 minutes. No sea water or salt-water pools. Abuse and improper use will invalidate warranty. More info
