Run for your health
Last week, I participated in the Gatorade Golf Cup, and while I was on the course, it made me think about how long the brand has been on the market and how it has helped numerous athletes and teams achieve greatness!
Hydration is a valuable element in any athletic endeavor, and sometimes it can spell the difference between achieving your goal or falling just short of it. Gatorade, as the world’s top and most researched sports drink, has played a vital role in fueling some of sports history’s most inspiring moments.
Locally, I clearly remember basketball star LA Tenorio battling cramps during critical games in his collegiate career, and I wasn’t surprised that shortly thereafter, he underwent tests by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, where they analyzed that his body was structured differently from the others, so much so that he needed a vastly different hydration program to be able to continuously perform at a peak level.
Internationally, who can forget Michael Jordan, the most recognizable face of the brand? Growing up, everyone wanted to “be like Mike,” and just recently, Gatorade celebrated the 23rd anniversary of the Be Like Mike campaign (the iconic commercial which helped cement Michael Jordan’s legacy as a sports legend). The celebration incidentally coincides with Gatorade’s 50th anniversary this year.
After a historic stroll down memory lane in celebration of its golden anniversary, Gatorade is all set to pave the way for greatness as it strengthens its roster with the launch of its newest variant, White Lightning, an orange and grapefruit flavor.
With the new variant comes a powerhouse line-up of ambassadors who are among the top local athletes of this generation: UAAP volleyball superstars Alyssa Valdez from Ateneo and Mika Reyes from De La Salle, together with basketball hotshots Chris Banchero of the Alaska Aces and Jeron Teng of the Green Archers.
“Coming from our 50th anniversary wherein we celebrated Gatorade’s legacy of fueling local and international sports’ greatest moments, we now want to focus on empowering a new breed of athletes and game changers. Alyssa, Mika, Chris, and Jeron are top athletes who know the value of working hard to stay in peak form and understand that games aren’t won on the court but in the gym and practice venues. We’re excited to see them inspire more people to pursue active lifestyles and understand the value of proper hydration,” said Tony Atayde, Pepsico Philippines marketing manager for hydration.
The run is set on Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Seaside Boulevard at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, with two distances: 11 and 22 kilometers. The pre-race kit will include an Adidas race tee, a race bib, and a timing chip. Another Adidas shirt, this time a finishers tee, awaits all finishers.
“The Gatorade Run will cap off what has been a historic year for us,” Atayde added.
Exciting times are ahead for us all!
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