Adidas. Available at Adidas outlets nationwide, try 2/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-690-1000. BTS Siam
New Balance. Available at Super Sports nationwide, try 3/F, Central Plaza Rama 9, Ratchadapisek Rd., 02-667-5555. MRT Rama 9
Nike. Available at Nike stores nationwide, try 3/F, Central World, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-264-5555. BTS Chitlom

The Solo Artist

So maybe this group fitness thing isn’t for you. Avid runner Sharin Tebo, 33, who lives and works in Bangkok, shares her experience as a marathon runner (she’s run seven and placed fifth in the Amari Midnight Run) and her tips on running solo.

How do you prepare for each run?
Everything about running to me is mental. I literally have to talk myself in to it. I have to be in the mindset about how good it feels once I hit the pavement. Here in Bangkok, I have made it a point to lay out my running gear before I leave home in the morning. Once I get home from work and see my running clothes, it reminds me that I can’t be a couch potato.

How often do you run?
On average that’s about 28 miles per week. I run 5-6 days of the week if I am lucky and the weather cooperates. When training for a marathon, the mileage increases to about 35 miles a week. Those long runs to train for marathons make me cringe, but they’re necessary if you want to finish your races.

You run outdoors or on a treadmill?
I abhor treadmills! I suffered from a subluxed knee while training for my first marathon in 2007. I think it was caused by too many miles on the treadmill during the winter, when I really couldn’t run outside on the icy roads. I honestly believe it is a personal preference. Some like knowing their run will be consistent and they can control picking up the pace, slowing it down, changing the incline. Then there is me, I like to look around and know I am actually moving from point A to point B.

Any tips for beginning runners?
You have to start small. If you are not a natural-born runner (I am not), you have to simply try to get yourself outside on a consistent basis most days of the week. Try running for X amount of minutes, and each day or each week, try to increase that. Challenge yourself to a race every so often, just so you feel some of the personal fulfillment and reward. You are bound to meet others who are beginners and want to improve. Don’t get down on yourself about missing a run, either. Just make it a point to start back up as soon as you can. Furthermore, don’t try to force recovery. Sometimes you just have to realize your body’s signals do mean something.

Maxfit Performance

Complainers and slackers need not apply. Fitness instructor Stefan Lamping swears you’ll lose up to five pounds and two inches in your first week of camp, but he’s going to make you work for it. This one-hour, 712 calorie-blasting group sweating session is all about interval training and uses everything from kettlebells to your basic push-ups and lunges. They keep it fun and engaging, too, often incorporating workout games. One-hour bootcamps are held every Mon, Wed and Fri at 7am, 8am, 10am, 6pm and 7pm on the third floor of The Capitol Club at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 24 (BTS Phrom Phong). Free to try for a week, the rate is then B3,000 per month (for a six-month contract, in two B9,000 installments) or B5,000 for a month. In addition to their weekly sessions, they also offer personal training programs and weekend bootcamp trips to Hua Hin. For more information, go to www.maxfitperformance.co.th or call 089-071-4822.

Aspire Fitcorp Asia

Like Stefan, Daniel Remon is a man of action and expects the same from his clients. Since 2007, The Aspire Club (348/2 Sukhumvit Rd., across from Terminal 21. BTS Asoke/MRT Sukhumvit) has been running what they call Small Group Training, where Remon and his team of trainers take you through group workout sessions that include everything from kettlebells, core strength training, climbing ropes and even mixed martial arts. You name it, Remon says he has it—and lets you try it in a fun, social setting where you’ll meet like-minded people and achieve your fitness goals. Additionally, Fitcorp also runs outdoor bootcamps, (for brave souls willing to endure the heat) where women can expect to burn 600+ calories and men a whopping 800-1200 calories in their one-hour sessions. These are held at Benjakiti Park (Asoke Road, next to Queen Sirikit Convention Center) Mon, Wed and Fri 6-7am; Tue and Thur 5:30-6:30pm; and Sat 7-8am (B5,900 per month or B42,900 per year). For more information on the Small Group Training at The Aspire Club, go to www.theaspireclub.com or call 02-229-4114; 080-188-4114. For more information on the outdoor bootcamps, go to www.fitcorpasia.com or call the club’s listed numbers above.

Pro-Fit

Formerly held at Benjasiri Park (next to Emporium. BTS Phrom Phong), these bootcamp groups (for 10-15 people) are currently in between sesssions, so get in touch with them to find out their schedule. But at only B300 a session, you’ll be losing far more calories than baht. Not intense enough? The Pro-Fit duo recently added the option of Small Group Cardio Kickboxing Camps (B500 per session). Grab a few of your friends, as this session allows only up to five people, for some punching good fun. For more information, go to www.bangkokfitnesstraining.com, email info@bangkokfitnesstraining.com or call 085-328-0744.

Meet your master

Stefan Lamping of MaxFit Performance practices what he preaches. He changed his life around at 18 and is now dedicated to helping others do the same.

You call yourself a “former fat boy.” Do you think your own weight-loss challenges help you relate better to your clients?
Of course. I can actually feel what they feel. Because I was always quite a big teenager, sports were quite difficult for me and I always ended up last. But I kept fighting and trying. And then I met this Dutch body builder and he was a big inspiration. He taught me everything about what I should do and eat. Basically he changed my life and I lost a lot of weight in two or three years. Then I became a body builder myself.

Do you think group classes/bootcamps are more effective than solo training?
I think so, for sure. Because people are more motivated when they’re in a group, and they will push themselves harder. What I’ve found is that a lot of people who come here for the first time think they cannot make it, but other clients will push them and encourage them to not give up. Also, in a group it’s more fun. I find one-on-one training, which I also do, sometimes gets boring.

Do you ever have a “I just don’t want to work out”day?
Everyone has those days. What I do is listen to something motivational or watch a certain movie or I just take a break. But to be honest, my job gives me energy.

When I see people changing their lives, that gives me a lot of energy.
Biggest exercise myth?
Cardio on the treadmill for hours and hours. People think that they lose weight doing this, and that’s a myth. You can even get fatter. What you should focus on is your own body weight—use your own body for your exercises, use it as a machine. And interval training, where you work hard for a certain amount of time, then you slow down for a period, like sprinters, that’s the way you should exercise. That’s the secret.

Gear And Tips to Run in Bangkok

Altitude Training Offers Less Pain, More Gain

Killer Apps for Killer Workouts

Why the Japanese focus?
I lived in Japan for four years and I fell in love with their desserts. They are very lovely—light, soft and slightly sweet. So when I got back to Bangkok, they were my inspiration. Plus they are quite a new thing here.

So Masatomi is doing strictly Japanese sweets?
It’s Japanese desserts that have been developed from traditional French ones. Japanese ingredients like green tea, red beans or Japanese orange are added to classic desserts so that people can relate to the flavors. I admire the idea that the Japanese always look to use local ingredients. I try to embrace this idea too by using what is yummy here, like coconut milk.

What do you think about the current craze for Japanese style desserts?
On the bright side, shop owners will try to develop better products so customers will get better quality desserts. However, it’s important for people to use the word ‘Japanese’ properly. It’s not as easy as sticking a green tea leaf on a dessert and then saying it’s Japanese style.

Adidas miCoach and the Speed Cell

What it is: Updating its popular miCoach, the Adidas miCoach Speed Cell is an even more advanced virtual personal trainer. It works with the miCoach application running on Apple devices, PC and Mac (free) and a little device that you can attach to your shoe, the Speed Cell. The Speed Cell captures 360° movement and measures your speed, distance and stride rates. Then, it wirelessly transmits that data to your digital device and turns it all into fancy infographics that make you feel great about your efforts.
Why it’s great: Users can share their workout statistics or compare them with friends via Facebook and Twitter. There’s even a little video game included where your character gets power-ups based on your workouts.
Available at B3,490 for the iPhone/iPod Touch and B2,990 for PC/Mac at Adidas stores nationwide, try 2/F Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd. Tel 02-690-1000. BTS Siam.

Nike+iPod Sport Kit

What it is: Compatible with the miCoach, this equipment set includes a sensor, which beams information such as distance, pace and duration of run to your mobile device so you can sync the information to your computer via www.nikeplus.com (this is done automatically if you’re using an iPhone). The companion site then charts your performance after syncing it from your iPod or phone.
Why it’s great: Their new Power Song feature enables you to program a song to play when you need a sudden burst of motivation. And, of course, you can post all progress on Facebook and Twitter.
US$1.99 (B60.8) from the iTunes Store. Full kit available at B725 at selected Nike shops. Try 1/F Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd. Tel 02-658-1092. BTS Siam.

Runkeeper

What it is: A web-centric app that not only tracks everything like your running time and distance (even on the treadmill), it also offers training classes tailored to your specific fitness goals.
Why it’s great: It’s not as serious as the miCoach website, but Runkeeper has a loyal following for its sharing capabilities. You can post your information on Facebook and Twitter, and even recruit like-minded friends from your Facebook and Google contacts to make your own “Street Team.”
Free from the iTunes Store, Android Market & Windows 7 Marketplace. S4.99 (B152.5) per month gets you additional reports, tracking and training classes.

Cardiotrainer

What it is: Gaining popularity in the world (with about 40,000 active monthly users via Facebook), Cardiotrainer is marketed as a weight loss app. What it really does is monitor your workouts (walking, running and even biking) including your route, time and distance, and even calories burned, which can all be uploaded online.
Why it’s great: There’s a Facebook plug-in for you to pull all your Cardiotrainer data from its server and upload to your profile. While this is a standard feature, what we liked best was the “Race Against Yourself” add-on that allows you to view your previous runs and select one for you to beat—voice notifications (and Facebook friends watching your progress) tell you if you’re slacking in your pursuit.
Free from Android Market. Additional $2.99 (B91.4) for “Race Against Yourself” add-on.

Fitocracy

What it is: It’s not yet an app, but this site definitely has potential. It turns exercise into a fun challenge—you just need to key in your day’s activity and it awards points, updates your fitness level, as well as suggests quests you can complete to up your performance.
Why it’s great: Designed to be extremely goal-driven, Fitocracy displays your logged information on the platform for your followers to see—just click on the tags (like “weight loss” and “marathon”) on the interface to find like-minded users who you can follow and compare data with. You can also share the info on Facebook and Twitter. iPhone and Android apps are expected to be released in 2012.
Sign up for free at www.fitocracy.com.