Drawing inspiration from a bygone era of classic cross-country club singlets and utilising subdued hues that evoke nostalgic memories of sporting club rooms the world over. Our new Soar Running and Up There Athletics Race Vest is a masterclass in minimalism, engineered for PB hunters and podium chasers alike. Close fitting and extremely breathable, it redefines what a race singlet could – and should – be. Available in Men's and Women's, online and in-store on Saturday 4th March from 11:00am AEST.⁠

To celebrate the launch of our collaborative race vest, we followed two Up There Athletics staff members, Hunter Rubino and Riley Bryce, on their race-day (night) journey. Below are some questions answered by Hunter & Riley, giving us an insight into the psyche of two talented track runners and different stages in their running journeys.

Name?
Hunter Rubino

Tell us a little about yourself.
Firstly, my name is Hunter Rubino, and I am the store manager here at Up There Athletics. Aside from running and working at UTA, I am also completing a Masters of High-Performance Sport at ACU and do some additional work as a High-Performance Manager/ S&C Coach/ Physiologist. So really my life revolves around sport and all facets of it.

When did you start running and when did it progress to something you wanted to pursue more seriously?
I’ve been running most of my life. I was lucky enough to grow up in a family full of high achieving athletes, so the 2-hour Sunday long run was just second nature, and I followed suit. Year 10 or 11 of high school is when it progressed into something I really wanted to pursue, I was mainly running for footy fitness and competing in summer track, but once footy stopped my love for running ensured, from that point on it was sole focus.

What is your favourite thing about running and one thing you would like to see change?
My favourite thing about running is that it is the greatest way to see a new city. Any new city or environment you land in, you don’t need to know train system, road rules or where to park,  you can just get out and go. The places it can take you are amazing, I never thought I would see myself hanging out at the top of Australia’s highest point but there I was… thanks to running. The biggest thing I would love to see change is athlete representation, particularly in regards to sponsorship. Currently, there is a huge disconnect between athletes and brands. Those competing at an elite national level are not getting the recognition and brand representation they deserve; rather, being beaten out by running influencers or the like. As a result, unsupported athletes sacrifice training and racing opportunities while they work their 9-5 jobs, just to make ends meet. Abbey Caldwell was a prime example of this in 2022 when she won a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal as an unsponsored athlete. If athletes were recognised strictly for their ability and appropriately supported, we would see more competing on the world stage.

What are you current short and long-term running related goals?
After having nearly 2 years out of the sport due to illness and injury, my main short-term goals are just to be competing again. To have running not feel like a chore which is common during late-stage rehab. I guess my long-term goal would be consistency and pushing myself to compete at the highest level I can. An Olympics/ Commonwealth Games are certainly moon shots but to be consistently racing on the national circuit would be goal completed. In addition to racing I would love to be able to help my training partners succeed and qualify for things like Olympics, to see them have this success would make me equally as stoked.

What is one myth about running you would like to debunk?
The biggest myth I would love to see debunked is keeping your heart rate in zones for all types of running. The most documented notion of this is the Zone 2 (150-160bpm) recovery heart rate running. Heart rates are so variable and have some many contributing factors that can affect them. Some people have super low heart rates or little hummingbird hearts, and these numbers are unachievable, particularly with the inaccuracy of some heart rate data. So don’t get caught up in the data or the numbers, just run to what feels right for you. Keep your early training days as subjective as possible. What works for one person almost never works for another person.

What is your favourite item of Soar Running apparel?
The Soar Race Vest and Race Short 5.0 are two of the greatest pieces of running apparel I have worn. My first time wearing the race vest was during my first race back after a long period off the track and it’s now the first thing I grab before any race or hard training session. The fit, weight and breathability is unmatched. The shorts… *chefs kiss*… Fit well, don’t ride up and the 2inch split is perfect.

You are going away for an extended period of time, you can only take on pair of running shoes, you will be jogging, doing speed work and longs; what shoe do you pack?
Jeez this is a tough one. The shoe market is in a great spot at the moment especially when it comes to shoes that can do it all. Deep down and those that know me can attest to this, it’s a no brainer. Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16, the single greatest shoe franchise of all time… in my opinion. I absolutely love this shoe, super stable and responsive. The addition of zoom air in the forefoot and Zoom X in the heel, you’re in for one hell of a ride.

Name?
Riley

Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a 21-year-old, middle distance runner (specialising in the 8 and 15), coached by Mark Hipworth. I’m currently studying Sport and Exercise Science at university. In my spare time, I am either player poker, Dutch Blitz (look it up if you haven’t heard of it) or trying to recreate some dish I found on TikTok.

When did you start running and when did it progress to something you wanted to pursue more seriously?
I was pretty late to athletics, not starting until I was 14 or so. After having a lot of unexpected success at a school athletics carnival – if I remember correctly, I won the everything from the 100m up to the 800m plus high jump – I got in touch with a running group and the rest is history. I can’t quite pinpoint when I wanted to pursue running further, it feels like it’s always been a goal of mine to push myself as far as I can in the sport.

What is your favourite thing about running and one thing you would like to see change?
My favourite thing about running would have to be the community. It is really difficult to find a runner who has a negative attitude towards running and isn’t supportive of other runners. This is evident through the mateship within training groups, and even more so through the team aspect of cross-country. One thing I would change would be increasing the level of interest in athletics, especially in Australia. More fans at track and field meets would be amazing for the sport and the athletes. Hopefully leading to greater investment and more opportunities for athletes of all abilities to progress in the sport.

What are you current short and long term running related goals?
My current short-term goal is to go to Europe and race during their summer. As for long-term, I would love to be able to make a career out of running. My short-term goal is off to a good start, I’ve seen some success early in the season and so as long as I can continue to train at the level I am (fingers crossed) I feel I’ll be in a good spot to run fast come the middle of the year. This ties nicely into my long-term goal, providing I can keep progressing those PBs!

What is one myth about running you would like to debunk?
The one myth would be that every session must be run hard. This is a bit of a tricky one as there is definitely some merit to it. However, from personal experience and there is some research out there related to burnout, it is better to train to the intensity needed for the session. What I mean by this is tempo and threshold sessions should not be as demanding or intense as a hard track or hill sprint sessions. It definitely takes a bit of time to get a feel and understanding of where intensities should be by looking at a session on paper but a conversation with your coach can always clarify.

What is your favourite item of Soar Running apparel?
The Race Short 5.0 are definitely my favourite! They are by far the lightest pair of split-shorts I’ve owned. At first I thought the lack of reveal would be an issue but that is yet to be true. The fit around the waist is one of the best in the market; whilst a little daunting at first, the lack of drawstring allows for a wrinkle-free waistband and makes it feel like it’s not even there and more importantly doesn’t irritate the skin. It’s very easy to forget they’re even on.

You are going away for an extended period of time, you can only take on pair of running shoes, you will be jogging, doing speed work and longs; what shoe do you pack?
This is a very tough question, I’ve been known to harbour a rather large running shoe rotation and in all honesty, I would struggle an awful lot if this was a real-life situation! In saying that, my mind goes in two directions: a more versatile daily runner such as the Nike Vomero 16, Saucony Trimuph 20, or a thicker, non-plated training flat such as the New Balance Fuel Cell Rebel V3 or even a Nike Zoom Elite (good luck finding these). If I really had to pick for an extended period, I would probably err on the side of caution and go with either daily option. Personally the Vomero 16 is a bit smoother at my faster speeds, so let’s roll with that.