Fitness

R A DICA L NEW 3-D-PR INTED MIDSOLES TA K E “CUSTOM FIT” TO A W HOLE NEW LEV EL.

A foam roller that’s flat-out cool

■ A neat, clean, unsweaty roller is a workout boon — and a pain in the arse to tote around. Until now: meet the Morph, the world’s first collapsible roller. Push in one end to fold it flat, then pull two cords to pop it open. A Kickstarter hit, the Morph goes where other rollers can’t — like a gym bag, tiny locker or carry-on. Gluteus maximus, meet roller minimus. $68; out in April, pre-order at kickstarter.com.

Fitness Breakthroughs

You’re just what I need, sugar

■ For maximum energy during endurance work, take a hit of table sugar, say researchers at Britain’s Bath Uni after testing carbs’ effects on longdistance cyclists’ energy levels. Down 1.5 tbsp sugar in 100ml water hourly for sessions beyond 2.5 hours.

The gym or the mat?

■ Which gets you in better shape — yoga or lifting? Answer: Both. A Texas Uni study found that after three one-hour workouts per week, both lifters and yogis lost about 4% body fat and were equally fit overall (though the yogis won out in stretching, duh).

What can a 3-D printer make? Happier feet.

Ya gotta have friends

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Do you dream of the day when, each time you slam kilometres down on the pavement, your feet feel as cushioned and coddled as two babes being rocked in their mother’s arms? Lucky for you, here comes Mama!

Or, to be more accurate, here comes design firm Nervous System, which was tasked with helping running shoe giant New Balance create a midsole for a runner’s arch — a notoriously tough spot to support because of all the physical forces at play. But instead of going the conventional route, Nervous designers decided to 3-D-print the midsoles, making foam structures that mimic natural cellular designs (like those in wood and bone) so they adapt more quickly to a runner’s foot than the usual man-made foams.

“We recorded data using a grid of sensors under the foot to design the foams,” says creative director Jessica Rosenkrantz, a process similar to the way your foot will be sized up when you buy the shoes in-store.

A limited-edition model with a 3-D-printed midsole will be unveiled at the Boston Marathon in the US in April, and New Balance aims to have a store version out in 2017.

■ Training alone can be a drag. In fact, one study conducted by Kansas State University found that people who worked out with even a projected image of a partner could exercise longer yet feel less tired.

Now Yaye, a free app for Android and Apple, can provide some of that team spirit. Use it to share workouts, progress reports, and encouraging (or, when necessary, arse-kicking) IM chats with your own private group of mates or family members as you motivate one another to stay on task. It also tracks steps taken (no extra devices needed), calories burned, workout duration and your activity level versus other Yaye participants. Exercise and nutrition programs are also available. Visit yayeapp.com for more info. — S E A N H Y S O N