ASICS. The name is an acronym of the Latin phrase Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning: “a sound mind in a sound body”. It's one of the best-known slogans in the sportswear business but what does it actually stand for? ASICS was formerly known as the Onitsuka Company, established by former military officer Kihachiro Onitsuka in Kobe, Japan, in 1949.

Mr. Onitsuka had a passion for sports and health and he set out to provide the youth of Japan with appropriate shoes to encourage participation in sports. The business name was changed to ASICS in the late 1970s and ASICS’ long-standing corporate vision is to: “create quality lifestyle through intelligent sport technology”. It is the philosophy under which the company operates and the fundamental platform on which it stands today.

History and philosophy are commendable attributes but do the products fulfil the brief today? Well, according to Brand Trainer Jack Hobbs, there's no substitute for getting ASICS shoes onto runners' feet, so they can see for themselves. And that is exactly what's happening in David Lloyd Clubs around the country in an exclusive running shoe partnership for 2023.

David Lloyd has grown to become Europe's largest health, fitness, and leisure business by revenue, operating more than 130 clubs across nine countries (102 in the UK). Founded in 1982 by former professional tennis player David Lloyd, many clubs host an outdoors David Lloyd Run Club and the group has launched a nationwide Virtual Run Club in partnership with ASICS with a David Lloyd Clubs Run Coach every Thursday morning – your place at your pace.

The 2023 ASICS/David Lloyd partnership will see 10 David Lloyd Run Clubs visited by ASICS staff with the very latest running shoes available to be tried on a training run and/or indoors during a free gait analysis, followed by shoe recommendations from an ASICS footwear expert. Some of the runs are accompanied by one of ASICS' FrontRunner Community – 'ambassadors of movement', who embody the ASICS philosophy to support and inspire others to get moving.

All the outdoor runs are led by a David Lloyd Run Club Coach like our runABC South news writer and UK Athletics Coach Alan Newman, who took a group earlier this month at David Lloyd Kings Hill, near Maidstone in Kent. Some of the group are pictured above post-run, with ASICS goody bags, about to enjoy their complimentary drinks at the David Lloyd Club Lounge with ASICS Brand Trainer Jack Hobbs, who took the photo.

During the day runners were able to try the following shoes and experience the ASICS effect:

Metaspeed Sky+ (carbon-plated, lightweight, high-performance race shoe)
Gel Nimbus 25 (25th-anniversary edition, cushioned, long-distance shoe)
Gel Kayano 30 (the latest iteration of the classic, hard-wearing, long-distance shoe)
Novablast 3 (light, bouncy, maximal cushioning shoe)

Jack Hobbs of ASICS was kept busy with gait analysis and the session was enjoyed by around 20 active participants and many more club members seeking specialist advice.     

For more information on ASICS products click here.