Purpose Magazine

Team BR Dubai: “The suit has high breathability to help us cope with the heat”

The biggest triathlon coaching team in Dubai – Team Bespoke Ride (BR) – originated from BR Performance Studios, UAE’s first performance gym for endurance athletes. “BR Performance Studios was formed in 2017 with my business partner Ahmed Alfahim, who was previously an athlete on the UAE Triathlon Team and Victory Team (UAE Power Boat Racing Team). The aim was to develop the first performance gym for endurance athletes in running, cycling and triathlons,” said Abdallah Alireza, 29, who left his career as a commodities trader to become a managing partner and director of BR Performance Studios. Specialising in providing tailor-made...

Taking product development very seriously

We take our product development seriously. Here you see new performance prototypes being tested by Singapore’s national triathletes. Two years after releasing the ITU-approved kits, we are releasing two new performance-oriented variants this season. So apart from the standard ITU (now called World Triathlon – WT) standard kits, we will also have one built with HYPERMESH™ PRO and another with Hydrophobic qualities. Why? Because one for general all-purpose, another more suited for duathlon and the third, with swimming speedsuit like capabilities for speed in the water. So in all, three performance variants for different types of high-performance WT sanctioned athletes....

Arjun Kandikuppa: “PURPOSE has never disappointed anyone I’ve recommended it to.”

Arjun Kandikuppa first got to know of PURPOSE back in 2018 during a race in Desaru, Malaysia. We were fairly new then and he received a voucher for a PURPOSE trisuit as part of his podium prize.⁠⁠“I redeemed the voucher and used the trisuit for an upcoming race. I immediately loved the product and have never changed my racing or training brand since then,” said the 33-year-old who works in technology.⁠⁠“My criterion for a triathlon product is to have comfort in the heat without compromising the aerodynamic fit of the suit. PURPOSE products in the triathlon and cycling range are...

Marc Gil Ruiz: Clocking 9:00:18 for an Ironman in our PURPOSE trisuit

From all the way in Barcelona, Marc Gil Ruiz was looking online for a trisuit to do his Ironman race in his hometown. “I wanted one with a bright colour and I found your website, and loved it!!⁠ “The designs are modern and elegant at the same time, and it is very comfortable. I will definitely buy more trisuits from PURPOSE,” said the 37-year-old administrative manager.⁠ Having been in triathlon since 2010, Marc trains almost everyday and his goal is to go under 9 hours for the Ironman distance. His best time so far is 9:00:18, which was done at...

Everesting in Malaysia: “This is a crazy thing!”

On the same weekend, another group of courageous cyclists attempted the Everesting Challenge (when cyclists climb and descend a given hill multiple times cumulatively to the elevation of Mount Everest) in Malaysia. The weather was a little kinder there, with bouts of rain but no heavy thunderstorms like that of Singapore. Amir Zaki bin Amran made quick work of it, completing the challenge in just 12 hours and 43 minutes of moving time (elapsed time of 16 hours 16 minutes). “This is my first time attempting the Everesting challenge and I did it only for the PURPOSE Everesting jersey,” said the...

Everesting in Singapore: “I would do it again!”

Bursting with motivation to start the Everesting challenge at Mount Faber, Kerwin Mugar Quinquilleria had his strategy and action plan in mind. It would take an estimated 115 laps of Mount Faber to achieve 8,848m of elevation (the equivalent to Mount Everest’s elevation) and Kerwin’s goal was to complete it in a moving time of 20 hours or less. However, just 10 laps in, the bolt of his front brake snapped off and got caught in his wheels, causing him to nearly slam into a Mercedes-Benz car. Fortunately, a friend of his who was also at the Everesting challenge helped...

Nik Zulhafizi: “I prefer to wear PURPOSE for my longer and harder rides.”

Nik Zulhafizi joined one of our PURPOSE Fellowship rides at Putrajaya earlier this year and subsequently decided to try our cycling kits. Once he started wearing our cycling jerseys, it became his preferred brand to wear, especially for longer and harder rides. “I like the quality of PURPOSE cycling jerseys, for its material and cutting too. I prefer to wear PURPOSE for my longer and harder rides because they are comfortable and suitable for our tropical climate,” said the 35-year-old who is in fund management. Previously in basketball and football, Nik now focuses on cycling after he switched his focus...

Zach Bitter runs the Desert Solstice 24 Hour Track Invitational

24 hours of running. Just the thought of that makes most of us shudder, but not for Zach Bitter, our dearest 100 Miles world record holder. For a 12-hour specialist, doing a 24-hour run is out of his comfort zone. Think about it – training for a half-marathon and full marathon is not the same! A half-Ironman and full Ironman is not the same either. You know what’s the “best” part about the Desert Solstice race? It is done around a track. Yes, a track that runners go round and round for 24 hours, trying to clock the most mileage....

2020: Here’s a look back into a year in PURPOSE

Although this year may not have gone as we planned, we still had a pretty fantastic 2020 with some amazing milestones. We hope you have too. Here’s a recap to our 2020. We’d love to know yours too! Let us know in the comments below. 1) January – Officially launched the PURPOSE Running Series Right off the bat we started 2020 with a bang with the launch of PURPOSE Running – an extension beyond triathlon and cycling. Two launch events we held in Singapore and Malaysia on the same weekend, with key media and customers joining us for a breakfast...

The PURPOSE Podcast 14: Jeri Chua, from running the running trails to running a running company

If you’ve been in the Singapore running scene for a while, it is hard not to know who Jeri Chua is. She was the first Singaporean to qualify for the prestigious Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii in 1997. Formerly a physical education teacher, she later moved to the United Kingdom for her masters degree in exercise and nutrition science. She didn’t return to Singapore immediately, choosing to work there in fashion retail. Her plans to continue triathlons changed when she decided to stop cycling and swimming because of the cold weather. She then joined a running club in 2009 and...

For the ladies – the new Women’s high waisted 4-inch running shorts

Some wanted it longer, some preferred it shorter. Our women’s running shorts prototypes made its rounds through several ladies, before we finally put it on the market. High-waisted shorts are great to wear as they help to ‘tuck’ the tummy in so it doesn’t bother you in your workout. And the length of 4 inches mean you get the full range of motion to run your best times. Don’t worry, we have an inner lining to make sure nothing gets exposed. The PURPOSE Women’s High Waisted 4-inch Running Shorts are available here.

The PURPOSE Podcast 13: Richard Farren & Sophie King

They were both working in Singapore, each pursuing a passion in triathlons. They had mutual friends who thought they would have made a great couple, but with a stroke of fate, it was Tinder that brought Richard Farren and Sophie King together. It didn’t take long for their relationship to blossom as their triathlon journey merged as one. After a few months, including Sophie winning her age group at Ironman 70.3 Xiamen under Richard’s guidance, they made the decision to resign from their respective jobs and return to the United Kingdom to embark on a year-long process to turn pro....

Ruth Cataran: “I don’t feel anything bouncing or jiggling.”

What caught Ruth Cutaran’s eye were the vibrant colours and designs of our trisuits during the 113 Desaru Triathlon back in 2018. “PURPOSE designs are cool and they look different from what I normally wear. I particularly love my PRO performance mesh trisuit. The fit is really good and snug which I like,” said the 29-year-old radiographer. “It compresses my body just right and I don’t feel anything bouncing or jiggling. The trisuit fits taut and is very comfortable just how I like it.” Ruth started doing duathlons first, towards the end of 2018, before she picked up triathlons in...

Introducing 𝐏𝐑𝐏𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐏𝐑𝐏𝐒 𝐕𝐈𝐏, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐏𝐑𝐏𝐒 – our global three-part customer programme

We have just launched a very exciting three-part global customer loyalty programme to give YOU, our valued customer, rewards and discounts for your support. 1) 𝐏𝐑𝐏𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬Open to everyone, you will earn points for every dollar spent or every challenge completed. These points can then be redeemed for cash discounts on items in our store. For every S$100 you spend, you will unlock a S$5 discount. You also earn points for creating an account, liking our social media pages and profiles, sharing our posts, or even sharing a product with a friend. Sign up for PRPS Rewards now (it’s free)...

The PURPOSE Podcast 12: Kelly Pereira, on overcoming anxiety and self-doubt with triathlons

It’s hard when you’re on the bigger side. Society judges, people judges; stereotypes are quick to be placed on you. But Kelly Pereira was not going to let any of this negativity stop her from pursuing her passion in triathlons. Her goal is to complete an Ironman 70.3 once the races are back and not even her diabetes or gastroparesis will hamper her efforts. She learnt about triathlons in her 20s, over a decade ago, but never found the courage nor confidence to get into it until now. The more people think she cannot do it, the more determined she...

The PURPOSE Podcast: Claire Jedrek, on motor racing, motherhood and entrepreneurship

Coming from an extreme sports background, Claire Jedrek knows no fear. She used to do aggressive inline during her teenage days, which is where she got talent scouted and subsequently grew her career in entertainment. She has done heaps of hosting, graced too many magazine covers, done her fair share of TV dramas – and later, race commentary when she got into motorsports. The mother of two toddlers is also a race car driver herself, the only female one in Singapore in fact. If all of that is not enough, her husband Yuey Tan (Porsche Carrera Cup Asia driver) and...

MADE OF TENACITY – register for the PURPOSE Everesting Challenge 2021 now!

We held our first ever Everesting Challenge in August, in celebration of Malaysia Merdeka Day. It was a true test of will, as everyone toiled their way through night and day to hit the total elevation of Mount Everest. Moving forward, the Everesting Challenge will be a staple event for us – and we have an exclusive PURPOSE Everesting cycling jersey as a reward for your hard efforts. Here is the next chance for you to challenge yourself – Everesting Challenge 20219/10 January 2021Singapore / Malaysia Register at https://purpose.asia/pages/everesting at just SGD 10 and book your own limited edition PURPOSE...

Sean Parish: From accompanying a friend to doing his first Ironman

The initial intention was not to take part in triathlons, but to accompany his friend for her first sprint triathlon. “Three years ago, I never considered doing triathlons. I was accompanying my friend on her open water swims, bike rides and runs,” said Sean Parish. “It then got to a point where I realised since I was doing all the training, I might as well enter the race myself. So I did and I enjoyed it so much that I upgraded all my equipment, got a coach to help me create a formal training plan and went on to do...

5 tips on how to improve your endurance by Zach Bitter

After achieving so much in the space of endurance running, multiple world record holder Zach Bitter likes how “training for endurance events often crosses over into other aspects of life and how important enjoying the process is to have a successful outcome at a race or for any health benefit targets”. He said, “The process of sitting down, asking yourself what you want to prepare for and planning it out and executing the plan is such an important skill to develop for any project or life goal you might have in sight. “I also often remind myself that there are so...

Dayang Syahida: Despite having scoliosis, her goal is to complete an Ironman

Seven years ago, with no experience in triathlon, Dayang Syahida (@dayangcha) told a friend that she will complete an Ironman triathlon in 10 years. The 31-year-old civil servant completed her first ever triathlon in 2019 and through the encouragement and much support from her friends, her respect for the sport grew even more. Being diagnosed with scoliosis eight years ago, Dayang’s main priority is to stay active and physically healthy, but this does not stop her from challenging herself. “Keeping active is the only way I could prevent myself from having to endure back pain that worsens whenever I’m in...

Purpose Driven Cycling Club: Forging healthy friendships through cycling

The first major ride for Indonesia’s newly-formed Purpose Driven Cycling Club (PDCC) was the Tour de Cirebon where 17 members – all decked out in the same PURPOSE PRO Mirage cycling jersey – rode 160 kilometres from Cikampek to Cirebon. “PDCC is a cycling community formed in September with the objective of creating healthy friendships through the shared passion of cycling,” said Teddy Y. Danas, 54, founder of PDCC and Senior Vice President of Bank Mandiri. “The members of this community are cycling enthusiasts who live around Bintaro and frequently ride the Bintaro Loop. Because of the strong emphasis on...

The PURPOSE Podcast: Zach Bitter, World Record Holder – 100 Miles & 12 Hours Track Run, 100 Miles & 12 Hours Treadmill Run

This man needs no introduction. We watched him break the 100 Miles Treadmill Run World Record during a time where most, or all, of us were confined within the walls of our homes. In that same session, he also broke the world record for the furthest distance in 12 hours on the treadmill. Prior to this, he already held the world record for 100 Miles and 12 Hours on the track. This man is Zach Bitter, whom we just launched a running collection with – complete with his signature on the singlets, tshirt and shorts. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Zach’s...

MADE OF WORLD RECORDS: The Zach Bitter Signature Series 1 collection

Our partnership with Zach Bitter started with a bang when he wore our Elite Racing HYPERMESH running singlet and broke the world record for the 100 Miles (160 kilometres) Treadmill Run. 12 hours 9 minutes and 5 seconds. On a treadmill. Literally running on the spot. How?! All that time spent hopping from one treadmill to another with an average speed of 7:18 per mile (4:32 per km). Simply astounding. Highly respectable. He wasn’t watching any TV and he was barely listening to any music either. Mindblown. The best part? He wore the same set of PURPOSE Elite Racing running...

Pete Farnsworth: Purpose-built for this climate

Pete Farnsworth started out as an avid cyclist, mostly doing mountain biking on the trails. His first brush with triathlon was when he did the bike leg for a team relay at a triathlon race in Singapore. About the same time, his son was born and he had less time to travel for his mountain biking adventures. Thus, he started doing more runs and road rides, which quickly morphed into an addiction for triathlon. “I started taking it more seriously and then signed up with COS Coaching to learn how to train properly,” the 42-year-old regional director of customer experience...

The PURPOSE Podcast: Mandy Chan, building a S$2.5 million lifestyle brand by the age of 24

At a young age of 19 when most teenagers are chasing their K-pop idols or getting videos done for Tik Tok, Mandy Chan took a gap year so she could start her own business to sell her idea – a multi-functional sports bag. This idea came to her when she kept forgetting to bring her toiletries whenever she went to the gym. It hit her that she needed a multi-functional bag which can also house her toiletries, on top of her everyday things and gym gear. This was how BOW was born – designed for modern people who have many...