Fitness & Training

Melbourne – September 15, 2026 -- Sandbox VR is opening a new virtual reality venue on Bourke Street in Melbourne's Central Business District, its second Australian location after the Gold Coast site. Guests can get 25% off through September 13 via presale booking on the company's website.

The Melbourne venue includes a bar, a party room and four private rooms where groups of up to six people wear headsets, haptic vests and motion sensors for full-body immersion. The system lets players see and physically interact with each other during sessions, and each group receives a personalized highlight video afterward to share the experience.

Austin, Texas – September 15, 2026 -- Early Bird registration is now open for the 2026 Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run, sponsored by Raising Cane's, with discounted tickets available for a limited time through Ticketbud.

The run returns to Zilker Park on Saturday, December 5

Participants of all ages can walk, jog, dash, or dance through the holiday light display before anyone else sees it. New this year, a rolling start lets runners pick any start time between 6 and 8 p.m., while faster racers can opt into the Runner's Start, launching at the 6 p.m. countdown alongside VIP registrants.

Morristown, N.J. – September 15, 2026 -- Notre Dame football fans who grind through touchdown push-ups all season can now win $1,000 for their effort, as Icy Hot launches a campaign rewarding the Fighting Irish faithful for one of college football's toughest fan traditions.

Fans at Notre Dame home games average between 147 and 189 push-ups per game, according to statistics provided by Notre Dame Athletics, as the crowd drops for every touchdown scored. Icy Hot, now in its second year as the Official Topical Pain Relief Partner of Notre Dame Athletics, is teaming up with former Fighting Irish captain and offensive lineman Zack Martin to recognize that effort.

New York – September 13, 2026 -- Loews Hotels & Co has rolled out Active Stays by Loews Hotels, a new fitness and wellness program available at its properties nationwide starting September 9. The initiative, developed with fitness trainer Makena Rae, gives guests flexible ways to move during a stay, from ten-minute in-room routines to full-morning walking tours.

In-room TVs now stream equipment-free workouts

Guests can access a curated library of short, guided sessions through their guest room television, including mobility exercises, bodyweight strength routines, and recovery workouts designed for hotel rooms. The digital series was created in partnership with Makena Rae for travelers who don't have time to visit the gym.

Berlin – September 10, 2026 -- MERACH has unveiled the UltraWalk W60 Plus, its new flagship walking pad, at IFA Berlin 2026, marking the treadmill's first launch in Europe. Shoppers can pre-order the device through September 20, 2026 at an early-bird price of €379.99, down from its €459.99 list price.

The company designed the W60 Plus for people who spend long hours at a desk and want to add movement without carving out separate workout time. It targets home offices and living rooms where space and noise are constraints.

A brushless motor targets 15,000 hours of use

The treadmill runs on a brushless motor rated for 3.5 HP peak output, built with an integrated Hall sensor for precise, consistent speed control even at slower walking paces. MERACH states the motor is engineered to last up to 15,000 operating hours.

New York – September 11, 2026 -- Suunto has launched the Run 2, a running watch weighing 35 grams that starts at $349, with pre-orders opening today and global availability the same day.

The watch adds a brighter screen and longer battery life than its predecessor

The Run 2 features a 1.32-inch AMOLED display reaching 2,000 nits, three times brighter than the original Suunto Run, designed to stay readable in direct sunlight. Battery capacity increases by 29 percent over the prior model, giving roughly 10 days of everyday use or up to 24 hours with dual-band GNSS tracking active. At 11.7mm thick, the watch body includes a stainless steel bezel, Gorilla Glass and 5 ATM water resistance.

Berlin – September 10, 2026 -- Fitness brand Merach used its IFA Berlin 2026 appearance to launch the UltraWalk W60 Plus walking pad in Europe, alongside a new knee-protection cushioning system called KneeGuard(TM).

The W60 Plus ships September 20 with an early-bird discount

The UltraWalk W60 Plus, flagship of Merach's W60 series, is built for home offices and light indoor training. It goes on sale September 20, 2026 for a recommended retail price of 459.99 euros, with pre-orders available until then at an early-bird price of 379.99 euros through merachfit.de.

The device runs on a brushless motor rated for up to 15,000 hours of use, with noise capped at 53 decibels. Its running surface measures 420 by 1,050 millimeters and supports electric inclines up to 8.75 percent across twelve settings. Extras include an RGB light bar, a 5-watt Bluetooth speaker, and a triple-LED display tracking six metrics.

Garching – September 09, 2026 -- Appliance maker Gorenje has announced a new partnership with handball player Mathias Gidsel, unveiled at IFA 2026. The deal ties the European home appliance brand to one of the sport's top current athletes.

Gidsel brings a trophy case built on Olympic and World titles

Gidsel is a three-time IHF World Handball Player of the Year, an Olympic champion, and a multiple World Championship winner. Gorenje frames the partnership around a shared belief that peak performance and personal success start at home, rather than focusing solely on his on-court achievements.

Gorenje's management links the deal to its brand mission

Janko Stern, a member of the Hisense Europe Management Board, said Gidsel represents discipline and authenticity, and that Gorenje aims to ease daily routines so people have the freedom to focus on what matters most.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- MERACH has launched the UltraWalk W60 Plus walking pad in Europe, debuting the device on the opening day of IFA Berlin 2026. The pad is available for pre-order through September 20, 2026, at an Early Bird price of €379.99, down from its €459.99 recommended retail price -- an €80 saving.

The UltraWalk W60 Plus is aimed at people who want to add movement to their day without setting aside dedicated workout time, particularly those working from home. It runs on a brushless motor rated for up to 15,000 hours of operation, with a peak output of 3.5 HP.

An integrated Hall sensor keeps walking speed steady even at low intensity.

The sensor is designed to deliver precise and consistent speed control, which the company says is especially useful during slower walking sessions. A convection cooling system with two ventilation openings helps dissipate heat, allowing the pad to run continuously for up to three hours.

Brighton, Mich. – September 08, 2026 -- Morning stiffness and end-of-day aches in the shoulders, neck, knees, hips, or back are early warning signs that shouldn't be brushed aside, according to physical therapy expert Vince Baylerian of Brighton, Mich. His insights are featured in a new HelloNation article outlining simple home strategies to manage joint and muscle pain before it worsens.

Posture checks target shoulder and neck tension

The article points to long hours spent looking down at phones or sitting at desks as a major contributor to shoulder and neck discomfort among Brighton residents. Small posture adjustments during daily tasks, combined with basic movements like neck rotations and shoulder rolls, are recommended to help ease tension.