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 run and an exclusive preview of the new running collection.

2) April – Launched ‘Keep The Cadence’, a campaign to encourage everyone to maintain the training momentum virtually

To maintain everyone’s sanity whilst stuck at home for months, Keep The Cadence campaign was announced, hosting rides and virtual training sessions on platforms like Zwift and Zoom. Special promotions and discounts were given on products to fuel everyone’s training needs.

3) May – Signed Zach Bitter as an official PURPOSE athlete and ambassador

Adding to our stable of professional athletes like Dr Dan Plews, Ironman World Championship Age Group Record Holder, we signed Zach Bitter this year.

Zach is a multiple world record holder in 100 Miles and 12 Hours, on both track and treadmill. This gives us the confidence that we are producing the right products that these world-class athletes trust and believe in.

An agreement was also struck to create a series of running kits that will bear his name. The idea for the Zach Bitter Signature Series was hatched.

4) May – Zach Bitter wore PURPOSE Running kits to the 100 Miles and 12-hour Treadmill Run World Records

During a time when the world was in lockdown and many were confined within the walls of their homes, Zach was keeping himself busy by breaking the 100 Miles Treadmill World Record with a time of 12 hours 9 minutes 15 seconds (over 20 minutes faster than the previous record).

In the same session, he also set the 12 Hours Treadmill World Record with a distance of 98.64 miles (158.7 km).

Zach wore the PURPOSE Elite Racing running singlet and a prototype of the running shorts for this achievement. What’s more amazing was that he wore only one set of attire throughout the whole attempt.

5) June – The First PFRUN started in Malaysia

PURPOSE Fellowship (PF) started with bike rides and soon after, grew into run-bike-run (brick) training sessions for the Powerman Malaysia duathlon race that was supposed to take place in March. These were known as PFRIDE and PFBRICK.

This year PFRUN begun when we were let out of lockdown. These sessions mainly fall on weekdays with intervals on the track to give people the motivation to continue training despite the absence of races.

6) July – The PURPOSE Podcast was created

Created to let us learn more about prominent people in the sports community (not just triathlon), beyond their sporting achievements,

The PURPOSE Podcast so far has spoken to personalities like Merle Talviste, Josiah Ng, Jeri Chua, Allison Yee, Claire Jedrek, Colin O’Shea, Andy Wibowo and many more.

Learn  more about the person behind the personality. Listen to The PURPOSE Podcast on Spotify.

7) August – The inaugural PURPOSE Everesting Challenge was hosted in Malaysia

For Malaysia’s Hari Merdeka, the first PURPOSE Everesting Challenge was organised. The goal was to ride the total elevation of Mt. Everest – 8,848 metres! Doing 98 laps (1 lap = 2.2km with 92m ascent gain) using a route outside Villa Orkid condominium, seven of the fifteen brave souls who turned up managed to complete the full Everesting Challenge and the rest reached base camp (half the elevation of Mt Everest). The next PURPOSE Everesting Challenge will take place on 8 January 2021 in Singapore and Malaysia, complete with a limited edition EVERESTING jersey.

8) September – Launched CUSTOM by PURPOSE, a revolutionary 3D customisation engine for teams, clubs and shops

A platform that now allows you to customise your own trisuit, cycling jersey or running top using a robust 3D engine.

Start with templates or a blank canvas. There are 100 colours to choose from and a myriad of free form ways you can add personalisation options like adding names, country flags, sponsor logos, or any other elemets you wish

Besides being an easier way to design, teams, clubs and gyms can also have their own branded Club Shop on the purpose.asia website for members to log into and make their own individual orders.

No more manual ordering and collecting payments for teams and clubs. Now gyms get to make their merchandise without having to produce inventory up-front.

9) October – The Zach Bitter Signature Series range of PURPOSE Running kits was launched

“I was already completely sold on the HYPERMESH material that PURPOSE is becoming known for. It is simply the lightest and most comfortable material I have been able to use,” Zach said.⁠

“Its function in warm environments has been useful during the summer heat I get here in Phoenix, Arizona. I also enjoyed the creative process around picking the colours and designs.⁠

Designed in collaboration with Zach, the Zach Bitter Signature Running Series was born. Tested and reviewed, not only by Zach Bitter himself, but also by wife Nicole Bitter who is just as much an accomplished runner as her husband is.

10) November – Season 20/21 ‘Time To Strike’ Collection released

Even though there have been no races this year, we wanted to keep to our commitment of releasing a new collection each year.

Inspired by the Agama lizard and known for their adaptability as well as colour-changing capability, Season 20/21 Collection celebrates all of our accomplishments.

From our ability to lay low and dormant – required due to the situation, to our determination to rise and strike when required.

Hence the theme, Time to Strike.

In this collection, we also introduced HYPERMESH RFLKT, the first reflective cycling jerseys of its kind in Southeast Asia. The RFLKT can be found in the upgraded PRO v3 cycling jerseys.