With slightly stiff legs I got out of bed early for a hearty breakfast. An Insanity workout was on the schedule: a 30-minute training where you repeat the exercises as fast as possible for 45 seconds. Then 15 seconds of rest (or a bit of jogging in place) and then another exercise that lasts 45 seconds. It goes on like this. Sounds easy, but after 6 minutes you can actually sweep me up.

 Roof top breakfast

With a view over the Berlin zoo, I chose a bowl of Bircher muesli and a slice of German bread (sturdy sourdough bread with lots of seeds) with a slice of cheese at the breakfast buffet.

 Winter indoor workout

Around the corner from the hotel is Nike Town. Yes, the girls in the editorial office will laugh at me, but it really is one of my favorite stores. No matter which city I'm in, Nike Town must be visited. In Berlin, it had just opened, so everything was brand new and the store in Berlin is actually the first with a gym area where classes are given every day by real professional bodybuilders, athletes, and crossfit champions. You can feel it coming: we also had to get to work.

 New workout, new outfit

In the locker room, my name was on a locker filled with a tracksuit, a sports bra, shoes, and some accessories. I put on the supersonic suitand it fit like a glove. I immediately made the movement as if I was skiing down a slope, because it looked a bit like that.

The shoes I received were the NikeZoom Fit Agility. Specially designed for indoor training, not for the treadmill, but mainly to make a lot of movements. Crossfit, body balance, strength training. There are airy nubs on the bottom that provide a lot of stability on the floor.

 Insanity to the max

Alex, a former bodybuilder (you could still see that well, but whether I actually found it beautiful is another question), gave us a lesson.

The first thing she said to me was: “It’s gonna be very hard for you.” Okay. “So put your shirt off, because this is too warm, you need your tank top.” I obediently ran to the locker room where indeed a dry fit tank top was in the locker. Alex continued. “Girls. Don’t stop if it’s too hard. Don’t stop.” Okay, we’ll do that.

 Tomato head and sweaty armpits

After a mini warm-up, the lunges, squats, and push-ups came up, and those had to be repeated as fast as possible for 45 seconds (and that is long, you know) in a row. Squat, hands on the ground, jump back and then a push-up, legs back to the squat position and jump up. Good, something like that. It was a lesson that is also easy to follow on the Nike app. It has various insanity workouts. There’s even one of 5 minutes that gives your whole body a boost. Handy for at home. Of course, you have to be just as enthusiastic as when a personal trainer is next to you.

 Work hard play hard

We had earned a lunch, so I had lunch with Annette (Women’s Health Netherlands), Rossanne (PR manager Nike), and Swedish fashion blogger Joanna Fingal on the rooftop of our hotel with a great view over the city.

In nice weather, you can also sit outside. We filled the tables with the most delicious things. Three types of hummus, falafel, salmon sashimi, eggplant with couscous, and sweet potato fries. Were we hungry? Nah.

 Back home

Nike, you are incredibly cool. Everything from the new collection can go straight into my closet. It makes you so eager to train even more. I’m going to fly with the NikeZoom sneakers and in winter my glowing pants and jacket are perfect for evening runs in Vondelpark. No more hassle with bike lights that I try to attach to my zipper. And Berlin, you are also absolutely amazing.