tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30286395757086872712024-02-20T23:31:23.916-08:00runnermike.comGear. Science. Running.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-40593848468801159902013-02-24T13:47:00.003-08:002013-02-24T13:47:34.273-08:00DIY MegaKey: The Solution to Jingle Free RunningWarm breeze, sun shining, steady breathing, and the soft crunch of dirt under running shoes as trees go by on the trail: my idea of the perfect, tranquil, run. Notice what isn't in that picture? The jingle of keys clinking together with every step - it's enough to drive a runner mad. Finally though, I've found a real solution to stopping keys from jingling during runs. <div>
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Over the years I've tried a few different solutions that all left me wanting:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Shoe key pockets</li>
<li>Rubber bands</li>
<li>Stuffing tissue in my key pocket for padding</li>
<li>Holding my keys</li>
<li>Attaching them to my watch</li>
<li>Hiding them under a rock</li>
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Everything either felt awkward, seemed junky, or fell apart half way through the run. Now after a few test runs on the track and through the woods I can happily say my problems have been solved by MegaKey (or at least thats what I'm calling it). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7w4xS1DurOVaXrtRPKU-dDSar3BCrOVYxFHigd-x7oO2ruWWjjW5VnDVJJYRWVnD0MVElXCjIcgFXjoKgH1Lz2T7bl16x295wpcYam9IqTEUuXe9AbKn7syHqACGLTmZj3r8jS5n4Q6L/s1600/6ab81a1c-dfce-496b-b5da-d722d19b46fa" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7w4xS1DurOVaXrtRPKU-dDSar3BCrOVYxFHigd-x7oO2ruWWjjW5VnDVJJYRWVnD0MVElXCjIcgFXjoKgH1Lz2T7bl16x295wpcYam9IqTEUuXe9AbKn7syHqACGLTmZj3r8jS5n4Q6L/s320/6ab81a1c-dfce-496b-b5da-d722d19b46fa" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ok so it looks like I stuck my keys together with a piece of chewing gum, bun in actuality a formulation of Formerol - the patented formable silicone technology that is now known by the name of <a href="https://sugru.com/" target="_blank">Sugru</a>. It's actually a "<a href="https://sugru.com/about" target="_blank">new self-setting rubber for fixing, modifying and improving your stuff</a>" that really is amazing.</div>
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It comes out of the pack like modeling clay, then you have 30 minutes to mold it into shape. At that point you leave it over night and it cures at room temperature into a tough, resilient, rubber. You can try bending/breaking this key but it is really tough - the stuff is not peeling off and is leaving no room for any jingling between the keys. </div>
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It looks a bit like a weapon at this point but it actually works great. It fits into standard running key pockets but it doesn't poke or bulge out. And best of all it's super light, super quiet, and actually allows for the tranquility running deserves. </div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-77219732249406941212012-12-02T19:24:00.001-08:002012-12-02T19:24:19.148-08:00Keep Your Shoes from StinkingIf you like to run without socks (which I think creates a lot more connection with the ground & makes it easier to feel correct form) then your shoes probably stink. Mine definitely do.<br />
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The best solution I've found to date: stuff them with newspaper after a run (<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/21-uses-for-newspaper-once-you-50121">apparently it's a very versatile tool</a>) and then spray with Febreeze. Most the smell comes from dampness that's the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and this solution is the best one I've come to so far. I've also tried more outlandish things (like creating my own shoe boxes with vents covered in dryer sheets) and I've seen some <a href="http://www.sterishoe.com/">highly technical</a> solutions but I have no idea how effective those are.<br />
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Also: don't be afraid to throw your shoes in the washer. Take the laces out, give them a wash, and stuff them with paper towels or newspaper to dry, it works wonders.<br />
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<br />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-7663413109448975132012-11-27T18:34:00.002-08:002012-11-27T18:34:12.140-08:00Minimalist Running Philosophy"Are you into those toe shoe things?" I get this question all the time (they're asking about VFFs: <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/barefoot-sports/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=vibram+five+fingers&utm_content=general+-+vibram+fivefingers+(exact)&utm_campaign=brand&mkwid=s7oGLmTHn&pcrid=17360737789">Vibram Five Fingers</a>) and I take a deep breath before responding because it's usually the beginning of a long conversation.<br />
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In reality, there's a spectrum in running philosophies that has two ends: </div>
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<ol>
<li>Traditional (post 80's): Running is high impact, damaging, and brutal but healthy exercise (or punishment). New technologies can prevent injury by providing cushion, forcing foot alignment (pronation), and helping your body adapt to the world around you.</li>
<li>Minimalist: Running is the most natural form of human activity in the world. We've been doing it for thousands of years, anyone can do it, and it's best done (nearly) naked. Any interference between the human body and the ground is screwing up a naturally harmonious relationship that can lead to lifelong running health. </li>
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While I don't train in VFFs, the last 8 years have landed me closer to the 2nd end of the spectrum. I grew up running in standard high cushion trainers like everyone else from middle school to early college, and majority of my most competitive friends (including those qualifying for the Olympic trials) still tend to train in more traditional trainers. However 8 years ago (mid college racing & suffering shin splints) I started reading more about minimalist philosophies and have been running in some form of racing flat or minimalist shoe ever since. I consider myself a little too 'serious' of a runner to train/race in VFFs (be honest - you don't see these things in the Olympics) but I do own some, and I do think aspects of them have merits and may work great for some runners. When figuring out where you lie on the spectrum (or where a shoe lies) there are 5 major components that separate the two ends:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Heel/toe height difference</li>
<li>Padding/cushioning</li>
<li>Support</li>
<li>Foot & toe freedom/flexibility</li>
<li>Weight</li>
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<i>Note: Scientific studies do exist that back up the minimalist side of all these arguments, I just don't have them handy at the moment. I intend to make this post a work in progress and add citations but if you have any articles/papers you think are interesting include them in the comments, I'd love to see them.</i></div>
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<b>1. Heel/toe height difference</b></div>
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This is one of the most impactful (and difficult to adjust to) differences between traditional and minimalist trainers.<br />
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<li>The traditional view is that running/jogging is a heel to toe exercise: land on heel, roll forward to forefoot, lift, repeat. All that pounding on the heel sends a lot of shock up the leg, so running shoes have been designed with a large, cushy, heel to absorb that initial impact. </li>
<li>The core minimalist idea is that the human body as a machine is meant to absorb impact naturally by landing on the forefoot and absorbing force through the foot arch, & natural leg springs (achilles tendon & calf muscle) as the heel approaches the ground. If you're coming from high heeled shoes it takes significant time & work to adjust to this difference, and I would strongly consider doing it gradually.</li>
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Heel > Toe differences can range anywhere from 0mm in a Minimus to 12mm in a trainer. Check out the <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2012/11/new-balance-mr00-minimus-road-review.html">New Balance MR00</a> below (12mm heel, 12mm forefoot) vs the <a href="http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-NPG29M1.html">Nike Air Pegasus +29</a> (32mm heel, 20mm forefoot).<br />
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<b>2. Padding/cushioning</b></div>
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"Why is the ground so hard?" is a typical first comment when trying on minimalist shoes, and it will probably be the first thing your feet notice.<br />
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<ul>
<li>The traditional view is that running is a high impact exercise, and reducing that impact <i>at the ground</i> will prevent harm to the body.</li>
<li>The minimalist view is that if you let the body act naturally, the force is dissipated through the body's intended absorption points. One aspect of this reduction is by using a forefoot strike instead of a heel strike (discussed above).<br /><br />The other aspect is that our bodies are actually very smart. The human foot is meant to be our connection with the ground - it's great at sensing it's environment & keeping us balanced. That means when you stride onto a cushy, unstable, surface the foot will naturally push down to find a balance point. And when you stride onto a hard, unforgiving, surface the foot will naturally land delicately, step lightly, and minimize contact. If you don't believe me try jogging barefoot across your driveway or sidewalk, then do the same thing with your shoes on (seriously). The effect is that by reducing padding you naturally step lightly, and not only does this reduce contact at the ground level, but the natural change in form makes a dramatic difference at how the impact is propagated up the body. A natural strike shows less force transmitted up through the knees and hips. <br /><br />Barefoot runners take this to the extreme and run entire marathons barefoot; personally I like a fairly thin layer of protection to the ground and I find thin racing flats or minimal trail shoes to be a good balance. Again, take a look at the picture above of the Minimus vs the Pegasus and consider even the thinnest part of the Pegasus is the 20mm cushioned forefoot vs the 12mm rubbery Minimus sole. </li>
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<b>3. Support</b></div>
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This is something minimalist converts need to be very cautious about.<br />
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<ul>
<li>The traditional view is that the foot is weak & needs arch support.</li>
<li>The minimalist view is that fundamentally, an arch is one of nature's strongest mechanisms. It's only weakness is if you stick something under it (which is exactly what arch support does!). The idea here is that in the western world our arches have become extremely weak and under utilized (see the number of flat footed people in the US) but that this can be reversed. There's near 0 prevalence of this disorder in undeveloped countries that haven't grown up with shoes.<br /><br />So the key here is that support is extraneous once your foot is used to supporting itself. You just have to be careful during that building process. </li>
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<b>4. Foot & toe freedom/flexibility</b></div>
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While the first two aspects probably make a bigger difference in your running mechanics the visible toe freedom is what has made VFFs so well known to runners & onlookers.<br />
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<li>The traditional view is that shoes just need to contain your feet. As long as they're not giving you blisters or uncomfortable they're probably fine.</li>
<li>The minimalist view is that toes should naturally spread & grip when barefoot, and normal shoes inhibit this.<br /><br />My personal view is that I like a wider forefoot with some space for movement (plus I run barefoot in my shoes which I think gives me a much better feel for the ground) but I've never felt like VFFs were really doing great things for my toes. </li>
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<b>5. Weight</b></div>
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I almost didn't include this as an aspect, because it's really a function of the above 4 design choices. However I mention it in all my reviews and I do consider it when buying shoes so I thought it should stand on it's own. Since barefoot is obviously the lightest shoe possible, minimalist runners love light shoes. I love the feel of light shoes but I also enjoy the mental aspect of knowing I'm not weighing my feet down with anything extra. Overall weight tends to be driven down by less cushioning, lower heels, and less support so if you pay attention to the first categories you'll naturally end up with a lighter shoe. It is fun to pay attention to though and the weight of my shoes always shocks my friends.</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-2805018980414227082012-11-26T08:20:00.002-08:002012-11-26T08:20:54.195-08:00New Balance MR00 Minimus Road Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgB_SaQCvPwDNN6e6NfLJuKLF_UPz6LQAhBHfu5-TSA7BgW2hmgV_LLDzl4UYXUl1aDTpSdyOCjgunMRyumrGujoO3Buw7VLuwaMXFOviGra6fwB6F4jnjqOfvJAkFHE3Tsq3Ss7BJJko/s1600/NBMR00-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgB_SaQCvPwDNN6e6NfLJuKLF_UPz6LQAhBHfu5-TSA7BgW2hmgV_LLDzl4UYXUl1aDTpSdyOCjgunMRyumrGujoO3Buw7VLuwaMXFOviGra6fwB6F4jnjqOfvJAkFHE3Tsq3Ss7BJJko/s320/NBMR00-side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
New Balance has fully embraced the 'minimalist' movement and their latest road shoe shows just how serious they've gotten. I actually picked up this pair at a local store over Thanksgiving (<a href="http://www.playmakers.com/">Playmakers</a>, can't be beat) and thought they were just racing flats. The flat style & light weight were enough to try them on, and the feel on foot was amazing. So imagine my surprise when I went to look up their actual stats after a couple runs and I realized they were from the Minimus line, and not regular flats. It was a pleasant surprise, and for the amount of comfort they provide I was shocked to see they actually have a 0 heel/toe drop.<br />
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<b>Stats: Weight & Toe Drop</b><br />
At 6.1 oz it's definitely in the featherweight class (I'm not sure if anything will be lighter than the old <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2011/09/mizuno-wave-universe-4-review.html">3.9 Mizunos</a>) but I think the extra heft comes from the quality Vibram sole (more on that later). On top of the light weight, they actually measure 12mm in the forefoot AND 12mm in the heel for a completely flat shoe. I was surprised, because the 0 drop shoes I've ran in before like the Merrel Trail Glove always <i>felt</i> like my heel was low, which made sense since most racing flats I've trained in still had a 3-5mm raised heel. However these MR00's felt more like the Piranha's or Wave Universe, so it was a pleasant surprise since that means I should be getting more natural strike out of my mid/forefoot & heel impact dampening from the little extra stretch in my calf & achilles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MVBFud_OsqBPqcN_s5RSszKODF6GGdUOcbRJbkITRQKpiRZv8icU95_mts3PM2e_K9zSG-q6bHnRKusKVlcg1iRwmalcQ0mJF4eLhrbKHisBTa-k9ec8ljZ1H12XptXjErylbNlWuxOr/s1600/NBMR00-sole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MVBFud_OsqBPqcN_s5RSszKODF6GGdUOcbRJbkITRQKpiRZv8icU95_mts3PM2e_K9zSG-q6bHnRKusKVlcg1iRwmalcQ0mJF4eLhrbKHisBTa-k9ec8ljZ1H12XptXjErylbNlWuxOr/s1600/NBMR00-sole.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Sole (Vibram)</b><br />
The biggest problem with the lightweight flats I like to train in is often the sole. Racing flats love to save weight by using a hard tack that feels plasticky on the bottom. The New Balance MR00's go in the complete opposite direction with a great rubberized Vibram sole. The result is a great feel on the road, and I'm guessing great durability. I'll update this review after a few hundred miles and check in on that.<br />
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<b>Fit / Feel</b><br />
Technical stats aside, this is the reason I bought these in the store. New Balance gave these a nice wide forefoot that feels secure on foot but roomy, and a great inner lining that feels soft barefoot. The low, but solid sole is much better than the thick rubber of Nike Frees, and also helps prevent pronation since the sole can't compact all that much compared to a cushier shoe. These feel just as good as the <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2011/09/mizuno-wave-universe-4-review.html">Mizuno Wave Universe on foot</a>, but the rubberized sole means they feel even better one when you start making contact with the ground.<br />
<br />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-17423077345140476322011-10-25T07:50:00.000-07:002011-10-25T07:50:23.110-07:00FunstructionsIt's hard to classify this into 'running, gear, science' so for this post I'm just going to create a new wildcard category of 'fun.' My mom is taking her 30+ years of teaching & reading instruction experience and love of kids activities and creating a new site called <a href="http://funstructions.com/">Funstructions</a>. <div>
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The ideas all center around a book like <a href="http://funstructions.com/post/11540365869/funstruction-1-hey-little-ant">Hey Little Ant</a> or <a href="http://funstructions.com/post/11613151530/funstruction-2-bears-new-friend">Bear's New Friend</a> and then spiral off into a day full of activities like science experiments, cooking, art projects, and songs. So if you're a parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent looking for some new ideas go check out whether <a href="http://funstructions.com/">Funstructions</a> can help!</div>
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-18359985987117695222011-09-14T20:09:00.000-07:002011-09-14T20:09:06.576-07:00New Balance MT10 Minimus Trail ReviewI've been on the 'minimalist' train for about 6 years now but I've always stuck to lightweight racing flats (disclaimer: I do own a pair of Vibram 5 fingers but mainly use them for water sports - I've only ran in them a few times). In general, I think racing flats offer low heels, light weight, and high flexibility, and don't get you laughed off the track while a lot of the minimalist trend shoes (Nike Frees, Newtons, etc) have been over priced and lacking key features (ex: flexible but too much cushion). Lately though some new entries have convinced me to at least give them a try, namely the <a href="http://www.newbalance.com/nb-minimus/">Minimus</a> line from New Balance, and the <a href="http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/22875M/50390/Mens/Barefoot-Trail-Glove">Merrell Trail Glove</a> (thoughts coming soon). Both have low heels, lots of flexibility, and nice Vibram soles but fit completely differently - which makes for an interesting comparison. For now I'll review the Minimus since I have a little more experience with it but I'm putting in some miles with the Trail Glove as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DYsA496PgVktpf_d65lQGirARN_ZNGKz5Vpls5wY9fpY7SEsDls4yljTYbXn1-vm4VgG5ot_glUKgi4GuHBFVUMj3bU23_yxpsEWH8IpZVN_JyD-vMWTsOs56vfCbEq-1FJRvVDxjiD_/s1600/minimus-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DYsA496PgVktpf_d65lQGirARN_ZNGKz5Vpls5wY9fpY7SEsDls4yljTYbXn1-vm4VgG5ot_glUKgi4GuHBFVUMj3bU23_yxpsEWH8IpZVN_JyD-vMWTsOs56vfCbEq-1FJRvVDxjiD_/s320/minimus-side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are a few shoes in the Minimus line (Trail, Road, & Cross Train) but I quickly jumped to the trail shoe even though I do a lot of running on the roads. The road shoe looks too cushy (I believe in the theory that the feet will do the cushioning if you don't blindfold them with padding) and the cross training shoe just doesn't look designed for running. That being said, the trail shoe has some nice things going for it - 4mm of difference between heel and toe which is pretty close to my best flats, 7.1oz weight (my flats are ~4oz but the soles on these are much much tougher), and they're nice and flexible without too much 'support' feeling like it's pushing into my arches.<br />
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Fit: The Minimus line is made to fit barefoot which I was excited about. There are some nice features here - there's a bit of special padding in the heel that keeps it from rubbing, there's an elastic sock like tongue that grips the foot, and overall it just feels like the shoes is flexible but snug on the foot. Compared to my <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2011/09/mizuno-wave-universe-4-review.html">Mizuno's</a> or Merrell's this seems to be an equally effective, but very different feel. I'm used to shoes with a big toe box that let my toes wiggle freely inside the shoe, but this is a more 5-finger like approach where the shoe is tight on the toes, but wiggles & bends with the foot. I was worried the increased contact points with my skin would cause more blisters or agitation on a run, but so far (a few runs in) this hasn't yet been a problem. Apparently they fit well enough and flex freely enough that they don't cause extra agitation.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx1qW8Wmt6HGfSavrw3bA0HMI7MZvhkiGwiAXlQnnX42hwa48BhmJbcsVUja2m5iJy0XaTylrmWlPv3WuPiQqFYlBYC3DZIHvUFlMNKCwlfIVVNce2slRbLGQdfrr3DCk8GXWYzDUaWdw/s1600/minimus-bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx1qW8Wmt6HGfSavrw3bA0HMI7MZvhkiGwiAXlQnnX42hwa48BhmJbcsVUja2m5iJy0XaTylrmWlPv3WuPiQqFYlBYC3DZIHvUFlMNKCwlfIVVNce2slRbLGQdfrr3DCk8GXWYzDUaWdw/s320/minimus-bottom.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Looking at the sole of the shoe in pictures I was worried that these would be pebble picking magnets - that annoying syndrome where small rocks get stuck in the soles or arches of a shoe and you either have to run sounding like a horse, or stop to pick them out with a wood chip. Thankfully the design is better than it looks - those yellow indents are tapered in a way that doesn't actually seem to pick up too many rocks. I'll check back in after 100 miles or so and see if I still have the same opinion.<br />
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Overall this isn't going to unseat my Mizuno's as my go-to trainer/racer but I really like it as a trail shoe and all around durable trainer. The hardest decision is going to be whether I ultimately prefer the sock like fit of the Minimus or the spacious fit & low heel of the Merrells. I can say this is the best looking minimalist shoe (no dorky toe box, toe separation, or generally wacky look) and that is helping to make it my favorite shoe so far for a hike or cross training as well.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-87342981928941654972011-09-12T09:09:00.000-07:002011-09-12T09:09:53.809-07:00Mizuno Wave Universe 4 ReviewI'm in search of a replacement as my staple running shoes - the last of my <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2010/02/asics-piranha-sp-2.html">Asics Piranha SP 2</a>'s completely lack any tread and can fill a small house with their aroma, yet the new <a href="http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-APRNH3.html">Piranha 3</a>'s just don't feel as light & flexible as their predecessors. The good news is there's a bunch of new companies out there making great looking flats like Inov-8 along Merrell, New Balance, and Mizuno at the top of my list.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VUnGO-2pTdK7x0xfhXI-SVZud4nfIKNZAbHAYH2zZdC0U2OkEpeQHzvDz4M4tmuLUvpFhnLbc9cR7-hNSsAofgKd4yyCgQLj842BDM3oJkEAGchztszkGBnvqoLFbS3EzcRCrWqhVERY/s1600/mizuno4-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VUnGO-2pTdK7x0xfhXI-SVZud4nfIKNZAbHAYH2zZdC0U2OkEpeQHzvDz4M4tmuLUvpFhnLbc9cR7-hNSsAofgKd4yyCgQLj842BDM3oJkEAGchztszkGBnvqoLFbS3EzcRCrWqhVERY/s320/mizuno4-side.jpg" width="320" /></a>I use my road flats for 90% of my runs including long slow training runs (up to 24 miles ~ 7:30 pace) down to 5k races (realistically mid 16's, just under 16 on a great day) and I look for a few main things: light weight, flexible, low heel to forefoot padding difference, and comfortable barefoot. So far (about 30 miles in) the Mizuno Wave Universe 4 is doing well on all those points.<br />
<br />
<b>Weight & heel/forefoot difference</b> is easy to measure - Running Warehouse puts these at 3.9 ounces (size 9) with an 18mm heel and a 15mm forefoot for 3mm of difference. This just slightly beats the Piranha's (4.2oz & 4mm) so the numbers look great.<br />
<br />
<b>Fit / Feel:</b><br />
On the foot they actually feel even better. It looks like these were designed to run barefoot, as instead of a traditional liner than can come out or slip around, they basically just have a soft piece of felt glued to the bottom. On top of this, the entire forefoot has no stiff stitching structure on the top of the shoot, so when the foot bends nothing bends down to rub on the tops of your toes. This is an issue I had with the Piranah SP 3's - they have an extra piece that would constantly fold down and give me a blister on the tops of my toes but in the Mizuno's there's no way this could happen. I did get a slight bit of irritation on my left heel from rubbing, but this didn't happen at all on my right foot so I'm guessing I'll just need to make sure I'm lacing the tops well - we'll see after more runs.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oSYaFEh7i1WPg5GMmQatC5PXbdnMiJbt6ZA3eZkEIDijOgCSVqGYXzPc7XwoCQgJ-rbzy7bEkpgeQ9BQ6VX4LIV-LDF_zjfhpRKCYtzyzm6rWB40xfwtX3wc-Sp1dlIHoCFSfiY0212J/s1600/mizuno4-bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oSYaFEh7i1WPg5GMmQatC5PXbdnMiJbt6ZA3eZkEIDijOgCSVqGYXzPc7XwoCQgJ-rbzy7bEkpgeQ9BQ6VX4LIV-LDF_zjfhpRKCYtzyzm6rWB40xfwtX3wc-Sp1dlIHoCFSfiY0212J/s320/mizuno4-bottom.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<b>Sole: Flexibility, Grip, and Stone Grabbing</b><br />
With running flats I don't expect much cushioning - just enough to keep sharp things from poking my feet and little enough to feel like I can feel the terrain I'm running on get good flexibility. Again the Mizuno does well here - definitely a good feel for the road with just enough padding to feel safe. My favorite flats have had a rubber bottom in the past, which means they last a little longer than the flats that have just the light, hard tack on the bottom. Mizuno has blended those two together here and you can see the black arrow like part is the hard tack stuff, but the rest of the bottom is rubber. It will take a lot more miles before I fully see how they wear down, but so far it feels like a pretty good balance. You can see the small grey plastic piece in the arch on the bottom of the shoe. I'm not actually sure what the purpose of that thing is but I was a little worried it would pick up small rocks in the grooves. So far I've been running on road & light trails with pebbles where that's often a problem, and it hasn't been an issue with the Mizuno's yet. As I get in more miles with them I'll definitely be watching for this.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall </b>this seems to be a great new replacement as my go to running shoe. I'll know more after a few hundred more miles, but I've also picked up a few other new shoes including the New Balance Minimus, the Merrell barefoot trail shoes, and some Inov-8 flats and as I test those out I'll definitely put up some thoughts and comparisons.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-61738058298511031092011-03-23T09:38:00.000-07:002011-03-23T09:38:38.102-07:00Hitting the Pavement AgainWhether I call it winter hibernation or just 'it's-cold-and-wet-out-there syndrome' what I really mean is my running log has been conspicuously blank this winter. I like to think it was a recovery phase but either way daylight savings has kicked in, the sun is out, and if I don't start putting in more miles again or my spare <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2010/02/asics-piranha-sp-2.html">Piranhas</a> will never get to touch pavement.<div><br />
</div><div>Kicked off this new attitude with a 16 miler through SF Sunday (that alone topped my weekly miles for the last month) and some track work on Tuesday. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Plus it should be shoe season soon enough so maybe that will provide some inspiration to test some new rubber. With all the focus on minimalism lately there's been some pretty cool new entries into the market. If you've been testing anything you especially like this year let me know - happy to post some links to other material out there or put your thoughts into a future post.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Cheers to a new season,</div><div>-Mike</div><div><br />
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-78779839268769830022010-04-27T17:50:00.000-07:002010-04-27T17:50:29.043-07:00Asics Gel Tarther Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLyuqgluhY8yJocoSBlSaV8mFxz3EM6HKrmeOhfL2Bq1Z4e7lZklz9Kh8RdL6ZV74NTuVJLP2VyWAIS53dMePSCkvgRiJ0oQzgouL-lPzOM5BQaRWaSssIEWJuqoZ_AIh47qmWQ_3IXgf/s1600/asics_gel_tarther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLyuqgluhY8yJocoSBlSaV8mFxz3EM6HKrmeOhfL2Bq1Z4e7lZklz9Kh8RdL6ZV74NTuVJLP2VyWAIS53dMePSCkvgRiJ0oQzgouL-lPzOM5BQaRWaSssIEWJuqoZ_AIh47qmWQ_3IXgf/s320/asics_gel_tarther.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The Tarther is making it's US debut this year, previously only being sold in Japan. However while Japan is usually famous for their love of minimalist shoe styles, I'd peg the Tarther as a more conservative flat. It's a great lightweight shoe for someone looking to do more running in flats ,but too intimidated by the more minimalist <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2010/04/asics-gel-hyperspeed-4.html">Asics Gel Hyperspeed 4</a>'s, <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2010/02/asics-piranha-sp-2.html">Asics Piranhas</a>, or <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2009/06/adidas-adizero-rocket.html">Adidas AdiZero Rockets</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">It actually ties the Hyperspeed's for weight at 7.2oz, but there are some key differences to notice. First, it has a very rigid arch support structure. Personally I like my shoes as flexible as possible so I'd avoid this, but for someone transitioning from a heavier, even more supportive shoe, this might be a good place to start. Second, the bottom forefoot of the shoes uses a harder material often used on racing flats. While it saves weight compared to rubber I've always found these types of grips to make an annoying noise early on, and wear out much quicker than a more traditional bottom. It might work well for races but if you're looking for an everyday flat to wear as a trainer keep this in mind. Lastly, the heel to toe difference is very noticeable compared to the Hyperspeeds - the Tarther sports a 9mm difference compared to the Hyperspeed's 5mm drop. Again if you're a minimalist runner who likes as much achilles & calf flex as possible, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. However if you're looking at this as a transition shoe to get you ready for less support, or you'd like to stay on the cautious side, this might be the perfect shoe for the job. I see this as a middle shoe between switching from trainers to Hyperspeeds. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Pros: Lightweight (7.2oz)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Cons: Hard tack instead of rubber for the grip.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Pros & Cons (depending on who you are): More arch support than the average flat, and a medium heel to toe differential at 9mm.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyakJzSao2jvcszMqqtdYo29RDj8HMp6O3TULZlftsFTIYRn2sTO5jA5ykcGbzsaxTEQnor90-NfYEOULpKrp2YvuHRFzZtr1hsRYVjNkyAHd1IT6iq3g8xABJ5XQ2XOJsyXI9nZpfTJT/s1600/asics_gel_tarther_bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyakJzSao2jvcszMqqtdYo29RDj8HMp6O3TULZlftsFTIYRn2sTO5jA5ykcGbzsaxTEQnor90-NfYEOULpKrp2YvuHRFzZtr1hsRYVjNkyAHd1IT6iq3g8xABJ5XQ2XOJsyXI9nZpfTJT/s320/asics_gel_tarther_bottom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</span></span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-61537566399017609282010-04-27T17:28:00.000-07:002010-04-27T17:36:33.350-07:00Asics Gel Hyperspeed 4 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCRoBTxS9TiP9Ccp7qmc_C-A4wbJTMfNvpbJNH9O5CJJ-mkpJRs9VsWyaUpQnFlbuiv1nutdHJYRPpUx3Hw5i6BOrU_Tum4bBxhoStFPqBjHzEbJWHJ86b3fRXeEWCSC4k4VAy6wO8F8C/s1600/asics_gel_hyperspeed_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCRoBTxS9TiP9Ccp7qmc_C-A4wbJTMfNvpbJNH9O5CJJ-mkpJRs9VsWyaUpQnFlbuiv1nutdHJYRPpUx3Hw5i6BOrU_Tum4bBxhoStFPqBjHzEbJWHJ86b3fRXeEWCSC4k4VAy6wO8F8C/s320/asics_gel_hyperspeed_4.jpg" width="320" /></a>Asics didn't update much this year with the release of the Hyperspeed 4, so just about everything mentioned in my <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2009/06/asics-gel-hyper-speed-3.html">Asics Gel Hyperspeed 3</a> review still applies. According to the stats they added .1 oz of weight to the shoe, but I doubt your feet will notice.</div><br />
The Hyperspeed is still one of my top recommendations. It has a little more cushioning than some of the most extreme flats out there like the even lighter <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2010/02/asics-piranha-sp-2.html">Asics Piranha's</a>, but it maintains a low heel to toe raise difference (just 5mm) and a very light weight at 7.2oz. It's also kept a rubberized bottom which I highly prefer over the hard tack surface a lot of flats use, and the lack of any rigid arch support keeps the entire length of the shoe very flexible. The biggest downside is still the odd pattern Asics chose for the bottom of the shoe which seems to be designed to pickup pebbles. Once they're broken in the gap gets a little smaller so you pickup fewer, and they're usually easy enough to kick out, but it's still annoying that they'd keep those pebble pockets around at all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pros: Light (7.2 oz), Flexible, Low Heel to Toe Differential (5mm), Rubber Bottom for better wear & tear</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cons: It's a great midrange flat but if you're looking for pure speed (or hate ride-along rocks with a passion) it can be beat. There's slightly lighter, more flexible, and even lower heel to toe difference shoes out there like above mentioned <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2010/02/asics-piranha-sp-2.html">Piranha</a>. However if you're transitioning to training in flats, or looking for one of your first pairs, this could be just what you're looking for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sKibKC4gyzHk8QiccQQey9KX-jO6jpgqvD575EG5hqxqDK0ME0AqBjJLDN-vcifh40MVJxUVD4DBXP596E9w4sRkIb_x-UJ46Dz1U__6ApLOJFbr_vyYPTC5TFEtLD2oiIJPVF5Ovm56/s1600/asics_gel_hyperspeed_4_bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sKibKC4gyzHk8QiccQQey9KX-jO6jpgqvD575EG5hqxqDK0ME0AqBjJLDN-vcifh40MVJxUVD4DBXP596E9w4sRkIb_x-UJ46Dz1U__6ApLOJFbr_vyYPTC5TFEtLD2oiIJPVF5Ovm56/s200/asics_gel_hyperspeed_4_bottom.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-86972803020686833462010-04-18T23:52:00.000-07:002010-04-18T23:52:52.410-07:00Barefoot Hits BostonWith the Boston Marathon taking off tomorrow morning the momentum behind minimalist is as strong as ever. Competitor.com has a <a href="http://running.competitor.com/2010/04/news/bearfoot-running-hits-boston_9467">good article </a>up on a minimalist clinic going on as part of the pre-marathon events. Chris McDougall was on hand and had a quote I can't agree with more:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“You can’t just take off your shoes, go out the door and run five miles. There is a technique to it. The best way to relearn this thing is to <b>shut down the brain and listen to the feet</b>.”</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
Can't wait for more people to start figuring this out. I'm already seeing some positive changes in my friends who have been experimenting with minimalist methods.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-60355492651018148072010-02-10T18:14:00.000-08:002010-02-23T14:11:07.896-08:00Asics Piranha SP 2 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HCVUgarpXc193C4ijcMSqR_6QuE9w9Gt410sL6mLptk0PrzRx2Vd7JoTMWEGQ-eFT5YA_mh4UiVacMum-UCyxnP7lgPgmN9rpc1zIlYdcfA__z5OGQVXdVhGnkMX9ywT9QElVJ4ss4wV/s1600-h/piranha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HCVUgarpXc193C4ijcMSqR_6QuE9w9Gt410sL6mLptk0PrzRx2Vd7JoTMWEGQ-eFT5YA_mh4UiVacMum-UCyxnP7lgPgmN9rpc1zIlYdcfA__z5OGQVXdVhGnkMX9ywT9QElVJ4ss4wV/s320/piranha.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The last 5 years I've been constantly flipping between Asics and Adidas - I've tried Tiger Paws, Gel Magic Racers, Rockets, AdiZero Pros, AdiZero Manas, AdiZero RCs and they've all lead me to one shoe at this point: the Asics Piranha. (I threw one pair of Nike's in there and they were fine, but not compelling).<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I've had my eye on the Piranha's for awhile now but I always thought they looked <b>too</b> light and flimsy (even for me). However a few months ago I decided to give them a try anyways. After one run I was thrilled, but now after 300 miles I'm sold. They've held up great - the rubber wears down but it's still a fine surface to run on, and there's barely any padding to begin with so there's not much to break down. I've never had a shoe feel so much like an extension of my foot. </div><div><br />
</div><div>At 4.2 oz (size 9) they're definitely the lightest flats I've got. And the flex is great since there's no hard plastic areas for flex control. There's minimal rubber on the bottom so they're not going to win any awards for traction, but I've had no problems whatsoever (disclaimer: I've run in 0 ice or snow during the 300 miles). Also, while the Rocket's tended to have too much stitching that dug into parts of my feet, the Piranha's have a very minimal seaming system which I've never noticed any blisters, cuts, or bruises from. In fact my feet are looking the best they ever have on that front. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I've been training exclusively in these for a couple months now and while they definitely took another adaptation period (the heel to toe differential is only 4mm) now I don't think I could go back to heavier flats. 300 miles I also haven't detected any signs of shoe malfunction - they're still comfortable, they still have plenty of traction, and besides the stink they still have plenty of miles left in them. The padding is so minimal I think I'll even try tossing them in the washing machine. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Pros: As light as it gets in the USA @ 4.2 oz, flexible, rubber bottoms (no hard tack), great stitching, lowest heel to toe differential I've seen.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Cons: The even lower than normal heel will take a little extra getting used to.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-62377380524453465602010-02-07T18:28:00.000-08:002010-02-10T18:32:20.634-08:00Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ran in the Kaiser half for the second year, and had much better results this year. This race was a real wakeup call last year to the fact that I had pretty much just hibernated for the winter and the 1:18ish time I ran (just under 6 pace) gave me something to improve on.</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm happy to say this year I got a much better start and dropped my time down to 1:14:32 (5:41 pace per mile) which I was pretty psyched about. Ran the race in my <a href="http://www.runnermike.com/2010/02/asics-piranha-sp-2.html">Piranha SP 2</a>'s and the weather was perfect besides a heavy headwind in the last 3 miles but that's not much to complain about. The race unfolded about as I expected. The plan was to run about 5:40's to give me some buffer towards the end and the splits turned out to be:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
5:39<br />
5:30<br />
5:29<br />
5:45<br />
5:38<br />
10:53 (missed mile 6)<br />
5:39<br />
5:51<br />
5:23<br />
6:01<br />
6:04<br />
6:36 (3.1)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next stop: figure out how to break 1:12 (sub 5:30 pace). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full results are here: </span><a href="http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=218713&rsID=89293"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=218713&rsID=89293</span></a></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-18855064698821377352009-06-19T11:28:00.000-07:002010-02-23T14:11:20.211-08:00Adidas AdiZero Rocket Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEyWD7SwSIHUZtJXPm75zsZ9j4xiVPaBPU3vlyLzb9qYNwMhvnxx0xJ_WqZJAOWN-IUirBDn7MXyo77YyRpqhSj4hCKH4pxe-EnRccdJI6oFWxA-wj3cpaaF8s5sMvC1TFm7vtcG5pgFI/s1600-h/rocket.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349108499140319970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEyWD7SwSIHUZtJXPm75zsZ9j4xiVPaBPU3vlyLzb9qYNwMhvnxx0xJ_WqZJAOWN-IUirBDn7MXyo77YyRpqhSj4hCKH4pxe-EnRccdJI6oFWxA-wj3cpaaF8s5sMvC1TFm7vtcG5pgFI/s320/rocket.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 174px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a>Update: The Rocket has been out a few weeks now and I've put about 50 miles on a pair. They ahve most of the advantages I expected from the pics/videos (minimal but solid cushioning, low heel>toe drop, light weight) and the rubber bottom is especially nice (doesn't pickup a single rock for once!). <br />
<div><br />
</div><div>My only caveat right now is that I like to run barefoot in my flats sometimes and in the case of a shoe like the AdiZero PR they seem to be made for it - all the inside seams and creases feel pretty good. On the Rocket however there are some rough spots that bent down into my big toe. I didn't really notice it on the run but when I was done I realized I had a nice blood stain on the fresh white fabric. Oh well - it wasn't gonig to be clean for long.</div><div><br />
<div>Previous Reivew:</div><div>It's not released yet (scheduled for later this month) but I'm already looking forward to the AdiZero Rocket now. Looks like a great replacement for the RC / RC 2 from what I can see:<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>- Low heel to toe differential</div><div>- Lightweight (designed as a 10k shoe)</div><div>- Durable bottom (rubber, not hard tack)</div><div><br />
</div><div>I'll definitely be getting a pair as soon as they come out, and in the meanwhile you can check out the "top secret" video here: <a href="http://www.runningwarehouse.com/sneakpeek.html?ccode=SNEAK107">http://www.runningwarehouse.com/sneakpeek.html?ccode=SNEAK107</a></div></div></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-46965403596720424312009-06-14T14:41:00.000-07:002010-02-23T14:11:33.915-08:00Asics Gel Hyper Speed 3 Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0lFWFCMmCv_BeIWmH2yiJC2fy5WquCJOz5pdS0DLJGhwhARtFH5uFcG5q8HGhdvUNNv_kfplHBL07G7D255A6V7uZpSaWE95oMWexd9BnM8gSZRrQCx-VkQFed5suDgvqg5lgMv2TBRE/s1600-h/hyper2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogMKgvsQAaOMDuAKK-5Y9RlvZjTffwM2qvwWvSfeUYBOgLQWe1Ngp9T_0x18HBd5Go3F3SmRKOHAaAWNC1vVw6K0Sk4lqplJKWan3ZPoJtWyGrALi6w8PUYz02k4g-fEb-Cndc8VeRPZ9/s1600-h/hyper1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347302755528778578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogMKgvsQAaOMDuAKK-5Y9RlvZjTffwM2qvwWvSfeUYBOgLQWe1Ngp9T_0x18HBd5Go3F3SmRKOHAaAWNC1vVw6K0Sk4lqplJKWan3ZPoJtWyGrALi6w8PUYz02k4g-fEb-Cndc8VeRPZ9/s320/hyper1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
I picked these out at Boston but hadn't really gotten any good miles in on them. I put down a 19-20 mile long run today though and really put them to the test. Good mix of road, dirt, trail, & whatever else SF has to offer. They performed great - could feel the terrain changes so not too much cushion and they had a nice flex to them. Feet are adquately sore as they should be, but knees and joints feel great so they weren't hurting my posture.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Unlike some of the other flats I use the holes in the bottom are designed correctly too - so even with all the terrain changes I rarely picked up a rock, and when I did I could shuffle it out without stopping. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Pros: Pretty light @ 7.1oz, nice flex, little to no rock pickups, good feel, a little more traditional build compared to a pure barebones flat (might make an easier transition shoe)</div><div><br />
</div><div>Cons: Light, but not as light as some others. Haven't measured, but it looks like there's slightly more heel to toe differential than I'd prefer. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0lFWFCMmCv_BeIWmH2yiJC2fy5WquCJOz5pdS0DLJGhwhARtFH5uFcG5q8HGhdvUNNv_kfplHBL07G7D255A6V7uZpSaWE95oMWexd9BnM8gSZRrQCx-VkQFed5suDgvqg5lgMv2TBRE/s1600-h/hyper2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347303285661424178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0lFWFCMmCv_BeIWmH2yiJC2fy5WquCJOz5pdS0DLJGhwhARtFH5uFcG5q8HGhdvUNNv_kfplHBL07G7D255A6V7uZpSaWE95oMWexd9BnM8gSZRrQCx-VkQFed5suDgvqg5lgMv2TBRE/s320/hyper2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-46630980277392630132009-06-04T01:08:00.001-07:002009-06-04T01:11:12.397-07:00Running Fast & Injury FreeWhen I first got turned onto the minimalist running regime, this e-book (yeah it sounds cheesy) was one of the most influential pieces of literature I found. I don't agree with every single point, but I identified with so many things in this book (his take on posture, his aversion to static stretching, and his take on today's shoes) that it was like things finally fell into place.<div><br /></div><div>The actual website is abysmal and looks like it was designed by a 5th grader on Geocities, and the e-book formatting itself is nothing to brag about. However the content is priceless. I got this thing printed out and sprial bound, and you might end up doing the same: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/13695/Gordon-Piries-Running-Fast-and-Injury-Free">http://www.scribd.com/doc/13695/Gordon-Piries-Running-Fast-and-Injury-Free</a></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-15931087343855433752009-06-03T09:06:00.001-07:002009-06-03T09:07:34.957-07:00National Running DayI didn't even realize this existed, but apprently it does:<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.runningday.org/">http://www.runningday.org/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>So get out there and go for a run.</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-83202070051764059772009-05-29T13:18:00.000-07:002009-05-29T13:28:31.650-07:00Nike Men's Essential Running Tight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.citysports.com/f/726/28361/4h/www.citysports.com/citysports/assets/product_images/158850_md.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://images.citysports.com/f/726/28361/4h/www.citysports.com/citysports/assets/product_images/158850_md.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It's the opposite time of the year for a cold gear review but you might be surprised at just how chilly SF mornings in the fog can be. I bought these back in the winter when I was seeing them all over the place but didn't end up using them much until lately. I've never been a big fan of the running tight because I always thought it was a weird look, but lately I've given in.<div><br /></div><div>I admit - they work pretty well. Definitely more comfortable than swishing warmup pants and it eliminates that annoying winter chafe with cold skin. The pocket is placed great too on the back which makes it easy (and quiet) to carry keys; much better placement than the standard running shorts that have the front hanging pocket. Overall not much else to say - I've been wearning them in 40ish weather very comfortably. There's a version for colder weather but I really have no need for that so you'll have to look for those elsewhere.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have one nagging question though - I still don't know whether to wear these things w/ running shorts or not. There seem to be two camps of runners - those who wear shorts over their tights and those who don't. Each group things the other looks totally stupid. I've tried both but I can't figure it out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Help me out here and post a comment - if you're wearing tights for a cold run whats the superior method?</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-69949967861033475772009-05-27T22:21:00.000-07:002009-05-28T04:13:07.521-07:00NY Mag: You Walk (& Run) Wrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY5g-ZnPyVKteIYQ4xWu01MLEhI9UfHq5snmzZHCMyPNt-xXqHSbCwVpLY8CQpvYJ9oXSJApsAtQvi7MN9rwdc8aYKzSoUJUkwQm45aj0iklMtoy64irmFg375B0QnkpcYO2ylLfn1hRB/s1600-h/walking080428_1_560.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY5g-ZnPyVKteIYQ4xWu01MLEhI9UfHq5snmzZHCMyPNt-xXqHSbCwVpLY8CQpvYJ9oXSJApsAtQvi7MN9rwdc8aYKzSoUJUkwQm45aj0iklMtoy64irmFg375B0QnkpcYO2ylLfn1hRB/s320/walking080428_1_560.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340743037623535618" /></a><br />The 'science' part of this site has been seriously lacking - this is the beginning of my efforts to point out some great resources on human biomechanics, scientific research, and everything else I find that demonstrates just how badly we've been able to screw up our gaits in the last 20 years and how simple the solution is.<div><br /></div><div>This article is from NY Mag and has some great scientific and anecdotal info. It's a long read but it's a good one, check it out. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/">You Walk Wrong</a> (<a href="http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/">http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-14230384841731593142009-05-27T21:48:00.001-07:002010-02-23T14:15:35.204-08:00Adidas AdiZero Pro Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEJYzhtUoXzJnS-O0o86sSY0gtqaJAu98ju3gW6c2fPzDV8pMdd0mRPVclbteQpERsOCYlu3ihE4PTYavdiF0AkBkqgfULJHF8XIStIxrkE47RqkEcm35L84Qit8_6Ue_0_9WtlcjSqlV/s1600-h/ADZPRO2-5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPgw6a-g65jDZDJCDfnEesvAHEHxClN5nXlqxVliGGUC03KOUmPMN3tWEZQDUmJafUWAMLVbYhydVIdi7Nih-76mtQd1BBJkElTYnw7vK7Hm_fbw8BdnFGN8bV2Z-0QhP983MHpM-ZtGg/s1600-h/ADZPRO2-fv.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340735163945335922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPgw6a-g65jDZDJCDfnEesvAHEHxClN5nXlqxVliGGUC03KOUmPMN3tWEZQDUmJafUWAMLVbYhydVIdi7Nih-76mtQd1BBJkElTYnw7vK7Hm_fbw8BdnFGN8bV2Z-0QhP983MHpM-ZtGg/s320/ADZPRO2-fv.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 273px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Alright so I'm a bit addicted to the AdiZero line. But that's only because it's a kickass set of shoes. I've actually had this one almost as long as I've been using the RC's (R.I.P.) but I never got around to posting about them.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>They fit pretty well between the RCs and the PRs. They're light at 6.2 oz but definitely more sturdy than the PRs. The bottom uses the hard tack stuff that feels basically like plastic and sticks to carpet kind of like velcro when you walk around (sorry for the bad description, but if you've had flats that use the stuff you know what I mean - check out the picture). It's a pretty good lightweight tread but it does wear down quickly. The heel to toe raise is pretty low which I like, and they're nice and flexible like a real shoe should be. I think they feel a lot harder than the RCs though, and they aren't much lighter.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I've been using them to race road races where PRs are too flimsy or would pick up pebbles like it's their job and the Pro's are good for that. On that note - the 2009 Pro's have an AMAZING improvement over the '08s (yes I had both). The old ones had a slot in the bottom that picked up rocks just the RCs & PRs, but in '09 they covered it with a lightweight metal screen. The thing gets beat up but viola - no more hitch hiking pebbles. Personally this is a big plus for me, and I love it when a shoe company actually adds a useful improvement to a shoe instead of some new buzzword. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEJYzhtUoXzJnS-O0o86sSY0gtqaJAu98ju3gW6c2fPzDV8pMdd0mRPVclbteQpERsOCYlu3ihE4PTYavdiF0AkBkqgfULJHF8XIStIxrkE47RqkEcm35L84Qit8_6Ue_0_9WtlcjSqlV/s1600-h/ADZPRO2-5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340735862586830690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEJYzhtUoXzJnS-O0o86sSY0gtqaJAu98ju3gW6c2fPzDV8pMdd0mRPVclbteQpERsOCYlu3ihE4PTYavdiF0AkBkqgfULJHF8XIStIxrkE47RqkEcm35L84Qit8_6Ue_0_9WtlcjSqlV/s320/ADZPRO2-5.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div>I don't use them as a day to day trainer though since the primary tread wears out fast, and they just don't feel as comfy for the long runs.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Pros: Light, comfy, good racing shoe. Built in sole screen to keep pebbles out.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Cons: Hard & fast wearing tread, not much cushion (compared to other flats that is, not compared to those overbuilt running boots most people call trainers).</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-84323844435281393742009-05-27T21:22:00.000-07:002010-02-23T14:15:45.243-08:00Adidas AdiZero PR Review: The New Weight Champ<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCp4mo7kb9BauwZxue0tyIqYxOhuglV2IOurtgJwh8OqiOn_IgzPO2XY6ZZXiOPCVIUjYijOJStDPaO9AzCYGkD6ki-W3e1AKopptzZyxlwpPD4QDS0ZkWVRjJL69p7IrxG-6fS8HRhTw/s1600-h/adizeropr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340728167909144658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCp4mo7kb9BauwZxue0tyIqYxOhuglV2IOurtgJwh8OqiOn_IgzPO2XY6ZZXiOPCVIUjYijOJStDPaO9AzCYGkD6ki-W3e1AKopptzZyxlwpPD4QDS0ZkWVRjJL69p7IrxG-6fS8HRhTw/s320/adizeropr.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 273px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
At 3.9 oz I was wondering weather I was really going to get a shoe, or just some cardboard and fabric. It took me about 2 seconds to confirm the PRs were definitely the lightest, most comfortable racing flat I'd ever strapped to my feet (and this one really is a racing flat - I won't be training in them since I don't think they'd last 100 miles). Then it took 1 5k race on the track to set a PR in the PRs (sorry) that confirmed they perform up to snuff too.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The Pros: They're crazy light, ultra flexible, and ultra comfortable. Longest I've raced in them is 5k but I bet they could go longer if you're the type who's used to flats. It has to be a nicely groomed course though due to the con below....</div><div><br />
</div><div>The Cons: The sole is light but not made to be durable (but who cares - if you're buying shoes that weigh under 4oz you know what you're getting). The bigger downside is that the bottom of the shoes has a number of slits in the bottom that seem designed to pick up every pebble you can find on the road. I'm guessing it's what helps make the shoe so light, and it's no issue on the track or a good road, but on anything else be prepared to pick up some stragglers or do that weird shoe scuffle on the ground to knock the hitch hikers loose.</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-90088808635896193112008-10-05T21:05:00.000-07:002009-05-27T21:17:01.538-07:00Adidas AdiZero RC 2 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXQ4Px21BDqNaH0iAePqIy1fflS4UyAaPVDnc6lbs0k3waUl3pcYELTx68tX9yXWEozMHbNagexc_PrbgYeDNwsZ6RZVApq1wX3nt7GEX6rVppow2bW_4xQToJcWt4_rcASwEbQsG5zG1/s1600-h/rc2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXQ4Px21BDqNaH0iAePqIy1fflS4UyAaPVDnc6lbs0k3waUl3pcYELTx68tX9yXWEozMHbNagexc_PrbgYeDNwsZ6RZVApq1wX3nt7GEX6rVppow2bW_4xQToJcWt4_rcASwEbQsG5zG1/s320/rc2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340723293750782146" /></a><br />The new version of the RC 2 had a lot to live up to, so I couldn't believe it when it was even better than I imagined. Adidas didn't change a thing that was great about the old model, but made 1 key improvement. They sewed the tounge to the shoe on one side and added a wide elastic strap to the other side of the toung that wraps around the midfoot to the bottom of the shoe. What is results in is a great fitting shoe that you barely have to tie up for a good fit. With the normal roomy forefoot Adidas is known for combined with the tight-but-not-too-tight elastic band my feet have never felt (or looked) better. No toe bruising, no blisters, no nothing.<div><br /></div><div>The best part - they're cheap! You can grab a pair for about $60 online which is a steal considering how awesome these are. That's what you get when you strip out all the newfangled "injury prevention" and padding that people think they need these days. I've gone through 3 pairs now at about 300-400 miles per pair and I've got another waiting in the wings.</div><div><br /></div><div>***Update***</div><div>Calamity has struck. Adidas discontinued the RCs for the 2009 lineup. The new shoes for '09 are the Ace's & the Adios' but they both weigh a bit more and have more heel to them then I'd prefer (at least by looks). Looks like it's time for me to do some new testing....</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-47545214654012906302007-12-13T22:51:00.000-08:002010-02-23T14:16:00.767-08:00Nike Air Streak Vapor IV Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ3BAaE6GmS2itPNLhpEDYGQIpKCeEJQXoMyP_D31CqxScoZj2mSJswkJ1OOi03G0qoufZO-lpZVpTNLLgk66M4-AQl7AYErBWnyVX1dQtDKAtm-Cc6sF4Ge6reRoK2crU5yLAfQJMxAx/s1600-h/airstreakvaporIV.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340720000783049922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ3BAaE6GmS2itPNLhpEDYGQIpKCeEJQXoMyP_D31CqxScoZj2mSJswkJ1OOi03G0qoufZO-lpZVpTNLLgk66M4-AQl7AYErBWnyVX1dQtDKAtm-Cc6sF4Ge6reRoK2crU5yLAfQJMxAx/s320/airstreakvaporIV.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
Despite the many flats I've tried this guy still remains the champ when it comes to weight. 5.5 oz takes the cake against any other flat I've seen besides the Mayfly (a 4.0 oz flat for racing designed only to last 100k). You can see from the picture that they look a little cushier than the RC2, and they are. The base on the Vapor IV is kind of cushy/foamy and it's pretty comfortable. It has these little slots in the foam, I guess they're for ventilation, but what they are awesome at is grabbing little pebbles. Get used to wedging these out with a pencil after a few runs.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028639575708687271.post-88824842367000785582007-12-13T22:37:00.000-08:002010-02-23T14:16:11.861-08:00Adidas AdiZero RC 2 Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DMp7x8P63xkKnCNjjXSl68avo1OoTJ8ZluTItS3Alp0iXazHEvltFUnxLFiRf_bml6IwN18OVhOPI8M__z1l8bIDAAM88tNPqYlcpuiOQNgMC1DTxtxekdsMpVvz1fWYqJb0-kUDue8l/s1600-h/adidas_adiZero_RC2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143715470488973154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DMp7x8P63xkKnCNjjXSl68avo1OoTJ8ZluTItS3Alp0iXazHEvltFUnxLFiRf_bml6IwN18OVhOPI8M__z1l8bIDAAM88tNPqYlcpuiOQNgMC1DTxtxekdsMpVvz1fWYqJb0-kUDue8l/s320/adidas_adiZero_RC2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
This thing rocks, and is possibly the best running shoe I've ever had. As you can see from the pic there's very little heal to toe raise (good for a full elastic flex and preventing heal slamming as first contact). They're light at 6.4 oz, and they hold up better than many flats I've had. Just resting these puppies in your hand they feel like a feather, and though all your friends will tell you "oh I can't run in those" I've done weekly 17 milers on Sundays in them for weeks now (and all the miles between).<br />
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The official description follows: "The adidas adiZero RC 2 is an incredibly lightweight, yet well-cushioned racing flat for the competitive runner with a neutral foot strike. Air mesh upper. adiPRENE® provides protection from harmful impact forces. adiPRENE®+ maintains forefoot propulsion and efficiency. Torsion® System adds midfoot integrity. adiWEAR® outsole offers best durability in high wear areas. DSP delivers perfect grip, high durability and light weight."Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17544470492691678484noreply@blogger.com0