Average Guy Hits the Road

New Balance Minimus Amp (MT1010) and RC5000 Previews

2012-02-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I get to see something pretty neat before it hits the market. This is one of those times. Ken is taking a close look at these right now, the shoes in the photos are his own samples in size 9, so they are too small for me. That said, he'll likely have a few comments soon and we will do some better shots with our usual annotations. That said, these photos have been burning a hole in my pocket since I snapped them last weekend and I just thought you guys would appreciate seeing them straight away! First, its the eagerly anticipated New Balance Minimus Amp (MT1010). Featuring the same NL-1 Minimus Last as the MT110 and the Minimus Trail, the Amp/MT1010 is actually a true, branded part of the Minimus lineup, unlike the MT110. However, the Amp is actually MORE shoe than the MT110 with a fairly rugged outsole and a bombproof rock plate. Its pretty light, and has the wider toe box and low drop, but its not anywhere near a barefoot experience. I could see this being a GREAT ultra trail shoe, though. Feast your eyes!

This baby is the New Balance RC 5000. AT just a hair over 3 ounces, this is even lighter than the Mizuno Wave Universe and essentially the lightest shoe you will be able to buy. It will be fast, light, and pricey. It will last only about 100k. But it is RIDICULOUSLY cool. I'll probably never have a pair, but if you were a high-speed racer, this is a crazy, crazy light shoe.

Hal Koerner Interview: Above Average Athletes

2012-02-06T09:22:00.002-05:00

Ever been to a North Face store? That's Hal
in the store's epic graphics on walls and displays!

As the two-time defending champ of the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (2007, 2009 – the race was cancelled in 2008) and a challenger for the title in 2010, Hal Koerner is featured heavily in the new documentary “Unbreakable.” Hal has won or challenged for the podium in dozens of other top ultra marathons from 50 kilometers to 100 miles. On February 4th he won another 100 miler, the Rocky Raccoon 100 (and found his car towed when he finished). He is the owner of Rogue Valley Runners in Ashland, Oregon and is the race director for his own 100 mile endurance race, the Pine to Palm 100.

Hal is known throughout the ultramarathon world as a positive and friendly ambassador of the sport. He is an ambassador for The North Face. We first reached him just as he was arriving in Hawaii for H.U.R.T. 2012, and kept up contact through his busy winter racing season, so we thank him for taking the time to answer a few questions for Above Average Athletes!

Average Guy: I like to ask music questions. In “Unbreakable” you introduced me to a new band, Trampled by Turtles, as you were assembling your Western States 100 playlist. It seems like I usually see photos of you at the big races with a pair of ear buds. Do you usually listen to music through all your big races? Besides TbT, who are some of your other favorites?

Hal Koerner: Music or rather the ability to store, carry and listen to it has come a long ways since the days when I first began ultra running. I mean I can still remember when Karl Meltzer was running technical downhill and turning the cassette tape from side A to B. I thought I would love running with music but it wasn’t feasible or economical. Having the ability to sort of “tune out” at times during competition is nice and helps take my mind off the ceaseless speculation of doing well at all costs. Don’t get me wrong, I like to race and exchange friendly banter or just catch up with old friends and even introduce myself to new ones but there comes a time when a climb or a descent or the distance pulls spreads everyone out and that’s when I enjoy my portable audible companionship even more. Perhaps it’s derived from the long car trips I used to take with my Mom where we always listened to music while traveling the US when I was growing up. I don’t know but something about it is soothing and creates company and helps me cover the miles.

I was introduced to TBT by my long time friend Ian Torrence when we he was in Ashland working at Rogue Valley Runners. They rolled into town and a played a venue the size of your living room to about 15 people, I was hooked. My musical tastes are about as diverse as the distances I run but I find that I have an affinity for hip hop and what your iTunes cue might dub eclectic. Perhaps it’s because it makes me feel young. I mean I may not relate entirely with people like Kid Cudi or Rick Ross but I find the beats and the flow truly unique, and there’s a sort of bravado and arrogance that helps motivate from time to time. I listen to the Tedeschi Trucks band because I love Derek’s guitar and although it pains me to say this, sometimes I find myself scouring YouTube for various John Mayer live acts, with my friend Erik Skaggs of course. I would still pay money to see The John Butler Trio live although I’ve attended over 7 shows the last few years and I would see Damien Marley at Reggae on the River again, you bet.

Average Guy: In August, you inspired a lot of the ultramarathon rank and file with your gutsy 371st place finish at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). I know it was a disappointing race for you, but you finished when many of the other top Americans dropped out. You’ve downplayed it yourself, but what made you keep going, even though you knew you were out of contention?

Hal Koerner: The course was beautiful, I was a long ways from anywhere, I had great support, and for a time there were still thousands of people behind me. I also came to the realization that the UTMB course was something that I had not completely prepared for and I wasn’t sure if that was even possible considering where my life has taken me now. I wanted to make sure I experience the mountain to ensure I knew what would be required of me one day if I ever decided to give it a go again. Did I mention how beautiful it was? I was hoping to hook up with my wife who was running as well, I thought it would be fun to see her pass me, maybe to give her something to look forward to as the years go by.

Average Guy: Just 7 weeks or so after your UTMB odyssey, you came back strong, winning The North Face Endurance Challenge Georgia and setting a new record at the Javelina Jundred 100-miler in November. I’ve spoken to other ultra runners who have downplayed their recovery techniques. What do you do to recover from a big effort?

Hal Koerner: Rest. I never really took time off after an event in the past. It worked here and there to seamlessly transition, if you will, from one event to the next or rather from one training race to the other, but I’m not 25 anymore hell, I’m not even 35 for that matter. I put a lot of time into training and racing, especially over the years and it took a while for me to make the connection between building muscle when you rest versus constantly breaking down the body, really that’s the way it works. Perhaps my endurance has developed out of experience, repetition and age or so called grit but strength is a whole different matter. I’m not talking about a sabbatical but if you would have asked me to not run for a week when I was younger I would’ve thought you were crazy. We ask a lot of our bodies as ultra endurance athletes and sometimes it can’t ask you for a break til it’s too late. Injuries, sickness, overtraining and plateauing are all things I dealt with because I didn’t listen.

Average Guy: Given a tough DNF at Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2011 and your tough race at UTMB, many people may have written your year off entirely. To what do you credit your late-season success? Were you surprised?

Hal Koerner: I knew those weren’t my best efforts and I also had a few lingering issues that plagued me at both and even for the periodicity of training that enveloped the summer so I didn’t really get to down on myself. I was surprised when I was healthy again just how good it felt and I that was somewhat of a relief that certainly carried me to victories at the races you mentioned. I hope I wasn’t written off. People see a few amazing runners pull off successive races in a year and they think that its normal but it’s more than that, it’s one of those unexplainable perhaps indomitable waves that training, motivation, confidence and timing all play a part of when really we all need to be realistic with our achievements. I have been racing ultras for the better part of 14 years and I know that there will always be ups and down but that you have to get back out there, I feel that’s the only way I can continue to learn and grow in this sport. I feel I made it to the mountain top and now I checking the view to see where to go next. It’s not about victories so much as it is about being content with the performance.

Average Guy: Switching gears to another 100 mile run, the Pine to Palm 100. The race traverses the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and ends up in Ashland, Oregon, your home. It must be an enormous undertaking, what made you decide to found a 100-miler of your own?

Hal Koerner: I love the distance and thought it was one of the best ways to give back to the ultra racing/running community. There are a lot of great events and trails in Oregon but people don’t usually associate that picture of Oregon trail running with Southern Oregon. We have beautiful, pristine, and wild country that really differentiates us from anywhere else and I wanted people to get the chance to experience that exposure. I like having a point to point course although that can mean extra work. It epitomizes that extreme distance of the race, you run from one landmark to the next and when locals ask where it goes they get a sense for how committed these runners are, that’s pretty cool. I also thought this race could live well on past my running days and be something that’s associated with spirit, will, adventure and eventually tradition. Plus we came up with a really cool name.

Average Guy: What does the future hold for the Pine to Palm?

Hal Koerner: You know, I strongly believe the race and the runners will dictate that. I love Western States and I think a lot of new runners associate Western’s design to be the de facto 100 miler in terms of hype and organization and attention as well as presence in the community and beyond. There are also runners, myself included, that want those same elements but on a smaller scale, that’s honestly why I began running them in the first place. I like being one of 25 people at a 100 mile race, it was intimate and a huge contrast from the crowds at road races and marathons.

Average Guy: Will we ever see you run Pine to Palm yourself and turn the keys over to someone else to direct on race day?

Hal Koerner: Maybe someday when I’m really old, but I like the fact that I get to see and run on those trails in preparation for the event and I’m out there on race day with the elites and the back of the packers all through the night and that’s something that I don’t think I would trade.

Average Guy: I’ve been carefully looking at about a dozen different 100 mile races in considering signing up for my first attempt at the distance. With the disqualifier that I understand that you know nothing about my running career or average ability, why should I consider Pine to Palm as my first 100 mile experience? Or, rather, should I NOT consider Pine to Palm for any reason?

Hal Koerner: This is a tough one. Some of the best reasons to run are succinct; scenery, vast wilderness, course, aid stations (over half are captained by current or former race directors,) weather (yes I said it,) schwag, and effort/accomplishment happiness (I said that too.)

I can’t tell you a reason not to, you have to want it really bad and I can’t be the one to determine that because everyone asks themselves that a number a times during a 100 and I can’t be responsible for all those thoughts. :)

Average Guy: Where will we see you turn up in 2012? What is your primary objective for the upcoming season?

Hal Koerner: Hardrock is my primary objective, I love that course and I really want to improve on my time from 2005. I may not improve on my place with the crowd that is heading there this year but I want to be a part of that intimate run in the San Juan’s that makes runners just as hardened as the course. I’m heading to Japan in May to run the inaugural Ultra Trail Mount Fuji and that has me really excited, but first I’m going to build on my disappointing “turn” of events at HURT by running Rocky Raccoon again (editor: Hal WON Rocky Raccoon the day after sending me these responses!). Then it’s off to the Ray Miller 50k in SoCal as well as staples like Chuckanut and Lake Sonoma.

Average Guy: The North Face seems to be a fantastic supporter of ultra running around the world. I’ve not tried their shoes, but I have had a lot of positive experience with their apparel. I’ve seen previews of an entirely new series of shoes coming out of TNF in the next year. As an ambassador for The North Face do you get to have some input into the design process?

Hal Koerner: The design teams at the North Face are filled with some of the most driven and smart people I have had the opportunity to work with and be around. They love their product and want to see it succeed the market. It can be challenging when you are making a product for the masses while relying on feedback from an elite perspective. I think they need to hear my input but I have to be realistic on what will eventually make it to market. Not everyone needs a 4 oz trail shoe or a short with 10 pockets. However they do know how involved I am with the sport and how closely I interact with the everyday customer at RVR so they value my opinion and I respect that. TNF apparel has advanced light years since I joined the team and that just harkens back to their commitment to succeed in running, I have no doubt that with the advent of the Single-Track and the Hayesa we will begin to see a successful shoe offering that will grow accordingly. It’s been cool to watch product develop and from what I’ve seen for 2013 they are on target across the board.

Average Guy: I first watched “Unbreakable” with my whole family. My mother quickly decided that you were her favorite, given how genuinely happy and gregarious you seem to be during the whole experience. Are you really that relaxed going into something as monumental as Western States? How did you maintain your positivity throughout what was clearly a very challenging day?

Hal Koerner: That’s kind and actually the positive response from the movie, for a guy who dropped out at mile 80, has been greater than I could’ve ever imagined. I was really happy to hear JB wanted to make this movie because it not only gave an inside look at the lives of four elite ultra-runners and helped to see is in another light beside the top of the results list, but also because the vantage from the trail was something most people never see. I must say however I knew on that day I was in trouble and that I was most likely not going to be able to finish. It probably quelled the nerves but at the same time it made it harder to stay home and forgo the atmosphere of being the returning champ. I do think you have to try to remain relaxed and be open to adjusting as race day approaches. Nikki Kimball reminded me the other day that you really need to be prepared for the unexpected, that’s ultra-running.

Average Guy: In addition to being a top ultramarathon challenger, you also get to live out many of our readers’ dreams by owning a running store. I know it’s often tough being a small-business owner, but it does have its perks. How is the running business? Anything new in store for Rogue Valley Runners in the next few years?

Hal Koerner: Business is good, Ashland is great. I love our town but it’s a very unique place to do business in. We thrive on the tourist economy but our allegiance is to the local runner. We put on 4 races and sponsor dozens more, have a couple group runs and try to stock our store with a wide variety of items and brands that you would otherwise have to go online for or to some other large retail chain with assets and reach. Most people think they know what buying local means but until you run a small business you have no idea. Besides that, my biggest worry is trying to find people to work on the weekends when all the races happen.

This will be six years, and the buyer (me) has become much wiser and the store has built a name for itself. I love what we have now, but you have to keep evolving and changing to keep things interesting for customers. I think I look forward to that.

Thanks again to Hal Koerner for taking the time to talk with us! You can check out Hal's interview, and our interviews with other elite ultrarunners like Geoff Roes, Anton Krupicka, and David Riddle on our "Above Average Athletes" page, where we also feature other athletes from all walks of life. Also, check out Hal's own blog HERE.

Also, if you enjoyed this interview, please, please, please LIKE us of Facebook and follow on Twitter for more up-to-the-minute updates on ultrarunner interviews, gear, and the running life.

Ashmei Ultimate Softshell Running Jacket Review: A great start, a great future

2012-02-02T15:19:00.000-05:00

The Ultimate Softshell comes in black or white

Thanks to Twitter and a few common friends in the runningworld, I made contact with Stuart Brooke of Ashmei Running in the United Kingdom late last year.Stuart, like another running gear visionary I know, David Sypniewski of Skora,has a distinct eye for form as well as function. Given what a fan I am of Skora and their remarkable entry into the running market, this is very high praisefrom my desk. I immediately recognized the effort, the talent, and theexecution that went into Stuart’s line of Ashmei Running apparel.

I trulyappreciate the individual approach guys like David and Stuart have taken withtheir product. Many companies make decent looking kit with a variety of colorsand features, but these guys take it to the next level, looking for ways toexecute high quality gear in a way that is equally as revolutionary when itcomes to looks, textures, and undeniable identity.

After making contact with Stuart, I helped him make aconnection with Ken Larscheid, our recent guest contributor and owner of EliteFeet Brighton. I had a feeling that Ken would also appreciate Stuart’s line.Ken prides himself on a discriminating eye for shoes, gear and apparel, and hisboutique shop reflects his ideals. Long story short, Ken and Stuart began theirown dialogue and Elite Feet became the first United States retailer for Ashmei.While Ashmei was previously available online, Elite Feet would be the firstactual U.S. bricks-and-mortar location to carry this new line. As the first U.S.retailer, Ken has told me that he’s gotten great online chatter about EliteFeet and has found new customers across the country. Ashmei is just that kind of gear, it gets people talking.

As my friend Thomas of Believe in the Run first stated, theAshmei Ultimate Softshell Running Jacket is what James Bond would wear if he were a recreational runner. It’s true that thefirst thing you notice about the Ultimate Softshell Running Jacket is that ithas a look and feel all its own. Madeprimarily of Merino wool and a windshell material, it employs a few designtweaks that set it apart in the running world. At first glance, it looks less like a running jacket and more like asomething you might buy at Somerset Collection in Troy. Many other reviewershave pinned comparisons to many of the world’s top brands on Ashmei, so I won’tgo down that road. What I will say isthat, in addition to its unique and bold looks, the jacket is also largely atechnical winner.

The front of the jacket is mainly made up of large panels ofa lightly insulated windblocking synthetic material. It works as advertised. The back, sides, and undersides of the sleevesare made of a Merino wool blend material that is soft to the touch with a goodpile, kind of like the inside of Point 6 or Smartwool socks. The material feelsgreat on your arms. And, after a good number of runs in a variety of weatherconditions (rain, snow, very cold, damp, cool) in Michigan’s bizarre 2011-2012winter, I can say that several features of this jacket make it a top performerin many ways. The front buffers you from harsh cold wind, while the rear merinopanels breathe exceptionally well while still trapping enough heat to make itcomfortable.

The details of the Ashmei Ultimate Softshell Running Jacketare really quite striking. It has integrated cable hooks at strategic locationsto manage an iPod or MP3 headphone cord. It has two alternative pockets inwhich you can locate your music player (though the pockets are too small foranything else, more on that in a minute). The zippers, all of them, are reinforced with airtight seals, doublestitching, and embossed, styled zipper garages. The surrounding welded materialaround each pocket is reflective, a nice touch. One pocket is up on the shoulder,which is nice when you want a shorter, more manageable cord situation, thoughthe second pocket on the lower back works just as well. The hemline has a verysticky but durable rubber strip that helps the jacket stay in place. The mainzipper veers off to the side, which creates a nice, very retro look but isfunctional as well in that it keeps the zipper from chafing your neck. There isalso a small rubberized section there for biting the neck of the jacket so youcan unzip it with one hand. I haven’thas to employ it yet, but on a white jacket it is a nice little touch. Onething I have used and value are the hidden vents under the arms; they workgreat and come in very handy. On the whole, the finishing, materials, and styleare top notch. It may be expensive, but it does deliver on a basic performancelevel.

I do have a few issues that, once resolved, would make the AshmeiUltimate Softshell Running Jacket the perfect piece of kit, period. Ken and Ilooked long and hard at this jacket and, while we both really enjoy its looksand performance, there are a few little things that I think could improve iteven further, and help keep it heads above less premium competitors.

First, thesleeves have a somewhat awkward cuff. There are integrated flip-out handwarmers, which is nice, but the sleeveterminates in a very simple elastic band. For me, the sleeves sort of “blouse”a bit. Ken suggested that the jacket would benefit from an articulated cuff, orsomething more form-fitting, and I agree. Second, the bright red material thatruns up the back, across the breast, and on the shoulders is sharp looking, butnot actually breathable. I tend to sweat a good deal, even in cold weather, sofor me there was a lot of condensation on the inside of the jacket in theseareas when running in extreme cold. However, Stuart tells me this is being changed, so this issue will be going away in version 2. Finally, the pockets are great looking, butyou only need one for a music player. There are two options for your music, shoulderor lower back. I figured that the one you don’t use would be great for a cellphone or a few gels or a credit card, etc. Unfortunately, as it stands both pockets are too small for that, and I don't listen to music while running at all. If you use an iPhonefor your tunes and GPS, it will not fit in either pocket on the Ashmei UltimateSoftshell Running Jacket that I have. Again, Stuart told me that this is being corrected and the version 2 jacket will come with a larger smartphone pocket. Awesome!

Despite the few small suggestions I have noted (and whatproduct doesn’t have any areas for improvement?) this jacket is one remarkableobject. I love, love, love the looks, and its performance as a running layer isevery bit as competitive as anything else out there. The Ashmei Ultimate Softshell Running Jacketisn’t cheap, running around $280, but neither are many of the finer things. Thisjacket has proprietary Merino wool panels, undeniable attention paid to itsunique design, durable and beautiful finishing, premium hardware, and perfectlyfunctional attributes that help justify its small-batch, tailored-fit pricetag. Are there jackets for less money that accomplish the same goals as theAshmei? Well, in terms of weatherprotection, yes. My Nike jacket is arguably as warm and breathable, but it’s no looker. If you are interested insomething like the Ashmei, you are moved by its style, design, and its unique character.A used minivan will get you from point A to point B as predictably as aMercedes, but come on…if you have the means…

In summary, I like this jacket quite a lot. I even wore itout to dinner with my wife on New Year’s eve and I think I pulled it off. Shesaid it was cool, anyway, but she's used to seeing me in sweaty running gear. Itfits nice, its functional, and no one else in your running club will have one. Stuart also has someremarkable new things on the horizon in a new type of rain jacket. Ashmei also has Merino running tights (I’musing those now and loving them), a Merino beanie, and some very fashion-forwardMerino jersies. This is an unreal effort for a first line of product, askanyone who has tried them on, and the future is only going to get better forAshmei.

You can get Ashmei apparel in the United States from their onlycurrent U.S. retailer, Elite Feet Brighton, and Ken will accept ordersnationwide. You can also order direct from Ashmei, with a little extra forshipping.

This Ashmei Ultimate Softshell Running Jacket was providedfree of charge by the manufacturer for review purposes.

New Balance Minimus Road Zero Review: An industry veteran's analysis

2012-01-27T11:40:00.001-05:00

New Balance Minimus Road Zero MR00

The New Balance Minimus line has taken the running world by storm. Soon, you'll be tempted by the New Balance Minimus Road Zero (MR00), the first zero-drop offering from New Balance. This review, from our new contributor Ken, is a full-on critique of the shoe after 200 miles from an industry veteran. Take it away, Ken!

I had the huge privilege to receive a pair of this highly anticipated minimal shoe from New Balance back in August 2011 (8 months before its release) and give it a lengthy test. For those of you that do not know me, my name is Ken Larscheid, owner of Elite Feet Running Store in Brighton, MI. I test many shoes that we are thinking about stocking in the store for our customers, and Zak thought it would be a great idea to have me review this shoe I am already so familiar with. I think about how they fit in the mix of competition already on my shoe wall, how it will fit a customer’s foot, and if it fits in with our philosophy at Elite Feet Brighton. Any new shoe must fit all of these characteristics to be able to earn a spot on Elite Feet Brighton's shoe wall, and the New Balance Minimus Road Zero does that. Now I want to share my thoughts and findings with this shoe.

Let’s get some basic stats out of the way with the MR00 Minimus shoe.

Price: $105.00
Weight 6.4oz
Midsole/Outsole - EVA Midsole with Vibram plugs in high wear areas
Heel Height 12mm
Toe Height 12mm
Drop (heel-to-toe offset): 0mm
Release Date: March 1st

My reviews consist of four things:

1. How the shoe fits
2. How the shoe feels during a run (the ride of the shoe)
3. Durability of the shoe
4. Misc. info I feel may be important

FIT. The fit on this shoe follows New Balance's very successful Natural fit from their introduction of the Minimus Trail 10/Road 10. The only difference is that this fit is a zero drop differential from heel-to-toe. Like the Altra Instinct or Skora Form, the heel is the same height off the ground as the forefoot. Some of the great characteristics that New Balance applied to their first minimal shoes are still there. The forefoot still has a very broad fit to allow more room for toe splay. This gives the pinky toe extra room; this is becoming a staple in what we (Elite Feet) look for in a minimal shoe. Many companies are coming out with "minimal" footwear, but they forget this very important element. Giving extra room for toe splay is even more important as you get closer to the ground and New Balance achieved that with the Road Zero.

If you wore the first Minimus Road from 2011 then you will be very familiar with how the Zero fits. The toe box is almost identical, but with a much more cleaned up look. It looks like they used some more flexible overlay materials and the shape stays more consistent as the shoe bends with your foot. Did anyone notice that the welded overlays were cracking on the Minimus Road last year? Yeah, we did too, but that’s not happening on the Zero with the use of much thinner materials to keep structure in the toe box.

Let’s talk about the sweet tongue wrap or "Burrito Tongue" as it’s sometimes referred to in the industry. This is where the tongue is only open on one side of the shoe, usually the lateral side, and the tongue is one continuous piece from the rest of the upper. Zak’s recent review of the Skora FORM described this approach, as that shoe makes use of a similar design. New Balance combined the medial wrapping “burrito” tongue with 4 straps that are also used as the eyelets to give the extra support on the medial side in the wrap. In my experience when most brands try to do a burrito wrap something gets jacked up. They either leave too much volume or not enough and it ends up being a fit disaster. Not on the Minimus Road Zero. We’re very impressed with this mid-foot fit.

Lastly, let’s look at the fit in the heel…this portion of the shoe stays consistent with the rest of the shoe in that the heel pocket fits great. From first glance it looks like it could be fitting too wide, but as soon as I put it on the first time it did not disappoint. The heel feels really securely and the collar on the heel is low enough to where it does not even come close to the ankle bone on the lateral or medial side (malleolous).

The lining construction on the inside of the shoe is another great attribute. If you’re a triathlete and are looking for a great shoe to go sockless in for some of your training runs…this might be it. The inside is completely seamless, as all the overlays are glued (welded) onto the upper. When you take your sock off and stick your foot in this shoe the lining feels like silk…it’s that soft. I thought the lining on the Minimus Road 10 felt good, but New Balance did a bang up job improving on that quality with the Road Zero. Overall I give an A- to the fit of this shoe!

PERFORMANCE/RIDE. My first impression after putting on the shoe and running in it was not a great one to be honest. When I first put on this shoe, I felt the Vibram outsole plug that was directly under the ball of my first metatarsal. It felt like it was way too firm in that area. I was nervous to take it on a first run but when I did it quickly subsided after 3 miles into the run and I never felt that firmness again. So if you try this shoe, do not let that feeling deter you! This being a pretty drastic minimal shoe by our standards at Elite Feet, much less a road shoe, it sure did perform from road right onto rocky trail.

Let’s start with how it felt on the road. Since this is a zero-drop shoe with only 10mm of foam between you and the road, this is a shoe for only the most seasoned runner that has been running in various other minimal or barefoot shoes previous to this one. Every run on the road with these shoes feels absolutely awesome. They are light, have full ground contact from heel-to-toe, and do not have a “slappy” feel when they hit the ground. The transition from mid-foot to toe-off is some of the smoothest I have felt in a shoe this drastically low to the ground. It is not nearly as “slappy” as a Vibram Five Fingers, but in Vibram’s defense, the Minimus Road Zero has some midsole to it to where Vibrams traditionally have virtually none. That being said, I felt like I still received the benefits just as I would in a Vibram but at a much more comfortable level in the Road Zero. I surely felt the ground but I felt like I could still go fast if I needed to. I rarely feel like I can just pick up and hit top speed in a Vibram.

I proceeded to also do track workouts in these shoes and even ran a half marathon race in them. On the track they are great, for but your Achilles will be screaming at you the next day after running at such a high level in a zero-drop shoe so take it easy if you decide to use them for a hard tempo or track workout. As for the half marathon I used them in…I would probably fall back on a racing flat instead of the Minimus Road Zero. My Achilles felt too stretched in a zero-drop shoe, and it took my mind off the race. Plus, there is no structure in the mid foot of a minimal shoe typically which may cause you to lose a little power off of every foot strike. I realized that day that minimal or barefoot shoes truly are a strengthening tool, but when it comes to race day, I personally would have liked a little more angle on the shoe.

Lastly I want to talk about something that surprised me a lot with these shoes…how they performed on trails. I was doing a run that started off on the road and then mid-run my running partner and I decided to jump on the trails. I was hesitant with the Road Zeros, but decided to do it anyway. The shoe performed beyond my expectations for a road shoe. The Vibram plugs on the outsole did an amazing job of providing enough protection so I did not feel every rock, root, or branch. I even felt like it provided more protection than my Minimus Trail 10's. The only thing it probably does not provide is much traction, but that day I did not have a problem because it was the middle of summer and the trails were bone dry so footing really wasn't an issue. Overall this shoe exceeded my expectations with the mid-foot to toe-off transition.

DURABILITY. Let’s just say we all know we are talking about minimal shoes here so keep that in mind when I give my durability comments. Let’s start with the most important part of the shoe, the outsole. This shoe has some exposed EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate...fancy foam) on the medial side of the outsole as you can see in the pictures. The Vibram rubber is the white area that runs mainly along the lateral side of the shoe and expands into most of the forefoot for coverage. The exposed EVA surprised me in how much it was resilient to being torn up by asphalt, concrete, and trails. There is some wear on these areas but not nearly as much as there should be for having close to 200 miles on this shoe.

Moving over to the Vibram outsole rubber, I want to say I would have hoped this rubber would have held up better in some areas. I can tell there is some spots where the design grooves on the bottom are starting to wear away and become smooth like they do on most shoes when we see that we need a new pair. What surprised me is that this is Vibram rubber…some of the best outsole rubber on the planet, but yet it wore just the same as the blown rubber on some of my training shoes. I think Vibram needs to start communicating different levels of rubber because I know from being in the industry that Vibram makes varying levels of rubber from really soft to high abrasion rubbers you find on the outsoles of work boots. If you wore the Minimus Trail 10's you know what I am talking about, that shoe wore down quite fast, but New Balance needed to put some of Vibram’s softest rubber on that shoe in order to give it the cushioning effect that they wanted. Good for during the run and casual use, but bad for durability. Did they use that same level of rubber from the Trail 10's onto the Road Zeros? I’m not sure, but it sort of seems like it based on how it wore.

At Elite Feet, we explain these levels of rubber to our customers most of the time, but in general if someone is buying a Minimus Trail product at Dick’s Sporting Goods, they will not know or be told about the difference between Vibram rubbers, which could be a bad thing. In the end, let’s just say the outsole wore out a little fast for me…and I'm a light guy (145 lbs.) with relatively good running form.

The upper durability did not raise any red flags so far. I was initially concerned that the overlays were the same that were used on the original Minimus Road, but after wearing it and running in it all this time I realized they were much more flexible and thinner than those on that shoe. There was no delaminating of the glued overlays, and this was not even a production model, so that’s a great sign.

Overall I feel that I need to replace these shoes already, but mainly that’s because of the outsole. The midsole does run like it’s a little broken down from the first time I ran in it. I think this is a shoe you have to keep fresh on your feet otherwise it could do some damage. Or maybe you like the fact it is getting more minimal as you wear it? :)

In conclusion I want to say that this is a fantastic barefoot shoe. I think New Balance has told a great progression story here to the customers that have tried the first introduction of Minimus and now want to incorporate the next level of footwear in their strength and form training. The Minimus Road Zero is it. This shoe has a softer feel and better transition than most other zero drop shoes out there that similar with regard to the heel-to-toe angle and overall low height. Customers will fall in love with the premium materials New Balance has used to construct a shoe in a segment that is white hot right now. I also want to put an emphasis on the word "premium". Even though this shoe may be $105.00 for "less" shoe than most, it uses some of the best technologies available today. Welding or glued uppers alone is a very expensive process, so I encourage you to appreciate the way this shoe was made and you will understand these thoughts after you try the shoe on for the first time.

Any questions on this shoe and want to ask me personally shoot me an email at ken@elitefeetsports.com.

Ken has a reputation earned through 11 years in the running industry for impeccable taste and high standards. His shop, Elite Feet Brighton, carries only the best stuff with the most style, a boutique running shop with just the right product. As a former manufacturer's rep serving some of the highest volume stores in the country, Ken also knows the ins and outs of the running business from the manufacturer’s point of view.

This shoe was a pre-production model provided to Ken for review and feedback purposes, free of charge,

The new "Average Guy" contributors are all more qualified than I am...and other news

2012-01-26T15:42:00.001-05:00

I have been very fortunate to make some unique connections in the running world of late. My interviews with Geoff Roes, David Riddle, Anton Krupicka, and my friend Kyle Kranz have added a new series of voices to Average Guy Hits the Road and it seems to really be resonating with readers. Traffic has increased by about 500% in the last three months. In addition, I have started doing in-depth analyses of running shoes and products, which has brought us a lot of new readers looking for information on barefoot running and barefoot style shoes.

In honor of all our new readers, I have been working hard behind the scenes to line up even more Above Average Athlete interviews for you, and a series of new product reviews. In the next few weeks, you can expect interviews with Krissy Moehl, an incredible, world-renowned ultra runner, and Hal Koerner, another legendary ultra runner and two-time Western States winner. We have sneak peak product reviews of the New Balance Minimus Road Zero, Merrell Mixmaster, and Ashmei Running apparel. Plus, a few more surprises I don’t want to let out of the bag just yet.

One thing I can tell you all about right now is the addition of a few new contributors to Average Guy Hits the Road. There are three right now, with more to come in the future. These writers all have unique backgrounds and come at running and racing and life from very diverse backgrounds from my own and from one another. I am confident that the quality of their analysis and the spirit of their commentary will be very positive additions to what I am doing here.

The first new contributor has, in a way, been contributing all along. She is a cancer survivor, former high school cross country runner, and newly minted natural running advocate. She’s a mom, writer in her own right, and a living legend. She’s my wife, Moira Branigan. It was her diagnosis that inspired me to get off the couch in the first place. Since then she’s been in my corner for all my races and struggles. For herself, she recovered fully from her breast cancer, with just a few small exceptions. The biggest was neuropathy from her chemotherapy. She was a casual runner before cancer and assumed she’d be a runner after cancer. But that neuropathy numbness kept her on the sidelines while I ran for the both of us. Then I started to get into barefoot running and it must have rubbed off on her. Now she has been working out, walking, running, and living with minimal shoes…and with the extra ground feel she’s been telling me that she’s had almost all of that numbness vanish! She will soon be writing some posts about some of the Merrell Barefoot collection and others from her very personal point of view as she trains for her first long-distance race.

The next new contributor, Mike Andersen, is a guy who can definitely add something very cool to Average Guy, because he’s an elite runner with a view of the very, very front of the pack. He was on the podium at the Detroit Marathon in 2011, and will be tearing up Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth in 2012. Mike is also a shoe junkie and has reliable, insightful thoughts on the finer points of running form and running shoes, especially racing gear.

Finally, we will be hearing from Ken Larscheid. Ken has a reputation earned through 11 years in the running industry for impeccable taste and high standards. His shop, Elite Feet Brighton, carries only the best stuff with the most style, a boutique running shop with just the right product. As a former manufacturer's rep serving some of the highest volume stores in the country, Ken also knows the ins and outs of the running business from the manufacturer’s point of view.

Geoff Roes Interview: Above Average Athletes

2012-01-19T12:27:00.002-05:00

Geoff Roes (image from Clif Bar)

Geoff Roes is a humble and quiet guy who just happens to eat 100 mile ultramarathons alive. I connected with Geoff after having interviewed Anton Krupicka for our "Above Average Athletes" column, and was very grateful to get his thoughts on running, gear, his popular and incredible Alaska Mountain Ultrarunning Camps, and his unconventional plans for 350 miles on foot...in winter...in Alaska.

In 2010, Geoff won the Western States 100 Mile Endurance run in record time, beating Anton, Killian Jornet, Nick Clark, Hal Koerner, and other top ultramarathoners in what can only be described as one of the most tense and epic races of that distance on American soil. In 2011, Geoff won the Ultra Race of Champions 100k, Crow Pass 25 miler, Santa Barbara 100 miler, the Zane Grey 50, and the Chuckanut 50k. Thanks again to Geoff for getting to know us and taking the time for Above Average Athletes!

Average Guy: Inyour recent blog post you talked a lot about how your recovery these days hasbeen very different from what you have been used to. So, you are lettingyour running take a back seat over most of the winter so you can challengeyourself in different ways and shake it up. What have you planned and when doyou think you’ll ramp up running mileage again?

Geoff Roes: For most of the winter so far I've just beentaking it really mellow. When there's good snow I get out on my nordic skis;I've gotten out on several nice hikes with my girlfriend; I was just in CostaRica for two weeks and did some nice mellow runs in the rainforest down there.Basically I've just been taking it as it comes, but my weekly active time hasbeen very low, somewhere in the 5-12 hour range depending on the week. I willprobably wait until sometime in early April before I really start to focus oneveryday running again.

Average Guy: Ofcourse, the one big exception to your winter of reduced running is the IditarodTrail Invitational, a 350 mile footrace. Are you still planning on lining upthere? If so, how are your preparations going?

Geoff Roes: Yeah, I'm still planning on the ITI. It's gonigto be a completely unorthodox approach, but basically I'm going to try to dothis race more on mental determination/preparation than physical preparation. Iwill try to increase my active time between now and the race, but I doubt I'lldo much more running than what I have been doing for the past few weeks. I'lljust try to mix in one or two longer snowshoe or ski outings each week. To somedegree I think this might be a good approach to this race. I feel like I canget through the physical challenges of the race using the fitness that I'vebuilt up over the past few years. I think if I tried to train "normally"for this race I would be too worn out once the race comes around. Instead I'mgoing to take the approach of being physically very fresh and hopefully verywell prepared logistically, mentally, and emotionally.

Average Guy: Speakingof the Iditarod Trail Invitational, I want to know more about your Alaskaorigins. You are from New York State, but found yourself in Juneau,scrambling to find places to run. What brought you to Alaska in the firstplace and what about it keeps you coming back?

Geoff Roes: After leaving New York, I lived in Utah for 5years before moving to Alaska. I have pretty much always been drawn to wild,remote, scenic places. After 5 years in Utah I was ready for more wildness so Iheaded to Alaska almost entirely drawn by the lure of remote Alaska. That was 6years ago. In that time I have fallen in love with the community of Juneau andwith the mountains surrounding all of Southeast Alaska. In my mind Juneau isthe greatest mountain running location I have ever been. At this point Icouldn't imagine anything keeping me from spending a lot of time there for therest of my life.

Average Guy: You are not theonly one with a passion for running the mountains of Alaska, if the success ofyour Alaska Mountain Ultrarunning Camps is any indication. How did you come upwith the idea for a series of camps and what improvements or changes are youplanning for 2012 after a successful inaugural year in 2011?

Geoff Roes: The idea for the camps was something that builtup in my mind gradually over time. A huge part of wanting to do these camps wasthat I specifically wanted to do them in Juneau and show people how amazing therunning terrain and the running culture is in Juneau. It's a very unique placeto run, and over time I built up a desire to show people what it is to run inJuneau. Toward the end of 2010 I began running "full time", and thatwas the perfect time to put in action this camp idea that had been percolatingin my mind for a couple years. The 2011 camps ended up going amazingly well. Ihad so much more fun doing it than I ever imagined. The campers all seemed tobenefit a lot from the experience (6 of them are already signed up to come backin 2012). There will be a few minor changes for 2012, but for the most partthey will be quite similar to the camps in 2011.

Average Guy: Areyou planning on conducting the Alaska Mountain Ultrarunning Camps in 2013? I’veset a personal goal of attending myself (I’m just not ready to do so in 2012)and would love to come out to Alaska and fulfill a long-standing dream.

Geoff Roes: I haven't decided on my Summer 2013 plans justyet, but I am very much leaning toward doing camps again in 2013. I willprobably make that decision sometime toward the end of this Summer.

Average Guy: Whenin Alaska, you’ve worked as a cook at Rainbow Foods. Are you still working therewhen you are in town? It seems like a great gig and would allow for a flexibleenough schedule to allow you to log so much time on the trails.

Geoff Roes: I haven't worked at Rainbow Foods since Augustof 2010. I imagine I will work there again at some point in the future as it isa great place to work that fits my interests perfectly. It's a really fun placeto cook and it always allowed me great flexibility to get out on long runs whenI needed to.

Average Guy: Iread a few articles written by co-workers of yours at Rainbow Foods or by localJuneau reporters who were surprised when finding out about your notoriety inthe running community. I was impressed by that, that you are sounassuming that just a few years ago your co-workers were unaware that you wereone of the top ultramarathoners in the country. Since then, you’ve beenthe subject of films and many magazine articles. How comfortable are youwith the relative “fame” that has come with your success?

Geoff Roes: Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable. I don'treally feel totally comfortable talking to people about my running unless Iknow them really well (and then I probably talk about it way too much), sothere are a lot of people in Juneau who I have known for a few years who onlyknow that I like to run a lot. I recently saw a screening of Unbreakable inJuneau and I knew just about every single person in the theater, but I don'tthink even half of them knew anything about my racing before watching thatfilm. It was interesting to talk to people after that because I could see thatthey were viewing me in some ways as an entirely different person than theywere just a few hours before. In totality though it's been really easy to feelcomfortable with my running "fame" in Juneau. There is a really solidrunning community there who I have learned so much from. They have supported meso much over the past 5 years, and there are so many runners in Juneau who I have done so many long runs with that I feel like they understand mebeyond anything they will ever read in a magazine or watch in a movie. Becauseof these people it has never felt as awkward as it otherwise might.

Average Guy: Giventhe breakout success of “Unbreakable,” a lot of new people are being quicklyeducated about the sport and are being inspired to set their own newgoals. What advice do you have to an aspiring first-time 100-mile runner?

Geoff Roes: Just remember to keep it fun. If you're notenjoying it, change things up until you are.

Average Guy: Onelast question about your running gear. For the past few seasons you haverelied on the Montrail Mountain Masochist as your go-to racing and trainingshoe. Will we see you exclusively in the MMM this year as well, or are youexperimenting with some of the new stuff Montrail has coming down the pipeline,like the Rogue Racer, Bajada, or something even newer?

Montrail Mountain Masochist (Image from Running Warehouse)

Geoff Roes: I will probably be sticking mostly with theMountain Masochist for this year. They are the best shoe I have ever worn, andit's going to take something really special to get me out of them. This said Ithink the Montrail lineup for 2012 is really exciting and really well rounded.I've done about a dozen runs in the new Bajada, and I think they will be my goto shoe for any runs/races less than 2 or 3 hours. As my body adapts more tothem I could even see them becoming my go to shoe for ultras. I've also donejust a few runs in the new Badwater shoes. I haven't really run in them enoughyet to say too much about them, but they do feel really great on the roads, andwill probably be my go to shoe for any of the occasional road runs that I getout on.

Thanks, Geoff!

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Barefoot Shoes: Right for Every Run?

2012-01-19T10:12:00.002-05:00

Merrell Barefoot Collection Trail Glove

Lately I have been following a lot of great blogs out there and have been watching an animated series of discussions on the barefoot "purist" vs. "barefoot shoes" debate. To say that it is polarizing would be an understatement. On one side you have the die hard barefoot runners, those brave souls who first bucked convention and dared to run totally barefoot through any weather and for any distance. Guys like Jason Robillard were the first big proponents of that philosophy that I encountered. Recently, a lot of this dialogue has been taking place in the comments section of a few posts on Jason's entertaining and thought-provoking blog, Barefoot Running University.

I am not a pure barefoot runner. I do sometimes run barefoot for short runs, on grass, the track, the treadmill, even a few blocks of concrete of asphalt, but mostly just to do a checkup on form. I've rarely set out to hit the bricks barefoot and I am not sure I am really ever going to be that guy. Even with the emergence of truly barefoot running as a legit way to train, I am one of the second wave of barefoot running advocates that finds that a middleground works well for me. In the past year I have transitioned to a far more natural running style, administered primarily by working on short, truly barefoot, treadmill sessions with a mirror and metronome. I worked in minimalist or "barefoot" shoes over time and have now swung totally into the zero-drop, uber-flexible shoe category.

Getting back on the trail at mile 22 of the Stumpjump

All that said, as I ramp up miles this month, I did find myself wanting to run here and there in my old standby Saucony Peregrines. While not a traditional trainer by any means, the Peregrine is not a barefoot shoe, either. At about 9 ounces, with a very limited 4mm drop from heel-to-toe, the Peregrine is a very natural-form-friendly running shoe that easily allows for an efficient, midfoot strike under your center of gravity. It is cushioned, has arch support, and has a protective, trail rugged outsole. It is what I would characterize as a transitional shoe. I ran my last two long runs in the Michigan snow and muck in the Peregrines to great effect, after putting miles exclusively on far less structured shoes like the Skora FORM, Merrell Road Glove, and the New Balance MT110.

In fact, in the midst of my strongest barefoot shoe drive last season, I still reached for the Peregrines for my two primary events, the Grand Island Trail Marathon and the Stumpjump 50k ultramarathon in Tennessee. I feel like with a shoe like the Peregrine, I was able to maintain most of what I like about barefoot running and still enjoy the benefits of a protective, yet lightweight, mountain running shoe. Of course, had I run exclusively in more structured shoes all last year, I may have found myself more injury prone (in my opinion). The more I try a wide variety of products, the more I appreciate that there ARE benefits to more structured shoes, just as there are benefits to less structured shoes. In my shoe closet there are spaces for all types.

The shoe wall at Elite Feet

What I am getting at is that variety of the spice of life, and for me, the path to injury resistance. You won't find two more dedicated minimalist guys than Ken and Mike at Elite Feet Brighton; in fact, Ken has structured the majority of his stock around the barefoot running revolution. However, both he and Mike have a lot of respect and have put a lot of miles in a variety of more traditional, cushioned New Balance, Nike, and Mizuno shoes, too. Variety. I can see where stressing the foot and lower extremities hard with pure minimal or barefoot shoes could be supported by using transitional shoes or cushioned low-drop shoes on long-slow-run or easy days. In fact, I have realized that my feet are fresher now that I have been dividing my time between pure barefoot style shoes like the Merrells and Skoras, and in slightly more protective shoes like the Saucony Peregrine.

One last resource for this way of thinking was David Riddle. David, who was awarded the Ultrarunning Magazine "performance of the year" for his groundbreaking JFK50 win, recently gave me an in-depth interview as part of my "Above Average Athletes" interview series. In the course of that correspondence, David gave me a good number of pointers and cautiously mentioned that he was personally cautious with incorporating less shoe in his own workouts. While I am certainly light years away from someone like David in terms of form, physiology, running volume, etc., his thoughts did inspire me to try and mix it up a bit. I have found so far that the benefits have been fantastic. While I feel like I am a well-adapted natural or barefoot runner, I now feel like it is that fact that would allow me to run some of my mileage in more protective shoes while still maintaining that gentle, high-cadence, midfoot form that has galvanized me against injury. In short, I feel strongly that form is at the heart of this debate, not just shoes. You can still injure yourself if you heel strike in Vibram Five Fingers, after all.

Mizuno Wave Musha 4; low but with support and cushion -
Image from Running Warehouse

So as not to be complacent, I am doing strides barefoot, doing a great deal of running in the Skoras, and then working in my Sauconys and will also be working in a few surprises for you, like the new Mizuno Wave Musha 4. To each their own, and for me, right now, I feel like a 50/50 split of half minimal shoe or barefoot running and half reduced or transition shoe running (but zero miles in the traditional 10-12 mm, overbuilt category) is the right mix for me. In all these options I am able to maintain my form. You won't see me in a 12mm drop, highly structured Brooks Adenaline or any motion-control shoe, of course, but I see a true value in the middle category of shoe we have described here. Other options include the upcoming Saucony Kinvara 3 (previewed at my friend Thomas Neuberger at Believe in the Run), the Kinvara TR (trail), the Brooks Pure Project line (although the Pure Connect was not for me, the Pure Flow may be a better fit), the Merrell Mixmaster, many of the new shoes from Inov-8, the previously mentioned Mizunos, and many of the new 2012 models from New Balance.

Not everyone will agree with me. For many, pure barefoot is the only way to go. For others, barefoot running or running in "barefoot shoes" is a waste of time. For others still, my own approach might be considered middling or compromising. To be honest, we are all an experiment of one. I firmly believe it is form first, and shoes second. Reduced and barefoot style shoes allow us (in my opinion) to maintain far better natural form, and traditional overbuilt shoes, especially when used exclusively, lead us to a greater risk of potential injury. While the science is still coming in, my own anecdotal experience is that reduced shoes in a variety of configurations allow for consistent natural form, adequate protection, stronger feet and legs, less injury, and more enjoyable running.

Experiment. Try new things. Challenge your muscles and feel with a true barefoot run once a week. Take a Good Form Running class or Merrell Bareform class. Work in a rotation of shoes in different categories. Rest well. Most of all, keep an open mind and don't forsake healthy running for ideology!

Skora Running Shoe Review: Skora Form Takes on the World's Finest

2012-01-13T13:40:00.002-05:00

These babies get the "Instagram Treatment"

Rarely do I feel like I have my hands on something that few peopleare fortunate enough to own. Rarely do Ifeel like I have something that I honestly wouldn't change, something I couldnot have imagined better myself. Rarely do I get to enjoy the top-of-the line product(I am a constant compromiser). Rarely do I convert so quickly to a new piece ofgear, to the detriment to all the other stuff I have accumulated. Rarely have Iever had anything like the Skora FORM. I am sure it sounds like anoverstatement, these are just running shoes after all. However, when running is truly your passion,your vehicle for self-discovery, and your ticket to longevity and health, it isa big deal. When a simple pair of shoes isso revolutionary, so empowering, and so enjoyable, it enhances this criticalexperience and thereby truly changes the game. I’ve had these a short time, but I’ve run twice as many miles in the pastweek as I would normally at this phase of the year, only because my comfort whilerunning and rapid recovery from workouts was so accelerated. Amazing stuff.

Not that you’ve clearly gleaned that this will be far from aneutral post, let’s just get it all out there. Skora is a company I have admired since first hearing about them earlier in 2011. David Sypiewski, Skora’s founder, came tobarefoot running after a string of injuries made him rethink his approach. Then,in David’s words to me over a Twitter message…after ten years of dreaming andfour years of hard work, you are wearing the result. It shows. The Skora “barefoot shoes” do a remarkable job of providing comfort and protection withoutencroaching into the foot’s ability to function as nature intended. In the limited experience I have had withthem so far, it is clear to me that these shoes permit shod natural running ina way that is uniquely their own.You can hear from our friend Kyle Kranz., who has run hundreds of miles in his, on this topic HERE.

Skora will hit the market in the next few weeks with two newshoes in two colorways each. First up is theshoe I am reviewing here, the Skora FORM. The FORM is an exceptional, no expense spared luxury. At $195 retail they are a boutique option,and like a lot of things you do get what you pay for (more on that shortly).Second will be the Skora BASE, a synthetic upper shoe with some innovativefeatures. We will be reviewing the BASEin a matter of weeks, but let’s stick to the matter at hand, the Skora FORM.This is a preliminary analysis, I will have a follow up post later withwear-tested goodness. For now, as withall my reviews, I will do an in-hand analysis and try to put you there in thecockpit.

Way back when, most shoes were made of leather, even athleticshoes. Early running shoes werecertainly leather, and I can remember playing most of my childhood basketballin a pair of leather sneaks. That said,leather fell out of fashion as synthetics made big advances in weight savings,breathability, durability, and cost. Leather,it seems, was on its way out. I am anostalgic guy, though, and I remember opening that box with a fresh pair ofAdidas soccer cleats or Nike high tops. I remember the first pair of really good, quality dress shoes I boughtwhen I graduated from the University of Michigan and started my firstprofessional gig. All these experienceshad one thing in common…that beautiful, deep quality leather new-shoe smell. Skora FORM gives you that and it isfantastic. The leather on the FORM is noordinary cowhide, though. It is acombination of Pittard’s goatskin on the outside and Pittard’s sheepskin on theinside. Pittard’s makes the kind ofexclusive, world-class leathers you’ll find in very high end golf gloves, purses,jackets, and other bespoke leather goods. These leathers dry in a fraction of the time of cowhide, but also drysoft and supple. I am sure I can commenton this more after a longer wear test, but in my experience so far, sweat andmoisture dried fast, true to its word. Theleather interior does get damp with strenuous exercise, though, but it remainedwarm and soft throughout, and as I mentioned, dried fast and with no harm done.

The last (shape) of all Skora shoes use a zero-differential, levelplatform. It employs a very subtle archcurve, but no more appreciable support than you would want from a “barefoot shoe.” The toebox is wide, the heel wrap is sufficient to secure the foot, butnot rigid or inhibiting. The shoe hasplenty of room, and for casual wear or running roads, it is an exceptional, comfortable fit. Keep in mind that Ihave rather average or even narrow feet, but even so I think most runners willfind ample room in the Skora fit. Thetoebox shape may not be as exaggerated as the epic, roomy Altra fit, but I findSkoras to be wide, very freeing, and miles from the ordinary running shoeshape. The shoe overall is extremely flexible, too.

Underfoot, the Skora FORM has a blown-rubber outsole over afirm, thin midsole. These are supportedby a removable insole with a gentle arch “hug.” The shoes are finished to a high degree without the insole, and you canrun in them either way. I’ve preferred tokeep the insole in place so far. The insoleis a neat detailed piece in and of itself, with embossed lettering saying “RunReal” on the underside, a texture of tiny, gentle buttons across the footbed tohelp prevent sliding around (I assume), and a style and design not usually seenon a part of the shoe no one will see. Speakingof which, Skora has outdone themselves with regard to the details. This shoe has details on its details. The lace eyelets, for instance, are carefullypainted the stunning contrast blue reserved for the sole, and they have theSkora web address embossed on them in tiny, tiny letters. Tiny letters don’tmake you run faster, but they add to the enjoyable, exclusive character ofthese fine objects d’art.

The fit of this shoe can be highly customized. As noted, you can remove the insole and youstill have a highly finished barefoot-friendly interior. You can also take advantage of the heelstrap, a hook-and-loop strap which has the ability to capture your heel justaround your Achilles and provide security without a rigid heel cup. There is a “diet”version of a heel cup in that the outsole comes up and wraps the heel,providing a rounded, foot-like shape back there, but I wouldn't characterize itas a traditional heel counter. The upperis what I like, though. In addition toits material, the very soft and form-fitting leather, the cut and shape of the upper is well executed. The FORM has no tongue; but a simple a “wrap” style upper that is best appreciated in an image, like the one I have provided here. Unlike the Brooks Green Silence, which also has a similar arrangement, this leather wrap area lays comfortably over the form of your foot and does not bunch up anywhere. Very subtle, but very clever design, this. It allows comfortable barefoot wear, with no seams or folds to get in the way. It is as comfortable in socks as it is without, and in fact I have worn it with thick winter socks, thin running socks, and sockless. In all configurations I have been able to find a good fit. My guess is that these will be pretty warm in the summer, even though it is perforated and breathable, so sock choice may be critical at that stage, or I may just rely on the BASE model for summer running, we’ll see.

The heel tabs are big enough to be useful and they actually are useful in a shoe without a rigid heel cup. They almost pull on like a fine pair of moccasins. The lace bed is off-centered on the Skora FORM. This way, that soft wrap upper can lay comfortably across the top of the foot, and the laces don't apply pressure there. It really works, the spots off to the side of yor foot where the laces are doesn't change shape as much as the top of your foot through the gait cycle, so it stays put and doesn't rub or squeeze your foot.

The Skora FORM also has a nice protective toe bumper that rises up from the outsole similar to many light trail shoes. It provides security and a dash of color and personality that keep the looks firmly in the athletic shoe category, even aside from their plush leather appearance. It also allows barefoot running without the worry of hurting yourself while truly barefoot. Speaking of design, the arch side of the upper is overlain with a unique, beautiful reflective design. Rather than slap a few squares of reflective tape in the heel, designers created a pattern that creates an effective reflective surface, but also shows a little flair. This design and ones like it, incidentally, can be found in the exposed midsole foam, and even the marketing materials for Skora. It is this kind of uniform, conscious effort that made me first compare them with Apple Computers, another company that almost ruthlessly strives to make sure that functional objects can also be appreciated for their design and beauty.

The feel underfoot is right in the sweet sport for me. It is firm, but not rigid. It is cushioned, but not overly so. You can feel the ground under you. The Skoras are not Vibram Five Fingers, though, you certainly have a shoe under your foot. There is cushioning that makes walking very comfortable in these shoes. Maybe not as much cushioning as something like the Altra Instinct, for instance, but more than Merrell Road Gloves or the previously mentioned Vibrams. Skoras have that unique combination of in-store initial comfort and the flexible, natural barefoot running characteristics that you need to have a "real" running experience. In short, David and the group at Skora have made something to be proud of here. I'll reserve my additional performance comments for my follow-up wear tested review, but needless to say I am hooked. They look good, feel good, work well, and give you all the plush character you would expect for almost $200. At that price, I know these won't be for everyone. In my last post about Skora I said: "I would really, really have to love the product to put up $195 for one pair of running shoes." Well, these are those shoes. You can run in cheaper shoes, but man, if you can buy one pair of shoes instead of your next two, make it a pair of Skora FORMs and you'll find yourself wearing them twice as much.

Skora is now taking pre-orders for the FORM and BASE, and will open sales to the general public in a few days. Go to Skora's website for more information. You will also be able to buy the BASE at Elite Feet locally, but Ken will also ship nationwide, too! Also, please consider liking Average Guy Hits The Road on Facebook and Following on Twitter!

These shoes were provided as media samples from the manufacturer.

Anton Krupicka Interview: Above Average Athletes

2012-01-08T21:20:00.004-05:00

Anton Krupicka is arguably the most recognizable top ultramarathon runner in the United States. His trademark minimal approach to racing and spending time in the mountains is well documented. His familiar beard and long hair, simple, low profile shoes, and approachable, likable character have made him a big hit in the ultra world and beyond. Still not sure you know Anton? Pick up any edition of Runner's World or Trail Runner from the past 12-18 months and look at the ads...he's the guy in the Minimus ads. More than that, Anton has played a critical role in the development of the New Balance Miniumus line, a daring foray into low-profile, natural running gear from a major manufacturer. His masterpiece in this regard is likely to be the New Balance MT110, an incredible trail shoe I am currently testing. This remarkable shoe was developed over two years of hard work, with a great deal of input from the man himself.

Anton's relative fame in the running community is well-earned. The two-time winner of the Leadville Trail 100 also shattered the course record for the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2010, only to come in second to another record-breaker, Geoff Roes. Anton is likely to enjoy even more widespread recognition following the recent release of "Unbreakable," a fantastic documentary about that 2010 race. He also regularly documents his training and experiences on his own excellent blog, Riding the Wind.

I was lucky to have briefly met Anton in Grand Rapids a while back, when he was there making an appearance on behalf of New Balance. After connecting through Facebook, He agreed to do the Above Average Athletes Q and A, and we can't thank him enough for taking the time to share some fun details about his life as a top ultramarathoner, a graduate student, and a man that loves good food and good music. Read on for more!

Average Guy: On your blog you frequently post videos or links to bands and you have great, eclectic taste. Where do you come up with all of these? Do you see a lot of live shows?

Anton Krupicka: Thanks. I guess I just keep an open ear for anything that sounds good to me, it's pretty random where I'll hear a new band. Sometimes I listen to KEXP on-line or KCRW and I'll hear new stuff on those stations, but most of the time it's just random clips of a song in a video or something that will interest me and pretty soon I'm usually a new fan of the band. I see some live shows in the Denver/Boulder area, but I wouldn't say 'a lot'. In 2011 I think I saw maybe four or five shows--so one every other month or so. Last one was Phantogram right around Halloween.

Average Guy: I've gotten conflicting reports about your eating habits; you have stated here and there on your blog that you aren't all that meticulous with your diet, but when I saw you in your kitchen in "Unbreakable," you seemed to show hints of being a foodie. Training nutrition aside, do you get into cooking?

Anton Krupicka: I get into cooking in the sense that I enjoy eating food. Any 'hints of being a foodie' in Unbreakable were purely accidental. I don't not like cooking, I just rarely get around to really putting in the effort to make anything special. Having said that, I do try to eat a decent diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and not a ton of junk food. But I definitely get more than my fair share of sugar.

Average Guy: How about restaurants...I have a few favorites in Boulder, but I've spent less than two weeks there. What is your current favorite?

Anton Krupicka: The Dushanbe Teahouse is always at the top of my list as a brunch place or just to have a cup of tea and a scone. You can have dinner there, but I think I've only eaten dinner there once. Of course there are the local classics like The Kitchen or Pizzeria Locale or Mountain Sun or Sherpas which are all great, but one that is probably a little bit off of most people's radars but is excellent is Il Pastaio down on 30th and Arapahoe. It's a tiny little family-owned Italian place that never disappoints.

Average Guy: Speaking of "Unbreakable," how did it feel to see yourself up on the big screen? Do you feel like anything was left out of the film that should have made it in there?

Anton Krupicka: Well, it's always a little weird to see yourself larger-than-life up on a big screen, but I think JB did a fantastic job with the movie, so I never feel awkward about any of my scenes. Off the top of my head I can't really think of anything else that I thought should've made it into the final edit...I really thought JB was quite comprehensive and did a great job.

Average Guy: For me, one thing I wish the cameras would have caught was Geoff coming up on you. I'm guessing it wasn't your favorite moment, but it's clear to the viewer that you were happy for him and that you left nothing out there. Can you describe how you felt when he passed you?

Anton Krupicka: You kind of get a sense for this in the movie, but JB had no clue Geoff was making such a charge either and was obviously surprised when he came running down the trail only 4min behind me in those last 15mi. Of course, for the purposes of the movie, it would've been incredibly ideal to be there when Geoff and Dave passed Jenn and I but it was on a pretty isolated stretch of trail shortly before Browns Bar and would've just been pure luck. In the moment I certainly wasn't happy for Geoff at all. I wanted to win the race and up until the climb up to Robie Point at mile 99 really thought I could. When he actually passed me, I mostly just felt shock. My last update had been that I had a 15min lead (~10mi earlier) and because I was still moving well I just assumed (wrongly!) that I would be maintaining that. Up until that point I had been putting time into Geoff all day--extending my lead--but there was no way to know that he was going to put in such a strong surge the last 20mi. At the finish I was definitely happy for Geoff in that I knew I'd given it everything I had and had run a very strong race, but he just had that little extra on the day. It is still absolutely one of the most satisfying races of my life.

Average Guy: You provide a valuable, detailed log of your training on your blog, and it has been sort of heartbreaking to see you struggle through your injuries this past year. Now that you know you'll be at Hardrock in 2012, how are you honestly feeling about your fitness and ability to train at your best?

Anton Krupicka: I'm extremely excited about Hardrock! 2011 was a terrible year for injuries, but right now (in early January) I can definitely feel that the momentum has shifted with this shin injury and I have a ton of confidence that I'll be able to arrive at the HR starting line in July with excellent preparation and fitness. Right now I'm actually fairly fit--I've been getting in a ton of vertical--and the trick over the next month or two will just be to listen to the shin carefully so that it can gradually re-adapt to handling larger and larger running workloads. Due to all the vertical I've gotten in over the past four months, this shin injury is definitely the best I've ever done with maintaining fitness while trying to let something heal. To be honest, in these last four months I have gained a new attitude towards mountain terrain that I might've never had if I hadn't been so injured in 2011, and I think it's an attitude that translates perfectly to a race like Hardrock. Finally, unlike most runners, I don't need races to get in long training runs--I actually prefer to do long runs in a non-race setting--so even if I don't race a step between now and July, that doesn't mean I won't be super fit and ready to go.

Average Guy: How awesome was your South American trip for New Balance this past fall? Any other trips planned?

Anton Krupicka: Going to Brazil for New Balance was a tremendous opportunity that I'm very grateful for. NB continues to offer me fantastic support and I only hope that I am doing everything I can to help promote their efforts to make the best trail running shoes on the market. It was fascinating to experience Brazilian culture and see that runners all around the world speak the same language--shoes, training, aches and pains, races etc. No other non-race international trips are currently planned, that I know of, but NB is usually pretty quick about responding to emerging opportunities, so you never know.

Average Guy: It's well documented and often discussed how you repeatedly summit the same peak just outside your neighborhood, Green Mountain. Aside from the convenience of it, you seem to have a real connection with that trail. Could you see yourself making a similar connection with some other trail once you move on from Boulder?

Anton Krupicka: Absolutely. Where ever I live, I try to become very familiar with the land. I think it's very important to have a strongly developed sense of place, and the best way I know to do that is to get out in the local natural environment as much as possible. I think Green is a great mountain--it has a wide variety of terrain with a bunch of different routes to choose from--but really the main thing that makes it special is its proximity. It's right out my window and within a few minutes of jogging I'm at the trailhead. If I lived in south Boulder I'm sure I would have the same number summits on Bear Peak or South Boulder Peak.

Average Guy: You are a grad student, studying mountain hydrology at the University of Colorado. I am a community planner and spend a lot of my day working on various environmental and preservation issues, so I know it is a challenging job market in fields like ours. What are your professional or academic aspirations once you have completed grad school?

Anton Krupicka: I'm still figuring these things out. I entered grad school with no specific career intentions, so, unsurprisingly, I'm at a similar place now that I'm at the end of my academic life. Definitely no plans for a PhD. For the next few years at least I will be pursuing the mountain running gig semi-full time supplementing sponsor support with writing and part-time work income. One's body is only at the peak of its physical abilities for a limited number of years; I want to be sure to be maximizing those years as much as possible while still continuing to strive for personal growth, simplicity and satisfaction in my life outside of running.

Average Guy: As an environmental professional during a poor economic period, I'm often confronted with the attitude that conservation slows economic development. What would you say to persuade someone that environmental sustainability and economic sustainability do not have to be mutually exclusive?

Anton Krupicka: Hmmmm, I don't think I would be able to provide a compelling argument that I could believe, assuming that we're not talking about instituting a giant change in style of economic system and/or lifestyles. I'm probably a bit more radical about this than what is realistic, but I think that even with the last few years' contraction of the national economy, our current lifestyles--mine included--are still wildly environmentally unsustainable. I guess what I'm really saying is that any sort of meaningful progress on the front of environmental sustainability--i.e., systemic lifestyle changes that would amount to more than the current stuff that is essentially the equivalent of arranging deck chairs on the Titanic--is likely going to require, among other things, a huge shift in our society's lifestyle, a shrinking of the capitalist economy. A shift towards conservation rather than consumption. But, as long as our economy is based on consumption, it's a losing battle. I'll openly admit, I'm no saint; I feel as guilty in this lifestyle as most.

Average Guy: "Unbreakable" goes to great lengths to show the viewer how much respect ultra runners seem to have for one another. Everyone is all smiles at the finish. That said, I can't believe that you elite guys don't want to beat each other out there. Can you please lay down a little trash talk about how you want to crush these other guys when you toe the line in 2012? ;)

Anton Krupicka: Of course we want to beat each other out there! (Side note: the term "elite" makes me squirmingly uncomfortable.) I think I clearly state at some point in Unbreakable that the primary reason I'm running Western States is because I want to compete, beat people, and boost my ego by comparing my performance to historical performances.

Racing provides unmatchable camaraderie and fellowship that is extremely compelling, but other than that, my only reason for racing is ego. It feels good to win and run fast. Of course. And I definitely want to beat Geoff and Dakota and Joe and Hal and Karl and Jared and whoever else at Hardrock in July.

But it's not so much that I want to beat those guys as that I want to be sure that I am getting the most out of myself and I think I'm only truly capable of that if I have a cast of characters like that to inspire me to my peak performance. The bottom line, though, is that those 24hrs (or less ;-) of running in the San Juans are so insignificant compared to the training and the lifestyle and the experiences I have leading up to Hardrock that will put me in the position to get the most out of myself in July. It's that far-reaching influence on my lifestyle and social groups and day-to-day experiences that makes focusing on a race like HR so valuable. The event as a symbol for and a celebration of a certain lifestyle with certain values is much more important to me than the event as a venue for kicking other dudes' asses.

Average Guy: How close is your relationship with the development team at New Balance? How much of a say do they give you in designing shoes like the MT110?

Anton Krupicka: I consider it to be quite close. The MT110 is a culmination of 3-4 years of working on a single series of shoes whose purpose has always been for running fast in the mountains. In my mind the MT110 has gotten the closest to what I've always envisioned as the best shoe for that. It's the first shoe I've worn in years that I don't do ANY modifications to. That has certainly not been accidental--I'm always exchanging emails w/ NB designers and product managers, phone calls, meeting face-to-face, to talk about developing shoe models, to make tweaks in current prototypes, etc. It seems like we're always working on something new and that the new thing is always an improvement! Working with NB's designers and product managers has been and continues to be an incredibly satisfying and rewarding relationship.

Thanks, Anton!

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Above Average Athletes: My Interview with David Riddle, Elite Ultramarathoner

2012-01-05T09:21:00.000-05:00

David Riddle after winning 2011 StumpJump 50k

If you are a follower of elite ultrarunning, read www.irunfar.com regularly, or are asubscriber to Ultrarunning Magazine, you may have heard of todays “AboveAverage Athlete.” If you aren’t tunedinto the ultramarathon community, you’d be forgiven for thinking David Riddleis just another average guy in the Midwest. After all, he works as an aerospaceengineer for General Electric and lives in Cinncinnati, not exactly traditionalhabitat for the prototypical elite ultramarathoner.

In 2011, though, David Riddle won six 50k races and brokethe course record in each one, then ran the JFK50 and broke a long-standing course record to cap off the season. Healso competed at the 100k Worlds and took second at the USATF 100kchampionships at the Mad City 100k. In 2012, he has accepted an invitation tothe Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, and will go head-to-head with someof the world’s best.

I only heard of David for the first time myself down inChattanooga, where I completed my own first 50k. That day, he finished in less than half myown time on his way to taking a new course record. We thank David for takingtime out of his clearly busy lifestyle to answer a few questions for us!

Average Guy: While you have had great success at the 50 mile and 100k distance, you are remarkable at fast 50ks. Would you say you train a lot like an elite marathoner, with lots of tempo and speed work, or more like what we might think of as a typical ultramarathoner, with lots and lots of long, slow distance?

David Riddle: Yes, I would say my training has been very similar to an elite marathoner, especially with my background as a competitive Division I level cross-country and track athlete. Plus, I am pretty limited in my access to trails, so I do much of my training on the roads. Even when preparing for a long trail race, I like to do at least one track/speed/interval session per week, but I’m having to make adjustments as the trails get more difficult and the race distances increase. For a road 100k that’s relatively flat, the training would be quite similar to my marathon plan. Things start to change significantly when I begin training for a technical trail race with lots of elevation change. But, in general, I think I’m a part of a new breed of ultra marathon runner that is proving that you have to have some leg speed to compete up front. And I think that will force more ultra elites to start training like marathoners if they want to compete on all but the toughest (think Hardrock) courses.

Average Guy: I needed nearly a month off any kind of appreciable running after I completed the Stumpjump 50k, but you were shattering the Stone Steps 50k record a few weeks later, and then beating Michael Wardian and laying down an almost unthinkable record at the JFK50. I feel like amateurs like me don’t pay enough attention to intelligent recovery. What kind of recovery techniques work for you?

David Riddle: The reason you needed to take so much time off after StumpJump 50k actually has a lot to do with what happened before and during the race. First off, this wasn’t my first 50k. My body required more recovery time following my first few ultras, but seems to recover a little more quickly with each additional one that I run. Secondly, you were on your feet more than twice as long as I was. If I had run a 100k, spending more than twice as much time on the trail, I would have needed more recovery time. But probably the most important factor is the thousands of miles I have put in prior to StumpJump. Since you began running just a couple years ago, you have a tiny fraction of the mileage on your legs that I have gradually built up to over an 18 year running career. I couldn’t have imagined running 31 miles on that course when I was a freshman in high school. Basically, my legs recover much more quickly than yours because they are simply better adapted to handle the stress of a 50k.

You said in your question that you feel amateurs don’t pay enough attention to intelligent recovery. Following up on what I just explained, I’ll flip it on you and say that I believe many amateurs don’t pay enough attention to an intelligent and gradual build-up in training before attempting long races.

I don’t have any fancy recovery techniques. I try to get calories and protein in my body as soon after a race as my stomach can handle it. Then it’s just very easy running for a few days or weeks until my legs tell me they’re ready to go fast again. Listen to your body; that’s my best advice.

Average Guy: What kind of training adjustments are you planning to make the jump to the 100 mile distance?

David Riddle: I’m not planning on making too many adjustments to prepare for Western States other than my strategy and pacing on race day. If I could, I would train on the course with June weather conditions for the next 6 months. That’s obviously not an option, so I just have to work with what I have. I’m most concerned with the amount of downhill running and the heat. I just don’t have any descents around Cincinnati that replicate what I’ll see at WS100.

Average Guy: Are you accustomed to carrying your own hydration and nutrition, given your primarily 50k focus?

David Riddle: I like to carry a handheld bottle most of the time. Even in a 50k where I could easily get by without a bottle, it’s good preparation for longer races to go ahead and carry the handheld. Plus, I feel like my hydration and nutrition is much more even and consistent when I can continually sip on my bottle as opposed to chugging at aid stations.

Average Guy: Do you have any plans to do a 100k or longer trail race leading up to the Western States 100, or will it be your first attempt at a trail distance over 50 miles?

David Riddle: I hope to be named to the US 100k team again this year and that would give me a 100k road race before Western States. But, no, I don’t have a trail race longer than 50 miles planned. The World 100k race will be contested in April in Italy this year. It’s not the ideal lead-in to Western States, and I’ll have to compromise a little performance at both races, but it shouldn’t make too much difference.

Average Guy: You have a demanding day job as an aerospace engineer for GE. With that kind of career, what is a weekly running schedule and typical mileage like for you? Late nights, early mornings?

David Riddle: I much prefer to run at night after work, but I run just once a day, so I don’t get up all that early. I also tend to overload the weekends with back-to-back long runs to keep my work week mileage down. My philosophy is based in consistent high mileage. I haven’t taken a day off in over 5 years, and that really keeps me motivated to get out the door when I’m just not feeling it. I have averaged over 80 mpw for the last 5 years, and that includes taper and recovery weeks. I peaked at 120 mpw in my build up this fall to JFK. In a typical week I’ll do one track workout, a second hard effort like a trail tempo, and at least one long run, with the other days just easy mileage.

Average Guy: I saw on your blog that you picked up Bryon Powell’s excellent book “Relentless Forward Progress”…any favorite tips in there?

David Riddle: I haven’t quite finished it yet, but in general, it contains a lot of really good advice.

Average Guy: Following up on Bryon’s book, I found it interesting that he included the point/counterpoint between Geoff Roes (who is somewhat pessimistic in regard to fast finishers having success in 100 milers) and Ian Torrence (who believes strongly in speed work for ultramarathon success). You turned down an entry into Western States last year and ended up cleaning up at faster, shorter races, how do you feel about your chances as a fast finisher against a stacked deck of veteran 100 milers?

David Riddle: I am really trying not to underestimate Western States. A 100 mile trail race is so much different than what I’ve been running. It almost 3 times as long as any race I’ve run when you look at the length of time that I’m going to be on my feet. Add to the distance the heat and elevation change, and it starts looking really tough. I know the odds are stacked against me being a rookie 100 miler at Western States. I hope an extra conservative start and meticulous preparation will get me to the finish inside the top 10 so I have a chance to come back in 2013 and do it right. I really can’t worry about what the other veteran 100 milers are doing. I have to run my race just like I did at JFK.

Thanks again to David for his thoughts, and congratulations to him for all his success and for putting his stamp in the history books at this year’s incredible JFK50!

Two Years On: How My Awesome Wife Continues to Inspire Us

2012-01-04T16:11:00.002-05:00

Two years to the day

I'll keep this short because it is a pretty emotional topic for me and for Moira, but tonight marks a special occasion. Special, and happy in a holy-$#!*-you-did-it kind of way, but pretty bittersweet because it is a date I'd rather not have to remember at all. Today is exactly 2 years since Moira finished her long, challenging treatment for breast cancer. Just three months after Leo was born, on May 22, 2009, we received her diagnosis.Shortly thereafter she started months of chemo, two surgeries, and then 40 radiation treatments. Today, January 4, is the day she walked out of that last radiation treatment. She is still cancer-free. She has long, beautiful, curly brunette hair. She is working full-time for a great cause at getDowntown. She is the best friend I've ever had, and the best mom for Leo. She writes stories, drinks beer, and has fun. She's my inspiration and daily companion. She was the reason I was able to finally change my life and the reason we're all here reading my blog today. Thank God she's such a fighter.

Many of you know that I recently nominated Moira for a contest put on by one of our favorite Michigan companies, Stormy Kromer, called the "Living Legends" contest. That nomination was picked as a finalist and I subsequently bugged my facebook friends to vote for her every day for a month. I thought maybe a new, updated adaptation from my nomination essay would be the right set of words to post today about the challenges she faced and what she accomplished. Please read on...

Moira appreciates hard work, doingthings right, and not taking shortcuts. She loves good rubber work boots, warm winter clothes, four-wheel drivein the snow, and although she wouldn’t hurt a fly herself, she respects andadmires sportsmen who provide for their families in the same way their grandpasdid. She prefers library books to brandnew ones, but prefers any book to reading from a computer screen. She writesher own stories. She likes handmade jewelry, organic produce, piles of leavesin the fall, the smell of a campfire, and most definitely prefers a good beerto a good wine. She manages all of thiswhile still maintaining a stylish, city girl beauty. She’s a character, one of a kind. It is easy to see why I love her so much.

It was that kind of character she called on to show the doorto not one, not two, but three of the biggest challenges anyone has ever had toface, all at once. You see, in early2009 Moira was waddling around Ann Arbor, pregnant with our little guy,Leo. Just a few days before her duedate, her job disappeared. It turns outher boss wasn’t totally honest about a few things and the economy hit thempretty hard, and Moira and her co-workers were out on the street. A few days later Leo came…and it was a tough,tough day for all involved. After anemergency c-section, though, mom and kiddo came out in great shape. She was a first-time mom and was facing allthose challenges without the benefit of experience. Making it worse, I had to rely on her to keepthe house in order while I worked extra hard to make ends meet for us. Payingthe bills was a huge worry while she was out of work, so we made some changes,sold the truck, cancelled cable, and remembered what was important.

That alone would be enough for a lot of folks to throw inthe towel, but 12 weeks later Moira was suddenly diagnosed with breastcancer. It was a nasty, unusual kind ofcancer. I’m not sure what I thoughtpeople did when they were faced such a challenge, and I certainly didn’t knowwhat people would do if they were unemployed, a new mom, and surviving cancerall at the same time. You can find abook or two on any one of those life challenges, but Moira WROTE the book onfacing them all at once.

How did we get through? Practicality, perseverance, love, and prayer. Moira never complained through lean weekspaying the bills, all-nighters with a crying newborn, or the chemotherapy, radiation,and the surgery that saved her life. Nota word of complaint…she just woke up and punched in like beating cancer andraising Leo made up her unique job description. It was hard on her, hard on me,and hard on Leo, but here we are two years later and she is cancer-free, Leo isa healthy happy boy, and Moira is working again. Today she’s a perfect match of grace, style,and rugged practicality, the girl I fell in love with.

Above Average Athletes: My Interview with Kyle Kranz

2012-01-02T22:41:00.003-05:00

Kyle on Skorarunning.com

Kyle Kranz is a kindred spirit. He lost a bunch of weight and is now a distance runner, I lost weight and became a distance runner. He eats a plant-based diet, and I eat a plant-based diet. He is a natural running advocate, and I am as well. He is a fan of Skora Running, and they are one of my favorite up-and-coming minimalist shoe companies. He is an ultramarathoner with a hundred-miler in the bag, and I'm an ultramarathon finisher as well, though it was only a 50k for me and the 100 miler is still to come.

Kyle is a great guy and someone I made a connection with online through our mutual dealings with Skora. The more I clicked on his blog, the more I realized that Kyle may not WIN his next ultramarathon, but his is a story that should be told, and his example is one that should be followed. I asked him to be my interview subject for my first-ever "Above Average Athletes" interview, where I hope to do a recurring series of Q and A sessions with inspiring runners like Kyle, and folks from all walks of life and across all the family - cancer - ultramarathon - minimalist running topic areas that we cover here at Average Guy Hits the Road. You can catch Kyle on his own blog "Running on the White Line." Click "read more" to get to his fantastic interview below.

Average Guy: You have a story that mirrors a good part of mine.Overweight and out of shape, emotional issues…then a transformation to distancerunning and ultimately barefoot/minimalist/natural running. Can youpinpoint that moment you made the commitment to become the athlete you aretoday?

Kyle Kranz: I know exactly when I became the athlete I am today.During winter break of my freshmen year at college I stopped lifting weightsand stopped eating meat. By this point I was down about 60 pounds from my highpoint in college, but I had not yet made that transition to an enduranceathlete. My knees were starting to hurt from performing squats and I decided itwas time to stop. I spent the entire winter doing spin classes and sitting onstationary bikes before I even purchased a road bike!

Average Guy: Like me, you are also eating a plant-based diet. Can youdescribe any challenges or advantages you perceive unique to your experience?

Kyle Kranz: My diet is primarily raw vegan for the first meal or twoof the day. Dinner will generally be something cooked, such as rice andveggies, soup, Mexican, etc. I find that eating raw vegan in the early part ofthe days leaves me feeling light and clean, along with there not being anydishes to wash!

My main challenge has nothing to do with what I eat, buthow much I eat at each sitting. From my history with food, a decade later Istill have issues with eating until I am completely stuffed. Literally, to thepoint that I will occasionally burp a little bit and feel a very small amountof food come up, or I am just about in pain from the amount of food in mystomach. This last year I have been working very hard at eating until I amsatisfied, not full. That has been the best advice I have ever received aboutover eating, and since that has been my issue keeping that in mind hashelped immensely. I still run into over eating issues once in a whilewhile at social gatherings, but it is coming together.

Average Guy: What convinced you to commit to a plant-based diet?

Kyle Kranz: Originally it was ethics based, as I believe that is thebest reason for avoidance of animal products. This is due to there being such ahuge amount of conflicting information about which diet is better for people,and some people not doing well on this or that diet. In my opinion, choosing tonot contribute to the mass captivity, horrible treatment, and mass slaughter isalways going to be the ethical decision.

However, the more I read and research now, the more I ambecoming increasingly convinced that a plant based diet is the ideal humandiet. Most diets are going to be an improvement compared to the StandardAmerican Diet (SAD), however if you want to take the "this is the diet weare meant to eat" stance, plant based even trumps the paleo diet. Paleoquotes a period of 10,000 to 2.5 million years, however if you look at thediets of higher primates, it spans a history of 65 million years.

Average Guy: How and why did you convert to barefoot/minimalist/naturalrunning?

Kyle Kranz: I originally bought them as simply a strength trainingtool even before Born to Run came out, and never really thought about doingreal run training in them until after I read the book. I really did not usethem very often and they just collected dust in the closet. However a few yearsago right before my first marathon I developed plantar fasciitis and took mostof the summer off from running. I did just about everything I could find butnothing seemed to solve the problem. At the end of the summer after months ofno running I still had PF pain but started slowly again in Vibrams. I noticedthe pain would literally go away within a mile into any run. I then wentminimalist with my day to day shoes as well, and the pain I experienced fromsimply standing at work went away quickly.

Average Guy: You mention in your “about me” that your blog startedessentially to document your progress. How do you see your blog now? What is its role in your fitness and running career?

Kyle Kranz: A blog is a fantastic tool for an athlete to look back athis or her training and races to see what has worked and failed. I still goback to race reports and posts to review what I have done in the past. Howevernow I have been working more so on writing better quality material on subjectsother runners may be interested in. Some examples of works in progress arearticles on The Central Governor Theory, Fasted Training, Swing Phase Muscles,How to Pace a Race, as well as about 55 other drafts in my blogger! By workingon and writing these, I am learning so much and I can take what I learn andpass it on to others.

Average Guy: How did you hook up with Skora?

Kyle Kranz: I actually emailed David from Skora in November of 2009to tell him how excited I was to learn about what he was doing. We occasionallyemailed back and forth, and he kept my contact information and recommended Iparticipate in the wear testing program.

Average Guy: Are you running exclusively or almost exclusively in SkoraBASE and FORM these days? You seem to put on a lot of miles.

Kyle Kranz: The Skora shoes are my full time shoes, and I even wearthem around casually as well. I do also own a pair of Newtons but run very littlein them. If someone is new to minimalist/midfoot running, the Newtons would bean excellent choice as they are slightly more conventional.

Average Guy: How long into your running career did you decide to run a100 mile race?

Kyle Kranz: First I was a cyclist, then a triathlete, now I considermyself a runner. I did my first 26.2 mile run (not during a race) in 2008 whileI was still a triathlete. I ran 11 miles to the start of a race in another town and then ran the 15.2 mile point to point race, which happened to end veryclose to my house! In December of that year was when I decided I wanted to doan ultra marathon in 2009.

Average Guy: Describe your 100 miler training.

Kyle Kranz: I am not sure if I have found my ideal training yet. Ihave followed the Maffetone Method of training for a few years now and love it,however I am still working on finding a week/month/year running format that Iwill sustain for a long time. I failed at my first 100 mile attempt in 2010after having a great winter and summer of running. In 2011 after a very depressingsummer of running I decided only a few weeks before the same 100 mile race thatif I could do a 100 mile week and not suffer or slow during the week, I wouldsign up for the ultra marathon. The week went well so I signed up and instantlywent into the taper for the race! Experience trumps training in my caseapparently.

Average Guy: Were you ever worried that 100 miles was too far in a shoeas minimal as the Skora BASE?

Kyle Kranz: Shoes are a tool. If I were to do a race that was supertechnical rocky trail, I would use shoes that would serve as the best tool forthat race. Luckily for me I am primarily a road runner so the Skoras workedgreat for my ultras and my road running in 2011.

Average Guy: What is the coaching business like? Tell us about yourapproach.

Kyle Kranz: I only very recently created the WhiteLineCoaching.com. Ifigure that since coaching is something I would love to do in the future, I mayas well do a bit of it now. My approach to running is consistency,recovery, and nutrition. Practice those well and you will run well. Coaches arenot meant to tell you every little detail about your training (unless you wantthem to). They are a guide to walk you through the process, they can see littlethings that you may miss. Such as when I was doing a ton of training on a shortindoor track. I did not think twice about it and believe I developed ITBS fromit, but a coach would have told me to get the heck off the track!

Average Guy: Do triathlons feature prominently in your future enduranceplans or are ultras more your speed these days?

Kyle Kranz: I would like to do an Ultraman or double Ironman withinthe next five or seven years. If this happens I predict last place in the swim,last place in the bike, and I would go for a great run.

Average Guy: Tell me about the “coins of the world” project. Sounds fun.

Kyle Kranz: This was just an idea I had one day. My goal is tocollect a coin from every sovereign nation in the world. I havepicked up a few from ebay for a couple bucks each, and some friends and familyhave given me some as well.

Kyle Kranz

B.S. Nutrition

Newton Natural Running Coach
www.RunningOnTheWhiteLine.com

Thanks, Kyle! - Zak

Appreciation for all I have learned: My year in the woods

2011-12-29T17:08:00.001-05:00

A beautiful sunset in one of my client communities

When I am not running trails, chasing my little boy, spendingtime with my wife, or generally living life, I actually have a day job. I am acommunity planner. I use the term “community” because the older term, “urbanplanner” seems to be so much more narrow than what a planner actually does.

Asit turns out, very few people have a good idea of what a planner does. We workin large cities, rural areas, and everything in between. We are actuallyinvolved in a lot of things, and people who identify themselves as planners maybe engaged in a wide variety of jobs. There are also lots of people who studied planning only to get more involved in city administration, law, or social work.

More traditional planning careers may include:

Urban design or physical planning (the guys who decide wherethe buildings and streets go, and what they will look like, how big they willbe, etc.)
Zoning and land use regulation (the guys who make the rulesto implement what the urban design guys come up with)
Long range planning (visioning and engaging the public)
Economic development (cultivating growth and redevelopment)
Natural features protection (advocating for environmentalsustainability)
Energy planning (probably the biggest growth area of the professionright now)
Working with community development corporations (which areusually situated in rough urban neighborhoods trying to work their way back up)
Social justice (ensuring that everyone gets a fair shakeacross racial, economic, age, and other various walks of life)

I work in private practice and get to dip a toe in every oneof these areas regularly. I am able to serve clients in many ways. On the other hand, when you work for a municipality, you may sometimesbe limited to one or two of these areas, and the same holds true if you are morespecialized and work for a larger government agency or a non-profit. I amgrateful that since I completed graduate school 11 years ago, I have been ableto develop a more rounded career than many people in my line of work.

So, since then, I have been explaining this somewhatuncommon career to almost everyone who asks my least favorite question: “So, whatdo you do?” That particular question grates on me more than it used to becauseI’m no longer betting my “legacy” solely on my career. For my regular readers,you have likely gotten a sense that I place just as much importance on how welive our lives away from the workplace. I would rather people remember me as aguy who loved his family, and loved the earth. As a guy who loved running in thewoods, and took pride in dedicating himself to accomplishing his goals. Thatsaid, we do spend most of our waking workday hours earning the family bread, soI am lucky to be able to spend most of my day advocating for a healthier, moresustainable planet.

Like any career, there are upsides and downsides. In mycurrent job, I have to worry about making money as well as doing the rightthing. We are a for-profit consulting business, after all. Consequently, I canonly spend time working on projects that my clients will pay me by the hour todo. We used to work a lot more on development review, when the economy was hot,for instance. Today, we do more long-range planning, energy and environmentalwork, and economic development projects.

At the end of the day, however,everything I do revolves around making things better for the public in the communitiesI serve. This is accomplished through preserving critical natural areas,designing and regulating robust, active urban environments, advocating for non-motorizedtransportation and transit, protecting watersheds and wetlands, saving historicand cultural resources, and doing what we can, based on a code of ethics.

Regardless of my specific current employment, I see myselfas a steward of the earth in my day job and in my greater life in general. As a long-distance trail runner, I have beenafforded an opportunity this year to run in rugged mountains, pastures, fields, andwoods, across rivers and streams, in snow, heat, and rain. I have developed a stronger appreciation for theland than I ever thought I could. This,to me, is the greatest reward of my hobby. It started a few years ago as a way to lose weight and relieve stress. After developing that base capability, Iexpanded my horizons and covered more ground in 2011 than I ever dreamed. I became an ultramarathon finisher. I wasoften afforded hours of enjoyment in remote, natural areas. I grew to appreciate them more strongly thanI ever had to that point, and it made me feel good about my way of life.

Next year, I will go farther afield, and Iresolve to complete a 50-mile race, but more importantly to continue growing mypersonal relationship with the planet. Whether I remain a planner in privatepractice, or ultimately apply myself against new challenges in 2012 or beyond,I am blessed to have built a career where I get to care for the earth, I amblessed to be a steward of the environment, and I am blessed to be a trailrunner.

Brooks Pure Connect Wear Tested Review: Sorry, Brooks, it's not me, it's you

2011-12-29T09:40:00.000-05:00

The Brooks Pure Connect was one of those shoes that I had anticipated for months. As a former Brooks devotee (before I "found" natural running and minimal shoes) I was really hoping for a smash hit with the Pure Project and eagerly bought a pair of the most minimal shoe in the lineup as soon as they were available. I bought the shoes the day they went on the market, and posted my initial analysis shortly thereafter. You can find that detailed review HERE. As you will find described in my "policies and terminology" description, I review products in two stages. First, I give you the initial review and analysis designed to give the reader an idea of what the product feels and looks like in-hand. I make it clear that in these posts I will provide technical information, describe the materials and construction, weight, stiffness and flexibility, give you high-res, annotated photos, and generally try and put you right there as a reader. Then, I follow up after a bit, after I have had some time in the product to reveal more fully the merits or issues I may have. This is my first formal follow-up, wear tested report, and I am sorry to say that for me, the Brooks Pure Connect just didn't work out. At first I thought maybe it was my form or some fault of my own, but no, Brooks. It's not me, its you.

At the time I first reviewed the shoe, I liked the fit and finish, the looks, the competitive price, the low-drop (4mm from heel to toe, nearly a flat shoe), and the undercut heel. I felt like the shoe allowed for a midfoot, natural landing. I felt like it was plenty light and felt good against the foot when you wore it sockless. I had a lot of nice things to say.

However, I also had a few negatives that surprised me. First, after all of this talk about Brooks going with a new, natural "last" (the foot form on which they design the shoe), I found it pretty narrow throughout. I have narrow feet, so it didn't bother me at first. Or, I THOUGHT it didn't bother me. My exact words were: "Most reviewers, I think, will fault the shape and width of the toebox as too narrow. They may be right. I have very narrow feet, though, and I feel like the soft material and rounded shape do allow my foot to flex and move well. Those with wide feet, though, will likely feel a little cramped up there." After getting some miles in them, I knew these shoes were seriously cramping my feet, as they were sliding forward in the shoe into that narrow, bullet shaped toebox and crushing my small toes. It hurt. Also, the narrow, soft, rounded sole left me feeling unstable while turning as I ran, and I felt like I could easily roll an ankle.

Second, the arch "curve" was too much. That arch curve, which you can see in the insole photo, is extreme. Not just for minimal shoes, but for all shoes. Walking around in the shoe, I didn't mind the arch curve, as it felt snug and soft. When running, though...it felt obtrusive, abrasive, and it hurt like hell.

Third, the "nav band" promoted throughout the Pure Project line was very uncomfortable. In addition to being too snug across the top of my foot, the area where it was sewn to the upper rubbed my foot raw in two places. Very uncomfortable. Why Brooks included this I have no idea. It is secondary to the laces. In other Brooks Pure shoes I found the nav band to be totally loose, defeating its purpose. Strange.

Overall, I found the shoe to be very similar to the Saucony Kinvara in some ways (lower drop, soft upper, plenty of cushion, notable arch support), but after running in them, I would say that the Pure Connect did not ultimately "kill" the Kinvara for me, as I originally thought. That said, I no longer find myself wanting the kind of cushioning found in either the Brooks Pure Connect OR the Saucony Kinvara, and I would rather spend my miles in a shoe like the Altra Instinct or Merrell Road Glove.

I was ultimately disappointed in the Pure Connect, and the entire Pure Project line. They are very cushioned, and they have some gimmicky elements I just don't like. The fit is off for me, they are constricting. They feel unstable underfoot. The arch support was obtrusive. I no longer even have these shoes, as I have moved them on to someone else to give them a try, even though I bought them retail. I simply couldn't justify keeping them when I knew I would not use them at all. For someone with very narrow, rigid feet who is used to regular, heavily cushioned shoes they may work, but in the long run, I have my doubts.

I paid full retail price for these shoes. In full disclosure, I was a member of the non-exclusive Brooks Fanatics club at the time and am a former member of Brooks ID. While I admire them as a company, given their eco-conscious ethic, I have recently resigned from Brooks Fanatics as I no longer use or recommend their shoes.

My reviews: A recap of my top 6 in-hand reviews

2011-12-21T16:26:00.000-05:00

I have had a great summer and fall looking at a lot of interesting new shoes hitting market now and in spring 2012. I have raced a marathon, a 50k ultramarathon, and have enjoyed a couple of hundred fun runs, training runs, group runs, trail runs and solo runs. It has been a great running year and I look forward to 2012 being even better. Please have a look at a few of my in-hand reviews from this summer and fall. It has added a whole new degree of fun when I can go on a run and give a pair of shoes a real thrashing. The muddy Inov-8s in this picture were literally only hours in my care when they already looked like this! I have loads more in the pipeline, thanks to my readers, my partners in the running shoe community, and to my friends at Elite Feet in Brighton.

NOTE: Click on the shoe name and visit the main review page for that shoe.

Brooks Pure Connect: My "Kinvara killer" has been killed off itself. My initial post, linked to here, is largely positive with a few exceptions. Unfortunately those exceptions ultimately made this shoe unworkable for me. There will be a follow-up review coming eventually, but I hate to be the bearer of bad news and unfortunately the Pure Connect did not work out for me, regardless of the nice things I was able to find in the shoe. It still killed the Saucony Kinvara for me, but the Altra Instinct and the Merrell Road Glove killed the Pure Connect.

Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport LS: This review basically compares apples and oranges by looking at these vs. other less radical minimal shoes like the New Balance Minimus Trail, but it is my number one all-time viewed post. It gets almost all of its readers from Google searches for a wide variety of Vibram searches, and is ranked as a #1 result on Google for many keywords. I still wear these regularly, especially to the gym for short strides and strength training.

Merrell Barefoot Collection Road Glove: I just posted this review last week and it is getting a good deal of traffic. This is remarkable considering there is very little official word out there in any mainstream running media about the Road Glove, which drops early next year. I have run about 14 miles in the Road Glove and they are very quickly becoming my all-time favorite minimalist running shoe. The gauntlet has been thrown, I think, but I'll soon see if the Skora FORM and BASE, or maybe the New Balance Minimus Road Zero MR00 can bump it off the throne.

Altra Lone Peak: A very fun review, taking my first stab at some real, better-lighting, staged photos. This review was picked up for national distribution on Active.com as can be seen at this LINK, and by my friend Pete Larson, A.K.A. the runblogger. Due to this exposure, this post has had a couple thousands reads in just a few short weeks. I like this shoe a lot and wear it for everything - walking the dog, trail running, road running in snow, etc.

Altra Instinct: My dad borrowed these once, I got them back, and now he has them again. They are a favorite of mine and of his. A great shoe with a lot going for it in terms of fit, comfort, and function. Along with the Lone Peak, I would say that the future for Altra is bright. I also have the Adam, but I have been a little more reserved in my admiration...more to come on that sometime soon.

Inov-8 Bare Grip 200: A shoe I have not run in that much because I just don't live near epic, off-trail mountains where this shoe would thrive. I love the look, feel, and vibe of the BG 200, though. I wear it for muddy runs, and might give it a go in deep snow. Very unusual shoe and the best zero-drop, ultra minimal shoe for very gnarly terrain.

Winter shoe ideas & a BIG THANK YOU to my 35,000+ readers

2011-12-21T11:16:00.001-05:00

I have been fortunate to see a rapid rise in blog traffic these past few months. I had a pretty low readership for a while there after Moira recovered and I stopped writing for a while, but once I decided to start talking about natural and minimalist running and the various shoes I have tried, everything really blew up. So, first of all, thanks to all my readers, who have come to Average Guy Hits the Road from countries all over the world, literally in the thousands and thousands. I have been getting a few emailed questions lately and I thought I would put up a pair of posts for two purposes...first, a quick Q and A I did with a reader about winter shoes, and then a summary/link list of my latest 6 in-hand product reviews.

First...what about those winter running recommendations?
Hi Zak,
Any recommendations for trail shoes for winter trail running in Michigan? The lighter the better but I hate cold feet.
A Reader (name withheld)

From me:

Sure! For me the Saucony Peregrine is a great winter bet.Very aggressive outsole for snow, still comes in under 10 ounces. I wore a pairfor a trail marathon and for a 50k this summer. Buy a half size up for warmsocks and you'll be set. They are a 4mm drop shoe, but they have plenty ofcushion for a heel strike, midfoot strike, or a forefoot strike gait. They arealso somewhat water resistant. You could also look up the Saucony Outlaw, whichis exactly the same, but is a high top for keeping debris put and protectingthe ankles.

Also consider the Vivobarefoot Neo Trail if you want a minimalist shoe, veryaggressive outsole.

Finally, if you want something with a traditional heel, look at Salomon. TheSpeedcross 3 has a very snow-friendly outsole (edit: there is also a snow and ice version called the Spikecross 3 CS).

I hope this helps! I always "window shop" at Running Warehouse forideas as well. They do great pictures and descriptions. www.runningwarehouse.com

Thanks!
Zak

The Peregrine is available at Elite Feet in Brighton. By the way, if you enjoyed this review and analysis, please visit my homepage at www.averageblog.org and see what else we have online. Also, I am cultivating a new Facebook page, so you can get my reviews and posts as soon as they come out. Please consider "liking" the Average Guy Hits the Road Facebook page and following me on Twitter today!

Merrell Barefoot Road Glove Review: Initial Thoughts and Analysis

2011-12-16T10:51:00.001-05:00

Click on any photo of the Merrell Road Glove for a larger image

This summer, I ran 122.8 miles in Merrell Trail Gloves (notall at once!). That may not seem likemuch to the die-hard marathon crowd, but for a guy like me with about 14 pairsof running shoes, it is a lot for a single pair in a single summer. What that says about the Merrell Trail Gloveis that I love the shoe, especially in its native environment, the trail. The TrailGlove was my go-to shoe for my regular Thursday night P.R. Fitness Trail Run,and it absolutely killed it on the rolling, packed dirt trails of the PinckneyRecreation Area here in Michigan, where I did my long trail runs in myStumpjump 50k buildup. In fact, I alsobought the Sonic Glove (the Trail Glove’s water-resistant cousin) and the ToughGlove (the all-leather variant, for my business casual day job).

Merrell is a little closer to my heart than manymanufacturers because they are a subsidiary of Wolverine Worldwide. Wolverine, and therefore Merrell, is aMichigan company headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. They frequently use our beautiful state as abackdrop in their advertising, they have partnered with Michigan’s most widely-known barefoot runner, Jason Robillard, and they do a lot for their community. So, while you might not consider buyingMerrell supporting a “local business,” to me they give me a little extra localMichigan pride. If you are from the Buckeye State,you may now be considering New Balance as a result (ha, ha).

Given my overall affection for the Trail Glove and forMerrell, it comes as no surprise that I was very anxious to get my hands on theMerrell Barefoot Collection Road Glove. Asmuch as I liked the Trail Glove, it has a few shortcomings that prevent it frombeing a true all surface minimalist shoe. First, it has a contoured sole that prevents full-ground contact (inother words, you touch the ground mostly in the heel and ball of your footwhile the midfoot hovers a bit). Second,it has a plate in the forefoot designed to provide a little protection and distributeforce. What the plate seems to do for meis provide an uneven laydown of the foot while running on hard surfaces,putting me in a sort of “clip-clop” stride as my forefoot hits first, then myheel comes down. Third, the arch wrapand midfoot area could feel too snug at times, even though the wide toebox andoverall flexibility of the shoe are fantastic. So, I used the Trail Glove and theSonic Glove almost entirely for trail running.

The Road Glove hits the nail on the head, addressing many ofthe limitations of the Trail Glove and its variants for road running. First, it maintains all that was good aboutthe other Merrell Barefoot shoes. Durable Vibram outsole, natural foot shape, wide toebox, high productionquality, premium materials, innovative looks, pure zero drop (level platform,no raised heel), and a plush interior for sockless comfort. The Road Glove also adds a few new featuresthat I like a lot. It has a full-contactoutsole with no “dip” in the midfoot. Ithas even better looking materials, colorways, and design. It provides slightly more dense cushioning thanthe Trail Glove. It also loses theforefoot plate, which is a good thing, and loses the Trail Glove’s Omni-Fitlacing system, which is a bad thing. Still, the Road Glove fits well, laces up securely, and provides roadstance and ride that I think will suit many natural/minimalist/barefootrunners.

As with many of my reviews, this is a technical analysis andseries of first impressions. I justreceived these pre-release shoes the other day and have yet to log any miles inthem. I will provide a second reviewafter I get a few months of miles under me, but this review will serve to getsome of my annotated photos out there, provide you with a better idea of what theRoad Glove will be like in-hand, and let you in on some features and characteristicsof the shoe you might not get from the usual marketing pieces and cursoryreviews that are out there already.

As you can see in the photos, the shoe is a Stroebel lasted,natural shaped, zero-drop shoe with ample toe room and a soft, flexibleupper. What I wasn’t prepared for washow stiff it is. In my mind, I picturedit as flexible as a Trail Glove, but without that nuisance of a forefoot platethat hindered the Trail Glove’s road performance. I pictured it as supple and flexible as the rubbermidsole/outsole of the Vibram Five Fingers (VFF) Komodosport LS. I imagined it would feel about the same as theAltra Adam, a very thin, extremely flexible, flat minimalist shoe. I was wrong, but I am OK with it. The Road Glove is far more structured andstiff than I thought. Admittedly, itwill likely soften up with miles, but it is a rather firm shoe. Underfoot it feels great, but there is a somewhatnoticeable arch curve bordering on a mild arch support. The EVA foam in the arch area is moresubstantial and rigid than the similar area on the Trail Glove’s sole. Again, I think I am ok with that, as it doesnot seem to truly interfere with foot function and it will provide a littlerelief for tired feet over longer distances. In fact, I can already tell you this will likely become a favorite ofmine for that reason. I feel limited to about10 road miles in my Altra Adams, my VFFs, or without shoes at all, as my feetjust get fatigued when pounding the pavement. The Road Glove strikes a balance by offering a little more impact protectionand a wee bit of support.

The Road Glove trades off ground feel to achieve that slightsupport and impact protection. I neverfelt like the Trail Glove was very good with ground feel because of the forefootplate, and even without the plate the Road Glove follows that path. You can definitely feel the overall ground contactand I think you’ll be able to maintain good, solid, natural form with the Road Glove…butjust don’t expect to feel every little pebble like you would in a pair ofVibrams. I would even venture to saythat the Road Glove will undoubtedly become a favorite mild trail running shoefor many runners. It has plenty ofprotection due to its durable blown rubber outsole and dense, but thin, layerof cushioning.

Finally, the upper. Iexpect the Road Glove to drain well, breathe easy, and fit regardless ofwhether or not I am wearing socks. It issoft and comfortable, and seems to do just enough to keep the foot safelycentered over the sole unit. It evenlooks great, in my opinion. Very sharpcolorways and I received the best one, black and lime (just like my Vibrams andSonic Gloves…this is a favorite combo for me). The logo is well positioned,there is a pair of little reflective bits for safety (though they could usemore), and the lacing system is adequate.

I am impressed with the build quality and design of the RoadGlove overall, and I think it will also make a great gym shoe. I wore it for a full-body strength sessionlast night and found it very effective for squats and other exercises where agood solid foundation is a big benefit. I look forward to matching this guy up to Skoras, as they seem to sit ina similar spot in the rotation. I alsolook forward to logging some real miles indoors and out in the Road Glove overthe winter. I wasn’t disappointed in thelooks, finish, or fit when I finally had them in-hand, so let’s hope theymeasure up over the long haul.

The Road Glove is available at Elite Feet, and they ship nationwide, just give them a call. By the way, if you enjoyed this review and analysis, please visit my homepage at www.averageblog.org and see what else we have online. Also, I am cultivating a new Facebook page, so you can get my reviews and posts as soon as they come out. Please consider "liking" the Average Guy Hits the Road Facebook page and following me on Twitter today!

This media sample shoe was provided free of charge by the manufacturer.

Skora Running: Now Taking Pre-Orders for an Eagerly Anticipated Product

2011-12-06T12:19:00.000-05:00

Skora Base ($125) in Blue

The long wait for Skora Running to hit the pavement is finally set to end. Skora, a company I favorably compared to Apple, has delayed release and tantalized the minimalist running shoe crowd for nearly two years while they refined their product to meet what is clearly an exacting standard.

The vision of David Sypiewski, Skora’s founder, is to develop the ideal running shoe that would offer real-world protection and full natural foot function. His tagline, “run real,” is tucked at the end of every facebook post, every tweet, and every email from Skora’s Portland, Oregon headquarters.

On Monday, Skora opened the doors on pre-ordering their product, to allow their most eager fans to get a pair of the first Skoras on the market. Time will tell if the shoes can live up to the hype, as very few reviews are out there and widespread sales are not expected until mid-February of 2012. With the stats and final images released by Skora on their website yesterday, however, I can safely assume they will find favor with many natural runners.

That said, prepare yourself for a little sticker shock for the high-end model, the “Form.” At $195, these leather kicks don’t come cheap. The “Base,” a mesh and laceless version (but with the same sole as the “Form”) will run a more moderate $125, which is the same price point as the Merrell Sonic Glove (another favorite of mine) for instance. Right now, there are only men's sizes, though I understand that Skora will reveal a women's line later this year.

As a gear-aholic, I can find just about any reason to justify a price tag, if I am honest, and $125 seems pretty fair considering the small stature of the company (they simply don’t have economies of scale in their favor yet). I don’t mind paying a few extra bucks if I know I am going to love and actually use the product, and I also don’t mid paying a little to support technology I believe in (or in this case a willful lack of technology that I support). I would really, really have to love the product to put up $195 for one pair of running shoes, though. We'll see what they are like. The good thing for consumers is that the sole unit is the same on both models.

I’ll let you click through to Skora’s site to take in all the pics and stats yourself, but this promises to be a good, honest, minimalist product. Also, if you like flashy, high-zoot running shoes, Skora errs on the side of sophisticated industrial design, something I touched on in my last Skora post. While many minimalist and natural running products seem to try and walk a line between crunchy, granola, earthy aesthetics and 21st century running industry expectation, Skora is unapologetically progressive in it’s design philosophy, which should resonate with a niche area of the running market. I'm clearly biased...these shoes just appeal to me on many levels, and so does the company.

That all said, I’ve not run in Skoras yet, so I don’t have many answers about the line, but I hope to test a pre-release pair soon. In the meantime I hope you can appreciate, as I have, a company that is doing some original thinking in a market (natural and minimalist running shoes) where many manufacturers are increasingly taking a mainstream approach. Pre-order yours from Skora online, or call up Elite Feet Brighton and they will also take a pre-order with no money down. Elite Feet and other retailers will have them in stores in February. Meanwhile...have a look here at the Base in blue and silver, then the Form in black and natural:

Altra Lone Peak Review: First Impressions Out-Of-The-Box

2011-11-15T22:24:00.001-05:00

Altra Lone Peak

When I review products, I try to concentrate on a shoe and give it some real time so that I can make a fair assessment, though I tend to get excited about a company I like, such as Altra or Skora, and want to try everything they make all at once. That said, I try to be honest and unbiased, although I also tend to want to review stuff that I know I will like. Lately, I posted a review of the Altra Instinct and had a lot of good things to say after a long period of wearing it this summer. It has a roomy toebox, a zero-drop platform, durable outsole, and secure midfoot/heel. The aesthetics are unique and may not be to everyone’s taste initially, although Altra recently introduced a new black colorway which takes it to a new level, in my opinion. Also, the Instinct’s looks reflect the shoe’s functional, logical design. Given how much I liked about the Instinct, Altra’s trail offering, the Lone Peak, was next on my agenda. This review is almost a follow-up to my Instinct review in that the Lone Peak, while a unique shoe, has many of the same characteristics as the Instinct and is very similar in terms of fit and ride. It seemed like a good idea to follow up right away with some initial thoughts and technical, in-hand observations about the shoe. I will undoubtedly have a long-term report to post after a winter of trail running in the Lone Peak, but here is the lowdown after a few days and a few runs.

Construction: The Lone Peak is a relatively simple shoe, and reminds me of a New Balance 574 in that it’s upper is mostly constructed of cut and sewn materials; you won’t find heat-molded overlays or anything to fancy here. I like that look; I can actually imagine someone assembling this shoe my hand. The materials themselves range between a few different synthetics and a durable rubber around the toe. The mesh base is similar to the Instinct, but seems a bit more rugged. It cleaned up well for me after an afternoon where I did a 5 mile trail loop, raked leaves in my yard for 3 or 4 hours, and chased Leo around. In fact, they are extremely breathable and I stuck my leaf blower nozzle right down in there when I was done, and it efficiently blew all the dust and dirt right out of them. I imagine water would drain out just as efficiently. There are no materials that would wick up moisture, either, so I would say these should stay dry and true-to-weight on your foot.

Weight: As for weight, the Lone Peak is not a minimalist, lightweight shoe. Rather than compare it to the very lightweight trail offerings in the minimalist camp, I would actually say this is more of a roomy, natural-runner friendly, zero-drop version of something like a Brooks Cascadia or a Montrail Mountain Masochist. It has a gnarly, protective outsole, a built-in rock plate, and durable upper materials. It just happens that you can run much closer to the way nature intended in the Lone Peak. The Cascadia, for comparison, is 12.2 oz. vs the Lone Peak’s 11.3 oz. Other similar offerings in the fully protective, cushioned trail runner category compare similarly in terms of weight. The North Face Singletrack and New Balance MT915 are also in the 11.1-11.3 oz. range. The Saucony Peregrine is a little lighter at just under 10 oz., but while protective it does not have a rock plate.

Fit: The fit of the Lone Peak is very typical for Altra, but atypical for running shoes generally. It has a secure, comfortable heel cup, a deceivingly secure yet not restrictive midfoot wrap, and a very "foot-shaped" roomy toebox (which is where the Altra really differs from most shoes). The result is a secure fit when on the trail, but a comfortable fit in the long run. While I have not put on serious miles in the short time I have had my pair, I’ve not experienced any sore spots. The zero-drop last does put you up on your forefoot/midfoot, like all Altras and all zero-drop shoes, of course, so you may find yourself feeling the shoe on your foot in a way you might not be used to with a traditional, heel-raised trainer.

The Lone Peak comes with a set of cushioned insoles labeled the “off-road” footbed. As far as I can tell it is identical to the “support” footbed in the Altra Adam and the Instinct. However, unlike the Instinct or Adam, the Lone Peak does not come with a second, flat pair of “strengthen” insoles. This was my only real initial disappointment with the Lone Peak. I guess I am spoiled by the other Altra offerings in that I prefer the flatter insole option and the variety and choice. That said, not too many shoes come with multiple insoles. The included “off-road” footbed is cushioned, and has only a minimal arch curve. It provides no true support, but I feel the arch curve when I wear them. When I last ran in them, I swapped out my flat “strengthen” insoles from the Instinct and will likely have those in most of the time. If you are new to zero-drop or more minimal shoes, you will likely find the out-of-the-box comfort and fit of the included insole familiar and comfortable. I enjoy it when walking in the Lone Peak, but as I said the flatter the better when running for me.

Traction and Protection: The Lone Peak has a rugged, lugged outsole with a unique “tail” they call the “trail rudder.” The rudder hangs off the back of the shoe and doesn’t get in the way, but I am not convinced it has much of an effect on the shoe’s performance. Maybe in an extreme, loose surface environment it would. Of course, it doesn’t bother me and it does have an alternative benefit…it is easier to kick these shoes off without using your hands. You can use them like a sort of built-in boot pull, which may come in handy when wet or muddy.

The outsole itself is composed of a soft, sticky compound. It is a full-contact, flat outsole that maximizes surface contact with the trail. The toe area, as expected, is very wide and very stable. In that area, the Lone Peak has its largest collection of wide, deep lugs. The lugs seem spaced well enough to shed mud but are frequent enough to secure your stance even in the loose stuff. I found it to dig in well on the leafy, wet trails near my house. I like the paw/foot print in yellow rubber on the sole, it adds a little camp and fun to the shoe. I’m not certain if the yellow surface is a different compound, it feels much the same as the rest of the outsole to the touch. The Lone Peak also has an embedded rock plate and should offer protection from the sharpest stuff, much like the other plated trail tanks I identified in the weight discussion above.

Overall you will likely find the Altra Lone Peak to be a secure, protective, grippy tank of a trail shoe with the added benefit of being a zero-drop, foot-shaped shoe. I am clearly an Altra fan-boy, but I am only such a dedicated fan because I really believe in their approach to shoe design. While Altra may not have the large-scale flash and finish of the big boys in the industry, they make good shoes that are friendly to the runner and encourage a natural midfoot stride. I did not hit too much on my running experience in this review, as I have only had them a short time. Consider this a technical analysis and the “experience” review will come later on. So far, so good in that category, but will update you on reliability, long-term comfort, and performance as time goes on.

I would put the Altra Lone Peak up against anything in that 11-13 oz. trail run category. It has the protection and cushion of many of the industry leaders like my old pre-minimalism favorite, the Brooks Cascadia. The Lone Peak weighs a good bit more than some trail racers, like the Montrail Rogue Racer or the New Balance MT101 or upcoming 110, but it offers tank protection with a minimal penalty. For short races, I may prefer something lighter, but for something like the Stumpjump 50k I felt like I could have used something like the Lone Peak. To have my shoe be a midfoot-strike friendly design would have been a huge benefit over my slightly heel-lifted and narrower Saucony Peregrines.

You can find the Lone Peak locally in Southeast Michigan at Elite Feet in Brighton, so check them out and have Ken or Mike let you run them out on camera so you can see for yourself the benefits of running zero-drop. I also just learned that Paul will be carrying the Lone Peak at Fourth Avenue Birkenstock in Ann Arbor. If you are not local in Michigan, you can find a dealer or buy your Altras directly from Altra at www.altrazerodrop.com.

(full disclosure... while I paid retail for my Altra Adams and Altra Instincts referenced in this review, my test pair of Lone Peaks was provided by Altra)

Rock Creek Stumpjump 50k Race Report: The "East's Legendary Meat Grinder" lives up to the hype

2011-10-31T09:21:00.000-04:00

The elevation profile of Stumpjump according to my Suunto

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On October 1, 2011 I ran my first trail ultramarathon. Though it was only 5 (give or take) miles longer than a marathon, the epic ruggedness of the trail made it a fantastic challenge. Short of anything out west, the Rock Creek Stumpjump 50k is just about as challenging and harsh as any set of trails you'll find. It wasn't just the altitude profile (which has you running between 11,000 and 12,000 feet of elevation change), it was the craggy nature of the trail itself. The rocks and roots were very exposed and you end up running right on huge slabs of rock regularly. Also, there are multiple section of large boulders you need to navigate, basically jumping from one to another. It is a miracle I didn't sprain or twist anything. There simply is not the kind of soft soil over the trail like we are used to in Michigan The trails in eastern Tennessee just seem very old, very deliberate and permanent. In other words, it is a killer trail...very challenging, but very beautiful.

I was lucky to have my wife, Moira, my boy Leo, my Dad Bill and my Mom, Carol all there with me. We made a 6-day trip out of it and really enjoyed our time in Chattanooga. They call Chat the "Scenic City" and it certainly isn't hard to see why. The Tennessee River Valley snakes through the region and highlights the peaks of Raccoon Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, and others. The river flows around 2,000 feet below some of the highest points and curves and curls in a picturesque way. The City of Chattanooga has really worked hard the past 20 years to turn around from a post-industrial outpost to the riverside jewel it has become today. The readers of Outside Magazine, for instance, recently voted Chat as the Best Outdoor Town Ever (although it must be said the magazines own reviewer was pretty unkind in his assessment). I, for one, side with the readers. The soaring pedestrian bridges, quaint 2 North Shore redevelopment, the art museum, AT&T field (home of the Lookouts), the massive and impressive Tennessee Aquarium....the list goes on when you start talking about Chattanooga's downtown charms.

The race itself was very, very well supported and expertly run by an experienced Rock Creek crew. The race benefits Wild Trails, an extraordinary Chat nonprofit responsible for hundreds of miles of trail maintenance. The aid stations are frequent enough, are located in beautiful spots, and provide support that goes above and beyond the norm. Late in the race, for instance, a guy took my bottle from me, cleaned it up, filled it, and gave it back to me...all while talking me through the rest of the course, offering encouragement, and making me feel like a rock star. The level of dedication of these folks should not go unnoticed. It was amazing.

I also had my Dad at mile 11 and 19. His help in getting me refueled at mile 11 and getting me settled at mile 19 after the tortuous Rock Garden section were invaluable. Moira was there to run me in at the very last half mile, and Leo and Mom and Dad were waiting for me as a crossed the line. My Dad put together a short video (at the end of this post) showing the race and my long day, and you can see my little guy Leo at the end looking through the race barrier waiting for me to finish. As I crossed the line he shouted "YAY Daddy!" and it nearly brought me to tears. You can't beat having family around you when you do something like an all-day run. I was already pretty revved up with adrenaline at the end, as it was such a relief to finish, but also because I was trucking to beat the guy in the green shirt, who was ahead of me all day. As you can see in the video, I pipped him just a few yards from the end. I was exhausted, my sore IT band had cost me maybe an hour of time, and my form was non-existent at the end, but I felt like I was running faster than ever as I crossed the line. I loved it, and I will be back in 2012. Here is the video:

Click here to read what Trail Runner Magazine had to say about the race. My favorite part: This is the Stump Jump 50K, the Southeast's pinnacle trail race. While every trail race tests a runner's mettle in some way, the Stump Jump tests a runner's refusal to quit. And there are numerous reasons to quit, beginning with the fact that the course climbs a total of 5330 feet while traversing dew-slickened roots, off-camber trail and mossy boulders.

Indeed, most everybody will fall at least once here. And for natives to this area, the Stump Jump 50K reflects a shared mantra: that the winner is every last person who gets up one more time than he falls down.

Altra Lone Peak: Quick Preview

2011-10-27T11:55:00.000-04:00

The Lone Peak (photos from Altra)

I NOW HAVE THE LONE PEAK IN HAND AND HAVE A DETAILED REVIEW POSTED. CLICK THIS LINK TO READ UP AND GET ALL THE INFO ON THIS GREAT SHOE

Just this week, Altra Running began shipping their new trail model, the Lone Peak. It has been a long-awaited release with teaser photos and online discussions taking place about this product for over a year.

From what I understand, the Lone Peak is very similar to the Altra Instinct, a shoe I have a lot of positive experience with this summer (review HERE). Trademark zero-drop stance, a wide, foot-shaped last with a roomy toebox, two insole options, and a cushioned ride.

In addition to these features common with the Instinct, the Altra Lone Peak has a few trail-specific features including:

a modified, beefier, protective toe bumper
multi-directional lugs for uphill and downhill traction
a "trail rudder" tail that sort of hangs off the back of the sole
a stone guard protective plate sandwiched into the midsole
quick drain and dry mesh upper

A wide forefoot and foot-shaped last from Altra

I am a fan of low/zero drop shoes for road and trail. My current trail favorites are the Merrell Trail Glove, which is great for much of my trail running, and the Saucony Peregrine, which was my go-to marathon and ultramarathon trail shoe this summer. However, neither of these examples are as universally adaptable as I would like. The Merrell Trail Glove is great, but for very rocky trails and for long, long runs, they are simply not enough shoe for me as I get tired or my form lapses.

Merrell Trail Gloves are my favorite shoe to run trails in, hands down, but some days and over longer distances I still need a bit more protection. That is where my trusty Saucony Peregrines have come in handy. I wore these for the Grand Island Trail Marathon, Stumpjump 50k, and for hundreds of training miles. I have very few negative things to say about the Sauconys, but one of those few is the upper fit. I am never 100% sure I have these shoes well locked-down. They usually need a tightening after an hour or so...maybe grippier laces would help. The toebox, while sufficient, is just not as comfortable or roomy as I would prefer (try them yourself, these are attributes specific to me). Not to mention that the Peregrine has a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, which I am obviously OK with given the miles I've put in, but would rather see gone. The Peregrine is one cool-looking shoe, though, with a fantastic tread and many positive features. I'll do a review on that shoe soon in advance of the new Peregrine 2 due out early 2012.

A rugged outsole and integrated rock plate

The Altra Lone Peak is heavier than the Merrell Trail Glove, and about the same as the Saucony Peregrine. However, with a level platform, cushioning somewhere between the Saucony (which has a lot) and Merrell (which has essentially none), and a roomy, anatomical last. my guess is that these could become an go-to all conditions trail shoe for short and fast runs all the way up to 50k and beyond for me. The thin midsole and low ride height should offer great on-trail stability, while the cushioning and insole options should provide relief from very aggressive trails and long days on my feet.

Time will tell. I understand that I may have a test pair coming from Altra, so as soon as I get some miles under them I will be back with a full-blown review and in-hand photos. I suspect they could be a great winter natural running shoe, with enough room for warm socks, enough tread for snowy trails, so they should get a good workout in Michigan in the next few months.

Altra Instinct Review: The amazing influence of logic on a running shoe design

2011-10-21T16:45:00.000-04:00

Altra Instinct...a uniquely logical solution

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The Altra Instinct is one unusual shoe in that it defies traditional running shoe design in favor of logic. Think about it….if shoes were never invented, and all the historical baggage of shoe styles and fashions over the past few millennia were not incorporated into today’s footwear…what would a shoe designed for running on modern surfaces look like? For instance, elevated heels in dress shoes and boots may have served a purpose if you were stepping into a horse saddle stirrup, but they serve next to no purpose for walking or running. Mostly, elevated heels have evolved as a fashion, not for function. Or take the way we design toeboxes…pointed toes on a dress shoe are there for aesthetic purposes, not function (whose foot is shaped like a torpedo, anyway?)

What a zero-drop shoe looks like

While I may not be a scholar on shoe design and the history of fashion, it is clear that many traditional shoe design characteristics are holdovers from a distant past. While they may not all translate into the features of conventional modern running shoes, you can see where I am coming from (I hope). The jury on elevated heels is still out (they do allow for a lot of pillowy cushion if you are a heel striker), but as I have pointed out before, support for a more level platform is really gaining steam in the research community. So much so that big shoe companies like Brooks and Saucony have introduced major lines (Brooks Pure, Saucony Kinvara, etc.) that cut the traditional 10-12 mm heel-toe ramp down to 0-4 mm. This lower heel allows the foot to come down less acutely on the heel and encourages a midfoot strike, which has been shown by researchers at Harvard to reduce load rates (the impact of foot-to-ground). Reduced load could equal reduced injury. In my case it has.

No, if we had to suddenly design shoes with no tradition or baggage, we’d start by looking at the foot. I am sure we would have very quick consensus that the shoe should be roughly shaped like our feet. Logic. Then, we’d look at how we stand barefoot (presumably how we would have been getting around given that shoes haven’t been invented in this scenario). Since the ground is flat, so would the soles. No heel elevation. We’d probably add a little cushion, make sure our feet didn’t get too hot or sweaty, and design a decent upper that would keep our foot comfortably centered without restricting it too much. Logic.

You can see the Altra insole poking out...
much wider in the forefoot

Guess what? Altra did it that way. They started unbound by tradition and came up with what they feel is the right way to build a modern running shoe. Make no mistake, Altra is a startup shoe company. It is just getting off the ground so their construction, design, and aesthetics don’t yet have that branded level of refinement that only comes with maturity, and with the kind of economies of scale that allow for widespread, automated construction. That isn’t to say these are not good looking shoes or that they are shoddy in construction…they are very sturdy. However, they have a unique nearly-handmade aesthetic quality to them that you can recognize when you hold or wear them. It is earthy, and I dig it.

The Altra Instinct (I bought these retail at Elite Feet in Brighton earlier this summer) are a cushioned, flat (zero-drop) trainer that I have been using as a long-run road shoe most of this season. They are very rounded and open in the toe box, employ unique materials, and feel very comfortable and secure on the foot. The Instinct was the first Altra shoe to hit the market, but a trail version known as the Lone Peak is on its way, and a more minimal, laceless shoe known as the Adam is also available. There are also women’s versions, which do not adopt the “shrink it and pink it” philosophy of many modern women’s shoes. Instead, the women’s versions of these shoes (known as the Intuition and Eve) actually employ a unique female last with female-specific features.

Full rubber outsole

I like the Instinct. I have been an adapted zero-drop runner for a while (Merrell Barefoot and Vibram Five Fingers are also zero-drop in my collection, and I am dying to try the Skora Running lineup, which is also level). The Instinct offers something that other zero-drop shoes don’t however…cushion. That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your style and needs, but this is certainly a new option. The cushioning in the Instinct is firm, and not too intrusive. It does rob you of ground feel, as you would expect, but that is not what this shoe is about. It is about allowing and encouraging a natural midfoot-landed running gait in a more traditional trainer. The wide toebox is extreme, plenty of room for your forefoot and toes to spread on impact as they should. The heel and midfoot can be snugged up firmly to support the foot.

Arch curves in the Brooks Pure insole vs
the Altra support insole

The shoe even comes with two different insoles; one is a more traditional curved insole with an arch “support,” the other is flat, very thin insole that has absolutely no arch support. Even the “support” footbed has relatively little arch curve. You can see in my photo that when compared to a more traditional curved insole like that in a Brooks shoe, it is very low-slung. A lack of arch support is something you must adapt to if you have not already done so…too quick a transition and you may hurt yourself. Once you transition, though, I can tell you from experience that it feels great and your foot’s natural impact system is more fully employed.

Top view..wide toebox

The upper material is very breathable. The shoes overall are very light. The heel counter is stiff, but very low on the ankle so it does not get in your way or irritate in any way. The outsole is pretty rigid rubber. In fact, the outsole material is one of my only gripes about the shoe. I feel like it is a bit harder than I would like, and the outsole is a little stiffer than I would like. It isn’t really a problem, but it just makes the shoe kind of stiff at first and makes a sort of louder clip clop on the roads than I would prefer. The durability of these soles, though, is very apparent. I suspect they will last longer than just about any shoe I own. Over a hundred miles in and they look like they did when I bought them.

The only other thing I would change a bit about my pair of Altras is a few things about the looks. Not to say they have not grown on me, and honestly they are so functional and logical they were bound to look a little unusual. I find their looks endearing…they are unique and simple and very straightforward. I usually gravitate towards brighter colorways, though...I like flashy kicks. The Altras wear their hearts on their sleeve. I have seen a few photos floating around on the internet of new black colorways that are coming out and that makes a huge difference in the looks department. They sort of go from the NASA look of mine to what I referred to as “Darth Vader’s Running Shoe” when I first saw the black design. All I am trying to say is that if you see them in person and their looks throw you a bit…just remember, those looks mean they are a unique shoe.

Very breathable simple upper design

At the end of the day, these shoes work. They provide a stable platform without interfering with your natural foot function. The provide cushioning without being marshmallows. They provide forefoot space without feeling sloppy. They allow a natural midfoot landing without compromise. They offer running shoe comfort in a very lightweight package. I like them quite a bit and I am looking forward to getting my hands on the Lone Peak trail shoe. It has all these characteristics, but provides deep lugs and a few new unique features that should make it an immediate competitor for the Saucony Peregrines I ran the Stumpjump 50k in a few weeks ago.

So congrats to Altra for bucking the system. They came up with a shoe design that trusts the human form and does everything you need it to and nothing you don’t.

Getting lost. It's a good thing.

2011-10-13T15:28:00.000-04:00

This print hangs in our kitchen. By Shaun Sundholm.

Every day I think about a few permanent things in my life. Family, work, relationships, faith, health, etc. Typically these areas of thought manifest themselves in really annoying and distracting ways. For instance, in the work category I find myself waking up at 2 a.m. worried about some detail of a project that really could have waited until morning. In relationships I often wonder about how I handled something; the way I said something, for instance. Was I hurtful? Proud? Obnoxious?

My money says that I'm the only one thinking about whatever it is that is bothering me at the time and the other person never even noticed. After all, I say boneheaded things all the time so people are probably well adjusted. Everyone that knows me also knows I talk too much. I'm working on that, people. I promise. I do find, though, that my racing mind tires me out as much as it probably tires my audience out. To that end, I make sure to get lost regularly.

For me, getting "lost" in the way I am about to describe happens only one way...lacing up my trail shoes and running in the woods. I love running in all its forms and I am grateful to be able to run at all after the way I've let my health go in the past, but trails offer something that roads and paved pathways, that group runs and road races do not, can not, offer me. When I escape to the trails, I feel like I am moving smoothly through the landscape. I may not be an elegant athlete, but I am proud of my form and my flow when I run trails. I try and stay light on my feet, moving efficiently. If I hear my footprints I am doing it wrong. The quiet of the woods with only my breath and the trees drifting above the peace allow me to settle in and escape my own frantic mind.

Traditional meditation, yoga, and even daily prayer in a quiet room do not give me this same sense of connection and calm. It is ironic to me that getting my heart rate screaming on a Saturday morning in the woods is the best way I know to settle down. My guess is that the terrain, which requires a sort of unconscious focus, and the actual physical effort up and down the hills and rocks and stumps, conspire to shut down those parts of my brain that can't contribute to the task at hand. I literally can't concentrate on everyday stuff or I end up on my face. A good example? Two weeks in a row on the Thursday night P.R. Fitness trail run I lead I bit it hard while I was chatting away with my running partners...but then I ran almost 8 hours straight in the Tennessee mountains on the most difficult landscape I've ever been on without even tripping once. That day I was running my first trail ultramarathon. I had no idea where the course would go, I just blindly followed the trail ahead. I was technically on course, so I wasn't truly "lost," but I sure as hell had no idea where I was or where I was going.

This is what trail running, and in particular long-distance trail running, are for me. A chance to challenge my body, challenge my mind, and get lost. Not lost on a map, but lost from myself. Away from the bills, away from the dripping sink, away from the grocery shopping, away from the office. The longer and deeper and further afield the better. To me, trail running is more than a workout, it's a therapy session, religious experience, physical challenge, and way to witness nature all in one.

Brooks Pure Connect Review: Is this a Saucony Kinvara Killer?

2011-10-13T10:20:00.000-04:00

Brooks Pure Connect...sleek and soft

UPDATE: I have added a new, wear tested review of the Pure Connect with some serious revelations. In other words, it just didn't work out. Please see the link HERE.

I have a long, loyal history with Brooks. At least up until about a year ago, I was an all-Brooks runner. I was a member of their “sponsored” Brooks Inspire Daily (I.D.) team, then a member of the non-exclusive Brooks Fanatics group (a group to which I still belong…Fanatics membership does not require Brooks-exclusivity as the I.D. program does). I have always been an admirer of their high-quality materials and craftsmanship, their apparel design (at least functionally, Brooks has some of the best shorts and shirts around, in my opinion). I was stopped in my tracks, however, when I came around to the benefits of natural/minimalist running. While many companies were keeping a solidly open mind about natural running, Brooks was defiant. Saucony came out with the hybrid Kinvara and shattered conventions. Nike had been selling the controversial NikeFree for years. New Balance was tweaking the Minimus line. The list goes on. Truly minimalist companies like Terra Plana and Vibram were having success, too. Yet, Brooks stood defiant, stubbornly clinging to the position that loads of cushion, stability posts, and conventional modern shoe design were the only way to go. They even released a position paper styled as an academic white paper, signed by the company CEO, which essentially walked a line but concluded that minimalist running was a crock.

Now as you know I am personally a believer in the benefits of natural running, but I try hard not to do the soapbox thing. If conventional running shoes work for you and you rarely get injured and you are as fast and as durable as you want to be, then why try something new? I was neither fast, nor durable…so I tried it and have never looked back. But every runner is different and you need to see what works for you. To me, open-mindedness needs to go both ways. Many in the barefoot camp would scoff at any recognition that good old heel-lifted cushioned stability shoes are good for anybody. Many in the conventional camp would laugh at a runner like me running 10 miles in Flint in Vibram Five Fingers (although I had a 10-mile PR in them). The truth is that there is no conclusive science on the matter, and there are millions of runners who wear regular running shoes every day.

To their credit, Brooks did approach the area of more natural running in their own way over time. You won’t find the words barefoot or minimalist anywhere in their marketing literature. What they claim is that they sent out a third party marketing and research company and asked real runners what they thought. Long story short, they say they started with a blank drawing board and responded to what runners were saying. I have no idea what they asked or what options the respondents were given. All I know is that the feedback they received resulted in the Brooks Pure Project line. It isn't a minimalist line, really (look at my posts on Skora or Vibram FiveFingers for that!)...but they are a bit different.

This line responds to the natural running movement. It has many of the natural running hallmarks…lower drop, natural last, lightweight, flexibility, etc. And they look good. And they aren’t too expensive. And they work. When they were released on October 1, I was running the Stumpjump 50k in Chattanooga Tennessee. I could barely walk afterwards, but just 48 hours later I was in a pair of Pure Connects. The Pure Connect is the most lightweight shoe in the line, and to my eye, likely to be the most successful. I won’t go into the full line, though…I already talked about them in a previous post.

The Pure Connect is very light and soft underfoot. The heel-toe ramp angle is said to be 4mm, but other reviewers have measured it as low as 2mm. To me, they feel flat. They have an undercut heel, much like the New Balance Minimus Road. When I tried on the Connects for the first time, it felt like there was a sort of lump mid-heel…the same feeling I got when I tried on the Minimus. This wasn’t a lump, though…it’s just the spot where the sole contacts the ground. This contact area is so far forward in both shoes due to the undercut heel that it feels odd at first, but as you walk and run the sensation quickly disappears. The heel area is very soft, with a full silky liner and a soft insole. The insole has a very steep arch curve. To call it support would be a strong word, given its flexibility, but those of you who love very flat shoes will likely think it to be intrusive. It doesn’t bother me, but try before you buy. The heel cup is rigid, but camouflaged. You don’t see any exterior plastic cup or anything, it is embedded in the layers of the soft upper and works well to position the foot and prevent sliding around on the thick sole.

The sole is from a science fiction movie. Brooks says it is a blend of two of their midsole technologies (D.N.A. and BioMoGo) and it does seem to offer a soft, but responsive ride. When walking they feel very cushy…when running they feel much firmer. They are made up of a series of pods and open areas for flexibility. The pods and raised outsole areas have patches of durable rubber, but for the most part the midsole is exposed. The toe area is split, kind of like a cloven hoof. This is supposed to allow for more independent push-off from the big toe, but I am dubious. There is a firm layer of material just under the insole that prevents actual independent movement to any notable degree, but who knows. All I am saying is that I didn’t actively notice anything unique about it. Looks cool, though.

The upper has some real hits, but one big miss. Most reviewers, I think, will fault the shape and width of the toebox as too narrow. They may be right. I have very narrow feet, though, and I feel like the soft material and rounded shape do allow my foot to flex and move well. Those with wide feet, though, will likely feel a little cramped up there. They feel like Inov-8’s conventional last or the Saucony Kinvara/Peregrine in that regard. Those are all shoes that fit me well and in fact the basic Brooks last was always a good fit for me. Of course, I wish there was a wider toebox, one where my toes don’t brush up against the sides at all, but I am confortable in these and they basically feel very similar to the Kinvara.

Brooks has this nav band thing that I basically hate. I tried on the Pure Grit in the same size and the nav band was not at all taught when I laced up…it flopped around loosely. In the Connect it is too tight, and after a while it leaves me with a sore spot on the top of my foot. Wearing wool socks like Point 6 helped the issue, and as I wear them more and they stretch a bit and bother me less. I see the idea, but again…try before you buy. I feel like it just isn’t necessary. The upper design is already so well executed otherwise, with light built-in soft bands meeting the laces and securing the foot, that the nav band is just unnecessary.

The Pure Connect runs very similar to the Kinvara for me. Both feel soft underfoot with a very flexy mesh upper, contoured insole, similar toebox shape, secure midfoot, light but effective heel cup, and a semi-flexible outsole. I find it almost impossible to heel strike in the Pure Connect due to the undercut heel, though. The Kinvara still has me clipping the pavement with my heels once in a while. Also, the Kinvara has a wider outsole where the Pure Connect only puts material right under your foot, with no additional width. The Kinvara is more geometric, more square in its outsold profile, where the Pure Connect is more rounded and more organic. The Kinvara is slightly higher off the ground with slightly more cushion, but both provide a smooth forgiving ride.

Is the Pure Connect a Kinvara killer? Time will tell, but for me it definitely is. All things being equal, I prefer the undercut heel design and last shape of the Pure Connect, and I think it will be a more durable shoe as it does have more rubber outsole protection than the Kinvara in the areas where I personally wear through tread the fastest, along the outside edge of my foot. It is a colorful, sleek design and provides a new option for those who prefer a light, soft ride and a midfoot strike, but are not into very low profile shoes like the Vibram Five Fingers or Merrell Barefoot lines. The Pure Connect is a very good shoe with a few drawbacks, but I think it will grow to be a favorite. Just don’t call it minimalist.

The Apple of Running Shoes: Skora Running has me in a frenzy ages before I even see the product…sound familiar?

2011-10-06T13:13:00.000-04:00

A sole with soul

Today is the first day after Steve Jobs has passed away. I am a big admirer of his, of Apple itself, and of the philosophy of innovation they both have bestowed on designers worldwide. Most of the time, Apple isn’t inventing its products from scratch…it is in fact just taking ideas that are already out there and applying its own brilliance on the category. Apple did not invent the smartphone, for instance…and the iPhone isn’t even always the best in terms of its capabilities or specifications…but few would argue that it isn’t the most beautiful, artful, approachable piece of tech kit on the market. The same holds true for the Macintosh computer. It wasn’t the first personal computer, but it was one of the most beautiful and the easiest to use (characteristics that apply today, in my opinion).

In short, Apple takes a category, applies its unique approach and philosophy, and comes out with a product that few can touch for aesthetics, quality, and user experience. They have been able to parlay that pursuit of perfection into a number of great products like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even Apple TV (a sleeper product of which I am a fan). They changed the way we experience the music industry and the way we buy albums with iTunes. They are changing the way we get news, the way we watch TV, and the way we communicate. The fans of Apple are many. Often, Apple fans are loyal to a fault, using Apple products exclusively. They wait on baited breath for months for the next big release, looking daily at tech blogs like Gizmodo or the like, just to catch a glimpse not of any common new product, but of a new product that often has the capability to change the way they experience something in their daily life.

Clean lines

For runners, running is part of our daily life. For running bloggers like me, a lot of hours are spent (wasted?) keeping up on running shoe tech, training science, running technique debates, and race experiences and the careers of the elite athletes. I get excited about new releases in the shoe market in particular. I am looking forward to the Altra Lone Peak zero-drop trail shoe, for instance. It would have probably been my go-to shoe for my first ultra, the Stumpjump 50k, which I completed on Saturday. I am anxious to try the New Balance Minimus Zero early next year. On Monday, I bought a pair of Brooks Pure Project Pure Connect shoes..I had been waiting on those for months. There are literally dozens of things that will be released next year in running (mostly related to minimal or natural running) that I just can’t wait to see. However, one seems to stand apart from the crowd a bit. To me, Skora Running is the Apple of running shoes.

Careful palette

Why does Skora get this distinction? There are a number of reasons. First…design. It is clear that these guys are concerned about aesthetics and design throughout their entire brand presence. Product, website, marketing materials, social networks, etc. They all get the same, consistent, slick contemporary design that instantly identifies them as Skora. The carefully selected color palettes of their product are mimicked throughout their brand. Fonts are clean and have that “Helvetica” edge that makes them look like a shoe company an architect would love. Their design clearly incorporates some new approaches to minimalist or natural running footwear that should set them apart. The language coming from their methodical, visionary founders is infused with passion for excellence, not necessarily bottom-line thinking. Like Steve Jobs, though…I am confident that their care and craft should result in success and market leadership down the line.

The way Skora may be the most like Apple, however, is the deliberate and clever way they have generated buzz and interest in their product with rumors, speculation, and teasers of their philosophy, methods, and products (whether or not that was on purpose, I have no idea). They have hit on all the right buttons for me…a careful message about natural running, attractive and progressive industrial design, and providing just enough information to generate an appetite for their product without showing their hand in full. They’ve been showing us little elements of their fine finished products for some time, and full screen shots of their line have not really been made available yet.

Textures and defining design

So Skora wants to provide the running community with a beautiful product that allows the human body to run naturally, or run “real” in their words. Skora is counting on care and quality, based on deliberate design and planning, to carve out their niche in the minimalist shoe market. Skora have differentiated themselves from the rest of the minimalist shoe market with a product and campaign based as much on the look and feel of their line and company as on simple function. Can you imagine if Steve Jobs had come out with the iPhone and spend most of his keynote talking about how it can also be used as a phone to call people? No, he spent those anxiously anticipated talks describing how iPhones were different, special, and progressive. The function was always there, but form was as well. I have always admired how at Apple, form didn’t follow function, they were equal. Skora, I believe, sees the importance of this and has chosen to concentrate on form perhaps more than any other startup in the industry. Skora may not start out as the biggest or most widespread shoe company out there, but I have a feeling that when you wear Skoras to your weekly group run, your kicks will be the envy of everyone around you.

Thanks, Steve Jobs for setting the pace when it comes to design in business…you will be missed but your legacy lives on in the many thousands of innovators like Skora who know that form and beauty should never be lost in any business.

Skora will have a number of products when they eventually hit stores very early in 2012. Elite Feet in Brighton will be one of the first stores to carry this groundbreaking shoe, which doesn't surprise me as they clearly "get it" when it comes to design, function, and progress in the running industry (read my report on their shop HERE). If you have been in there you know it looks like an art gallery for runners...and come to think of it there is an iPad and a Mac in place of a cash register. Skora should fit right in.

Vibram FiveFingers Komodo Sport LS Review: How do VFFs compare with Merrell Trail Gloves and New Balance Minimus Trails?

2011-08-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

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For all of my chatter on this blog and to my friends about my own positive experiences with natural running, I have never actually owned a pair of the most minimal shoes out there…the grandfather of all minimalist shoes…Vibram FiveFingers. I have tried them on, tried them out for a few steps, and watched them in the market regularly as they grew from offering a few basic models like the venerable FiveFingers KSO and the popular FiveFingers TrekSport. In fact, the growth of FiveFingers brand and lineup over the past few years is nothing short of remarkable. Recently, I bought a pair of FiveFingers Komodo Sport LS multi-sport/running shoes from Bivouac of Ann Arbor.

Why did I wait so long if I am such a devotee of natural/minimalist running? Probably a few reasons:

There are a million shoes out there I want to try and just haven’t gotten a chance yet.
They are so wildly unconventional that many of the earlier, more plainly styled varieties looked too unappealing for me.
They are the most flexible, most minimal shoe out there and I wasn’t sure I was ready to pound out miles in something like that.
They are not cheap.
They never quite fit my feet right…I have narrow feet and most styles have a simple stretch upper and a Velcro strap or two, so they were always too wide and insecure on my feet.

Today, however, stores can’t even keep Vibrams in stock. They are a pretty common site here in Ann Arbor (which is admittedly a college town and a little wacky). FiveFingers are now a pretty accepted and mainstream product in many corners of the fitness world. They offer over a dozen new styles each for men and women. They have options for nearly every activity from casual wear to running…even military applications. While the scientific jury is still out, and is likely to be for some time, there is clearly a huge percentage of the population willing to go barefoot or minimalist in their training and everyday life. There is anecdotal evidence, like my own experiences, and there are some debated findings in the far corners of academic, peer-reviewed publications, stating barefoot running and minimalist shoes (and the FiveFingers specifically) do indeed help a runner run more naturally and reduce impact load which may lead to reduced injury.

All I can say is that it works for me. I am going to say a few things about the FiveFingers Komodo Sport LS in this review, but they will be more along the lines of a new FiveFingers convert, rather than comparing and contrasting this new model specifically against its brethren in the Vibram lineup. In other words, you’ll hear feedback from me as a new FiveFingers user and some comments about this model specifically.

Given that I can’t compare the Komodo LS to other FiveFingers products, I will compare them to my other minimalist front-runners, the excellent Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove (and it’s body-double the Sonic Glove), as well as the popular New Balance Minimus Trail.

Let’s just get the toe-pocket thing out of the way first. Obviously that is the main difference between the FiveFingers and every other minimalist shoe. A few thoughts on that:

Yes, they do take a little while to wiggle into, but it gets easier (start with the big toe and make your way down to the pinky).
Yes, it does actually make a difference in forefoot flexibility and you can engage each toe separately as you would barefoot.
No, they don’t cause blisters (at least for me).
Yes, you forget about having your foot in a “glove” and before you know it you don’t even think about being in “toe shoes” as opposed to anything else.

In fact, given the soft, silky material between your toes and the hyper-flexible sole, you can move your feet naturally in any direction more fully than anything short of bare feet or simple sandals. They really are comfortable. Snug, but comfortable. The conventional minimalist shoes I listed and have used all use a traditional toebox, and vary in terms of comfort with or without socks. The FiveFingers Komodo Sport LS was a comfortable shoe right away, and my second time wearing them I ran 6 up-tempo miles on the street over a lot of little rolling Ann Arbor hills with zero discomfort. In short…don’t be afraid of the wild looking toes. They work and you get used to them.

The interior of the shoe, as I described, is soft, wicking, and comfortable. Not must to say there except that it beats the others I described hands-down in terms of sockless comfort. I had slight blister issues with my other favorites, the Merrell Trail Gloves. No worries, socks took care of it, but I prefer to run sockless when I can. As for weight, the FiveFingers is similar to the Merrells and Minimus, and this makes them some of the heaviest FiveFingers shoes. The “extra” weight comes from the lacing system, rugged overlay on the sole, and the fact that, unlike other FiveFingers varieties, these have a 1-2mm footbed that helps wick moisture and provides a little traction inside the shoe for lateral cuts when running or playing. From what I understand, the Komodos are the best FiveFingers for field sports, Frisbee, etc., where you need to cut back and forth laterally (the Komodo’s cousin, the Bikila, is a road-running specific model that is similar, but provides more padding and less side-to-side traction).

Compared even to the Merrell Trail Gloves, which are a little stiffer, thicker-soled, and have a thin rock plate, the FiveFingers Komodo Sport LS is far, far more flexible and offers a much greater degree of ground feel. Essentially, they are as close to barefoot I have ever experienced in a shoe of any kind. The ride is smoother than the Merrells on the road, although the Minimus Trail also excels in this category. The Komodo's flexibility is almost comical. Imagine taking a thin nylon sock with toe pockets and gluing some 1-3 mm rubber to the bottom in a few places, and you get the idea. It still offers protection in the right areas, though, and I find them exceptionally comfortable for running. These days, the less support I wear, the more comfortable running has been.

The laces are what made me eligible for this shoe. Previously the Komodo Sport was available only as a Velcro-strap version, and my narrow feet flopped around in them. The lace version allows you to snug it right up and it fits me perfectly, making it more of a realistic option vs. the very well-fitting Minimus and Merrells. A great option, even if it adds an ounce over the original version. After all, an ounce per shoe isn’t going to make a difference to a sturdy guy like me.

As with any minimalist shoe, you need to start slowly and build up to it, this is the most minimal shoe I have ever worn, so it is no exception. Take a Good Form Running Class at Elite Feet up in Brighton if you can, or else check out their other resources online at their website. The Merrells and Minimus are great shoes, and I love them as well (and they have even more minimal variants on the way next year!). But if you are a well-adapted natural runner and you want a durable, comfortable ultra-minimal experience, FiveFingers is the way to go right now, and in my limited experience the FiveFingers Komodo Sport LS will not leave you wanting.

Grand Island Marathon Part 2: Ups and Downs on Grand Island

2011-08-11T10:55:00.000-04:00

At the dock about to go over to G.I.

The race was an adventure. As we lined up, we were told the route had been altered between miles 17 and 22, so you could throw your race plan out the window. Apparently a Forest Service vehicle or something was stuck on the trail, and there was no time or way to remove it, so the call was made. The island is mostly uninhabited, except for the Feds, the few old homesteads, and the bears. The race was pretty neat. It was, of course far hillier than even a hilly road marathon, with a wide variety of surfaces to contend with. There were small sections of singletrack with some usual ruts and rocks, there was a lot of old Forest Service road, and there was a good long section (a mile?) of beach. That was wild, given that the only acceptable place to run was along the waterline, which condemned you to running on a steep slant and dodging the crashing waves. Hindsight being 20/20, I may have taken a few minutes to peel off my shoes and socks and run in bare feet, just for the refreshment and novelty of it.

A unique reward

All that said, it wasn’t a technical course at all. Rolling dirt roads, gentle trails and sand. Pleasant conditions underfoot for a long trail race. I wore Saucony Peregrines and they performed very well, although any road shoe or minimalist shoe like the Merrell Trail Glove would do well.

The rest of course featured some slow, long climbs. Nothing acutely steep, just mile-long, slow slogs at probably 3-7% grade. The dirt roads were sandy, though, so that kind of sapped your energy a bit. I would estimate that the course only robs you of a minute a mile for an average runner. Also, there are only five aid stations, so you are required to start the race with a water bottle, so you lose a minute or so taking a gel and topping off your bottle at each for another net loss of 3-5 minutes (although the aid station volunteers were fantastic and enthusiastic!)

Moira and Leo were with me on the boat ride over at just after 6 a.m., as there was no other option if they wanted to watch. The boats only went over a few times near the beginning, so if she had not come with me she may have not been able to get over there to see me finish. Then, after the race we had to wait for three boats to get back, which was kind of tough given that I was tired, Leo was cranky, and it was really hot (85 degrees) and we were made to wait out by the beach.

Ice cream afterwards

It is a small trail marathon and an adventure. It is on an uninhabited beautiful island. It is a challenging, exciting race with dedicated volunteers. The finishing medal was made of wood, which was cool. A few observations, up and down, just in case you are considering this race:

Downs:

The race doesn’t really have an expo, and they don’t claim to have one…they just have a meeting room at a Holiday Inn Express with a table to get your materials and a table to sell their old shirts from past events for $5. They did have socks, too. Freebies include a few packs of vitamins and stickers. You can be in and out in ten minutes.
The boats and shuttles and their limited schedule are frustrating if you are not really in the spirit of the thing. We were OK, but I think it was a lot for Moira to entertain Leo and keep him fed, hydrated, and cheerful…I know it is a long slog for a little guy. There were lots of other racers with family support there, though. Maybe bringing little ones is not a great idea.
The on-island transportation for the supporters was a disaster. The bus driver dropped Moira and Leo and bunch of other people off 8 miles from the start line at an aid station at Mile 17. After the runners went by, the 30 or so folks waited and waited for the bus to come back. Only after a very angry lady went back to talk t race officials did the bus return (with a grumpy driver who explained that he wasn’t supposed to come back and get them). How would a gang of 30 moms and dads and little kids hike 8 miles back through an uninhabited island? Bizarre.
The race materials promised a Mountain Hardware shirt, but we got a very cheap, ill-fitting, poorly constricted freebie-type shirt from a company called Greenlayer. I know Greenlayer is all about eco-friendly, and that they do sell very nice stuff at market rate, but this freebie shirt was a disappointment. The half-marathoners got a better looking organic cotton shirt. I would not have cared if they hadn’t promised something from Mountain Hardware, one of my favorite brands.
While the race volunteers are great, the race officials seemed angry about having to be there. There are strict rules about leaving trash on the island (justifiably so!). That said, the guy on the loudspeaker kept threatening to DQ racers before the race ever started unless they picked up a Gatorade bottle, water bottle etc. That was a bit over the top.

Ups:

The aid station volunteers would take a bullet for one of the marathoners. I felt like an elite athlete as they offered me any resources they had at every opportunity.
Grand Island is a nearly undiscovered jewel of Michigan. See my last post about how much we enjoyed the entire Munising Bay area, but Grand Island takes the cake.
The course is a challenge, but not so challenging that it would not be suitable for a first-timer to trails or marathons generally, for that matter.
The camaraderie of a trail race like this is second-to-none. I ran alone, with a small group, with a partner, and with a big group all in the same race. There was enough room to spread out, it was quiet and peaceful enough to chat, and the race draws some really fun an interesting folks who care more about a day in the woods than a fast finish.
Logistics aside, you get to take a boat to the start line, which is awesome. It is a short ride, but adds a sense of adventure to the enterprise.
I had a big PR for the marathon…I knocked 20 minutes off my former marathon PR, and that was set on the roads of Chicago. I will always love a race where I set a PR, right?
Lake Superior is about 20 yards from the finish line. Almost every single runner goes straight into the drink for a natural ice bath. That feeling of enormous relief was worth the effort.

At the motel after, with Grand Island beyond

Grand Island Marathon Part 1: A Beautiful Place!

2011-08-09T18:36:00.000-04:00

Last week, Moira, Leo and I had a fun adventure in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We went there originally for me to run the Grand Island Trail Marathon, but also to spend some quality, private, quiet time as a family and take in an area we don’t often hear about down in the lower half. In short, we had a great trip.

I ran a new personal best for the marathon distance on a hilly, sandy trail course, we all got some long, deep nights’ sleep, and Leo had a good two hours every day to throw rocks in the water at the beaches of Lake Superior. I am breaking this report up into two posts...this first one is all about the trip and the environment, and the second will be about the race itself.

A typical view.

I won’t bore you with the details of my run just yet, instead I will just pepper you with photos of this beautiful area, Munising Bay, and it the high points. The community of Munising is fantastic, honestly. Nestled in a short range of little hills and at the southern nook of a beautiful natural bay of Lake Superior, Munising’s notoriety comes as the home base for the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. There are dozens of waterfalls in the immediate area (many of which are dozens of free-falling feet high, and as high as 120 feet), beautiful hilly trails, and of course, the marquis attraction, the Pictured Rocks themselves.

A little barefoot running.

For those of you who are not familiar, the Pictured Rocks are a rugged 25-mile section of coast made up of 200-foot tall, colorful sandstone cliffs. These cliffs are fairly continuous along the coastline of Lake Superior from Munising up to Grand Marais, and along the coast of Grand Island in some spots. You really need to go on a boat ride to take it all in, but with our limited budget, time, and our two-year old in tow, we opted to see what we could from the shore (which is quite a lot).

Walking out to one of the viewing areas.

I can honestly say that while the two are very different in scale and geology, Grand Traverse Bay has nothing on Munising Bay in terms of natural beauty and atmosphere. Just see for yourself in the pictures…it’s a great area just two hours beyond the Mackinaw Bridge. Any closer and it would be swarmed with Fudgies from downstate, but as it is you need a little persistence and an adventurous spirit to reap the rewards of this beautiful, endearing community.

Grand Island was just across the Bay from our motel window.

Grand Island, where the race was to be held, looms over the mouth of the Bay and almost seems to make it appear to be a small lake. From some angles, though, you clearly see a path out to the open water of Lake Superior. We stayed at the Sunset Motel, just a mile east of Munising, up the coast towards the Pictured Rocks. We had a beautiful view across the Bay to Grand Island, were just a few miles from the beach at Sand Point, and has a little private waterfront picnic area and a tidy, cute room with a kitchenette. Highly recommended.

Beach boy was in heaven.

You could even walk or run to a great hidden, almost totally unmarked waterfall that had no tourist improvements or walkways, just a small trailhead and a rugged singletrack. It just goes to show you what a magnificent area this is that this beautiful waterfall was a secondary attraction that doesn't even make it on many maps.

Momma and Leo skipping stones.

We really enjoyed the place. The scenery, hills, water, and small-town charm bewitched us. If it wasn't for the 400-mile drive and the undoubtedly hard winters, I'd love to be up there far more frequently. That said, if you are on the fence...just go. It is worth the trip.

Elite Feet Brighton: A Special Specialty Running Shop

2011-08-04T13:12:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, my coach Marie posted some info on Facebook about a new running shop in Brighton, just a few clicks up US-23. After a little digging, I went from curious to anxious about getting a chance to visit the shop. After all, who likes running gear as much as I do? Who obsesses over running shoes and minimalist running products like I do? Well, it turns out the crew at Elite Feet in Brighton do. In fact, while they do carry a full line to address any runner’s needs, they clearly have differentiated themselves as a shop with a true belief in running form education and natural running/minimalist footwear.

The shop is beautiful. Not too crowded with extra junk that no runner really needs, but well and smartly stocked with (my opinion) the best nutrition and hydration products from Hammer Nutrition. Seriously, they seem to carry the entire Hammer line in all flavors and all varieties for all purposes. They also carry a full line of Amphipod hydration gear, a small-ish but thoughtful collection of clothing for men and women, Garmin and Nike GPS systems, some high-end earbuds for the runners who tune in on a run, and a variety of other things like Feetures socks, injury prevention and treatment gear, and information on the local running scene.

The real jewel of Elite Feet Brighton, however, is that beautiful shoe wall. They carry a lot of stuff you only see online, or are only starting to see trickle into the usual mainstream running shops. To name a few…they are flush with New Balance Minimus Road and Minimus Trail in the latest colors, Hoka One One, Saucony Hattori, Kinvara 2, Mirage, Peregrine (my trail marathon shoe), and the very new Powergrid Cortana, Vibram Five Fingers Trek Sports and Bikilas, Altra Instincts (the most distinct looking, but maybe best new shoe around), and some mainstream Asics, Mizunos, Brooks, and Nikes. For a small specialty shop, they really do seem to carry just about all the new options for minimalist/natural runners or aspiring ones. Yet, they don’t do this at the expense of those traditional proven favorites across the more mainstream motion-control bandwidth.

I was like a kid in a candy store, if I am honest. Most of those options I listed above for the natural running crowd are all low drop (flatter sole, less than 4mm drop from heel-to-toe to allow a natural midfoot strike), wide forefoot/toebox (to allow for your toes to splay and absorb impact), and very lightweight and flexible (to let your feet be feet). The best part is that Ken and Mike are industry veterans who understand the product and are running shoe geeks like me. It is clear, however, that these guys won’t just slap you in whatever they are into at the time. They have a dedicated treadmill with high-speed multi-angle cameras for on-the-spot gait analysis, they have weekly Good Form Running classes (more on this in a future post…but click the link in the meantime!), and they are dedicated to the whole runner and running technique. In other words, they will help you learn to be a better, faster, less injury-prone runner and will work with you to go with as much or as little shoe as you need or want, with no preconceived notions or judgement.

That, to me, is why every local runner should check out Elite Feet Brighton. Sure, some other local shops have given lip service to running form training (using a program that was clearly plagiarized from the Good Form Running program pioneered at Playmakers and available at Elite Feet and local New Balance shops). However, I have witnessed first-hand the skepticism built into the sales staff at the old-guard running retailers about natural running. I have heard them automatically put new runners in the motion-control and stability shoes, after no more than a look at the runner’s body type and a meaningless walk across the carpet. I don’t think most retailers trust runners to challenge themselves to learn about form and technique. I only wish they would be more open minded.

Yes, natural running is a grassroots movement…and the manufacturers are responding big-time. After all, running is really basic at its root...as natural as sitting or standing...and if (my opinion) you pull away the technology you will run closer the way nature intended.

I know there are many runners that benefit from stability and motion control technologies, or from a high soft heel, or rigid arch support. I started out that way, too…but when I could barely walk after finishing my first marathon I knew something had to change (for me) and now I run twice as much with half as much discomfort and way more speed than I ever thought I could…all because I worked at adopting a more natural stride in more minimal shoes. After all, you learn technique in every other sport, why not running? Would you expect to shoot par on a golf course if no one ever showed you how to swing a driver? Why should you expect to run a marathon without any thought to HOW you run? As a runner have you ever been injured? As I have said, though...the shoes are just a tool…you can run more naturally in more conventional running shoes, but low-drop, wide-toe, flexible shoes will help you make the most of a natural stride. But don't take my amateur word for it, go to Brighton and talk to the experts.

So, if you are even a little curious, but maybe hesitant, to explore natural running form as part of your running arsenal, you MUST go to Elite Feet up in Brighton. They will take the time to go into depth on these issues with you, to look at your form in a variety of shoes, to help you learn about the few basic (simple) tenets of natural running form. They may also keep you in a more traditional running shoe, based on your needs and preferences. They do this using technology and experience. They are not into fads, as critics of natural running may suggest, but they are in the business of helping runners learn to run better, stronger, faster and with less injury that they ever thought they could. I think the local running community is lucky to have them here, and they have my business for sure.

The clubhouse: lululemon athletica Ann Arbor

2011-07-14T10:22:00.000-04:00

Runners in Ann Arbor are blessed with many choices. Great routes, trails, parks, and paths are all at the runner’s disposal. We also have strong clubs, training groups, competitive teams and shops that help us succeed: P.R. Fitness, the Ann Arbor Track Club, Tortoise & Hare and Elite Feet Brighton to carry the essential gear and Bivouac to keep us running on the trails. I’ve spoken many times about how my involvement with P.R. Fitness has given me the motivation and encouragement I need while allowing me to make great, lasting friendships along the way.

For me, it would be hard to meet my goals without support. If I had only the internet to get my gear and every run was alone on a country road…I would take up something else. Sometimes it is the friendships or the “gang” that gets you out of bed and on the road…and a gang needs a great hangout. P.R. Fitness is lucky to have one of the best in town, the lululemon athletica Ann Arbor showroom.

“Lulu’s” is tucked away on the third floor at the corner of William and State in Ann Arbor. With a non-descript door just past Jimmy John’s on William, you might miss the small wordless sign they have and not even know it is there. Just as an example, a co-worker of mine didn’t even know Ann Arbor had a lulu showroom, nearly a year after it had opened….and she is a yoga instructor (…and lululemon is essentially THE place for yoga gear across North America - she was astonished, and now her wallet is probably a little emptier).

Marie made an early connection with the crew at lululemon and it has developed into an important partnership. The showroom serves as a base of operations for the group’s Saturday long run, and the lulu team is always willing to come in and open up early, watch our stuff for us while we are out and let us mess up the place with our wet sloppy clothes and shoes in winter and the hot sweaty stuff in summer. We are always able to access the restrooms, get water or snacks and take a load off on the couch. The place is as much a lounge as it is a shop. They also have free yoga sessions and activities as part of an extensive community outreach program. We even have a P.R. Fitness chalkboard “wall” at the shop where everyone jots down their goals and races so we can keep each other motivated.

Just two weeks ago I was the last one back after our long run (I am running a marathon in July, while most of the other runners did a spring race…meaning that I am one of the few runners doing 20 mile long runs this month). When I got back, Katie (the manager) presented me with an opportunity to pick out anything in the store and test it out. Given that lulu stuff is premium, it doesn’t exactly come cheap, so this really floored me.

I chose a grey Metal Tech Vent shirt (shown in these stock photos from lululemon…though I wish that was me in the photos…I mean, look at this guy). Designed from the ground up for breathability, flexibility and comfort, it is a quantum leap in athletic wear in my mind. I have a lot of great running shirts, but the texture and feel of this shirt is really unusual. It is paper thin, but strong and durable. It is soft and breathable, but it really holds its shape and gives a flattering cut. It has a great old-school heather grey look to it with some modern touches. A small red thread detail on the shoulder, the techy vents in the back and the shape bring it into the 21^st century. It even has a silver compound woven into the fabric, which stops the shirt from taking on any odor after a hard workout.

I can’t say enough positive things about the shirt, and would have the same things to say if I had paid for the shirt myself. In fact, I bought one in an alternate color. That brings up the only drawback, price. The shirt retails for $64. That is a bit expensive, but this is no ordinary shirt and will last twice as long and you’ll wear it twice as much as anything else in your closet, no lie. So far I have worn mine to two separate summer dinner get-togethers, a hard tempo run, the gym, around the house, to the park with Leo, out shopping, to the July 4 parade and to bed. It can do it all.

So do me a favor and stop by the lululemon athletica showroom at 623 East William in Ann Arbor. Take a look around and see for yourself what a great place it is and meet the great group of people that run the shop. You won’t be disappointed.

Punctuation Mark

2011-07-01T15:51:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Moira…she raised $2,500 for the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor this spring. When she set out to do this, the goal was ultimately to run a half marathon with a team of fundraisers in Seattle. Ultimately, though, she kept it local and raced the Solstice 5k in Northville instead. It was a fun experience and this was she was able to have Leo and I both there at the finish, she was able to run with her great friend Sarah Lacy, she was able to train for a shorter race and her neuropathy wasn’t as big a deal, and 100% of her raised funds went to the Cancer Support Community (rather than helping pay for the trip to Seattle).

The little guy on his bike

To say I am proud of her is an understatement. It has been just over 2 years since her diagnosis and since then I have become a marathoner, trail racer, and soon-to-be ultramarathoner. Since then Moira and I have raised about $6,000 for local cancer support. In that time Leo has grown from a wiggly pink screamer to a little guy with a funny personality. At 2.25 years old, he is already bartering with us for one more book, one more show, a few more minutes at the playground, etc., in exchange for his gentle compliance during diaper changes and eating his dinner. He is definitely half Moira and half me.

I have a backlog of posts to get up and running through the summer, including a few product reviews, some cancer news, and some trail racing and ultra news. In short, I have been trying lots of new gear and training techniques to get my not-so-gifted average physique ready for the rigors of long-distance trail racing.

On the trails

I will let you know that I did my first 20 mile training run so far this year just last week (I am doing 2 before the Grand Island Trail Marathon in a month). It was epic…there was rain the entire time, almost 1,400 feet of climbing (which is hard to find in SE Michigan), a mile of thorny bushes that tore my legs to shreds, and a goat. Yes, there was a goat. The goat was being walked like a dog on the trail, and he and his owner were the only other souls I saw that long, long run. It was more than a run, it was an epic solo adventure and I thank everyone who has helped me get this far for giving me the gift of being able to undertake challenges like that nowadays. It was just two years ago when I was having terrible headaches, serious chronic stomach issues, and a long list of aches and pains. Now the only aches and pains I get are the good ones that come from enjoying the trails.

More to come. I am hoping to have some good news about my summer schedule and arrangements for the Stumpjump 50k soon, and I will definitely relate some of my new experiences and favorite training gear to you as well. Congrats again to Moira, and thanks to Sarah Lacy for coming along. The Solstice run really put a punctuation mark at the end of our two-year cancer ordeal, and I, for one, am so happy that we are still here, still running strong, and ready to move on to life’s next great adventure.

Trail running. Lots of trail running.

2011-05-26T14:10:00.000-04:00

On July 30 I am running the Grand Island Trail Marathon just off the coast of Munising, Michigan, in Lake Superior. For most of the past 6 months, this race has been my primary season target. I have raced a trail half marathon and a collection of shorter trail races, but nothing like this. That said, race reports I have read say that it is challenging, but forgiving to a beginning trail distance athlete. Actually, it is made of of a pretty long stretch of rolling fire roads, two beach stretches, just a few technical singletrack trail spots, and some softly rolling ridgeline trails. In other words, it's going to be more challenging than a flat road marathon in many ways, but doable.

For months I have been dialing in the best trail gear for this challenge (there are only a few aid stations, so you have to carry your own fuel and water) including trail shoes and socks, clothes, nutrition, and water carrying apparatus. I have been logging about half my weekly mileage on the trails of Bird Hills and the surrounding nature areas maintained by the City of Ann Arbor. A few weeks ago I did well to finish in about the top third of the field at the Running Fit Trail Half Marathon.On top of that, I have logged long training runs out at the venerable Potawatomi Trail about 20 miles from my home.

Now that I have gotten into the groove of making myself into a long-distance trail runner, you'd think I'd be dying to rip up the Grand Island race with everything I've got. Well, kinda. I can't wait to experience the race. I have never seen Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (an area which Grand Island is basically a part of). I am excited about taking Moira and Leo to a new place and to have a nice week of hanging out in the best, most beautiful parts of our noble home State. But I'm going to take it easy at Grand Island.

That is because I (foolishly?) signed up last week for the Stumpjump 50k Trail Ultramarathon on October 1. Basically what I did was relegate Grand Island from primary race of the year status to training run status. I watched a sensationally well produced video (see the end of this post) about the race after doodling around the internet one day and I was hooked. For weeks it sort of haunted me. I am a marathon finisher, but I have only done one marathon (and it was a struggle in the heat and humidity of Chicago last year). I will have only one trail marathon under my belt by October. Perhaps the most daunting part of it is that the Stumpjump is no ordinary 50k (31 miles), it is perhaps one of the hardest off-road 50k courses in the eastern United States. It has 10,000 feet of elevation change (5k up, 5k down). It has a mile of course known as the rock garden where the trail evaporates and you have to scurry down a collection of boulders. But what everyone I can find who has raced it says it is INCREDIBLY beautiful, fun, professionally run, and the experience of a lifetime.

In the past, I think my old running coach would have said I was nuts. In fact, I know she would have advised me against it and poured on the negativity.Of course, when I asked Marie Wolfgram, my awesome new coach, if she thought I could do it she replied with this email (with abbreviations, as it was sent from an iPhone):

For sure u can do it! U r crazy though! U gotta live life to it's fullest and that is exactly what u do.;) See u in the morn!

That, to me, is what our running group, P.R. Fitness, is all about. I loved that and figured that if Marie is on board to get me in shape, then I will do my part. My usual running gang may find me pushing a little harder on tempo days, adding a few miles here and there on long run days, and getting a few percent more serious as the race gets closer this fall. But the best part is that the only pressure I am putting on myself is to finish.

The average race time for finishing the Stumpjump for guys was about 7.5 hours. That is long, given that its just 5 miles more than a marathon. And the bummer for me is that the Stumpjump doesn't attract a slow field...a big percentage of the field are multiple-ultramarathon guys and girls. This is a tough race for a tough field. My goal is to just complete the thing, and I may be well into the bottom half of the finishers, but that is a-ok. I mean, what do you call the last place finisher of a 50k trail ultramarathon? An ultramarathon finisher.

So that brings me back to the "warm up" race on Grand Island. If I feel good, the weather cooperates, and the trail is manageable, I am going to shoot for sub-4:43, which would be a PR in the marathon for me. I am in far better shape as a runner than I ever have been and my vegetarian diet and minimalist running technique have helped me stay healthier than ever. There is something novel about having a marathon PR on a trail. That said, I am not going to kill myself because I will likely have to run another three 26+ mile training runs after Grand Island to get prepared for Stumpjump. It's important that I stay healthy and enjoy the Grand Island experience. In fact I will likely use it to test nutrition, pacing, etc., so that I can really have as much experience on my side as possible come October.

I leave you with this video from last year's Stumpjump. Moira and Leo and I are headed down together, and we can't wait. Chattanooga actually has a ton of fun stuff to do as well, so the race will be just one part of a fun family road trip to the mountains. I may need an extra few hours a week to log the miles as I train, but I'll just get up before the little guy and run late into the evening, but most of all I will make it up by sharing this adventure with the two people I love best.

Brooks Pure Project: My Running Shoe Fantasy Realized

2011-05-25T17:01:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: I have added a new, wear tested review of the Pure Connect with some serious revelations. In other words, it just didn't work out. Please see the link HERE.

***CLICK HERE to read my all new detailed post about the Pure Connect and the Pure Project Line...in hand pics and review!***

As most of my readers (all 8,000+ of you according to my stat trackers!) know, I have been working on a project to reduce my stride length, wear shoes that interfere less and less with my natural stride (which incidentally was always sort of mid-foot), and run safely and efficiently using a "barefoot" gait. This change has been overwhelmingly positive for me, along with my decision to commit more fully to a plant-based diet and cut the clutter from our lives. These changes have resulted in a runner that enjoys running more, enjoys running longer, and enjoys running faster. In other words, I'm still working on it, but early results signal that I am better able to cope with my training and life in general after these positive changes in technique, diet, and lifestyle. Read about my "less is more" odyssey HERE.

The only hitch with this transition is that I have been a part of the Brooks Inspire Daily (ID) program (until the end of 2010) and am now a part of the Brooks Fanatics program. Brooks Fanatics is less intense than the ID program in that it did not require any sort of formal exclusivity agreement, there is less free swag, and the program is as much about sharing and enjoying common experiences as it is about working hard to evangelize the brand. Of course, singing the many praises of Brooks is easy for me, and I almost always wear Brooks gear from the ankles up nearly exclusively (but I have been experimenting with a few other shoe brands...more on that in a minute). I have ten pairs of Brooks shorts, for instance. And 12 shirts. And many, many socks. Oh, and hats...and jackets and vests and, and, and....

Brooks is hand's down the best in the business, in my opinion, for their commitment to the environment and their compassionate care for the runner (not to mention their generous support of grassroots running, helping out guys like me). The problem comes in here: Brooks doesn't offer any shoes that I classify as truly minimalist at this time. They do have a lot of reduced options (mostly racing flats and cross country shoes) but they don't have anything with the very low heel-toe ramp angle, flat insole without arch support, wide anatomical fit, and flexibility I have come to enjoy in my more recent shoe buys.

I have worn Brooks Cascadias for trail runs, mostly on recovery days, and I wear them everywhere casually. However, I take out the insoles. All of the more conventional shoes feel like they interfere with my stride now. I know this because of real-world testing with some of my more conventional (albeit excellent) road shoes. I get aches and pains and struggle to land softly and with the quick rhythm I have developed while barefoot running and running in minimal shoes.

All that is about to change. Recently, Brooks announced that they are releasing an all-new line of what they call "feel" shoes to complement the traditional "float" shoes they are known for. The "feel" shoes are all of those things I have been asking for in a shoe lately, and with the typical Brooks Running flair, quality, and innovation. See them all HERE. I can't wait. The will have three road versions which will vary from the very stripped down to slightly more robust (but still wide and flat-ish). They will also offer a shoe called the Pure Grit....a trail shoe that, on paper, is a direct rival to the New Balance Minimus Trail.

Here are the two I will ~~almost~~ certainly be wearing after they are released October 1, 2011:

The trail-specific Pure Grit

The most minimal shoe in the line, the Pure Connect

There are also two more cushioned versions which can be seen HERE.These shoes have a list of new approaches from Brooks. There is a detailed description of these features in this document about Brooks' "Ideal Technologies" HERE.

Some people in the hardcore barefooter and minimal running community take this stuff very seriously. There has even been criticism that Brooks has taken a controversial path to "minimalism" by working with a renowned marketing firm to help determine what runners want in a minimal shoe. I don't agree that there is an issue there. Honestly, while I believe strongly that a barefooter/minimal approach could help many, many (most?) runners, I am not going to vilify anyone for producing running shoes of many kinds, at least for now. In the near future, with additional research, maybe all running shoes will go minimal. Maybe extreme pronation-control shoes will be fully exposed as causing as many injuries as they prevent. Maybe not. The science is getting more and more compelling, but it is by no means 100% conclusive yet (no matter how strongly I personally feel about it!) The thing is, Rome was not built in a day. Look at American car companies that are now producing awesome fuel efficient cars that easily compete with the foreign counterparts. Not built in a day.

All I really care about is that Brooks is making a great new line of minimalist running shoes that I am thrilled about, and they did it like any business would...researching the potential customer. In fact, they say they talked to a lot of beginning runners and got much of the information about what the Pure Project would offer in that way. Isn't that a good thing for many in my boat? Ask and ye shall receive! I wish all companies would respond to the customer this way. In my mind, if conventional running shoes were forced on us by the running shoe company behemoths, minimal shoes are being developed by the companies as a result of a real swell of support from the grass roots. Power to the runners.