One foot in front of the other.
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Step 1: Click one of the buttons below to donate the amount for the raffle entry you want. It will take you to the donation site. You can enter more then once, just donate the base amount multiplied by the number of entries you want.
Step 2: Click one of the buttons below to send out the tweet for the item you want to be entered to win. It is VERY important that you tweet the proper item so I can see that you are entered in the right contest.
Step 3: I will close the raffles at the following times:
Polar RS300X #1 – 6/10/11 – 8 PM EST
Newton Running package, women’s – 6/10/11 – 11 PM EST
Polar RS300X #2 – 6/11/11 – 9 AM – EST
Brunton Restore – 6/11/11 – Noon EST
Newton Running package, men’s – 6/11/11 – 3 PM EST
Winners will be announced about 30 minutes after each raffle closes. You do not have to be online at the time to win. I will contact each winner on Twitter to let you know that you’ve won. Unfortunately, raffles are only open to those in the US and Canada.
THIS GUY!
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As many of you know, this coming Friday (June 10) at 5 PM EST my marathon live show to raise money for Athletes for a Cure will start! I’ve worked with several brands to arrange for giveaways and raffle items for the show and without any further delay…here they are! (Rules and such to be posted tomorrow, June 7, so check back!)
SwimSpray – I’ll be giving away a boat load of this amazing new product! Invented by a swimmer who was tired of smelling like a pool, SwimSpray eliminates chlorine odor and irritation from hair and skin. Use with your own favorite shampoo, soap, or body wash. Simple. Effective. Natural.
Hydrapak Gelbot – The Gel-Bot delivers two performance essentials, fuel and hydration, in one easy to use sport bottle. This patent-pending design lets you fuel or hydrate with just one hand. Perfect for racing or total gel addicts. All the Gel-Bot components can be taken apart and easily cleaned.
SOLE Signature DK Response footbeds – The Sole Signature Series Dk Response is world-famous ultra runner Dean Karnazes’ signature edition footbed, with added features. Every SOLE Custom Footbed features their orthopedic base layer that molds to your unique foot without losing its supportive shape. SOLE Custom Footbeds are accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Sole donates a portioon of every sale to Karno Kids whose mission is to support, encourage, and motivate youth to get outside and become physically active, and to restore and preserve the environment.
Ryders Eyewear Seeker Sunglasses – All Essential styles within the Adrenaline collection feature Duraflex frames with low-profile, high-strength pinned hinges and polycarbonate lenses. These lenses are shatterproof, optically-correct, scratch-resistant and provide 100% UV protection. All styles have high-performance features such as anti-slip, hydrophilic nose pads and/or temple tips that get more tacky as you sweat so your eyewear always stays in place.
Road ID eCard – It’s a gift card for whatever Road Id strikes your fancy! Need I say more?
Kate’s Real Food Bars – (2, 6-packs!) Kate’s Bars are real food snack bars, hand made in the shadow of the Tetons. Kate’s Bars are created for people who live, play or just want to be outdoors. The flavors and textures of Kate’s Bars are designed to reflect the natural surroundings they were inspired by.
Brunton Restore power storage and solar panel – The most efficient, integrated compact power pack available. Internal battery keeps extra energy at hand, and twin solar panels keep the battery at peak capacity in less time. Ideal for charging personal devices like iPods® and smart phones. Advanced polycrystaline solar technology gathers maximum energy per inch for maximum efficiency. Power storage capacity: 2,200 mAh Output: mini-USB
Primus EtaSolo Stove – Compact, lightweight and low fuel consumption. Eta Solo is based on the award winning Eta technology of our Primus burner and heat exchanger. Its high efficiency rate assures fast boiling times and lower fuel consumption. The Eta Solo is stable in windy conditions, lightweight, and extremely compact. Quick and easy to set up thanks to its robust quick-click locking mechanism.
Polar RS300X – (Raffling off TWO of these!) A smart, intuitive training computer for runners and cross-training athletes, the Polar RS300X wrist heart rate monitor helps you to train at the right intensity with personal training zones. It’s compatible with Polar’s S1 foot pod and G1 GPS sensor (both separately available), enabling you to combine heart rate with speed and distance and truly make sense of your training.
Newton Running Shoes and Gear – We’ll be raffling off TWO gift packages from the one and only Newton Running(one for the ladies, one for the men)! This will include one pair of Newton Running shoes of your choice, a copy of Newton co-founder Danny Abshire’s book (Natural Running: The Simple Path to Stronger, Healthier Running) and some other schwag!
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Come see me sing with Christopher McDougall and Co. at the Naked Tour!
I am now coaching! If you’re interested, email me at info@ironbrandon.com
Get up to THREE entries to win a Sony NWZ-W252 (pictured) by doing the following:
Entry one: Comment on Episode 140 of the IronBrandon Show [LINK]
Entry two: Have someone else leave a comment and refer your name (that way you BOTH get an entry!)
Entry three: Tweet the following: Listen to the IronBrandon Show 140 and be entered to win a Sony MP3 player! http://goo.gl/p9PCV #IB140
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Leave a comment HERE to be enterer to win a free pair of Stuffitts!
Natural running clinic in Milwaukee THIS WEEKEND!
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LEAVE A COMMENT HERE TO BE ENTERED TO WIN A FREE PAIR OF STUFFITTS!
Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC)
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Sorry for such a short episode guys! The new (for the next few weeks) live streaming time will be at 8 PM EST on THURSDAYS!! To join in go to: ironbrandon.com/live
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I got beat to this by a tiny bit by someone else, but I thought I’d share anyway! Here is the former Mrs. James, Sandra Bullock on a visit to the gym accompanied by her Newton Performance Racers (Distancia)!
The headline pretty much says it all! The Sir Isaac Guidance Trainer from the awesome folks at Newton Running has been named the Run Shoe of the Year by the UK’s Triathlon 220 Magazine!
The Sir Isaac Guidance Trainer is part of the transitional line up of shoes from Newton. For those looking to become more efficient runners and to move their stride to a more natural, midfoot/forefoot gait, this shoe will certainly get you there. Now, got get some!
Leave a comment HERE to be entered to win a FREE bottle of Vidazorb!
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Happy Monday and happy Valentine’s day! Today is the beginning of a very interesting period in my life and I thought I’d take a minute to share some thoughts on where it began this morning and where it may be headed. It does have something to do with running, triathlon and the like so, read on!
Achilles
A few weeks back I mentioned that while out on a run on a day with a lot of ice on the ground I
over-extended my trailing leg and “tweaked” my achilles. Since then I’ve had to kind of knock back the intensity of some of my runs and, to be completely honest, I’ve not run 100% pain free since. I’m not sure that I’d call this a true injury per se, but rather a small stumbling block.
I had a run last Friday where I was feeling my oats a little bit and so I took it out quicker than I have been. I wasn’t in pain while running, but I was aware of the tweak. After my run (about 8.5 miles at about 7:00/mile), as soon as I stopped at the front door of my building and began walking in the hallway, my achilles lit up. P-A-I-N. It seemed that the pain came not really when I put pressure on it but rather when I took it off.
I stretched immediately but couldn’t take too much time since I still had to get to work (yes, I managed to make it out for a pre-dawn run). Throughout the day I forced myself to alter my walking gait so as to avoid any pain. I guess I looked like I was limping a bit but it was a self imposed limp rather than my body NEEDING to limp, so that has to be something.
On Saturday morning I headed out the door for a 2.5 hour brick workout. I had spoken to Coach Jeff the night before and he told me to just do the ride and to forget about the run. So my ride, which was scheduled to be 1.5 hours got upped to 2.5 hours. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to ride outside so this was a welcome change from the monotony of the indoor trainer. Upon getting on the bike my achilles, which had been largely immobilized and set in ice for most of the previous day, was feeling quite tight and sore. I made and effort to gently stretch it out when I could and after about 30 minutes of riding it loosened up and even let me ride some large-ish hills harder than I thought I’d be able to.
When not chasing my daughter and packing/cleaning, the rest of the day was spent, leg elevated and on ice. Sunday’s run was also canceled and we’re now in some odd stasis waiting to see how I feel this week. I don’t have a run scheduled until Wednesday and then I hope my patience and wisdom don’t lose out to ego and pigheadedness. There’s no point in sacrificing an entire season for a few missed runs.
As an aside, and not to go down the technical road; when I was home and able to, I spent the ENTIRE weekend in just socks. I even walked my dogs in just socks on Saturday night. When I was barefoot, I hardly felt anything at all. Today I decided to wear a pair of Newton Gravitas‘ to work since they’re effectively flat and thus far, I’m doing well.
The Subway
I got on the subway this morning (the ever so pleasant downtown 1 train) at my usual stop. The train was not very crowded and I easily got a seat at the end of a row. I tend to go for those seats since that means that I’ll only have one person squeezing in beside me rather than two. The train went from my stop (215th St.) to about 110th St. without incident, or even that much of a crowd. At 110th St. a bunch of people got on the train including one of those people who like to stand IN the doorway and block the door for those trying to get on and off the train even though there is plenty of room to stand elsewhere.
It was this door-standing, super classy individual that started my day off on the wrong foot. This guys elbow was just about level with my ear. Since he was holding onto the rail attached to the seat I was sitting in, this is not out of the ordinary and no big deal. However, as the doors would open, he would lean basically into my seat (yes, I’m aware of the sometimes overstated “American bubble” that we prefer and are spoiled with. That said, I’ve been on a subway in Japan at rush hour and I know what “close” really is). Each time he did this he was coming about 9 inches across where he needed to be and he would push, not very hard but just inconsiderately so, his arm into my head. He did not say, “I’m sorry” or even acknowledge this annoying and obvious invasion of my space.
Now, had this been simply an invasion of my “space” and not an actual instance of me being touched repeatedly in the head by some stranger, I would not really have a problem with it. At about 72nd St. there was a rather aggressive push of my head with this guy’s elbow. So, I put my hand on my head, in between my head and his arm and gently moved his arm away and said, “Excuse me, your arm keeps hitting my head.” I didn’t say this loudly of in any kind of a rude tone. The rest of the conversation went like this:
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: I’m sorry?
Douchey McA-hole: I said, don’t touch me again.
Me: I’m sorry but you’ve been hitting me in the head with your arm for the last forty blocks.
Douchey McA-hole: I’m just trying to let people on and off the train.
Me: Well, you could go stand somewhere where you won’t have to do that and hit me in the head.
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: If you don’t touch me again then we won’t have a problem.
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: Or what?
Douchey McA-hole: *silence*
He got off the train at 59th St. (Columbus Circle) without further incident. I don’t like confrontation, but when I’m put in that situation, with someone literally standing over me (since he was standing and I was sitting) my hackles rise very quickly. However, I did maintain a calm demeanor which was bolstered by the very nice woman next to me who was encouraging me to ignore him since he was clearly “that kind of person”. I just don’t get it. Why do people have to be like that? I was tempted to stand up and just stare at the guy since I had about 20 pounds and 3 inches on him, but I figured that would only serve to exacerbate an already tense situation.
So, Douchey McA-hole, have a happy Monday and I’m not hoping at all that you get dropped like a sack of potatoes by someone with less patience than I have.
Looking forward
Danielle and I are going to Milwaukee this week to sing Mozart’s Così fan tutte with Skylight Opera. Being there will be a nice break from living in New York for a while, though I must admit that I doubt it will instill in me the affection that some feel for this town.
While there I hope to take Gearist TV on tours of SRAM, Saris and Trek Bikes. Gearist is doing well and is further expanding passions of mine that have been emerging for a while. Upon returning from Milwaukee, we will be looking to the future. Our lease is up in October and we are moving. We don’t know where just yet but to us, anywhere is better than here.
The spring and summer will be spent training hard and racing. The biggest race of the season of course, is Ironman Canada. I’m still toying with the idea of doing a 24 hour live podcast to help raise money for Athletes for a Cure (PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE!!). If I do do a live 24 hours show I am certainly going to need people to call in and stop by to keep me awake!
I’ll be touching more on the reasons and desires of our move in the coming months as well as the direction we’re moving in. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.
Gear news and reviews at GEARIST.COM!
Draft Legal age group racing in Florida
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Last week, the folks at Competitor posted the below video from The Running Event in Austin this past December. In it, Newton Running’s co-founder Danny Abshire shows off the much anticipated zero-drop racing flat from Newton, the MV2.
After seeing the video and having a bit of inside info of my own I contacted some spies who told me the following:
…please note that the MV2 as it appears in the video is no longer accurate. The actual MV2 will look quite different from the one presented at the Austin Running Event last December.
That said, the MV2 in it’s earlier iteration is in house at Newton’s “Running Lab” in Boulder, Colorado. Another reader/spy sent me some pictures of the shoes that will be going out to wear testers as early as this week.
For now, the details that I know are that the shoe is in fact a zero-drop shoe (no height difference form heel to forefoot) and comes in at 5.5 ounces. Also, contrary to the video and to what Competitor first reported, the MV2 will not be out until sometime in Fall 2011. I will be certain to keep everyone up on new developments on what is sure to be a great shoe and one that already has die hard Newton fans drooling.
Floyd Landis wants to legalize doping(?)
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IronBrandon reader/listener Chris ran the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 10, 2011. He sent over this email and the awesome pictures below it. (I’m SUPER jealous of his medal/Newton pics!)
Hi Brandon
Just wanted to drop you a quick note and let you know, after hearing about Newtons on your show, I purchased my first pair at the MCM expo in Oct ‘10. I ran the Disney marathon in my Newtons over the weekend and it felt great. I’ve had issues in the past with losing toe-nails and other knee pains – but not this time. I had a number of runners ask me how I liked my Newton’s and I gave them my experience and reasons for switching. I also had a TSA agent come up to me and ask me “what are those??” when I put them in the tray to go through x-ray. He said he was a boater and they looked like great deck shoes! And on the way to the airport, we stopped at a convenience store. These two teenagers came up to me and said “hey man, cool kicks”. That is something I don’t often hear.
I have included a few images from Sunday’s run.
Enjoy//Chris
Check out more of Baker’s writings at Beyond Defeat
This summer I agreed to go attend a “Natural Running” Clinic with one of the founder’s of Newton Running, Danny Abshire. We met in Central Park after work and after a brief introduction by Danny, twenty runners were lead up to a remote part of the park to conduct the clinic.
We went over form, concepts and ran drills, while Danny and his associates critiqued us. I learned a lot that day and had a blast. Was it a sales pitch for his running shoes? Not really, but he had piqued my interest.
I had been running all season in racing flats, even marathons, and they were toast! With 3 weeks to go before the NYC Marathon I broke all rules and bought my first pair of Newtons, planning on wearing them for the race. I choose to get the Distancia racers.
My first run in them was 5 miles, followed by a 12 miler. Newtons don’t really force, but rather, strongly encourage you to run on your midsole and front part of the foot they way they are constructed (Natural Running…) so some people have issues adapting to them. I had no problems and it’s as if they instantly became one with my foot. I’m also kind of an attention hound, so the fact that they were bright neon green excited me as well.
With maybe 20 miles in the shoes I ran the New York City Marathon (November) and PR’d by 13 minutes since the NJ Marathon (May).
During the race I had no foot pain at all! Of course, towards miles 18-26 pain in some form is inevitable, but it wasn’t due to poor shoes. They were also preventing me from heel striking.
Since then, my mom who is new to running purchased them and cant stop talking about how fluid they are. Together we ran the Disney Half Marathon in our
2011 Newton Running Distance Racer (Distancia)
matching Newtons. She finished strong and her form was amazing!
The following day I ran Disney’s full Marathon and broke 3 hours, another PR by 3 minutes! No foot pain what so ever! In fact, I think they help your form especially when you get weak and tired.
*A note about getting started with Newtons; take your time! Every runner is different and starting to run with natural form may be calling on muscles that aren’t used to working very much, so take it easy and listen to your body! (Adapting to Newtons and Natural Running)
In conclusion, I would recommend these shoes to anyone interested in improving their form. It’s such an important part of running that many overlook. Please remember that it may take a week or two of adjusting, but after that it’s smooth sailing!
I’m not saying that these shoes helped me improve my times, but I do think they were a factor.
Help get me to Ironman Canada with Team Newton and Athletes for a Cure!
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Some good gear for cold weather running on the Today Show this morning. Take a look at what shows up at about the 2 minute mark!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
I am often asked when a Newton Running clinic will be coming to different parts of the world. One of the places that has come up several times is the great state of Texas. Well, all you natural runners in the Lonestar State, you’re in luck! Ian Adamson, director of R&D and ridiculous adventure racing world champion will be giving several FREE clinics across the state beginning next week! Here are the deets:
What: Natural Running Presentation & Discussion
Where: University of Texas | Levin Hall North Auditorium | Room 2.220, Galveston, TX
Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Contact: 409.539.5150 | Fit to Run | www.fit2rungalveston.com
What: Natural Running Form Clinic
Where: Fit to Run | 528 23rd Street | Galveston, TX
Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Contact: 409.539.5150 | Fit to Run | www.fit2rungalveston.com
What: Natural Running Presentation & Discussion
Where: Fleet Feet | 2408 Rice Blvd | Houston, TX
Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Contact: Fleet Feet | 713.520.6353 | www.fleetfeethouston.com
What: Natural Running Form Clinic
Where: Fleet Feet | 2408 Rice Blvd | Houston, TX
Date: Friday, January 14, 2011
Time: 6:30-7:30am
Contact: Fleet Feet | 713.520.6353 | www.fleetfeethouston.com
What: Natural Running Presentation & Discussion
Where: Luke’s Locker | 1953 West Gray | Houston, TX
Date: Friday, January 14, 2011
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Contact: Lukes Locker | 713.529.0786 | www.lukeslocker.com
What: Natural Running Presentation & Discussion
Where: Luke’s Locker | 1953 West Gray | Houston, TX
Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011
Time: 8:00-9:00am
Contact: Lukes Locker | 713.529.0786 | www.lukeslocker.com
What: Natural Running Presentation & Discussion
Where: TriSition Area | 2602 NW Loop 1604, Ste 106 | San Antonio, TX
Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Contact: TriSition Area | 210.492.4884 | www.trisitionarea.com
What: Natural Running Presentation & Discussion
Where: TriSition Area | 2602 NW Loop 1604, Ste 106 | San Antonio, TX
Date: Sunday, January 16, 2011
Time: 9:00-10:00am
Contact: TriSition Area | 210.492.4884 | www.trisitionarea.com
I really hope that many of you can make it. These events are free and open to the public and an incredible opportunity, in an informal and pressure free environment to learn more about good running form. As always, you DO NOT need to be a Newton runner to attend (but you may be one after you leave)!
Newton Terra Momentus (Men's)
The natural running revolution has been gaining a huge head of steam over the past couple of years. The funny thing is, people are treating this way of running as though it’s something new. It’s not. In fact, as long as feet have been around, so has natural running. Over the past 13 years or so, Danny Abshire, Newton’s co-founder and Chief Technical Officer, has used his passion for running smart and healthy to be at the forefront of the move back to the way things should be. Along with co-founder Jerry Lee, Danny has taken the logical principles of Sir Isaac Newton and applied them to the way we run.
The Terra Momentus marks Newtons first foray into the world of trail shoes. The Terra is built on the same basic chassis as the Sir Isaac model. Thus, it is a transitional shoe that can be run in by those well versed in natural (also known as forefoot/midfoot) running as well as those who are in the process of transitioning to the technique. As is dictated by the definition of natural running the Terra Momentus has a minimal heel-toe drop of around 3%, making it effectively flat. To give a little more insight into why that is important, think about the heel-toe drop of your bare foot on a flat surface. The drop in that case is zero. Since the Terra (which actually has the most drop among the Newton models which range go as low as 1.3% and an upcoming MV2 model with zero drop) is effectively flat, it is closer to running in bare feet, i.e. natural.
Having run in every other model of Newtons available, including the Sir Isaac, I feel that I had a great barometer for running in the Terra Momentus. This
Newton Terra Momentus (Women's)
shoe comes in as the heavyweight in the Newton lineup at 11.2 ounces (per pair, men’s size 9). That fact did not go entirely unnoticed, but I don’t feel that it affected their performance, or mine, in any way. Perhaps the biggest difference for me between this and the performance trainer series is the beveled leading edge of the actuator lugs under the forefoot.
Before I go any further I’ll take a very brief second to explain the lugs. These raised rubber ridges act just as the metatarsal heads in your foot do. They operate independent from one another, compressing a rubber membrane that reduces impact shock by some 44%. The then return that stored energy like a loaded spring reducing fatigue, allowing for greater mobility and less injury.
Back to the beveled lugs; on the performance series, both trainers and racers, the lugs are very square. Ideally, this is because the performance series are set up to be run in with a very natural, “land-lever-lift” technique whereupon the foot lands on the ground squarely atop the lugs, the body and leg lever forward over the lugs and then the foot lifts cleanly away from the ground. In the Guidance trainers, Terra Momentus and Sir Isaac, the beveled lugs gently suggest normal roll forward of the foot to enhance the “lever” action. Even though I primarily run in the performance series I haven’t had a single problem with the Terra Momentus. In fact, the beveled lugs are a welcome departure sometimes that reinforces good natural technique.
Newton Gravitas Lugs
Newton Terra Momentus Lugs
The body of the shoe itself allows for plenty of room throughout the upper. This allows for freedom of movement on trails without being overly constricting. While there is ample room inside the shoe, that isn’t to say that the fit is loose or out of control. The banding (the dark green stripes on the outside of the shoe) gave me a ton of support exactly where I wanted it. Each of the bands tops coincides with a contact point for a shoelace. This allows for clear customization of the laces if you’re like me and like to lace your shoes tighter in one spot and more loosely in another.
The sole of the shoe is a bit harder than that on any of Newtons other models offering it a bit more in the way of durability and traction on rough terrain. True to the Newton theory, you definitely feel the ground under your feet but not in a remotely damaging way. Landing on your forefoot/midfoot gives a ton of stability already and the balanced base of the Terra Momentus compliments the balance wonderfully.
The Terra Momentus is billed as a trail shoe, but I think that is misleading. This shoe handles just as well on roads as it does on dirt, rocks and gravel. In fact, using it on a road surface isn’t calling upon all of it’s offerings so why would it be anything but great there? The upper of the the shoe is a very breathable yet closed fabric which is a departure from the majority of Newtons other shoes which are largely a very open mesh. This also makes for an excellent cold weather running shoe though, keep in mind that with the exception of spiked shoes, no shoe is slip-proof on ice.
The Terra Momentus is certainly an awesome next step in the evolution of natural running. Newton has taken a lot of time and research to develop this shoe with a very close eye to its natural running ideals. If you’re looking to transition to a more natural technique, this is a wonderful shoe to start with. On top of that the price tag of $139, which is a current low for Newton, is a small price to pay for faster, more efficient and healthier running.
One more thing; mileage. While I haven’t worn through these shoes yet, I can tell you that with solid, natural technique the amount of mileage out of a pair of Newtons can be massive. Currently, I have two pairs of Newton Gravitas that have 700+ and 550+ miles each and both have plenty more miles left on them. So, before balking at the price tag, keep in mind that if you’re getting twice the mileage of a “normal” shoe all of a sudden, $139 isn’t so much to pay for a premium technology.
Click here to visit the Newton Running website | Click here to learn more about natural running
Natural Running: The Simple Path to Stronger, Healthier Running
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I was asked to post pictures of the wear pattern on the sole of my shoes. The shoes I chose are my daily trainers, Newton Gravitas. This pair has about 550 miles on them and are still in great shape with plenty of miles left. So, as requested, here are the pics!
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We’ve arrived at that time of year (Ok, I’ve arrived at that time of year). The major marathons are over, triathlon season is hanging on to the last vestiges of warmth in the Northern Hemisphere and many of us are still digging our way out of a Thanksgiving and football induced coma. We have arrived at “The Off Season”.
As I look back at the past few months, since the remnants of the previous off season gave way to flowers and warmth, and I begin to lay out the next few months of my schedule, I’m actually quite surprised at how much “on season” stuff I’ll be doing. If you read or heard my race report from the 2010 Philadelphia Marathon or the comments that followed, you may have noticed that I really didn’t race that much this year and now that I’m not in über hard core training, I actually find myself wanting to race more.
2010 began well enough with a new half marathon PR in the Manhattan Half Marathon (part of the New York Road Runners half marathon series). That race marked a few firsts; the first time I had someone pacing me (thanks @RunningLam!), the first time I felt like I really “raced” a race of that distance no matter how humble my actual time was and also the first time I went into a race with a very distinct plan and was able to stick to it. I found that this race also got me moving in a solidly good direction in terms of my running. In fact, less than a month after this race I broke my PR time of 1:35:20 quite easily by over two minutes…during a workout!
The next race up was Ironman 70.3 Mooseman in June. Seeing as I had not been in an actual race since June, I was already falling into a pattern of training and not racing. Mooseman went quite well all thing considered such as the torrential downpour, hills that I was not quite expecting and the mud pit that was transition. Little side note, I set a new half marathon PR of 1:35:08 which should tell you something about the direction of my fitness since that was after a 1.2 mile swim and a 56 mile, HILLY bike ride.
Next up was the New York City Triathlon in the middle of July. It was a reasonably good race though I managed to swallow about half the Hudson River during the swim only to almost puke it up on the bike. Going into this race I had the goal of getting my elite time (2:15) and I did get that time…by 15 seconds. I’ll take it but I know that I can do better and while I’m not scheduled to race the NYC Tri this summer, I will be back and I will kill it.
By this point in the year I had only done three races and was training far to hard. Now, I don’t want this to appear as though I was being told to train as hard as I was. In fact, coach Jeff was constantly telling me to reign it in on my workouts and I and my ego didn’t want to listen. Yes, I was going faster and farther but I was in the process of peaking far too early. About a month before my biggest race of the year, Ironman Louisville, my body shut down and refused to go. For about a week I simply could not put together any solid workouts at all. During this time and in the rest of the lead up to Louisville, coach Jeff deserves a massive amount of credit from bringing me back from what could have easily been the end of my season right there.
If you’re not already aware, my Ironman Louisville ended in a medical DNF. This was due to still unexplained cramping throughout my whole body. Shortly after IML, I resolved to get back and do something and so I signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon and shortly following that, I went to the Chicago Marathon with Newton Running (GREATEST RUNNING COMPANY/SHOES EVER) and while there had the opportunity to pace my brother-in-law in his first ever marathon. The run was amazing and I had a blast but I wouldn’t exactly call it a race.
Last weekend when the Philadelphia Marathon rolled around and I wound up in the porta-jon at mile 11, my race quickly switched from the full marathon to the half. This led to countless conversations since then about WHY. The answer that seems to be coming around was racing. See, in 2009 I raced in 15 different events and this year (2010) only 6.
Maybe I’m wrong about why Philly went bad and maybe it’s something that we’re all missing. I also have to give a big, unsolicited shout to Newton Running and to Jeff for keeping me injury free for so long (knock on wood)!
For now I’m going to race more. I’m going to have fun and I’m going to just enjoy the “off season” and really, REALLY use it to build strength. Hopefully when I come out on the other side of this period of the year it won’t feel like an off season at all but will have me itching to swim, bike and run FAST. Meanwhile, I’ll also be doing the stuff that winter allows for; skiing, hiking, camping, cross country and introducing my 8 month old daughter to the amazing world we live in.
How does your off season look so far?
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Wicked. As far as I know, zero drop. Details to come…
11.16.2010– Danny Abshire, the co-founder and chief technical officer of Newton Running, has authored a new book titled Natural Running: The Simple Path to Stronger, Healthier Running. It is now available for online order just in time for the holiday gift-giving season.
“This is the single most important resource for people who want to enjoy running as nature intended while protecting themselves from unnatural surfaces,” says Abshire. “The book will teach you to run the barefoot way—with shoes—and become a more efficient, stronger and healthier runner.”
Danny Abshire is a passionate, lifelong runner who has spent 10 years designing and refining Newton Running shoes. As a longtime running form coach and injury expert, he has worked closely with thousands of athletes, from beginners to Olympic elites, helping them improve their running form and technique.
“Danny has worked with some of the best runners and triathletes in the history of endurance sports,” says Craig Alexander, two-time Ironman World Champion. “Just speaking to him will make you a better runner.”
In Natural Running, Abshire explains the posture, arm carriage, cadence, and land-lever-lift foot positioning that mimic the barefoot running style. Runners transition from heel striking to a midfoot or forefoot strike, which studies show is how the body evolved to run. So that runners can relearn this more natural running gait, Abshire offers an 8-week transition plan, complete with a tool kit of strength and form drills that build and maintain the musculature required for natural running.
Natural Running: The Simple Path to Stronger, Healthier Running (By Danny Abshire with Brian Metzler)
London 2012 Olympics runs into Ramadan
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Dr. Daniel Lieberman, The Barefoot Professor
Hit and run driver being let off with a misdemeanor
SIGN THE PETITION TO KEEP FELONY CHARGES IN PLACE
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Fourteen months ago 1st Lieutenant Ryan McGuire lost his leg in a boating accident on Lake Amistad. The wind caught an inner tube sitting next to him, and the rope attached to the tube yanked him from the boat and he flew out at 40 miles per hour, dislocating his hip, fracturing his pelvis, and mangling his foot. Since that day, McGuire has undergone rehab with a prosthetic leg, run in the Air Force Marathon, and competed in the Warrior Games in his Newtons. It is remarkable to see someone focused enough to make such a quick recovery. You can read the full story here.
McGuire is still determined to become a pilot, and was approved to return to training on October 29th. We wish him the best of luck!
10.28.2010– Newton Running, the leading manufacturer of natural running shoes, announces its sponsorship of the Air Force marathon team. The team ran in their their Newtons in the recent Air Force Marathon with great results.
Team coach Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a top masters marathoner and an expert on biomechanics, injury prevention and running form, helped to facilitate the partnership with Newton Running.
“I’ve been wearing Newtons for several years now and the shoes have helped me to run faster with fewer injuries,” states Cucuzzella. “I wanted my athletes to experience the same benefits and Newton was happy to support members of the Armed Forces.
Team Captain Levi Severson ran a personal best in the Air Force Half Marathon wearing Newtons with a time of 1:10:01 to finish in third place. Teammates Jacob Bradosky and Jason Schlarb finished the half course in 1:08:59 and 1:11:48 for second and fifth place respectively.
“Dr. Mark is a leading thinker in the runner industry who is helping to lead the natural running revolution,” states Newton Running co-founder Danny Abshire. “We’re proud to provide shoes to the runners on his team and it’s just an added bonus that we’re also supporting men and women of the armed forces.”
Hey Texas! Sir Isaac is coming to town! The folks from Newton running are going to be doing a series of clinics in the Lone Star State beginning this weekend. If you are anywhere near one, try to make it! Here are the details:
| Saturday, October 23, 2010 | ||
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Natural Running Reception and Presentation
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| What: | Natural Running Reception and Presentation | |
| Where: | Fit to Run, 528 23rd St., Galveston, TX | |
| Date: | Saturday, October 23, 2010 | |
| Time: | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | |
| Contact: | 409.539.5150 | Fit 2 Run | |
| Sunday, October 24, 2010 | ||
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Natural Running FORM CLINIC
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| What: | Natural Running Form Clinic | |
| Where: | Fit to Run, 528 23rd St., Galveston, TX | |
| Date: | Sunday, October 24, 2010 | |
| Time: | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | |
| Contact: | 409.539.5150 | Fit 2 Run | |
| Monday, October 25, 2010 | ||
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Natural Running Reception and Presentation
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| What: | Natural Running Reception and Presentation | |
| Where: | Run Wild Sports, 300 E. Grayson Suite 101, San Antonio, TX | |
| Date: | Monday, October 25, 2010 | |
| Time: | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | |
| Contact: | 210.223.9453 | Run Wild Sports | |
| Tuesday, October 26, 2010 | ||
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Natural Running Form Clinic
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| What: | Natural Running Form Clinic | |
| Where: | Run Wild Sports, 300 E. Grayson Suite 101, San Antonio, TX | |
| Date: | Tuesday, October 26, 2010 | |
| Time: | 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM | |
| Contact: | 210.223.9453 | Run Wild Sports | |
| Tuesday, October 26, 2010 | ||
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Natural Running Reception and Presentation
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| What: | Natural Running Reception and Presentation | |
| Where: | Luke’s Locker, 115 Sandra Muraida Way, Austin TX | |
| Date: | Tuesday, October 26, 2010 | |
| Time: | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | |
| Contact: | 512.482.8676 | Luke’s Locker | |
| Wednesday, October 27, 2010 | ||
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Natural Running Form Clinic
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| What: | Natural Running Form Clinic | |
| Where: | Luke’s Locker, 115 Sandra Muraida Way, Austin TX | |
| Date: | Wednesday, October 27, 2010 | |
| Time: | 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM | |
| Contact: | 512.482.8676 | Luke’s Locker | |
Honey Stinger Bar Review on Gearist
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Newton Running (Come visit me at the Newton booth at the Chicago Marathon!!)
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10.04.2010– Newton Running is pleased to announce that professional triathlete Craig Alexander has agreed to represent the leader in natural running footwear for the remainder of his pro career. Alexander will be competing for his third straight World Championship Ironman title next week in Kona, Hawaii.
“Craig has been an amazing ambassador for our brand and he’s an important part of our product development team,” says Danny Abshire, Newton Running co-founder and chief technical officer. “He has near-perfect running form and he provides us with terrific feedback to help us continually refine our designs and develop new technologies.”
Alexander, who spends half the year in his native Australia and the other half in Boulder, has been a professional triathlete for more than ten years. He has compiled a remarkable list of wins around the world in a variety of distances. So far in 2010, he has placed first in seven races and is busy preparing to defend his title in Kona on October 9th.
“Newton Running shoes have been a major part of my success for the past several years and at this point I can’t imagine running in anything else,” says Alexander. “I’m also proud to be part of an independent company that demonstrates a genuine commitment to giving back to the community through their work with organizations such as Athletes for a Cure, Trickle Up and One World Running.”
Philadelphia Marathon (Map and Elevation)
Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp
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09.14.2010 – (Boulder, Colo.)
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Far fewer men have finished an Ironman triathlon. Newton Running co-founder and CEO Jerry Lee can now claim both. Lee, a prostate cancer survivor, completed the Ironman Canada triathlon on August 29, along with the 30 other Team Newton members who together raised over $70,000 towards their goal of $100,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).
“Prostate cancer is a frightening disease that is much more common than many people realize,” states Lee. “We had an amazing group of our staff members and athletes who raced in Canada and worked incredibly hard to raise money for an important cause along the way.”
Lee’s inspiration to race Ironman Canada came from Winter Vinecki, a Newton-sponsored, 11-year old triathlete who lost her father to prostate cancer. Vinecki has raised over $150,000 for prostate cancer in honor of her father and last year she challenged Lee to race an Ironman-distance event and raise money for the cause. Two weeks ago, Vinecki was at the Ironman Canada event with Lee and finished the race alongside him.
Newton raised the money through sales of a limited edition PCF shoe, sales of Team Newton VIP entries to the sold-out race, and sponsorship pledges from family and friends of racers.
The remaining stock of limited edition Newton Running PCF racers are now available online here. $25 from the sale of each shoe goes to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
This year at the 2010 Ironman Canada, Newton Running fielded a team in conjunction with Athletes for a Cure that raised money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. At that race, Newton rolled out a limited edition racing flat that they’ve released for sale to everyone else! when you purchase a pair of these shoes, $25 of the price goes directly to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer survivor and Newton Running CEO Jerry Lee teamed up with Winter Vinecki at the 2010 Ironman Canada to tackle this statistic. Jerry and 30 people on Team Newton Running completed Ironman Canada, raising money for Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Through these efforts we are 70% toward our goal of raising $100,000 by the end of 2010.
Click on the shoe to order!
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My trip to Louisville, Kentucky began at about 6 o’clock AM on August 26, 2010. Since I had so much stuff to bring, including my bike, helmet(s) and all my other race gear, some of which is quite bulky, I had decided to drive down rather than fly. From New York City, where I live, it is about a twelve hour drive. To be completely honest, the drive was rather boring and uneventful.
Upon arriving in Louisville and checking in to my hotel, I immediately headed to a nearby Wal-Mart super center to pick up some groceries. I was trying to keep my meals as on track as possible leading up to the race and, say what you want about Wal-Mart, but they had everything I needed to have the meals and snacks that Coach Jeff prescribed. After eating dinner and taking a bit to digest, I got right into bed and went to sleep.
The next morning, I didn’t have a very strict schedule of anything to do. So, after eating breakfast, showering and such I headed down to check myself in to the race and to visit the expo. Checking in was relatively painless and went by in about 15 or 20 minutes. The check-in process went like so:
After doing the check-in thing, it was on to the expo. A quick side-note on that; I think WTC (Ironman‘s parent company) is making a huge mistake by only having themselves as the sole vendor of general multisport “stuff” at these events. There are of course, other companies at the expo selling their products, but not really any multi-sport retailers other than Ironman. For instance, I needed two extra eight ounce Fuel Belt bottles. The Ironman store in the expo only sold Nathan products (that I could find) which do not fit in my Fuel Belt. So, I had to drive across town to what was actually a really great local multisport store, VO2 Multisport to find the bottles I needed. My point is, unless Ironman/WTC can somehow manage to have fewer exclusive deals and carry a wider range of products in their “store”, I think they’re hurting themselves and the athletes by boxing out stores that might be able to provide some of the things they cannot.
In the expo, I made my way through the companies that were there to visit Pam, Ian and the crew from Newton Running (I’m sure you’re completely shocked that I spent time there!). It was really great to hang out with them for a few and to talk about everything from shoes to the challenges of running (and hiking and biking and…) with babies, toddlers and beyond. I had put out the call for a tweet-up lunch thing meeting at the Newton booth at noon, so in the time I had before then, I ran back out to my car to take care of a couple of errands and to scope out the area. On my way out of the Galt House Hotel, where the expo and such was being held, I got recognized by a racer named Alvaro (I’m pretty sure). I’m constantly shocked when this happens, but he was such a nice guy and I truly hope his race was everything he’d set out to accomplish.
I got back to the Newton booth right at noon and waited around until 12:30 for people to show. The tweet-up ended up being just me, but that’s OK, because I like me (most of the time)! I think that a lot of the time, people are a bit shy about crossing the bridge between the virtual and real worlds and don’t want to speak up. So, if you’re reading this and you DID show up, but you just weren’t sure what to do next, SAY SOMETHING TO ME!! Chances are you know what I look like, but I probably don’t know what you look like!
After I had my lunch, I went back to my hotel to rest a bit and to shower and such as I’d be heading to the athlete’s dinner and meeting that evening. The meeting itself was the usual stuff; the directors of each portion of the course, and the race director went over rules and cautions, helping to give us the safest and best race experience.
Afterward, I headed back to my hotel. My plan was to begin to get my gear together and into it’s assigned bag. Below is the video of those details:
After all that, I headed to bed with my alarm clock set to wake me up and get down to the practice swim the next morning.
The practice swim was pretty uneventful. The race was NOT wetsuit legal as the temperature was about 86° F. I took the swim to feel out how I would react to the fact that we would begin the race by swimming upstream and against the current of the Ohio River. I also wanted to feel the downstream current as I was expecting to feel more pull than I actually did. The swim felt good and the water was MUCH better to swim in than the Hudson River!
After the swim, I took my bike to the Ironman wheel rental counter to get my race wheels put on (special thanks to @Indianabackdoc for helping facilitate this). I then had a short, easy bike ride of about 30 minutes in order to get my legs spinning. This was followed by a short, roughly 15 minute run. Both of these felt great and I was really beginning to get excited for the next day.
I went back to my hotel and got my gear together to check in. In Ironman races, you are required to check in your bike and transition bags the day before the race. Generally, you will have access to them on race day, but it pays to be ready ahead of time. I got my stuff all checked in and that pretty much ends the preparation!
After taking a short nap and lounging around my hotel room for the afternoon, I met up with Trevor and Kristine (Twitter friends and teammates on Team PRS Fit). We went to Lynn’s Paradise Cafe and had an awesome dinner with excellent conversation. It was so amazing to have met these two and to get to spend some really amazing time with them (more on this later). They really and truly made my trip without my wife and daughter that much more bearable and I cannot thank them enough for all they did for me.
I got back to my hotel at about 8:30 and set my alarm for 3 AM. I closed my eyes, and surprisingly, sleep came easily.
To be continued…
Sole Dual Layer Performance Socks
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After what has seemed like an eternity for many of us die-hard Newton Running fans, the much heralded trail shoe has finally landed in the Newton store for pre-order! I spoke with Sir Isaac a tiny bit today and got some of the skinny on the shoes:
“Closed mesh, PU frame above the EVA for additional support and
protection, gusseted tongue, more supportive strapping, reinforced toe
cap.”
I can’t WAIT to try out these new shoes and get them nice and dirty on any trail I can find! When I do get some on my feet, you can be certain that I will give those of you on the fence about buying some for yourself a detailed rundown. For those of you that can’t wait, click the picture below!
New York City Triathlon Results (I’m bib number 4788)
Me on the Official Newton Blog!
Infinit Nutrition (Free shipping with code: ironbrandon)
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Win a free entry to the Salinas Valley Half Marathon!
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Thanks so much for visiting my site! My name is Brandon Wood and I am the social media manager and a customer service rep for Newton Running. This site and podcast follow my adventures on the way to competing in and training for all kinds of endurance events, especially triathlon and running. Click the "About Me" tab for more info!
Who: This contest is open to anyone and everyone in the U.S. and Canada (also APO)! Tell your friends!
What: Stuffitts! I have spoken about these simple yet awesome shoe savers in the past. Click here to read more about them. I cannot say enough how great they are!
When: Starting NOW! This is an ongoing contest that will be every month, or until every person on the planet has nice, fresh smelling shoes!
Why: Because Stuffitts are awesome! The folks at Stuffitts are being SUPER generous and I also want to give you guys something that I think is a great addition to any athletes arsenal!
How: On the last podcast episode post of each month (example: Episode 99 on June 28 HERE) entrants should leave a comment (however long you'd like). On the following week's show (the first show of each month) I will draw, by random number generator, one winner! That's it!
Good luck!
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