One foot in front of the other.
Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headphones
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If you’ve never watched the Comedy Central show Tosh.0 you may be a bit offended by some of comedian Daniel Tosh’s less that reverent humor (personally, I love it). In any event, he recently staged a “treadmill marathon” in Hermosa Beach, CA complete with servers offering runners french fries, buffalo wings and cocktails as well as featuring a Kenyan runner, a running panda and a bikini-clad model running in slow motion. Check it out for yourself!
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Win a portable solar panel from Brunton!
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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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Lake Success, N.Y. (June 1, 2011) – Polar (www.polarusa.com), the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technologies, today introduced the RCX5. Building on decades of experience, and a heritage of precision excellence in product design and functionality, the RCX5 combines Polar heart rate tracking accuracy with a slew of new features. Ideal for multisport endurance athletes, the RCX5 can accommodate the needs of today’s triathletes who want the best in training intelligence and tracking capabilities. It will be immediately available in “smart black” and will also be sold in “striking red” later this year.
New accessories for the RCX5 include the G5 GPS sensor – an incredibly lightweight and compact sensor which measures speed/pace and distance and provides an online map view of training – as well as the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, which provides heart rate data even when underwater. Additionally, an enhanced s3+ stride sensor is compatible with the RCX5.
“Triathlons are one of the fastest-growing sport segments in the United States, and we understand better than anyone in the market that multisport athletes demand data, whether they are training for their first regional event or chasing a lifelong professional pursuit,” said Jeff Padovan, President, Polar USA. “The Polar brand has been an established name among elite athletes for more than 30 years, and we are proud of the loyalty and knowledge we’ve built within the ‘tri’ market specifically. The RCX5 is the realization of everything we’ve been hearing that ‘tri’ users require to get to that next level, packaged in a new, sleek design.”
Sport Profiles: Essential for multisport and triathletes, this feature enables users to quickly switch between sports during training. With just a few button presses, this feature quickly adjusts settings to the current sport. It automatically detects any sensors needed, so that no time or training data is lost between swims, rides or runs. Four sport profiles come pre-loaded into the RCX5, and more can be added based on the user’s preferences.
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge and it depends on many factors, including physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature eliminates guesswork by adjusting personal heart rate zones based on a user’s current physiological condition. It guides training at the right intensity, making every session more effective.
Race Pace: The perfect feature for regulating speed and race strategy, Race Pace allows users to
set a target time for a certain distance, and then displays the current pace/speed, as well as how far ahead or behind the user is from the target.
Training Load: This feature within polarpersonaltrainer.com displays a color-coded graph of a user’s cumulative training load, notifying a person when he or she has recovered enough for the next session, and accurately predicting training developments to prevent overtraining. This data also provides intelligence to modify training sessions as necessary.
polarpersonaltrainer.com: Several upgrades have been incorporated into the free online training journal to support the RCX5 users. Users can now create complete endurance training programs for running and cycling, including warm-up, work and cool-down sessions. The training programs can be easily synched to the RCX5 via the DataLink data transfer unit. After each session, it is easy to track progress online over time.
New RCX5 Compatible Accessories:
G5 GPS sensor: The extremely small G5 GPS sensor measures speed/pace and distance and allows users to see their route on the new map view at polarpersonaltrainer.com after a session. Incredibly light (34g) and worn with a soft, flexible armband, the G5 has an 18-hour battery life and can be recharged via micro USB.
s3+ stride sensor: The s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate speed/pace and distance measurement. This small and lightweight (23g) sensor is shock and water resistant, handling even the most demanding runs. By monitoring running cadence and average stride length, s3+ can help improve running technique. The RCX5 can also calculate your Running Index, which scores a run, based on speed and distance data from the GPS or stride sensor. While cycling, users can get speed, distance and cadence measured by adding Polar cycling sensors using W.I.N.D. technology.
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter: The RCX5 provides heart rate data even in water with a comfortable, fabric chest transmitter. It transfers data both in 5 kHz and 2.4 GHz.
Product Sets Available:
RCX5 Bike (MSRP $389.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
CS speed sensor W.I.N.D.
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Run (MSRP $419.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
s3+ stride sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Multi (MSRP $469.95)
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
G5 GPS sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Basic Set (MSRP $349.95) (Available July 2011):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
The RCX5 is also compatible with the existing G3 GPS sensor W.I.N.D. and the s3 stride sensor W.I.N.D. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
Today is National Running Day (woohoo!) and to help you get in the mood to go outside and rock it, I thought I’d share this AMAZING video. Get ready to be inspired!
Alberto Contador gets one step closer to racing the Tour de France
Heat training by Torbjørn Sindballe
American Trail Running Association
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Last night my wife and I were watching the premier of the new season of So you think you can dance. Admittedly, my favorite part of watching any show like that (American Idol, America’s Got Talent, etc.) is getting to take advantage of the massive laugh factor that the preliminary auditions provide. However, in the seasons that I’ve watched the show, coupled with the fact that I am an artist myself, has given me a fairly decent eye to be able to recognize really amazing dancing.
One of the girls auditioning last night, whose name escapes me now, really struck me with the way she danced. Many of the stories that are highlighted on that show and others are stories of loss and hardship and much of the time the dancers featured in those stories, while often incredibly wonderful dancers, have quite an obvious sense of that loss and hardship in the way they dance. The girl I’m speaking of did not.
I can’t remember her story, except that she was on the show last year and just barely missed out on the top twenty dancers (either my memory is going or other things are getting pushed out by the words to nursery rhymes). The thing about her was that when she began to dance, she did so with absolute joy. Her face, her body, everything exuded pure, unadulterated joy and it was uplifting just to watch.
It then occurred to me to keep a closer eye on the dancers that were…well…less than spectacular. With the those that just seemed to be there to be silly, there were those who were bad dancers but still danced with joy. Of course, many of them were much harder to distinguish since emoting is one of the most difficult parts of any performance art form…trust me.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about forcing a smile and how it’s actually not going to get you in a better mood. But I don’t think that smiling and joy are entirely synonymous. I think that a smile can be entirely fake and joy can often be read in the most furrowed brow.
So I guess it comes down to this; when I go out for my long ride tomorrow and my long run on Sunday, the temperatures are supposed to be in the middle 80′s with super high humidity, but I’m going to ride and run with joy. My joy will be in the fact that I am physically able to run. It will be in the faces of my family. It will be that this coming Monday, while it does represent a long weekend for many, is to honor those that have fallen so that I am able to go out and run whenever and wherever I want to. So this weekend, and always, whether it’s smiling or frowning, run with joy.
It appears as though spring, or at least the truly spring-y temperatures have abandoned us here in the Northeast. At the same time the humidity has been pumping and making for sweaty workouts and horrible hair days. This is a list of my top five ways to stay hydrated when the mercury begins to rise. This is by no means a complete list so I would love to hear what tricks and tips you have in the comments!
What do you do to stay cool during workouts when it’s hot outside? Leave your tips and tricks in the comments [CLICK HERE!]
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When Christopher McDougall’s book, Born to Run, was released in May of 2009, many would say that it was one of the biggest catalysts in getting an increasing amount of runners back to the basics of running. Along the way the shoe industry at large has taken notice of the minimalist running movement and has really stepped up to the plate (for better or for worse) in offering runners who want “less is more” to be the predominant impetuous for their running.
Probably the most important character in McDougall’s book is the reclusive Tarahumara tribe in Mexico’s Copper Canyon’s. This tribe of indigenous people just happen to be quite a group of ultrarunners and while going on their long runs their shoe of choice is what amounts to a huarache sandal made from a bit of leather and the tread of an old tire. This sandal is very minimalist and includes the most important feature of being a “zero drop” shoe which means there is no difference in height from the heel to the metatarsals. Embracing the spirit of the Tarahumara, GoLite has gone a step further and has built an entire shoe based around their chosen footwear and built the Tara Lite.
Part of GoLite’s BareTech series, the Tara Lite is (perhaps ironically) full of features that aim to make it a front runner in the hybrid world of a shoe with minimal features that provides the protection of a tradition trail running shoe. From the ground up, the rubber on the sole of the Tara Lite is made from their Grip Stick Rubber (GSR) and is formed with their Sticky Gecko sole which puts more than 300 small lugs of different sizes. These lugs are meant to add maximum surface area to the sole for added traction on any surface. The next layer up is a thin layer of soft EVA foam (I’m not entirely sure of the exact durometer of the differing EVA’s on this shoe, but I will update if I manage to find out) which is to add further adaptability and cushioning. Moving up to the third layer from the ground there is a thin layer of harder EVA foam put in place to add further stability and protection to the foot of the runner.
The upper of the Tara Lite is made of a fabric of stretchy-ish “second skin” with the rubber sole of the shoe coming about a third of the way up the back side of
the heel of the shoe as well as over the majority of the toe cap for added protection. The retention system is made up of two hook-and-loop straps, one around the ankle of the shoe and one across the top. The top retention strap is part of a switchback that attaches to an internal thong that mimics the thong on a Tarahumara huarache. The toe box of the Tara Lite is ample and allows the toes to splay naturally as though barefoot.
To be clear, GoLite does not consider the Tara Lite to be a minimalist shoe by traditional minimal standards. First, the weight, which comes in at 11 ounces does fall well outside the lines of “light”. Also, with a midfoot height of 24mm, the Tara Lite does not seek to be a “barefoot shoe” in the vein of Vibram FiveFingers and the like, but rather to offer the wearer a “natural ride with full protection”.
Since I had been eyeing pictures of the Tara Lite for a while before I got my hands on a pair I was not shocked by what I saw when they arrived. However, this is not your traditional shoe in look or feel. Since I’ve never been one to shy away from less than subtly designed shoes, the burnt orange color was quite appealing.
The first thing I noticed upon putting on the Tara Lite was the very secure feeling fit that the thong post offered. To be honest, I was intrigued as to what the thong post would feel like at all and it turns out that it’s not a whole lot different than wearing my favorite pair of flip flops. The upper of the shoe is very roomy almost to the point of feeling big. Fortunately the retention system offers plenty of adjustability that should leave more than enough room for almost any foot. The thong post, which runs through a smal hole in the upper, sits comfortably between your toes and can be moved as close to the wedding of the toes as needed by adjusting the ankle retention strap.
The footbed of the Tara Lite itself offers a bit of customization in that it has a removable portion that runs from just behind the metatarsals forward. For me, the best option was not to change to configuration of the footbed but rather, to remove it altogether. You see, without the footbed in there is already a bit of arch contour to the insole of the shoe. With the footbed in place, no matter the configuration, the arch is far too much for me and adds unwanted and unneeded pressure to the underside of my arch. This seems ironic since the barefoot, and even the huaraches of the Tarahumara lack any arch support at all instead allowing the foot to use its own musculature and connective tissues. Once removed, my foot was much more comfortable and I felt right at home.
The Tara Lite does require socks with, at the very least, an articulated big toe. Fortunately, GoLite included a pair of Tabi socks that offered just that. I also happen to be the proud owner of some Injinji socks which meant that I could wear the shoes for more than one day without having to wash my socks each night.
As a trail running shoe the Tara Lite performed very well and felt very secure on my foot on most terrains. As a road running shoe, while it does work, it’s not
Tara Lite's thong tha thong thong thong
something that I would opt for something else. The reason behind this is because the midfoot flexibility of the shoe is pretty much nil. I would love to see this changed to allow for a more versatile shoe that could be worn on and off road easily.
The stability and traction of this shoe are pretty phenomenal. The Sticky Gecko sole really lives up to its billing and went above and beyond on rocky and uneven surfaces. These were especially fun on some extended rock hopping adventures I threw at them. In terms of being able to really “feel” the ground though, they were a bit lacking. yes, feeling the general contours of the running surface was completely fine, but the finer things tended to go a bit unnoticed. This is thanks largely to the layers of EVA in the sole and the cushioning they provide. This is likely not a deal breaker for most people and it isn’t for me either, I just refer a little bit more ground feedback.
The Tara Lite is a great shoe in GoLite’s move toward offering more options to “natural” runners. The women’s version of the Tara Lite will be out this July and is sure to have some advancements over this first draft. That said, I will certainly be wearing these on some of my favorite trails now that more friendly running weather is here. If you’re looking to get into more natural running and into a shoe that lets your foot act as it should, this is a great way to get out and running.
[box type="info"]Click here to visit the GoLite Footwear website | Click here to buy on Amazon[/box]
[author] [author_image timthumb='on']http://gearist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ibmonogram.png[/author_image] [author_info]Review by IronBrandon[/author_info] [/author]
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When I first began running in earnest I wore what I had to wear. This included cotton t-shirts (shudder) and shorts made from that basketball short material. Almost always the shorts came to at least the top of my knee and weighed a ton. It took me a while, but I finally came around to actually wanting to show off my über-pale thighs in some shorter running shorts and realizing the freedom of movement that they allow.
The Infinity running short from Pearl Izumi gives it’s wearer the minimal design and light weight but is well thought out and chock full of goodies for runners. The 4 inch inseam, ELITE Transfer Fabric is super light and flows easily with the runner. Underneath lies one of the more important features, the liner. Made from PI’s Minerale fabric, this liner dries 50% faster than other performance polyester liners. This is thanks to the larger surface area of the fabric (on the microscopic level) being able to spread moisture out more and thus, allow it to evaporate more quickly.
The Infinity short also features a zippered back pocket with plenty of room for a phone or mp3 player. The backside of the short features plenty of reflective elements for safety. Rounding out the short is a smooth front waistband for added comfort as well as a stretch drawstring.
For me, it tends to be the small things that stand out. Yes, the Infinity short is a really great run
short. It offers ample movement with the side cutaways and its roomy pocket holds things still instead of bouncing off my butt for an entire run. the thing that most stood out to me in the inside of the waistband. That’s right. Generally, the waistbands of running shorts have that “crinkled” thing going on. This often becomes uncomfortable and can feel insecure after a while. The waistband in the Infinity is smooth. It’s a soft fabric with a completely smooth front side and is incredibly comfortable. I also noticed that the fabric of the waistband picked up the sweat that was pouring down my stomach and back and, rather than transferring it to the body of the short, it moved it to the outside of the waistband where it evaporated.
These are a great offering from a brand that has a reputation for thinking ahead of the game and trying to address the needs of athletes before the athletes even know it.
Click here to visit the Pearl Izumi website | Click here to buy on Amazon
When I injured my achilles this winter on some ice, I thought I had just pulled my calf and went about stretching and rolling and the like to “work it out”. That was a mistake and I paid the price for it dearly.
Now I am finally beginning to get some speed back in my legs. Even my speed runs of late have felt very laborious and not in the fun, I’m pushing myself, way. I’ve been feeling sluggish and just unable to feel like I was really throwing down any speed (**important note** As always, speed for me is slow for many others and is a gut wrenching sprint for still others. Take what I say about speed as being about MY speed, not anyone else’s).
My run yesterday followed a brick the previous day which involved a 2.5 hour (hilly) ride followed by an hour and fifteen minute run at half marathon pace. My quads, feeling trashed from my ride, didn’t really feel like letting me go at my half-mary pace (normally about 7-7:15/mile) and kept me very humble at around 7:45-8:00 a mile. At the end of the day I made sure to do a bunch of stretching and some likely horribly incorrect yoga poses to get my legs loosened up.
My assigned run for yesterday was for 1:45:00 at my planned Ironman race pace, which I’m honestly still trying to figure out. The day was comfortably warm-ish at around 69F with a ridiculous amount of humidity and rain showers off and on. I started out and took the first ten minutes easy as told. Once my warm up was over I began to pick up the pace. I found myself at about 7:40 a mile and sitting comfortably in mid-zone 3, feeling good and cruising along.
As I ran, the weather seemed to be picking up and the rain started to come on a bit more consistently. At about the 47 minute mark the downpour began and I saw a MASSIVE bolt of lightening less than a half mile away from me. This was my cue to start hauling ass and to get home.
Feeling kind of exhilarated by the weather, I noticed my pace creeping down a bit. At this point I was right around 7:15 per mile. By the time I was 2.5 miles out from home I decided to kick it up several notches and run the last 2.5 miles in upper zone 3, low zone 4. This put me right about 6:30 a mile and it felt truly great!
I know I wasn’t exactly following Jeff’s workout assignment but I was really feeling good and it felt great to let my legs respond as they wanted/need to (FINALLY!). I really hope this is the beginning of getting my speed back and being able to really hammer again.
Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru has passed away. All our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. The world has lost an amazing athlete and true champion.
If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.
~Priscilla Welch
Wouter Weylandt dies in the Giro d’Italia
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There will be days you don’t think you can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing you have.
~Unknown
The race does not always go to the swift, but to the ones who keep running.
~Anon.
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.
It knows that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lion or a gazelle
when the sun comes up you’d better be running.
~Anon.
Legally Blind woman wins the Flying Pig Marathon!
Triathlete stops, mid-race, to save a life.
Man REALLY gets “natural” and tries to run a marathon…NAKED!
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I haven’t tried these shoes from Puma but I’m a sucker for a funny commercial!
After kicking Haile Gebrselassie’s (and the current standing) marathon world record squarely in the ass, Geoffrey Mutai as well as the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) were lobbying hard for a new marathon world record. Alas, the B.A.A. has decided to let it go.
The Boston Marathon is not eligible for a world record according to the I.A.A.F because it is a point-to-point course and because of the amount of net elevation loss, regardless of its storied difficulty. For now though, Mutai’s time of 2:03:02 will still allow him to keep the $50,000.00 bonus for the best time of the year (but the year isn’t over?).
There is a time when we find ourselves outdoors and in need of something a bit cooler or a bit warmer or maybe something that can keep our skin protected long after sunscreen has abandoned our pasty hides. Pearl Izumi has come at all of those scenarios head on with this very versatile top.
The Infinity In-R-Cool long sleeve top brings comfort and fit right to the forefront when it’s put on. ELITE transfer fabric combined with In-R-Cool allows the top to act as a second skin. As we know, our body cools itself by evaporating sweat from our skin thus cooling us down. Likewise, the fabric technology in this top allows for the sweat generated to evaporate keeping the body cool, even in a long sleeve top.
For additional cooling the top also includes a Direct-Vent mesh panels running from the base of the neck, down the back and to the bottom of the shirt. An eight inch zipper with an ergonomic pull allows for further, adjustable venting on the chest. The semi form fit makes for a top that moves with the athlete and become hardly noticeable.
Pear Izumi cycling has a series of ads comparing wearing their gear to being naked (see picture at
right). Putting on this top is kind of like that. The fabric is extremely light weight and supple and it really did disappear to my touch shortly after putting it on.
What interested me the most about this top was seeing how it would hold up in warmer weather. One of its biggest selling points is that it offers full UV protection, but along with that comes a price in many tops. The warmest day I’ve been able to run in with the Infinity top was about 73 degrees. Normally in that temperature I am in shorts and a sleeveless top but I wanted to see what the In-R-Cool fabric could do.
The cooling effects of the fabric and design did their jobs very well, keeping me sweaty but comfortable (which I would have been anyway). After opening the zipper to further cool myself, there was a bit of flopping of the collar. I tried to remedy this by tucking the collar under but since the fabric is so supple and silky it wouldn’t stay.
The cooling effects on my arms, which were the most obvious place to pay attention, was significant. The wicking action of the fabric did a great job dissipating heat. The thing I missed most was the air on my skin. I know this sounds like it may be turning into some weir prosaic novel but it’s true. While I fully admit that it is a point of preference, I am one who prefers to be free of sleeves of any kind in warmer weather (PI does make an Infinity In-R-Cool singlet that looks flippin’ awesome).
This top delivers and would be amazing for those with super sensitive skin that needs constant and consistent sun protection. This is a versatile piece that is perfect for transitional seasons and is a welcome addition to my running wardrobe.
Click here to visit the Pearl Izum website | Click here to buy on Amazon
Leave a comment on this episode (142) and be entered to win a FREE pair of Stuffitts!!
Geoffrey Mutai wants his world record
Haile Gebrselassie weighs in on the marathon world record (sort of)
2011 Boston Marathon is not Kara Goucher’s day
Ironman Louisville gets five more years
2011 Ironman World Championship Lottery Results
A closer look at “balance” bracelets, necklaces and the like
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Kim Smith, native New Zealander who calls Providenc Rhode Island, ran an amazing race for the first 17 miles or so of the 2011 Boston Marathon this past Monday. Then tragedy struck. The video below is an interview with her soon after having to pull out of the race, unable to run.
@RunProvidence tweeted this on her behalf:
From Kim Smith “Since everyone has sent so many nice messages I thought I would update. Had an MRI and I tore my Soleus muscle.”
New York Times recap of the 2011 Boston Marathon
Natural running form clinic and symposia
Natural running form clinic in Hampton, Virginia
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While this stream only works in New England I think it may depend on where your IP originates so try and see if it works! If it doesn’t work, you can always listen to the live coverage!
http://boston.cbslocal.com/boston-marathon-live-stream/
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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Photo by: FroPhoto
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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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So the wait is over! Here are some details on the new RCX5 training computer. This is a cutting-edge product ideal for endurance sports, with some exciting new features to coach you in planning, training and analyzing your performance in detail.
Some new features:
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge as your condition changes every day depending on a number of factors, including your physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature in the RCX5 takes out the guesswork by adjusting your personal heart rate zones for every training session based on your current physiological condition. It will guide you to train at the right intensity to get the training effect you want, making your every session more effective.
Sport Specific Training: The RCX5 gives you sport-specific training data based on your personal settings. So the display views, training zones and more can be customized based on your sport. When you are doing brick workouts or racing, you can switch these sport profiles within seconds. Button pressing should be the least of your worries during transition, so we designed the feature along with the wrist unit design/button location to make this as easy as possible.
Swimming & Indoor Workouts: The RCX5 comes with the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, making it ideal for triathlon and off season training. The transmitter has a dual signal, so it will transmit, display and record heart rate in the water. Also, the WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter can be used to transmit heart rate to treadmills and other exercise equipment that is Polar ready.
New Sensors: New sensors will also be part of the RCX5 launch!
G5 GPS Sensor: The small G5 GPS sensor is rechargeable via mini USB. We will post a few pictures of this soon, but let us tell you, THIS THING IS SMALL.
s3+ stride sensor: The new s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate running pace and distance measurement.
And of course in the saddle you can get your speed, distance and cadence measured by adding compatible Polar W.I.N.D. cycling sensors.
With the sensor accessories, RCX5 keeps up with you in the water, on the saddle, during your run, and online.
There will also be big upgrades at polarpersonaltrainer.com to support multisport athletes in their training. Here are just a few:
The RCX5 will be available in two colors, the smart black and the striking red, and in four different product sets with different sensors. All black RCX5 sets will be available between May and July. The striking red color design will be available in all four set combinations in late September 2011. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
How can you stay updated on RCX5 and other Polar news?
Stay tuned on Facebook
Sign up for the Polar Newsletter http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/newsletter
And if you are on Twitter – Follow Chris @ twitter.com/chrispolarusa where he’ll be posting snapshots, video and more of the RCX5 in action.
Leave a comment HERE to win a FREE bottle of Vidazorb!
If you’re in the Milwaukee/Madison/Chicago area come meet us for a run this Saturday, March 26 at 10 AM at:
Alterra Coffee
1701 N Lincoln Memorial Dr [Click the address for a map]
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414.223.4551
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Leave a comment HERE to win a FREE bottle of Vidazorb!
Sally Meyerhoff killed in cycling accident
Black Diamond Sprinter headlamp
Kara Goucher declares, “I’m back”
2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Women’s Odds
2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Men’s Odds
2011 Boston Marathon adds a third wave to the start
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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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Most of us know that a fulcrum is the pivot point of a lever. The point at which the fulcrum falls along the span of the lever changes the amount of effort needed to produce optimal power and transition to the opposite side of the span. Karhu, “Finland’s legendary” brand of running shoes uses the principle of a fulcrum to bring to market a lightweight and forward inclined running shoe in the Fast 2 Fulcrum Ride.
The Fast sits at the top end of Karhu’s neutral line and is built for runners who shun a bunch of stability and are just looking for a light, responsive shoe that reacts to the runner’s demands. With the Fast, Karhu has moved forward their usual Fulcrum point to a place just behind the metatarsal heads. This move aims to create a very rapid transfer from heel to toe for those runners who are either dyed in the wool heel strikers or proprioceptive heel strikers. It also removes posting that would otherwise be a hinderance to most forefoot or midfoot runners.
The body of the Fast is built with efficiency in mind and coming in a 10 ounces (283 grams), it does a reasonably good job of keeping down the weight. The upper of the shoe is built of a very open and flexible mesh. This mesh, aside from being almost completely seamless, comes in startlingly bright green or orange that will certainly keep you visible when out running on the road. The sole of the Fast is made from 53 durometer EVA which gives the shoe a reasonably firm feel. The fulcrum technology is made from a more rigid 77 durometer EVA which helps to give the Fast the quick forward propulsion that it aims for. A compression molded rubber outsole with blown rubber forefoot perimeter round out the Fast.
Ok, this shoe is BRIGHT! However, I have never been one to shy away from unabashedly out there shoe colors and I quite enjoy the look of the Fast. Almost immediately I was struck by the lack of seams on the upper. I am someone who likes my foot to feel free and un-messed-with in a shoe and the upper of the Fast is right up my alley. Regardless of the lack of seams and traditional support mechanisms in the upper it feels very well built and sturdy, and while running held up accordingly.
After stepping into the Fast for my initial “walk around” I immediately noticed the inclination to move forward very quickly, even when walking. I also immediately noticed the substantial “drop” on the shoe. For those who may be unfamiliar with the term “drop” as it relates to shoes, that is the term that defines the difference in height from the heel to the forefoot (metatarsals). For me, the less drop, the better – more on this later. The drop on the Fast is 14 mm (24.5 mm heel, 10.5 mm forefoot).
Running in the Fast with fulcrum technology in full effect is quite an interesting experience if you’re not ready for it. Now, I’m generally a forefoot/midfoot runner and as such I don’t spend much time if any on my heel. However, in the Fast I found myself landing very flatfooted due to the drop. Often a flatfooted landing would find a runner languishing in a doldrum of soft foam with little or no movement. In this shoe however, the fulcrum technology was right there encouraging my center of gravity to continue its move forward.
The firmness of the shoe was also quite good. I will say that it might have been the way that the softer EVA worked in conjunction with the more firm EVA in the fulcrum, but whatever the case, my use of natural running and preference of a firmer sole was met quite well. I seek a firmer sole in shoes because it allows my feet to be feet and to work with the ground rather than having something do it for me leaving my feet weak and useless.
My experience with the Fast has left me a bit conflicted. I think the fulcrum technology is a great feature in helping people who are stopping their motion in a heel strike by propelling them forward and off the heel as quickly as possible. My issue comes with the drop. I would love to see this shoe shave 10 mm or more off its drop and bring it closer to the way we are naturally (barefoot, we’re all at ZERO drop). I think in that instance the fulcrum would be allowed to rise to a new level and would cater even more to the neutral, need-for-speed crowd.
Overall I’ve enjoyed running in the Fast. Admittedly it did take me a bit to get over the drop but I am still intrigued my the fulcrum technology. If you’re in the market for a shoe that will move you forward and break some bad heel striking habits, this might just be the right shoe for you.
Click here to visit the Karhu website
In less than a month, on March 11, 12 and 13 New York City athletes will get a chance to be attend some amazing natural running clinics right in the Big Apple (as well as a couple dates for those of you in CT and NJ!)! Ok, so I know that I’ve told you about these before and many of you reading this have come to these clinics and learned some great stuff, BUT for those of you that are rolling your eyes and saying, “I’m not a natural/chi/minimalist runner, Brandon”, yes, you are. If you have feet, you’re a natural runner, your shoes and such have just been telling you different for so long that you don’t know it!
These clinics are 100% free and are for ALL, and I do mean ALL runners, no matter what kind of shoes you wear, no matter how fast you are and no matter what you think you know about running, EVERYONE is welcome. This is a fantastic opportunity to get one-on-one attention from renowned natural running expert and SEVEN time World Adventure Racing Champion, Ian Adamson. Here are the details:
New York Running Company- East Side
What: Natural Running Reception & Presentation
Where: 1059 3rd Ave. | New York, NY 10065
Date: Friday, March 11, 2011
Time: 7-9:00 pm
Contact: 212.223.8109 | therunningcompany.net
New York Running Company- Time Warner Center
What: Natural Running Form Clinic
Where: 10 Columbus Circle | 2nd floor ste 210 | New York, NY 10023
(The group will meet at the TWC location and then head over to Central Park for the clinic)
Date: Saturday, March 12, 2011
Time: 8:30-10:15 am
Contact: 212.823.9626 | therunningcompany.net
New York Running Company- Time Warner Center
What: Natural Running Form Clinic
Where: 10 Columbus Circle | 2nd floor ste 210 | New York, NY 10023
(The group will meet at the TWC location and then head over to Central Park for the clinic)
Date: Sunday, March 13, 2011
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Contact: 212.823.9626 | therunningcompany.net
Greenwich Running Company
What: Natural Running Symposium and Form Clinic
Where: 2 Greenwich Ave | Greenwich, CT 06830
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Contact: 203.861.7800 | therunningcompany.net
Princeton Running Company
What: Natural Running Symposium and Form Clinic
Where: 108 Nassau St | Princeton, NJ 08542
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Contact: 609.252.9110 | therunningcompany.net
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 Boston Athletic Association announced this morning a new registration procedure as well as new qualifying times. Both of these things will begin with the 2012 and 2013 races.This is in response to the record sell out time of the 2011 race which sold out in 8 hours.
First, the registration process will be a rolling admission whereupon the fastest qualifiers will be allowed entry first. Second, starting with the 2013 race all qualifying times, across both genders will be lowered by five minutes.
My two cents
While I don’t have too much of an opinion on the registration procedure, I think that the time standard change sucks.
I don’t necessarily have a problem with the open time (3:10 changed to 3:05) being lowered, though five minutes will be tough since just getting to 3:10 is tough enough. What I have a problem with (if I offend any women with what comes next, I don’t mean to. It’s nothing against anyone personally) is the RIDICULOUS notion that the women’s open qualifying time of 3:40, which will be 3:35, is somehow equal in its difficulty to the men’s qualifying times. The HALF HOUR time gap was a completely arbitrary number when it was established and is based on NOTHING. This is incredibly infuriating!
One suggestion that was being floated was to make the time difference between the men’s and women’s times the same gap between the respective world records (Men: 2:03:59, Women: 2:15:25). Hell, even make it an even 15 minutes! This is LUDICROUS.
(side note: The BAA website is getting slammed with traffic, so much so that I can’t pull up the story!)
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.
Photo: Donald Miralle/Getty Images
This is Kelly Gneiting. He is a sumo wrestler. He currently weighs 410 pounds. He is a marathoner.
In 2008 Gneiting completed the Los Angeles Marathon in 11:52:11. At the time his weight was about the same as it is now, and should have put him in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, the guidelines for this particular record, according to Guinness, say that the entire race must be filmed and that the runner must be weighed immediately before as well as immediately after the race.
The current record stands at 275 pounds, though after searching the Guinness website I don’t seem to be able to find it (if you are able, please send me the link). Training every day, with a long run of 6 miles on Saturdays, Gneiting hopes to complete the 2011 L.A. Marathon on March 20 in somewhere between nine and eleven hours.
I may be late to the party on this bit of news, but here it is! Apolo Anton Ohno, an 8-time Olympic medalist, will be running the 2011 New York City Marathon. His training for the marathon will make him take off the next season of short track speed skating, but he stops short of actually saying that he’s retiring from the sport that made him famous. The official announcement of Ohno’s NYC Marathon ambitions is scheduled for this Friday, February 11.
[Full Story: Apolo Ohno goes from short track to NYC marathon]
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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