Two runs: One muddy and one with my buddy

On October 2, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Today’s runs (Stillwell Woods: 3.75 miles, 1 mile: street)

I headed over to Stillwell Woods this morning for a change of pace from pavement. I wasn’t thinking about trail conditions, but recent rains had soaked the trees and the paths below. I wore my Mirages that do a credible job on dirt trails, but they have no waterproofing capabilities.

After seeing some large pooling along the main trail, I cut into a side path that would lead me toward my usual loop. The mud was slippery and the Mirages, intended primarily for roads, proved unstable at times. I switched to a different route that I thought might be drier and continued along until I crossed back over to my normal route.

I worried about catching a root or a rock that would send me flying into a puddle of muddy water. There were a few close calls but I managed to stay upright throughout the run. As a result of the mud, the trails were almost empty. I only encountered a single mountain biker and a woman who was running her dogs around the big field.

I circled the field thinking that the sun exposure would have dried out that trail, but I found many slippery spots. I finished my run with hard sprint past the trail head to the Stillwell entrance and then back to my car. I felt so good that I didn’t want my run to end.

Another minimalist runner in the family

When I got home, my daughter was up for a quick run around the neighborhood. We recently bought her a pair of Saucony Kinvaras and she felt like taking them out for a spin. We took off at a moderate pace with my daughter pulling ahead with a little more speed. We completed our distance quickly and I was pleased to have had a nice cool down run to complete today’s workout.

It’s been a really nice weekend for running. I’m aiming to run the Oyster Bay Supervisor’s 5K on October 15, so next weekend I’ll do some speed work and hill practice. For now I’ll just enjoy the fact that I had a great trail run this morning. Better still, I was back to running with my buddy — the Emerging Runner, Jr.

Kinvara retirement run

On August 14, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

You served with distinction but now you’re hurting my knee

Today’s run (treadmill): 3.15 miles

After yesterday’s long run at Belmont Lake State Park I felt no urgency to get out this morning for my Sunday run. That, and the booming thunderstorms that came through around 4:30 and stuck around most of the morning. While I looked out at the drenching that my lawn and trees were getting, I debated whether I should run indoors, do an elliptical session or do nothing.

It wasn’t until after lunch, that my wife said I should at least do something. She didn’t want me to regret missing my workout after it got too late to do it. She knows me well. I decided to do a mixed session on the treadmill, combining intervals and recovery runs.

The rains have continued all day but it hasn’t helped the humidity level. I wore minimal gear — running shorts and no top. That probably helped, although you couldn’t tell by the amount that I sweated. I began at an easy pace, below 6 MPH and eased up to 6.3 through my first mile. At that point I hit the 8 MPH button and ran a few minutes at that speed before backing down to 6.5.

I repeated that cycle a few times until I passed 3 miles, where I dropped to a sedate jogging pace to cool down. I had worn my Kinvaras for the first time in months and, just like the last time I wore them, I experienced residual knee pain after my run. On top of that, I had a hot spot on my mid-foot that may have been caused by my sock. To be safe, I’m going to officially retire the Kinvaras that served me very well for almost 600 miles.

I’m going into my taper now, in fairly good shape. Today’s speed work will – hopefully – help me next Sunday. The chaotic weather wasn’t only a factor here on Long Island. My friend KWL and his team did not participate in Gran Fondo bike event in Philadelphia today because they were suffering similar conditions. Must be very disappointing. I have no worries for that next week. The website says the Dirty Sock 10K will happen — rain or shine.

Kinvara reunion

On July 1, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Hello darkness my old friend

Today’s run (street): 2.5 miles

It was surprisingly cool this morning when I stepped out for my run at 4:00 AM. I’m guessing that the temperature was in the high 50’s and the dark skies helped to exaggerate the cold. There was a little humidity to soften the air but overall it felt more like early spring than summer. I wore my Kinvaras just for a change from the Hattori’s. I expected the Kinvara’s to feel like an old friend, but instead, I found them tight on my mid-foot. I wondered if the Hattori’s flat, arch-less, platform had changed my perception of how a foot bed should feel. Interestingly, I have no such issues with the Mirage that has a 1-2 mm higher ramp angle.

Once mobile, I observed the way I was landing in the Kinvara and curious to see if I would strike closer to the heel than in the Hattori’s. It seemed like I was landing on my mid-foot but it felt different than it did prior to going ultra-minimal. My energy level was okay but my form was not fluid. This has been the case all week. I felt that I was moving along well this morning (and I was compared to Wednesday) but my overall pace was still 30 seconds per mile slower than I would have liked.

The long weekend is almost here and I think it’s time to get back to speed work. Perhaps my fast twitch muscles need a wake up call.

The shoes are minimal but the benefits are not

On June 8, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Today’s run (street) 2.65 miles

Today is supposed to get very hot with temperatures in NYC reaching 95°F. It was far cooler at 4:00 this morning and I took a different route than normal just to break things up. I was also able to take advantage of a slightly earlier start than usual. Today’s run felt much like yesterday’s although I didn’t push as hard as Tuesday and ended up running about 18 seconds/mile slower. But I covered more ground than my usual early morning distance and, once again, felt that the Hattori’s provided me with a much more efficient stride.

The biggest difference between these shoes and almost every other shoe I’ve run is the way they feel on hills. Credit goes to the mid-foot strike and the lightness of the shoe. It’s almost like downshifting for extra power and torque. While I don’t look forward to hills, I’m not looking to avoid them. At one point I thought the Kinvara was the best shoe I would ever experience but the Hattori’s seem to have an even more positive affect on my running style.

The Hattori’s will show me how much minimalism I can take

On May 19, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

The Saucony Hattori – a most minimal shoe

Today’s workout (elliptical) 25 minutes

I’ll be posting my review of the Saucony Mirages soon on Runner’s Tech Review and I’m excited that I’ll soon receive a pair of Hattori super-minimal shoes from Saucony. The Hattori are a zero-drop shoe that weigh an unbelievable 4.4 oz and are being marketed as a trainer — not just for intervals and racing. My taste in running shoes has changed for good since I switched to the Kinvaras about a year ago. The lower platform and a flatter drop (the Kinvara’s is ~5.5 mm) feels right to me, more so than the built-up Brooks Adrenalins that had been my gold standard.

The Mirages have proven to be a worthy addition to my collection and I would probably appreciate their minimal features more had I tried them before the Kinvaras. Going from the Kinvaras to the Mirages is a bit like trading up from a fast but simple sports car to high performance luxury GT. It will be interesting to run in the Hattori’s which may be more like riding a trail bike. That actually sounds pretty good.

Champion Activeflex – lightweight, cheap and painful!

Related to minimal shoes, I was at Payless this past weekend because my daughter needed some shoes for an event. I checked out the men’s shoes and saw this Kinvara look-alike on sale for $29.99. I tried it on and was surprised by the way it fit. Not too bad. The shoe was lightweight (it really did seem similar to the Saucony) and the foot bed felt springy. I trotted across the floor and that was when I felt the difference, the upper flexed in a way that dug painfully into the top of my foot. I couldn’t take them off fast enough. Another example of why we pay for quality brands.

Spring vacation kickoff run

On April 16, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Today’s run (street): 3.6 miles

My spring vacation starts today and with weather reports calling for afternoon rain I thought it best to go out early. I woke up after a decent night’s sleep with a mild cough. It’s just another phase in this annoying cold that I’ve been suffering since Monday. Knowing that I had busy days ahead, including some travel, I decided early on to ignore this cold as much as I could. I worked long days, went out at night and ran or elliptical-ed every morning. This seems to have worked. After a cup of coffee my cough seemed to recede and I made my way outside.

It’s still cold for mid-April and I dressed for my run appropriately. I’ve noticed that over the last few weeks my Saturday runs have been so-so but my Sunday runs have been good. I’m not sure why but anticipating that this morning I aimed low – three or four miles tops. I wore the new Mirages that continue to feel great. In terms of comfort I still prefer the Kinvaras but I like the way these new shoes move with my foot and land me ahead of my arch. Without really trying I maintained a mid-9 pace that felt easy and fluid. I’m hoping I’ll have a window on Sunday to cover 8 or more miles but the rain may interfere with that plan. Since I’m on vacation I’ll have numerous opportunities to run long distances. The half marathon looms large — two weeks and a day from now.

Breaking the rules on race day?

On April 9, 2011 By Emerging Runner2 Comments

Mirage, Kinvara, Fast 2 – decisions, decisions

I really want to go for a run today but one must rest before race day. I cheated a little this morning and put on my Karhu Fast 2’s that AG and I are reviewing on Runner’s Tech Review. I wanted to reinforce my impressions by doing a few fast strides on the treadmill. We’ll be posting the review next week and I wanted one final impression. I also wanted to compare the shoe with the new Saucony Mirages. I’ll reserve comment on the Karhu’s for now.

I couldn’t resist following my Karhu sprint with a similar session with the Mirages. I think I’m in love. While I appreciated the feel of the Mirages out of the box it wasn’t until I stepped on the treadmill and hit the 8 MPH button that I totally understood what Saucony did with the design of these shoes. I love the Kinvaras but the Mirage is an improvement on that platform. I’ll stop the effusive praise for now as I still haven’t put the shoe to pavement, but I’m feeling optimistic about its potential.

This morning’s experience has me rethinking which shoe I should wear on race day. On one hand, it would be a great opportunity to try the Karhu’s in competition and determine if the Fast 2 lives up to its name. I’ve assumed to this point that I’d wear the venerable Kinvaras that I consider the finest running shoes I’ve ever worn. Despite the unwritten rule that you should never compete in new shoes I’m seriously tempted to race the Marie Mazzola 5K in the Mirages. It’s a short enough distance that it probably doesn’t matter. Smart money is on the Mirages but we’ll see what makes sense tomorrow morning.

Finally – I’m rooting for my friend FS who is racing tomorrow morning in the NYRR Scotland 10K in Central Park. With luck we’ll both have decent weather as we line up for our respective starts.

First look: Saucony ProGrid Mirage

On April 8, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

I noticed a box sitting on the front steps when I got home last night and was excited to see my review pair of Saucony Mirages had arrived. I brought them inside and opened the package, not really knowing what to expect. The Mirage is Saucony’s most minimal stability trainer and a close relation to my beloved Kinvaras.

The shoes, in jet black with bright red mid-soles, were far different from the Kinvara in look and feel. While the Kinvara is a super light shoe with a very minimal upper, the Mirage feels beefier with a more conventional upper and more structure on the medial side for stability. This combination adds weight to the shoe (7.7 oz for Kinvara vs 9.6 oz for the Mirage). Still, this shoe is under 10 oz making it almost 1 oz lighter than the ASICS DS Trainer 16 that is considered the standard for light stability shoes.

After trying on the Mirage and comparing it to the Kinvara, I noticed a significant difference in the way the Mirage held my foot. The new shoe felt more substantial, less minimal, with gentle upward bend at the front that provided a feel of forward motion and a natural mid-foot fall. I have not run in these shoes so I don’t have a sense of them in action but the initial reaction is promising. I’m not going to wear the Mirages on my race on Sunday but I will plan to use them for my half marathon.

A full review of the Mirages will be posted on Runner’s Tech Review after I’ve had a chance to evaluate them. In the meantime, Check Runner’s Tech Review next week to see our evaluation of the new Karhu Fast 2_Rides.

Is the Saucony Mirage for real?

On April 2, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Today’s run (street): 3.1 miles

My experience with running in a more minimal shoe has been good and I credit the Saucony Kinvaras for that. When I started wearing these shoes I had concerns that a less constructed neutral running shoe would cause me some problems. Before the Kinvaras I had been running in the Brooks Adrenalins as a daily trainer and I didn’t expect that to change. As it happened, the Kinvaras caused no issues with their lack of stability features and as a low arch pronator I’m questioning the need for stability control. The need for guidance support may come with runs longer than mine that top out at around 11 miles.

I’m still keenly interested in minimal running shoes so I asked the folks at Saucony whether I could review the new Hattori, a super light, zero drop minimal racer/trainer. There are a limited supply of these shoes for testing so Saucony graciously offered a pair of the new Mirages, the fraternal twin to the Kinvara. The Mirage has some stability features and a little more structured upper. If the fit of the Mirage is close to the Kinvara I will wear the Mirages during my half marathon. It might be a perfect combination for the 13.1 mile distance. I’ll document my experience and review it on Runner’s Tech Review.

Men’s ProGrid Mirage

Quick summary of the Mirage (per Saucony):

The perfect light trainer for a slight overpronator
Lightweight with great responsiveness
Allows the foot to move through the gait cycle unrestricted

Upper:

Hydrator collar lining
Memory Foam Heel Pods
EVA Sockliner
HRC Strobel Board

Midsole:

Heel ProGrid LITE
High Abrasion EVA (EVA+)
Supportive Arc

Outsole:

Blown rubber
XT-900™

Weights:
Men: 8.9 oz
Women: 7.9 oz

I’m not going to comment too much about my run this morning except to say that it was difficult and my performance was terrible. A friend on the running blogsphere (and a person who ran the Dirty Sock 10K in about half the time as me) commented that blood donation can have a real effect on performance for two weeks after the donation. I’ll accept that at face value and not dwell on today’s workout. I’m hoping for significant improvement tomorrow but I’ll settle for a mediocre run.

What’s next after my Kivaras?

On March 14, 2011 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Merrell’s new Trail Glove

I’m pleased with the way I feel this morning after yesterday’s long run. Sunday was a busy day and I spent a lot of time on my feet. I thought I might experience some second day aches and pains but after a sound sleep I woke up feeling fine. With almost 400 running miles on my Kinvaras I’m fully convinced that a lower, more minimal running shoe works well for me and the very small differential (drop) between forefoot and heel has strengthened my calves and ankles. Despite being a video-documented pronator I’ve had few troubles running in this neutral shoe. My dilemma these days is choosing a different shoe than the Kinvara when running on hard surfaces.

I love the Brooks GTS-10’s that were my go-to show prior to acquiring the Kinvaras. Ironically, although I have seven pairs of running shoes I really don’t feel like I have that many choices. My Helly Hansens are great for tough trails but not a shoe that I like to wear on the road. My Adidas Responses work well on vacation, doing double duty as a trail or street running shoe and also for walking. But as a daily trainer they are just built too high. That leaves me with the Skecher’s Resistance Runners (at best an occasional training tool), the Karhu Fast 2 Ride (a good shoe but not for me) and the Saucony Grid Tangent (a light stability shoe whose only negative is its conventional build). Finally, the higher platform of the Brooks has discouraged me from pulling them out of the cabinet as often as did in the past.

Last week I stopped by City Sports and tried on the Merrell Trail Glove, a zero-drop minimal trail shoe. I loved its wide toe box and light weight but my foot felt off balance toward the front. I want to try the NB Minimus next, as well as the Brooks Green Silence and the new Saucony Mirage. I’m concerned that I’ll soon wear out the Kinvaras and I’m definitely going to replace them with something as minimal. I love to try out new running shoes but I’ve really learned to love the Kinvaras. I look forward to struggling with that decision.