Last night's planned five-miler was more like a six-miler because of where I had to park my car to access the Buckeye Trail. The run served to reboot my marathon training after a false start last week, as well as a testing environment for my body. Here are my field notes:
A Study of Wounded Knee
Still feeling the pain from Sunday's kneecapping, the "Hill Challenge" proved to be a tough test for my injury.
Cause: Kicked bedframe
Effect: Slowed stride; pain from heel strikes and descents
Notes: The knee experienced pain throughout the run, but it was only unbearable when there seemed to be forces pushing my leg forward, such as from overstriding, or when going downhill. Not being able to move my left leg as quickly as normal, scatter stepping was impossible. The slowed pace downhill forced the knee to take on too much supporting weight, and thus walking was much more preferable. Interestingly, the average pace for this run was a decent 12:51 per mile. (My previous effort was 12:37 per mile at 5.1 miles vs. 5.7 miles this go around.)
Fall of the House of Viper
My "not falling" boast has caught up to me.
Cause: Slow left knee lift; roots
Effect: Right palm plant
Notes: My superior balance could not stop me from tumbling forward in the "Pine Lane," where numerous roots form a latticework of tripping hazards. Not being able to lift my left knee quickly or put too much weight on that leg caused me to fall when my right toe caught a root. No serious damage, except to ego.
Beta Testing B Vitamins
Awhile back Bob at Ahcuah wrote about how B vitamins help repel insects. He suggests taking three B-100s per hour, and the resulting sweat will keep the bugs away.
Cause: Three B-100s five minutes before start
Effect: Decrease in pesky insects; vibrant yellow urine
Notes: The first half-mile didn't show much difference than past trail runs, but after that the bugs seemed to disappear. This was even after some big storms rolled through the region Monday. Not once did anything fly into my hair, which usually happens about 433,529 times otherwise. Beta test No. 1: success.
My knee still hurts, but it's getting better and it running on it didn't make it feel any worse. However, a bruise still hasn't appeared after three days, which is a surprise considering the bump that surfaced directly after impact.
Showing posts with label important studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label important studies. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
First Taste: New Balance Minimus Zero Trail
As I alluded to last post, I have added yet another pair of shoes to my arsenal. The New Balance MT00, the trail version of the company's Minimus Zero lineup, a zero-dropped version of its predecessor. The MT00s replace my MT101s (a predecessor to the predecessor) and makes my entire running shoe collection minimal and flat.
I've been lazy and haven't taken any more photos, so that'll have to wait until the fullblown review, after I log some serious mileage in the shoes.
Thoughts Out of the Box
These are my lightest shoes, weighing 4.4 ounces, and are quite bendy. New Balance got clever with the soles, providing traction without mass. The mesh is so thin you can see through it, and the rest of the upper is an ultra light space age material.
The shoes are comfortable to wear. The mesh is rough, but felt comfortable enough without socks. However, going sockless on the run will wait until after my race this weekend, as I don't want to risk a blister. The tongue of the shoe is almost a joke it's so thin, and it tends to fold over itself. There is no insole, but a comfortable footbed.
I found the toe box to be sufficiently wide for my feet, but I have read others complain about the shoe being too narrow. On the contrary, I found the shoe to be a bit too long. New Balance could round off the toe a bit to make the shoe a little more ergonomic, a la the Altras or Merrells.
First Run
I wore these shoes for my accidentally too longseven eight-miler last Saturday. I had read that the Minimus Zeros might be too minimal for more technical trails, so I tried them on one of the rougher spots in the area: the Ledges Trail. The terrain is full of rocky outcroppings and snaggly roots to step on.
While the MT00s provided plenty of ground feel, there was plenty of protection. The real test will come when I head out to the Pine Lane section of the Buckeye Trail, where there is a long stretch of latticed roots that are notoriously difficult to traverse.
The light mesh proved to be quite breathable, and the shoe drained well, as there were abundant muddy puddles throughout my run.
Testing Points
My preference is to run sockless, and I'm concerned about the mesh. Even though it felt fine walking around, it could be abrasive on the run. There are plenty more technical trails in the area, and I'll be searching for the limits of this shoe's durability. I'm a bit concerned about the long toebox and the possibility of catching it on uneven terrain.
My first impressions were solid, and I'm happy I went with the New Balance, as I've had good luck with the company's shoes in the past. I bought these shoes with my own dollars from my local store, Second Sole.
 |
| New Balance MT00, MSRP: $109.99 |
Thoughts Out of the Box
These are my lightest shoes, weighing 4.4 ounces, and are quite bendy. New Balance got clever with the soles, providing traction without mass. The mesh is so thin you can see through it, and the rest of the upper is an ultra light space age material.
The shoes are comfortable to wear. The mesh is rough, but felt comfortable enough without socks. However, going sockless on the run will wait until after my race this weekend, as I don't want to risk a blister. The tongue of the shoe is almost a joke it's so thin, and it tends to fold over itself. There is no insole, but a comfortable footbed.
I found the toe box to be sufficiently wide for my feet, but I have read others complain about the shoe being too narrow. On the contrary, I found the shoe to be a bit too long. New Balance could round off the toe a bit to make the shoe a little more ergonomic, a la the Altras or Merrells.
First Run
I wore these shoes for my accidentally too long
While the MT00s provided plenty of ground feel, there was plenty of protection. The real test will come when I head out to the Pine Lane section of the Buckeye Trail, where there is a long stretch of latticed roots that are notoriously difficult to traverse.
The light mesh proved to be quite breathable, and the shoe drained well, as there were abundant muddy puddles throughout my run.
Testing Points
My preference is to run sockless, and I'm concerned about the mesh. Even though it felt fine walking around, it could be abrasive on the run. There are plenty more technical trails in the area, and I'll be searching for the limits of this shoe's durability. I'm a bit concerned about the long toebox and the possibility of catching it on uneven terrain.
My first impressions were solid, and I'm happy I went with the New Balance, as I've had good luck with the company's shoes in the past. I bought these shoes with my own dollars from my local store, Second Sole.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
First Taste: Altra Samsons
The good people at Altra saw fit to send me a pair of the company's latest minimalist offering in its all zero-drop line of running shoes: The Samson. (It's sister model is called Delilah, designed specifically for women's feet.)
The Samsons are basically a laced version of the Adams, which I've been running in since last September. My biggest beef with the Adams were the cinching straps, but that problem is resolved with the Samsons.
Thoughts Out of the Box
The Samsons weigh slightly more than the Adams at 6.5 ounces and feel a bit sturdier. The upper is a thicker mesh than found on many other shoe brands, but is perfectly breathable. The decor of the upper, the orange logo and silvery patterns, add little heft and, along with the wide toe-box, allow the foot to move freely inside.
The Adams came with three insole options, whereas the Samson have a redesigned "Strengthen" insole and the "BareSole" footliner for two insole options, which is just as well, because I found the "Support" insole to bee too much squishyness underfoot with too little ground feel.
It has become customary now to test a minimalist shoe's flexibility by rolling into a ball. While the Samsons pass the test, they were a bit tougher to roll up than the Adams, and according to the Altra website the midsole is stronger than in its predecessor. This will be the main area of observation as I continue to test these shoes.
First Run
My first run was a short neighborhood route, where I ran over varying surfaces such as pavement, brick, asphalt -- all in varying degrees of decay and strewn with debris. The Samsons allowed good ground feel, but I have yet to try the shoes without the insoles.
Walking About
I've had more opportunity to wear these shoes out and about. They're slipper-like in comfort, and my feet haven't gotten tired trekking around airports, as I am currently on a business trip (ironically, in Salt Lake City, just 40 minutes south of Altra's headquarters in Ogden, Utah).
Testing Points
Over the next month, I'll thoroughly test the Samsons for a more thorough review, as I've done with past shoes. My main observations will center on the my 3F criteria (remember, that's flat, flexible and ground feel). I'll try these on all sorts of terrain and at all sorts of distances.
My first impressions have me looking forward to putting these through my slow paces. If all tests out, I hope these will be my shoes for the next Akron Marathon. Anybody know of any good running spots in SLC?
The Samsons are basically a laced version of the Adams, which I've been running in since last September. My biggest beef with the Adams were the cinching straps, but that problem is resolved with the Samsons.
 |
| The Samson, MSRP: $99.99 |
Thoughts Out of the Box
The Samsons weigh slightly more than the Adams at 6.5 ounces and feel a bit sturdier. The upper is a thicker mesh than found on many other shoe brands, but is perfectly breathable. The decor of the upper, the orange logo and silvery patterns, add little heft and, along with the wide toe-box, allow the foot to move freely inside.
The Adams came with three insole options, whereas the Samson have a redesigned "Strengthen" insole and the "BareSole" footliner for two insole options, which is just as well, because I found the "Support" insole to bee too much squishyness underfoot with too little ground feel.
It has become customary now to test a minimalist shoe's flexibility by rolling into a ball. While the Samsons pass the test, they were a bit tougher to roll up than the Adams, and according to the Altra website the midsole is stronger than in its predecessor. This will be the main area of observation as I continue to test these shoes.
 |
| Rolled up, but tougher to do so. |
My first run was a short neighborhood route, where I ran over varying surfaces such as pavement, brick, asphalt -- all in varying degrees of decay and strewn with debris. The Samsons allowed good ground feel, but I have yet to try the shoes without the insoles.
Walking About
I've had more opportunity to wear these shoes out and about. They're slipper-like in comfort, and my feet haven't gotten tired trekking around airports, as I am currently on a business trip (ironically, in Salt Lake City, just 40 minutes south of Altra's headquarters in Ogden, Utah).
Testing Points
Over the next month, I'll thoroughly test the Samsons for a more thorough review, as I've done with past shoes. My main observations will center on the my 3F criteria (remember, that's flat, flexible and ground feel). I'll try these on all sorts of terrain and at all sorts of distances.
 |
| Altra brothers: comparing the Samson and Adam, with Strengthen insoles. |
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Stretching: A Hairy Situation
Today, I eschew the reviews in favor of a public service announcement: Stretching is dangerous, teammates. Yes, I know all the gurus say that post-run stretching wards off injury, but I'm here to tell you that it can very well lead to injury.
After my past four runs, stretching has proven to be difficult and dangerous. I can bend over and touch my toes all right. But it starts to get hairy with Downward Facing Dog. Suddenly, I'm swarmed. I have to jolt from my relaxed position to protect myself. My head starts to feel all wet. When I switch to a stretch that has me lying on my back, however, is when the real pain begins.
Here I am trying to fend off the dangers of stretching. I apologize that my camera work is shoddy while being mauled. In case you haven't already met him, this is Dobson. (Coincidentally, the blur in the upper right corner is my other Dobson.) Every time I'm seated or on my back stretching after a run, I hear the clatter of his giant paws bounding toward me. He's a menace. I'm never stretching again.
After my past four runs, stretching has proven to be difficult and dangerous. I can bend over and touch my toes all right. But it starts to get hairy with Downward Facing Dog. Suddenly, I'm swarmed. I have to jolt from my relaxed position to protect myself. My head starts to feel all wet. When I switch to a stretch that has me lying on my back, however, is when the real pain begins.
Here I am trying to fend off the dangers of stretching. I apologize that my camera work is shoddy while being mauled. In case you haven't already met him, this is Dobson. (Coincidentally, the blur in the upper right corner is my other Dobson.) Every time I'm seated or on my back stretching after a run, I hear the clatter of his giant paws bounding toward me. He's a menace. I'm never stretching again.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Flashback Friday
I have now run more this week than I did in the last three weeks combined, and this weekend I plan to make that four weeks. I have not been running fast. Nor have I been running far. But I have been running pain free.My hip and groin finally feel normal, but I feel like a newbie, rebuilding my distance and speed. I'm sure my body has done a fine job of untraining since the Akron Marathon, but I still feel like there is still a lot of base left. I just have to get my injured parts and lungs caught up.
On average, it takes about two weeks for every week you're off to retrain. I'm hoping since I wasn't completely off in these past four weeks that I can come back a little faster. However, I have to avoid flashing back to just about every other time I've been injured and tried to do too much, too soon. In that effort I'm running watch-free, which helps me better listen to my body.
I'd like to hit these next few months with enough gusto to run right through the dreary Ohio winter. Running was my antidote seasonal affective disorder, and it has since become my Prozac. Any time I need let out some steam, I go for a hard and fast run. If I need to think things through, I go for a long run. But like life, running is full of its own pratfalls and pains, from injuries and poor race showings. And this has all been a lead up to me pointing you to the Salty One, who has a great post about facing those hard moments in running -- and more importantly in life.
Pain is part of running. It's part of life. Overcoming it is what makes both things great.A damned good quote. Wish I'd written it.
Booze News
Make sure you shoe any fruit flies away from you beverage. Those little bastards are stealing your drunk and pretty soon they'll be drinking you under the table. In a new study, have proven that genes might have something to with the flies' -- and maybe even your -- drinking prowess. Well, I'll be damned! I mean, I always bragged that I was built to drink, but now I have proof!Shoe fly don't bother me ...
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