I can’t seem to keep the local shoe population under control. New ones are appearing faster than the old ones are driven to the farm where old shoes go to run free in big open fields. Continue reading
Posted in The Gear Junkie
Tagged exercise, fitness, gear, health, running, running shoes
After years of saying just do it, Nike finally did it. Continue reading
Posted in The Gear Junkie
Tagged exercise, fitness, gear, health, marathon, Nike, running, running shoes
Packing keeps a person honest. All that hidden stuff tucked away in rarely explored corners is suddenly front and center, impossible to ignore as you try to fit it into a paper box liberated from your office recycling pile. Stuff like my rapidly growing running shoe “collection”, found spread across three different regions in my small urban dwelling. Continue reading
Posted in The Gear Junkie
Tagged exercise, fitness, gear, health, marathon, running, running shoes
I thought I found them. I was wrong. Physio-appointment wrong. 10-minute running shoe buying is not recommended. 3-hour running shoe buying isn’t working for me either.
I have purchased five pairs of running shoes since January. Less than 50 days before I’m supposed to run 42.2K in Boston and I still don’t have a pair of shoes that I don’t want to tear off my feet mid-run. I am Goldilocks – too hard, too soft, too this, too that, but so far nothing is just right. I’m begging, can someone please recommend a lightweight high mileage trainer for skinny feet and a neutral gait? Five shoes in two months. I will try anything.
So wah, my 827 pairs of shoes aren’t just right. I feel a little like the guilt-ridden kid who just can’t finish their brocoli despite knowing all about the starving children around the world. Maybe I should ship the shoe discards to the hungry kids? I’m not sure how cosmic balance works.
Title: Jimmy Eat World – The Middle. 2002.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits
Tagged Boston Marathon, exercise, fitness, gear, health, marathon, running, running shoes
I did something impulsive.
I bought new shoes.
In about ten minutes.
And by new I mean a new brand.
My previous shoe-buying record was 60 minutes, one exchange, 60 minutes.
And I ended buying the new model of my old shoes.
Like the princess sleeping on the pea, my picky feet do not readily find comfort imprisoned in shoes.
Thank you Mizuno for “improving” the model I have worn for the last three years.
My picky feet rejected the “improvement” before I even tied the laces.
I switched brands with 80 days to go before Boston.
Title: The Beatles – Can’t Buy me Love. 1964.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits
Tagged Boston Marathon, exercise, fitness, gear, health, marathon, running, running shoes
Credit to runtodeath.wordpress.com for alerting me to this story. The world’s oldest leather shoe, found in an Armenian cave. I’m assuming it’s a running shoe. Made without a waffle iron. Because 5,500 years ago people needed to run after their dinner. I think. I wasn’t a history major.
According to CNN:
Really, it predates the cross-trainer? Amazing. For the curious, it is a right footed women’s size seven. A half size too small for me. It was preserved in sheep dung. Too smelly for me. According to National Geographic the prehistoric shoe is compressed in the heel and toe area, likely due to miles upon miles of walking. And running.
Title Reference: Depeche Mode – Walking in my Shoes. 1993.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits
Tagged exercise, fitness, gear, health, running, running shoes
They say opposites attract. Husband and I are magazine-reading opposites. As in I read the articles and he reads the advertisements. I am extremely susceptible to suggestion so my aversion to marketing is necessary for good financial health. Sometimes this means I miss funny, weird, and even racy running shoe campaigns. The problem is that I’m a big fan of funny, weird, and even racy ads. Although this Pearl Izumi campaign ruffled feathers in the fall I only recently stumbled across the cheeky Breed Like a Runner ads, a new twist on their successful Run Like an Animal series.
Pearl Izumi is not a stranger to controversy. The Runner Not a Jogger ads always light up message boards. I have no qualm. But I’m a runner not a jogger. Maybe I should be offended by the breeding ads, lots of people seem to be, but mostly I’m just amused that I can go to the Pearl Izumi website and Make a Runchild. Let’s get it on. Sorry kid, you’ll have to buy Bandaids because thick nipples were not a priority.
Congratulations! It’s a beautiful baby cross country runner.
Just what I always wanted. Husband and I went to one of those morphing computers once; it took our photos and then spit out a 4 year kid. My parents put the printout in a frame on the mantle. I wonder if they are trying to tell me something.
Title Reference: Gowan – (You’re a) Strange Animal. From the album Strange Animal. 1985.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, running, running shoes
I wear high heeled shoes about five times a year. Three weddings and a funeral and the occasional hot date with Husband. Given my lack of practice, the act of wearing heels is (i) entertaining in a Bambi learning to walk kind of way and (ii) potentially lethal in a toppling into traffic kind of way. And by “heels” I mean anything higher than flat and lower than 2 inches. I have never in my life worn footwear that would be described as stiletto. Which makes my consideration of a race billed as Canada’s first ever Stiletto Sprint all the more absurd. I’m not drawn in by the prize money ($10,000) or the advertised fame and glory (which, as far as I can tell, amounts to a clip on Breakfast Television), but to the novelty. I haven’t attempted a 100 metre sprint since grade school and back then I’m rather certain my performance could best be described as Dead Last. I’ve discussed my lack of fast twitch muscles at length. Lest the green-eyed monster rear it’s ugly head, men you can compete for $1000 in prize money of your own. With 215 women and only 50 men perhaps I should encourage Husband to run with me. If we weren’t two of the clumbsiest runners in the city I’d go for it; but two broken ankles four weeks before marathon madness is not part of the race plan.
Shoe requirements and restrictions for both men and women are as follows: minimum heel height of three (3) inches, with a maximum heel circumference of three (3) inches; no wedges; no shoes that slip on (for example a mule or a clog or something similar); shoes must either have a solid back or a strap or something similar; no part of the shoe can extend above the ankle; no boots or booties; no taping or otherwise adhering shoes to your feet; shoe can not be modified or altered from its original and intended design in any way. Shoes will be checked by race officials at the time of registration on the morning of the Race and are subject to rejection at the officials’ sole discretion. In order to successfully complete the Race, participants must cross the finish line with at least one heel intact.
100 metres in 3-inch spikes. Are you up (and I do mean up) for the challenge?
(click the pic for more info on the Stiletto Sprint)
Running isn’t rocket science. Or is it? I love running shoes the way Carrie Bradshaw loves her Manolo Blahniks. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had the opportunity to test drive the new Nike LunarGlide+. Or, as like to call them, moon shoes. I just discovered that way back in 1972 Nike unveiled a “Moon Shoe” with the trademark waffle sole. I’m never an original.
The LunarGlide+ is an old idea with very new technology. The innovative shoe aims to bridge the cushioning and stability category with a “Design Support System” that adjusts to each step, providing cushioning and/or support as needed. This interests me because I have a neutral footstrike until I fatigue, at which point I am prone (ha) to moderate pronation. I’m not the only one. Foot needs tend to vary over the course of a run and the LunarGlide+ is designed to meet those ever changing needs. The technology that allows this kind of adapting is, literally, rocket science. Nike has been borrowing from space techs for a long time. The LunarLite material was developed by the aerospace industry and modified by Nike with the goal of developing a soft foam that returned energy. The light foam core sits in a firmer foam carriage. The foam core will engage a stabilizing rear-foot wedge carved into the carriage if and when a runner over-pronates, otherwise the the wedge will not engage. It’s on demand stability. The foam also provides a cushioned landing with high energy return. The result is an oxymoron: a responsive cushioning shoe. My Nike Lunar Trainers have the same technology, but with less bounce. The women’s model has extra foam, creating a softer shoe. The shoe also features Flywire threads, like cables on a suspension bridge, that reduce shoe weight while still providing lots of support. These threads are apparently stronger than steel. A lightweight stability shoe is hard to find. LunarLite and Flywire technology were both introduced in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics and were an immediate hit when Nike made elite athlete technology availability to the not-so-elite consumer. The Natural Motion Engineering in the outsole encourages an unrestrained stride is coupled with Dynamic Fit Technology for an individualized fit in the heel, midfoot, and toebox. Basically, the newest Nike runner aims to be a custom fit stability-cushioning hybrid, made possible though the use of out of this world technology. Far out.
That’s the marketing promo, but what about the ride experience? First, a disclaimer. I am a very picky shoe wearer. Every time a pair expires I spend hours trying on countless shoes, only to leave somewhat unsatisfied with a new purchase (often the update of an old standard). I do, however, love to try on shoes and to experiment with different brands and models. I have a motley assortment of kicks in my closest, with no loyalty to any one manufacturer or shoe category. The first time I wore the LunarGlides+ I thought they were a bit stiff and unresponsive, but I now think my assessment was biased by the 50K I ran a few days before the test drive. My impression changed as my feet rebounded. As advertised, I really did feel that the shoe offered both stability and cushioning; more cushioning that I’m used to in fact. I was positively bouncing like an astronaut on the moon. I’m a midfoot striker, but I seemed to land a bit more on my forefoot in these sneakers, although I can’t pinpoint why. I typically wear a moderate stability shoe with very little cushioning, so the pillowy feeling is a nice change. I don’t think I’ve engaged the stability system yet, but Husband normally needs the control of the Nike Structure Triax and he was pleasantly surprised by the amount of support in the LunarGlides+. The shoe is appreciably lightweight, not quite as light as the Free but lighter than a standard sneaker. The shoe definitely fits wide, but most shoes are too wide for me. They do adjust to a narrow foot better than most Nike runners, which is nice. I’m not too keen on the colour selection. The dark grey could get hot in summer and the solid white is a bit boring for someone used to sneaker flash. But perhaps I could do with a little subtly. I think I will stick to my Lunar Trainers for speed work, but I would definitely wear the LunarGlide+ on a steady run. I haven’t yet attempted a tempo run in the shoe, but I will soon. However, I need to log more miles in the shoe before I will wear them on a long run. So far my evaluation is a very solid one and a half thumbs (or big toes) up. The missing half a toe is primarily due to fit – despite the adjustments available the sizing is skewed toward a medium to wide foot.
Title Reference: Elton John – Rocket Man. From the album Honkey Chateau. 1972.
Long distance runners are not known for the beauty of their feet. We rely on those bones, joints, and ligaments to propel us forward and to provide a cushioned landing and the outcome isn’t always pretty. After a race or a tough workout our feet may look like they’ve been to war. And lost. Blisters, bunions, and black toenails are just a few of the battle scars. I, like many, survive sandal season by camouflaging my piggies with a layer of dark nail polish. I’m too old for the goth look. Normally my colour preferences lean toward the subtle, but subtle won’t disguise the rainbow of death hue of my big toe.
The characteristic red-purple-black discolouration is the result of accumulated fluid, darkened with blood from broken capillaries, beneath the nail (a subungual hematoma). Occasionally the nail plate will become thick and brittle (onychochauxis). If too much fluid collects the pressure can lift the nail from the bed, eventually pushing the nail off entirely. ‘How many toenails have you lost’ is not an uncommon question on the marathon and ultramarathon circuits. It sounds worse than it feels. A black toenail usually doesn’t hurt much at all (assuming it isn’t infected or grotesquely swollen), but some people opt to lance their nail with a pointy object to release the pressure. They claim in doing so the nail won’t fall off. I refuse to do anything best described as drilling into my toe. Instead of self-surgery, I’ll chance the loss.
Google “black toenails” and you will read a lot about the evils of ill-fitting shoes and tight socks. In shoes size matters runners need to fit their feet for the end of the run, not the start. This typically means a finger width of bonus room between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, plus a roomy toe box. Poorly fit shoes can certainly lead to foot injury, but many runners in perfect fitting socks and shoes still suffer blackened toes. Some people are simply more susceptible to back toes and women, I once read but can not find the source, are especially vulnerable. People with a Morton’s toe (the second toe is longer than the big toe) are especially prone to injured second toes. Other people curl their toes when they run, increasing pressure on their toe tips. Improperly cut toenails can exacerbate the problems. For many, black toenails aren’t a simple “if the shoe fits” problem. Increasing shoe size, when shoes are not the problem, may actually make things worse as feet tend to slide around in clown shoes. Footwear is indisputably your first level of defense, but may not be the cure.
According to Jeff Galloway, the pressure from the force of running can lead to the blackening of the toes, even if the shoe fits. As your foot swings forward extra blood is pushed into the toe area. Overtime your little piggies adjust to this extra blood pressure, but if your toes can’t adapt quickly enough you may end up with a dark mark (or badge of honour, depending on the circle). Add in conditions that increase swelling, such as hot weather or lots of hills, and the strain on the toes reaches a tipping point. I’ve struggled with black toenails twice, once after a hot weather 50K run and most recently after the hilly Boston Marathon. My first two casualties (the piggy that went to market and the piggy that stayed home) followed the 50K. To my surprise a wee little baby nail lies beneath the mama nail, such that you aren’t completely nailess after one goes missing. I fear that I’m about to lose another, my last reminder of Heartbreak Hill.
Title Reference: Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black. From the album Aftermath. 1966.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits, The Doctor Is In
Tagged running, running injury, running shoes
Do you ever see a running shoe review and ask yourself who reads those things? Answer: I do. My high-mileage trainers (i.e. the shoes I wear during most of my runs) have about 600 km of running on them and my tired body is feeling the effects. Like my FuelBelt, my favourite shoes enjoyed a final hurrah during the Around the Bay 30K Road Race and quietly retired from active duty on Monday. Yesterday I impulsively bought a new pair of shoes without trying them on. Well, that’s not entirely true. I stood in them for a few seconds with the laces undone, but made no effort whatsoever to engage in any form of locomotion while in the shoes. It’s the new model of my recently retired shoes and frankly I just couldn’t be bothered to comparison shop. This may have been an expensive mistake.
My go-to shoe did not receive an outstanding review last year amid reports that it was much “firmer” than the predecessor model. Those reports were correct. Add in sub-zero winter weather and all cushioning power was lost. This year Runner’s World didn’t even bother to review my new model of shoe, which greatly concerns me. I hope it’s not an ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all’ review. Also concerning, I’m convinced that my shoes aren’t as durable as other makes and models. I’m a light runner with a light foot-strike and by 500K my shoes are ready to be recycled into a new track. I push it to 600K, but at a cost. Current cost – one very sore lower back. At a higher than average price point my expectations soar accordingly, but my shoes don’t always live up to those expectations. Fortunately there are a few pros to balance out my cons. The shoes are relatively light weight for the good amount of stability they offer, the uppers are breathable and friction free, and they look cool, which is always a plus in a world of really ugly trainers. I realize this isn’t a stellar review from someone who just bought the shoe – and has owned the previous 3 models. Overall I do give the sneakers a solid ’3.5 shoes out of 5′: not award winning, but not destined for the sale rack.
The wise person would say that rather than buying the same old shoe yet again I should have spent time trying out lots of brands and models and blah blah blah. It’s not my first time in a shoe store. I know what awaits. Running shoe shopping is a major ordeal for me. After a solid hour of trying on shoes – an hour even though I already know what type of shoe I need (medium stability, in case you care) and can zoom in to a subset of shoes accordingly – I still end up with new model of my current shoe. I have narrow feet. Narrower than average feet. Translation, 98% of the shoes on the market are waaaay too wide for me. It is impossible to pull the laces tight enough to get even a semi-snug fit. Every narrow footed person knows that running shoe shopping is hellish. And as the average foot gets wider (alongside the average waistline) the shoe manufactures respond with wider shoes. Over the last 10 years most running shoe makers have increased the width of their shoes in response to consumer demand. My options have been decreasing every year for the past decade. And that’s why, time and time again, I opt for a ’3.5 shoes out of 5′ sneaker. Every reviewer warns that these shoes are not for the wide of foot. Translation, they fit me fine. As a public service announcement for the slender of foot, I recommend the Mizuno Wave Nivana. A good fit in width means no slipping, no blisters, no clunkity-clunking … which is worth all the cons I can name. If the shoe fits, I wear it.
Title Reference: Adam Ant – Goody Two Shoes. From the album Friend or Foe. 1982.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits, The Doctor Is In, The Gear Junkie
Tagged running, running shoes
My Running Shorts: short stories about my life on the run.
