AdiZero Adios

After my last pair of shoes retired, I replaced them with a pair of Adidas adiZero Adios racing flats.  I LOVE them.  They are beautiful, very red and very light (8 oz.).  They have since also come down in price considerably (under $50 bucks at Amazon).  They are a pair of minimalistic type of shoe in that they are light and provide little cushioning to discourage heel striking, althoug they don't go as far as the Bikilas, also an awesome pair of shoes.

In researching for this post, I learned that this shoe was worn by Haile Gebrselassie when he ran a world record 02:03:58 and it is made with environmentally-responsible, solvent-free synthetic Tirennina suede. So there!

Custom Orthotics

About once a year, usually following my last long training run before a marathon (23 miles), I end up with a sore ankle.  After a couple of visits to my family doctor, she recommended I get custom orthotics. I first resisted the idea, but after I almost missed running Tokyo Marathon, a race that required I get a cortisone shot to get to the start line, I started thinking that maybe I need to take a look at them (OK, it also helped to know that my medical insurance, which I rarely make use of, would cover 90% of the cost.)

After talking with a doctor specialized in running injuries and having a nurse make custom molds f my feet, I finally got the insoles in the mail.  I have since run twice on them and can't really say I am crazy about them.  They certainly do not feel custom made (perhaps I got somebody else's ;-)  They feel a little heavy, not as breathable as the original shoe insoles (they make my feet hot, something I rarely feel otherwise) and somewhat rigid.  

Still, I am committed to give them a fair shot.  I will increase length slowly and eventually do my longest runs with them as I train and probably during marathons as well.  As they say, I am not getting any younger, so perhaps with some help I can eliminate my one injury a year.

Good bye Nirvana, Hello Nirvana - A new Retirement Run

Yesterday I run my last four miles with my pair of Mizuno Wave Nirvanas. Following my tradition, I put 400 miles on every pair of shoes and then retire them. My last retirement was September 15th (a pair of Kayanos). That doesn't mean I have run 400 miles since that date. I rotate 4 or 5 pairs of shoes and these ones were well on their way.

For some reason I used to consider my Nirvana's trainers and didn't get much race time. Still, they managed my last Rails to Trails Marathon and completed two of my three legs on the last Ragnar relay.

It didn't take long for them to disappear. Soon after their last run, I received the picture below from W Nirvana, left, who is enjoying the white sandy beaches of Hawaii. Right seems to be nowhere to be found, so it was either taking the picture, of they had a fallout.

The Nirvanas will be replaced in the rotation by a new pair of Nirvanas (6th generation), which have been patiently waiting in the box since the last big discount at Run n' Fun.

New Skins and other indispensible gear

I just got in the mail my new Skins. I actually got a pair of long sleeve top and tights last Oct 1 at the Expo before the Twin Cities Marathon, but I bought the new model A400 and didn't care for them much, so I returned them and exchanged them for the Sport model.

So today seems chilly enough to take them for a spin. Two-plus laps around lake Calhoun with Sharon, Mike and Anita seem like the perfect opportunity to do my last long run (8 miles) before the Rails to Trails marathon next weekend.

I will spare my readers a picture of me wearing the skins and simply post the images from the vendor website.

The other "indispensable" piece of equipment that I just ordered is not so much for me, but really for you, my readers. I just ordered a digital camera to take on my runs and races so I can take still images and video to post on this blog. Yes, you are welcome and no, you didn't have to get me anything. I am doing this for you all.

To make this possible, I searched for the smallest possible camera that I can carry while running. After a lot of research, my selection was the GSI GSPS8 (pictured below). This thumb-size wonder is capable of 2 mega pixel images, has a 8 GB built-in memory and can be expanded by another 16 GB with a micro SDHC flash memory card. It is a high-definition digital camera a video camcorder and a voice recorder all in one device. If that is not enough, total weight is 1.8 oz. Ain't technology great?

Hurricane

Just did my first run with the Saucony Hurricane. I can't say that they live up to their name. Not my most comfortable pair of shoes, but I guess I can keep them in the rotation. I should probably stick to the Kayanos and Nirvanas.

I did 4.4 miles in 0:35:41, a very quick 8:05 min/miles, but it was not because of the shoes, but because of a couple that thought they could pass me and I had to prove them wrong. Even if that forced me to complete the remaining 3 miles of my run at a pace under 8 min miles...

Bikilas, Finally!

I couldn't wait no mo' and I finally bought myself a pair of Vibram Five Finger Shoes. I have been thinking about them since I read Born to Run, which has a very interesting chapter about the benefits of running barefoot.

Supposedly, running with athletic shoes, does not provide so much support, but rather eliminates feedback by reducing sensation on the foot. As a result of running with a cushioned sole, a runner changes their stride and lands on his/her heel rather than in the preferable ball of his/her feet. Before the founder of Nike started creating soles using a waffle maker, runner shoes had thin soles and runners (again supposedly) had better form. The result of today's shoes is greater rate of injuries and slower recovery.

So I had to try them.

Following the advice of Scott, who has been running with teem (and without shoes, I hear) for some time now at least off and on, I need to start slow and short. I know that to be true because I tried running with some travel sleepers that were basically a thin rubber sole and a mesh on top, and after doing four miles the balls of my feet were on fire and for a good week I experienced muscle soreness in my calves.

I bought the newly released Bikilas, created just for running, but basically another pair of the Five Finger shoes not very different form the KSOs. I have taken them for a 2 mile run and LOVE them. I still had some calf pain the next day. Clearly you are using muscles you don't usually use with regular athletic shoes, but still a great experience. Still I decided not to use them for more than once a week. So my plan is to build up to 4 to 6 miles and make it my Thursday run.

I will report back as I get closer to my goal. This might be a good pair of shoes for my club runs at the Phoenix. Speed is usually slower than my usual 9 minute miles, so this might be a good opportunity to take my Bikilas for a spin.