Salomon Speedcross 3

I went out for a nice short run a few weeks ago in my On Cloudracers and experienced some difficulty.  Not to discount the shoe, but it's just not made for winter.  The shoe is super breathable which makes it freezing in the winter, and there is very little traction for the snow and ice.  I decided to switch it up and try out my New Balance Minimus 10v2 trail shoes, thinking the traction would be great and if I put on a thicker sock I would be fine.  The problem was, I have put so many miles on those shoes that the traction just wasn't there.  I needed a fix and quick, considering my ultra marathon training was starting.  Behold the Salomon Speedcross 3.  Below is my review of the shoe.

I have tried Salomon shoes before, and wasn't very impressed.  I was stubborn at the time and believed that if I wanted to be the best runner I needed to stick to one style of shoe...the minimalist shoe.  My boss at Brown's Shoe Fit convinced me to try again so I bought the Speedcross 3 with much reluctance.  Compared to my Minimus 10v2s this shoe is huge and heavy.  My comfort during the winter convinced me to buy the shoe.  I needed something with plenty of traction and a shoe that was also thick enough to keep my feet warm.  The sole of the shoe has a bunch of rubber cleats to help with traction and the difference running on snow and ice was noticeable.  I wasn't slipping and sliding, which meant my ankles were not as sore once I finished my run.  The shoes are pretty thick, but are still breathable, which is exactly what I needed to start my winter running.  The speed lace system is nice, and the tongue compartment makes the speed lace system even greater since I can just tuck the excess lace in the compartment.  The one thing I might change about the laces is to make them a bungee lace so they can stretch.  I find it hard to get that perfect level of tightness in the laces at times.

I am a minimalist runner so I have to speak to this a bit.  I was worried that the shoe was going to really promote a definite heel strike which makes me feel a little uncomfortable.  I have been working so hard to perfect my running form that I didn't need a shoe to ruin that for me.  I immediately noticed that my form was fine.  I have worked so hard to perfect this form, that the shoe didn't impact it.  I was still striking on my forefoot.  The first couple of runs the shoe felt heavy, but as I have been running in them for about 2 weeks, the shoe has actually been great.  The downside is the shoe is pretty much useless if I don't need the traction.  When I am running on straight concrete or asphalt I almost feel like I am wasting the shoes potential.  I need to get out on some real trails or it needs to start acting like winter again.  This will be the shoe I eventually use to run my ultra marathon in.  The course I will attempt is brutal and I think this shoe will help tremendously.  Just to give you an idea of the amount of running I have done in them just to give perspective.  I have done runs anywhere from 3 to 18 miles and they have been great for both shorter and longer runs.

The Salomon Speedcross 3 is priced at 125.00 which really isn't too bad considering what this shoe has to offer.  For me to feel comfortable in my training that price has been worth it.  If you are not into the whole trail thing, Salomon makes a city/trail shoe that I have reviewed in the past.  The bottom line is, I would recommend this shoe to anyone who needs a good shoe for traction (snow/ice running or trail running).  Be weary though, if most of your running is done on concrete, asphalt, or even easy crushed gravel trails, this shoe is not the shoe you need.  The cleats will wear out fast the more straight concrete you run on.  Nonetheless, for me they have been great and regret being as reluctant as I was.  You can buy the shoes right from Brown's Shoe Fit Company Fort Dodge by clicking this link: Speedcross 3.

Shoe Review: The Medical Boot

On Friday I was told I had a muscle tear in my soleus.  Great news to hear when you are training for an ultra marathon.  Needless to say the ultra marathon is not happening, but I was given the opportunity to try a foot product, which automatically meant shoe review for my blog.  I was put in a medical boot for up to 3 weeks.  So here is my review on The Medical Boot.

• Style/Look: If you like looking like Frankenstein's Monster or an early stage of an Iron Man test (the latter is cooler), then this boot is for you.  It extends to the mid calf and has the bulky look of attaching a cinder block to your foot, and the weight is comparable too.  It attaches with three velcro straps, because who doesn't love feeling like a 3 year old or 90 year old.  My boot is basically two tone grey, so it matches just about anything, but admittedly it does stick out, which leads me to my next point.  You would not believe the attention you get by wearing this boot.  People rudely stare, and some people even ask questions about the nature of the boot.  I even had a lady ask me why I was wearing it, and her 6 year old daughter told her to stop being rude.  On the front of the boot towards the top is this bulging ball that takes me back to my youth.  This ball inflates the boot with air to add extra cushion, but it makes me feel like I'm back wearing my old Reebok Pump Shoes every-time I push it.  Apparently, it's now available in low top, which was not communicated with me (see below).
• Comfort: So here's the deal...I probably would never wear this regularly.  I hobbled into my office at the school on Friday morning, and I called up the doctor to see if I could get in.  Every step was painful, visibly painful.  Once I put on the boot, instant relief.  So on a comfort scale of 1-10 I give it a 10 for sure.  Was I still limping around?  Yeah, but that's because my left leg is now elevated a good 5 inches above my right foot, and at least the boot validates the limp right?  Now the downside.  It's about 100 degrees outside, and this boot is hot.  I have to wear a compression sleeve with the boot which doesn't help the heat.  My leg does itch every once in awhile too, but nothing a ruler or pen can't take care of.
• Cost: I haven't received the medical bill yet, but I can only assume this is one pricey boot.  Not great considering it doesn't come as a pair.  Though it would be very difficult to walk with two of these things on, and I would wonder why the doctor didn't just put you in a wheel chair at that point.
• Added Benefits: 
• I can wear it with shorts and pants (I have to tuck my left leg into the boot though).  
• I only have to dirty one sock since I don't wear a sock with the boot.
• I can park close to buildings and not get looks of disgust (I'm an in shape guy so people assume I should park farther away).
• My son can't quite say the word "boot" so he calls it a "poop."
• Not a lot of people have them, so I feel unique.

Salomon X-Scream City Trail Shoe

So this post is a little past due as I ran in these shoes way back in May.  Salomon is the number one selling trail shoe in the world and the local shoe store in town sells them.  I tested them out one night for a 5 mile run and I have a biased opinion.  I see the appeal, but it's really not my style.  The city trail shoe is designed to work well both on pavement and trails.  In Fort Dodge, IA we don't have much outside of pavement so this is definitely the go to Salomon shoe in this area.  Many of their shoes are designed for real trails, not sidewalks and crushed gravel.

Now back on track.  I didn't particularly like this shoe and I can't see myself really running in any Salomon shoe.  Anybody that knows me knows I am a minimalist runner.  I don't like a lot on my foot and as the picture shows, this is quite a bit of shoe, especially for my liking.  I have a natural mid foot strike (which is appropriate), and the heel on this shoe is heavy, and I definitely felt that weight after running a few miles.  The shoe is bulky, but surprisingly not very heavy.  It is a comfortable shoe, but like I said just not what I like to run in.  I love the easy laces on them, and the built in storage on the tongue for the laces after they have been tightened is unique and smart.  The bottom of the shoe is great for pavement and for easier trails.  I wouldn't recommend using this shoe on single track trails with tree roots and rocks jutting out at every turn.

Don't quote me on the price, as I'm not 100% sure, but I think they run at about 110 which is reasonable for a shoe.  The bottom line: would I buy this shoe? No.  Would I recommend this shoe to anyone else?  It depends on what they need in a shoe (which is the story for any shoes).  If you run on a mix of terrain, and need a little more shoe than a barefoot style shoe, this is a great shoe.  The best part, you can boast that you are part of a growing fad in the running industry.  Trail running is growing in popularity like crazy and Salomon is the best of the best in trail running shoes, and if you want to be the best you might as well dress the part.

Upcoming Events Pertaining to Running

Below is a list of all upcoming running events in the Fort Dodge area for the month of July.  As you can see there are not a lot and most land on the 4th.  I will direct you to Fitness Sports as they have a great calendar of state-wide running events, for those that are ok with a little bit of travel.

• July 4th
• Color Splash 2014, Fort Dodge.  This race is fairly new for the area and takes the same approach the bigger Color Runs do.  A fun way to get out and run a 5k.  All the proceeds benefit the Fort Dodge Track teams.  It's 15 dollars which is a great price and the run utilizes some great sidewalks in the town on Fort Dodge.  
• Webster City Firecracker 5k.  The race starts and finishes at Twin Parks in Webster City.  The course is a nice loop with a variety of hills, especially one killer one in the last mile or so.  Great event that always has a great turnout.  I believe all the proceeds go to the Webster City cross country program.  This will be the 26th year this event has been held.  This one is 20 dollars to enter and that comes with a t-shirt.
• Off the Beaten Path 5k fun run, Humboldt.  I have never heard of this race so it's all new to me.  It starts next to Bicknell park.  The race costs 15 dollars and you get a t-shirt.  
• Freedom 5k, Gowrie.  Another one that is new to me.  The race starts at the Prairie Valley Football field.  The race runs a little steeper with an entry fee of 25 dollars, and you get a t-shirt.  The race proceeds benefit community projects.
• July 17th
• Brown's Shoefit Company, Third Thursday Fit Night, Fort Dodge.  I work at Brown's so of course I am going to promote this.  Every third Thursday Brown's along with Hyvee Drugstore put on a fit night.  The best part it's absolutely free.  You come at 5:30, sign up (for free).  At 6 pm you take off and can run or walk anywhere between 2-6 miles, no strings attached.  It's not a race, just a good time.  Afterwards there are refreshments and food and great prizes which usually involve a pair of shoes, some socks, tickets to some event (last time it was Iowa Cubs tickets), and other prizes handed out by the shoe representative there that night.  The rep who is coming this time will be New Balance and in the past the reps bring try-on shoes for people to wear on there run/walk.  It's a great time, for a great cause, with great people.

Run Naked (Not what you think so get your mind out of the gutter)

I have recently in the last few months adopted a very free approach to running.  By this I mean I run naked.  By running naked I mean I refrain from devices when I run.  Yes, I still run with cloths on, and I plan to continue that, but I try to back away from electronic devices when I run.

Background Info: For a guy like me to banish technology from anything I do is a huge thing.  I am a technology integration coordinator for a school district.  My sole job is trying to get people to realize how much technology can improve and impact what they do.  I used to run with my smart phone as my mapmyrun app would run and calculate distance, time, pace, calories burned, speed, route, etc.  I have friends who run with watches that do all sorts of fancy things.  I have friends who run with stop watches.  I have friends who run with music.  For me, I run without any of this.

One day I was running and found that I was spending too much time focusing on how fast I was going, how far I was going, and at what pace.  I started to get annoyed because I was inconsistent and I wasn't actually paying any attention to what mattered most, my body.  Nine times out of ten, now, I lace up my running shoes, walk out the door and just go.  No distractions, just me, my shoes, and the open road.  I am able to focus on me, not on what song will come next, when I'll hit the next mile, or what my pace is.  The bottom line is, I run based on how I feel.  If I can speed up, I will.  If I have to slow down, I do.

The only time I ever use a stop watch is when I am on the track doing speed work, and even then I hold back here and there and just try to run fast.  You might be asking, what about pace?  I still focus on pace work, but as I run more, my body has learned what a 6 minute mile feels like, and this works for a lot of my pace.  This post is not to say I condemn technology for runners, but it is an added stress, I believe.  I will use things every once in awhile, but I don't rely on it.  Some of my night runs I will ditch the head lamp and run in the dark.  I feel as a runner it is important to be in tune with the body, and when you have to focus on ten other things while you are running it takes away from this.  I also like to enjoy my runs and take in the scenery.  Fort Dodge does not have a lot to offer in this department, but every once in awhile I will see some wildlife and it is kind of cool to take that in.

I challenge you to drop the devices, walk out the door and just run.  Care free.  You can actually go run, then map what you ran later if you are worried about distance (this is what I do, since I like to log my miles).  Try running without music and start focusing on the outside.

On Cloudracer

About a month ago I was at Brown's Shoe Fit Company in Fort Dodge and noticed they had an advertisement for an event called "Third Thursday Fit Night".  The idea is to promote a healthy lifestyle for people n the area by getting them out to run 2-5 miles and provide them with healthy food courtesy of HyVee Drugstore.  When I arrived I was surprised to see a shoe representative there who was willing to let people try the shoes he was selling and take them for a jog to test them out.  This weeks company was On, a Swiss shoe company.

I decided to try the On Cloudracers which are On's closest thing to a minimalist shoe.  I ran 5 miles in them and was very happy with the decision to try them on.  On the bottom of each On shoe they have these cushion supports, that the company has named "clouds."  These provide a cushioned ride where the cloud slips back and propels forward.  You can see them in action on there website here: https://www.on-running.com/en-us.  The shoe was very lightweight and was not overbearing on my fore foot strike.  The company itself markets the Cloudracer as a competition shoe, but for a minimalist runner like myself I could see myself using it to train in.

The price is a little steep at 130 dollars, but the shoe itself seems durable enough to last a while, since all of the impact is distributed onto the clouds, which promote a lighter step, or at least for me it did.  You can buy these shoes in Fort Dodge, IA at Brown's Shoe Fit or order them online.

After I finished my run, my only complaint was that I liked them so much I wanted to buy them, but had recently purchased my New Balance Minimus shoes and could not justify spending another 130 dollars in the same week on shoes.  I would definitely recommend this shoe to anyone.  I have spoken with others who use their shoes as trainers for Cross Fit or just working out in general.  I think the Racer makes an excellent light weight running shoe and would be great for a minimalist/barefoot runner to use as a recovery shoe.

New Balance Minimus 10v2 Trail

After I retired my New Balance Ioinix's I decided to try New Balance again.  I was very pleased with the minimalist shoe I had just retired so I went into Brown's Shoe Fit Company here in Fort Dodge and stumbled upon the New Balance Minimus 10v2 Trail.  So far I have put about 20 miles in these shoes, so here is my review so far:

Compared to the New Balance Ionix these are true minimalist shoes (not quite barefoot but close).  The heel is still built up a bit so they are not quite a zero drop shoe (heel is not built up).  I have been pleased with the natural running form (midfoot/toe strike vs. heel strike), and this shoe really does promote that as it would be painful to heel strike in these shoes.  The bottoms of the shoes are made by Vibram so they will be durable, and the grip will be great.  I noticed that the bottom of the shoes are a little tougher after I ran on some gravel and was really pleased that I could not feel too many of the rocks, as opposed to the Ionix's.  The shoes are comfy and lightweight, which makes me feel fast when I am running in them.  There is a strap fastened to the front of the shoe, which I can only assume will prevent that area from tearing like my previous shoes.

Traditionally New Balance has not been known for style, but I like the look of these shoes.  You can never go wrong with black and gold (Go Hawks), but they do offer them in different colors for both men and women.  These shoes will take some getting used to, as they are a little more minimalist than the Ionix's and I noticed some foot soreness after the few runs I have done, nothing that will cause injury, just need to get used to the shoe and adjust my strike.  I have not had the chance to test these out on true trails so I am looking forward to getting out and testing them for their true purpose.  So far so good, I am pleased with my purchase, and for 90 dollars they are not too bad on the wallet.  My review is: I would recommend these shoes.

New Balance Ionix 3090V2

I bought my New Balance Ionix's at the beginning of August and just retired them after my ultra marathon.  I finished them off with a 34 mile run on trails filled with rocks, roots, mus, sand, dirt, and water.  It was hard giving them up and throwing them out.  Below is my review for this specific shoe:

The New Balance Ionix 3090V2 is a part of New Balance's Minimus collection.  I read Born to Run and decided I wanted to try out the whole minimalist running thing.  I saw these shoes at Foot Locker and decided to try them out.  Now most people work their way into minimalist shoes, but these shoes are not full fledged barefoot style shoes, so I went in and never looked back.  The heel is built up a little, but the shoe itself does not provide a lot of support, so be cautious if you are the type of person that is used to wearing over supportive and cushioned shoes.  I front of the shoes provides some cushion, but very little.  I noticed this the first time I ran on gravel and could definitely feel bigger rocks.  I noticed very quickly that I started to run more on my midfoot and toes vs. my heel, which is great for proper form.  My calves started to feel this, though, so soreness set in, but now after running in these my calves feel so much stronger.

Before these shoes I was running in Underarmour shoes and my knee would start to feel pain after 3 or more miles.  Once I switched to these shoes the pain went away and I was able to run faster for longer distances, pain free.  The shoes are not that durable, as I started to notice tears up front on the top from the bending at the ball of my feet.  Once I retired them the tops of each shoe were filled with tears.  I never experienced blisters except when I ran my first 50k through snow and ice, which was expected.  One of the great perks, they're cheap.  I bought my pair for 60.00.

Needless to say this shoe is awesome and I recommend it to anyone that is interested in transitioning into a more minimalist shoe, but not quite committed yet.  This shoe promotes a healthy, more natural, running form.  I put just under 1100 miles in the shoe and they were probably the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn and run in.  My review is simple: I would buy this shoe again and run in them.

Update on Ultra Training: Glass in Your Foot is Never Good

I can't wait until the days start reaching 40 degrees or higher consistently.  The cold is getting to me and makes it very hard to stay motivated.  After my ultra (50k) my knees were bugging me so I took about a week off.  After that I was doing well until I was in the gym playing basketball and slipped on a puddle of water and hit my knee on the ground pretty hard.  I took some more time off.  After a few days off I went out and ran 15 miles and felt great.  Later that week I went out for a 6 mile run and at about mile two I stepped on a piece of glass.  The glass went straight through the bottom of my shoe and into the bottom of my foot.  I continued through the last 4 miles, painfully.  I took another few days off and hit the roads again today and made it 5 miles just fine.  Being plagued with injuries back to back like that is not a great experience.  Track season starts tomorrow, which should be a great motivator as I enjoy running with the athletes.  Spring is right around the corner and I am very ready to throw on a pair of running shorts and maybe a light jacket to run in, finally.  My next 50k is on March 15th and should prove interesting with the lack of mileage I have put in recently.  I'll tough it out nonetheless and it will be a good indicator of where I am at for my 50 miler in April.

Update on Ultra Training, and Look Ahead

A week ago I ran my first ultra marathon of 50k (about 31 miles).  I finished in a time of about 4 hours 27 minutes, which was surprising with the lack of mileage I have put in the past few weeks.  The best part was 31 miles felt great.  My mind was strong through the entire thing and I think I only told myself about once to stop at about mile 21.  I persevered and kept running and finished 2nd overall.

Right now I have put in just over 150 miles in this month.  I need to take a day or two off to let my legs recover.  My knees are sore, and so are my shins.  After putting in a 65 miles week where close to half of that was in a race, my legs are begging for some time off the roads.  My training is going well as farther distances do not seem so far anymore.  Last year 8 miles would have been long, but now running 8-12 miles is easy and short.  After you run some 20 milers, and a 50k, it puts distance into a different perspective.  This week my runs have been pretty slow.  I ran a 9 miler on Wednesday at about 8:55 pace, a 10 miler on Saturday at 8:30 pace, and an 11 miler today at about 8:30 pace.  It felt good to slow down and take things easy.

These next couple weeks I am going to slow it down for about a week, then pick it back up.  I have another 50k on March 15th and hope to go sub 4 hours.  I'm looking forward to what this year has to bring since my first race was successful.  The rest of the year for me is as follows:
March 15th = 50k in Solon, IA
April 12th = 50 miler in Thielman, MN
May 31st = Dam to Dam (half marathon) in Des Moines, IA
June 21st = Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN
July 12th = 50k or 50 miler (haven't decided yet) in Baraboo, WI
October 19th = Des Moines Marathon
I might throw in a few smaller road races as well just for fun, but those are the big ones.

Free Spirit

I've been trying hard to boost my miles up, by just getting out there and letting my legs make up where I go.  That sounds kind of cheesy, but I started this new trend where I don't look at my training and don't make up my mind on how far I am going.  I just run.  It works pretty well, too.  On days where my training says 4 miles I might go out and actually put in 6-8, or 15 like I did today.  It's a very free-spirited approach to the sport and I feel at ease when I run like this.  I am sure the "experts" will disagree with this method and say I need to stick to training and appropriate mileage to prevent injury, but I have found the less I think about the technicalities the more I enjoy running.

I have started to notice the tranquility of winter running.  Not a lot of people are out and about in the winter time, especially at night, which makes many of my runs very peaceful.  It's great to take in the simplicity every once in awhile.  I don't listen to music as many people know who follow me, because running, for me, gives me time to think and enjoy life's greatest pleasures.

Today was the longest I have run in a long time (15 miles).  I probably would have liked to go more, but I think hypothermia was on the set in and I couldn't feel my hands anymore, so I had to call my wife to come pick me up.  I have a marathon (potentially a 50k) coming up on the 19th in Dubuque and I really needed to know what a long distance felt like in this weather.  Though 15 miles doesn't really compare to 26.2 it does give me an idea that I might want to dress a little better.  I will also have the adrenaline pumping to get me through the race and other people to run with.  I guess I don't feel as if I am 100% prepared or, at least, as prepared as I was for the Des Moines Marathon.

The goal with my ultra training from here on out is simply spend time on my feet and put in a lot of miles.