An Interview with David Helter, GM of ECCO USA

Last week’s review of the ECCO BIOM was a landmark one for me as a gear reviewer – and no, it’s not because the shoe is the most expensive one I’ve ever tested (that honor is still held by MBT). Rather, it was the first time I've met with a shoe company executive to talk specifically about his product.

Before conducting my field testing on the BIOM, I met personally with David Helter, General Sales Manager for the Performance Division of ECCO USA. Although he’s based in New England, he was making a West Coast business trip, and requested a face-to-face sit-down to talk about running, blogging (believe it or not, he gets around to a lot of websites), and of course, the ECCO BIOM.


It’s very possible that he just needed a rest stop on his drive from San Francisco to LA, and I happened to live in a town that’s close to the freeway. Regardless, it was an opportunity I wasn’t going to dare passing up. In fact, I wrote a new policy into the Running and Rambling bylaws: anytime the General Manager of a global company who makes one of the most talked-about products of the year asks me for a meeting, I say yes.

And then I write about it. This interview exchange was born out of that initial meeting and subsequent e-mails, and is a companion piece of sorts to my BIOM review. There’s a lot of stuff here, such as discussion of ECCO’s price point, the company’s pride in ownership throughout the manufacturing process, and how most of us have already used ECCO products without realizing it. We also touch upon running as therapy, Christopher McDougall and Born to Run, as well as the ever-deepening mystery of all those capital letters that ECCO uses.

In other words, there’s something for everybody. If nothing else, it makes for an interesting glimpse into the life of a major shoe industry executive.


Running and Rambling (R&R): David, give me a quick professional bio: How many years have you been with ECCO? How did you come to work for them in the first place? How did you end up overseeing the athletic shoe side of the store?

David Helter (DH): I have been with ECCO for 5 years, which is a relatively short time in 2 regards. 1) Many of my ECCO colleagues have been with the company 10 years or more (for a company in the US less than 20 years). This type of loyalty and longevity is rare in today’s business world. 2) I have been in the footwear business for almost 35 years. I spent most of my career with other premium brands; Bass, Stride Rite, Reebok and Nine West. I started with ECCO in 2005 as General Manager of the ECCO Kid’s Division. In late 2006, I assumed a dual responsibility for the ECCO Performance as General Manager. My 7 year experience with Reebok, 1987 – 1993, certainly helped ground me in the athletic business.


R&R: Tell me a bit about your exercise background: What activities you enjoy, how long you’ve been a runner, how often you run or what kind of weekly mileage you do, types of races (if any) you enjoy, favorite places to run, etc.

DH: I have always considered myself an athlete although I was not born with any extraordinary athletic skills or talent. But, I prided myself on how hard I worked to achieve the limited athletic success I had. I played football and wrestled in high school and wrestled in college. In those sports running is “punishment.” When you do something wrong, you run laps as punishment! When I graduated from college, I began to run for pleasure. I have been running on and off ever since. I am currently running 15-25 miles per week as my schedule and travel permits. I have recently been running in a few local (NH and MA) 5k races. I am only running an 8:45 pace but am working on getting that down a bit.

As with most runners, I run for enjoyment. I love running anywhere outside and am lucky enough to run all over the country. Although running is a bit of loner sport, it is always fun when I am at a place like Portland, OR or Cambridge, MA where there is a series of river trails and a lot of other runners and cyclists on those trails. Running is also great “therapy.” It is easy to work out problems, block out problems or just meditate when running. I also enjoy golf and some occasional beach volleyball.


R&R: On to the company questions … and let’s start with an odd one: What’s with all the capital letters? Both the names ECCO and BIOM are written in caps every time I see them in brochures or on the company website. What gives? I know BIOM is a shortened form of “biomechanics”, but I can’t figure out why the convention in needed.

DH: I don’t know how the letters got capitalized. The ECCO logo is actually done in small letters, ecco. BIOM in most of our printed materials in also done in small letters. Maybe we, the Sports Team, started to capitalize them to scream about our message. I am meeting with our Global Performance Marketing Manager, Wibke Rolf, today and will have to ask her how and why this happened.


R&R: For many runners (myself included), the tipping point for barefoot running and midfoot running form was Christopher McDougall’s book Born to Run, but I know that the research and design process behind BIOM has been going on for nearly three years. What initially inspired ECCO to think “outside the box”, as it were, and explore the potential of a natural running shoe?

DH: The co-CEO of ECCO, Dieter Kasprzak, was actually inspired by the barefoot runners of Africa. ECCO was making some “me too” running products but not making any in-roads into the premiere running channel. Dieter decided to use his inspiration with barefoot running and leverage 3 distinct pillars to embark on the BIOM project; 1) ECCO expertise in footwear making. 2) Dr. Peter Brueggmann’s and the University of Cologne’s expertise in biomechanics and 3) Torbjorn Sindballe’s professional athletic base as a world class triathlete and human laboratory. BIOM was about 3 years in development.

When we started to present BIOM to the running specialty stores in the US 1 ½ years ago, many of the retailers looked at us like we were crazy. After all, we were speaking of footwear inspired by the human foot and/or barefoot running. It was being made by a company NO ONE considered a “running company.” ECCO was battling the running industry giants like Asics and Nike. It was the most expensive running shoe in the world in a tough economy. And, last but not least, it was flying in the face of the current industry paradigms of extreme cushioning, motion control and stability.

1 ½ years later, with the rising popularity of McDougall’s book, the heightened interest in barefoot running, much talk about Chi & Pose running methods and the introduction of new concepts like Nike Free, Vibram Five Fingers, Newton Gravity and BIOM, there is a definite industry trend towards the “less is more” philosophy. I predict in 1-2 years every major running brand will be debuting styles in the natural motion category. This is great as it will give BIOM and ECCO credibility in the running community!


R&R: Related question: Have you read McDougall’s book? Any thoughts about his vocal advocacy for barefoot running, or criticisms of the traditional shoe industry?

DH: No, I haven’t read Born to Run. But, I just purchased a copy and it is the next book on my tall stack of ‘to reads.” I’ll talk to you the next time we meet about the book. McDougall and all barefoot runners are definitely viewed as extremist and in some cases “nutty people.” But, as it is clear that the trend away from the current running paradigms of motion control, stability and extreme cushioning are NOT a fad, the point of view towards him and other barefoot runners will begin to soften.


R&R: You’ve been very clear that ECCO is not seeking to convert barefoot runners to the BIOM. I’m also aware that BIOM can be worn by runners who heel strike, because of the PU pad in the heel. Is there any specific style of runner that you feel would benefit the most from using the BIOM? If you’re targeting those runners transitioning from traditional shoes to barefoot, does your long-term success hinge on whether or not those folks ever succeed in becoming barefoot runners (thus eliminating their need for more shoes)?

DH: BIOM was developed for runners of all strike styles, who don’t experience severe pronation. It can serve as a transition shoe for runners who want to move towards less motion control, stability and cushioning. It can serve as a minimalist shoe for barefoot runners running in severe temperatures or surface conditions. For heel strikers, the lower profile and rounded heel construction will help to move heel contact more towards the center of the heel. It will also help transition the runner from heel through midstance to toe-off quicker. For the midfoot and forefoot strikers, the broader forefoot platform and the great flexibility & torsion will allow for more natural motion.

Our long term success with BIOM will hinge mostly on placement of the concept in the right number of premiere running specialty stores across the US. Natural motion is one segment of running footwear. There will probably always be runners in some form of cushioning, motion control and stability footwear. Although most runners could probably condition their feet to run barefoot, I am not sure most runners have the discipline or desire to do so.


R&R: Pro triathlete Torbjorn Sindballe was instrumental in providing performance feedback for development of the BIOM. Since his recent retirement, is he still involved in the R&D process? Is the company recruiting other professionals for product development, or for a “Team ECCO” at high-profile events? Similarly, are there any plans for event sponsorship at road races or triathlons in the U.S.?

DH: Torbjorn was definitely instrumental in developing and testing BIOM. He has become a good friend and I view his retirement as sad and unfortunate. We will continue to partner with him in several ways but his role in testing product will obviously become much more limited. Yes, ECCO is looking to recruit other professionals but I don’t have much progress to report to you on this front.

We have had great success in launching BIOM and telling the story the grass roots level in the US and abroad. We will be at several trade show events like The Running Event in Austin, TX in November and the Tri Expo in San Diego in January. In addition, we will be doing a variety of race expos across the country including major events like the Chicago, NYC & Boston Marathons in addition to some of the Rock N’ Roll series. We are also looking at the triathlon event market closely as BIOM has struck a chord in this exciting and growing market. Sponsorships are very expensive and given our limited market funds we might leave this avenue to the industry giants.

R&R: You’ve mentioned that a trail model of the BIOM is in the works. Do you have a target launch date yet? Can you reveal any structural differences between the trail model and the current BIOM?

DH: BIOM Trail should be ready to launch the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011. We have already begun to test the trail model. We think the current attributes of the BIOM concept (extreme flexibility/torsion, low profile and anatomical last/shank) will be as efficient in promoting a natural gait on the trail as they are on the road. We have developed a different outsole with more traction and grip. In addition to their function, I think the silhouettes, materials and colors are very cool!


R&R: ECCO is the only major shoe manufacturer to own and manage the entire manufacturing process. Describe how that so-called “cow to consumer” ownership enhances your quality assurance, production efficiency, and/or corporate responsibility.

DH: WOW, this is a BIG question! ECCO is the only company in the athletic industry which manages this type of vertical control of their destination.

We actually used to raise our own cattle for hides. Based on our growth and size, we now buy rawhides from many premiere sources. ECCO is the world’s 5th largest premium tannery. Our leather division, KT Trading Company, sells leathers to Wilson for baseball gloves. We have contracts with Coach and Louis Vitton for premium leather goods. We sell leather to car and aircraft companies for leather interiors. And most important, we sell leathers to many other shoes companies and make ALL our own leathers. Even though ECCO is not the family name, we are a family owned business and ECCO is treated like the family name.

We have won awards and accolades for the cleanness of our tanning process. We have factories in several countries including Denmark, Portugal, Slovakia, Indonesia, Thailand and China. We produce 80% of our own footwear. We only make one kind of construction in our own factories; Direct Injection Process. We control all processes of our factory construction including pattern making, last making, mold making and footwear assembly. So we humbly consider ourselves shoemaking experts in all processes of shoemaking. When it is your company with the “family name” on the product, which the company is entirely responsible for producing you take pride in every step of the process. Using a simple analogy, it is the difference between owning a home and renting a home.


R&R: Let’s talk about the cost issue: No matter how many great things we have to say about the BIOM (and there certainly a lot), a large segment of the population will remain hung up on the price point. Aside from the unique selling points that were covered in the review, what would you say to recreational runners who believe the BIOM is just too cost prohibitive to try? Are you OK with ECCO being seen as a premium product – something like a BMW compared to a Volkswagen – for a narrower segment of the running community? Do you have any ballpark market share in mind to consider the BIOM a success?

DH: Let’s start by saying that the timing was difficult for ECCO to launch the most expensive running shoe in the world, as it would have been to launch the best watch, car or suit. With that said, ECCO has been and always will be a premium brand.

As per the above statement about our company & control of the entire process, we are more interested in being considered the best vs. the biggest. There will always be a segment of the market looking for and rewarding innovation, “the latest and greatest.” There are plenty of less expensive MP3 players than the iPod but the consumer is still driven to Apple as the leader. So, yes, we are OK, even honored if we are seen as premium like BMW to VW. We can always look to broaden market share in additional development in the running market.

And don’t forget, ECCO makes men’s & women’s comfort/casual/dress shoes, children’s shoes and golf shoes. Not many other single brands span this kind of diverse categorization in footwear. We don’t have a ball park market share but for the US, I hope to be in 125-150 stores maximum for distribution of the BIOM concept.


R&R: I know you place great importance on supporting local running stores and helping to maintain their expertise about your product specifically, and overall running biomechanics and shoe industry knowledge in general. However, since the BIOM is sold through a limited number of retailers, many of your potential shoppers will be inclined to buy directly from the BIOM website or other online retailers. If someone is considering the BIOM, what is your recommendation for the preferred route of purchase?

DH: We are going to continue to sell BIOM and tell the BIOM story through the premiere running specialty retail channel. As detailed above, we feel we need 150 premiere partners across the US to meet demand.

We recently placed BIOM on our own website. We did this because we found the tremendous amount of PR and marketing we were receiving on BIOM was generating a lot of consumer interest. We were receiving emails and calls weekly from frustrated consumers who could not find the product in their respective market. Where possible, we try to steer these consumers to the closest BIOM partner. Ultimately, rather than frustrating the customer or losing a sale, we decided to service the consumer as best as we can on our website.

The results have been humbling. In reviewing the sales, we are selling a lot of the yak leather, which only represented 20% of our placement but have been almost 50% of the sales to the consumer. In addition, it is interesting to look at the origin of the sales. 99% of the sales are coming from markets where we have no partners. We are using this selling information to recruit partners in these areas and to guide our current partners in terms of what product to assort and inventory. When we reach critical mass for retail representation, BIOM might best be serviced only through the traditional brick and mortar retail channel where the story can be told and the product experienced. We would prefer everyone have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with a running specialist to experience and buy BIOM.


R&R: Look into your crystal ball: Where do you see the BIOM in 5 or 10 years? Will it be a “classic” model, or is it the kind of thing that will continually be tinkered with and/or revamped over the years? Do you anticipate the interest in barefoot running and natural running to keep growing, or are we at an apex of sorts? If the barefoot running movement goes away, does the BIOM disappear with it? (And while you’re there in the future … will I still be running? Are people still reading my blog?)

DH: ECCO is constantly striving to improve. We are already evolving the BIOM concept and will be launching the next generation, BIOM 2.1 and 2.2, of BIOM in Spring 2010. Let me tell you these are tweaks and truly represent evolution and not revolution. The revolution started with the original BIOM concept! Yes, hopefully BIOM will become classic but can continue to be updated.

Barefoot running and natural motion is not at its apex. This “organic” style is just beginning. To quote Neil Young….”rock and roll (and BIOM) must never die.” Regarding my look into the crystal ball on your running and blog future … sorry my crystal ball just got a little cloudy!


R&R: Well, it didn’t hurt to ask. Thanks very much for your participation with this interview. I appreciate your taking the time to speak with me.

DH: My pleasure. Happy running!

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A Monterey Ghost Story

“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living”

- Cicero (106-43 BC)


For many years, my trail running group has occasionally done a “cemetery run”, winding our way through fire roads and single track trails in order to reach the tiny graveyard of an old pioneer family long forgotten by time and neglect. Recently, I tried to learn more about the family who eternally rests near my favorite training ground, only to find that very little is known about them.

So in honor of Halloween weekend, I altered the course of my weekly bike ride with my 11-year-old son in order to explore the area better, and tell him about one of the most mysterious and fatefully haunted locations I’ve ever come across. Think of this as our true-life Monterey County ghost story.


Our tale begins on the former … hang on a second. That doesn’t look quite right. Let me just reach down to this dial here …


There, that’s better. Halloween stories should be told in black and white, don’t you think? OK then – our tale begins on the former Fort Ord military area, more than 7,000 acres of land now used as recreational open space by trail runners and mountain bikers alike.


The landscape welcomes us gently, and I use our warm-up period to introduce the story of the Whitcher (seriously, that’s the real name) family who homesteaded on this land in the late 1800s, only to vanish almost without a trace aside from the remote, meager cemetery that hints at their hardships.


To reach the site, we’ll have our work cut out for us; Fort Ord is known for its rolling, rugged terrain, and our destination lies nearly eight miles away across several ridgelines that we’ll go up and over along the way. (If you’re curious, I did a GPS profile of the ride here.) It was easy for us to imagine how difficult it would be for anyone to forge a comfortable existence out here nearly 150 years ago.


The Whitcher family occupied this land for nearly 60 years, primarily residing in a farm house in the nearby Corral de Tierra area, better known to Steinbeck fans as the Pastures of Heaven. They once owned thousands of acres here, and yet – unlike nearly every other owner of an original “rancho” or “adobe” land grant – absolutely nothing that I know of in Monterey County bears their name.


After cresting our second major climb, our route takes us past a locked gate and down a lonely fire road …


… where even the normal sights begin to acquire an ominous veneer. It’s very likely that these trees knew the Whitchers personally - and their reaching branches may be silently straining to tell us about the other fathers and children who passed this way so many years ago.


The tree cover remains fairly dense until we reach a clearing on the outskirts of a long abandoned community (more on that in a minute) – and about 100 yards off the main road, we finally reach our destination.


The humble cemetery that is the resting place for the family of Thomas Rose Whitcher. It’s only about 20’ long by 10’ wide, but holds the gravestones of five people.



The grass grows long in the center of the plot, but the site shows signs of occasional visitation: a wreath on the cross, flowers at its base, and an artificial cluster of berries or grapes on another headstone.


At the base of the cross is the marker for Mary H. Pearson, who at age 36, represents the oldest person in this plot. The remaining stones – with one uncertain exception – start larger but decrease in size according to the age of the deceased.

Ned Eliger Whitcher, November 8, 1862 - April 29, 1879. Ceased breathing.

Floria Elvira Whitcher, July 19, 1866 – February 17, 1875. Returned to God who gave her.

The next gravestone is the most heartbreaking, even 130 years removed:

Harry Whitcher, August 5, 1875 - September 16, 1875. Quit acheing.

If little Harry’s marker was the most heartbreaking, this final one is the most mysterious:


A small, plain, chipped slab, with nothing more than the initials H.W. Is it another infant? An animal? Had the family become too poor to have an official tombstone made? The answer might be in the wind, or in the trees ... but neither of them are talking.


Overlooking the gravesite from a slight rise is a boarded-up barracks from a former Army post. For most of the 20th Century, the East Garrison barracks housed hundreds of servicemen, and this area also contained a schoolhouse, church, and general store. The Army closed the base in the early 1990s, and the land was eventually turned over to developers. A housing project broke ground, but ran out of money in the recent financial meltdown – so now the whole area sits vacant: abandoned barracks, vandalized and dilapidated buildings, streets halfway built and then forgotten. It’s a literal ghost town, all within shouting distance of the enigmatic graveyard.


That’s also the reason for the chain-link fence around two sides of the burial site: it’s technically part of the Army land turned over to developers, but a consensus was never reached about what to actually do with the site in the context of building a subdivision. There was talk of refurbishing the site, and whispers of relocating it … and then the project stopped, so the decision never had to be made. Now the fence is there as a token gesture of protecting a sacred area that very few people pay attention to anymore.

As my son and I pondered the gravesites in the fading afternoon, the air was growing cold, the wind was beginning to howl, and we still had almost 90 minutes of riding to get home, so it was time to be on our way.


The dying sunlight cast long shadows throughout our return, a somber reminder that time is always running out: on our days, on our precious moments shared with those we love, on our very existence. There’s really nothing like a visit to a graveyard on a cold autumn evening to give you a serious case of the chills.


Our ride back was a lot quieter than the journey out – not necessarily due to being spooked, but more likely because we were tired and cold, and contemplating all that we had just seen.

(But maybe a little bit spooked, too. I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.)


Winding through dense patches of trees, now it seemed as if they were reaching out in hopes of capturing us. They wanted us to stay with them longer – either to tell us more stories, or just to keep them company during the approaching cold night. Whatever the reason, my son and I declined all offers, and just kept on pedaling.


Eventually we reached our sta… oops, wait a minute again … let me switch this back on:


Eventually we reached our starting point, threw on some sweatshirts, and loaded up the bikes to drive home.

I’m not exactly sure whether 10 or 15 years from now my son will think back on this ride with fondness, or just feel creeped out by how his father told him morbid stories while dragging him to an abandoned graveyard on a cold gray evening. However, the story of the Whitcher family has captivated me ever since I discovered it, and I think it’s important that those who came before us – even the most downtrodden, star-crossed, and unfortunate souls among them – live on somehow in the people who come along afterwards.

We honor the dead by remembering them – and if nothing else, this was a ride that I think will stay with us for quite a long time.

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ECCO BIOM Running Shoe Review

Of all the shoes I’m reviewing this fall, none are quite as intriguing as the ECCO BIOM.

Anytime a company brings a $220 running shoe to the market, there’s going to be immediate skepticism over whether the cost is justified. But when you consider how the shoe was conceived, and all of its unique design innovations, and its elusive combination of high comfort and high durability … you could make a compelling case in favor of it. At the very least, you know that ECCO is trying to earn your money honestly.

Most people know ECCO as the 45-year-old Danish company famous for its luxury dress shoes. The brand has sold footwear in US markets for nearly 20 years, and has even produced athletic shoe models for more than seven years. However, it wasn’t until the launch of the BIOM Project that ECCO had a product with enough unique features and major points of difference to distinguish itself from its major running shoe competitors.


The BIOM is designed as a natural running shoe, preserving the natural biomechanics of your foot and ankle as closely as possible. It is NOT intended to convert barefoot runners, or even to compete with minimalist footwear like Vibram or Feelmax. Rather, it represents a paradigm shift in the standard categorization of running shoes, with a fundamental concept inspired by barefoot runners.

ECCO is one of the very few running shoe companies who openly acknowledge that traditional technologies – cushioning, motion control and stability – have been largely ineffective to reduce the injury rates of runners. They saw an opportunity to reinvent the philosophical approach to creating shoes, with a design based not on correcting perceived shortcomings of the foot, but on mimicking the biomechanics of barefoot running.

(Somewhat related tangent #1: The name of the shoe is a shortening of the word “biomechanics”; as for why it’s capitalized, I have no idea – but I’m making some inquiries.)

(Somewhat related tangent #2: This isn’t some knee-jerk reaction by ECCO to capitalize on the Great Barefoot Craze of 2009. The BIOM is the culmination of nearly three years of design and production – so in most respects, the company was way ahead of the current natural motion movement.)

To that end, ECCO launched the BIOM Project with three main resources: 1) the company’s existing and ongoing body of research on natural foot structure, 2) a partnership with Dr. Peter Bruggemann, one of the world’s foremost experts in running biomechanics from the University of Cologne, and 3) collaboration with professional triathlete Torbjorn Sindballe as a real-world test lab. The result was an innovative concept with several unique features, which also meets the demands of a high-performance running shoe.

So what distinguishes this shoe from any others on the market? Here are some of the highlights:

· Instead of using a cookie-cutter straight last or curved last, ECCO created a true anatomic last based on the scanned foot profiles of 2500 runners.

· The anatomic accuracy is enhanced by a direct-injection process of polyurethane (PU) in the midsole. It’s an advanced construction method of bonding the upper to the midsole which also improves the shoe’s durability. The BIOM is the only running shoe on the market that is built using this direct-injection process.

· The entire midsole - and a significant portion of the outsole - of the BIOM is made of PU; there is no EVA in the shoe at all. (In the photos above and below, everything green is PU.) In lab testing, PU has roughly three times the durability of EVA – which means that the midsole breaks down three times more slowly, theoretically giving your shoe a lifespan that is up to three times longer. ECCO’s official claim is that the shoes can last approximately 1.5 times longer than traditional EVA shoes – but that factor alone could help justify the expense of this shoe.

· High-traction rubber outsole components (above photo) are placed strategically to improve grip, but spread minimally to decrease weight.

· The midsole sits lower than traditional running shoes, with a rounded heel construction to diminish rearfoot impact.

· Flex points (above photo) in the outsole mimic barefoot motion.

Furthermore, rather than classifying its models into traditional categorizations, ECCO differentiates the BIOM based on running speed. This makes sense when you consider the differences in your form between sprinting and distance running; as a general rule, when increasing your velocity, you shift more workload to the midfoot and forefoot regions, with less impact through the heel. (The classic example to picture is a group of world-class 100-meter runners; their heels barely touch the ground at all while racing.)


Consequently, the two models available are BIOM A (identified in photo above), intended for runners who frequently run a 6-minute mile pace or faster, and BIOM B, which is intended for the 6-to-10 minute miler. The BIOM A sits lower to the ground, with less slope from heel to forefoot than the BIOM B. Individual specs between the two are as follows:

BIOM A men’s - heel 20mm high, forefoot 12mm
BIOM B men’s - heel 24mm, forefoot 14mm

(a BIOM C, for “occasional” runners, and a trail running version of the BIOM are both in the works for 2010, but not currently available.)

Overall weight of the BIOM A is 10.5 oz, which places it higher than a racing shoe, but lower than the majority of traditional trainers on the market. The dense polyurethane midsole in place of EVA adds some weight, but the tradeoff is increased durability as described above.

In my testing, I tried a BIOM A – not because I’m a sub-6-minute runner, but because I’m coming to the shoe from the background of being a barefoot runner. I wanted the model as flat and close to the ground as possible, which could be a difficult adjustment for someone transitioning from traditional running shoes.

The adjustment period is a critical factor in a newcomer’s success with BIOM, and the company advises a six-week breaking-in period. One of Sinballe’s roles with ECCO was to create a training plan (posted on the website and in BIOM brochures) to ease customers into the shoe naturally.

Another design innovation that mimics barefoot running is a roll bar structure just forward of the heel, which serves as a pivot point to promote midfoot impact instead of heelstrike. If you’re already a midfoot striker, you may barely notice it, but if you’re a regular heel striker, you may initially feel like you’re rolling over the top of the shoe while shifting your weight forward.

Further enhancing the efficient energy transfer from heel to forefoot is a very rigid midsole shank from the heel to the forefoot. The shank opens up in the forefoot to allow the toes to spread slightly, providing a powerful pushoff. The rigid shank plus the dense polyurethane midsole might make the shoe feel slightly stiff during the first few runs, but I noticed that I settled into a nice midfoot strike and smooth transition through the ground contact phase of my running.


One final distinguishing characteristic of the BIOM shoes are the uppers, which are available in two different styles for both the BIOM A and BIOM B: either traditional textile mesh (pictured above), or a breathable yak leather. While the use of yak leather initially raised some eyebrows, it’s really an ideal case of a company using innovation to enhance its social responsibility rather than worsen it.


The yak is a Himalayan pack animal raised for similar purposes as American cattle - primarily labor and milk, and then sacrificed for meat. However, unlike US livestock, yak hides are very thick and oily, and the leather is very difficult and expensive to tan. ECCO spent two years developing an efficient yak tanning process, and now buys most of their supply from Sherpas in the region who otherwise would simply discard it. ECCO is justifiably proud of its efforts to minimize material waste while providing a unique high performance material for its footwear.

As you would expect, there is a difference in ventilation between the open mesh of the textile version and the perforated yak leather, but it’s not as great as you’d imagine. I was fortunate enough to test both versions, and found the yak leather to be remarkably thin, super soft and surprisingly cool. The small sacrifice you make in ventilation with the yak leather is probably compensated by its improved durability compared to the textile upper. Again – if you’re paying a lot of money for these (and trust me, you are), you want them to remain in top shape as long as possible.

Which brings us to the matter of cost. The textile version of the BIOM A retails for $195, and the leather version sells for $220. While select models from other shoe companies (think Newton Gravity, Asics Kinsei, or Nike Air Max 360) are creeping upward into this neighborhood, BIOM has clearly established itself as the most expensive running shoe on the market.

It’s a pricing strategy that ECCO doesn’t apologize for; throughout its history, the company has staked its name on creating premium products at a premium price. They know that there is always a segment of the consumer market who wants the best and is willing to pay for it. I equate this to drivers who prefer driving a BMW when a Volkswagen will run just as far and just as effectively. Think of ECCO as the BMW of the running shoe market: you will undoubtedly get incredible engineering and performance, but whether that justifies the high cost is an individual decision.

Finally, a couple of considerations if you're looking to buy the BIOM …

1) U.S. availability of the shoe is limited to a “premier distribution” of approximately 50 running specialty stores. ECCO places a great deal of significance on supporting independent retailers, and developing their knowledge base and product expertise. It’s great for potential customers who have questions about the BIOM – but the downside is that if you want to try a pair on for a test spin, you might need to travel a ways. A list of vendors can be found on the BIOM Project site.

2) The fit of the shoe is slightly tricky in that it only comes in full sizes, and seems to run slightly big. I wear a size 11 US/44 Euro, which put me right between the BIOM size 45 (for US sizes 11 to 11.5) and size 44 (US size 10-10.5). The 45 was a bit roomy, and I had a better fit with the 44s. If you’re buying from the Internet and have questions about the sizing, it’s probably worth a trip to your nearest vendor to make sure the fit is correct.

Obviously, there’s a lot of information to chew on here … which is probably the way it should be if you’re thinking of spending over $200 for a pair of running shoes. The BIOM is definitely unique compared to any other product on the market, and ECCO deserves credit for rejecting the traditional models of shoe technology and developing an innovative alternative.


(Related post: read my interview with David Helter, GM of ECCO USA, here.

*footwear provided by ECCO USA
*See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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The Barefoot Files: Training Update #6

“Listen to the talking heart in my chest –

With this gift good Lord I am blessed –
There’s a lump and it’s in my throat –
I’m in love with the wilderness.”
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Naked in the Rain” (song after post)
**

In my last report, I indicated that I wasn’t sure where the end point of these training updates lay; this week, I think I’ve reached it.

That’s not to say that my transformation to a barefoot runner is complete, or that there aren’t a lot of new challenges to conquer - it’s just that the practice of logging and reporting every run has become a bit tedious, as I’ll explain more in a minute. But first, let’s put the numbers up here, if just for old times’ sake:

Week 12: 4 barefoot runs

- 20 min (after shod run)
- 45 min
- 70 min
- 35 min

Week 13: 4 barefoot runs

- 50 min (with 30:24 5K)
- 20 min (after shod run)
- 20 min (after shod run)
- 35 min

If each week reads generally like the week before, that’s the way it feels from my standpoint as well. On some days I jog out a mile or two after a longer shod workout, and other days I’ll devote a larger chunk of time to spend entirely without shoes. I feel like I’ve settled into a pretty good groove, where running barefoot is just another facet of my overall training.

Even my family is getting accustomed to the routine. Remember this picture that I took after a neighborhood 3-miler a few weeks ago? Well, now when I come home from a weekend run, my youngest daughter usually meets me on the steps to watch me take my foot picture. Of course, she likes to include herself in the game, too …

… so we’ve got a lot of pictures like this at home.

As mentioned previously, there are still a lot of new horizons for me to explore on this barefoot adventure, and I’m going to continue to do so. I want to get more resilient on dirt and trail surfaces, I’d like to stretch out my barefoot runs to ever longer distances, and I’m itching to develop some speed (see my 5K time above - tantalizingly close to sub-30. Whoo-hoo!). I’ll still report on those developments, as well as particularly memorable runs like my morning on the Embarcadero as the weeks and months roll by.

On that note, a couple of stories stand out from the last couple of weeks:

I’ve mentioned more than once that dirt running is going to be my final frontier as a barefooter; the sharp, irregular terrain is absolutely merciless on my naked feet – which, perversely, makes me all the more intrigued to conquer the challenge.

I started thinking about what kinds of trails would be best for easing myself into things: Someplace flat. Someplace with relatively soft soil. Someplace where the dirt is groomed on a frequent basis. Someplace with a scenic backdrop to help me pass the time.

Someplace, in other words, like a big open agricultural field – which the Salinas Valley just happens to be famous for.

I’ve written before about running and riding through these fields, and I find myself drawn to them ever more frequently over the past several weeks. It’s really a topic that deserves its own post, which I’ll put together in the near future.

The other noteworthy run happened at the end of my weekly 12-mile trail run early one Tuesday morning. All of the weather forecasts form the evening before warned about a fierce winter storm rolling into our area during the night, so when I lumbered out of bed at 4:45 to the sound of only mild rainfall, I considered myself a bit lucky, and headed out to join the regular group run.

Our collective luck held out through about 90 minutes of the run, as the storm never escalated beyond light sprinkling with heavy wind. The skies began to open up about 10 minutes away from our destination, and by the time we finished, the heavy stuff was just beginning to come down.

After reaching my car, the thought occurred to me: When was the last time you ran barefoot in the rain? And since I couldn’t even think of such an occasion, I decided to make one right then.

I kept my running clothes on, stripped off my shoes and socks, and spent the next 20 minutes dancing around in what was now a legitimate full-throttle storm. As the wind howled, and the rain pelted my face, and my feet felt the chill of cool water, there wasn’t anything else I wanted to be doing.


It was crazy and primal and juvenile – but it was one of the most intense experiences I’ve ever enjoyed. Good Lord, I am blessed.

**
Postscript: If I ever had to create a "desert island" collection of my five most enjoyable, most enduringly listenable albums of all time, RHCP's Blood Sugar Sex Magik would have a secure place on that list. It was arguably the band's high-water mark, and although this song wasn't a hit single (and never had an official music video), it stands out as one of the best funky jams ever made by a band famous for its vast repertoire of jam funkiness.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Naked in the Rain” (click to play):


*See previous training updates on sidebar at right.

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U2 Stops the Traffic

(Admin note: this is the follow-up post to the trivia question I asked in this post about a certain landmark in San Francisco. The story itself has nothing to do with running, but if you’ve hung around here for any length of time, you know that's never stopped me before.)

*
In November of 1987, U2 hadn’t comfortably settled into their newfound status as the Biggest Band in the World.

Earlier in the year, they released The Joshua Tree, the album that launched them straight into the rock music stratosphere, and were drawing tens of thousands of fans at every sold-out tour stop of the summer. They couldn’t walk down the street anymore without a flash mob and hundreds of photographers stalking their every move. Yet they still loved the youthful spontaneity of their early years, and felt like they were losing touch with fans who couldn’t afford concert tickets.

The documentary film Rattle and Hum was conceived as an effort to share the tour experience with that base, and one day on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, the band gave its fans the ultimate gift of spontaneity: a free lunchtime concert in Justin Herman Plaza.

Photo from U2tour.de

The concert was announced on short notice (less than 24 hours by most reports), but still drew 20,000 people to the foot of Vaillancourt Fountain to hear a nine-song playlist. The crowd spilled into the surrounding streets and brought traffic to a standstill in all directions.

Near the end of the show, Bono (a future Time Magazine Person of the Year, mind you) climbed the lower portion of Armand Vaillancourt’s Quebec Libre! sculpture and spray painted the phrase Rock & Roll Stops The Traffic above the impromptu stage.

Photo from U2tour.de

Afterward, San Francisco’s mayor was outraged, threatening fines and jail time as punishment for such a public display of vandalism. The argument escalated until Vaillancourt himself was contacted to learn if he supported the act.

The sculptor defended Bono's gesture, declaring that from a societal standpoint, graffiti is sometimes a necessary evil for young people who lack the same access to mainstream media that people of higher power and influence enjoy. San Francisco’s mayor knew better than to pick a battle with one of the city’s most popular artists – to say nothing of the Biggest Band in the World – and let the issue rest without further consequence.

Vaillancourt then supported the band in the coolest way possible: the following night, he personally attended U2's Oakland concert, and climbed on stage to write "Stop the madness" in front of 70 000 people.

The scene at Herman Plaza is forever captured in their 1989 movie Rattle and Hum (click to play):


Which is why the song "All Along the Watchtower" was playing in my head throughout last weekend's run.

(So I guess the story is a LITTLE bit about running ... )

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Anti-Monkey Butt Powder

(Admin note: I know I promised a U2 post for this weekend; that one’s coming tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m throwing together a somewhat odd product review that I’ve been extremely delinquent in posting. You’ll quickly see why.)

If there was ever any doubt about my willingness to accept just about any product offer that knocks on my e-mailbox, allow me to present a review of Anti-Monkey Butt Powder.

The Anti Monkey Butt Corporation (seriously – it’s a real corporation) was founded in 2003 by a couple of hardcore dirt bike racers, and their product is designed to eliminate the friction and chafing that cyclists and runners experience during multi-hour activities.

You know what I’m talking about; it goes by a lot of names: Saddle sore. Scarlet cleft. Jungle rot. Or, in this case, monkey butt.

So these two dudes created Anti-Monkey Butt Powder for improved comfort during long activity. They tested various formulas before settling on the right combination of ingredients (which are apparently top secret, as they’re nowhere to be found on the website).

Honestly, I don’t typically have severe problems with chafing, so it’s hard for me to vouch for the effectiveness of AMBP. However, I used it for a handful of mountain bike rides during the summer, and it seemed to decrease the amount of sweating in, um … delicate areas. So I guess I can say it works as advertised.

This clearly isn’t my area of expertise, so I don’t know how AMBP compares to using plain old baby powder, or BodyGlide or other types of saddle creams and balms out there. I will say that they have one of the coolest mascots I’ve seen in a while, and they sent me some stickers that my daughters love.

(Funny tangential story: My 5-year-old daughter continually confuses the names of a couple of products I’ve received – so in the mornings, when I’m in the process of making a monkey shake, she asks me, “Are you making your Monkey Butt Shake, Dad?,” which of course sends her siblings into hysterics. It’s happened enough times that she’s probably mixing the names up on purpose now – but it’s always good for a nice laugh before heading off to work or school.)

I don’t have much more to add here, other than to say that if you suffer from monkey butt, you should definitely consider Anti-Monkey Butt Powder as one of your prevention options. A 6-oz bottle is available for less than five dollars at Amazon.com, so it's a pretty inexpensive product to try.

Or, if you'd like to try it for free, I've also got two unopened single-use packets available for a giveaway to the first person to e-mail me at the address below. (UPDATE: They're already spoken for.)

*Product provided by Anti-Monkey Butt Corporation

** See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com

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What a Relief!

The world of marathoning has been getting a lot of press recently – unfortunately, for nearly all the wrong reasons.

Most serious and tragic was the story this month of three runners who died in the same race – a nearly inexplicable occurrence, especially in the absence of severe heat or other extreme conditions. On a more lighthearted note, there was the “scandalous” disqualification of both the first- and second-place women’s winners of a marathon in Milwaukee: the first for drinking from a forbidden water bottle, and the second for wearing an iPod (yes, really).

Somewhere in between these extremes of tragic and ridiculous is one of the better marathon stories I’ve heard in quite a while, about a senior runner from Michigan who dealt with unusual adversity in just about the most admirable way you could imagine … and was almost immediately penalized for it. His tale (which is 100% true) is the subject of our most recent Monterey Herald column, which follows below.

**
Running Life 10/22/09 “What a Relief!”

When running towards an aid station in the final miles of a marathon, most runners are looking for similar things: fluids, energy gels, some uplifting words from the volunteers, and perhaps a little Vaseline for problem areas.

At this month’s Twin Cities Marathon, Jerry Johncock was looking for a urinary catheter.

According to the Minneapolis-St Paul Star-Tribune (original story is here), Johncock is an 81-year-old who has finished more than 100 marathons since taking up running at age 50. He also suffers periodically from blood clots that block his urinary tract. During the marathon, he recognized the painful condition happening again and stopped to ask for assistance at the mile 22 aid station. He had hydrated well, but his bladder was struggling, and he couldn’t relieve himself. The medical staff at the race told him they didn’t have the necessary equipment to assist him, and recommended that he drop out of the race and go to a hospital for treatment.

Jerry Johncock; photo from Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

To nearly everyone’s surprise, a spectator in the crowd stepped up to say that he had a catheter in his car that the runner could borrow. The anonymous stranger retrieved it, the first aid worker helped insert it, and … problem solved! Johncock later called the Good Samaritan’s act “a gift from the Lord” in his time of need.

With his bladder freshly drained, Johncock was completely relieved and ready to roll. He ran strong to the finish, and even with the delay was able to win his men’s 80-84 age group (there were only two runners in the category, but still). At the Twin Cities Marathon, that honor carries a cash prize of $225.

Predictably, since nearly no good deed goes unpunished, when race officials heard of the incident they immediately suspended the official race results pending an investigation and consultation with USA Track and Field, the national governing body of road racing. They wanted to determine whether Johncock should be disqualified for violating race rules when he received the assistance.

From Twin Cities Marathon website

According to USATF rules, a competitor who receives assistance from any person aside from official medical staff may be disqualified. There was also a question of whether Johncock re-entered the course at the exact same location where he stepped off the road while using the catheter.

Fortunately, common sense prevailed – although it took four full days to get there – as Johncock’s time was allowed to stand. He collected his money and was declared the official age group winner. When the race director called him with the news, Johncock had no hard feelings – in fact, he said that he plans to return to the race next year.

If that happens, he said he’ll take one additional precaution: "I'll strap a catheter around my waist."

People say that marathon runners have to be tough, and willing to overcome whatever adversity they face on race day - and we've faced enough difficult extremes in marathon racing to appreciate just how challenging those rough moments can be. But in all our years of watching and participating in marathons, the toughness and determination shown by this octogenarian may be one of the most impressive displays we’ve ever heard of.

We know this story reads like satire but it’s absolutely true. It’s also a nice lesson on the positive attributes that years of marathon running can instill in someone. Our congrats go out to Mr Johncock for finishing his race, and we wish him many more in his future - although we hope the next one isn't quite so eventful.

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