Take 5 to Run

Before today’s post, an administrative note: Thanks for the great response to last Friday's VivoBarefoot coupon code giveaway. For those of you who didn’t receive the coupon code from me over the weekend, it’s because I couldn’t find an e-mail address in your comment or your profile. Feel free to contact me directly at info@runningandrambling.com so I can send you the code. Anyone else is welcome to jump in between now and the end of March as well.

That's all for now; on with the post ...

*

Evangelism has never been one of my gifts.

My philosophy in promoting running to others is remarkably similar to my approach to religion. I abide by certain customs and rules and values, not because of how they make me look to others, but because I truly believe in them. If someone happens to take notice or inquire as to why I do the things I do, or believe the things I believe, I’m happy to have that discussion – but I’ll never beat someone over the head with unsolicited advice or opinions about how to live his or her life.

My friend Mike, on the other hand, is the runner’s equivalent of Billy Graham. He truly believes that anybody, anywhere, of any age can become a runner – and it’s become a personal mission of sorts for him to preach the benefits of running to as many people as will listen, and convert as many runners to the faith as possible. Best of all, it’s not just lip service; he walks the walk (or maybe runs the run?) as well, happily mentoring any new runner he encounters, teaching clinics whenever he gets an opportunity, and taking a leadership role in Monterey County’s very successful Just Run youth running initiative.

Last week’s Monterey Herald column was his brainchild, and it’s a call to arms in America’s battle against sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity. It’s one of those “pay it forward” ideas that seems hopelessly, naively optimistic at first – but after you think it over for a while, you find yourself asking, “Well … why wouldn’t that work?”

And if you’re really inspired, Mike even set up a Facebook page, for which I’m apparently an administrator. Given the frequency that I’m actually on Facebook (i.e. never), the page will probably be needing some TLC in the near future – so if you’d like to get involved, feel free to contact Mike on that page. I’ll include the link after the post.

**
Running Life 3/11/10 “Take 5 to Run”

Our previous column was delivered from atop a soapbox, lamenting the obesity problem that plagues the health and well-being of American children. Unfortunately, the last 30 years of public service announcements, nutritional education, and instruction on physical activity has done little to curb the epidemic, as kids (not to mention adults) are still getting fatter.

So this week’s column is a call to action, and we’re encouraging all of our running friends to get involved. It’s time to stop talking about the issue, and start DOING something about it.

If you’re like us, you know how great running makes you feel, both physically and mentally. You know how beneficial it is for your cardiovascular health and emotional well being. You also know how rewarding it feels to share these experiences with others.

So here’s what we want you to do: participate in an effort called Take 5 to Run. It’s not an official program; in fact, we just made it up. But the premise is pretty simple, and has the potential to be highly effective.

Look at the numbers. There are currently 30 million adults who claim they run at least a few times a month. 10 million of them run “regularly” and entered organized races last year. These are the people who we’re asking to Take 5 to Run.

Over the course of one year, invite 5 of your non-running friends for a run. Encourage them to get started, help them select shoes if needed, and take them on an easy jog. Help them through the initial uncertainty, and celebrate their every accomplishment on their way to starting a running program.

Later, ask them to pay it forward; once they are established runners, recommend that they take another 5 people out for a run. And so on and so on. Do the math: if 10 million runners recruit 50 million non-runners, and that group grows to 250 million in a couple of years … before you know it we have a nation of runners and the obesity trend is reversed.

Obviously, we aren’t naive enough to think that everyone will successfully convert 5 others, but we optimistically believe that many of you are capable of drawing new runners in. As long as the numbers trend in the right direction, we’ll still end the epidemic. So how do you instruct someone to start? Remember the name of the game.

Take 5 to Run is a phrase that can also be used as a blueprint to get friends or kids started. The first run or walk should only be 5 minutes. Aim for a habit of 5 minutes per day, 5 days a week. Tell 5 people about it, for moral support and to hold yourself accountable. Select one day to increase your distance by 5 more minutes, and then another day, and then another and another as you continue to improve.

We’d also love to see the running industry step up and help people Take 5 to Run. Shoe companies or specialty running stores could give discounts to those who are buying their first pair of shoes and mention Take 5 to Run. Races should give discounts to those who are entering their first race after they’ve Taken 5 to Run. Get some national running organizations on board, and who knows where this might end up.

But for the time being, it can all begin with you. Take the pledge, and Take 5 to Run.

**
Addendum: see the Facebook page for Take 5 to Run, and let us know if you’d like to help maintain it.

Read more...

First Look at Vivo Barefoot Evo; Terra Plana Coupon Code Giveaway

My VivoBarefoot (did you know it’s officially all one word? Me neither, until recently) Evos arrived a couple of weeks ago, and along with them was a generous coupon offer that I’ve been authorized to pass along to anyone who is interested. Details will follow below – but I figured since I’m sitting here typing, I may as well plunk out some initial impressions about the Evo and make this a regular post for the day.

VivoBarefoot Evo

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve only put 25 miles on these shoes over the course of three runs (5-, 13-, and 7-miles, in that order), which is only a fraction of the mileage I typically log before a full-fledged shoe review. I never rush to publish a review; I find that it takes some settling into a shoe to get a good sense of its overall comfort, performance and durability. In other words, I reserve the right to change my mind about any or all of this information by the time I post a full review in a few weeks.

And in the spirit of brevity, we’ll keep the observations to bullet points:

* The shoes aren’t nearly as bad looking as I feared – in fact, I’ve seen a lot worse on modern running shoes nowadays.
* The toe boxes are somewhat narrower than other VivoBarefoot models (see below), and noticeably more elongated. The fit runs true to size (Euro sizing), but since VB only offers whole sizes, someone who is truly an in-betweener might find the next whole number (say, a 10.5 US converting to a 11 US/44 UK) overly long in the front.

L to R: VivoBarefoot Dharma, Lesotho, and Evo

* Somewhat related to the toebox length, the flexion crease of the upper created a pressure point across the top of my second toe on each foot. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just noticeable.
* Some early reviews have noted a similar impingement at the base of the tongue area, but I haven’t experienced this. It’s worth noting here that I’ve used socks for all of my runs thus far, but I’m planning some sockless Evo miles very soon.
* Aside from the points I’ve mentioned, the entire sockliner and upper are quite comfortable. The 13-mile run I did was at a fairly fast pace, with zero chafing or hot spots anywhere around the heel or ankle.
* Overall weight of one shoe is 8.2 oz – which is on the high side for a minimalist shoe, but lighter than most road trainers.
* Speaking of minimalist footwear – if you’re coming to these from Vibrams, the arch area on the Evo will feel looser, as the outsole doesn’t wrap this area nearly as snugly as the FiveFingers.
* Outsole grip is quite solid for roads, and should be fine for groomed trails as well. I’ll put more trail miles on them soon to test some technical footing.
* Ground feel is similar to Vibram KSO Treks, and noticably thicker than the Feelmax Osma.
* Ventilation of the shoes feels pretty effective, but I haven’t worn them in temps over 50 degrees yet.

They're still very flexible, too.

Otherwise, I guess the best thing I can say about the Evo is that I really enjoy wearing them, and I’m looking forward to putting a lot more mileage on them. Of course, the elephant in the room with any conversation about the Evo will be its price point - $160 US – and whether a “barefoot” shoe is worth more than most people spend on top of the line high-tech trainers. To me, the shoe’s durability will be the primary justifier of its cost, which is all the more reason to withhold a full review for a few more weeks. Give me another 100 miles or so, and I’ll have a much better sense of how things are holding together.

I’m rather optimistic about the construction quality of the Evo, mainly because it’s what I’ve come to expect from the three other VivoBarefoot models I own. If you already own these shoes, you know what I’m talking about; if you never have, now is a good opportunity to try.

In conjunction with this post, VivoBarefoot has provided a coupon code for a $50 discount on one full-price purchase from the VivoBarefoot collection between now and March 31st 2010. The code (sadly) doesn’t apply to the Evo shoe, but it’s valid for the entire Fall/Winter 09 line as well as the full Spring/Summer 2010 collection that will be available beginning March 22nd. Best of all, this isn’t a single-winner drawing, it’s an “anybody who wants it can get it” giveaway – so if you’re planning on purchasing any Terra Plana VivoBarefoot models this month, leave a comment below this post (make sure there’s a contact e-mail in the comment or attached to your profile) and I’ll send you the discount code. Easy as that.

Read more...

Target Acquisition

Actual conversation between me and my 8-year-old daughter during our most recent 5K training session ...

Daughter: So are we doing the 5K in Salinas this spring, or the one in Carmel?

Me: The one in Carmel. It's the same one [her brother] did for his first 5K.

Daughter: OK ... (long pause) ... so what was [her brother's] time when he did that race?

Me: I'm not exactly sure ... I think it was something around 36 or 37 minutes. I can check for sure when we get home. (Another pause) You're going to try to beat his time, aren't you?

Daughter (with sly smile): Maybe.

It's not my normal parenting style to compare one child to another, or to place the unnecessary pressure of expectation on a kid who's doing something primarily intended to be fun and healthy, so let's just keep the following observations between you, me and the Internet: This is a very determined little girl. And I don't think her brother's mark stands a chance this April.

Read more...

Feelmax Sock Review; Feelmax Osma Available in U.S.

When I published my review of the Feelmax Niesa in September, I described the company as a small family business whose first product offering was functional toe socks in 1999. From the outset, the company has been wholly committed to improving people’s general well-being by promoting natural foot function, and it was only a matter of time before they ventured into the waters of minimalist footwear.

Since that time, I’ve been extremely happy with both of my Feelmax shoe models: the Niesa, which I use for general purpose athletics and hiking, and the Osma, a pure running model that I’ve logged about 300 road miles in without any complaints whatsoever.

Coincidentally with my review, Feelmax was experiencing growing pains of sorts; the demand for their footwear was becoming overwhelming for a tiny company (whose total employees still number less than two dozen) to keep pace. The company’s website was only set up for direct sales in Euros, and in the United States, Feelmax had tremendous difficulty with product distribution to all the interested parties.

Into that void stepped a company called Gifts From Finland, who contacted me towards the end of the year to announce that they have all Feelmax shoes, including the Osma, in stock and available for purchase in US dollars. And since they carry all of Feelmax’s sock lines as well, they provided me with a couple of pairs to review in exchange for a few links. (I’m pretty easy that way.)


As the weather turned cold this winter and I was logging more and more miles in my Vibram Five Fingers - still my model of choice for trail running – I developed a renewed appreciation for toe socks. Like most trail runners, I originally thought that Injinji was the only game in town, but Feelmax offers a sport ankle sock that’s comparable to the more popular brand. It’s made of Coolmax, and has more of a dress-sock feel to it compared to Injinji’s cottony feel. It has seamless construction to prevent blisters, and wicks moisture pretty effectively. I’ve used them on a few multi-hour trail runs, and I honestly couldn’t tell any performance difference between the Feelmax socks and Injinjis. The Feelmax version retails for $11, which is slightly less than Injinji, so they’re a nice option for future consideration.

Where the Feelmax line of socks excels are in the dress/casual category, as evidenced by the charcoal model I tested. Apparently charcoal has inherent antibacterial properties (who knew?), and these socks are made primarily of charcoal yarn to help reduce bacterial odor, but they retain a very soft, comfortable feel against the skin. These are form-fitting and seamless like the sport socks, but come in crew length so you can wear them at work. It’s nice to have a comfortable toe sock option that can pass for traditional dresswear.

The rest of Feelmax’s sock catalog includes both adult and children’s sizes, with a variety of materials and styles such as basic cotton or striped knee-highs (no, I didn’t try those). Toe socks are especially popular for diabetic patients with decreased foot sensitivity, but they’re also kind of fun to wear for the cool feel and visual novelty. Regardless of your need – health, athletic, dress, or just goofing around - the entire collection is available at Gifts From Finland as well.

My hope is that someday Feelmax shoes and socks will be as prevalent as Sketchers and Hanes, but until then, it’s nice to see the number of online outlets increasing. Thanks to Gifts From Finland for the samples, and for making these products more easily available.


*products provided by Gifts From Finland
*See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

Read more...

Stonemasters: Lynn Hill

A healthy dose of mojo arrived at my house last week, in the form of Patagonia's Spring 2010 catalog, featuring rock climbing pioneers called the Stonemasters, who honed their skills on California's most daunting natural landmarks beginning in the 1970s. It also triggered a couple of short but similar exchanges between my wife and me, the first of which went something like this:

Me: Whoa.

Wife: What?

Me: It’s this catalog … they’ve got some amazing photos of rock climbers in Yosemite and Joshua Tree. There’s this one girl who’s kind of unbelievable.

Lynn Hill climbing in Joshua Tree National Park, 1978 (from Patagonia catalog)

The girl is Lynn Hill, widely known as one of the best climbers in the world. Think of Michael Jordan, Roger Federer, and pre-scandal Tiger Woods … and Hill is in that same category. (Also note that it's not a "best among females" distinction - it's best, period.) One of her legendary climbs was the first free ascent of The Nose on El Capitan – a climb which, coincidentally, triggered the next conversation with my wife later that evening:

Wife: Whoa.

Me: What?

Wife: Did this girl climb El Capitan with no ropes?

Me: Um … I’m not sure. I don’t think anyone’s ever done that.

Lynn Hill on the Nose of El Cap, 1993 (from Patagonia catalog)

It turns out that we were getting free climbing - where ropes and harnesses are present for falls, but not used for upward progress - confused with free soloing, where no support equipment of any kind is used. However, to give you a sense of how difficult Hill’s El Cap climb was, consider this: none of the best climbers in the world were able to retrace the route for more than 10 years after her first ascent.

I’ve always been a fan of rock climbing, in no small part because it absolutely terrifies me, and because even the simplest moves require strength and flexibility that is simply incomprehensible unless you’ve actually tried to drag your butt over or across a wall in a gym somewhere. (I try it every now and then … it never goes well). I suspect that another part of its appeal is that the sport has many similarities to ultrarunning, particularly in the mental discipline that is required, and the systematic approach to tackling physical obstacles that seem insurmountable to the casual observer.

And just like in ultrarunning, the great ones make it look easy – as the following video will demonstrate. It was produced by Patagonia, and features the aforementioned Lynn Hill doing some freestyle bouldering that appears deceptively effortless. I generally file these particular skills under “Things I’ll Never Ever EVER Be Able to Do” – but I’m continually inspired by the fact that there are people out there who can.

*
"Lynn Hill at Hueco Tanks", from Patagonia Video (click to play):


P.S. This should go without saying - but if you don't already receive Patagonia catalogs, get yourself on the mailing list. You can thank me later.

Read more...

Better Together

“It's always better when we're together -
We’re somewhere in between together –
Well, it's always better when we're together –
Yeah it's always better when we're together.”
- Jack Johnson, “Better Together” (video after post)

*
One day per week, I change into my running clothes as soon as I get home from work, and jump in the car with my 8-year-old daughter to go here:


A quarter-mile asphalt path that winds past a large garden, around a softball field, and alongside two playgrounds at her elementary school. Over the past month or so, it's been the primary training area for my daughter’s first-ever 5K attempt later this spring. She and I jog alongside each other, taking advantage of some rare one-on-one time together, gradually building up our distances with each passing week.


It’s also a great opportunity for me to get in a little bit of barefoot running, since our mornings are still prohibitively cold for my wimpy California-boy feet.


The track layout isn’t what you’d call traditional; it has a few sharp curves and turns, and a gentle uphill/downhill slope on one end of the schoolyard. Sometimes we have to avoid her classmates playing after-school soccer or softball in the grassy areas, or basketball or kickball on the asphalt. Other times, we have the place to ourselves aside from a few spectators ...


The geese make a lot of racket sometimes, but they never really bother us. And even when the playground is crowded with kids, my daughter and I are pretty good at keeping our focus on each other. We jog along together, enjoying our mutual company while discussing the truly important issues in life.


For example, the topic of last week’s discussion was, “What’s your favorite song from In Between Dreams?” We each had the same top 5 – including the intro song above - but in slightly different order. (For the record, this song is her favorite. It’s absolutely beyond debate in her mind – and I really see no reason to disagree.) You’d be amazed at how much this girl and I can talk about Jack Johnson songs.


After completing a handful of laps around the asphalt track, we do some sprints through the grass. It’s probably about 100 yards across, and I used to give her a 5-second head start before trying to catch up. Five seconds quickly became three, which recently became two. Pretty soon, I’ll be the one asking for a head start … and I’m not quite sure how I’ll feel about that.


Once the running is finished, we sit for a few moments to catch our breath and watch the sun set over the nearby hillside. Then we stroll across the schoolyard with my arm draped over her shoulders before climbing into the car to head back home, usually singing some songs along the way. It’s always the shortest workout of my week, but never fails to be the most satisfying.


**
Here’s a measure of how completely I love the In Between Dreams album: as beautiful as the following song is, it just barely cracked my top five list in the aforementioned discussion with my daughter. However, it’s certainly the most applicable one for this post.

Jack Johnson, “Better Together” (click to play):

Read more...

Brooks Green Silence Running Shoe Review

Since I probably won’t be able to avoid them later on, let’s just go ahead and get all of the wise cracks about the Green Silence out of the way first:

* Part of the name is “Green”, even though the color scheme is red and yellow.

* The other part of the name is “Silence”, even though the bright colors kind of scream at you like an ambulance siren.

* It’s an eco-friendly shoe that looks like it rolled off the assembly line at McDonalds.

* It rewards your social responsibility by making you look like a circus clown.

Brooks Green Silence

There are more out there, I’m sure … but I’ll leave any further smarty-pants comments alone, because I’m really a big fan of the Green Silence. Brooks has produced something truly ground-breaking and admirable: an outstanding performance shoe constructed with one of the smallest carbon footprints possible. Its design will appeal to a wide spectrum of runners, and its production sets new standards in environmental stewardship.

Some of the eco-friendly features here aren’t exactly new – for example, Brooks has been using biodegradable midsoles for a few years now – but others are truly innovative, and the finished product represents a huge leap forward for major shoe manufacturers who strive to reconcile mass production with environmental responsibility. Fully 75% of this shoe is made from post-consumer recycled materials, and the 25% that isn’t already recycled is almost entirely biodegradable. Best of all, it holds up to the high quality standards of all Brooks footwear, giving you the perfect opportunity to run hard while treading lightly.

High post-consumer content upper

A good deal of the Green Silence’s upper contains post-consumer material in the form of polyethylene terephthalate, better known as PET, better known as all those plastic drink bottles you’re not supposed to be using anymore. The shoelaces, “gillies” (eyelets), and tongue webbing are made of 100% recycled PET, while the ankle collar reinforcement is 80% recycled PET. This post-consumer material also makes up 30% of the sockliner and bright mesh uppers.

Mirror-image color schemes

Other details on the upper display Brooks’s commitment to eco-friendly construction. Those bright yellow and red hues – which, incidentally, display opposite color schemes on each shoe – are created with non-toxic inks and dyes, and all adhesives used on the shoe are water-based. The logos and other decorative accents are embroidered into the upper instead of being welded with glue. Overall, the Green Silence uses almost 40% less adhesive material than standard running shoes.

Mesh upper with embroidered logo

Another way to decrease reliance on adhesives is to have fewer interconnecting pieces, and that strategy is evident with the Green Silence, which Brooks claims has half as many components as a normal running shoe. For example, the shoe’s tongue isn’t a separate piece, but is a continuous extension of one side of the upper. I found the tongue a bit short for my liking, as the crossed laces tend to slip over the top of them if you are pulling at an angle – but with a small adjustment, that never became a comfort problem.

Finally, one more cool aspect of the upper is the heel counter, which is made from 50% recycled compact discs. If I had known what Brooks was up to with this, I could have unloaded a lot of my old Night Ranger and Twisted Sister CDs from the 1980s to a worthy cause instead of just throwing them in an unmarked dumpster a few years ago. Kind of a missed opportunity there.

The Green Silence’s midsole features the same BioMoGo material that Brooks uses in nearly all its performance shoes, which decomposes in landfills 50 times faster than traditional EVA material. (Click here for a cool little video that explains how BioMoGo works.) It also has a very low, flat platform, which will delight those who like to be closer to the ground or who use a midfoot strike pattern. Midsole heights are 18mm in the heel and 10mm in the forefoot, which gives a delta (heel to toe drop) of a mere 8mm, compared to most trainers that drop 12mm or more.

Such a flat platform, combined with very low overall weight, make the Green Silence a great choice for racing or fast training days. Each shoe weighs a mere 6.9oz, so you’re treading lightly in every sense of the word. This is definitely the lightest “traditional” or non-minimalist shoe I’ve worn, and I’ve found it ideal for tempo runs on the road or mile interval workouts at the track. I’ve also used them on fire roads and gentle trails, although the outsole (see below) technically puts it in the category of a dedicated road runner.


The outsole of the Green Silence is made of 30% recycled rubber, and features some familiar Brooks technologies such as HPR Green - a sand-based compound that provides excellent wet/dry traction - and a flexible Hyper-Pod configuration of midsole and outsole components engineered to keep the foot in a balanced, maximally efficient position from heel strike to toe-off. However, despite the HPR material (which is the same stuff used in Brooks’s wildly popular Cascadia trail runners), the outsole tread is fairly smooth and shallow, so I’d have some reservations about using these on technical trails.

There’s enough cushioning in the shoe to appeal to those who want a nice, smooth ride, and the upper feels very comfortable whether jogging leisurely or while hammering a 6-minute pace. After about 150 miles, the Green Silence seems just as durable as any other everyday trainer I’ve tried, and I could even see it used as a lightweight marathon shoe. It’s clear that Brooks hasn’t sacrificed any quality or performance aspects while redefining the limits of sustainable manufacturing.

So yeah, the shoes are a little bit funny looking … but maybe that’s not such a bad thing in this case. Maybe it’s a great idea for other companies to notice what Brooks has done with this model, and use it as a revised blueprint for balancing high sustainability with high performance. In that regard, the Green Silence is a shoe with bright colors and a noisy design that is justifiably screaming to get noticed.


The Green Silence retails for $100 from the Brooks website, or is available with free overnight shipping from Endless.com, as well as other online vendors.


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

Read more...