Ready to Start

"Now I'm ready to start - my mind is open wide ...
To step out into the dark - now I'm ready!"
- Arcade Fire, "Ready to Start" (video after post)

Like many other New Year’s revelers, I staggered out of bed in the late morning of January 1st, rubbed the sleep out of my eyes for a few minutes, and tried to piece together exactly how my night ended.

I was out of my head for a little while there … I think I remember doing something kind of crazy. Did I really do what I think I did?

All it took was the first download of e-mail in the morning to confirm it: I had indeed done something a little bit crazy:

Click to enlarge

Hello, 2011 “A” race. Truth be told, it wasn’t much of a shocker that I’d end up on the start line of the Tahoe Rim Trail 100-Miler sometime; I basically fell in love with the course and everybody involved with the race when I was there as a pacer last summer. I knew that I’d be itching to do another 100-miler this year, and it was something of a coin flip between Tahoe and Western States. So when I came up empty in December’s WS lottery, I didn’t really shed any tears – I just looked up the registration date for Tahoe and knew I’d have an equally awesome experience there.

One of many breathtaking views on the TRT course last July

So I guess this means I need to start training now. December is traditionally my slacker month, where I allow myself to sleep in and eat whatever I want and don’t worry about skipping workouts if I feel like it – and when it’s dark and cold and it’s the holiday season and there’s cookies and wine seemingly everywhere I turn, and I happen to be spending an ungodly amount of time conducting some crazy blog giveaway spree, it gets easier and easier to blow off those workouts.

In other words, some things have got to change. The good news is, summer’s still far enough away that I can do a slow build through the winter and spring, and be ready to roll once July comes around again. The other reassurance I have is that I’ve traveled this particular trail before; I’m not exploring uncharted territory here - I’m merely making my way back to some wonderful places I’ve already been.

That doesn’t make the journey any less intimidating, however. The mornings will start darkly, the early training miles will be sluggish, and there will be more than a little bit of self-doubt that creeps in as race day draws closer. But those are other stories for other days. In the meantime, I just need to get myself running - and now I'm ready to start.

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Arcade Fire, "Ready to Start" (click to play):

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New Balance MT101 Winners; Ryders Eyewear VTX Winners; Winter Running Mojo from Anton Krupicka

A note of warning before we get to today's big announcements: the video that I've embedded in this post plays automatically - so if you don't want to get distracted while reading, scroll down to click pause before going back to it later. I can't figure out how to change the HTML, but if any code geeks out there want to help me out, I'd love to hear from you.

(*UPDATED: I never got things figured out. I took the video out, and placed a link to it instead.)

Now then - on to the important news of the day: announcing the winners of the Ryders Eyewear VTX glasses contest and the New Balance MT101 contest. Since one of my New Year's goals is to simplify and get to the point of things, let's just knock these out:

Ryders Eyewear VTX glasses winners: Woodrow and Julia (from South Miami)

New Balance MT101 winners: Turi, And Miles 2 Go, and MamaRunsBarefoot (awesome screen name, by the way).

If you're one of the winners, congrats! E-mail me your contact info which I'll pass along to the respective company reps. To everyone else, thanks for playing, and there's still time to enter the VIVOBAREFOOT Neo running shoe giveaway or the Wilderness Running Company Black Diamond Icon giveaway.

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In lieu of my customary weekend Random Shot of Beauty, I'm doing a Random Video of Coolness instead. It comes from Running Times magazine, and features ultrarunning stud and New Balance consultant Anton Krupicka training in the early winter conditions of his Colorado home. Since I've attempted my own little offerings of winter mojo around here, I figure I'm somewhat obligated to recognize when someone blows my efforts completely out of the water.

Another interesting observation from a barefoot/minimalist runner's perspective is how impeccable Anton's running form is, even on the challenging trails and uncertain footing of his favorite mountain. If there's a poster boy for perfect stride length, foot placement, and trunk posture while running, it's Anton - and I've watched this video enough times that I'm now trying to visualize his form during my own long trail runs. I don't have any expectation that it will make me run like Anton ... but since it's New Year's Day, I think I'm allowed to dream a little.


"The Runner in Winter", from Running Times - See the video here.

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Black Diamond Icon Headlamp, NRG Rechargeable Battery Pack, and WRC Gift Card Giveaway

Happy Old Year! Before today's post, let's do our customary rundown of status updates on previous contests ...

* The New Balance MT101 giveaway and Ryders Eyewear VTX giveaway contests are both officially closed as of this evening, and I'll announce the winners for each of these contests on Saturday.

* There's still time to enter the VIVOBAREFOOT Neo running shoe contest, and to increase your odds of winning by spreading the word via return links. This contest will run through next week.

As for today's contest, I'm closing out the December giveaway bonanza with a couple of my most familiar companions: the Black Diamond Icon headlamp and Wilderness Running Company. If you're a regular reader of this website, my feelings about each of these entities are fairly well-established - and if you're a new reader, I'll just direct you to some links to help bring you up to speed.

Black Diamond's Icon has become my number one choice for ultrarunning; with 100 lumens, it's bright enough to light up the most technically challenging trails, and its long battery life will easily carry you through a full night of running. If you use its rechargeable NRG battery pack (sold separately), you can top off the charge to achieve full brightness relatively quickly, and you'll never have to worry about buying disposable batteries again.

In 2009 I did some extensive headlamp testing, including this in-depth review of the Icon and NRG pack. I also did a couple of head-to-head reviews: this one comparing the Icon to Petzl's equivalent MYO RXP lamp, and this one comparing the Icon to Black Diamond's equally impressive Spot and Sprinter headlamps. By the time the following summer rolled around, I had pretty much any headlamp I wanted at my disposal, and went with the Icon when it was time to pull a couple of all-nighters on the trail - and I never regretted the decision for a second.

As for Wilderness Running Company, my partnership with them is approaching two years now, and my professional respect for them grows more with each passing month. Sure, I'm probably a little biased because they hosted one of the coolest runs I did all year - but there's something about principal owner Stacy's passion for trail running, his business philosophy, and his commitment to provide first-class service that's extraordinarily impressive. And of course, they're an integral part of this giveaway.

To help you light up the New Year in style, WRC will award one winner a Black Diamond Icon headlamp as well as the NRG rechargeable battery pack - and if that weren't enough, we're throwing in a $25 gift card to spend on anything you like from their website. It's a value in excess of $100, and the only cost of entry is a comment below.

Since this post represents not only the end of the year but also the end of the Great Running and Rambling Giveaway Bonanza, we'll do this final contest in straightforward, rapid-fire fashion: one comment, one entry, with a winner announced Wednesday, January 5th. Big thanks to WRC, good luck to everybody who enters, and ... go!

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VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Running Shoe Review ... And Giveaway (Maybe)

Kind of a vague announcement in the title there, huh? Don't worry, I'll explain as we go along - but for now let's get straight to the post ...

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No one will ever accuse VIVOBAREFOOT of resting on their laurels.

It would have been fairly easy, and completely understandable, for the company to say, You know what? We nailed the minimalist performance running shoe this year – let’s just roll with this one for a while. Their outstanding Evo shoe became such a sensation among minimalist runners that the company couldn’t make them fast enough to satisfy demand – and I was so happy with the Evo that I quickly made it my first choice for ultras and super-long adventure runs through the rest of the year.

VIVOBAREFOOT Neo

Nevertheless, the company has a long-term vision to build a full collection of performance shoes with a variety of materials, designs and price points - which is very good news for anyone who has complained about the Evo's steep ($160) price tag. The first offspring of the performance line is the Neo, which retails for a much more running shoe-like $120, and which will be officially available from the Terra Plana website in March 2011.

The Neo is billed as a “new multi-terrain footwear innovation”, and was designed in conjunction with Lee Saxby, a distinguished barefoot running coach who has the endorsement of none other than a certain Born to Run author. Christopher McDougall has written glowingly about Saxby, and reports that, “Every time I run into Lee Saxby, I learn something that makes my head snap up.” While I’m not completely familiar with the expression, I’m assuming that means something good. (For an example of Saxby's exceptional teaching style, check out this video made by Terra Plana.)

Airmesh upper with fabric trim

So the Neo has the pedigree and the right profile to be worthy of the VIVOBAREFOOT line - and my first question upon learning about it was, What distinguishes this from the Evo? I’ve been running in the Neo for about a month now, and can attest that it is a very appealing option for minimalist runners. The performance dropoff between the Evo and the Neo is extremely subtle. and I anticipate that the Neo will get tagged as "the poor man's Evo", with a fundamental structure that is very similar, and a few stylistic details to set it apart. With that, we may as well get to the review.

Close-up of breathable mesh upper

Visually, the Neo presents much differently than the Evo - you could say it's a more commercial look - mainly due to its redesigned upper. Whereas the Evo has a hexagonal TPU overlay on the entire upper, the Neo has a thicker, more traditional closed mesh with fabric trim around the toebox. Keeping with Terra Plana’s spirit of eco-friendly construction, the mesh is made from 75% recycled-content polyester, with a microfiber lining that is 55% post-consumer as well. Ventilation of this mesh upper is supposedly diminished on the Neo compared to the thinner mesh/TPU combination on the Evo, but I have to say I found it very comparable.

Thin heel collar; traditional lacing system; breathable airmesh upper

The heel collar of the Neo is slightly thinner than that of the Evo, and the entire sockliner has a sweat-absorbing antibacterial lining to maintain comfort on long runs. The lacing system of the Neo uses traditional eyelets instead of the fabric loops used on the Evo, which makes lacing the Neo smoother with an improved distribution of tension across the top of the midfoot.

Close-up of heel collar

Below the upper, construction of the Neo is nearly identical to that of the Evo: it has a removable memory foam insole, and a 4mm puncture-resistant outsole with the exact same tread pattern that’s perfect for roads and more than adequate for nearly all trail conditions. Both shoes are also 100% vegan options for animal-conscious consumers.

4mm puncture-resistant outsole

If you’re keeping score at home, you’ve noted that the Neo has essentially the same framework as the Evo, with a slightly more user-friendly upper, and a retail price that's $40 cheaper. For most folks, that's probably enough to seal the deal. Nevertheless, I'm a bit hesitant to embrace it completely for a couple of reasons: its overall weight, and a possible concern about its trail-ruggedness for my specific running needs.

The first item is something of a mystery to me, in that the Neo’s upper construction seems generally less-involved than the Evo – yet the webpage specs have the Neo at 9.5oz, which is a full 1.5oz heavier than the Evo. I'm guessing the thicker mesh material is the source of the difference - otherwise, for the life of me I don’t know where this extra weight comes from. However, considering that my other favorite minimalist shoe models (Vibram and Soft Star) are roughly 6oz each, this weight gap becomes fairly significant – at 9.5oz, the Neo is a full 50% heavier - so I’d prefer to see VIVOBAREFOOT trending lighter instead of heavier. And in the absence of any compelling performance benefit to choose the Neo over the Evo, my preference will be to stick with the lighter of two comparable options.

My other drawback about the Neo is just a suspicion I can’t yet prove: that perhaps the mesh upper isn’t as durable for trail running as the TPU-reinforced Evo upper. After our winter rainy season, the brush and wild grasses grow pretty thick around Monterey County, and I run a lot of miles that are borderline bush-whacking missions that assault my shoes and socks with burrs, stickers, and assorted brambles. I haven’t tried this kind of running with the Neo yet, but rest assured I’ll be paying attention during the spring, and I’ll report back here if I have any problems.

I suspect that for many folks, the Neo will be just what they’ve waited for: a VIVOBAREFOOT running shoe with nearly all of the quality construction features and performance benefits of the Evo, at a price point that’s significantly more affordable. The drawbacks that I've identified will be the only items on the wrong side of a pros/cons list, making the Neo a very attractive purchase option. And while I can’t argue with that conclusion at all, I think when ultrarunning season rolls around in the spring again, I'll still be reaching for my Evos.

The VIVOBAREFOOT Neo is part of Terra Plana's Spring/Summer 2011 line, but will be available in a very limited release (as in, less than 100 pairs) for $120 from the company website in the near future. The original intent of this post when I coordinated it with the company several weeks ago was to give away a few pairs of Neos to celebrate the advance release - however, since quantities are extremely limited and advance sales are eagerly awaited, we need to modify the ground rules just a bit.

So here's the deal with the giveaway: thanks to the completely awesome generosity of Terra Plana, three readers will be chosen as winners of a pair of VIVOBAREFOOT performance running shoes. If the Neos happen to still be in stock (they're anticipated to sell out within just a few days after release) and are available in your size, you can grab a pair of Neos for yourself. If not - which is a much more likely scenario - you'll get your pick of either the Evo or Evo II (which I just recently reviewed.) Winners will be chosen at random from the comments section below.

Since this is a major prize offer, the weighted-entry process is in play: one entry for a comment, one for a Twitter or Facebook link to this contest page, and a third for a blog link to this page. Let me know how many contest tickets you've earned, and all entries must be received by Friday, January 7th at 5PM PST. As always, a huge thanks to VIVOBAREFOOT for sponsoring this contest, and good luck to everybody!


*Product provided by VIVOBAREFOOT
**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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Ryders Eyewear VTX Sunglasses Review and Giveaway

You didn’t think the December giveaway bonanza was ending simply because Christmas has come and gone, did you? This week brings three new giveaways, one of which includes a product review of a great new minimalist shoe that I’m totally excited to be able to debut here.

However, I will confess to being a major-league slacker this weekend, so today’s giveaway will be quick and to the point. Before we get there, however, a couple of announcements …

1) I’m still waiting for The Big E to contact me and claim his winnings for the VIVOBAREFOOT kids’ shoes contest. You’ve got until Tuesday night before I pick another winner.

2) Everyone still has a couple more days to enter the New Balance MT101 giveaway, where three pairs of awesome trail shoes will be awarded on Wednesday night, December 29th. See details on the link above to enter.

OK then – on with today’s giveaway! As I said, I’ll try to keep things brief.

This summer I learned about Ryders Eyewear, a company that produces high-performance eyewear at discount store prices - and ever since then, I’ve used their lenses for all of my mountain biking and running activities. I first reviewed their Vigor model, which I prefer for mountain biking but also use for trail running, and then the VTX, which in my opinion is a more running-specific style that’s become my all-purpose model of choice.

Trail running with the VTX this summer

The VTX comes with three interchangeable lenses, one of which is clear, so these lenses would be a great option for road cyclists as well. Other lens colors are dark gray and orange, which feature 100% UVA, UVB, and UVC protection and shatterproof polycarbonate lenses.

I could give you lot more details about the VTX – but like I said, I’m still sort of in slacker mode, so I’m saving myself some time by referring you to a review I wrote for FeedTheHabit this fall. (Or you could just take my word for it that they’re awesome.) Afterward, come back to this post, and leave a comment below for your chance to win a pair of Ryders VTX glasses for yourself. Two winners will be selected at random, and winners will be announced on Thursday night, December 30th. Good luck to everybody!

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And To Santa, A Good Night

One of our family's favorite traditions is frosting several batches of sugar cookies to give out to friends and neighbors during the holiday season.

Sometimes the proceedings get out of hand, as detailed in this post featuring the forever infamous (in our house, at least) peed-on snowman cookie. The following year we were a little more subdued, but still managed to be pretty creative, and this year was basically more of the same.

I mentioned that we give most of these cookies away ... but not all of them leave the confines of our house. Each of us pick a privileged few to go on the plate for Santa, and this year my plate of favorites looks like this:


From bottom to top: A blue Christmas tree (reminds me of being a kid - it's a a long story), a tie-dyed hippie snowman, a Drymax trail sock, and a snowman wearing Vibram FiveFingers. Plus a couple of special holiday CLIF bars in case Santa needs to pack something for the road.

I figure that should get him through the night. And I guess there's not much else to do but wait for the magic to happen. Merry Christmas to all.

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VIVOBAREFOOT Kids' Shoe Winner; Contest Updates; What It's All About

Today’s post is something of a mixed bag: updates, announcements, and since it’s just about that time of year, a little bit of Christmas cheer.

First, the updates …

* You’ve still got through the Christmas weekend to enter the New Balance MT101 giveaway contest, where the winners will be picked on December 29. THREE pairs of shoes are up for grabs, so don’t get intimidated by the number of comments – you can’t win if you don’t enter!

* I’m still looking for one winner from last week’s Holiday GU giveaway – so Katie Peterson, you’ve got until the end of December 23rd (11:59 PM – and please don’t make me wait up) to claim your prize before I choose another winner.

* Remember the guy named Fitz who interviewed me for his Strength Running website and gave away a copy of my book? (Related question: Did you even remember that I have a book?) Well, he’s released a new e-book called 52 Workouts in 52 Weeks, and best of all, it’s absolutely free. Go here to check out his site and download the book.

As for the announcements …

* The winner of the VIVOBAREFOOT kids’ shoe giveaway is ... The Big E! E-mail me your contact info so I can pass it along to my VB rep. Congratulations!

* For everybody else, remember that all VIVOBAREFOOT kids shoes are on sale for 25% off between now and December 27th with coupon code RRKIDS.

* Now for a fairly major contest note: if you saw the recent New Balance giveaway and thought “That’s cool, but the shoes aren’t quite minimalist enough for me”, or if you’ve been watching the recent VIVOBAREFOOT giveaways and thought “I wish they’d give away more running shoes sometime”, be sure to tune in here next week – you’re going to find something awesome.

And finally … since we discussed kids’ stuff this week, and since it’s already the 23rd of December, I decided it was time to downshift a bit and re-focus on the true joy of this season amidst the materialism of killer gear giveaways. Accordingly, I’ll have a brief (non-giveaway) post tomorrow, and then hunker down for a long Christmas weekend.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite clips of all time to remind us of what it’s all about. Considering that I’ve embedded this video here a couple of times before, I guess this qualifies as a holiday tradition in Running and Rambling Land.

Excerpt from A Charlie Brown Christmas (click to play):

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