This week was full of learning experiences for me. A hot 14 mile run on Monday reminded me that I need to start taking hydration seriously again now that the weather is warming up. A 5K on Thursday night reminded me that course and conditions on race day can conspire to smash hopes of a new PR. And running that same 5K course backward to meet my family (they were walking it) reminded me how much I love this sport – cheering on friends and seeing members (past and present) of my beginner 5K group heading toward the finish line was amazingly uplifting. It was a great night for running in my hometown.
Shoes I Ran in Last Week
Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit (29 miles), Asics HyperSpeed 6 (7 miles), Skechers GoMeb Speed 3 Prototype (6 miles, including 5K race).
I also finally bought a pair of the New Balance Fresh Foam 980 from my LRS for a future review. I’m sending the New Balance MT00 v2 back unworn due to a pointy fit in the toebox and the realization that I will almost never require an aggressively lugged shoe like this for my typical running needs.
Runblogger Posts from Last Week
The 5K Bites Me Back: Humbled By Heat And Hills
May 17, 2014 – A post on a humbling 5K race. It hurt.
Running History: Arthur Newton on Pacing in Training vs. Races (1935)
May 15, 2014 – Famed ultrarunner Arthur Newton on why you should train slower than you race.
Ask Coach Caleb: Why Should Runners Vary Pacing for Different Types of Workouts?
May 14, 2014 – In what I hope will become a regular column on Runblogger, Coach Caleb Masland takes on the topic of why runners should vary pace on training runs.
Beginner Running Tips: When Does Running Become Fun?
May 13, 2014 – My answer to a question I’ve been asked several times over the past few weeks.
Six Things I Learned on a 14 Mile Run This Morning
May 12, 2014 – Lessons from a long, dehydrating run.
Crappy Advertising at the Road Runner Sports “House of Cushion”
May 12, 2014 – According to RRS: “Unless you like running in PAIN and don’t care if you’re putting your body at SERIOUS RISK of INJURY…Cushioned running shoes are YOUR #1 CHOICE!”
Running Posts From Around the Web
1. Yesterday I mowed my lawn for the first time this year. I usually takes me about 2 hours to do it, and that means it’s time to start listening to more podcasts to pass the time! During yesterday’s mow I listened to a great interview with Jason Fitzgerald on Mark Kennedy’s Healthynomics podcast. I’ve known both Jason and Mark for a long time, and Jason provides a lot of great advice on injury prevention for runners. Highly recommended!
2. Ross Tucker of the Science of Sport weighs in on the Vibram Fivefingers lawsuit.
3. Ginger Runner reviews the Altra The One2 and the Altra Paradigm. Like me, Ethan is a fan of the One2, and I agree with his review on almost every point (you can read my One2 review for comparison here).
4. Michael Robertson shares some initial thoughts on the Hoka Conquest. I tried these on at my LRS and was not crazy about the fit or the pressure on the top of my foot. Left them behind and came home with a pair of the New Balance 980 instead.
5. I’ve been hearing a lot about the MioLink wrist-strap heart rate monitor lately. My friend and fellow tech geek Sam Winebaum recently purchased one and shares his initial thoughts here.
6. Jay Dicharry reports the results of a survey on injuries in barefoot runners.
Running Gear Sales of Note
1. Running Warehouse has two current promotions worth mentioning – 20% off all Salomon shoes through May 31, and 25% off all Pearl Izumi shoes through June 1. Just picked up pairs of the Salomon Sense Ultra and Pearl Izumi Trail N1 for myself.
2. Clever Training dropped the price on the Garmin 910XT by $100 through May 26. The sale price is $299 (without the HRM), and a $50 rebate brings the price down to $249. If you need a GPS watch with massive battery life, this one is a good choice. I reviewed the Garmin 910XT here.
About Peter Larson
and 25% off select camelbacks at runningwarehouse, too!
camelbaks*
Nice, missed that one!
Interested to know what you think of the Hyperspeed.
Great shoe at a very reasonable price. Only a few runs so far so not ready to review it, but liking it so far. Not unlike the NB 1400v2.
Hey! I finally went under 20 in the 5K. 2nd overall. I don’t think people here are as fit as where you live. 19:43 probably wouldn’t get me 2nd in many other cities.
Congrats Michael!!!