Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Garmin Forerunner 620 – Some Fun With Running Dynamics Data
October 2, 2014 – Looking for interesting patterns in running dynamics data recorded by my Garmin 620.

NH Reach the Beach Relay Race Report by My Wife Erin
September 30, 2014 – My wife shares her experience at the 2014 Reach the Beach Relay

Hoka Huaka Running Shoe Review with Comparisons to the Hoka Clifton
September 29, 2014 – A firmer, more responsive Hoka!

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Just when you thought articles debating barefoot vs. shod running had run their course, along comes another from The Body Sphere on ABC.net.au. “Just like in art, there are movements, or ‘-isms’, in running. There’s minimalism and there’s maximalism, and these terms refer to what you do, or don’t, put on your feet. Working out how to find your way through the ‘-isms’ and the claims and counter-claims that have been made for various types of running shoes, or running with no shoes at all, is confusing to say the least. So how much of a difference do shoes or the lack thereof make to your running?” I’m not sure the article answers the question, but it’s worth a read.

2. DC Rainmaker takes a first look at the Garmin 920XT. Huge battery life in low-profile, power-packed watch! Let’s hope it provides more consistent GPS track accuracy and better real time pace stability than my 620 does…

3. Dennis Kimetto just set a new marathon world record in Berlin. Here’s a great story from Runner’s World describing his transformation from farmer to elite runner.

4. Couple of shoe reviews: Running Shoes Guru provides an alternative take on the Hoka Huaka, and Runer4Lyfe takes a look at the Altra The One2.

5. A post on resisting the urge to run while recovering from an injury on Ann’s Running Commentary

Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Treating Plantar Fasciitis With Foot Strengthening vs. Stretching: Different Takes on the Same Study
September 25, 2014 – Commentary on a study comparing stretching vs. strengthening protocols for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

The Rise and Fall of Minimalist Running: Recommended Article in Lower Extremity Review
September 23, 2014 – Lots of reader comments on the article discussed in the intro to this post.

Mizuno Wave Hayate Review: A Decent, But Mis-matched Trail Shoe
September 22, 2014 – David Henry takes a look at the Mizuno Hayate.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Interesting article from the Wall Street Journal on using gait analysis to help in the treatment of running injuries. Though at times a bit simplistic and speculative (e.g., the infographic describing causes of various injuries), it provides a decent overview of the potential value of gait analysis. As someone who has done this in a clinical setting, I would also agree with this comment from Stanford physician James Fries: “…it’s too early for gait analysis to be deemed a panacea. The practice has been going on for more than a decade but has only become popular in recent years. “They don’t have the 30-year studies of outcomes,” he says.” I view gait analysis as a tool to be used in combination with other treatment approaches, not necessarily a guaranteed way to determine the root cause of an injury. There is value in taking look at how a runner runs, and sometimes it reveals something important.

2. A post on “Will Run For Ice Cream” on feeling guilty about missed runs. She writes “Enough is enough is enough is enough – what am I ranting about? Guilt over ‘failed’ runs, missed runs, or just running in general. No one is holding a gun to my head and saying – run or else?!? My life, my career, nothing in my life depends or hinges upon my running. For pete’s sake, it used to be for FUN!”

3. DC Rainmaker reviews the Polar M400 combined GPS and activity tracker. He concludes: “Overall I’m really impressed with the M400.  Polar seems to have finally found an appropriate price for its products (some might even say they priced it a bit low actually).  The unit is a near perfect blend of activity tracker with GPS running watch, as well as daily wrist watch.”

I’m a fan of the Boost midsole material as if provides a soft, yet springy feel under the heel, but remains firm and responsive where it is thinner under the forefoot. The adios Boost 2 provides the same great ride, but the upper and fit have changed a bit so sizing is a bit different. Check out the review for more!

Runblogger Posts from Last Week

Spaulding Rehab in Boston is Looking for Barefoot/Minimalist Runners for a Research Study
September 18, 2014 – If you live in the Boston area, run barefoot/minimal, and want to participate in a research study, check this out!

Salomon 2015 Shoe Previews: S-Lab Sense Ultra 4 and S-Lab X-Series
September 16, 2014 – The X-Series looks like my kind of shoe.

adidas Adios Boost 2 Review: Same Great Ride, Different Fit
September 15, 2014 – One of my favorite shoes this year once I got the sizing sorted out.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Now that it’s getting darker earlier, I did one of my first night runs in a long time last week. There’s something special about running at night, and I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it. Andy Jones-Wilkins expands on the topic of night running on iRunFar. He writes: “One thing I have realized on my night runs is that the world around me seems to shrink. I am alone with my thoughts and the beam of my headlamp on these night runs. There are no external distractions to get in the way and therefore I can get into a steady zone of just running that can be at once cathartic and meditative. It may sound odd to some but running in the dark just seems a bit more clear than running during the day.”

2. Two good posts on Runners Connect on the topic of foam rolling. First, a post titled “4 Mistakes You’re Making When Foam Rolling (and How to Fix Them).” Second, a post assessing the science supporting the potentially beneficial effects of foam rolling.

3. DC Rainmaker has a cool post about the BSX Insight, a device that slides into a calf-compression sleeve that can estimate your lactate threshold without the need for drawing blood.

4. Interesting post on Running Physio describing a study that compared a strengthening protocol to a stretching protocol for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. I’ll have a post with some comments on the study later this week.

5. Nice post by John Sheppard of Take It On The Run on what he learned from volunteering at an ultra.

There’s also been a lot of commentary on my post about the just-announced Apple Sport Watch – the lack of integrated GPS makes the watch less desirable for me as a fitness device, but as a devoted iPhone user I must admit to still being a bit intrigued by it.

Runblogger Posts From the Last Week

Tips on Running Safety For Women
September 11 – Guest post by Austin Bonds from Big Peach Running Company. Some thoughtful discussion/debate in the comments of this post.

Biggest Drawback of the Apple Sport Watch For Runners: No On-Board GPS
September 10 – No on-board GPS, big deal or not?

Saucony Shoe Previews: Breakthru, Zealot, Mirage 5, and Peregrine 5
September 9 – Really curious to hear more about the Saucony Breakthru!

Hoka Clifton Running Shoe Review
September 8 – Really interesting shoe, fun review to put together.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Nice post from Runner’s Connect on the purpose of various workouts and the importance of making sure your easy days are easy.

2. Review of the Inov-8 Race Ultra 290 from iRunFar. Kristin Zosel writes: “Despite my frustration with the inability for the shoe to truly become one with my foot, I still really like the shoe. It feels light and fast. The rock protection is excellent without sacrificing flexibility. It drains well yet has ample protection around the shoe for run-ins with pointy rocks, long grass seeds, and scrubby brush.”

3. Believe in the Run reviews the Newton BOCO Sol. Says Thomas: “This is a good pick for those that are not swept up in the max shoe trend. My feet had no blisters and felt great after 120 miles in 6 days, that is success in any shoe. I was relieved by day three that these trail shoes don’t suck. In fact, I loved them. These will work for you you from day hikers to ultra marathons.”

4. Jen over at Running Tangents gives the Mio Link optical heart rate monitor a big thumbs up. I had similar feelings in my own review of the Mio, and have been having a positive experience with the Scosche Rhythm+ lately as well. Expect a review of the latter in a few weeks.

5. From knee surgery to loose rocks in the head. Quite a story from Der Scott!

Runblogger Posts From the Past Two Weeks

Ultra Race Report: Gratitude and Distillation at the Bighorn 100 Trail Run
September 4, 2014- Guest post by David Henry recounting his experience running the Bighorn 100 Trail Run

5 Observations On Running in Hokas From a More Minimal-Leaning Runner
September 2, 2014 – Some thoughts on my first experience running in Hoka shoes. Lots of comments and discussion on this one!

What Moves You?: A Film For Runners by Runners
August 28, 2014 – Kickstarter film project, looks like a good one.

Salomon S-Lab Sense 3 Ultra Trail Shoe Review
August 26, 2014- One of my favorite shoes of the year so far!

Asics 2015 Shoe Previews: 33-M, 33-FA, 33-DFA, Fujirunnagade, DS Racer 10
August 25, 2014 – Preview of some new shoes on the way from Asics.

Recommended Posts from Around the Web

1. A nice post on running and renewal on iRunFar.

2. Coverage of the International Calgary Running Symposium from Blaise Dubois and Craig Payne.

3. Assorted shoe reviews: Sam Winebaum on the Altra Paradigm, a not so positive review of the New Balance MT110v2 on iRunFar, Jason Fitzgerald takes on the New Balance 980 Trail, and the always entertaining Nick Jenkins reviews the Salomon Sense 3 Soft Ground.

4. Interesting post by Craig Payne addressing “How many runners who think they don’t heel strike actually do?” Answer? Most tend to get it wrong. Craig also has an interesting post examining research on the practice of prescribing running shoes based on arch height.

5. Couple of posts on new gadgets. First, Brian Metzler writes about the Gazelle, which is a device that can track gait data in real time. Second, DC Rainmaker covers the soon to arrive Garmin Vivosmart activity tracker. The Vivosmart is an evolution of the Vivofit which I reviewed a few months ago. The Vivosmart adds in a touch display, smartphone notifications, music control, and several other functions.

Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Hoka Clifton Giveaway Contest

August 21, 2014 – Enter to win a pair of Cliftons!

runScribe Launches Wearable Running Biomechanics Data Collection Device on Kickstarter

August 20, 2014 – Very cool little device, more in the recommended posts below.

Merrell AllOut Rush Trail Shoe Review

August 19, 2014 – A bit too much outsole for my taste, but a super comfortable shoe for light hiking.

Finding a Runner’s High in Maine

August 18, 2014 – Sometimes everything just clicks on a run.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. I posted last week on the Kickstarter campaign for the runScribe device (which looks very cool!), Steve Magness has had the opportunity to play with one for a bit. Check out Steve’s runScribe post to get an idea of what the device can do for workout analysis or comparing biomechanics between footwear.

2. Another thoughtful post by Steve Magness titled “What’s Your Bias?”

3. Doug Hay writes a guest post on “How to Become an Ultramarathoner” on StrengthRunning.com.

4. Not a lot of shoe post recs this week, but Running Warehouse covers the New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail on their blog.

5. Cool article on the New York Times Well Blog on how dogs fuel for endurance running (skip the Gu!). Unfortunately my canine running partner has been out for most of the summer with a knee injury. He’s doing fine now and wants to run, but the prospect of an expensive knee surgery has me taking a very cautious approach!

6. Gear Junkie posted on Rob Krar’s GPS data from the Leadville 100.  Very interesting insight into the pacing approach of an elite ultramarathoner. Hat tip to Gordon Harvey for the article find.

After VT my only real goal for the Fall is to shoot for a 5K PR, hopefully in October or November. Last week I felt like my training over the past 4-5 months really started to pay off, so I’m hoping this will result in some strong performances in the coming months!

Shoes I Ran in Last Week

adidas Adios Boost 2 (17.5 miles), Newton Fate (17.25 miles), Newton Kismet (7.5 miles)

Runblogger Posts from Last Week

New Shoe Previews: New Balance Zante and Boracay, Altra Superior 2.0, Instinct 3.0, and Salomon Sense X-Series
August 12, 2014 – Previews of new shoes from the 2014 Summer OR Show

New Shoe Previews: Brooks Launch 2, Saucony Zealot, Skechers GoMeb Speed 3
August 11, 2014 – Previews of new shoes from the 2014 Summer OR Show

Recommended Running Posts From Around the Web

1. Thomas Neuberger has been posting daily updates of his experience running the 2014 Transrockies Run. Looks like a blast of an event! Start from the beginning here.

2. Can pickle juice really cure muscle cramps? Find out here in a post by John Davis on Level Renner.

3. Three shoe reviews: Steve Speirs on the Hoka Clifton, Derek Oxley on the Hoka Huaka, and Gordon Harvey takes on the Skora Fit (pictured at left).

4. Steve Magness takes a look at the psychological effects of exercise deprivation. He discusses a study in which researchers made runners and triathletes take two weeks off and found that “Following the layoff, the athletes saw significant increases in feelings of tension, depression, anger, confusion and total mood disturbance. Additionally, there was a decrease in vigor. These changes in mood aren’t terribly surprising, but it’s pretty profound when you think about it. Just by taking someone outside of their norm of aerobic exercise for 2 short weeks, people’s mood states were significantly impacted.”

5. Joe Uhan on iRunFar discusses the “best running exercise that no one is doing.”

6. DC Rainmaker goes behind the scenes at Wahoo Fitness.

7. Mark Matthews discusses the 12 real causes of his running injuries.

8. Craig Payne of Run Research Junkie takes a balanced look at whether orthoses are effective at treating Achilles tendinopathy. I particularly like and agree with his emphasis that we need more studies that link biomechanical research with actual clinical outcomes – we need more and better clinical trials that assess effectiveness of interventions on specific running injuries. In the shoe world for example, do minimal shoes or those with max cushion actually benefit those with knee injuries? Biomechanical data and anecdotal accounts suggest the possibility, but a clinical trial would be very beneficial. Same goes for a lot of running form interventions.

9. Austin Bonds of Running Write discusses cushioning preferences in running shoes.

I also ran 10 miles in the Hoka Clifton last week, and it’s been an interesting and thought provoking experience. You can expect a few posts on them in the coming weeks after I put some in some additional mileage.

Shoes I Ran in Last Week

adidas Adios Boost (15 miles), Hoka Clifton (10 miles).

Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Friday Fun: A Crazy Fast Sheep
August 8, 2014 – A sheep that doesn’t want to be beaten in a race with a bike!

Timex Introduces Ironman One GPS+ Smart Watch
August 7, 2014 – New smart watch that can access 3G cellular without needing a paired phone. But the prospect of a (currently unspecified) recurring charge for the service after year one is a concern.

How to Auto-Sync Strava With Garmin Connect
August 6, 2014 – Very cool integration, and simple to set up!

HOKA Introduces 5 New Models For Spring 2015: Challenger ATR, Constant, Odyssey, Valor, Vanquish
August 5, 2014 – Lots of new shoes, but seems like a lot of overlap with existing models…confusing.

How Many Miles Do You Run at Running Camp?
August 4, 2014 – Hit my second-highest mileage week of the year!

Recommended Running Post From Around the Web

1. DC Rainmaker previewed a bunch of new fitness electronic devices. Included are several new devices from Timex (here and here), the Magellan Echo Fit (basically the Echo plus an activity tracker), and the Mio Fuse and Mio Velo. I recently reviewed the Mio Link wrist-based heart rate monitor and like it a lot, and the Fuse (pictured at left) adds in a visual display and activity tracker to the Link. I’m very interested in trying out the Fuse!

2. Steve Speirs reviews the Ultimate Direction SJ Ultra vest. Overall he liked it a lot, but had some problems with the plastic bottles bruising his chest.

3. Adam Kelly writes about his experience attending a Healthy Running Course organized by my friends Mark Cucuzzella, Jay Dicharry, and Ian Adamson. I’m hoping to attend one of these at some point.

4. Josh Niforatos reviews the North Face Ultra Smooth road shoe.

5. I like reading stories about runners who overcome chronic injuries. Here’s a good one on Blisters, Cramps & Heaves about overcoming plantar fasciitis.

6. Running for five minute a day can reduce your risk of dying prematurely – via the New York Times.

Last week I posted only once, and it was a review of the Mio Link wrist-mounted heart rate monitor. The reviews of this device have been mixed due to inconsistency with signal stability, but I think this is largely due to variation in forearm anatomy, device positioning, and arm swing patterns. It worked great for me, and I’m tempted to buy one for myself for future use (it was a loaner unit for the review; I might get a Scosche Rhythm+ instead so I can review it, anyone have experience with this one?).

Shoes I Ran In Last Week

Salomon S-Lab Sense 3 Ultra (~35 miles), Merrell AllOut Rush (5 miles), Newton Kismet (6 miles), Newton Fate (5 miles)

Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Mio Link Wrist Mounted Heart Rate Monitor Review: A Runner’s Perspective
July 28, 2014 – Heart rate without the chest strap.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Nate Sanel reviews the Hoka Huaka. Nate says: “…there is a certain type of shoe that I gravitate towards. A flexible, light weight, low drop and well cushioned shoe is what I love to run in. The Hoka Huaka fits that bill to a T.”

2. Derek Oxley reviews the Hoka Clifton. Like the Huaka, the Clifton is one of the new “minimal” Hokas (is that possible???). He says: “The Clifton lives up to the reviews. Light weight, cushioned, responsive ride. Unless another shoe comes along before October I’ll be rocking The Clifton for my fall marathon…” I just got a pair of the Cliftons last week (they were waiting for me on my desk chair when I got back from VT) – looking forward to taking them for a spin this week, and I will be hosting a giveaway for a pair as well. Stay tuned!

3. Travis Liles reviews the La Sportiva Bushido on iRunFar. Been hearing good things about this shoe from trail runners, and Liles was impressed: “…La Sportiva did an excellent job with the Bushido. This is a shoe that falls in between a lightweight and a midweight shoe which we don’t see a lot of. It has a highly aggressive, highly grippy outsole, a sock-like fit that really locks your foot in…”

4. Things I never need to think about while running in New England: goatheads, fire ants, and rattlesnakes (via TheXntrikTQ).

5. Athletes from my home state of New Hampshire have been doing well this summer in endurance events. Larisa Dannis finished second at Western States in early July, and just last week Amber Ferreira won Ironman Lake Placid. This race recap by her husband Danny is excellent.

Shoes I Ran in Last Week

I have no idea of my exact mileage for the week in Craftsbury, but I ran most of it in the Salomon Sense Ultra 3, Newton Kismet, Asics Gel Electro33, and a bit in the Merrell AllOut Rush. Reviews of all of the above are coming – may take on the Merrell first since I like it more as a hiking shoe than as a running shoe and it’s been in my queue for quite awhile.

Runblogger Posts from Last Week

10 Things I’ve Done While Coaching at the Craftsbury Masters Running Camp This Week

July 25, 2014 – Recap of week one in Craftsbury – lots of photos!

Skechers GoMeb Speed 2 Review: A Solid Distance Racing Flat

July 21, 2014 – David Henry took on Meb’s racing flat and had a very positive experience.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Blogging during summer is tough. Travel and activity schedules are crazy, traffic is down (which can be stressful for a full-time blogger), people are outside and not sitting in front of their computers. Mark Matthews captures this nicely in a post titled “The Blog Days of Summer”. Sometimes I feel that taking the month of July completely off from writing would be a good idea!

2. Believe in the Run reviews the new Newton Fate. I should have a review of the Kismet soon, possibly next week, and just received a pair of the Fate in the mail. Great looking shoe!

3. Running Warehouse shares some thoughts on the Saucony Ride 7. I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this shoe, and a guest review by Tyler Matthews should be coming soon.

4. Running Write reviews the adidas Adios Boost 2. This is another shoe that I just recently started running in, and a review should be forthcoming.

Prepping for the trip has stressed me a bit, and that came out in a few of the blog posts listed below, but I know that once I get there my worries about two weeks away from my wife and kids will melt away (I’m a big-time homebody). Hope you have a great week!

Shoes I Ran in This Week

Skechers GoMeb Strada Prototype (19 miles), adidas Adios Boost 2 (8 miles), Newton Kismet (5 miles)

Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Parenting and Running: Finding the Balance
July 18, 2014 – A post on how I’m trying to better balance training for an ultra with work and time for the family. It’s a constant struggle, but I think I’m making progress.

Running From Stress on the Track
July 16, 2014 – Had a bit of an acute stress meltdown and had to vent. Running fast helped.

New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review: Firm, Responsive, and A Bit Pointy
July 15, 2014 – Shoe with a ton of potential. Responsive, smooth ride, but a bit too pointy in the front of the toebox. An insole swap helped.

Running During Pregnancy–An Interview With Sarah Canney of Run Far Girl
July 14, 2014 – Guest post by Sarah Canney on running during pregnancy. Lots of great info here!

Sage Canady in the White Mountains of New Hampshire
July 13, 2014 – A peek at the world about an hour north of where I live.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Seems that the topic of balancing life, family, work, and running was a popular one this last week. Must be summer craziness taking it’s toll on all of us. Thought I’d share a few that I enjoyed. First, Sarah Canney of Run Far Girl writes about how to balance running with family life. Sarah wrote a guest post for me this week on running during pregnancy, and it was entirely coincidental that we both posted on parenting and running on Friday.

Second, Scott Dunlap on A Trail Runner’s Blog discusses why he opted to pass on running the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 miler. His story is quite similar to my own last year when I decided to back out of the VT50K – juggling a busy summer travel schedule, work commitments, and family commitments can sometimes require putting the sport we love on the back burner for a bit, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

2. Far North Endurance posted a Loon Mountain Race recap by Emily Meehan. Sounds like delightful torture – may need to do this one next year! Far North also put up a cool post about two rookie runners at the Vermont 100 – they should be out on the course as I write this!

3. Steven Peterson writes about how the loss of a close friend sent him on his running journey. “Running is not straightforward for me. It is not always enjoyable. Occasionally I find a moment of success. Every so often I run into an epiphany (though I’m not really fond of the term), but rarely does it come easy. In the act of running I find that I am continually searching. Rarely do I discover anything. When I do happen to stumble upon something of meaning in the run, I can usually point to the moment and say “there was where I discovered something about myself”… but I probably couldn’t tell you any more than that. So I go back out again. It is a cycling, never ending exploration.”

4. Hampton Runner reviews the Garmin Vivofit.

5. Some great post-race videos from iRunFar. First, Larisa Dannis after finishing second at Western States – love her approach to running. Second, Kilian Jornet after winning the Hardrock 100. Looking at the photos in the race recap for Hardrock posted by iRunFar I really question why I spend so much time running roads!

The Garmin Vivofit is a great choice if you’re in the market for an activity tracker, with the battery life being a huge plus. It’s been a major upgrade over my old Fitbit.

The Garmin Forerunner 15 essentially takes the Vivofit and stuffs its major features into an entry-level GPS watch – great watch if you want solid tracking and don’t need lots of fancy extras.

This coming week I’ll have a couple of guest posts (one on running during pregnancy, and a guest review of the Skechers GoMeb Speed 2), and I’m hoping to publish my own reviews of the New Balance Fresh Foam 980 and maybe the Mio Link. Then off to Crafstbury, VT for two weeks of coaching at the running camps. Not sure how much blogging I will do, but hope to get in at least a post or two per week while I’m gone.

Shoes I Ran In Last Week

Newton Kismet (28 miles), New Balance Fresh Foam 980 (13 miles), Saucony A6 (7 miles), Altra Paradigm (3 miles)

Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Garmin Forerunner 15 (FR15) Review: Activity Tracking and GPS in One Watch
July 8, 2014 – Basic, affordable GPS watch that adds in an activity tracker.

Busted: Never Steal Skechers From Your Mom
July 8, 2014 – I stole my mom’s shoes, she caught me on Facebook. Embarrassing.

Garmin Vivofit Activity Tracker Review: A Runner’s Perspective
July 7, 2014 – Review of the activity tracker that has been on my wrist since March (and the battery is still going strong!)

Running Posts From Around the Web

1. My first rec is actually not a running post, but I wanted to include it here because it touches on something I’ve struggled with since becoming a full-time blogger – how to set boundaries between work and non-work life. The post, by Michael Hyatt, is titled “3 Reasons to Keep Your Laptop Closed this Weekend,”  and here’s an excerpt: “If you’re driven like I am, you have more projects than time. It’s easy to think of downtime as simply another opportunity to get more things done. But downtime is crucial, and there’s more evidence every day that it’s essential to our productivity and wellbeing…It’s easy to disregard playing as trivial, especially when there are so many “serious” things we need to do: problems to solve, deadlines to meet, tasks to finish. But play actually help us with all these things. It’s rejuvenating and stimulates our creativity.”

I had an awesome day yesterday largely because I never sat down at my computer as I often do on weekends. Started the day with an early morning long run, did house-stuff with my wife for a few hours, had lunch and visited my local running store with Altra co-founder Golden Harper (I guess this could be considered work, but it was fun!), did more house-stuff with my wife, ordered out dinner, then watched a movie with my kids. I was beat by the end of it all, but it was a fun and fulfilling day. I need to remind myself to unplug more often and focus on setting boundaries between work and play – building a more defined work schedule is tops on my list of things to tackle in the coming months.

2. Fantastic post by Sarah Crouch on Runner’s Connect titled “4 Lessons We Can Learn from Runner’s on Performance Enhancing Drugs.” She talks about more than just PEDs in the post, and her perspective is really encouraging, particularly as it relates to aging runners (something important to me as I’m about to hit the big 4-0 in a few months).

3. As someone who started running later in life, I love reading stories about how people became runners. I received an email from Derek Oxley last week referring me to a post about how he became a runner, and really enjoyed reading his story. Check it out and wish him luck on his journey toward a BQ!

4. Some reviews of note – Thomas Neuberger reviews the Newton Kismet. I have about 35 miles on my pair and should have my own review up soon. DC Rainmaker takes an early look at the Suunto Ambit 3 which is going to be released this Fall. The Ambit 3 adds in an activity tracker, which I wish would happen to the Garmin 620.

5. Fun post on being an injured runner and coming back to the sport (via Two Little Runners).

6. Brian Metzler with another post on why you should consider a rotation of multiple running shoes.

7. SF Road Warrior on “The Art of Quitting” as it relates to running.

8. Craig Payne takes a look at a study comparing On Running shoes to barefoot and traditional shoes, and looks at how a forward lean at the hips my reduce loads at the knees. I also enjoyed a post he wrote on the topic of joint moment asymmetry and how it might relate to injury risk.