A Passion for Running

This is more “about me” information for my sidebar menu.
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Shoes

I do all my training and racing in multiple pairs of Puma H-Street shoes (click on the thumbnail for a larger picture).

The Puma H-Street is an extremely minimalist shoe (very little support or cushioning). It is a consistent favorite among Pose Method runners such as myself. I don’t recommend this shoe if you are not a Pose Method runner or if you do not have very light form. If you do not have light technique, you will get hurt running in these shoes.

The H-Street is, for the most part, discontinued but it can frequently be found on eBay (at great bargains!) if you keep your eyes peeled.

Speed, Distance & Heart Rate Monitoring

I use a Polar 625x Running Computer. I’ll add some information and a brief review for this product shortly.

Apparel

I’ll add to this shortly.

The shoe of choice for pose method runners is the minimalist puma h-street. Unfortunately, it’s being discontinued and there is only one color left at the Puma store.

So, it was off to ebay I went where I bought this cool silver and black pair for almost half the price of a new pair ($44 + $13 for shipping to Canada)!

I’m bidding on this pair too:

My first pair lasted me about 16 months (the upper part finally tore) so I should be good for at least a couple of years.

What is runningbanana and why are they so special? RunningBanana makes custom running shirts. Before you jump to conclusions, I’d like to tell you that they are not a cafepress ripoff - they are better. Specifically, they are better for runners.

The reason they are better for runners is that they’ll put custom graphics on technical running shirts. Yes, shirts that are cool. Running shirts that wick sweat away from your skin. Running Shirts you can run in. Running Shirts you can race in. And guess what else? They have gift certificates!

How great is that?

I know you’ll support runningbanana’s great product and I’m hoping you’ll support completerunning by buying the designs we’ve set up with them! Our designs are mixed in with some of runningbanana’s inspirational graphics so check the link often because more of our designs are in the process of being added!

Oh! And in case you didn’t know, these same designs can also be found at our cafepress store. The shirts at cafepress are not designed for running, but they are really cool - if I don’t say so myself. So, now you can have a running shirt and a hangin’ around in shirt with a completerunning design on it.

One last thing: At runningbanana, you can even upload your own graphics to be placed on a shirt. It doesn’t get better than that. Does it?
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June 22 edit: I forgot to mention that throughth3wall has some great triathlon shirts too!

Well, it seems the entire blogosphere is abuzz over the new Nike iPod. Here are my thoughts:

-brilliant on Nike’s part to couple with Apple Computer. Now, one of my least favorite companies is paired with my favorite. I’m…torn.
-If the software has been coded by Apple, it will rock.
-It’s cool that at least half the hardware will be made by Apple. At least that half will be quality stuff. Personally, I’ve had several complaints about the quality around Nike’s stuff - including a Nike heart rate monitor I once owned.
-If the entire package turns out to be excellent, I just hope Nike and Apple make it possible for us to use the system with other kinds of shoes although, I’m not holding my breath.

And finally, I can’t see myself going for something like this simply due to the fact that I have never been someone who enjoys listening to music while running. No offense to if you are one of those people - it’s just not my cup of tea.

I’ve always been pretty happy with my Polar heart rate + speed and distance monitor so I’m going to stay with Polar - another company I am quite fond of.

That title has all kinds of problems. However…

Ok. Let’s get the first question all you ladies have out of the way: Yes. Dagnabbit, the running skirt was extremely comfortable. In fact, it’s the most comfortable thing I’ve ever worn while running. No kidding.

Specifically, the reasons it was comfortable were:

1-Nothing rubbing between my legs. I could easily imagine doing a 20 miler like that sans chafing. I know that for some women, that still wouldn’t solve the chafing problem but I imagine just as many would be in heaven.
2-Perfectly fitting, comfortable waistband. The skirt hung on my skinny male hips very comfortably. Of course, the place it sat was right below my love handles so seeing the pics and video has sent me to a body image specialist. You women will likely not have that problem so ignore what I just said.
3-Cool. I was in the skirt for a good hour and a half and it sure was cool down there while doing the running around. Perhaps that would add to the non-chafiness of the skirt? I’m not sure but I sure did like the cool running.

I did experience one area of discomfort. Oddly, my explanation will only make women more happy about the skirt. My boys were held in place pretty tightly by the built in high-quality mesh-like moisture-wicking panty. Really tightly. My butt felt good. My boys did not. When I first put the thing on, I imagined the lifting effect to not be unlike the effect a push-up bra has on women’s upper…endowments.

Sadly, in a pink skirt, this is not the effect a fella should be after (no, I haven’t forgotten a fella shouldn’t even be in a pink skirt). Based on all the comments I received referencing my “cajones” and the “package poking” that was going on, I was correct. So pronounced was this effect that the following conversation took place between myself and my wife during the first skirt fitting:

Lori: Oh my god. You have to do something with that.
Mark: What do you mean - do something?
Lori: You have to hide it somehow.
Mark: And how am I supposed to do that?
Lori: I don’t know. Strap it down with something?
Mark: I am NOT going to strap it down.
Lori: Well, you will look ridiculous if you don’t.
Mark: And I’ll look less ridiculous strapping it down? You want me to try to hide it in this pink skirt?
Lori: Good point.

Point: If you saw my little video, you were witness to alot of jumping, spread-eagle shenanigans. I put that skirt through it’s paces and nothing came out of place. Nothing. Everything was secure, well covered and comfortable. I imagine the absense of certain gear under your skirt will make you feel even more secure and comfortable than I was.

So, where does this take me? It takes me back to the beginning - I (still) wholeheartely endorse running skirts. For women that is. And this time, I can do it with a some perspective!

Oh, and fellas: If you are so inclined, by all means knock yourself out. But, maybe get a black skirt - pink is just…too much ;). Better yet, get a kilt. I hear women love those on men.

Thus endeth my review of the runningskirts.com running skirt. What are you waiting for? Go buy one!
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Bra Review:

Ladies, you have my utmost respect. I love the way bras look on women but those things are dang uncomfortable. Don’t get me wrong - I’m sure the one I got from runningskirts.com wasn’t any worse than any other bra, but an hour and a half in that and I was ready to crawl right out of my skin!

Maybe if I went for a fitting…

I dropped another pound and am down to 174. That makes four pounds in four weeks which seems a little excessive to me. What do you think? I have been doing a lot of running lately but, still.
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In other news, I’m continuing to test the vibram fivefingers shoes. Today was another 30 minute jaunt into the river valley - same as last time with 15 minutes on pavement and 15 on the dirt, gravel and wood chip trails. I had a blast on those trails!

I took it pretty easy today (had to after yesterday’s long run) and focused on relaxed form. The vibrams performed exceptionally well, and the bonus is that the blisters I got in them last week did not return on today’s run.

Today’s run solidifies my positive review of the shoe but - be warned because this is not a shoe you can just jump in to - you have to begin slowly with short durations of walking or running.

I will preface this post by saying I’m what many would call a minimalist runner. I wear extremely light, low on structure shoes and have enjoyed doing some barefoot running as well. I’m not into wearing shoes that are full of structure and support. I believe in strengthening my feet - not buying shoes that do the work for me. The shoe I’m about to talk about fits right into my kind of running.

I just tried the vibram fivefingers shoe I’ve been talking about here and here. I ran 30 minutes in them today during my lunch break.

Wow. I’m beyond impressed. I’m even considering not starting barefoot running again and running in the fivefingers instead.

See, the unfortunate thing for me here in Canada is that our long cold winter makes barefoot running pretty much impossible for about six months of the year and that means during those six months I lose all the conditioning (i.e. toughening up) on the soles of my feet and I have to start all over again in the spring. (holy runon sentence Batman!).

Enter the vibram fivefingers. Oh. My. God. Today was wonderful. The shoe is so close to barefoot running. I get 90% of the sensation of barefooting with virtually no pain or discomfort when stepping on rocks and twigs and stuff.

Get this, I did about 15 minutes on pavement and 15 minutes on dirt, gravel and mud trails. During the trail run, I could feel the ground - I could even feel the texture of sand. And nothing hurt. I was almost barefooting on trails without conditioning my feet. It was awesome!

The only discomfort I ever felt was when I’d run over a sharp piece of gravel. I’d feel a slight jab, let my reflexes take action and it would be over quickly with no harm done.

I did get a couple small blisters on each of my big toes. What’s interesting about that was that they were in the same place as the blisters I got at the beginning of barefoot running last year. So, it may be a bit of lazy form. I’ll keep an eye on that.

But I already love these shoes. They might end up replacing my loyal Puma H-Streets.

Oh, and good news for Canadians - the Vibram FiveFingers will soon be available at one of my favorite stores - Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC).

Edit: My website partner has some pics of his vibrams for you to see.

Well, the vibram fivefingers shoe continues to create a buzz. Even Dr. Romanov - founder of the Pose Method of Running has endorsed it!

Vibram: Are you listening? I can’t get your shoes in Canada!

The Vibram Five Fingers shoe is creating quite a stir in barefoot and Pose Method circles and I must say these look promising. I may just have to order a pair.

These may be as close to barefooting without actually being barefoot as you can get. Here’s what’s being said:

On the Posetech Forum

By Barefoot Ted (the guy does mountains barefoot)

Barefoot Rick has tons of barefoot experience

Finally, a few thoughts from - Ken Bob Saxton’s forum (the guru of barefoot running).

Take that Nike.

Been to our cafepress store lately? We’ve added a lot in the past few days. Here are two new designs you’ll find on shirts and more.

I Am A Runner Slogan #3

Marathoner Defined