I don't get a ton of gear. I'm a middle class guy that buys what I can when I need it and don't feel the need to be armed with dozens of shirts or vests, even if I secretly want them. What I do have I'll add in here after I get an idea of how it works. That said, I get a lot of inspiration from a variety of places and will add in book reviews, nutrition advice, and whatever else could be considered 'Goods' when I can.
Inspiration
Clean and Vega One
I've never been one for joining cults, but I'm cognizant of the fact that this double review might sound like I'm advocating for one. If you are prone to such organizations I apologize, but with that said I doubt I have many devoted Scientologists taking their running advice from me.
After the typical onslaught of treats and booze brought on by a successful holiday season, combined with the fact that my running in December was non-existent, I can confidently say I was out of shape. I looked bad, I felt bad, and when taking my first steps in what seemed like forever like I was about to tow a bag full of garden gnomes across the beach. The inevitable and cliched conversation about changing some habits for the new year followed, and we were led towards Dr. Alejandro Junger's Clean.
Judging by the amount of information about Clean on the Internet this is either the biggest nutritional fad of the past decade or there is something to it. I'm a natural cynic about such things so I assumed the former. Luckily I found that latter.
Now I'm not a nutritionist, but I am very interested in putting good things in our body, both on an individual and societal level. It makes me sad when my students think eating a salad makes you less of a man, and it shocks me when I see them turn down free pizza if it is vegetarian. For as much awful food as I have ingested in my life I know one simple thing: just because it tastes good doesn't mean it will make me feel good, and as I approach 40 I need to feel as good as possible on a daily basis. Clean is Junger's opus on achieving physical, emotional and mental wellness based not just on the gas we put in the tank, but also on getting the garbage that's already sitting there out.
The essence of how it works is this: after a one-week pre-cleanse where you purchase and get used to the foods on the 'Elimination Diet' you go through a 21-day period where your diet consists of 2 liquid meals (smoothies and soups for this guy) and one solid meal for lunch. The recipes available in the book and online are great, and to be honest weren't too much different from what we were doing anyways. The big difference is getting rid of the other stuff - the occasional bag of Ms. Vicki's, the ice cream, coffee (my wife didn't take to that well) and other such things. For some I imagine it being hell; I admittedly cheated more than I should have, and I suppose that's part of the reason I didn't find it that bad.
All in all I lost about 10 pounds, and through running, almost daily yoga and dialing back my strength workouts to include less weights and more functional stretching I have maintained that loss over the past month. Most importantly, I feel lighter in my feet and am positive it will translate to this year's running season.
The second part of the review is a quick note about the most important thing we've adopted from the program, which is a liquid breakfast that still satisfies our nutritional needs. To this end we have been fueling up with Vega One, a plant-based protein and greens supplement produced by Canadian company Vega. I've used several Vega products in the past but mainly out of curiosity. Now that it's the real deal I'm really feeling the benefits of having a clean and natural supplement. As far as flavour goes, just be sure the rest of your shake is tasty! We've used the Mixed Berry, which packs a punch; the Mocha, which is better just shaking it up with almond milk I feel, the Chocolate, which has been the best so far, and Natural, which if not mixed well is just plain awful. What does work well for Natural is mixing in some Mixed Berry Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator, which I'm sure has some benefit to it. As with any smoothie, mix to your taste and just be sure that your body is getting what it needs.
What people have to realize is that eating well isn't a punishment, it's an investment. It will surely help us all down the road in both a physical and emotional sense, and I think that balance is incredibly important to the distance runner. It can get lonely on the trails, and if running well in the middle of nowhere makes you happy then that will translate to your life once you make your way back to the daily grind.
Clean and Vega One
I've never been one for joining cults, but I'm cognizant of the fact that this double review might sound like I'm advocating for one. If you are prone to such organizations I apologize, but with that said I doubt I have many devoted Scientologists taking their running advice from me.
After the typical onslaught of treats and booze brought on by a successful holiday season, combined with the fact that my running in December was non-existent, I can confidently say I was out of shape. I looked bad, I felt bad, and when taking my first steps in what seemed like forever like I was about to tow a bag full of garden gnomes across the beach. The inevitable and cliched conversation about changing some habits for the new year followed, and we were led towards Dr. Alejandro Junger's Clean.
Judging by the amount of information about Clean on the Internet this is either the biggest nutritional fad of the past decade or there is something to it. I'm a natural cynic about such things so I assumed the former. Luckily I found that latter.
Now I'm not a nutritionist, but I am very interested in putting good things in our body, both on an individual and societal level. It makes me sad when my students think eating a salad makes you less of a man, and it shocks me when I see them turn down free pizza if it is vegetarian. For as much awful food as I have ingested in my life I know one simple thing: just because it tastes good doesn't mean it will make me feel good, and as I approach 40 I need to feel as good as possible on a daily basis. Clean is Junger's opus on achieving physical, emotional and mental wellness based not just on the gas we put in the tank, but also on getting the garbage that's already sitting there out.
The essence of how it works is this: after a one-week pre-cleanse where you purchase and get used to the foods on the 'Elimination Diet' you go through a 21-day period where your diet consists of 2 liquid meals (smoothies and soups for this guy) and one solid meal for lunch. The recipes available in the book and online are great, and to be honest weren't too much different from what we were doing anyways. The big difference is getting rid of the other stuff - the occasional bag of Ms. Vicki's, the ice cream, coffee (my wife didn't take to that well) and other such things. For some I imagine it being hell; I admittedly cheated more than I should have, and I suppose that's part of the reason I didn't find it that bad.
All in all I lost about 10 pounds, and through running, almost daily yoga and dialing back my strength workouts to include less weights and more functional stretching I have maintained that loss over the past month. Most importantly, I feel lighter in my feet and am positive it will translate to this year's running season.
The second part of the review is a quick note about the most important thing we've adopted from the program, which is a liquid breakfast that still satisfies our nutritional needs. To this end we have been fueling up with Vega One, a plant-based protein and greens supplement produced by Canadian company Vega. I've used several Vega products in the past but mainly out of curiosity. Now that it's the real deal I'm really feeling the benefits of having a clean and natural supplement. As far as flavour goes, just be sure the rest of your shake is tasty! We've used the Mixed Berry, which packs a punch; the Mocha, which is better just shaking it up with almond milk I feel, the Chocolate, which has been the best so far, and Natural, which if not mixed well is just plain awful. What does work well for Natural is mixing in some Mixed Berry Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator, which I'm sure has some benefit to it. As with any smoothie, mix to your taste and just be sure that your body is getting what it needs.
What people have to realize is that eating well isn't a punishment, it's an investment. It will surely help us all down the road in both a physical and emotional sense, and I think that balance is incredibly important to the distance runner. It can get lonely on the trails, and if running well in the middle of nowhere makes you happy then that will translate to your life once you make your way back to the daily grind.
Gear
Asics Fell Racer
When I joined the Peterborough Y one of the regulars asked me if I was a rugby player, and when I responded with, "I like to think I'm a runner" he said, "No way. You look like a rugby player." He didn't mean anything by it, but I suppose I am a bit, how should I say - huskier - than what the ideal runner looks like. As such, my past road and trail shoes have always had an emphasis on support, and most of my forays into downsizing weren't very successful. After a few months with these I can say that for the most part I've been happy with them, and based on their versatility they've gotten me where I need to go.
Positives: I am not terribly fast, but I sure feel like I am when I'm running in these. Their lightness (under 9oz) was the big draw for me, especially after a season of clunking around in my Mizuno Cabs. With a literal load off my feet I feel as though my footwork is much improved and I can dance around rocks and roots much more effectively. The treads are solid and give good lateral push in tighter areas, and the lugs grip just enough to feel like I'm still kicking ass on most hills and in thicker mud. They also seem to drain quickly when I take on water, which is the most common positive I read about on other reviews when I was thinking of making the buy. I've also made use of the tongue pocket for the laces, which have held without slipping on most runs. They are very breathable as well, which is much needed on longer runs for me. Plus - and I know this shouldn't be important but it is, admit it - I think the orange and green look pretty cool.
Negatives: The breathability goes the other way now that it's cold, but anyone taking the time to read shoe reviews from a novice like me has already invested in good winter socks. With the aforementioned need for stability due to huskiness I wouldn't go much further than 15k, which I can attest to after the 26k at Hali. I've never dealt with the dreaded plantar fasciitis but the arches of my feet felt very tight for the last 10k of that race, which I think was a combination of the overall lighter support and the lack of protection underfoot; the key sacrifices I made to run on a lighter shoe.
Recommended? For anyone not built like a 183lb rugby player (speculatively), absolutely, especially for distances under 20k. That said, we all have different feet and yours might love the Fell Racers over the long hauls. I'll stick to shorter races and training runs and will happily feel a tiny bit faster than what I probably am.
Asics Fell Racer
When I joined the Peterborough Y one of the regulars asked me if I was a rugby player, and when I responded with, "I like to think I'm a runner" he said, "No way. You look like a rugby player." He didn't mean anything by it, but I suppose I am a bit, how should I say - huskier - than what the ideal runner looks like. As such, my past road and trail shoes have always had an emphasis on support, and most of my forays into downsizing weren't very successful. After a few months with these I can say that for the most part I've been happy with them, and based on their versatility they've gotten me where I need to go.
Positives: I am not terribly fast, but I sure feel like I am when I'm running in these. Their lightness (under 9oz) was the big draw for me, especially after a season of clunking around in my Mizuno Cabs. With a literal load off my feet I feel as though my footwork is much improved and I can dance around rocks and roots much more effectively. The treads are solid and give good lateral push in tighter areas, and the lugs grip just enough to feel like I'm still kicking ass on most hills and in thicker mud. They also seem to drain quickly when I take on water, which is the most common positive I read about on other reviews when I was thinking of making the buy. I've also made use of the tongue pocket for the laces, which have held without slipping on most runs. They are very breathable as well, which is much needed on longer runs for me. Plus - and I know this shouldn't be important but it is, admit it - I think the orange and green look pretty cool.
Negatives: The breathability goes the other way now that it's cold, but anyone taking the time to read shoe reviews from a novice like me has already invested in good winter socks. With the aforementioned need for stability due to huskiness I wouldn't go much further than 15k, which I can attest to after the 26k at Hali. I've never dealt with the dreaded plantar fasciitis but the arches of my feet felt very tight for the last 10k of that race, which I think was a combination of the overall lighter support and the lack of protection underfoot; the key sacrifices I made to run on a lighter shoe.
Recommended? For anyone not built like a 183lb rugby player (speculatively), absolutely, especially for distances under 20k. That said, we all have different feet and yours might love the Fell Racers over the long hauls. I'll stick to shorter races and training runs and will happily feel a tiny bit faster than what I probably am.
Inspiration
Born to Run - Christopher McDougall
We've all read it at least twice, many of us have thought 'Why can't I try running somewhere else?' as a result, and some of us (not me) bought funky little toe shoes. Whatever impact Born to Run had on you is yours, just as it should be with any good book. The impact it had on the sport as a whole is another story altogether.
Here's why I keep going back to it, and it sounds cheesy as hell: It takes me away to different places as I log miles on my local trails. The runners that were unknown to us masses pre-2009 are now part of who we aspire to be, and the races that are mentioned don't seem quite so far away. I'm certainly not advocating for the commercialization of those races and the sport in general, but just as I dreamed of hitting a homerun in the World Series as a kid I can dream of chasing down a personal goal in the Copper Canyon, Boulder or any of the other places McDougall travels to. If I'm naive enough to believe it might happen, I might actually work to make it happen. (I'll obviously never hit a dinger in the 7th game, but get me a BP session in the Skydome and I guarantee I'll get at least one out)
I also like how Born to Run connects on a variety of levels. For the gearheads there is a lot of talk of shoes; for the kinesiologists the information on the human body and it's capabilities is fascinating; for the anthropologists and historians we are introduced to a whole new culture, and for the Caballo Blanco's in us we get a sense of simplicity that takes a very special type of bravery to embrace. Put all of that together and put it in a very readable package and it's no wonder it sparked somewhat of a revolution in running. If you don't think it has head to your local bookstore right now and see how many books have the same blue and yellow/orange theme to its cover.
Born to Run - Christopher McDougall
We've all read it at least twice, many of us have thought 'Why can't I try running somewhere else?' as a result, and some of us (not me) bought funky little toe shoes. Whatever impact Born to Run had on you is yours, just as it should be with any good book. The impact it had on the sport as a whole is another story altogether.
Here's why I keep going back to it, and it sounds cheesy as hell: It takes me away to different places as I log miles on my local trails. The runners that were unknown to us masses pre-2009 are now part of who we aspire to be, and the races that are mentioned don't seem quite so far away. I'm certainly not advocating for the commercialization of those races and the sport in general, but just as I dreamed of hitting a homerun in the World Series as a kid I can dream of chasing down a personal goal in the Copper Canyon, Boulder or any of the other places McDougall travels to. If I'm naive enough to believe it might happen, I might actually work to make it happen. (I'll obviously never hit a dinger in the 7th game, but get me a BP session in the Skydome and I guarantee I'll get at least one out)
I also like how Born to Run connects on a variety of levels. For the gearheads there is a lot of talk of shoes; for the kinesiologists the information on the human body and it's capabilities is fascinating; for the anthropologists and historians we are introduced to a whole new culture, and for the Caballo Blanco's in us we get a sense of simplicity that takes a very special type of bravery to embrace. Put all of that together and put it in a very readable package and it's no wonder it sparked somewhat of a revolution in running. If you don't think it has head to your local bookstore right now and see how many books have the same blue and yellow/orange theme to its cover.
Inspiration
Boundless
I'm not afraid to pimp for a TV show, especially one that can both inspire but also make one angry because the hosts have the coolest job in the world. I don't know if this was their pitch to the network, but I think I can summarize what they were thinking: Give us a show so we can go all around the world and do awesome shit. Sound about right?
I like it for 3 reasons. First, it helps me get off my ass when I'm thinking a 6 of Lucky Lager and watching Goodfellas for the 87th time is a good idea. Secondly, my 3 year old son Thomson loves it, and at Pick Your Poison last April he was stoked to meet Turbo (and once I find the picture it is definitely going up).
Lastly, anyone of a certain vintage remembers an odd concept of being friends with people before e-mail and everything that has followed. In a former life I was roommates with the other host, Simon. We lived in a fraternity house when we both at Western, and when we both left we lost track of each other. That was the risk in being friends before e-mail. A few years ago I read a great article about the search for Micah True when he sadly left us and it turns out I recognized the author's name. With a quick e-mail we were in contact after 15 years of not seeing or hearing from one another. Simon and Turbo are obviously on a whole other level of running, but they epitomize what I love about the trails. They'll leave me and most others in the dust, do their thing while I do my thing, and sit back and shoot the shit with anyone with a cool story and a beer afterwards. You don't have to be lifelong friends or fraternity brothers for that, you just have to enjoy the basic human connection that running offers, and if we're too wrapped up in splits, calories per hour, and all that other fun stuff, we might miss it.
On a side note, I worked out with Simon - who should henceforth be known beyond 565 Rideout as Sneaky D - exactly once. It was of course leg day, and for working out my legs I couldn't really walk quite right for a few days after. As any good frat boy would deal with it, I decided I should concentrate on drinking. Plus I had only watched Goodfellas 32 times by that point, so I had a long way to go.
Thanks for the show guys, good luck with future seasons.
Boundless
I'm not afraid to pimp for a TV show, especially one that can both inspire but also make one angry because the hosts have the coolest job in the world. I don't know if this was their pitch to the network, but I think I can summarize what they were thinking: Give us a show so we can go all around the world and do awesome shit. Sound about right?
I like it for 3 reasons. First, it helps me get off my ass when I'm thinking a 6 of Lucky Lager and watching Goodfellas for the 87th time is a good idea. Secondly, my 3 year old son Thomson loves it, and at Pick Your Poison last April he was stoked to meet Turbo (and once I find the picture it is definitely going up).
Lastly, anyone of a certain vintage remembers an odd concept of being friends with people before e-mail and everything that has followed. In a former life I was roommates with the other host, Simon. We lived in a fraternity house when we both at Western, and when we both left we lost track of each other. That was the risk in being friends before e-mail. A few years ago I read a great article about the search for Micah True when he sadly left us and it turns out I recognized the author's name. With a quick e-mail we were in contact after 15 years of not seeing or hearing from one another. Simon and Turbo are obviously on a whole other level of running, but they epitomize what I love about the trails. They'll leave me and most others in the dust, do their thing while I do my thing, and sit back and shoot the shit with anyone with a cool story and a beer afterwards. You don't have to be lifelong friends or fraternity brothers for that, you just have to enjoy the basic human connection that running offers, and if we're too wrapped up in splits, calories per hour, and all that other fun stuff, we might miss it.
On a side note, I worked out with Simon - who should henceforth be known beyond 565 Rideout as Sneaky D - exactly once. It was of course leg day, and for working out my legs I couldn't really walk quite right for a few days after. As any good frat boy would deal with it, I decided I should concentrate on drinking. Plus I had only watched Goodfellas 32 times by that point, so I had a long way to go.
Thanks for the show guys, good luck with future seasons.
Gear
Mizuno Wave Cabrakan 3
I like to think of trail shoes as either All Wheel Drive or 4 Wheel Drive. The AWD's are lighter, I don't feel like I'm wrecking them if I warm up on the road with them, and can handle a variety of terrain without being specially designed for any of them. The 4 by 4's stand up to heavier terrain and weather, have a bit more bulk to them and add to my overall confidence underfoot when the going gets rough. If that's the case then the Mizuno Cabs are like OJ's Bronco if he got off the freeway and really tried to make a run for it. They're badass like that.
Positives: I have run a lot of miles in these, and they've always given me a tremendous amount of confidence about what is happening underneath my feet. Rock and roots are barely noticeable and I don't think I've ever slipped, even in the ridiculous snow or on the slick ice we had in this area last year. The lugs have held strong and branches bounce off the protection on the upper.
Negatives: They're hot, damn hot. So I hot I can cook things in them, a little shoe string cookin'. If Robin Williams were a) a runner, b) paraphrasing Good Morning Vietnam for a shoe review, and c) alive, that's what he would say about them. All the stability underneath and protection up top comes with a price, and that is a toasty shoe. They're on the heavy side as well but once you get used to them it's not as noticeable. At least until about 20k in, and at that point flip flops feel like bricks.
Recommended? Heck yes, especially as a winter runner.
Mizuno Wave Cabrakan 3
I like to think of trail shoes as either All Wheel Drive or 4 Wheel Drive. The AWD's are lighter, I don't feel like I'm wrecking them if I warm up on the road with them, and can handle a variety of terrain without being specially designed for any of them. The 4 by 4's stand up to heavier terrain and weather, have a bit more bulk to them and add to my overall confidence underfoot when the going gets rough. If that's the case then the Mizuno Cabs are like OJ's Bronco if he got off the freeway and really tried to make a run for it. They're badass like that.
Positives: I have run a lot of miles in these, and they've always given me a tremendous amount of confidence about what is happening underneath my feet. Rock and roots are barely noticeable and I don't think I've ever slipped, even in the ridiculous snow or on the slick ice we had in this area last year. The lugs have held strong and branches bounce off the protection on the upper.
Negatives: They're hot, damn hot. So I hot I can cook things in them, a little shoe string cookin'. If Robin Williams were a) a runner, b) paraphrasing Good Morning Vietnam for a shoe review, and c) alive, that's what he would say about them. All the stability underneath and protection up top comes with a price, and that is a toasty shoe. They're on the heavy side as well but once you get used to them it's not as noticeable. At least until about 20k in, and at that point flip flops feel like bricks.
Recommended? Heck yes, especially as a winter runner.