Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Lonestar Training Week 2: Triathlon is Therapy.
Look to the right. Watch this post and call someone you love already.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Lonestar Training Week 1
If you look directly to the right of your screen you will see where the weekly video lives. I will change out the video every sunday during the training season. A copy of the video is also in this post, just click read more to view it. Enjoy and have a great training week!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
First Impressions Newton AW Running Shoe
Well, with the first official week of 70.3 training underway, (more on that tomorrow) I have started the purposeful running again. Let me first say that even though this is a review about the Newton AW running shoes, I love my K-swiss Konas. So here is the review.
My running days during this program are Wednesday, Friday, and Sundays. Right now I am in easy base training so it is the perfect time to introduce new things into my training program. Enter Newtons stage Right...
So here is the Newton Plan.
Week 1 Wed, 30 min run (Newtons), Fri, 30 min run (Konas), Sun, 50 min Run (Kona)
Week 2 Wed, 30 min run (Newtons), Fri, 30 min run (Newtons), Sun 50 min run (Kona)
Week 3 Wed, 30 min run (Newtons), Fri, 30 min run (Konas), Sun 50 min run (Newtons)
After that I will weave in the Newtons and Konas where appropriate, Until I hit the 300 mile mark on the Konas, then they will be retired, and at that point I will re evaluate my running shoe future.
On to the review.
I had the guy that works for me drop me off at the pool for a 30 minute swim, and after the swim I tied up the bright red laces and off I went. Out of the door I was met with a stiff headwind and a long uphill. My goal was to work on form and to really feel the shoe out. Since I quit running without music long ago it was easy for me to do. Note: if you are reading this and run with music, don't until you get used to this shoe.
There is definitely a "sweet spot" on the shoes. If you make contact with the ground either too far forward or backward the shoe will not feel right when you strike the ground. The same applies if your weight does not land evenly on the mid sole. The great part is that the shoe tells you quickly and you can correct on the next foot strike.
Uphills- This shoe takes getting used to on the uphills. I had to lean my weight back very slightly to hit the sweet spot.
Flat surfaces- A great shoe on the flats. Once again find the "sweet spot" and let the shoe help you run.
Downhills- HOLY COW! I typically try to recover on the downhills, and I still can in this shoe, but I found this shoe FLYS with little effort on the decline.
Post Run- My Legs felt fine and I was able to work the rest of the day.
Next Day- I think this is a by-product of the shoes and increased training volume, but my calves and hammys were VERY stiff the next day (in a good way). Staying on training schedule and yoga has proven to remedy this. This shoe does make you use slightly different muscles in your legs to run, so work them in slowly.
2 Days Later- A little stiff but not bad, and interestingly when I went out in the Konas I was already running a little differently in those shoes, striking even more mid foot. hmmm.
The Shoe Itself- Light, good wind resistance, kept my foot warm, and very comfortable.
Conclusion. It's like the girl you meet and there is a spark, but you aren't head over heels right away, but in time she becomes the love of your life, (this happened to me) and you can't live without her.
We will see in time, but the Newton AW has that kind of potential... but in the shoe way of course ;) Just be patient with the shoe and yourself, and do not introduce the shoe into your regimen if you are already in training for in an event, wait until you are in a "position of patience".
My running days during this program are Wednesday, Friday, and Sundays. Right now I am in easy base training so it is the perfect time to introduce new things into my training program. Enter Newtons stage Right...
So here is the Newton Plan.
Week 1 Wed, 30 min run (Newtons), Fri, 30 min run (Konas), Sun, 50 min Run (Kona)
Week 2 Wed, 30 min run (Newtons), Fri, 30 min run (Newtons), Sun 50 min run (Kona)
Week 3 Wed, 30 min run (Newtons), Fri, 30 min run (Konas), Sun 50 min run (Newtons)
After that I will weave in the Newtons and Konas where appropriate, Until I hit the 300 mile mark on the Konas, then they will be retired, and at that point I will re evaluate my running shoe future.
On to the review.
I had the guy that works for me drop me off at the pool for a 30 minute swim, and after the swim I tied up the bright red laces and off I went. Out of the door I was met with a stiff headwind and a long uphill. My goal was to work on form and to really feel the shoe out. Since I quit running without music long ago it was easy for me to do. Note: if you are reading this and run with music, don't until you get used to this shoe.
There is definitely a "sweet spot" on the shoes. If you make contact with the ground either too far forward or backward the shoe will not feel right when you strike the ground. The same applies if your weight does not land evenly on the mid sole. The great part is that the shoe tells you quickly and you can correct on the next foot strike.
Uphills- This shoe takes getting used to on the uphills. I had to lean my weight back very slightly to hit the sweet spot.
Flat surfaces- A great shoe on the flats. Once again find the "sweet spot" and let the shoe help you run.
Downhills- HOLY COW! I typically try to recover on the downhills, and I still can in this shoe, but I found this shoe FLYS with little effort on the decline.
Post Run- My Legs felt fine and I was able to work the rest of the day.
Next Day- I think this is a by-product of the shoes and increased training volume, but my calves and hammys were VERY stiff the next day (in a good way). Staying on training schedule and yoga has proven to remedy this. This shoe does make you use slightly different muscles in your legs to run, so work them in slowly.
2 Days Later- A little stiff but not bad, and interestingly when I went out in the Konas I was already running a little differently in those shoes, striking even more mid foot. hmmm.
The Shoe Itself- Light, good wind resistance, kept my foot warm, and very comfortable.
Conclusion. It's like the girl you meet and there is a spark, but you aren't head over heels right away, but in time she becomes the love of your life, (this happened to me) and you can't live without her.
We will see in time, but the Newton AW has that kind of potential... but in the shoe way of course ;) Just be patient with the shoe and yourself, and do not introduce the shoe into your regimen if you are already in training for in an event, wait until you are in a "position of patience".
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Ironman 70.3 Lonestar Week 0
Click on the "read more" to view the weekly video message whil I sort out this new blog template issue...
Thursday, December 03, 2009
A New Blog Design and some Shoe Science.
Well, I normally redesign the blog in January, but two things have prompted me to redesign now.
On a training note: I received my Newton AW's yesterday and cannot wait to take them for a spin on Saturday. I will run 1 mile in them on Saturday and Sunday, then take them for 3 miles on Wednesday.
1. I am off from working out this week in preparation for the 20 week 70.3 training that will commence Monday for Ironman 70.3 Lonestar.
2. I will not have time for the next 20 weeks as a result.
If you will notice the thing I love most about the new blog is the "Featured Content" window up top. This has featured events and posts to go straight to that article on the blog or elsewhere.
On a training note: I received my Newton AW's yesterday and cannot wait to take them for a spin on Saturday. I will run 1 mile in them on Saturday and Sunday, then take them for 3 miles on Wednesday.My plan is to slowly work these shoes into my training, while still maintaining time in the KSwiss Konas.
Welcome to 2010! Away we go!
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