I have several brands of trail shoes. I have tried Asics, Salomon and TNF, and I mix them around for runs, depending on the distance and my mood.
I had a pair of TNF Sentinel which I won from a previous TNF race, and it was surprisingly a nice pair of shoes for the trail, with good support for my arches. I was looking for a replacement, googled some ideas, and came upon a fellow runner's blog about a new model from TNF. So here's another ultra runner who used to wear the Sentinel and tried a new pair, enough persuasion for me to check it out when I was in Chicago.
The TNF Women's Double Track is an award winning trail shoe, providing structured cushioning support while maintaining a lightweight body. It weighed about 272g per shoe and had a very roomy toebox. The shoe did not feel constricted and I felt like I was running with my normal road shoes (eg. Asics GT or Kayano). By comparison, my other pair is the Salomon Crossmax Guidance (structured/ stability), which reportedly is 300gm per side (to be fair, they have their pluses too). The Double Track had a very cushy tongue and heel cradle (it felt snug, like the Asics Kayano), and a mesh front with a couple of drainage holes near the toe area to rid water quickly (should you step into puddles).
I took the Double Track on a maiden run. It was light enough for the tarmac, and snug enough for the trail. I started off with a loose lacing, and my feet slid as I went into the trail. After tightening the laces, I was a lot more in control. The grip was ok - but then again, it was a dry trail.
The run turned into a mud-slosh when the downpour hit. Oh might as well, a chance for me to test the shoes in the wet trail. They were lightweight to begin with, so they did not feel too heavy even when totally soaked. The front drainage holes also helped in relieving the water inside the shoes. However, they had no grip on wet down-sloped granite covered with algae. Trail runners in Singapore would understand that terrain - huge slabs of granite on an incline, covered with a layer of green moss and algae, and incredibly slippery when wet. Otherwise, the traction from the shoes was fine on the trails and other rough rock surfaces, even in the rain.
The other downside of the shoes was the soft mesh toebox. I guess it is a tradeoff between weight, protection, and responsiveness. The ability to flex our toes and respond quickly to the terrain means that the toebox area cannot be too stiff (eg. road shoes vs trail shoes, Double Track vs Crossmax). As such, I could feel rocks and stones on the sides if I stepped into a messy bunch of them. I am sure as a run gets longer, and my legs more tired out, I would end up losing my posture, strides and control of where my steps go. That meant that I am bound to kick into more rocks, which is not good with a softer toebox.
Nonetheless, I was happy with the shoes. First run, 26 - 27km of dry road, dry and wet trails, and I had no abrasion or hotspots whatsoever. The arch support worked well too (no discomfort is good news). All in, it is a superb pair for soft trails, eg. MR loops, and 20 - 30km distances. I will try the shoes again for a better sense of the 'rock-kicking' impact, before deciding if they can go on an ultra.
Showing posts with label gear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gear. Show all posts
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
The Old TNF Shoes
I did manage to try my old TNF shoes this morning. Ran the exact same route as yesterday. The shoes were kinda narrow in the front (yes, remind me why I had blisters in the past) and snagged at my big toes. They were also very heavy (more so than my Salomons and Asics), though rugged. You probably would not mind kicking a couple of rocks along the way.
Verdict - I guess I could use them in the mornings for short runs in the trail. They would be too heavy on the tarmac.
Verdict - I guess I could use them in the mornings for short runs in the trail. They would be too heavy on the tarmac.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
First Run in Nine Days
The trauma of the HK100 race was followed immediately by a long work trip. My feet were swollen on the flight to Canada due to water retention and the soreness from the race. My body was not in the mood for more runs in Ottawa. The sub-zero temperature and early morning conferences reinforced the idea that I should rest and take a break for a week. :)
So here I am, back in hot-wave Singapore. Had my first run in 8-9 days (spent in a blurring mix of flights and airport transits). Headed for the trail this morning in my old Asics shoes. Recently, I had been digging out all my old trail shoes and testing which ones were still usable, at least for short morning runs. Last test of my other Salomon pair gave me arch pain before the HK100 event. Horrors!
This morning, the Asics worked ok, except that its glue was weakening and it might fall apart. Ran my usual 1:20h loop around DF and ZH. Legs were fresh and I was about 2min faster than my typical timing.
Tomorrow morning I will try again, this time with my old North Face shoes. I will need a constant supply of trail shoes if I keep wearing them out on the runs. :)
So here I am, back in hot-wave Singapore. Had my first run in 8-9 days (spent in a blurring mix of flights and airport transits). Headed for the trail this morning in my old Asics shoes. Recently, I had been digging out all my old trail shoes and testing which ones were still usable, at least for short morning runs. Last test of my other Salomon pair gave me arch pain before the HK100 event. Horrors!
This morning, the Asics worked ok, except that its glue was weakening and it might fall apart. Ran my usual 1:20h loop around DF and ZH. Legs were fresh and I was about 2min faster than my typical timing.
Tomorrow morning I will try again, this time with my old North Face shoes. I will need a constant supply of trail shoes if I keep wearing them out on the runs. :)
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Last Run of the Week
All ready to hit Hong Kong this weekend for a race to the shops and eateries. Oh and by the way, there's a marathon 42km too. Ha.
We are going on our annual shopping spree in HK, with the run as a bonus secondary event. This morning I tried my road shoes (having been mostly in the trails the past runs). I went on the 13km loop around the Clementi park canal. The Mizunos started off light, then felt like they did not have enough cushioning. Not sure if it was because the shoes were rather old, or I was not used to running on the tarmac. By comparison, my Salomon trail shoes had much more support.
Conclusion: will stick my faithful Asics for the race. :)
We are going on our annual shopping spree in HK, with the run as a bonus secondary event. This morning I tried my road shoes (having been mostly in the trails the past runs). I went on the 13km loop around the Clementi park canal. The Mizunos started off light, then felt like they did not have enough cushioning. Not sure if it was because the shoes were rather old, or I was not used to running on the tarmac. By comparison, my Salomon trail shoes had much more support.
Conclusion: will stick my faithful Asics for the race. :)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
More Recovery Runs
Tues - 1x MF 5km loop + 1x 9km Canal-Ridley-Tanglin route
Total 14km. Legs were still heavy.
Thurs - Late and only had time for 1x Henderson 5.3km loop. :(
Legs were fresh but alas! shoes heavy. Ran with a pair of Kayanos and boy, were they heavy!
Total 14km. Legs were still heavy.
Thurs - Late and only had time for 1x Henderson 5.3km loop. :(
Legs were fresh but alas! shoes heavy. Ran with a pair of Kayanos and boy, were they heavy!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
New Wheels!
My first set of racing wheels - the Reynolds Assault. Ahhhh......
It was a decent set of carbon deep-section wheels. Friends had recommended them to me. So on a nice sunny afternoon, we all turned up at Cycleworkz,.... to buy wheels and gear! Or simply to gather and socialize. Between the 7-8 of us, we bought 3 sets of new wheels. :)
I shall try them out tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to get used to them and not fall off.
It was a decent set of carbon deep-section wheels. Friends had recommended them to me. So on a nice sunny afternoon, we all turned up at Cycleworkz,.... to buy wheels and gear! Or simply to gather and socialize. Between the 7-8 of us, we bought 3 sets of new wheels. :)
I shall try them out tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to get used to them and not fall off.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
PowerBreathe Ironman Plus
About 3 weeks ago, I purchased the PowerBreathe gadget. I opted for the Ironman Plus Heavy Resistance model. There was also an Irongirl version that came in a pretty pink, but it was sold out. :(
The Ironman Plus series is targeted at serious athletes (as opposed to the medical and wellness series). Some of the beneficiary sports that caught my attention were triathlons, and high altitude training. What it does is to train our diaghram muscles and engage them for more efficient breathing.
The PowerBreathe has a resistance dial of 0 - 10. You should start at 0 and slowly work your way up. Each exercise involved taking 30 deep breaths (at reasonable speed and effort), twice a day (morning and night). When you feel that the exercise became easier, you turn the dial half-round and increase the breathing resistance.
It was a very interesting exercise. Over the past 3 weeks, I had gone from 0 to 3 on the dial. Initially, it was very difficult to complete 30 breaths. The first time I fixed the gadget and tried, I could only manage 6 breaths. Then I realised there was a way to inhale deeply, until there was a 'click' sound, which meant the diaphragm had 'moved'. That was when I noticed that I could get more air into my system. It was a way to build lung capacity.
I have yet to test or verify the effectiveness of the PowerBreathe training on sports performance. In general though, I could feel that each breath was fuller and that I could suck in more air if I wanted to.
To be continued.... :)
The Ironman Plus series is targeted at serious athletes (as opposed to the medical and wellness series). Some of the beneficiary sports that caught my attention were triathlons, and high altitude training. What it does is to train our diaghram muscles and engage them for more efficient breathing.
The PowerBreathe has a resistance dial of 0 - 10. You should start at 0 and slowly work your way up. Each exercise involved taking 30 deep breaths (at reasonable speed and effort), twice a day (morning and night). When you feel that the exercise became easier, you turn the dial half-round and increase the breathing resistance.
It was a very interesting exercise. Over the past 3 weeks, I had gone from 0 to 3 on the dial. Initially, it was very difficult to complete 30 breaths. The first time I fixed the gadget and tried, I could only manage 6 breaths. Then I realised there was a way to inhale deeply, until there was a 'click' sound, which meant the diaphragm had 'moved'. That was when I noticed that I could get more air into my system. It was a way to build lung capacity.
I have yet to test or verify the effectiveness of the PowerBreathe training on sports performance. In general though, I could feel that each breath was fuller and that I could suck in more air if I wanted to.
To be continued.... :)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Online Gear Shopping
This blog post is to share some of my experiences with online sports gear purchases.
Online Shops:
These are some of my favourite online gear shops with a good range of products, responsive customer service and good pricing. Most of them have live-chat help, or respond to emails promptly. I have also called to enquire about orders and been properly guided through the steps over the phone. There are many other sites for specific products, which I would not list in this post. Do exercise due user-diligence and take note of some features of good online sites (section below) before you make a purchase.
(1) Non-specialist Shops:
backcountry.com
campsaver.com
hermitshut.com
moosejaw.com
whittakermountaineering.com
These shops are non-brand specific and have a good selection of both outdoor and generic sports. They have an excellent customer service which answers any technical questions you have on the gear, or general purchase enquiry. You will need to do a security verification of your Singapore credit card before the purchase is shipped. The company will charge a random small amount (~USD cents/ dollar) to your credit card. You will then have to let them know the exact amount charged or verification code (from credit card bank) via email or live-chat. Once the card is verified, your purchase is completed.
rei.com
rei.com/outlet
One of the largest coop in USA with a wide selection of both outdoor and generic sports. They also carry their in-house REI brand. Check out rei-outlet.com as well for hugely discounted & clearance products. You should be a REI member for better deals.
mec.ca
This is a well-established coop in Canada. Like REI, it has an immense range of sports equipment, from high mountains to deep seas to canoes and so forth. Its education site has a wealth of information on how to take care and choose gear. Its in-house MEC brand is good value-for-money. Petite users might wish to check out its children's sizing. You have to be a MEC member in order to purchase.
sportsbasement.com
This is a large sports store in California stocking a huge range of sports equipment. It has an outdoor & camping section, but the selection is not as extensive as the specialist stores. That means, for instance, if you wanted a full range of North Face or Marmot gear, you might not find it there. But its merchandise is typically a few USD cheaper than the official retail prices. The energy gels and drinks are especially cheap. Great customer service when you visit the store. I love going to the physical store. It is a community-type of shop which holds regular running, cycling and other training sessions for the nearby community.
paragonsports.com
This is a sports store chain in USA, mostly the East Coast/ NYC. For general sports, triathlon, running etc. Does not accept Singapore credit cards online. I placed an order online, followed by a phone call to make a 'manual' purchase & payment. After that, the order was delivered properly.
(2) Specialist Shops
Then there is a huge range of brand-specific specialist shops that offer online shopping and delivery as well. You can google for any major brand and be guided through its official website. Not all of them provide online shopping service - they defer to their dealers or outlets - but you can check. Some of the brands that I love to browse are:
Mountain Hardwear
The North Face
Patagonia
Under Armour Outlet
Customer Care & Service:
You would want to check that you are purchasing from an authentic USA-based online shopping portal before making your purchase. Many cheap websites are from China and other dodgy places and you may receive fake/ defective/ excess products, or have trouble contacting their so-called "Live" customer support, or face extreme inconveniences with return policies.
(1) Contact
A good online site should provide prompt response (email, website form etc) to your query. It will also list all channels in which you can contact them (incl a telephone number, physical address etc). I usually get a reply within 1 business day, and certainly within 2 business days. In the rare occasion that I do not, I will call and be able to get the right assistance.
(2) Refunds/ Exchanges
A credible online site (usually the ones based in USA or Western markets with established consumer protection rights) will allow for a full refund or product exchange within a sufficient duration (eg. 30 days). This will be stated upfront on the website, together with the Return Shipping Address and instructions. This information will be repeated on your invoice when you receive the products. Follow the instructions to log your return (they will issue you a return code) and ship the merchandise back. Some sites even let you print a pre-negotiated (cheaper) shipping label if you are within the USA! and they alert you that they have received your parcel. Most times, I get my credit card refund within 10 business days. Bottomline: they make it extremely easy for you to return your unsatisfied purchase.
(NB: In stark contrast, the unreliable Chinese sites will be uncontactable and with non-full disclosure of the above information. When you actually need to enquire about a product or seek a refund, you have to chase them multiple times for a reply. There is no telephone number to call. The 24h "Live" support does not work. The return shipping address is not stated upfront, and not given despite repeated asking. Then they will try to dissuade you from returning, and ask you to re-sell the goods instead! *incredulous*)
Payment & Delivery Notes
For Singapore credit card users - Do take note of some of the additional verification and steps required (as described above), and take these delays into account when planning your shipping. Do NOT ever disclose and send your credit card information via email.
Delivery within USA - Most online shops ship free within USA above a certain purchase amount. Generally they do not do international shipping. If they do, it is usually very costly. If you are travelling to USA, do note that not all shops ship to hotels. For residential addresses, most will not deliver to a USA PO Box address - pls check the instructions.
Delivery to Singapore - Try comgateway.com The site gives you a free USA postal address to ship your purchases to. It then consolidates all your purchases, repacks them (to reduce packaging and save shipping costs), and forwards them to your designated international address. Some credit card verification is required as well, read the website guide.
*vPost by Singpost is not very efficient despite its marketing. The online tracker did not work. I had to call Singpost daily to locate my shipment in its partner warehouse and get it sent to Singapore.
Happy shopping! :)
Online Shops:
These are some of my favourite online gear shops with a good range of products, responsive customer service and good pricing. Most of them have live-chat help, or respond to emails promptly. I have also called to enquire about orders and been properly guided through the steps over the phone. There are many other sites for specific products, which I would not list in this post. Do exercise due user-diligence and take note of some features of good online sites (section below) before you make a purchase.
(1) Non-specialist Shops:
backcountry.com
campsaver.com
hermitshut.com
moosejaw.com
whittakermountaineering.com
These shops are non-brand specific and have a good selection of both outdoor and generic sports. They have an excellent customer service which answers any technical questions you have on the gear, or general purchase enquiry. You will need to do a security verification of your Singapore credit card before the purchase is shipped. The company will charge a random small amount (~USD cents/ dollar) to your credit card. You will then have to let them know the exact amount charged or verification code (from credit card bank) via email or live-chat. Once the card is verified, your purchase is completed.
rei.com
rei.com/outlet
One of the largest coop in USA with a wide selection of both outdoor and generic sports. They also carry their in-house REI brand. Check out rei-outlet.com as well for hugely discounted & clearance products. You should be a REI member for better deals.
mec.ca
This is a well-established coop in Canada. Like REI, it has an immense range of sports equipment, from high mountains to deep seas to canoes and so forth. Its education site has a wealth of information on how to take care and choose gear. Its in-house MEC brand is good value-for-money. Petite users might wish to check out its children's sizing. You have to be a MEC member in order to purchase.
sportsbasement.com
This is a large sports store in California stocking a huge range of sports equipment. It has an outdoor & camping section, but the selection is not as extensive as the specialist stores. That means, for instance, if you wanted a full range of North Face or Marmot gear, you might not find it there. But its merchandise is typically a few USD cheaper than the official retail prices. The energy gels and drinks are especially cheap. Great customer service when you visit the store. I love going to the physical store. It is a community-type of shop which holds regular running, cycling and other training sessions for the nearby community.
paragonsports.com
This is a sports store chain in USA, mostly the East Coast/ NYC. For general sports, triathlon, running etc. Does not accept Singapore credit cards online. I placed an order online, followed by a phone call to make a 'manual' purchase & payment. After that, the order was delivered properly.
(2) Specialist Shops
Then there is a huge range of brand-specific specialist shops that offer online shopping and delivery as well. You can google for any major brand and be guided through its official website. Not all of them provide online shopping service - they defer to their dealers or outlets - but you can check. Some of the brands that I love to browse are:
Mountain Hardwear
The North Face
Patagonia
Under Armour Outlet
Customer Care & Service:
You would want to check that you are purchasing from an authentic USA-based online shopping portal before making your purchase. Many cheap websites are from China and other dodgy places and you may receive fake/ defective/ excess products, or have trouble contacting their so-called "Live" customer support, or face extreme inconveniences with return policies.
(1) Contact
A good online site should provide prompt response (email, website form etc) to your query. It will also list all channels in which you can contact them (incl a telephone number, physical address etc). I usually get a reply within 1 business day, and certainly within 2 business days. In the rare occasion that I do not, I will call and be able to get the right assistance.
(2) Refunds/ Exchanges
A credible online site (usually the ones based in USA or Western markets with established consumer protection rights) will allow for a full refund or product exchange within a sufficient duration (eg. 30 days). This will be stated upfront on the website, together with the Return Shipping Address and instructions. This information will be repeated on your invoice when you receive the products. Follow the instructions to log your return (they will issue you a return code) and ship the merchandise back. Some sites even let you print a pre-negotiated (cheaper) shipping label if you are within the USA! and they alert you that they have received your parcel. Most times, I get my credit card refund within 10 business days. Bottomline: they make it extremely easy for you to return your unsatisfied purchase.
(NB: In stark contrast, the unreliable Chinese sites will be uncontactable and with non-full disclosure of the above information. When you actually need to enquire about a product or seek a refund, you have to chase them multiple times for a reply. There is no telephone number to call. The 24h "Live" support does not work. The return shipping address is not stated upfront, and not given despite repeated asking. Then they will try to dissuade you from returning, and ask you to re-sell the goods instead! *incredulous*)
Payment & Delivery Notes
For Singapore credit card users - Do take note of some of the additional verification and steps required (as described above), and take these delays into account when planning your shipping. Do NOT ever disclose and send your credit card information via email.
Delivery within USA - Most online shops ship free within USA above a certain purchase amount. Generally they do not do international shipping. If they do, it is usually very costly. If you are travelling to USA, do note that not all shops ship to hotels. For residential addresses, most will not deliver to a USA PO Box address - pls check the instructions.
Delivery to Singapore - Try comgateway.com The site gives you a free USA postal address to ship your purchases to. It then consolidates all your purchases, repacks them (to reduce packaging and save shipping costs), and forwards them to your designated international address. Some credit card verification is required as well, read the website guide.
*vPost by Singpost is not very efficient despite its marketing. The online tracker did not work. I had to call Singpost daily to locate my shipment in its partner warehouse and get it sent to Singapore.
Happy shopping! :)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Recovery Swim & Run
So tired this week, decided to swim & relax some muscles.
Set 1 - 12:51min
Set 2 - 12:55min
Set 3 - 13:01min
Total - 38min++
Tonight was the Newton shoe trial run. Heard and seen much about the shoes, but never tried them. Tried on a pair of Women's Stability Racer. Felt very light. Technique wise, I was surprised that I just eased into the shoes and running, no adjustments needed with the landing or posture etc. I only felt the difference when I stopped & was slightly off-balanced on the -4 french fries' on the soles. Hmmm.... The shoes probably made one more aware of one's running posture, there's no way you could slouch & run in those shoes. The lightness of the shoes contributed to speed.
Did the MF 10km loop, slow and relaxed. 1:03h. Recovery run. :)
Set 1 - 12:51min
Set 2 - 12:55min
Set 3 - 13:01min
Total - 38min++
Tonight was the Newton shoe trial run. Heard and seen much about the shoes, but never tried them. Tried on a pair of Women's Stability Racer. Felt very light. Technique wise, I was surprised that I just eased into the shoes and running, no adjustments needed with the landing or posture etc. I only felt the difference when I stopped & was slightly off-balanced on the -4 french fries' on the soles. Hmmm.... The shoes probably made one more aware of one's running posture, there's no way you could slouch & run in those shoes. The lightness of the shoes contributed to speed.
Did the MF 10km loop, slow and relaxed. 1:03h. Recovery run. :)
Saturday, August 15, 2009
New Boots!
Realised my current boots have started peeling, oh my! And I found out only because one of the lace eyelets dropped off and I wanted to fix it back. Did not actually look at my boots previously. Gosh. Time to get a new pair.
My RIP boots - Mendl Air, that have weathered well and held up under totally abusive environments. Trainings, Mustagh Ata (2007), Naya Kanga (2008), KK (2009).
And my brand new boots - Lafuma, cheaper, lighter. Let's see how many expeditions it would last me.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Last Stairs and a Silk Liner
My last day of training before marathon and expedition. Should I be happy that I could rest for a few days, or anxious that the events are ticking close? I did the same as before, 8 sets at TB flat. My backpack seemed heavier - maybe the packing and weight distribution was not ideal. The wonders of the human body to adapt to a differen training routine. Legs were definitely conditioned by now to the demands of stair climbing with load. So unlike the first time a month ago when I started and ached for a few days. The 8 sets were still a boring routine, but at least it passed rather soon. Alber was waiting to have dinner so I had inspiration to rush through the last set. *pant pant breathe*
Now to go home and dig out my silk sleeping bag liner. Last night I experimented with one, sleeping in my air-con room inside the liner. Then I felt cold, and pulled over my silk blanket. My arms were directly cocooned by the blanket and were nice and warm. My toes though were wriggling inside the liner and kinda cool. Hmmm... maybe the liner was not 100% silk. Ok, it really was not, given how cheap it was. So tonight I am going to experiment again with my pure silk liner and see if there is a difference.
Now to go home and dig out my silk sleeping bag liner. Last night I experimented with one, sleeping in my air-con room inside the liner. Then I felt cold, and pulled over my silk blanket. My arms were directly cocooned by the blanket and were nice and warm. My toes though were wriggling inside the liner and kinda cool. Hmmm... maybe the liner was not 100% silk. Ok, it really was not, given how cheap it was. So tonight I am going to experiment again with my pure silk liner and see if there is a difference.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
FatBird iRun & Nike Air Zooms
I joined Fatbird for the i-Run tonight at River Promenade (outside the Fat Bird statue). It was the first time I joined in their run. Esther (Passion), Ronnie, Anthony, DO, and Roslyn were there. Good to see them again!
My main purpose was to test my pacer Nike shoes tonight. I was issued a pair of Nike Structured Triax, with Air Zoom soles. When I used them last week at Canterbury loop, my hip felt really strained. I had to stop several times to stretch my right ITB. My left knee was also inflammed after the run.
So I had to do a controlled experiment to verify if it was the shoes or me (having just returned from a long flight). I managed to race through Powerman that weekend with my Mizuno runners. On Tuesday, I wore my Asics for another trial around Canterbury. My quads and calves were aching big-time from Powerman, yet knee and hip felt ok after run, and there was little inflammation.
Today I decided to test the Nikes again. I had a physio session in the afternoon, so I was all 'set' rightly. After 26min, my hips felt strained and my knee ached again. Then the pain eased. But at 50min, it returned. Hmmm.... I had a similarly bad experience with a pair of Nike Elite Air Zoom shoes 5 years ago. My ITB would tighten after 5km without fail on each run. I dunked those shoes. Since then, I dared not use Nike running shoes (Nike tennis shoes were ok). Until now. And the prognosis still looked bleak....
My main purpose was to test my pacer Nike shoes tonight. I was issued a pair of Nike Structured Triax, with Air Zoom soles. When I used them last week at Canterbury loop, my hip felt really strained. I had to stop several times to stretch my right ITB. My left knee was also inflammed after the run.
So I had to do a controlled experiment to verify if it was the shoes or me (having just returned from a long flight). I managed to race through Powerman that weekend with my Mizuno runners. On Tuesday, I wore my Asics for another trial around Canterbury. My quads and calves were aching big-time from Powerman, yet knee and hip felt ok after run, and there was little inflammation.
Today I decided to test the Nikes again. I had a physio session in the afternoon, so I was all 'set' rightly. After 26min, my hips felt strained and my knee ached again. Then the pain eased. But at 50min, it returned. Hmmm.... I had a similarly bad experience with a pair of Nike Elite Air Zoom shoes 5 years ago. My ITB would tighten after 5km without fail on each run. I dunked those shoes. Since then, I dared not use Nike running shoes (Nike tennis shoes were ok). Until now. And the prognosis still looked bleak....
Monday, August 11, 2008
Fear Drives
Over the past week, I have been constantly amazed and impressed by the human body's ability to adapt, learn new tricks and be conditioned. I am a hopeless swimmer, a klutzy rider who slows down when vehicles whiz by, and an average so-so runner. By all natural accounts, I probably should not be taking part in races. But!
Fear drives. Fear inspires. Fear puts us in our right places and kicks us to get started. Take a deep breath, nail the fear, and go. Next comes repetitions. Reps give us the confidence to keep at it. The realization that we can, and let's try it again.
Let's talk about swimming first. I was seized with a fear of not being able to complete the swim distance. 2km?!? I could not comprehend why anyone would want to swim that far. (And the Olympics long-distance swim was a whopping 25km!) But swim I must. So I popped by Safra pool. Monday evenings were good, fewer swimmers and divers. I put on my gloves and jumped in. One thing led to another, one stroke after the other. I managed 20 laps with the gloves, in decent (to me) timing, abt 16min each set. Then I removed the gloves, and wow, arms could fly! I managed to maintain a per lap timing around 1:20min (more or less), and sustained another 20 laps in about 14ish-15min each set. Wow! More importantly, I had never thought that I could feel so comfortable in freestyle instead of breastroke. If someone did an aura map around the pool, surely he would have seen the bright glow radiating from that swimmer in pink cap. Haha.
Then I reached home. Fear of not being able to ride 90km on my new bike forced me to DIY and review every single measurement. I fixed my new bottle cage with new screws, and set up the bike trainer. For a non-technical person, I was pretty impressed with my mechanical skills. I tested many combinations and adjusted everything - from saddle angle, to pedal and brake tensions, to aero bar height, length, angles, dropping and adding stem spacers, moving elbow pads forward and back. Every new combination required hopping on and off the bike and testing some spins. Thankfully I had a reflective balcony door next to bike, and it was much easier to check the riding positions and leg angles. I spent an eternity fine tuning all the minute adjustments, even whipping out the measuring tape to be precise. But there! More than an hour later, I had a perfectly comfortable setup that I liked.
Fear drives. Fear inspires. Fear puts us in our right places and kicks us to get started. Take a deep breath, nail the fear, and go. Next comes repetitions. Reps give us the confidence to keep at it. The realization that we can, and let's try it again.
Let's talk about swimming first. I was seized with a fear of not being able to complete the swim distance. 2km?!? I could not comprehend why anyone would want to swim that far. (And the Olympics long-distance swim was a whopping 25km!) But swim I must. So I popped by Safra pool. Monday evenings were good, fewer swimmers and divers. I put on my gloves and jumped in. One thing led to another, one stroke after the other. I managed 20 laps with the gloves, in decent (to me) timing, abt 16min each set. Then I removed the gloves, and wow, arms could fly! I managed to maintain a per lap timing around 1:20min (more or less), and sustained another 20 laps in about 14ish-15min each set. Wow! More importantly, I had never thought that I could feel so comfortable in freestyle instead of breastroke. If someone did an aura map around the pool, surely he would have seen the bright glow radiating from that swimmer in pink cap. Haha.
Then I reached home. Fear of not being able to ride 90km on my new bike forced me to DIY and review every single measurement. I fixed my new bottle cage with new screws, and set up the bike trainer. For a non-technical person, I was pretty impressed with my mechanical skills. I tested many combinations and adjusted everything - from saddle angle, to pedal and brake tensions, to aero bar height, length, angles, dropping and adding stem spacers, moving elbow pads forward and back. Every new combination required hopping on and off the bike and testing some spins. Thankfully I had a reflective balcony door next to bike, and it was much easier to check the riding positions and leg angles. I spent an eternity fine tuning all the minute adjustments, even whipping out the measuring tape to be precise. But there! More than an hour later, I had a perfectly comfortable setup that I liked.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Test Ride
The 3 new Ceepos hit the road for a test ride this afternoon. It was blazing hot, and I just about coated myself in sunblock lotion. Alas, 10km later, at a coffeeshop in industrial Kranji, it started drizzling. New bikes were baptized in a wash out.
It was a different feeling riding on a tri-bike. I was not used to the gear shifters being on the bar ends and separate from the brakes. Just this morning, I played with the shifters and figured out how to loosen the tension/ friction so that my finger could flick the gear changers smoothly. Last night I had to literally grip the flicker with a few fingers to click it - that should not be happening on the roads. How to have so many extra fingers and split concentration just to shift gears? After loosening it, the shifter seemed to be more amenable now.
Something in the setup did not feel totally comfortable. I initially rode on the flat handle bars, very tentatively, trying to get used to the new bike. And my shoulders-arms ached. Then I pushed the saddle backwards slightly, and it felt much better. The aero position on a tri bike was really comfortable, with the thick gel pads supporting the elbows. Slightly more comfortable than my clip-on bars on roadie. I just had to get used to it and not wobble too much. Every little elbow movement and twitch could easily send the bike (and rider) off course. After some trials, I managed to stabilize myself. But climbing slopes on the aerobars was not as efficient, I preferred the handle bars. Being not very proficient in controlling the bike with only my left hand, I did not dare lift my right hand to click the gears. A couple of times, I used my left hand on the shifters, while keeping my right hand close to the brakes. It seemed to work and I found my rhythm.
We rode about 45km, and Eddie had to go off for work. It was a good test ride, I just had to gain more confidence on it. But at least can't lose me in the crowd. My front rider (all black bike) said he could spot me 1-2 bus stops away. My back rider (yellow-black) complained that no one looked at his bike cos ppl at bus stop were still staring at mine. Haha.
It was a different feeling riding on a tri-bike. I was not used to the gear shifters being on the bar ends and separate from the brakes. Just this morning, I played with the shifters and figured out how to loosen the tension/ friction so that my finger could flick the gear changers smoothly. Last night I had to literally grip the flicker with a few fingers to click it - that should not be happening on the roads. How to have so many extra fingers and split concentration just to shift gears? After loosening it, the shifter seemed to be more amenable now.
Something in the setup did not feel totally comfortable. I initially rode on the flat handle bars, very tentatively, trying to get used to the new bike. And my shoulders-arms ached. Then I pushed the saddle backwards slightly, and it felt much better. The aero position on a tri bike was really comfortable, with the thick gel pads supporting the elbows. Slightly more comfortable than my clip-on bars on roadie. I just had to get used to it and not wobble too much. Every little elbow movement and twitch could easily send the bike (and rider) off course. After some trials, I managed to stabilize myself. But climbing slopes on the aerobars was not as efficient, I preferred the handle bars. Being not very proficient in controlling the bike with only my left hand, I did not dare lift my right hand to click the gears. A couple of times, I used my left hand on the shifters, while keeping my right hand close to the brakes. It seemed to work and I found my rhythm.
We rode about 45km, and Eddie had to go off for work. It was a good test ride, I just had to gain more confidence on it. But at least can't lose me in the crowd. My front rider (all black bike) said he could spot me 1-2 bus stops away. My back rider (yellow-black) complained that no one looked at his bike cos ppl at bus stop were still staring at mine. Haha.
Friday, August 8, 2008
New Toys!
Today we went to collect our new toys - my shocking pink highlighter (http://www.ceepo.com/frames_vixen.html), and Alber's bumble bee (http://www.ceepo.com/frames_stinger.html). Together with Eddie's total black Venom, we bought the bikes from Key Power: http://www.keypowerintl.com/?p=8
Then we popped by nearby to Canondale, where Daniel kindly clocked many OT hours to help us with bike fitting. By the time we were done and headed for dinner, it was almost 10pm. After which we continued fiddling with the bike setup, aerobars etc, and only managed to crawl into bed around 1am. Oh my, I was almost dozing off and falling off the bike trainer.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Polar Footpod
It was a humid morning for a run. I had a new toy today, the RS200 foot pod. :) It was very easy to strap on and operate. Turned it on and the green light started blinking. I tried to follow Ultra, Anthony & DO but soon gave up around Pasir Panjang Rd. Geez, my watch registered a 6.30-7.00 min/km, yet it felt like a 5min pace to me. Pant pant.
We went up South BV Rd. It was a painful run this morning. Tough weather, tough route. Plodding up the windy road and entered NUH, but it was only 10km. Groan. There was no other runners in sight, only Teacher Lee and Rosemary's friend. The 3 of us too turns cutting and following one another. I took a water break at Com Centre and soon reached NUH. My watch read 12km. I continued to Kent Ridge Park and took another break at the water cooler. Wow, the place was crowded with people trying out the new Southern Bridges. Along the way down Pepys Rd to Pasir Panjang, we came across several people coming up the slopes, trying to look for KR Park.
Got myself a chilled Pocari Sweat & took my Gu-gel at Caltex along Pasir Panjang. Just a bit more to run. Oh it was so hot. Brrrr..... melting. Walk-run-walk-trot. Melting. Finally made it back to Safra. The guys were all back, I was the last one. Again, as usual. Sigh.... DO, William, Anthony & Ultra were already changed and having kopi at Ya Kun. Siew Lee made iced milo again today, a cool respite to the weather!
The footpod measurement was quite accurate - 22.5km. Think I'll play with it a bit more, test it out on more routes. :)
We went up South BV Rd. It was a painful run this morning. Tough weather, tough route. Plodding up the windy road and entered NUH, but it was only 10km. Groan. There was no other runners in sight, only Teacher Lee and Rosemary's friend. The 3 of us too turns cutting and following one another. I took a water break at Com Centre and soon reached NUH. My watch read 12km. I continued to Kent Ridge Park and took another break at the water cooler. Wow, the place was crowded with people trying out the new Southern Bridges. Along the way down Pepys Rd to Pasir Panjang, we came across several people coming up the slopes, trying to look for KR Park.
Got myself a chilled Pocari Sweat & took my Gu-gel at Caltex along Pasir Panjang. Just a bit more to run. Oh it was so hot. Brrrr..... melting. Walk-run-walk-trot. Melting. Finally made it back to Safra. The guys were all back, I was the last one. Again, as usual. Sigh.... DO, William, Anthony & Ultra were already changed and having kopi at Ya Kun. Siew Lee made iced milo again today, a cool respite to the weather!
The footpod measurement was quite accurate - 22.5km. Think I'll play with it a bit more, test it out on more routes. :)
Saturday, May 17, 2008
New GT2130 Trail Shoes
I proabably have more trail shoes than running trails in Singapore. I added another to my collection recently, the Asics GT2130-trail, and tested them out at MR this morning. This is the off-road version of the popular road shoe and seemed promising. It had the same sole construct as the GT2130 and was relatively lighter than my North Face(s) and Salomon. Admittedly though, those were Gore-tex lined so they tended to be much heavier.
The GT-trail shoe felt comfortable and familiar. As with all new shoes, my feet took a little while to get used to them, but the discomfort disappeared after about half an hour. The toe area of the shoe was roomy and did not cause any hotspots, unlike my other trail shoes. Yeah, I would not have to tape my toes anymore with this pair of shoes.
After I exited the Northern Trail and hit the tarmac towards SICC, I was pleasantly surprised to feel the shoe's cushiony bounce. It delivered more cushion on the hard road without feeling like a heavy drag. Usually trail shoes gave very good support in the trails but were heavy on the roads. Road shoes, on the other hand, were great on roads (duh...), but I would loathe to wreck them on the rocks. Yet in Singapore, it was difficult to find a stretch of pure trails for long distance running. So our trail runs always ended up a 50-50 mix, resulting in a less than satisfactory choice of shoes. The GT-trail felt like a good balance for both trail and tarmac.
I ran to Upper Pierce toilet, took a break and turned back. Re-entering the trails at the "25"kmh mark, the GT-trail offered good support over the rocky paths. Its soles were also thick enough to cushion against the jabs of stepping over sharp rocks and debris. However, I realised that its front was not as reinforced (aka hardened) as my other trail shoes. The advantage was that I would not get any more bruised toe nails from hitting the shoe. The bad news was that you could kick a rock and bruise the toe. Hmmm....
It was a hot day for a late morning run, even at MR. I was drenched by the time I finished my 15km run. Bumped into Alex and chatted about bicycles for a while. After washing up, I met KC at Riders Cafe for lunch. The cafe came highly recommended by a colleague. It was a quaint place done up in dark wooden tones, non-aircon but lots of natural ventilation and ceiling fans. It was a nice place to chill, read the papers, and have a lazy meal. We ordered a Veggie Benedict, a grilled Ham n Cheese sandwich, and a vanilla milkshake. The food was good. The egg benedict was nicely done. Atop a toasted open-faced muffin was a layer of spinach and mushrooms, topped with an egg. The egg white was fluffy and quivering, egg yolk a cheerful liquid yellow, with a layer of melted cheddar cheese over the yolk. Oooh lovely. The fried cut potatoes (aka chips) that came with the sandwich were great too - salted, crispy and fat. But the sandwich itself was a tad disappointing. The toasted bread was too dry. The vanilla shake was rather good too - thick, frothy, and well, vanilla-fragranced. Definitely worth a return to try a couple of other items on the menu. But be sure to visit only after a workout! :)
The GT-trail shoe felt comfortable and familiar. As with all new shoes, my feet took a little while to get used to them, but the discomfort disappeared after about half an hour. The toe area of the shoe was roomy and did not cause any hotspots, unlike my other trail shoes. Yeah, I would not have to tape my toes anymore with this pair of shoes.
After I exited the Northern Trail and hit the tarmac towards SICC, I was pleasantly surprised to feel the shoe's cushiony bounce. It delivered more cushion on the hard road without feeling like a heavy drag. Usually trail shoes gave very good support in the trails but were heavy on the roads. Road shoes, on the other hand, were great on roads (duh...), but I would loathe to wreck them on the rocks. Yet in Singapore, it was difficult to find a stretch of pure trails for long distance running. So our trail runs always ended up a 50-50 mix, resulting in a less than satisfactory choice of shoes. The GT-trail felt like a good balance for both trail and tarmac.
I ran to Upper Pierce toilet, took a break and turned back. Re-entering the trails at the "25"kmh mark, the GT-trail offered good support over the rocky paths. Its soles were also thick enough to cushion against the jabs of stepping over sharp rocks and debris. However, I realised that its front was not as reinforced (aka hardened) as my other trail shoes. The advantage was that I would not get any more bruised toe nails from hitting the shoe. The bad news was that you could kick a rock and bruise the toe. Hmmm....
It was a hot day for a late morning run, even at MR. I was drenched by the time I finished my 15km run. Bumped into Alex and chatted about bicycles for a while. After washing up, I met KC at Riders Cafe for lunch. The cafe came highly recommended by a colleague. It was a quaint place done up in dark wooden tones, non-aircon but lots of natural ventilation and ceiling fans. It was a nice place to chill, read the papers, and have a lazy meal. We ordered a Veggie Benedict, a grilled Ham n Cheese sandwich, and a vanilla milkshake. The food was good. The egg benedict was nicely done. Atop a toasted open-faced muffin was a layer of spinach and mushrooms, topped with an egg. The egg white was fluffy and quivering, egg yolk a cheerful liquid yellow, with a layer of melted cheddar cheese over the yolk. Oooh lovely. The fried cut potatoes (aka chips) that came with the sandwich were great too - salted, crispy and fat. But the sandwich itself was a tad disappointing. The toasted bread was too dry. The vanilla shake was rather good too - thick, frothy, and well, vanilla-fragranced. Definitely worth a return to try a couple of other items on the menu. But be sure to visit only after a workout! :)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
New SKINS
Faye did the RPM Challenge tonight instead of KL. I did not manage to get my usual bike in the front row, and ended up in the 2nd row right behind this big sized chap. Translated - I could only see the back of him and not Faye on stage. Didn't help that Faye was also tiny and petite, so she was totally blocked from my view. Had to look at the reflections off the windows and mirrors to see what she was doing.
Bike ride started off with the right hip feeling a little wonky. Slight panic. Pressed the joint a couple of times. The feeling cleared off after a short while. Whew. Managed to build up to a decently panting and sweaty workout. There was a freshie in the class tonight, seated in front of me, and Faye had to keep telling him what to do. Very distracting as I kept looking at his wrong postures.
Spent a good 15min stretching after the class. No choice, had to do extra time on the entire hip area on both sides. Continued on foam roller at home and fell asleep on the ice-pack.
Collected my new SKINS capri tights tonight. Black and purple. :) Lovely. Looked chio too, they covered up to mid-calf. Felt smoother than 2XU, but less tight/ compression. Game to test it on a run soon.
Bike ride started off with the right hip feeling a little wonky. Slight panic. Pressed the joint a couple of times. The feeling cleared off after a short while. Whew. Managed to build up to a decently panting and sweaty workout. There was a freshie in the class tonight, seated in front of me, and Faye had to keep telling him what to do. Very distracting as I kept looking at his wrong postures.
Spent a good 15min stretching after the class. No choice, had to do extra time on the entire hip area on both sides. Continued on foam roller at home and fell asleep on the ice-pack.
Collected my new SKINS capri tights tonight. Black and purple. :) Lovely. Looked chio too, they covered up to mid-calf. Felt smoother than 2XU, but less tight/ compression. Game to test it on a run soon.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Rib Cage & Necklace
I think I pulled some abs muscles or something near the ribs from Pump class on Thursday. The ribs hurt when I rotated or moved in certain directions. That included trying to toss in bed. :( I sought out Frankie for a massage, and we narrowed the strain to the left ribs area. That was interesting because the pain/ pull was felt on the right side. But when he applied pressure to the left side, it triggered the pain. I guess I should look up the anatomy and find the culprit ligament or muscle tissue.
RPM class by Rodney in the afternoon was surprisingly tough. He had a different style from the other instructors, usually very high cadence even at high resistance. There was hard breathing throughout the class. It was my 5th RPM for the week. In 6 days. I think that was the highest record. Interestingly, there was an article in the papers today about the delusion of high-calorie burnt from spin classes and the calorie numbers displayed on treadmills, stair-masters and stationary bikes. It suggested that most people (and machines) overestimated the amount of calories burnt in our workouts, and then mistakenly consumed the equivalent amount.
I bought a Phiten Rukawa X30 necklace (http://www.healthshop.com.sg/). It apparently utilized aqua-titanium to improve blood circulation and relax the body. Many of my athlete friends had been using the necklaces and bracelets and they had favourable testimonials. I could try wearing one to sleep each night and monitor if I recover better from trainings. :)
RPM class by Rodney in the afternoon was surprisingly tough. He had a different style from the other instructors, usually very high cadence even at high resistance. There was hard breathing throughout the class. It was my 5th RPM for the week. In 6 days. I think that was the highest record. Interestingly, there was an article in the papers today about the delusion of high-calorie burnt from spin classes and the calorie numbers displayed on treadmills, stair-masters and stationary bikes. It suggested that most people (and machines) overestimated the amount of calories burnt in our workouts, and then mistakenly consumed the equivalent amount.
I bought a Phiten Rukawa X30 necklace (http://www.healthshop.com.sg/). It apparently utilized aqua-titanium to improve blood circulation and relax the body. Many of my athlete friends had been using the necklaces and bracelets and they had favourable testimonials. I could try wearing one to sleep each night and monitor if I recover better from trainings. :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Slippery Pearl Izumi SyncroPace
I needed a new pair of runners. My shoes would not dry in time in the wet year-end weather. I picked up a pair of Pearl Izumi SyncroPace from Running Lab, and was eager to test them at Safra's run. The route was ~12km from Clubhouse to Cantebury Estate, 2 loops of Labrador Park and return via Henderson Road. That was my 1st pair of Pearl Iz shoes and I was curious to try them. According to Pearl Iz's brochure, the SyncroPace was a "Stability + Cushioning" - moderate stability with excellent cushioning. At Running Lab, it was listed as "Performance Stability". My daily staple are stability shoes like Asics GT21** series and Mizuno Wave Elixir. So the SyncroPace matched that genre.
For the 1st stretch from Clubhouse to Depot Road, the shoes felt really good. Cushion and support were very good, my feet felt snugly in place and the shoes could adequately catch hold of wide strides. The shoes had a nice bouncy feel which added a spring in each step. However, the problem of slippery shoes arose when I was coming out of Cantebury Estate. The cement path was slightly downslope, wet from the rain and semi-covered by fallen leaves and twigs. I almost went gliding but managed to stop myself in time. So I tried to gingerly walk through that stretch of wet pavement. Even then, I skidded a few times.... walking! In all my days of running in different shoes and terrains, I had never skidded as much as tonight! That was when I realized that I should have checked the soles before buying the shoes. :(
The soles had little circular bumps instead of flat markings. They drastically reduced the amount of surface area and frictional contact with the ground, making it especially slippery on wet pavements. A typical mid-foot striker engages the ground on the fleshiest part of the runner's soles, toe-off and go. The bumps are located on the forefoot area of the shoe soles (see picture), meaning the big toe experiences the 'skid' and instability right at the very moment of toe-off. It happened a few times as I was walking, and also when I was opening up strides. It was very irritating, because one would have to hold back and be extra careful. You never knew if your next step would send you sliding.
Tarmac roads are not a problem. Cement pavements that are dark, wet, covered with fallen twigs, brown leaves and so forth... you get the idea... would be a challenge. In my mind, the shoes would be really dangerous if we were doing speed work on MF loops or running down MF slope.
The shoe body that cradles one's foot was a full-piece seamless construction. There was a thin sponge/ fabric that lined the inner shoe completely such that the foot was kept snug and eliminated chances of foot/ toe abrasions. However, that same construction meant that you would not feel the 'wind through your socks' on runs and consequently, a less ventilated feeling. By contrast, most running shoes have mesh tops and sides that allow more wind and ventilation - but which would leave your feet cold in winter runs.
Conclusion
From an amateur runner's perspective, the Pearl Izumi SnycroPace offered a softer (yet firm) cushion over the Asics GT, but had a firmer support over the Mizuno Wave Elixir. The SyncroPace would be a good pair of shoes for cool and dry conditions on tarmac (or rough) surfaces. For instance, evening track workouts, and marathons in Tokyo, Hong Kong and temperate countries.
That said, my intention of buying those shoes as a wet weather backup would have been misplaced. The shoes offered an excellent blend of support and cushion for an enjoyable run. Pity the skid marks.
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