Brooks Adrenaline GTS8

Smell that New Shoe Smell.

Shoes feel good so far (pre-run). The toe-box is a bit too big I think. Do I need a half size smaller?

Venturing out...

Brooks. And Me. Re-united. (And a Running Star and Her High School Sweetie, United)

My shoes are coming tomorrow! MY NEW RUNNING SHOES ARE COMING TOMORROW! Tonight, I dream of MoGo, midsole and forefront cushioning, moderate stability, and a shoe so light that I barely know it's even there.

Here they are...
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8


I wrote a post a while back about the Asics Oberon (http://calluses.blogspot.com/2008/02/self-diagnosis.html). A quick re-cap: I was in love with those shoes when I was training this winter. They felt fantastic and were relieving to my body because for years I had been training with too much stability on my feet. Since part way through my freshman year at Bloom, I had been wearing shoes with a lot of control as well as some rigid orthotics. After deciding that the ZAPPED-DEAD feeling in my legs was not normal, and the strong desire to turn back after a mile not normal for me either, I took a risk. I got rid of the controlled shoes and the orthotics. The Oberon had major cushioning and was relief to my legs and feet. I felt like I hadn't felt since high school.

Asics Oberon


It was a step in the right direction, but eventually I developed hip problems and I wasn't able to compete at PSACs for indoor. Sources told me it was because I was now running with not enough control. I realize that I don't have the greatest bio-mechanics, but I felt too good in Oberons for it to have been a totally bad move.

Since then, I've been trading between those shoes on trails, and the Nike Trail Pegasus on roads. I haven't been absolutely thrilled with the Pegasus, but hey, I can only spend so much money on shoes. Despite the name, they were too clunky for me to wear on trails. When I first got them, I didn't even like wearing them for road runs, but they broke down fairly quickly. That's not necessarily a good thing, but it gave me the movement I desired.

Nike Trail Pegasus


While in Florida, I went to a real nice running store that actually hosted the 5K I ran in - 1st Place Sports (http://www.1stplacesports.com/). They had Brooks Adrenaline - a shoe I used to wear in high school, and I NEVER got injured in them (except for the time I slipped in the mud during a run and broke my ankle). When Adrenaline was the pair I swore by, they were the GTS5 model. Then they upgraded to six, the toe-box was adjusted enough that it tore up my toes and blistered them like woah. I couldn't handle them.

Brooks Adrenaline 6


For one reason or another, I did not inspect GTS7 when they came out. It may be because not enough shoe stores carry Brooks around here.

At 1st Place Sports, I tried on the GTS8 and fell in Love. To have them on again it was just short of Magical. Unfortunately, I did not have the funds at the time to make the purchase, but this last paycheck took care of that.

The GTS8's seem to have the same stability I remember, but reviews that I've read online say the 8's have more forefoot cushioning than previous models. What has me really excited though is the weight. I don't remember the 5's feeling so light!

And I was right. After some investigation, I found that the 8's are 9.5oz., as compared to the 5's 1lb. 4oz. The 8's have also been named Runner's World's Best Buy for stability shoes.

I'll provide my own full review after a few days to a week of wearing them, but my hopes are so high right now that I'm afraid my pre-test expectations may be impossible to reach.

In conclusion, I'd like to announce that this weekend, one of the best runners in my area tied the knot. Amber Hackenberg, high school state PA Medalist (4th place, 2003), and All-American in cross-country this past fall, my roommate, teammate, and a former competitor of mine in high school, married a stellar guy, Heath, Ferocious-Brosius. Here they are entering the reception:


And here's me and Pat. (Sorry - couldn't resist):


Some reviews, descriptions and comments about some the shoes above:
* Brooks Adrenaline GTS8
http://www.brooksrunning.com/prod.php?p=42224

"Many a runner relies on this trusted road warrior. The shoe is loved for its tried-and-true fit and feel, sought after for its signature smoothness from heel to toe, and depended upon for the graceful, graduated support of its PDRB®. The Adrenaline™ GTS 8 maintains all of the above while enhancing the ride with the long-lasting cushioning and resiliency of MoGo."

* Asics Oberon
"Stability and cushioning combine nicely in this shoe designed for beginning and intermediate runners."
http://http://www.asicsamerica.com/products/product.aspx?PRODUCT_ID=240010110&TITLE_CATEGORY_ID=250001550

* Nike Trail Pegasus
"The lightweight and very resilient Phylon midsole utilizes the next generation of Natural Motion Technology principles which result in increased stride efficiency, something everyone can benefit from."
http://insidenikerunning.nike.com/2008/07/10/twenty-five-years-of-evolution/

Purest Sport? My Ass...

Running.

Run.

Motion.

Moving forward. The sway of your arms back and forth; the gentle pound of your feet.

Breath. Breath. Breath.

Sweat.

That's all it is.

Can I make it any simpler? Absolutely not.

Can it be made more complicated. Yes. Watch and see...

Running

Put on a show.

Gadgets.

Gadgets and style.

Juggling. Running while juggling these wires and gizmos.

Must look good. Must look good. Do I look like a runner?

This is the most expensive outfit. I have to look like a runner...

Running is the simplest, most pure sport. Well, once upon a time, it was. The Running Boom in the '70s was a fantastic thing in that the number of people who were discovering the beauty of running reached a crazy rate.

The Running Culture found the spotlight, and I suspect that this is when runners became majorly targeted as consumers.

It's a wonder I've been running in anything but this latest running tanktop, priced at a modest $35. I could get the matching shorts - there's another $20. The tanktop does not have a built in bra - Look at this nice one for $33. Blister prevention socks, three pairs for $12. That should do, right?

This sport is so basic that it was actually a way of life so many years ago. It was necessary to survive as our ancestors ran to catch food, to escape enemies, to carry a message, and has transformed these days into a consumer driven sport. I feel a fool as I walk through Foot Locker or Dick's and realize that I can't afford my sport.

But I just can't afford to be a part of today's Running Culture.

We don't need to run to catch food anymore, and we all give into the temptation to get trendy new running gear. Heck, I'd do anything short of killing a person to get some more comfortable jog bras, and when I can afford to spend $33 on one, I will get one. Or many. I hope for many.

Recognize, however, that the consumer driven aspect of running is not all bad. During the '70s Running and Baby Boom, running technology was advanced in some very necessary ways. Polly Smith, Lisa Lindahl, and Royall Tyler are credited for the invention of the jogbra in 1977. Their goal was to invent a "jockstrap for women." Amen, sista. (http://www.uvm.edu/theview/article.php; http://bellisse.com/pdf/jstory.pdf)

As the merchandise industry has begun catering more to the running community, technological advances have been made, and they are not all bad. But I fear we are losing sight of the beauty of running. We forget the simplicity of it, and the fact that all we really need are a pair of shoes (for some people, not even that!) to go out for a run.

Oh! The shoes!

Look at these... Well don't these look cool? Those bubbles, they're pretty neat. Oh... But these ones have those shocks that everyone talks about. These would be sure to turn some heads. Not great running shoes, you say? Well, they're in the running section, aren't they? And they're some of the most steeply priced - They have to be good.

Now this is what really irks me. If you are a serious runner, and you like those shocks and bubbles in your shoes... If you have never experienced pain or injury with those shoes, and if those shoes have lasted a solid 500 miles on your feet, I would love to hear from you. Until I do, I will hold to my opinion that many of the running shoes on the market are crap. Companies are taking advantage of this must-look-good-while-doing-it frame of mind of the running culturists and designing shoes based on what looks good more-so than what works best. Take it from me - Many times, the best shoes that I have worn, are the ugliest on the shelf.

So have your expensive running outfits. Buy those running shades. (Even though you look like a tool when you wear them, you somehow manage to look cool at the same time...when it's sunny.) Splurge on the New Age technologically-advanced socks with compartments for each individual toe. Hell, when I have the money, I'll be splurging on those bras.

But do yourself a favor. Every so often, put away the i-pod, run watch-less. Perhaps put on a ratty T-shirt and shorts, and just Feel The Run.

Melt Away the Muffin Topper

Toppers, that is. There are two, even if you only see one in this picture. Trust me, there is one equally as flubbery on the other side, and these shorts do a phenomenal job at squeezing out the handles.

So why wear the shorts, you may ask. Because I love them. There aren't too many colors that can say, "Hello, I'm fast" like shiny royal blue. When I run in them though, I have to wear a shirt even if it's super hot out.

For those of you who still are not sure what I mean by Muffin Toppers, despite the picture, here is the Wikipedia definition: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffin_top)

'Muffin-top' is a generally pejorative slang term used to describe the phenomenon of overhanging flesh when it spills over the waistline of trousers or skirt in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its paper casing. This generally occurs when an individual wears low-rise, hip-hugger pants, or midriff-baring tops that are too small.

My condolences to the photo example given on Wiki - who appears to be a child!?!

Now, not too much rubs me the the wrong way so much as teeny tiny girls who don't think they're skinny enough. I am not teeny tiny, but I know that I have a somewhat athletic body; I've been a runner for seven years - That's bound to happen. I hope that me, poking fun at my Muffin Toppers (and occassionally just poking them) does not come off this same way to you.

Allow me to walk you through my weight/body change experience that I've undergone these last few years. In high school, I was the gangly, scrawny gal. No butt or boobs, but rather two less attractive B's - Bangs and Braces. Take a gander:


(This is me, my freshman year, at the state meet in Hershey, Pa. with my brother, Kip, who was also my coach.)

I'm not sure what I weighed in this picture, but by the time I graduated I was about 132 pounds and Muffin Topper-less. Throughout high school, I was paranoid about my size. I looked awkward, and I knew it. I would have killed for a curvacious body.

Go to college, and wishes are granted. Or is it, go to college, and gain 15 pounds? Either way, both occured for me. Instead of curvacious though, I became curvlubbery.

You already know that over these past three years in college, I have had several injuries during which I only cross trained. Biking, swimming, and ellipticizing does not keep the weight off for me like running does. I also gained boobs and a butt, and in the thick of my longest running hiatus, I weighed about 148 pounds. This is not a bad weight for my height, but it took a lot of getting used to since I spent my time in high school as Ms. Gangly. It also took some getting used to because on a college cross-country team, there aren't many girls who are pushing 150 pounds.

I've been running consistently since May, and I've also been doing lots of cross training, lifting, and ab work. While Pat insists that my body really hasn't changed much over the past few months (He's not being an ass hole - He just insists that I wasn't flubbery before), I feel that I have become much more toned in the stomach. My weight stays between 142 and 145, and my little sister, Kristen, says that the Toppers are getting smaller.

But they are still there, and they are the subject of my next major GOAL: I want to get to the point where I can wear these shorts, and feel comfortable not wearing a shirt with them when I run.

I'm not sure the best way to go about this yet. I can't diet much because I'm running over 40 miles a week now, and that will only increase when I go back to school. I don't think I can exactly tone that area with lifting and ab workouts. Suggestions are welcome!

And I will post my Shrink-the-Toppers-With-the-Blue-Shorts-On progress regularly through photo analysis and circumfrence logging. The current perimeter of the Topper area while wearing the blue shorts: 35".

Or maybe I'll have my mom put in longer elastic.

Press the Refresh Button; Train on Vacation

So I've been home from Florida for a few weeks now, and boy do I have a lot to say about the beautiful combination that vacationing and running can make.

I had been concerned about how my training would actually go while in Florida. It was going to be hot, vacations are all about relaxation, and there were so many other fun things to be doing! Good thing I pre-registered for that Fourth of July 5K to keep me moving.

Training in Florida was actually made easier because Pat decided he was going to run with me. I was really impressed that we both crawled out of bed early in the morning to run a few miles. We would ALMOST get up early enough to avoid the heat and humidity - We never quite made it though. Pat would turn back sooner than I did, but it was easier to get out the door, as it always is, with someone doing it with me. Running in Florida was truly a positive experience. I was concerned that it was going to be a hassle to work it into a vacation schedule, or a drag to interrupt my relaxation time, but it wasn't that at all. It actaully added happy memories to my vacation, because running on vacation is so different than running at home.

Running on vacation, away from the norm, was like pressing the refresh button on my hobby. It was exhilirating to take my routine somewhere else, and at the same time, break a routine.

This summer, while I'm running at home, I never quite escape the knowledge that I'm not just running but training, and that part of the reason I'm running is to be ready for the grueling camp week I will endure when I go back to Bloom. I can never quite put it out of my mind that, despite working hard this summer, it may not be hard enough to make the varsity team. It creates this feeling that I'm not running for me, but for others, which is true to an extent. I have a team and coaches to think about, as well as my own my expectations.

Running in Florida, it felt more like I was venturing out in the early morning to get miles in because I wanted to. No team, no coaches, no expectations were weighing in on my decision to run. And it was great.

I have a friend who is contemplating skipping out on his family vacation to the beach because it is his critical week of training. (I think he says that about every week of training!) This has me baffled. Running is not supposed to take away from life, but add to it. We do not compensate other parts of our life for running, especially not family time, but if the hobby means enough to us we will find time to run through anything.

Let's be honest, most of us have a love/hate relationship with running. I feel if we learn to run without compensating other valuable facets of our lives - but rather use it to supplement the life we already have - we will resent our sport less often.

Running made my vacation better. My vacation made my running better. I want you to understand this, so here are my tips for getting out the door on vacation:

1. Use Mapmyrun.com. This site is fantastic. For those who have never used it, please do and it will change your running life. No longer will you have to waste gas by measuring runs with your car. It's easy to start up an account, and once you do you can measure out new runs from any location and find runs in the area that others have posted.

2. Get a buddy (or a boyfriend) to run with you. This may be easier than you think. Although Pat ran in high school, he bikes now instead. I have a tough time getting him to run with me when we're home, but in Florida he ran with me most days. Because being in Florida was out of the ordinary for us, I think that it was easier to get him to do something out of the ordinary. Encourage your buddy to get out the door for even a mile or two - They won't regret it.

3. Use the pool as motivation. If you're vacationing somewhere warm, hopefully you have access to a pool. One of the most refreshing things you can do is jump straight into the pool from your run - Don't even take the time to change into a swim suit. When I vacationed at Myrtle Beach a few years ago, some days I would finish my run on the beach and jump right into the ocean. This always kept me going during my runs, even when it was increadibly hot and humid. I can't express to you how great it feels. PLEASE, don't do this everyday though, because jumping into cool water immediately after a run isn't exactly the best thing for your muscles. If you can hold off on the pool, stretch first. If you jump in the pool right away (as I usually did...) make sure you stretch often during the day.

4. Search online for a race in the area that you can pre-register for. I used Runnersworld.com and clicked on the button "Races & Places" to find the one in Jacksonville. Try to get someone else to race it with you. Pat agreed to, and even though his dad did not race, he came out to cheer and take pictures. If you're on vacation with friends and family, you could easily turn the race into a group outting. In addition, there's a lot less pressure racing against people you've never met.


Pat and me after the Celebration 5K. Do we look worn out or what?



Pat and me at the beach.



This is Pat's dad's dog, Charlie. I love this dog sooo much.



Charlie in Action

Lovin' the Lead-Like Legs

Training is going pretty great right now. I'm gradually working my way back up to higher mileage, and I am doing some extra hours of cross training each week. Last week I completed 30 miles, and this week I'll have 32 miles. I can actually hit that 32 within 5 days, but I'm doing so within 6 days. That happened by mistake though... My weeks start Monday and end on Sunday. I like taking my Sundays off, but Monday I worked all day long at my two jobs. Had time for some lifting, but no time for running so I took the day off.

To make up for the missed day, I am doing two two-a-days this week. Yesterday I did three in the morning, and then I meant to do a 6 miler in the evening. I didn't measure the run ahead of time, and I had no watch, so my evening run ended up being 7.5 miles! I had a 10.5 mile day! I haven't done that since... I dunno when! It wasn't the smartest thing to do, and definitely doesn't help me to prevent injuries, but what's done is done. And boy, were my legs beat today. I only did a four miler, and I am doing another four tomorrow. I figure since my longest run so far this summer - and my longest day - was seven miles (from last week), I had better take it real easy these next few days.

I know that was about the most boring two paragraphs of your life. But thanks for making it through. I am just very excited these days that my running is finally going in the right direction.

Good news! Pat and I decided today that we're going to go visit his dad next week in Florida. I've never been on a plane before, and I've never been to Florida. I can't even wait. I could just go to the beach everyday and be happy. While I'm down there, I plan on running in a race on the 4th of July (my birthday!) and covering it for the Runner's Gazette. Hopefully I can keep my head on and just have fun with it. I am not quite in racing shape - I just want to enjoy the opportunity to race in Florida (hot, sticky, humid Florida - Ideal racing weather!)

Oh, hello

I took a hiatus from running. I long hiatus.

The hip/groin problem I described in my last post prevented me from competing at the PSAC championships. It was so ironic... It has been so long since I qualified for a PSAC championship by time because of injuries; it had been so long since I felt like I was actually a successful racer. Finally I am racing well again, I am excited because I qualified, and I end up not competing anyway.

Jim was convinced that it was the shoes I was wearing. I believe a few posts back I wrote about the Asic shoes I was in love with and literally put the spring back in my step again. Jim was convinced that my hip problem was stemming from those shoe since there is no motion control in them. Whether he is right or wrong about that I have no idea. I know that my biomechanics are not the best, but this winter when I trained with those shoes I felt phenomenal... a million times better than I had in the past two years - no exaggeration. Still, I let him take me to the shoe store and pick out my next pairs of shoes. I got a pair of Nikes - the pegasis - and a pair of something else. I don't remember what the second pair was because I wore them two or three times then ditched them. They had way too much control. The Nike's however worked out alright. They break down much quicker than I think that Jim realized, and I feel they let me move a bit more freely.

At this time, I also told Jim that I am no longer wearing the orthotix, and that I haven't been since the end of cross country, and that I have felt great since I've ditched them. He took it better than I thought. In fact, he was very understanding.

So I tried training on the Nike's once my hip pain calmed down. I still didn't feel totally confident that these were the shoes for me. I felt semi-zapped when I wore them. I got to race once at the beginning of the outdoor season in North Carolina, and that went alright considering I had only just started running again. Right after that, I found out that I had mono, and my season was over.

Thus concludes my first three years as a collegiate runner.

By the end of the semester, I began to run again. I jumped too quickly into it though, I think. I felt really good after the mono symptoms subsided, except when I ran. I was DEAD. I was trying to run 28 to 40 minutes at a time almost immediately, which was a big mistake. Once I was home for summer, I decided to start focusing on consistency rather than the length of my runs. That was the key. That first week, I ran no more than 3 miles at a time, but I ran everyday. In fact, I ran 8 days in a row, which was probably not smart.

Yesterday I ran the longest run that I've done in a while, and I felt like a runner again. I did 6 miles in Bloomsburg, finishing on a gradual uphill for the last 1.5-2 miles. I got that throw-uppy feeling in my stomach. I felt bad, but a good bad. Not a "I am just getting over mono" bad or a "I'm wearing the wrong shoes" bad. It was a "this is my longest run in a while and I'm feeling it but I'll make it" bad. It was great. No stopwatch, just me and the pavement.

Maybe this last year, the stars will align for me.

JesVic happened last Saturday. It was phenomenal. For those of you who don't know (who ARE you? Does anybody read this?), JesVic is a 5K race that my friend Suzie and I started up last year to honor two women of our community who died from cancer. This year we attracted 362 runners and walkers! Check out the site here:
http://myweb.bloomu.edu/smhoffma/index.htm