Tools of the trade.

So with my impending Doctor visit on Monday 30th January, I thought I would talk about my 2012 shoes selection, with the hope that my turn towards minimalist shoes will not be thwarted by my injury and recovery. I am not a very good reviewer, mostly because i like what i like and often don't have the ability to express that in a series of scientific explanations, so don't expect to find my insights on toe to heel drop and forefoot, mid-foot, heel strike relativity. I like the shoes i run in because they don't hurt my feet and are comfortable. I am however trying some new styles in 2012 and am excited to do so. I will begin with two shoes I would place in the "old reliable" category, although the Kinvara is now the Kinvara 2 (Saucony's "minimalist", offering). I did not find much in the way of changes thus far with the Kinvara 2, although it goes without saying that I have not run in the shoe yet, a few long walks and some time on the cross fit don't count, but I do have some insights based on those experiences. first, the toe box seems narrow in comparison to the Kinvara, and the lacing seems tighter across the upper. I found with the Kinvara i had a lot of room in the toe box and not so much with the Kinvara 2, although my Kinvaras have a bit of mileage on them and much more break in time. I also found it difficult on the Kinvara to get the shoe "tight" whereas in the 2, it does not seem as difficult. Either way this is a non Brooks shoe that I LOVE, and the color schemes for 2012 are really cool!

I have to talk about my Brooks Launch, this has and always will be my go too shoe, and I also like the color scheme change for 2012 (I think it was a 2011 color release though) There is a new orange color scheme being offered for pre-order by roadrunnersports.com. The Brooks guys have said it will be available sometime in February, but I am not a fan, it looks allot like the Kinvara 2 above, and i am happier with the blue (shown below). I have used the Launch as a training shoe as well as in anything from 5K to 1/2 Marathon. It is considered a neutral shoe, on the cusp of a minimalistic shoe, possibly more of a transitional shoe as it still offers some cushioning and the heal to toe drop is not that significant (ooooo, scientific). I will always run in this shoe and hope that Brooks never alters the design very much, it is a shoe in my opinion that needs no updating, it is perfect just the way it is, and the new white/blue color scheme is perfect, again in my opinion.

One of the new shoes i will be trying is the Brooks Green Silence, this shoe has been around for a while, but i had heard some negatives about it in the past and recently have heard more people sing its praises, so i decided to give it a shot...and of course in my usual fashion, "giving it a shot" meant buying two pair, actually to be honest I won a pair in a Brook Fanatics contest and then when the new color scheme was released, I got the blue (of course). I don't know much about the Green silence, except that it is a recycled materials shoe and a true minimalist shoe. I have again only used the shoe for walking and some time on the cross fit in the gym, but I am impressed, it is light enough to be a race shoe (although I am not sure if it will replace my T7 as my go to race shoe, LOVE the T7!!), and cushioned enough to be a good trainer as well. this is the shoe I have questions about. Especially using it coming off this injury. I am again impressed though by the level of cushioning it seems to provide, while not giving up weight (7.2oz for a size 9). It remains to be seen how it performs as a trainer and if I can handle the minimal design coming back from my injury. more to come on this new edition to my running shoe quiver.

The last of the "newbies" is from Brook's new "Pure Project"line. The Pure Connect. Again a minimalist shoe, lightweight, that offers some cushioning, and seems to be designed along the same lines as the Saucony Kinvara 2. This is new ground for me with this shoe and the one thing thus far i have noticed is the heel seems a bit high, and with a low-cut sock, it rubs. I have worn them with a "higher" low-cut sock and it seemed to be better, but I have read where others have said the same about the connects, that the heel is stiff and causes rubbing, so those people have shifted to the "Pure flow" and found that resolved the issue. I also got some feedback from a Brooks Fanatic friend who said not to blame the shoe for the sock, and he is right. Until I have a chance to put the Connect through its paces on a good run. I really don't feel like i can comment on if it is a good shoe or not. Thus far the jury is still out on it as well as the Green Silence. so my comments are preliminary judgements of what I have experienced thus far. This shoe has gone through a color update as well, which I like (blue, of course) and the Pure Flow has been updated in its color as well.

My Quiver will still include the T7, although again a racing flat may not be the best thing to use while I enter this recovery/rehab phase of my running, but you never know, a minimalist shoe may be the best thing as I get back in the swing of things. Either way I look forward to being back on the road and continuing my adventure, and this is the equipment that I will be using on that adventure. To you loyal reader, thanks for hanging in there, regular blog posts will be norm in the coming weeks and hopefully I will be able to, just like you, RUN HAPPY!!

Re-Beginnings

Well here we are and there are 10 days till i officially find out if i can run again. I really feel it is a moot point as I feel i am back to normal, my stride is no longer compromised, the soreness in my tibial tendon is gone, and i feel really good and strong, i still have about 10 pounds to lose, but once I start running again that is no problem. With that being said i have begun  to plan for my race season...it looks like my first 5K (good way to start back again) will be in march, during the brooks half marathon event, to be held 11 march in KL. I think a 5k is a good way to start off, especially since there is no real pressure in a 5K and after a month of good solid run training, i should be ready for that. I am also looking at the rest of the year and there are lots of cool things coming up, The Standard Chartered KL marathon, the sundowner in Singapore, the Taiping race i missed last year, and of course the Penang Bridge, as well as some local races. the one that i have been planning though is this one, which for me looks awesome!!

Winery Running Festival

I mean wine and running!! what could be better!! It is located just outside of Newcastle NSW Australia, i plan to fly in to Sydney, take the train to Newcastle, stay, race, have fun, then take the trin back to Sydney for a half a day, stay and fly out the next day...AWESOME!! I really miss running and when you see events like this, it makes me love it and miss it even more!!
So hopefully the news is good on Monday the 30th, and the adventure will contiue again!! loyal reader, thanks for hanging in there and as always, Run Happy!!