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Shoe Review: MBT Speed 16

By on August 5, 2016 in Gear, Review

13918416_1188689091194927_845992112_oAt first glance the MBT Speed 16 looks somewhat like a Hoka with a wide design and thicker sole.

You certainly won’t be buying a pair for the attractiveness factor. The bottom is built on something similar to a rocking platform with the heel and toe tapering up somewhat.

The company MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) created a walking fitness shoe back in the late 1990’s with this rocker profile to help your foot roll forward.

The MBT official website describes the shoe this way: Continue Reading →

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Race Day Kit: What to Bring to a Marathon

By on May 19, 2016 in Gear, Race Day

My race day kit prior to the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler last year. Click to enlarge

My race day kit prior to the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler last year. Click to enlarge

We’ve all experienced that pre-race anxiety –wondering if you’ve trained enough, tapered enough, brought everything you need, and if your alarm clock will go off at the right time.

There are some things that you can’t control about your race experience. But being prepared with a race day kit can help make your run a lot more comfortable.

You’ll also have the peace of mind knowing that you didn’t forget anything important. Continue Reading →

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Running Gadget Questions with Ray Maker (From D.C. Rainmaker Blog)

By on March 1, 2016 in Gear, Interview, Podcasts

Rottnest_spout_3*[Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now]

In this episode we talk running watches, fitness trackers, and other tech with gadget guru Ray Maker from the D.C. Rainmaker website.

Since Angie and I tend to be not-so-geeky when it comes to running tech (I have used a Garmin 305 wrist laptop up until last year) we were excited to bring a bona fide gadget guru on the podcast.

Ray’s product review blog gets over a million visitors a month. He really knows his stuff! Continue Reading →

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The Runner’s Toolbox

By on December 3, 2015 in Gear, Injury

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 4.26.43 PMHere’s a free digital resource Angie created with a list of eight essential and cost effective items every runner needs to prevent and treat running injuries.

They are basically handy dandy items we keep at home and bring with us when we travel to marathons. Every runner needs to have them, and thankfully, they are simple and inexpensive.

In order to get a copy of The Runner’s Toolbox guide all we need is your name and email and we’ll send it right over. We’ll also keep you informed about the best injury prevent strategies and practices. –>Yes! Send it.

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Does Compression Gear Really Work?

By on December 1, 2015 in Gear, Guest Perspective

IMG_2927By Henry Howard

There are varying points of view on whether compression socks actually help athletes, or whether they are merely a placebo.

By a fairly wide margin, online reviewers credit compression gear for assisting their recovery from hard workouts, providing endurance athletes support throughout competition and following through on promises of wicking away sweat. Continue Reading →

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The Birth of Altra Shoes

By on November 6, 2015 in Gear, Guest Perspective, Interview

IMG_7027 (3)Champion runner Golden Harper uses his passion for helping injured runners, homemade ingenuity and thoughtful research to create a unique, beloved brand.

By Henry Howard

When you run before you can walk, you were born to be a runner.

When you win a world championship at age 8, your running future is bright.

When your parents own a running store where you start working at age 9, you learn quite a bit about sneakers, running form and injuries.

Put it all together, and you have Golden Harper, champion runner and founder of Altra Shoes. Continue Reading →

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Review: Coolibar Clothing

By on August 26, 2015 in Gear, Guest Perspective, Review

coolibarBy Henry Howard

It’s no secret that the sun’s powerful rays are not only challenging to outdoor athletes during the summer but can also lead to skin cancer.

Outdoor athletes’ substantial exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation increases their risk of developing basal and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common skin cancers, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Many marathoners also tend to have more small moles and large atypical moles, which are increased risk factors for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, the foundation reports.

The American Cancer Society estimates that many of the 2 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually could be eliminated by properly protecting one’s skin and avoiding indoor tanning. Continue Reading →

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Review: Scott Trail Running Shoes

By on April 21, 2015 in Gear, Guest Perspective, Review

IMG_2169The emerging company’s trail shoes are durable and comfortable. They perform well for the weekend warrior and elite mountain running champion Joe Gray.

By Henry Howard

I didn’t see the stick hidden in the dirt of the shady trail during the early second half of a 16-mile training run. But I felt it lodge into the top of my sneaker between my toes and top of my foot.

The stick knocked me off balance so much that all four limbs were flailing wildly about, although my right hand instinctively reached over to pause my Garmin. (First things first, right runners?) Continue Reading →

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Review: Swiftwick Socks Help Runners Recover

By on December 15, 2014 in Gear, Guest Perspective, Review

aspire-zero-black-compression-socks-9652larCompany’s compression socks and sleeves offer athletes comfort during activity and recovery afterward, in many styles and colors.

By Henry Howard

I’m a guy so it’s no surprise that I lack the shopping gene.

When I became a runner, I had no idea there were so many options for shoes, socks, shirts, shorts, headwear, gloves and the list goes on. I knew I wanted a good pair of running sneakers and running clothes that wouldn’t chafe me. And I knew better than to wear a cotton T-shirt while running. Continue Reading →

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Don’t Let Laces Trip You Up

By on November 1, 2014 in Gear, Guest Perspective

iStock_000010507412XSmall - CopyThat unicorn for amateur runners, the four-hour marathon, eluded me by 70
seconds in my first road race. That was spring 2009, the Martian Marathon in Dearborn, Mich..

Two and a half years later, I attempted to break four hours again in the
2011 Detroit Free Press Marathon. Missed
it by almost three minutes.

Lots of factors contributed to these near misses: rookie marathon training
mistakes, going out too fast, not fueling properly, cramps. But I want to
focus on, and celebrate, one factor that is so simple but took me several
marathons to do anything about.

Shoelaces. Continue Reading →

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Three Tips from The Niftiest Shoe Box Ever

By on March 19, 2014 in Gear, Running Form, Running Physiology

IMG_1818Have you ever worn a zero drop shoe? You should try it.

I just got a pair of Skora Phase running shoes which have a zero drop from heal to toe. This forces me to pay more attention to my running form while encouraging a midfoot landing instead of a heel strike.

This is not a review of the Skora Phase, I’ve only done 2 runs so far. This post is a look at the running philosophy of the company (encapsulated on their shoe boxes) and why rotating a zero drop into your running tool box is a smart move. Continue Reading →

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