tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51681600869760123262024-02-07T14:29:40.488-05:00Biker NateUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-47006959409200553952018-03-08T09:56:00.000-05:002018-03-08T09:56:34.664-05:00Bikepacking the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail - Trek 1120 Shakedown ride number 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--><br />For my second ride on the new Trek my mission was to test out the rear rack and bag holder system. I made a few changes to the bike based on what I learned from the first ride. That ride was only 4 hours, but near the end my shoulder was getting irritated, so I swapped out the stock handlebars for my favorite Hussafelt ones. I’ve used these bars on several mountain bikes and they have always felt perfect. I was curious if they would be more comfortable for my shoulder. I also added a pair of Ergon GS2 Team Series Carbon grips. I figured that the extensions would be good for climbing and providing an alternative hand position. </div>
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I also fabricated a temporary rear fender for the rack out of an old tire. I cut a section of the tire, punched some holes in it and then zip tied it to the rack. Ugly, but effective. My final modification was to add a little mountain bike fender on the front fork. At first, I couldn’t figure out how to mount it because it is meant to be used on a suspension fork, but after realizing that I could zip tie the front of it to the rack it lined up perfectly.</div>
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<br />I wanted to load all the racks up but realized that I didn’t have the correct sized drybags yet. I need to get another one for the front, so I just strapped on my OR Bivy directly to the rack. Again, I used the frame bag to hold all the stuff that I usually carry in a backpack. For the rear racks, I loaded up two bags with all kinds of stuff. At first I couldn’t figure out why the bags didn’t mount in a very stable way, then I realized that I hadn’t used all the hooks. The holders attach to the racks with two simple pieces of Velcro, but there are two loops on top and two on bottom that are used for the hooks to grab. That allows the bags to be snugged up extremely well. Once I figured that out I was extremely impressed at how little they moved. It’s an awesome system.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikyu2twUkUborFNIX0n9Xz80ri-rSVppXi2YWfxVxrfG1vdtgY9NZuqDLUkabDKhAJxjzJKZSkLm-Uk7KLUhCIw_8MbM_GRDDr5kqQk9LrQI_39jCp6ufXix0FCYYUkBxwADuHNIwZis/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikyu2twUkUborFNIX0n9Xz80ri-rSVppXi2YWfxVxrfG1vdtgY9NZuqDLUkabDKhAJxjzJKZSkLm-Uk7KLUhCIw_8MbM_GRDDr5kqQk9LrQI_39jCp6ufXix0FCYYUkBxwADuHNIwZis/s320/IMG_2157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wanted to ride for at least 4 hours so I could see if the bars were better. Since moving to St. Johnsbury I have been itching to check out the <a href="https://www.lvrt.org/" target="_blank">Lamoille Valley Rail Trail</a> section from St.J to Danville. I plotted out a 32 mile loop from my house that would incorporate the rail trail and some back roads I hadn’t ridden. To plot routes I have been using <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/">ridewithgps.com</a>. It allows you to plot a route and then easily export it in .gpx format and then easily export it. On my phone I use the <a href="https://www.gaiagps.com/" target="_blank">Gaia GPS</a> app. I’ve used it for many adventures, including navigating the Tahoe 200 running race. Unfortunately I DNF’d that race, but the app worked perfectly.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQInes36Ob6R5I5nyf3RlP1ySunaw4OTJaFv_hK4pHQUR6rQ8bsOGyhSCrlB-t5jSKwOpg1DEqaqw4CnkUluRIte-KhcJFHyU4Hq_ZH62E4lVKr2eY6FVYGwZxLqGsDXLD1cY8Rf-6Cc/s1600/Screenshot-2018-3-8+Map+Bike+Rides+with+Elevation+Profiles%252C+Analyze+Cycling+Performance%252C+Train+Better+Ride+With+GPS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQInes36Ob6R5I5nyf3RlP1ySunaw4OTJaFv_hK4pHQUR6rQ8bsOGyhSCrlB-t5jSKwOpg1DEqaqw4CnkUluRIte-KhcJFHyU4Hq_ZH62E4lVKr2eY6FVYGwZxLqGsDXLD1cY8Rf-6Cc/s400/Screenshot-2018-3-8+Map+Bike+Rides+with+Elevation+Profiles%252C+Analyze+Cycling+Performance%252C+Train+Better+Ride+With+GPS.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridewithgps.com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuCzvwHb4vJ6jRtH3dwUKqnlRGzCM8zGsz6AWSQ8lq84PmbhTZpBVrmjWjiSictjheKwHfZgUhryEo5vakc7gzSHqP49Wqt71wcQToUMD670lKxC9k50IF6y7t4LQhJ9nQEMDJlvdwlU/s1600/Image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuCzvwHb4vJ6jRtH3dwUKqnlRGzCM8zGsz6AWSQ8lq84PmbhTZpBVrmjWjiSictjheKwHfZgUhryEo5vakc7gzSHqP49Wqt71wcQToUMD670lKxC9k50IF6y7t4LQhJ9nQEMDJlvdwlU/s640/Image-1.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screenshot from the Gaia GPS app on my phone.</td></tr>
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When I left the house it was 20 degrees and the ground was nice and frozen, but I knew that later in the day I would be riding in soupy mud as the temp rose above freezing. The first thing I noticed is that the bike handled really strangely. The grooves in the dirt roads were throwing the bike side to side. It kept throwing the bike off balance and I wondered if I had the weight distribution wrong. The tires felt really soft and squishy, unlike last ride. I hadn’t touched the tire pressure from the time, which I set it at 10. It must have bled some more pressure off as the tires were pretty soft. So I pumped them up to 12-15ish pounds, not sure exactly because the gauge on my little pump isn’t very accurate. Adding more pressure helped the handling a lot. The only downside was that I lost some of the suspension quality. </div>
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The morning was sunny and it was a perfect day to spend a few hours on the bike. The rail trail was completely snow covered, frozen and full of frozen footsteps. But the surface was nice and firm and the Trek ate it up. The first 9 or 10 miles are completely uphill, but at a pretty gentle rate. There is something about rail trails that I just love. It’s like riding a hidden highway in the middle of the woods. It feels like stepping back in time and I can almost see and hear the ghosts of the badasses who broke their backs constructing them. The people that built these trails were hard mother fuckers. </div>
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After leaving the rail trail I traveled back home through North Danville on some beautiful dirt roads. Vermont never seems to disappoint, it really is a perfect place to do these types of rides. And son of a bitch, do we have some hills!! You will get in shape if you ride here.</div>
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The ride was amazing, and the bike performed perfectly again. I like the bars much better, so they will stay on for now. The rear rack and bag holding system is the bomb. Nothing moved and I never had to re-tighten anything. The only thing I need to get used to is how much slower it is to ride than my slate. I need to check my ego and just enjoy that I’m on a bike that can go anywhere. The next test will be a longer day or an overnight fully loaded. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuQZsf9WDbLcYwyQ8e_6l13EA3Vs_EkQS7FrvjTPZjYQBPOcelbczwI84oLJkkiZ72PZV7R5yuGjegtpQ5vpMWJ70Tfsv8qBJjmO2pgCK29cEHUeENAT4EyIdoGpCcjDpwicw5kTtCDs/s1600/Screenshot-2018-3-8+LMVRT+Danville+Gravel+loop+Ride+Strava.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuQZsf9WDbLcYwyQ8e_6l13EA3Vs_EkQS7FrvjTPZjYQBPOcelbczwI84oLJkkiZ72PZV7R5yuGjegtpQ5vpMWJ70Tfsv8qBJjmO2pgCK29cEHUeENAT4EyIdoGpCcjDpwicw5kTtCDs/s400/Screenshot-2018-3-8+LMVRT+Danville+Gravel+loop+Ride+Strava.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the route.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-34044597933668775082018-02-27T20:29:00.001-05:002018-02-27T20:29:12.637-05:00Shakedown Ride Review - Trek 1120 Bikepacking Adventure Tourer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8NARiZPtvOwNVm0NYRRsMzn0y9e0MHioF8TTndjPmAyOHixXjYq6O7pjJcH1jcq_tUTE587AQBzMJhhubC2kYlkb8GVEMHcycgkvJfn4f0bEM7o0CP1q8-MS9Cuv5Pg8_Z2w6tmwRo8/s1600/IMG_0361+%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="590" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8NARiZPtvOwNVm0NYRRsMzn0y9e0MHioF8TTndjPmAyOHixXjYq6O7pjJcH1jcq_tUTE587AQBzMJhhubC2kYlkb8GVEMHcycgkvJfn4f0bEM7o0CP1q8-MS9Cuv5Pg8_Z2w6tmwRo8/s640/IMG_0361+%25282%2529.PNG" width="404" /></a></div>
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So I'm just scrolling through Instagram and I see the above pic. Whoa, what is that? A 29+ Bikepacking bike with the coolest rack system I've ever seen. So I look it up on Trek's website and check it out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iX25CJLAn5JrVsKM0gVmprQo9hHZ-b3IhQaVT_WcU4kuQt-yM6SzVcehT-dmVP-aDFOFxrSaRJQwSBTlbYVDNhDYVtYioG00j3nzi42WjUUYVA_aVNbLRNXsi0jke7dbuHsH5tIzKGc/s1600/Screenshot-2018-2-26+1120+Trek+Bikes%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="791" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iX25CJLAn5JrVsKM0gVmprQo9hHZ-b3IhQaVT_WcU4kuQt-yM6SzVcehT-dmVP-aDFOFxrSaRJQwSBTlbYVDNhDYVtYioG00j3nzi42WjUUYVA_aVNbLRNXsi0jke7dbuHsH5tIzKGc/s400/Screenshot-2018-2-26+1120+Trek+Bikes%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/adventure-touring-bikes/1120/1120/p/1434000-2018/" target="_blank">Info on Treks website</a><br />
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Now I'm seriously intrigued. In 2016 I got a Cannondale Slate and began to do solo Bikepacking trips. I absolutely love that bike and had already been planning more long trips this year. But I've also been looking into some longer off-road rides. Specifically, the Green Mountain Gravel Growler. <a href="http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/green-mountain-gravel-growler/" target="_blank">The Growler</a> is a 248 Mile ride with 21k of elevation gain/loss. As you might have guessed, it is based on a tour of some of the best breweries in the world, all located here in beautiful Vermont. I've been ok doing all kinds of off road stuff on the Slate, but the allure of a bike that could take more gear and have it better attached to the bike was overwhelming. I had to do it. My friends at S&W took good care of me as they always do. <br />
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I'm not going to get into all the geeky details of the bike. You can find that anywhere on any review. The specs are on Trek's site, but here it is in a nutshell. The bike is a rigid 29+ using the old Trek Stache as a starting point. Trek lengthened the dropouts (with the stranglehold dropouts so you can adjust wheelbase), added a carbon "suspension adjusted" rigid fork, a super cool back holding rack/system, and a dropper. It has weird handlebars. <br />
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I picked it up yesterday and was so excited to ride the thing. I couldn't wait for this morning. My plan was to ride a new route to my camp in Wheelock, have a cup of coffee and lunch, then ride home. Round trip is about 30 miles. Temps were in the low 30's but expected to rise to the mid 40's. Before my ride I aired down the tires to 10lbs, figuring I was going to be riding mostly on dirt/mud/ice/water and that would give me a good baseline. Turns out it was the perfect pressure. I had amazing grip all day, but the bike still rolled well. I never touched either tire all day. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5mS8YX7snupQIkbpVgzKrhXvVsaIAMIxSoGmI5U861NKAiHHa1fgmP-aH1mWC-IDqtpPilzEibbDHZh0M9dwF5S1iqQyvIGp5kS9Qt2VMP7J171Fy9JK4kOvw1KgOjr1ZkG5faixxH0/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5mS8YX7snupQIkbpVgzKrhXvVsaIAMIxSoGmI5U861NKAiHHa1fgmP-aH1mWC-IDqtpPilzEibbDHZh0M9dwF5S1iqQyvIGp5kS9Qt2VMP7J171Fy9JK4kOvw1KgOjr1ZkG5faixxH0/s400/IMG_2079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice and shiny! Not for long.</td></tr>
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I strapped my snowshoes to the top of the rack, figuring that I would need them to get up the final hill to the camp. I also took a drybag and stuffed a bunch of shit in that I knew I wouldn't need, but I wanted to test how solid the front rack is. I changed the seat out with one I know works. I also managed to fit a Revelate frame bag from the Slate, although it doesn't fit perfect, it worked fine. I put all my tools and stuff I usually carry in my backpack into it. For today I wanted to test only having the water I need (I took 3 liters but didn't come close to drinking it all) in a small running backpack. Last year I found using a backpack really sucked by the third day of a ride. This year I'd like to either only carry water, or figure out a frame location and carry it on the bike. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-z98Xkj__FQsMzYaaeUwqx80jglkiUSs_zPaVye1rGQ8dSttJK4gMMdc4Gw3oWb3JfBHRa5v7FLn_ajsSVFB2lGj4rt65mSHdg5Mp3nklUMHowM4gSGPhizAFeg0WuW4CQQitCfrxLE/s1600/IMG_2084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-z98Xkj__FQsMzYaaeUwqx80jglkiUSs_zPaVye1rGQ8dSttJK4gMMdc4Gw3oWb3JfBHRa5v7FLn_ajsSVFB2lGj4rt65mSHdg5Mp3nklUMHowM4gSGPhizAFeg0WuW4CQQitCfrxLE/s400/IMG_2084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My driveway (or Luge run) </td></tr>
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As I left the house I was super cautious. The driveway is steep and it was icy! It was only a few miles in when I began to realize how good the traction was with the 3" Bontrager Chupacabra tires. My biggest worry with how this bike would ride was the lack of suspension. I spent the last year recovering from shoulder surgery, partially caused by slamming a root when I was tearing ass down a trail on a rigid fatbike. Todays ride eased those concerns. There seems to be enough bounce from the tires to smooth a lot out. I'm pretty psyched.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1btf2sGtEtvIXU56L6U7coRi4cID2rL_EKVsiN47wlcMx5zFtuWUvNGdCbwTK8POu574wZ8gqlhPOXTOnFjYt3IEGxZuBJvNa8efyi2LTU3XyOMQt1LLHt3PYUxb0rVpB0ODInisMnoU/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1btf2sGtEtvIXU56L6U7coRi4cID2rL_EKVsiN47wlcMx5zFtuWUvNGdCbwTK8POu574wZ8gqlhPOXTOnFjYt3IEGxZuBJvNa8efyi2LTU3XyOMQt1LLHt3PYUxb0rVpB0ODInisMnoU/s400/IMG_2087.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roads were pretty firm/icy in the morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6i7afxCaXGmH7oXqaMenDCPwG9jRI7DhB14KDUegZAMwgSTKeEKknqtjBo3pDXGsylKJwsEOYXB7Kzf9pyJY9_1_oJjXmjguBUKSi9ie3G3Q5Qvk4z3UTkPHgETCKVD5p8OlPoR1WS8/s1600/IMG_2091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6i7afxCaXGmH7oXqaMenDCPwG9jRI7DhB14KDUegZAMwgSTKeEKknqtjBo3pDXGsylKJwsEOYXB7Kzf9pyJY9_1_oJjXmjguBUKSi9ie3G3Q5Qvk4z3UTkPHgETCKVD5p8OlPoR1WS8/s400/IMG_2091.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is your Mama a Lama?</td></tr>
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The ride to the camp was awesome. The new route I planned was really pretty and the bike performed remarkably well in the snow and ice of the morning roads, then the softish snow on the snowmobile trails, then in the super wet and muddy conditions on the ride home. All the components worked flawlessly, but I really don't like the cheap feel of the shift lever. I will be replacing it with a XT one soon. The jury is out for me on the handlebars. For the first half of the ride I liked them a lot, but by the second half my shoulder started hurting. I might try a more traditional MTB setup on another ride to see how it feels. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE38VUvRt59VjvszUlGdz1O6V_LJXig_RX-8o5B0ytIG_2LgMwNkTKkssdxRqHHCeuXtgGwgbRPOXGcv5OV6O2OSLNHdgl-7D-QI_o-QGGIWq5Hju4FY2yawh7OyJS-m4_Cy7gtNUOxLA/s1600/IMG_2102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE38VUvRt59VjvszUlGdz1O6V_LJXig_RX-8o5B0ytIG_2LgMwNkTKkssdxRqHHCeuXtgGwgbRPOXGcv5OV6O2OSLNHdgl-7D-QI_o-QGGIWq5Hju4FY2yawh7OyJS-m4_Cy7gtNUOxLA/s400/IMG_2102.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipQEcpBqrnXSn5BLF5Q7sqmkZXwWaD_FmEUdh1VGgU0CAycfGOqPnZiGgBcRZKM2pKFXhCiFlhs2ejPeO_CBO2KSNEBoXmsJsvOqbYF-Jct8EoN8mZQ8Vyr34ALYNyckeRRFfditJfoE/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipQEcpBqrnXSn5BLF5Q7sqmkZXwWaD_FmEUdh1VGgU0CAycfGOqPnZiGgBcRZKM2pKFXhCiFlhs2ejPeO_CBO2KSNEBoXmsJsvOqbYF-Jct8EoN8mZQ8Vyr34ALYNyckeRRFfditJfoE/s400/IMG_2106.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMf3iN3FXzQPeqMF39RHwCGwTpblt2YtCH3BkU9kmrdCk26qC6zgh4vjb43cEvch_D2qoqq3QMiLq_-Eevke8HiGPegmShwBWw3pSnmT-rY2ZjOCUMK-Bj75bqipn3uq1WIQIxJxVJ40/s1600/IMG_2107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMf3iN3FXzQPeqMF39RHwCGwTpblt2YtCH3BkU9kmrdCk26qC6zgh4vjb43cEvch_D2qoqq3QMiLq_-Eevke8HiGPegmShwBWw3pSnmT-rY2ZjOCUMK-Bj75bqipn3uq1WIQIxJxVJ40/s400/IMG_2107.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical Vermont road. It goes straight up! </td></tr>
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So, I ended up riding a slow 30 miles with 4200ft of gain. It was actually pretty tough, but I love that! I took a ton of pictures and I wasn't in a rush. Although it is slower than my Slate, this bike is going to get a ton of use this year. Next up is a test of the rear bags holders. I'll report what I experience in the near future. <br />
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Here are some more pics from the day. Thanks for reading! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCjQBCNbKHzDG8C-21JvsVRvoXtesCDv0OR108-Mjb-3i1sIMYI36SC3-Nj_L0gceeFIAsG4P6h-HZs1z9ARToVcjyCsLz0zqUIZc1KhqwkAtO3_l1wKCTXDIJaGVtnQQSJQETm57hWA/s1600/IMG_2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCjQBCNbKHzDG8C-21JvsVRvoXtesCDv0OR108-Mjb-3i1sIMYI36SC3-Nj_L0gceeFIAsG4P6h-HZs1z9ARToVcjyCsLz0zqUIZc1KhqwkAtO3_l1wKCTXDIJaGVtnQQSJQETm57hWA/s400/IMG_2112.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9Fr-ziwTGTAvqcemlHLsqBoxVh1mBSBS5Gwn1BZArR504dr6wXHxZIY9k9kiH1-EKAgbUyQFad-_PbUnx366i_MB_q5KKqmr9gKqJAVSBYDFB-liZMJ-pWNpvniySO4sK4wSrfXgU_0/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9Fr-ziwTGTAvqcemlHLsqBoxVh1mBSBS5Gwn1BZArR504dr6wXHxZIY9k9kiH1-EKAgbUyQFad-_PbUnx366i_MB_q5KKqmr9gKqJAVSBYDFB-liZMJ-pWNpvniySO4sK4wSrfXgU_0/s400/IMG_2114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could live here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two ways of dealing with VT terrain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The driveway was a bitch to ride up after it got soft.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDgBUa3SmzLvK4mqgJCyuKiYnCqQveTZOJI-VN22-m6qV3cKgdn6L6pwF1E5ZLZCRukKIrneylwklpwaCkoBQSDwcXu2eYKwvCdLa0jwfoOmtZm3fIJlgfcb6mnvYdnFFtclirOcyuPQ/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDgBUa3SmzLvK4mqgJCyuKiYnCqQveTZOJI-VN22-m6qV3cKgdn6L6pwF1E5ZLZCRukKIrneylwklpwaCkoBQSDwcXu2eYKwvCdLa0jwfoOmtZm3fIJlgfcb6mnvYdnFFtclirOcyuPQ/s400/IMG_2144.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thats more like it.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-18202474018522972632017-02-20T18:53:00.001-05:002017-02-20T18:53:36.466-05:00Tree Hugger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x7ilhWbXNXZkEPWd9FeHqQncBN161avzR9geUiUDd5FCHOX64kkYUrFLt3z9wA1PBTxA-1k7_GoqdRcio0BqdM1lYDxeMYvJRjlpL1ATLhKyvalCvLq-GWIRHfCekmVhCKVI-gxsKos/s1600/beautiful+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x7ilhWbXNXZkEPWd9FeHqQncBN161avzR9geUiUDd5FCHOX64kkYUrFLt3z9wA1PBTxA-1k7_GoqdRcio0BqdM1lYDxeMYvJRjlpL1ATLhKyvalCvLq-GWIRHfCekmVhCKVI-gxsKos/s400/beautiful+tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When the stresses of childhood took me over, I took to the woods. Once I entered the trail head in the back yard, the world changed. It was a place to ride my bmx bike and jump off the big rock. It was the place I did all the things I wasn't supposed to, like smoking cigarettes and using a magnifying glass to light dry maple leaves on fire. It was were the tree fort was, and it was where my brother got stung by a billion bees after stepping on a nest. It was where we went sledding. It's where I found peace in what seemed a very chaotic world.<br />
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Most of all, it was where I felt happy and safe. No-one was yelling at me in the woods. The air smelled better, and some how I just felt free out there.<br />
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Its not surprise that as I've grown up I've been drawn to any activity that is done outside. And the more remote and or extreme the better. Looking at my Facebook friends, the vast majority of them are from sports I've participated in. BMX, Snowboarding, Running, Hiking, Motorcycling, Biking, Snowshoeing, Skiing, etc. Being outside has brought me close to so many people, I can't imagine a world without these places to play, hide, test myself, recharge and relax.<br />
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I actually believe that the Earth and all the people on it are one completely connected organism. And, I also believe that organism is what many would call God. Destroying the Earth means destroying ourselves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GKW3TJV1jdBkB0l7GFBxT8_HYCk_epYUQxS2UDF3rZqIoHWmNPEChVbLFqCw08IsHK6FGz_KaR5GJawoBZG2BiyhvO0__dY0X7HPmaym1QQs_xOaQgtk5hfAh9I-q9ZPrqe782qUZFU/s1600/sci-fi-post-apocalyptic-36436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GKW3TJV1jdBkB0l7GFBxT8_HYCk_epYUQxS2UDF3rZqIoHWmNPEChVbLFqCw08IsHK6FGz_KaR5GJawoBZG2BiyhvO0__dY0X7HPmaym1QQs_xOaQgtk5hfAh9I-q9ZPrqe782qUZFU/s400/sci-fi-post-apocalyptic-36436.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We can't let this happen.</i></td></tr>
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Unfortunately many don't see the connection. Many believe that the Earth is here for us to use for the expansion of man and the industrialization of the globe. For some, money has replaced spirituality. And in the name of money, the 45th President of the United States has decided that the Earth is just ripe for more exploitation. By nominating and fast tracking Scott Pruitt, a well documented EPA critic, to the head of that very organization, DJT just handed Exxon the keys to an almost unlimited number of protected resources to lay waste. Dangerously short sighted if you think things like clean water and air are important.<br />
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We are witnessing the final takeover of our freedoms and rights by corporations in the name of profit. Money rules.<br />
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I can't sit by and just watch it happen. I need to get involved, but I don't know where to begin. As I've said, almost everyone I call a friend is also an outdoorsman/woman of some type. So tell me, are any of you as freaked out as me about this? Are you already involved? If so, how? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-48726704552696018692016-11-06T16:57:00.000-05:002016-11-06T16:57:58.851-05:00Fuck it, I'm voting from my heart.I've decided what I'm going to do on Tuesday. I'm not looking for a debate. I'm simply sharing my opinion on my blog. For those of you who know me and respect me I hope that you read and consider this point of view. I'm done with the old adage of never talking publicly about Religion or Politics. We need to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70rL9SskI476ffI2toOqzRWQmcgiZty2tUiID5_Mn4soQ40zF2k5TjpT19Ra3Zo4AeBd8LJ_aAAR3BZuQhky4YJlmQYTfKU6VcgbUOaDSMV5M9trtzFF25inKSJyTEjYWQC_2lQvaI10/s1600/crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70rL9SskI476ffI2toOqzRWQmcgiZty2tUiID5_Mn4soQ40zF2k5TjpT19Ra3Zo4AeBd8LJ_aAAR3BZuQhky4YJlmQYTfKU6VcgbUOaDSMV5M9trtzFF25inKSJyTEjYWQC_2lQvaI10/s400/crowd.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look at that crowd! Remember that hope?</i></td></tr>
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During the primaries I felt an urgency for change and an optimism in Bernie. I had some hope. I had some hope that I wasn't the only one who can't stand seeing other people suffer and hurt. I had some hope that strong values, solid ethics and a spirit of independence was at the core of being an American. I had some hope that the golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have done unto you" was still the gold standard for how to live your life, no matter what religion you follow. It seemed like we finally found a leader that would fight hard for those same principles. A man who had been fighting that fight his entire career. Bernie. And it gave me huge hope to see America responding to his message.<br />
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His defeat as the Democratic candidate was and is disheartening. If I simply rely on my instincts, it seemed obvious that there was an event that immediately changed his direction and forced him to endorse Hillary. Something just doesn't make sense. And today new emails released show that he was "leveraged" to endorse Hillary. Either way, it left a serious void and a lot of concern in the heart of this supporter. I'm inspired by his sincerity and his genuine concern for fellow man. I can't imagine anyone else as President now. <br />
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These last two weeks leading up to the election have been terrible. I cannot vote for either one. I've spent much more time thinking about my vote than in any other election. I remember in 2008 feeling excited about Obama and his message. It felt important to vote. But it didn't have the same urgency that it does now. We have more information now. The question of voting for the lesser of two evils just doesn't make sense. You are still voting for evil. That's not how this is supposed to work. I also have serious concerns with both Stein and Johnson, but I'll take either over the Red and Blue choices.<br />
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We've pulled back the curtain on the all mighty Oz. We've been happily singing along in Munchkin land while our freedoms and rights were being stripped away under our noses. We've allowed ourselves to forget what we know to be true. Truth has been replaced by fear. And we've somehow become blind to our captures motives, even though they are repetitive and obvious. The question that most people are asking right now, "Who will be the lesser evil, HRC or DT?", is born completely out of fear. Voting for one just because you fear the other makes no sense. There on the same side. We should be voting on who we want as leaders, not who will think will have the most hesitation before they push the Nuclear War button. "Don't throw away your vote, you'll be the reason that XXXX wins!!" Scream both sides. Yet all of us in the middle, who still have a shred of common sense, are sitting here going WTF?? How can we possibly be in this situation? It doesn't matter how we got here. It's what we have to do about it from here. We're at a tipping point, so it's very important that were paying attention.<br />
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If you have your eyes even half open it's not to much of a stretch to believe that most of this election is completely out of our control. It's a rigged show. It doesn't matter who you vote for. Just follow the money backwards. My prediction is that Hillary Clinton will "easily" win in a landslide. The fact that I have fear of sharing my honest opinion tells me that it's time to give serious contemplation about the country we currently live in. <br />
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So I'm going to be an American in the most true spirit that I know. I'm voting for who I want to be the next President of our country. I'm writing in Bernie. And no, I'm not wasting my vote, I'm exercising my right as an American to voice my opinion. That's what it means to be an American at its core.<br />
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I want to see his name splashed all over corporate media, no matter how hard they try to manipulate it. I want to send a message to the greedy fucks who control this country. We see whats going on. We are sick of our Earth and wallets being raped. We will no longer send our children off to die in your useless wars. Your killing our race in the name of money. There is no more time left. A lot of us feel it. Think of how huge the crowds were at Bernies conventions. We have real power. Don't give up now. Don't let evil win. There is no lessor evil, it's the same. Please follow your heart, not your fear. Don't hate hate, love love. Please...<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-23731220546114236892016-08-14T17:27:00.000-04:002016-08-14T17:27:47.329-04:00Gravel Grinding the NH Northern Rail Trail<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lNENTDfVvlajtwee6YOdQuvaT35SXwmqXLEFFlcWP71uMr5jdYSAz5CWg_xavWg_JRTYWS_2oGTMh_iewWoZCE9XrLhgEhYb2h3b-ZsktPQ37S-3eDUUp6fDOGr2vXH8oUPwVEDZxGY/s1600/IMG_3284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lNENTDfVvlajtwee6YOdQuvaT35SXwmqXLEFFlcWP71uMr5jdYSAz5CWg_xavWg_JRTYWS_2oGTMh_iewWoZCE9XrLhgEhYb2h3b-ZsktPQ37S-3eDUUp6fDOGr2vXH8oUPwVEDZxGY/s400/IMG_3284.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goofing around on the Cannondale Slate 105. Awesome Gravel Grinder.</td></tr>
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So it's been almost a year since my last post! I've thought many times about putting things up, but I've really been preoccupied with being in the woods. I'm not "training" anymore. I've decided that I don't need that kind of pressure in my life and it takes away from my enjoyment of being outside. My new goal is to get outside every day for at least a few hours. It's keeping me in shape my mind calm.<br />
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Yesterday, in preparation for a three day bikepacking trip, I decided to ride my first century (100 miles). I picked the <a href="http://northernrailtrail.org/" target="_blank">Northern Rail Trail</a> to ride, as I wanted to be as far away from cars as possible. I also had never seen the trail and was curious. I loaded up my <a href="http://www.cannondale.com/en/International/Bike/ProductDetail?Id=9e62764e-6426-4d0a-bd7d-0458e054c781" target="_blank">Cannondale Slate 105</a> and ended up starting later than I wanted, at 10:15. I didn't care though. I had zero time restrictions and enough gear to bivy overnight if I had too. My goal was to ride 100 miles, for the first time. I was determined to go slow, see the sights, and stop whenever I felt like it. Here is my day in pictures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOgdKLm_g7cLB1hbk5HgJdWIA7SJ8vgjL6HXU1lBbGBQ-NLnHsfd5Y6YOootuXiStJjT3LWlaEdWUZx2NrMNJ8YYnoTEleiGttVVDmN0ekPuSP5Us7St9sBqL44JLSEbYMRQszUsiVaI/s1600/IMG_3363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOgdKLm_g7cLB1hbk5HgJdWIA7SJ8vgjL6HXU1lBbGBQ-NLnHsfd5Y6YOootuXiStJjT3LWlaEdWUZx2NrMNJ8YYnoTEleiGttVVDmN0ekPuSP5Us7St9sBqL44JLSEbYMRQszUsiVaI/s400/IMG_3363.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Official Start time, 10:15</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFX_3xZdmF0Bv9AXXq8wXIDd82zC0OTpFUX-fuyrxIB8wwhPg8ZfqGxzzdc9Fgs82AsgQmRP7oVjrLpUqKuvyuVCgmXh-azOI41fTGo1ptHJWBEymcWq1vTYnzlU3rbXkW5yYVW0kMo8/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFX_3xZdmF0Bv9AXXq8wXIDd82zC0OTpFUX-fuyrxIB8wwhPg8ZfqGxzzdc9Fgs82AsgQmRP7oVjrLpUqKuvyuVCgmXh-azOI41fTGo1ptHJWBEymcWq1vTYnzlU3rbXkW5yYVW0kMo8/s400/IMG_3370.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coopers Cycle Supply in Franklin. When I started NPD I bought a bunch of stuff here. Love this place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsxogy5LCJ4f0DJk8eIxPrKwCLQF9Q5BQ54sYdlJjUtNNVM_KdoR_q6rEVMeYN55GDZVHRyQom6u1IKbKfgdH-4nrF0snl2o3fGeeenUHnQr0wFkCy_S7VtWk41PfmajvGbHFUq6yvBI/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsxogy5LCJ4f0DJk8eIxPrKwCLQF9Q5BQ54sYdlJjUtNNVM_KdoR_q6rEVMeYN55GDZVHRyQom6u1IKbKfgdH-4nrF0snl2o3fGeeenUHnQr0wFkCy_S7VtWk41PfmajvGbHFUq6yvBI/s640/IMG_3374.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pully Cart left from Railroad Days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW74dMs11-_0hzpebUDdGNWfA57edk4YnePjEBeRJrFW8_RupjP6-Pb6QbC4EJhYc-Of3Ml_JwDVsz66qRcbs_1rYal6DSkj7XeOPRSPeFiK17DV8rqLUVMDUxhn5W0WKjRgwVJ5hBXC8/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW74dMs11-_0hzpebUDdGNWfA57edk4YnePjEBeRJrFW8_RupjP6-Pb6QbC4EJhYc-Of3Ml_JwDVsz66qRcbs_1rYal6DSkj7XeOPRSPeFiK17DV8rqLUVMDUxhn5W0WKjRgwVJ5hBXC8/s400/IMG_3377.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many small bridges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy5XuSnc8pTnLTDMOYDtp8Gg2uyPc-1ECjghHLSudMAIbQrYmGdKFT3iNlV_jJF2vZ1qAEPP6RkEcP7bMc2vxJ1ehbjg_TX0nsgSAdSYhV9bzeaNIEuTas1oZufctWVjyoUF7kfCLROI/s1600/IMG_3385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy5XuSnc8pTnLTDMOYDtp8Gg2uyPc-1ECjghHLSudMAIbQrYmGdKFT3iNlV_jJF2vZ1qAEPP6RkEcP7bMc2vxJ1ehbjg_TX0nsgSAdSYhV9bzeaNIEuTas1oZufctWVjyoUF7kfCLROI/s640/IMG_3385.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And one of the larger ones.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3sYncbom5J8hU7VoOtpPN9s6fTfiMPmIIWkHz4FqVKmhotL5FK7O3uwJR0wEPkAEh-CIEgQi5sl8EGbv9chxvJhhttz8KO1bhXXtc-ss25d2OHhnQ58Ne5UsdmJlIVXLxlnzZIfvmTE/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3sYncbom5J8hU7VoOtpPN9s6fTfiMPmIIWkHz4FqVKmhotL5FK7O3uwJR0wEPkAEh-CIEgQi5sl8EGbv9chxvJhhttz8KO1bhXXtc-ss25d2OHhnQ58Ne5UsdmJlIVXLxlnzZIfvmTE/s400/IMG_3387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New England Covered Bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcyiOKtsqZ81dpa9Qoe7-8N7QSqXrhIhwk7KVXM6PXgiGO_YQNOijLUq6lLpC4Falybco8a32GJhRVw-Jd50b7P800TA1liOVmmzI78c7vGpDuzcrGG_qO8U_ryT_Y1kS6jY06N4igmM/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcyiOKtsqZ81dpa9Qoe7-8N7QSqXrhIhwk7KVXM6PXgiGO_YQNOijLUq6lLpC4Falybco8a32GJhRVw-Jd50b7P800TA1liOVmmzI78c7vGpDuzcrGG_qO8U_ryT_Y1kS6jY06N4igmM/s400/IMG_3394.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some tracks are still there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R77QaoKXa51odgm767pPL0Jt2RF28KWT0obLfugrTalsBHgSNqMjTYRDai-Q4ONWU4PS9rK8CvYTwHqbBb3jc0aPFeJtQXvesdxRO6YB-HG8sqfP-zzvK5r8MncT6NroFMPUUDMTVv8/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R77QaoKXa51odgm767pPL0Jt2RF28KWT0obLfugrTalsBHgSNqMjTYRDai-Q4ONWU4PS9rK8CvYTwHqbBb3jc0aPFeJtQXvesdxRO6YB-HG8sqfP-zzvK5r8MncT6NroFMPUUDMTVv8/s400/IMG_3395.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made me think of my brother Barry, who is a huge train fan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofOD5yvsw6WrUr-kNhNxOTRDdlV106sOwqsBEANylAyFaDTCLiS0ko-RQWrGwjEScg4i52qq4wxs9P5ueAKL6GHuWy2O4dizLFqoy1HB35QLoBC5ioSXnGx82ho1KlhLeT_u5U0uzDP4/s1600/IMG_3424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofOD5yvsw6WrUr-kNhNxOTRDdlV106sOwqsBEANylAyFaDTCLiS0ko-RQWrGwjEScg4i52qq4wxs9P5ueAKL6GHuWy2O4dizLFqoy1HB35QLoBC5ioSXnGx82ho1KlhLeT_u5U0uzDP4/s400/IMG_3424.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was zero pavement. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUPTij0eyKFCxM3Kn39F8an_fOB6_9zuCS-8rDz-zJqhvU7xzQopSm1F_AlLaPBtU7ginOSy1YVVuxmOSxy1wlkBkv26tIVELYiXV8RUgfEIKxzAWwlIO6pxcBnUi9sR9MyDt5XA5j8U/s1600/IMG_3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUPTij0eyKFCxM3Kn39F8an_fOB6_9zuCS-8rDz-zJqhvU7xzQopSm1F_AlLaPBtU7ginOSy1YVVuxmOSxy1wlkBkv26tIVELYiXV8RUgfEIKxzAWwlIO6pxcBnUi9sR9MyDt5XA5j8U/s400/IMG_3426.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at the Danbury Country Store. Whoopee Pie and a Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar drink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr8nqe9kX4Tl7TSV_JTOPriGfV_q4TxMAdr4_TgGsFpoBRbz_hcax4mAhEBkfHDlRpMMb1evtOYToK_mfWWBrdZlVjxJiMM4x_KXOI_GdGX_79evqUmEFMPi4AHMqmBw9RHLmWWeaauI/s1600/IMG_3429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr8nqe9kX4Tl7TSV_JTOPriGfV_q4TxMAdr4_TgGsFpoBRbz_hcax4mAhEBkfHDlRpMMb1evtOYToK_mfWWBrdZlVjxJiMM4x_KXOI_GdGX_79evqUmEFMPi4AHMqmBw9RHLmWWeaauI/s400/IMG_3429.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a very peaceful trail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPq8lNPAEhVvqhPJ6ZWoSQZSdfp_oS6f_W5-0n5StSLwuzeGhEnZ6QY_AidFflGV8XR82Mi-uCZBwm4eho8msDS4HMLh6pIB1Lw5WRZWjTmOq_pj15Zb2CdcJlu-UYmI9Z08D38odv3OU/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPq8lNPAEhVvqhPJ6ZWoSQZSdfp_oS6f_W5-0n5StSLwuzeGhEnZ6QY_AidFflGV8XR82Mi-uCZBwm4eho8msDS4HMLh6pIB1Lw5WRZWjTmOq_pj15Zb2CdcJlu-UYmI9Z08D38odv3OU/s400/IMG_3434.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a torrential downpour the trail was waterlogged for about an hour. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpt1LUawlt4vk6UJWu5dqhAftBy1zuEEN3X1WJRt3YjhnpNH6VzyMEYeUvJhOfXGaA34n7qr8x1lLvNwhyphenhyphenS03G_0jNUnvUW7YbZrXwwlCU3FB_8Kpx_OpcDjCra4pKUzhaCLJuBs12Fg/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpt1LUawlt4vk6UJWu5dqhAftBy1zuEEN3X1WJRt3YjhnpNH6VzyMEYeUvJhOfXGaA34n7qr8x1lLvNwhyphenhyphenS03G_0jNUnvUW7YbZrXwwlCU3FB_8Kpx_OpcDjCra4pKUzhaCLJuBs12Fg/s400/IMG_3435.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is almost zero elevation on this trail. It feels flat as a pancake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlKwuzja83fvK6cjOFZlfj6sljAmPgSveuCpfi55Gdqv8bqYuANZ7UKy7RJgEqjkvcg1YHHlB_RqDLQ9MmQaHlLKSCiIx97lBCgLw-Xh7KTJ8TikF1P30GM_TNFGMGItETaxlCkkpG0o/s1600/IMG_3437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlKwuzja83fvK6cjOFZlfj6sljAmPgSveuCpfi55Gdqv8bqYuANZ7UKy7RJgEqjkvcg1YHHlB_RqDLQ9MmQaHlLKSCiIx97lBCgLw-Xh7KTJ8TikF1P30GM_TNFGMGItETaxlCkkpG0o/s400/IMG_3437.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artsy shot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZWusR_tgClWRejNSF5o3EfzdFbGS-0SLZyuFvR6-nnIP8ZnkH6OixLZUrxhyMl50LzwxFR70orpqr1AcGsr5HZZsDPVOxXC1YNt7Xo2CWpEvyvbrzba9n3Z2Vb96lXtmqea7piIFvCA/s1600/IMG_3442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZWusR_tgClWRejNSF5o3EfzdFbGS-0SLZyuFvR6-nnIP8ZnkH6OixLZUrxhyMl50LzwxFR70orpqr1AcGsr5HZZsDPVOxXC1YNt7Xo2CWpEvyvbrzba9n3Z2Vb96lXtmqea7piIFvCA/s400/IMG_3442.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tunnels were a bit hard to see in, but were fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGz9j2bKcPxSaAUVN8sNe9CLAofr4F_6c6YBd2eQvhJRP4CCbZGfXFIGZEaCNBCNEXpWXXtBhyphenhyphenwRAbN1nTa_BKakg93iR4RseWtmECzdjLVTIxJquFbtNEns9yTY0FTOX91eC105Lqdk/s1600/IMG_3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGz9j2bKcPxSaAUVN8sNe9CLAofr4F_6c6YBd2eQvhJRP4CCbZGfXFIGZEaCNBCNEXpWXXtBhyphenhyphenwRAbN1nTa_BKakg93iR4RseWtmECzdjLVTIxJquFbtNEns9yTY0FTOX91eC105Lqdk/s320/IMG_3446.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear you can't make this stuff up. I'll just leave that there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEb45dkyK555Vi65m-etAtMiN86-EQ6pQZx7dgLNcCvAWes1bXzyoJ3sCnrpsC7dCUVUQUdUkHW_3jXNmJ23mdEVgy36RQPYktwliYGXlSKmM09vBVUJB1LIdZDjU8l8pY_SrIJnp66A/s1600/IMG_3451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEb45dkyK555Vi65m-etAtMiN86-EQ6pQZx7dgLNcCvAWes1bXzyoJ3sCnrpsC7dCUVUQUdUkHW_3jXNmJ23mdEVgy36RQPYktwliYGXlSKmM09vBVUJB1LIdZDjU8l8pY_SrIJnp66A/s640/IMG_3451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking for lunch. This is the "Old Tray Factory" from the 1700's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwwCsUgMGWloUKDvZky3pK5J6GML9C0H-d-ZL5oU4Y3_-yj-dPi9LRA2A13o-r2F3BgxeV8M-LcFQTuJkOOD_fy89cuVHu1_ssnMw-imM7LNAwqkk6pmq-Kx5GLa_cixZ0F1h_XR2nII/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwwCsUgMGWloUKDvZky3pK5J6GML9C0H-d-ZL5oU4Y3_-yj-dPi9LRA2A13o-r2F3BgxeV8M-LcFQTuJkOOD_fy89cuVHu1_ssnMw-imM7LNAwqkk6pmq-Kx5GLa_cixZ0F1h_XR2nII/s400/IMG_3453.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had no idea it was going to be this scenic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Uooi5wEKQ3vj38vjsnoqilnsVaXUFPBE5yOlQErttvF4pk0rFkXsdnynBGic4o3lQ8plkY5iOPfs5XZodX0zbG1s8f1kRiDyrm4QX77_nHxtFWX9G10ErlRan53DwEZ9BL4PM7s0ndU/s1600/IMG_3454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Uooi5wEKQ3vj38vjsnoqilnsVaXUFPBE5yOlQErttvF4pk0rFkXsdnynBGic4o3lQ8plkY5iOPfs5XZodX0zbG1s8f1kRiDyrm4QX77_nHxtFWX9G10ErlRan53DwEZ9BL4PM7s0ndU/s400/IMG_3454.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feels like being in the Whites.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vl7kSEnayRJRBCPsQ_9zheqTgXma1N8Gwb4K5m5DBASjEnIsKQAllQrLYFyd1LUUvU6wV7NtgJoSmgRYhOpF9JnDDaDGE_4WZATz0S9TzYLjDnU5alpp6BwgT3P-RXnCh63XxhTUwf0/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vl7kSEnayRJRBCPsQ_9zheqTgXma1N8Gwb4K5m5DBASjEnIsKQAllQrLYFyd1LUUvU6wV7NtgJoSmgRYhOpF9JnDDaDGE_4WZATz0S9TzYLjDnU5alpp6BwgT3P-RXnCh63XxhTUwf0/s400/IMG_3455.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunnel shot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LbW7sbXTTvSCr7r2ERJTjM0RTpDAW2SrhrbHZaPHUzvKm8WHCvSOU8yPh5Ji-rhLHbNSmrGwtg3gkYZLH2jeovGoobogLO7ThfQqU4hokrYMgwkx9soOwUu9cS49Yp4e0YsH1IOlLBk/s1600/IMG_3456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LbW7sbXTTvSCr7r2ERJTjM0RTpDAW2SrhrbHZaPHUzvKm8WHCvSOU8yPh5Ji-rhLHbNSmrGwtg3gkYZLH2jeovGoobogLO7ThfQqU4hokrYMgwkx9soOwUu9cS49Yp4e0YsH1IOlLBk/s320/IMG_3456.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Slate was built for this type of road. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D5hO7t4EtFxMr8RD4NKTpUdCzt6DVIHCBp4FCQN98YMfn5FdJDSG_F306vpshsRvg1B4fuAUBeOPnxYceFwPBy3UNrOOA_zRATYRIQN5diXqorncA227GINbprIMEQZ_uSD-ZvG03iw/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D5hO7t4EtFxMr8RD4NKTpUdCzt6DVIHCBp4FCQN98YMfn5FdJDSG_F306vpshsRvg1B4fuAUBeOPnxYceFwPBy3UNrOOA_zRATYRIQN5diXqorncA227GINbprIMEQZ_uSD-ZvG03iw/s400/IMG_3458.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just more pretty scenery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw22flshu5xBiBRhPePa0oSpjfnvrDThHlE30D1VvLT9M8CnNROhKtVqJqpnwhYLv-ju8Xv8ghd0NmtZ9dNg8uLrHCH-_wloO6iCamuk6sKv5nzerT-wqG3nwAEi4Lw3mBd5IJzU7Aalk/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw22flshu5xBiBRhPePa0oSpjfnvrDThHlE30D1VvLT9M8CnNROhKtVqJqpnwhYLv-ju8Xv8ghd0NmtZ9dNg8uLrHCH-_wloO6iCamuk6sKv5nzerT-wqG3nwAEi4Lw3mBd5IJzU7Aalk/s400/IMG_3462.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopped back at the store on the way back. I had to eat a LOT to keep my energy up. More than running. The rear rack is from Portland Design Works. <a href="https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/cargo/the-bindle-rack" target="_blank">Check it out.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnQmYLlrGokkhNWrNVY0SNjH0gpqNXOIG_dHi-lZJ_c2PCZTlwAvh05vIlK2BAvoZxfK6GO7-UUwNMxC3q9hNQy6VIRBD8pkMyIEXecn8K96mLL_GQbVPtjwYUAGjOOXQexf11yuSIXQ/s1600/IMG_3465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnQmYLlrGokkhNWrNVY0SNjH0gpqNXOIG_dHi-lZJ_c2PCZTlwAvh05vIlK2BAvoZxfK6GO7-UUwNMxC3q9hNQy6VIRBD8pkMyIEXecn8K96mLL_GQbVPtjwYUAGjOOXQexf11yuSIXQ/s400/IMG_3465.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early train turntable. Could only be used by very small trains.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgCDYeYetkbfUAwUvYVEOgDGkMMMCk50JJYgMDnkR7KhyKPOB3yqGLTeuj7Dv7SQg-zCvJCudkTquRmY_wIOFpf6u0Y6RYYR4C9CgO4qn1Rt9saPOwbVyqAqQWWkIfqu_xErGX4LMqHA/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgCDYeYetkbfUAwUvYVEOgDGkMMMCk50JJYgMDnkR7KhyKPOB3yqGLTeuj7Dv7SQg-zCvJCudkTquRmY_wIOFpf6u0Y6RYYR4C9CgO4qn1Rt9saPOwbVyqAqQWWkIfqu_xErGX4LMqHA/s400/IMG_3469.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of the train station you can see in Franklin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm9on3EV-zns4VkLDzPKVE2SpHSYbpD9-_m5QcVB7cMrPmQ9LKiAV4WM1b6wzOQ6AKdwP0tr7itLngIpvjGuQlPw_-2NsitkLWed1R8Mm2vMd1PMCPVWaVkWysYvQBFQt4s1r9AJuOTI/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm9on3EV-zns4VkLDzPKVE2SpHSYbpD9-_m5QcVB7cMrPmQ9LKiAV4WM1b6wzOQ6AKdwP0tr7itLngIpvjGuQlPw_-2NsitkLWed1R8Mm2vMd1PMCPVWaVkWysYvQBFQt4s1r9AJuOTI/s320/IMG_3476.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long day complete. The longest I have ever ridden on a bicycle. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-54841576364527164352015-09-21T20:19:00.001-04:002015-09-21T20:19:48.610-04:00Being Happy, the World Within<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGtmZpH9ooDgT5ubzaas2FvgB-oSgElvlAbFNcU2be1cQ3kx2WNbW8zmIY1e9Ft2QacTlBpsGEUw7rRicgcrTmUpLP0mEVRovZ1jKp8PIVXXw2qvmLZm3n1W4A7zvHHlB7OPPF-Yrd3g/s1600/happyfamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGtmZpH9ooDgT5ubzaas2FvgB-oSgElvlAbFNcU2be1cQ3kx2WNbW8zmIY1e9Ft2QacTlBpsGEUw7rRicgcrTmUpLP0mEVRovZ1jKp8PIVXXw2qvmLZm3n1W4A7zvHHlB7OPPF-Yrd3g/s400/happyfamily.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been thinking a lot lately. About Hippy type things, like Peace and Happiness. It seems that the more I study what it might mean to be alive, specifically how we perceive "reality" and where Consciousness stems from, I have realized that I know next to nothing.<br />
<br />
And it has opened me up to the idea that maybe, just maybe, each and every one of us actually does have the power to make a difference in this world. <br />
<br />
There is no world without, without the world within. What
you see in the world around you is really a reflection/projection of your reaction
to what is happening around you. And that you are in control of. Most of us just
don't know it or really believe it. We live in a time where we have been
brought up to think of ourselves as alone. In our heads. Separate. To
find blame others or find fault for anything in our lives that is less
than perfect. That money brings happiness, so that is the only thing
worth pursuing.<br />
<br />
Because all we really want is to be happy. <br />
<br />
Each and every one of us is connected. Literally connected. I
don't mean by Facebook. I'm not going to get into all the reasons why.
Read about Quantum Physics. Read about Quantum Entanglement. Read about the Holographic Universe
Theory. And, perhaps, listen to your heart. At some level, most of us
can feel it. It's that thing that makes you feel good when you connect
with a stranger. Or makes you tear up when you watch a story about
somebody in a tough situation and the community comes to their aid. It
is when we are at our best. <br />
<br />
Here is a thought. What would your day be like if everybody around you treated you like a well loved family member? What if you knew that every person you encountered today would be pleasant and respectful towards you? What if you were shopping for a car, and didn't have to worry about anybody taking advantage of your lack of knowledge? What if people made decisions based on doing the right thing for others instead of monetary ones?<br />
<br />
How much less stress would your life have?<br />
<br />
"It's never going to happen" is most peoples first reaction. "People are assholes" I hear on a daily basis. And I'm occasionally guilty of it as well. But in studying a lot of metaphysical and religious topics, some of the same lessons repeat themselves over and over. I'd like to focus on just one for this post. Do unto others as you would have done to you.<br />
<br />
The reason why the world is full of assholes is because everybody is waiting for the other guy to make the first move. <br />
<br />
Somebody has to start. I have been working on doing this for the past few weeks. And for whatever reasons I can't understand, it works! I take it one person at a time, and try to practice as much as I can every day. It is amazing what happens when you realize that you have the power to make the people around you happier. And there are a million different ways to do it. Don't wait for them to make you happy, you go first. With no expectations of anything in return. It feels awesome. It feels like the way we are supposed to behave towards each other.<br />
<br />
Does anybody else want to try this with me? Do you have the courage to be nice to everybody around you? If not nice, how about respectful? How about the next time you want to yell at the waitress because your food isn't right, think about the fact that she could be your daughter. Or sister. Or mother. Can you take the split second to put yourself in their shoes and try to be more understanding? If nothing else, you will lower your daily stress and blood pressure when you realize that you don't have to be so upset all the time.<br />
<br />
<br />
For real change you have to pay very close attention to how you actually feel about that person. Being kind to somebody without actually caring isn't as powerful. The change really comes when we can look at each other, every single one, and be open, loving and understanding to what we each are going through. Because whether you know it or not, their struggles are yours. And since that is the case, you have the power to make it better for everybody. But it is a choice that has to start with you. We are all connected. <br />
<br />
Please share your thoughts.<br />
<br />
Nate<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-72526819579225053572015-09-10T18:28:00.001-04:002015-09-10T18:28:31.494-04:00Dear Running,Dear Running,<br />
<br />
I don't know how to say this gently, but I think I need a break. It's not working for me anymore, and it is getting more apparent every day that you are trying to hurt me. <br />
<br />
Shhh..don't say anything yet. Please, let me finish first.<br />
<br />
The last 9 years have been wonderful. You found me just when I really needed you. My old love, Mountain Biking, and I had just broken up from a wounded knee. I really wasn't ready to give her up, and now I think I need to go back. <br />
<br />
Even though you never said anything, I know you could feel that something was wrong after we finished the Vermont 100. I've been fighting these feelings since then, and I just can't do it anymore. I need to come clean.<br />
<br />
I love Mountain Biking. I'm sorry, but I don't think that I ever stopped loving it. It's in my blood, and I have to go with my gut. <br />
<br />
I really hope that you and I can still be friends. There would be nothing I would like more than to go out with you for a few hours and explore some new trails. I hope you will still allow that once in a while. The time we had together was special. I'll always cherish it. I will always love you.<br />
<br />
NateUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-31167416055885849732014-11-19T19:09:00.001-05:002014-11-19T19:09:28.864-05:00No more shoe reviews.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5EnUEFpeYodLD5xh83bOteSMjR5vOWj_Ql-reUn7cu8qgw1pHice8w0VLKUPDjTUM7KVwnAU3itek51pTNPtTtVt1Ku_pd7Cz3Eg11Lo8rwiekjheED4haLlBAyq9_If9xggeyhU0h8/s1600/noreviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5EnUEFpeYodLD5xh83bOteSMjR5vOWj_Ql-reUn7cu8qgw1pHice8w0VLKUPDjTUM7KVwnAU3itek51pTNPtTtVt1Ku_pd7Cz3Eg11Lo8rwiekjheED4haLlBAyq9_If9xggeyhU0h8/s1600/noreviews.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I really enjoy writing my blog. You wouldn't know that by my recent lack of activity. But I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I originally started this so that I could practice writing in preparation of writing a book. If you have been here since the beginning you remember that I used to write more often, and mostly about personal issues. Topics like my love of running and my obsession with finding out what type of diet and exercise will turn back the hands of time and keep me feeling young and strong.<br />
<br />
One of the coolest bi-products of writing about running is that shoe companies have asked me to try their shoes and review them. That development was really initiated by my friend Pete who writes <a href="http://www.runblogger.com/" target="_blank">www.runblogger.com</a>. He has made the introduction to almost every company that has provided materials for review. And I love it. Or at least I did....<br />
<br />
I approach most things in life like you would expect from a neurotic person with a Jewish upbringing (think Woody Allen) and for the last 6 months or so I have felt a TON of pressure to get these reviews done in a timely fashion. But I have failed on many levels. I still have 5 or 6 shoes that I never reviewed, and I received them months ago. Every time I see them I feel guilty. Sure, I could half-ass a bunch and whip them out really quick, but that's not my style. So it takes me a lot of time to write them up. Like 3 or 4 hours to do it right. And I just haven't been able to find the time. The thought of those manufactures thinking that I took advantage of their generosity really bothers me. But the pressure of always feeling like I HAVE to get this review done is killing my love for writing.<br />
<br />
I have decided to no longer do shoe reviews here. I will continue to write the Dirty Runner column for Pete (which I have not done in a long time either...) whenever he needs or wants me to. And I'm really grateful for that opportunity. Thanks Pete.<br />
<br />
While running is still a huge part of my life, I have been focusing on my business more. This needs to be my first priority. We are kicking so much ass and its exciting. I'm at the shop more because I'm enjoying it a lot. We are even in the process of opening our first branch location. I'll write more about that as developments happen.<br />
<br />
Even more than the business, I have been thinking about...well, thinking. Trying to tackle some of the bigger issues. Reading more books about the Law of Attraction, Alternative Thinking, Quantum Physics, etc. It seems as the more I learn, the more I realize that I don't know anything. And even what I do know is probably skewed, based only on my personal experiences. Our brain only keeps information about what it recognizes and can fit into it's idea of what is important. For that, it looks at what it knows from past experiences. Anything it can't neatly fit into some category gets filtered out. I want to know what I'm missing! Just because we can't recognize something with our 5 senses doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I love this concept. It opens so many possibilities. <br />
<br />
I have had an idea in the back of my mind for a long time. For some reason, the timing finally seemed right to take some action. I have started an on-line study group for people that are interested in learning more about alternative spiritual thinking. Its like a book club, but with a specific type of book and discussions that take place on-line (although there is an actual once a month meeting for those who can attend). We will study one chapter per week and then share our thoughts.<br />
<br />
I started studying these alternative ways of thinking 15 years ago. And I have applied them to create the incredibly abundant life that I enjoy today. I see the potential in every person I encounter to do the same. But a lot of people don't know where to start or how to take it to the next level. I'm hoping that this project will be of value to them. Judging from the amount of initial interest, I think it will. Our first meeting was this past Monday, and we picked "The Master Key System" by Charles Hannel as our first book to study. If you curious or want to join up, click on the pic below. This is not a business venture and it doesn't cost anything.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://forum2.npdbikes.com/index.php" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://forum2.npdbikes.com/index.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SdDdOHbn51RubvdgIIosPJMUFaImMLlZkQI1QcxZ5jUl4KdkvgMVJhEpRIOz85R5vGHW6fT99zB0fkvJ1StinsYZMdTpTPfpdyYoHoLuV6QaBx0TaX3loBhQHwDETSy9ob4D4Fzgsl8/s1600/BBpic.jpg" height="375" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Discussion Board <a href="http://forum2.npdbikes.com/index.php" target="_blank">Please join us!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So for those of you that only come here for shoe reviews, I
want to say "Thank You" for reading and being so supportive. But if that's the only reason you came here,
you might want to take me off your blog feed. For everybody else, I hope to write a bit more about topics
that have a little more substance than just my love for an item that you wear on your feet. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-28431067022907827882014-08-02T18:06:00.000-04:002014-08-02T18:06:59.194-04:00Shoe Review - Hoka Huaka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX06Horw-UsG-cZ5d-DjF2sleRA4mLYmKVEMTw2nxTvRU7jNJHXQc2WEGLmYpn7uExHMNw4GqUjG_j2UsO2NU9lwSARoMR5Sz6FJqYuRVYt_S_2pTYBpH4dHTI7j7bl3FZm9ZF2mVgkc/s1600/IMG_1608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX06Horw-UsG-cZ5d-DjF2sleRA4mLYmKVEMTw2nxTvRU7jNJHXQc2WEGLmYpn7uExHMNw4GqUjG_j2UsO2NU9lwSARoMR5Sz6FJqYuRVYt_S_2pTYBpH4dHTI7j7bl3FZm9ZF2mVgkc/s1600/IMG_1608.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hoka always has funny names for their shoe models. This new one is no exception. It is not pronounced "Who-A-Ka", but rather "Waaka". So lets just get this out of the way right now:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LlF7wWlKDuXC-8bFHWCWQWGWtfmuEpwEuF1yUORU73wKLXZZl5nxAM6jfREcQ0x5Lt8Od9urULHSW1Mq-gS7ZsE_RhJNTNgbnCFFQdfqJv7RVuvjTvxqeHuixAMKlVKv4p4cmRWZZ5U/s1600/300px-Fozzie-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LlF7wWlKDuXC-8bFHWCWQWGWtfmuEpwEuF1yUORU73wKLXZZl5nxAM6jfREcQ0x5Lt8Od9urULHSW1Mq-gS7ZsE_RhJNTNgbnCFFQdfqJv7RVuvjTvxqeHuixAMKlVKv4p4cmRWZZ5U/s1600/300px-Fozzie-bear.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit - Muppet.Wikia.com</i></td></tr>
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Waaka Waaka Waaka!!! There. You were all thinking it, now I've just said it. So now, can we get onto the shoe review?<br />
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At the risk of repeating myself from previous posts, there is a certain type of shoe that I gravitate towards. A flexible, light weight, low drop and well cushioned shoe is what I love to run in. The Hoka Huaka fits that bill to a T. (<i>Note: these shoes were provided as a media sample to me at no charge by Hoka One One</i>).<br />
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Two or three years ago, this was exactly what I was looking for but nobody had put the two types (minimal and well cushioned) together. For this review, lets just start at the front of the shoe and go backwards from there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5Iz8qLBcFvIwAnDFf70lVQKqpLmrNPORdO_xMui3sAOsS2y18q5Sp9muboQwWENEi8r-xWEjjlO5sEMlkYk10ONfSyx_WGLctn6WA4DQfcjHMew3-6XuKXq32-Nbaa43_Zc0W9yDEIE/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5Iz8qLBcFvIwAnDFf70lVQKqpLmrNPORdO_xMui3sAOsS2y18q5Sp9muboQwWENEi8r-xWEjjlO5sEMlkYk10ONfSyx_WGLctn6WA4DQfcjHMew3-6XuKXq32-Nbaa43_Zc0W9yDEIE/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The green toe cap reduces volume a bit, but not in a bad way. Feels performance oriented.</i></td></tr>
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The toe box is wider than most Hokas, certainly wider than the Rapa Nui or the Stinson, but not quite as roomy as the Bondi. One thing worth noting is that the height of the toebox is more performance oriented and is fairly snug in that regard. The shape feels more rounded than the other Hokas as well. The shoe fits true to size. I have never had any pinky toe irritation like I have experienced with some other more severely tapered Hoka models.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLPY7p_mUzoqjOm7HGPdzpd-0RTK2MJZU8N4oKQwdmaXSvPmnCDadzmaGCfAy-swYFweFTnhQwmtr4MuuWE-UMX2G-78Y3qweBvsziurytWEU25Ec4sTgVjA8yzxgl2Uww937NxuGPT0/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLPY7p_mUzoqjOm7HGPdzpd-0RTK2MJZU8N4oKQwdmaXSvPmnCDadzmaGCfAy-swYFweFTnhQwmtr4MuuWE-UMX2G-78Y3qweBvsziurytWEU25Ec4sTgVjA8yzxgl2Uww937NxuGPT0/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Speed laces which I proceeded to remove shortly after getting them.</i></td></tr>
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The shoe comes with Hoka's speed laces as well as a pair of traditional laces. I have found in the past that I can't get as good of a fit with the speed laces so I cut them out after I took these pictures and replaced them. I can get a fairly snug fit but I would consider the upper to have a medium amount of room. The construction is very simple, with an airy mesh that has glued on welded overlays for support. <br />
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The nice thing about the upper is that it is pretty flexible (really flexible for a Hoka). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYjszw7SW_CnTY-wkrNHq4o32svLothuxrjcXefdDnKCfpGuHbJP5u2ktL6WVKzKcxZIvh8zwcUxWYbkGxzVTki772CK37O5PmGMJ0iSb0YwLkolyCrdDMNkGNcPr1pue6D9m-z5bUT8/s1600/IMG_1620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYjszw7SW_CnTY-wkrNHq4o32svLothuxrjcXefdDnKCfpGuHbJP5u2ktL6WVKzKcxZIvh8zwcUxWYbkGxzVTki772CK37O5PmGMJ0iSb0YwLkolyCrdDMNkGNcPr1pue6D9m-z5bUT8/s1600/IMG_1620.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heel cup inside...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskVJjEfgWD2dhU2emBJZ3jXKuGMe0Hmmb5wVFZ_hATB5rdDPCaqK3CrZVziZosxr_dXdO0dVF3IpudqbcH9jIrXaSZJyovzEqQI1z_x5k6Z-s4pBc-y4ASvIhKxNCjq6Jk0Ao70RrSFA/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskVJjEfgWD2dhU2emBJZ3jXKuGMe0Hmmb5wVFZ_hATB5rdDPCaqK3CrZVziZosxr_dXdO0dVF3IpudqbcH9jIrXaSZJyovzEqQI1z_x5k6Z-s4pBc-y4ASvIhKxNCjq6Jk0Ao70RrSFA/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>and outside</i>.</td></tr>
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<br />The heel cup doesn't have a stiff counter and flexes nicely with your foot. The inside of the heel cup is well padded and very comfortable. I think that the fit is very similar to the <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/08/dirty-runner-pearl-izumi-em-n1-trail.html#more" target="_blank">Pearl Izumi EM N1</a>, but a tad bit looser overall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0weJE65LZgoTlTBBPHtv-K6_6BQUHRB5Z2GZ12-7NiIryiEcTJPhR2MfjIpOmBYW2IVq6oA9s_BdwLzXxiLy-Pr6KAOHW4dcleAroDYfK7eHvaoiRt5qkIsCxoePwwHwVem4HPjVlcg/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0weJE65LZgoTlTBBPHtv-K6_6BQUHRB5Z2GZ12-7NiIryiEcTJPhR2MfjIpOmBYW2IVq6oA9s_BdwLzXxiLy-Pr6KAOHW4dcleAroDYfK7eHvaoiRt5qkIsCxoePwwHwVem4HPjVlcg/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Very thin tongue.</i></td></tr>
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The tongue is a very thin piece of Leather and mesh that is what I would call "semi-lasted". It is attached at the front of the shoe to the first three lace holes. It has never has moved on me or let in a disproportionate amount of dirt and grit.<br />
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The all new RMAT sole is a thing of beauty. Rather than the traditional squish of the Hokas built with EVA, the RMAT has a nice impact deadening feel with a great bounce. This provides the best of both worlds. It is much more performance oriented but it doesn't beat the hell out of your feet. And it's lighter too! Thats a win, win, and win. <br />
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Hoka has this shoe listed on their website under both Trail and Road shoes. I feel that is accurate as it is a true hybrid. The traction is not stellar off road, but works fine for most circumstances. There are three small areas that have little chevrons for grip, but they really don't do much in poor traction situations. Running on the roads finds them to be smooth and grippy. I have 62 miles on them at the time of this review and here is a picture of the wear so far.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3r3bSUtpuRAkqXe8_j1zLgrstrBGYc_kpJ3Uzojo0VF3Pd8yyRGuo8RO6iQtCqhOZzvfjv2KmzD4RDQz9dZqEH6miyKn7i_ewK8Au-U-0T0ztDd4sd8gPtQZcWRKDBcl6C6vJlDU54Y/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3r3bSUtpuRAkqXe8_j1zLgrstrBGYc_kpJ3Uzojo0VF3Pd8yyRGuo8RO6iQtCqhOZzvfjv2KmzD4RDQz9dZqEH6miyKn7i_ewK8Au-U-0T0ztDd4sd8gPtQZcWRKDBcl6C6vJlDU54Y/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wear after 62 miles.</i></td></tr>
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As you can see, the heel and toe chevrons are showing wear already, but nothing that I consider to be disappointing. I expect a shoe like this to wear quickly if I run on the roads with them. I would say that about 40% of my runs have been on trails, the rest on roads. Much to my surprise, the three holes in the sole have never trapped any rocks.<br />
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To sum it up, my size 10.5 Huaka's are 9.7oz light...<br />
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Flexible...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ36eUQGU_YeYAkQjMvJKIJVYBnNQNAV48FP1wQ9iDQs2BMuyi1pHB3_g5fT67sr6FOJHvzRLt-PcJS0k1t6939x2ESbs28nXnwMNlksiiPJnCcKRxirZEPpXOmfxEeKUtJeszKf6xJs4/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ36eUQGU_YeYAkQjMvJKIJVYBnNQNAV48FP1wQ9iDQs2BMuyi1pHB3_g5fT67sr6FOJHvzRLt-PcJS0k1t6939x2ESbs28nXnwMNlksiiPJnCcKRxirZEPpXOmfxEeKUtJeszKf6xJs4/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Try THIS with any other Hoka.</i></td></tr>
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Cushioned...<br />
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and extremely comfortable. Although I have a ton of shoe reviews to do, I'm having a hard time not putting them on my feet before every run. I have been waiting for this shoe for a long time. Well done Hoka.<br />
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Here are the specs as listed on Hokas website.<br />
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Catagory: Neutral light cushion<br />
Geometry: 2mm Heel offset - (Heel 27mm, Forefoot 25mm)<br />
Weight: 8.9 oz (actual for my 10.5 was 9.7oz)<br />
Construction: Ultra lightweight no sew speedframe with racelaces, full length RMAT midsole, early stage meta rocker geometry with 2mm offset and stregic hi abrasion rubber zones.<br />
Price: $150Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-7415084567271539292014-07-04T14:25:00.000-04:002014-07-04T14:25:44.538-04:00New Balance MT110v2 shoe review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Regular readers of this blog will know that I have had a love affair with the original NB MT110. It was one of the most anticipated trail shoe and in most ways it didn't dissapoint. It was an industry leader for a lightweight trail shoe and it is common knowledge that Anton Krupica called it the best trail shoe he had ever used. Of course, no one shoe is perfect. The biggest complaint about it was its durability. The perforated plastic-like material was prone to tearing open if it came in contact with a sharp rock or stick. How long they lasted really depended on what type of terrain they were used on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But despite its faults, it had one very magical aspect for me. The fit. It was simply perfect for my foot. Built on the NB minimus last (NL-1) it was as if the designers snuck into my room, cast my foot, and then built a shoe just for me. And I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have probably gone through 6 or 7 pairs since they first came out. I love it for runs under 20 miles in the woods, even though I once used them for 70 miles of the Leadville 100. If I was asked to design version 2, I would try to address a few things. I would add some better traction. I would change the outer material for more durability. And I would add a bit more cushioning for longer runs. From what I have read by many, my list of desired changes is a pretty common one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When New Balance first announced and showed this new version a lot of people were surprised. It looks nothing like the original. With the different materials, much deeper lugs and a bit more cushioning, it looks like a perfect match for what I was hoping for. The one thing that nobody understood was the change of last. The V2 is no longer built on the minimus last. I questioned that immediately, way before I ever held one in my hand. I mean, the minimus design is what drew so many of us to that shoe (and the others built on the NL-1). And it no longer looks foot shaped, it looks like a 1930's dress shoe with a super pointy toe box.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3F20-V1RkBL9i0PwTQf0jIfhWWa89yUInBzoLDr7Mbs8Jnw9NtCCMMy_jtyl7fqiJzqieABsZBIzc4juAAttr8vwzlaSbSdsnIp37F19HXxtg23qatJuQkRs3DKCeABWZKJ-D_585c3Q/s1600/141221048690_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3F20-V1RkBL9i0PwTQf0jIfhWWa89yUInBzoLDr7Mbs8Jnw9NtCCMMy_jtyl7fqiJzqieABsZBIzc4juAAttr8vwzlaSbSdsnIp37F19HXxtg23qatJuQkRs3DKCeABWZKJ-D_585c3Q/s1600/141221048690_3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5caceeLe0d3PMWvQ8ZTV9n0hbOOND6xjOhPqD-c9eyGDmSZ09IIwwyoePHU5N2P7phM22UkIAti-1RMzIto65_9OxpcT8LFqI4cNs6LWkGEszBjhxUOiHHTfjeF_NAbtDBdW_TPHP6M/s1600/IMG_1376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5caceeLe0d3PMWvQ8ZTV9n0hbOOND6xjOhPqD-c9eyGDmSZ09IIwwyoePHU5N2P7phM22UkIAti-1RMzIto65_9OxpcT8LFqI4cNs6LWkGEszBjhxUOiHHTfjeF_NAbtDBdW_TPHP6M/s1600/IMG_1376.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hmmm....seperated at birth?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But sometimes looks are deceiving. Unfortunately for me, this time they are not. When I first put them on my feet, I could feel the tighter toebox immediately. But as I've learned many times, the first impression standing in my living room doesn't nessisarily translate to how a shoe feels on the run. So I headed out to the trails and put 15 miles on them. My notes say: "First run in MT110v2. Nice shoe, but the toe-box is too narrow." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are two areas that bothered my feet on this run. You can see in the picture above how my foot fits on the footbed of the V2, next to the original version. The addition of a footbed is another change on this shoe as the original didn't have a separate one. The skin on the outside of my big toe, where my toenail starts, got "lifted" or sort of "torn" and my pinky toe, which is pretty small and short, again on the outside edge. You can also clearly see the extra area in front of my foot which creates a dead feeling area at the front of the shoe. Three days later I took them to Pats Peak to test their traction and see if I had better luck with the fit. After only 7 miles I ran into the same problems.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqel-7WRHvFIyJZV5Zsi53xvcSHWFneIt8umgXHaJ4C20g19VXpDlipFr1LDdzapSeYdIGDyQpPOOPJ1gJc9FkeWWiCOx-g2DzuvrOMYQKwbdbnVpxu4SWecqNxZWKvGD4lB_a2XjArw/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqel-7WRHvFIyJZV5Zsi53xvcSHWFneIt8umgXHaJ4C20g19VXpDlipFr1LDdzapSeYdIGDyQpPOOPJ1gJc9FkeWWiCOx-g2DzuvrOMYQKwbdbnVpxu4SWecqNxZWKvGD4lB_a2XjArw/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Steep climb up the ski mountain. Incredible traction!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3WbE9X01_IColhGRyRGasdetYVAVjlwYt1oZsoJOevRuCwltXCeICfabckc9F0cnP0MJRhdp89FhdGNgkjzaZGyQK10zqyZHeyKymKw1VecQdPtbV0mymTw_83uLUShMoAO0hONPE8w/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3WbE9X01_IColhGRyRGasdetYVAVjlwYt1oZsoJOevRuCwltXCeICfabckc9F0cnP0MJRhdp89FhdGNgkjzaZGyQK10zqyZHeyKymKw1VecQdPtbV0mymTw_83uLUShMoAO0hONPE8w/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Close up view</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a bit bummed out, I decided to reach out to Brendan Murray, who I believe was the lead person at NB for the development of this shoe. I explained that I was happy to see the shortcomings of the original addressed, but could not understand the decision to move to the PL-4 last. He wrote me a very thorough explanation and then followed up with a phone call to help me explain better. I'm not going to post the entire email/conversation, but here is a small piece:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">"Since we already had a 4 mm off-set trail model
in our iconic minimus trail 10, we felt that continuing to make the
110v2 in the same fit and nearly the same stack heights would have been
redundancy from our stand point and really limit the trail community
with choices. Futhermore talking with our ambassadors
such as Tony, and their needs, they were asking for a slightly
straighter lasted model in the forefoot - as ones foot needs adjust and
change over time. The idea of using the PL-4 last allowed for the trail
runner who was seeking a lightweight trail model
which provided slightly more girth in the midfoot and depth in the toe
box, that the 10 didn’t, a new option. The new 110v2 will also provide
slightly more cushioning under foot (the trail 10 has a midsole specific
stack height of 8/12 while the new T110v2
has a 10/14)."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He also gave me a perspective that I would have never considered. He stated that although the original was extremely popular with the trail running community, they actually were not reaching the full sales potential based on their market research. NB actually had a sizable amount of complaints regarding the NL-1 last for this shoe. There is a visual look of a "hook" shape because of the way the shoe curves on the lateral side that actually prevented a lot of people from purchasing the shoe. All of these factors led to the decision to change the last. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79KntpmL7IhXoJ5p4PePtLWQKNdcuqQp89AYMDI1Swpk8tkonP40LRMgZevK5Gw_nuCvyLKn62tWVDNHzBJjete9gkiDR3hhgsVUv3bX37j_FNjV5lCddri0t9Wh1blO2XUwuU4ScB2I/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79KntpmL7IhXoJ5p4PePtLWQKNdcuqQp89AYMDI1Swpk8tkonP40LRMgZevK5Gw_nuCvyLKn62tWVDNHzBJjete9gkiDR3hhgsVUv3bX37j_FNjV5lCddri0t9Wh1blO2XUwuU4ScB2I/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Close up of lacing system, which does a good job at keeping the non-lasted tongue in place.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On the few runs that I took, my only problem was the toebox. I want to like this shoe so badly. The traction is awesome. It seems to drain well. It still retains that excellent balance of ground feel and protection. They feel fast! The materials seem like they will be far more durable than the originals. If this shoe fit the way the original did I would probably have 500 miles on these things by now.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxYnO_Zrajj01VjnHqbdjbs8CCRrxvoee6RduSS3LS06U_1SNpg1obrqjfvBUbvMmAbsjH47P5wtAKJVb4Ws4ZRhq5uTsuQb5eejINntcZehKwHw8PKupHGT6dlvtHhS8xprI5QkPlDE/s1600/IMG_1379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxYnO_Zrajj01VjnHqbdjbs8CCRrxvoee6RduSS3LS06U_1SNpg1obrqjfvBUbvMmAbsjH47P5wtAKJVb4Ws4ZRhq5uTsuQb5eejINntcZehKwHw8PKupHGT6dlvtHhS8xprI5QkPlDE/s1600/IMG_1379.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>More cushioning than the originals</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here is what I suggest. Forget these are the next MT110. Consider them to be a new mountain/fells running shoe. Try them on. If they fit your foot shape and you liked the "running feel" of the originals, then you are psyched. There are a lot of positive features of this shoe. I just wish they fit me better.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiUGbnhg7DXeWvrSvxRQk2faxRkFfENZsjrDBZLRQloinM6sQdHG8LfU19x_44hJnWkGhephgxcMD3AuR7kv-rh4M_w0fi4-AmzE26RAmzI-NrBI2AimxpoFqG_r4pFi6frt5zHTmfGw/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiUGbnhg7DXeWvrSvxRQk2faxRkFfENZsjrDBZLRQloinM6sQdHG8LfU19x_44hJnWkGhephgxcMD3AuR7kv-rh4M_w0fi4-AmzE26RAmzI-NrBI2AimxpoFqG_r4pFi6frt5zHTmfGw/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>9.8 Oz for size 11 (they fit a bit small, just like the originals. Try the same size as what you wear in those (1/2 size up)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">As a side note I also need to add that I don't like writing negative reviews. I think that every shoe reviewer/blogger feels a sense of appreciation to any manufacture that has been kind enough to provide free shoes for review (which these were for me). But I read too many reviews that are flowery bullshit because of that very fact. I truly believe that the good manufactures listen and with enough feedback, make positive changes for the next version. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Either way, I don't write these reviews for them. I write them for you. I will never stop writing honest reviews, with both the positive and the negative. Obviously it is only from my perception. Everybody's feet shape and needs for a shoe are different. But my goal with reviews is to give exactly that, my opinion.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Call for comments:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Have you tried them? What's your opinion? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-63523402238200469412014-06-17T20:35:00.002-04:002014-06-17T20:35:25.441-04:00Altra Olympus Shoe Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPT942swU4pF2gRvdUuWS3Wo9HEsJPsoFlx5b3dewgdgdve8z3tIGDn2LG0U-IAqqvd7mjAP2qrblPMbYlHCEDXpvHIwqqL-w3UX1RGWMgU3iIy-Vv_rkhlvoq-Rk-LxjSg5m6vMPx04/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPT942swU4pF2gRvdUuWS3Wo9HEsJPsoFlx5b3dewgdgdve8z3tIGDn2LG0U-IAqqvd7mjAP2qrblPMbYlHCEDXpvHIwqqL-w3UX1RGWMgU3iIy-Vv_rkhlvoq-Rk-LxjSg5m6vMPx04/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Altra Olympus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At the end of my <a href="http://www.bikernate.blogspot.com/2014/06/trans-zion-and-peak-200-race-report.html" target="_blank">last post</a> I listed a few shoes that I need to review and asked if anybody had a preference for which I should do first. It was a tie between the Altra Olympus and the New Balance MT110V2. So here is the first of the two.<br />
<br />
When I first heard about the Olympus I was very excited. Way back at the beginning of Altras incredible ride to popularity (3 or so years ago) I fell in love with the Altra Instinct. I wore it for road and trail ultras, including 3 different 100 milers. As much as I loved it, I wished that it had more cushioning and better traction. So much so that I even cut the sole of a pair of Hoka Mafates and bonded it to a Instinct upper. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFX683e4c2d2TPgGmGihkkwr0w2Q08hNEgQKyJjAMkCLNgkg6vtXx_4KRVFeDvHYSMmA3PuIDVjrv3hNVlpsFDnR2dNQCqWKO1r4kyvfXDs63eETd0f3nYbeDENuPj4A40w_v7B6IzSM/s1600/Altrokas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFX683e4c2d2TPgGmGihkkwr0w2Q08hNEgQKyJjAMkCLNgkg6vtXx_4KRVFeDvHYSMmA3PuIDVjrv3hNVlpsFDnR2dNQCqWKO1r4kyvfXDs63eETd0f3nYbeDENuPj4A40w_v7B6IzSM/s1600/Altrokas.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My original Altrokas</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I heard that Altra was coming out with a Zero drop, maximum cushioning shoe I was psyched. What I was hoping for was a Hoka type ride with an upper that had the typical Altra features of a large toe box and comfy upper. Speaking of Hoka, there is no way to do this review (in my eyes) without having some sort of comparison between the two. Most trail runners I know have at least one pair of Hokas, even if they primarily run in minimal or traditional shoes. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMt1-kJnX26lG1EqnoQ4gnGwDnijJJB2kf0ycwdG0ABvme6iASjKbjCcP0QO9ozNmr5E3KkUUVofwWz2Fboe8wQO2wU1agaHpGtZNchyphenhyphenCJsL9jaB6msq92AvqmJvLChsecnbXne1Ugoc/s1600/IMG_1263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMt1-kJnX26lG1EqnoQ4gnGwDnijJJB2kf0ycwdG0ABvme6iASjKbjCcP0QO9ozNmr5E3KkUUVofwWz2Fboe8wQO2wU1agaHpGtZNchyphenhyphenCJsL9jaB6msq92AvqmJvLChsecnbXne1Ugoc/s1600/IMG_1263.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When I slipped them on for the first time I was really pleased with the fit of the upper. Then when I took my first steps I was immediately struck by the odd gait I had walking on our wood floors. It was as if I was standing on a flat sole that canted forward when I walked. I have worn many rockered shoes but they have always felt as if they exaggerated the natural running stride. These felt like they impeded it.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjBvBY7J6hF-2Ve2__sPDhmMhoh51yrd94ZWu5FyQqh9OiiW-oO7htRU_CKI-auE7fZcyJ0dTsyMJfRsDTRNUQjA1_r28rUaPArNWiUp_KRuyyJnLeZwmL0xFq8qgtLlBfmomSaWdnYA/s1600/IMG_1273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjBvBY7J6hF-2Ve2__sPDhmMhoh51yrd94ZWu5FyQqh9OiiW-oO7htRU_CKI-auE7fZcyJ0dTsyMJfRsDTRNUQjA1_r28rUaPArNWiUp_KRuyyJnLeZwmL0xFq8qgtLlBfmomSaWdnYA/s1600/IMG_1273.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>See the short steep angle of the toe spring? Feels more radical than it looks.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My first run was on the pavement. I hated them. It felt like the radical ramp angle had my toes hanging off the edge of a diving board and the stride was just clunky. The level of cushioning was great. Not Hoka Bondi soft, but similar to the Stinson Evo. Also similar to the Hoka Rapa Nuis, but with more height.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE3Le2lX-_w3VKF1t6RKpIYYjEaTzzjbBwvFjBErbi6BOyRm9ClvskmcRSY1OiwM_FW_oOaVKQq5VVX-diHdNcLQiDIGbM7_5V8Of-mvjExHK1MKhxT847c_LRiFO5oJdgt9nntCxoQY/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE3Le2lX-_w3VKF1t6RKpIYYjEaTzzjbBwvFjBErbi6BOyRm9ClvskmcRSY1OiwM_FW_oOaVKQq5VVX-diHdNcLQiDIGbM7_5V8Of-mvjExHK1MKhxT847c_LRiFO5oJdgt9nntCxoQY/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The best toe-box in the biz</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was pretty bummed and put them in the closet. I wrote Golden (the founder of Altra) asking if I was the only one who was fixated on the ramp angle. I asked because I had already read many reviews and people seemed to love the shoe and was starting to see it on peoples feet at races. He said that no, I wasn't the only one, but many folks were saying that it was much minimized when running off road. He also said that for the next version they will be working on a more natural transition to toe off.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ypStJTtjS7GdYjGms1nTxnTsEtX4rVlOI6ljKaoYLU22wG4A2N2wjf4THfJLWYX57NfipC2vY7WLUqKfbvxDp_LXp5IMMqFUMA1hIZqfsUauc1_0I0WEjhjT1vvsdbs2kfnnbjWKMs/s1600/IMG_1261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ypStJTtjS7GdYjGms1nTxnTsEtX4rVlOI6ljKaoYLU22wG4A2N2wjf4THfJLWYX57NfipC2vY7WLUqKfbvxDp_LXp5IMMqFUMA1hIZqfsUauc1_0I0WEjhjT1vvsdbs2kfnnbjWKMs/s1600/IMG_1261.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cool built in Gaiter Trap</i></td></tr>
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<br />
Since I loved the fit, I wore them a few times casually. My heel bruise does better wearing maximal cushioning shoes. I didn't run again in them for a while. Then I tried them on a short 8 mile run on the trails and though that he was right. The ramp angle wasn't nearly as noticeable. But with many shoes to test they sort of fell out of my rotation. With it being the top pick for a review, I decided I better run some more miles in them.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy2Qq-8e9vxCFQG6198ZCXPOHIS56vsuMQGCvlaksrGTUJKaWwUAe5R6y32z1CWR85wcVQZ05EOX8Nx7-y1vDvSghb6pUKQ4LUCb7vpP6mVMrbl6ak3VKlek47HxhTjI6xx4z6GA5mEg/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy2Qq-8e9vxCFQG6198ZCXPOHIS56vsuMQGCvlaksrGTUJKaWwUAe5R6y32z1CWR85wcVQZ05EOX8Nx7-y1vDvSghb6pUKQ4LUCb7vpP6mVMrbl6ak3VKlek47HxhTjI6xx4z6GA5mEg/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lacing system allows snug fit</i></td></tr>
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<br />
So Thursday I took them out for a 12 mile run all trails. I swear they seem like they are breaking in. The run felt really good and I enjoyed wearing them. Then on Sunday I took them to the White Mountains. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptv20Oa5v-UxbEsw3PLS12NcQ-W74iD1-e9ZW7hiD5udGhRLOG3Z8L2mKnvDTc0NJ-6YWt9mvQs48pvzkR6rjhS2SEzm2UbdSzH7kymVjhdVQYDgWb5KB3vZQyYxpL1n3CmL_AuAam5g/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptv20Oa5v-UxbEsw3PLS12NcQ-W74iD1-e9ZW7hiD5udGhRLOG3Z8L2mKnvDTc0NJ-6YWt9mvQs48pvzkR6rjhS2SEzm2UbdSzH7kymVjhdVQYDgWb5KB3vZQyYxpL1n3CmL_AuAam5g/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Slippery when wet!</i></td></tr>
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<br />
Since they fit just a tad tight on my right foot, I was worried about using them on the steep descents, but it turns out that wasn't a problem. As a matter of fact, they were excellent. I ran 21 miles of very steep, rocky, wet, muddy, mossy, rooty....ok you get it. With 8000 ft of elevation gain/loss it was a great test. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl1CSiqPnFehZ9JlisdUhxjhc8eA-IMqlL91x48Vt91UQowJaVeiLBAP5KsglW6-81UkYBagCIAj1z6J8PSEPXLQHs7Gu6UVekyWk7LZmC9leRO68hQ7UuQbu2fI5ard24zCGm9sRSoE/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl1CSiqPnFehZ9JlisdUhxjhc8eA-IMqlL91x48Vt91UQowJaVeiLBAP5KsglW6-81UkYBagCIAj1z6J8PSEPXLQHs7Gu6UVekyWk7LZmC9leRO68hQ7UuQbu2fI5ard24zCGm9sRSoE/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Going back up Mt. Tecumseh</i></td></tr>
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<br />
The level of cushioning is so appreciated when running/hiking on trails like these. As is the super comfortable fit and wide toe box. But the upper can be laced very snugly and they keep your foot in place. Which prevents your toes from being smashed against the front, which is something I hate. What's not as appreciated is the traction. It has somewhat grippy rubber, but not awesome. And the road based tread doesn't work in mud at all. The good news is the fit and comfort. I got zero hot spots or blisters and I just love how comfy they are. Although I haven't submerged them, they seemed to dry out pretty quickly from the water/mud I did get on them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcVcBFH7ajz6ZjYqThygZ6GUbn8WyeR_7TsIWnyLLLdiMaCqap3jemSFF-C5ba9RWO7NdOdH1G17QV6vXUKp1Ay0yPoHcYQD2XmlfVpfQWP83y4OvwGYaZ86VzivS9nPZpNjGHBGrwqk/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcVcBFH7ajz6ZjYqThygZ6GUbn8WyeR_7TsIWnyLLLdiMaCqap3jemSFF-C5ba9RWO7NdOdH1G17QV6vXUKp1Ay0yPoHcYQD2XmlfVpfQWP83y4OvwGYaZ86VzivS9nPZpNjGHBGrwqk/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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It should be noted that I saw these shoes on the feet of several competitors at the Peak 200 race 3 weeks ago. And two of them wearing them finished! Also it's worth noting that my friend <a href="http://larisadannis.wordpress.com/2014/04/24/a-dream-day-at-the-boston-marathon/#more-1001" target="_blank">Larisa Dannis</a> ran a 2:44 Boston Marathon in them, finishing first non-elite US woman!<br />
<br />
The foam seems to be getting a bit softer and breaking down a bit. This is a really good thing. The stiff rigid feel I encountered at first seems to be going away. Sometimes you actually do get another chance to make a first impression. I still will be excited to see Altra fix the abrupt ramp angle, but in the meantime I am going to put a lot more mountain miles on these puppies.<br />
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Oh yeah...If you really want to know the stats...<br />
Weight (size 10.5) - 12.75oz - actual weight on my food scale<br />
Fit - True to size, perhaps a tiny tiny bit on the small side<br />
Delta - Zero Drop <br />
Cool stuff - built in Gator velcro<br />
Stack Height - 36mm (!!!!) <br />
Price - $130<br />
Construction/materials/etc. - Check out <a href="http://www.altrarunning.com/fitness/en/Altra/mens-shoes/olympus-men" target="_blank">Altra</a> for more info.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-16298212286097999122014-06-03T19:02:00.000-04:002014-06-03T19:02:09.948-04:00Trans-Zion and Peak 200 race report. A recap of May's activities.Well, May has come and gone and I've just realized that I didn't post even once! Rather than write individual posts about everything, I thought it might be nice just to do a little recap. First, the stats.<br />
<br />
Total miles ran - 365.3<br />
Hours running - 71:58 (no wonder I haven't had time to write)<br />
Calories consumed - 1 billion<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjV2j8UbL2ba7PSweVRDeCQpp_DboqqMu_sRU7uXe3RnP2bsQQBdgP7O_FqXvUnxbp4pwbT8aczzqgkbdwQuaoOcxqYVz1F5jBT73FhOKId2FcGnmJEPyjqz23CCvE36o35KMMWtBOJA/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjV2j8UbL2ba7PSweVRDeCQpp_DboqqMu_sRU7uXe3RnP2bsQQBdgP7O_FqXvUnxbp4pwbT8aczzqgkbdwQuaoOcxqYVz1F5jBT73FhOKId2FcGnmJEPyjqz23CCvE36o35KMMWtBOJA/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finishing the Lake Waramaug 50k</i></td></tr>
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After running a fast 50k at the end of April at Lake Waramaug, May was the time to start putting in more miles and more specific training. Going into this year, committed to running 200 miles in Sept, I knew that I had to change the way I trained. I've always put a lot of miles in, but this year I need to put in more long (really long) days. Time on my feet is the most important thing, not the speed at which I do my training. I've added in walking at a fast pace, and I'm trying to get more cross training in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsRJHaiVqV7MkbQkmmSAN50Fes8-sL72L8NmyhyphenhyphenbMN9DGALZ1fw_VHZ5_yijVU6jRaVYF_8Dzr0-FCa8qKIZs6XGvsaHLGF5ayRnZVxCYE3fbAsuBe26JigtrIQF4rVK4Qfq8bSwonWM/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsRJHaiVqV7MkbQkmmSAN50Fes8-sL72L8NmyhyphenhyphenbMN9DGALZ1fw_VHZ5_yijVU6jRaVYF_8Dzr0-FCa8qKIZs6XGvsaHLGF5ayRnZVxCYE3fbAsuBe26JigtrIQF4rVK4Qfq8bSwonWM/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sherpa John</i></td></tr>
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<br />
Knowing that I need to get some Journey runs in, I made the decision to join my old friend Sherpa John for a Trans-Zion run on the 17th. I flew out a few days ahead of time to catch up and do some runs in his stomping grounds (Colorado). We had a great time running, eating and catching up. Friday we drove the 500 mile trek to Utah. The drive was beautiful. The campground we stayed at was even more beautiful! Since it was a group fun run, I got to meet everybody at the campground as we hung out around the fire and got to know each other.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB5ghkrCCni7aGnknJqHLzWv5s9TFEf9Heh3VuKba5kzHkzCFeT0hX4lBRyvjeVSIeUQFlBMht7WtqRbxtPV22cWYJOgPbxJTnIZubzcMQarBn-kYgNxq315-fQBkwK1vcxMPqlbo1fk/s1600/1900773_10203783847061095_3908103664657046180_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB5ghkrCCni7aGnknJqHLzWv5s9TFEf9Heh3VuKba5kzHkzCFeT0hX4lBRyvjeVSIeUQFlBMht7WtqRbxtPV22cWYJOgPbxJTnIZubzcMQarBn-kYgNxq315-fQBkwK1vcxMPqlbo1fk/s1600/1900773_10203783847061095_3908103664657046180_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The group running Trans-Zion together. This is the view from behind our campground!</i></td></tr>
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<br />
The run itself was a blast! It ended up being 51.5 miles with about 10k of elevation. We also ended up going up Angels Landing as a side trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplnCN0fU7El7uZoyT82mHmj8K_cdbd-kp_V3NuCXEF__nq82rvA4BNvVVW2cNsS616JECcLWaKsF1rw75t1TAoHZd_u_JVfR7AIIId1il6-RwEZtg4PgLlBbRtl-6UFVH1HWUSkTdUeI/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplnCN0fU7El7uZoyT82mHmj8K_cdbd-kp_V3NuCXEF__nq82rvA4BNvVVW2cNsS616JECcLWaKsF1rw75t1TAoHZd_u_JVfR7AIIId1il6-RwEZtg4PgLlBbRtl-6UFVH1HWUSkTdUeI/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Angels Landing. We went right up that ridge to the top. Scary!</i></td></tr>
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<br />
It was almost 100 degrees for most of the afternoon and it really ended up affecting most in the group. It didn't seem to bother John or I much, and despite almost everybody taking the 36 mile bail out, we soldiered on to finish in 14.5 hours. The great part was that there was no rush. It was just an awesome day covering lots of miles with friends. These type of adventures are more memorable than most of my races. I finished the day feeling good. It was a confidence builder for what I was about to do 10 days later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMefZH8900BxXriztuIf62WYdZFUyeE_zhNJM2vtMu97xwn7EQbkmMDNPHpTOa5VFZV2pl545XTIGxp0PDzLFYGQC8IzEGgYCyPWYoBASzkK7tcSYjlexq5no_XCaTZDNWabhEnbhMQNo/s1600/Peak200_start-631x421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMefZH8900BxXriztuIf62WYdZFUyeE_zhNJM2vtMu97xwn7EQbkmMDNPHpTOa5VFZV2pl545XTIGxp0PDzLFYGQC8IzEGgYCyPWYoBASzkK7tcSYjlexq5no_XCaTZDNWabhEnbhMQNo/s1600/Peak200_start-631x421.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Starting the Pittsfield Peak 200</i></td></tr>
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<br />
On Thursday the 29th at 6am I toed the line at the Pittsfield Peaks 200 mile race. I had been planning on doing this race as a practice for the Tahoe 200. Leading up to the race I had told Amy that I was just going to see how far I could get and what I could learn about doing a multi-day race. The longest I've ever been on course was 24:34 (Leadville 2011) and I've never had to sleep during a race. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh07tmgWiSmQJu7sTqTbOEMkQE29Q-b96xp-e_kDfdxD6yK5KDQBpzFvX6Fr9T5usc2c9wOXMCTvtNqzKh1ZR9nzGkLDP0mqaHb4N4i8OSQWgMMdabX6-ManICYa6RlgvbmsKoKiUIys4/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh07tmgWiSmQJu7sTqTbOEMkQE29Q-b96xp-e_kDfdxD6yK5KDQBpzFvX6Fr9T5usc2c9wOXMCTvtNqzKh1ZR9nzGkLDP0mqaHb4N4i8OSQWgMMdabX6-ManICYa6RlgvbmsKoKiUIys4/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Board where we record our laps - Old School Cool!!</i></td></tr>
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<br />
Of course, in the few days leading up to the race I forgot about all that and was determined to just finish at all costs. I wanted to learn to be patient, which I am terrible at. I even decided to not wear a watch, which for me is a big deal. As we headed out on the first of what should have been 20 loops of the 10 mile course I felt great. I was in the lead and running and climbing at what I thought was a very easy pace. I knew I needed to slow down when I come in from the first loop in 1:44. Way...too...fast. So I backed it down, or so I thought, to an even easier pace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SboZK6NJxGSYDYYkjgoqsWvfKdEk0mVl_aPlV6bb7uRC1-gPcR4S5_mDCpj4WLBj9ok6qLWBskVAaqzrzVaRqug4jEGW5uCcPbZVKTSd0cRWxdZYNoB6EgOQys-VPrB95FrgZ4RaRmA/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SboZK6NJxGSYDYYkjgoqsWvfKdEk0mVl_aPlV6bb7uRC1-gPcR4S5_mDCpj4WLBj9ok6qLWBskVAaqzrzVaRqug4jEGW5uCcPbZVKTSd0cRWxdZYNoB6EgOQys-VPrB95FrgZ4RaRmA/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stone Shack. My favorite place on the loop.</i></td></tr>
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<br />
By then end of the fourth loop, which I finished exactly at 8 hours, I already had over 10 miles on almost the entire field. I was still moving well, but even with slowing down I still think I was going to fast. My thought process was that if I could run with no discomfort, why shouldn't I? I knew that I would slow down later and the buffer I had build would really take the pressure off to finish in under the 82 hours that the course was open.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAZPUkuVtP65SGn8fKkkHw5QarAi-m_vh0JPHkRYmdq7JtUtBERwMstX7C4IIO5Uk8YXBbTUXgICBXOg7j44YQ9UKvmko9JX9VVYIuAkOfPYRb95NEHlya5m0g49OG1oUL9BKDQq1lNs/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAZPUkuVtP65SGn8fKkkHw5QarAi-m_vh0JPHkRYmdq7JtUtBERwMstX7C4IIO5Uk8YXBbTUXgICBXOg7j44YQ9UKvmko9JX9VVYIuAkOfPYRb95NEHlya5m0g49OG1oUL9BKDQq1lNs/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Singletrack with waterfall.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On the 6th loop I decided that I would hike the entire loop just to see how long it took me. Of course that went out the window when I came to my favorite part of the course, the 4 or so miles of downhill single-track after the Stone shack at the crest of the mountain. I remember thinking that not only was I going to finish, but I was going to win this thing. I felt awesome and ripped off a 2:20 or so lap (my total time was 2:40ish, but that included a 15 minute stop at the start/finish and a 5 minute break at the top of the hill). Oops. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIxIOjLwjuA-ee9CZhxwTBDtQqyztdzPtmyVuzuc-MkBzEr2PTsVQqv1PlZTkq8SULwTh_y3W48AHPeWGW11yYqgIejAn3kv-tPlwqQ_pF8DpZ7VaRe1Wb_FJBhKlFZvbkJw1QrBIls4/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIxIOjLwjuA-ee9CZhxwTBDtQqyztdzPtmyVuzuc-MkBzEr2PTsVQqv1PlZTkq8SULwTh_y3W48AHPeWGW11yYqgIejAn3kv-tPlwqQ_pF8DpZ7VaRe1Wb_FJBhKlFZvbkJw1QrBIls4/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The start/finish line</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The 7th loop was tough. The 8th was even tougher. I finished mile 80 at 19:03 into the race and decided that I needed a break. I was tired. My feet had been wet for hours and some blisters were starting to form. I figured that I could take a nap and dry out my feet. I went to sleep around 1:45 and woke up a little past 5. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSkn-PMfuYeaKVpPOvCqzR-cX8figq7DjSWncU44aZub7FUBos0Xgdyjb0mgH8a3j60Y3XulhScxI_bV26Zto0bJLFKxxNCcEbdzmGqv7H0eDFoN3YDXmCBNTS7W2JepOqE0BPqxz00I/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSkn-PMfuYeaKVpPOvCqzR-cX8figq7DjSWncU44aZub7FUBos0Xgdyjb0mgH8a3j60Y3XulhScxI_bV26Zto0bJLFKxxNCcEbdzmGqv7H0eDFoN3YDXmCBNTS7W2JepOqE0BPqxz00I/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Deluxe accommodations.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I got up I couldn't believe how well I felt. The pace was much slower than what I'm used to in a 100 and my legs didn't feel beat up. I put on new shoes and socks and headed out for my 9th loop in really good spirits. By the time I got to the top of the hill, about 3.5 miles into that loop, I was really tired again. I was moving a lot slower and the downhills were killing me!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5wuRopdXJKDL90e6HQBHZbTsXwtZxJU53Bwknl4sQ4-6DbApRMc6wyxQ8RgCfpFhRewNilItfYO6jeih8WxaVkSIhqDdOc6ye6BbJXjlQcp-6qzXg0LZnSVLpTotyYFjB82l7IwYlZI/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5wuRopdXJKDL90e6HQBHZbTsXwtZxJU53Bwknl4sQ4-6DbApRMc6wyxQ8RgCfpFhRewNilItfYO6jeih8WxaVkSIhqDdOc6ye6BbJXjlQcp-6qzXg0LZnSVLpTotyYFjB82l7IwYlZI/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These little messages were all over the course. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On my 10th loop the tendonitis in my right shin was flaring up really badly, especially on the downhills. I decided that 100 miles was a pretty good training run and called it quits after finishing 100 miles.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWevQttKz_8GyiYSwreY8k0L6hS51o27jh3Ke8nOQ6H2aIR5kfa1McjlNkloTohLLbOEP01e9LQW09PxG6_Bvzl68rwkcBuBR6ovO4aN_LtR1E84wHFrtVoFqCA2G5zXP0FL2wGsd92tc/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWevQttKz_8GyiYSwreY8k0L6hS51o27jh3Ke8nOQ6H2aIR5kfa1McjlNkloTohLLbOEP01e9LQW09PxG6_Bvzl68rwkcBuBR6ovO4aN_LtR1E84wHFrtVoFqCA2G5zXP0FL2wGsd92tc/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I don't feel like it was a total failure. I learned a bunch of things about what I'm going to need to do to finish one of these monsters. In one sense, I'm even more scared than before. 100 miles is a really long distance to run, 200 miles is like...double that!! What the hell am I thinking?????<br />
<br />
One final note. I am way behind on my shoe reviews. Here is what I have in the works.<br />
- New Balance Fresh Foam Trail<br />
- New Balance MT110V2<br />
- Altra Paradigm<br />
- Altra Olympus<br />
- Merrell Bare Access Trail <br />
<br />
Please help me prioritize. Are there any of the above shoes that you want to hear about first? I appreciate the feedback!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-20103732075477407252014-04-29T17:43:00.001-04:002014-04-29T17:43:20.154-04:00Lake Waramaraug 50k Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwOMYK8eNkn_g-GSE3QRsgtsAolEBlDSP47pENXKbuHF7IFhESwBEUBG3Af8fqameJn855eh4KhCTBQqvPCOSPS4tpVupM19Tf7d5moubyCVRAUVzOUbA21IC-d0pBg7JUcGv7KKo7vw/s1600/lake-waramaug-fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwOMYK8eNkn_g-GSE3QRsgtsAolEBlDSP47pENXKbuHF7IFhESwBEUBG3Af8fqameJn855eh4KhCTBQqvPCOSPS4tpVupM19Tf7d5moubyCVRAUVzOUbA21IC-d0pBg7JUcGv7KKo7vw/s1600/lake-waramaug-fall.jpg" height="148" width="580" /></a></div>
<br />
This Sunday I returned to New Preston CT to run the <a href="http://lakewaramaugultra.com/" target="_blank">Jack Bristol Lake Waramaug Ultramarathon</a>. I had signed up for the 50 miler, but during the race I decided to drop down to the 50k distance and see if I could get a PR. Here is what happened.<br />
<br />
Doing the race was a last minute decision after realizing that it was only 35 miles from my brothers house. After figuring out the logistics, I signed up for it on Friday night. I was planning on using the race as a training run. But it wasn't long before I was doing research on splits, times, etc. Of course, I decided that this flat paved course might provide a great opportunity to try to break 7 hours for 50 miles, which I have never done.<br />
<br />
After spending the weekend visiting my brother and his family, and not
getting back to the hotel from NY city until midnight, I was pretty
tired when the alarm went off at 4:30 Sunday morning. The family rallied and I drove to the race. After my usual 5 million nervous rest room stops, the race began promptly at 7:30.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDNVHWeRR63vSq56_6wybKLk_lU7wJIaw3LSplvk_7WSuK5r7W0od5uBDcFAp2V6lcGXEGqtOkNNKOTAfOqCfON33NeEKPkuUBfXcVnPPQBt3VJJj13bRvh9z53GeHJezjTbhnZPbBrQ/s1600/NYcityfreedomtower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDNVHWeRR63vSq56_6wybKLk_lU7wJIaw3LSplvk_7WSuK5r7W0od5uBDcFAp2V6lcGXEGqtOkNNKOTAfOqCfON33NeEKPkuUBfXcVnPPQBt3VJJj13bRvh9z53GeHJezjTbhnZPbBrQ/s1600/NYcityfreedomtower.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freedom tower in NYC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Side note: You will be hard pressed to find a cooler atmosphere than at this race. From the incredibly enthusiastic RD, to the aid station workers and all the runners in the field. Everybody just seems to be happy. This race has been run for almost 40 years and is one of the oldest Ultras in the country. And it has that old school feel. It's awesome.<br />
<br />
The course itself is a flat paved 7.6 mile loop. It has almost no elevation, just a few small rollers, but it offers very nice views of pretty houses and of course the lake. The race starts with the entire field doing a 2.2 mile out and back (4.4 total) in the opposite direction, then followed by either 3, 6 or 7 full loops depending on what distance you are running. There are 50k, 50 mile and 100k options. The 50k'rs do a final 3.8 mile out and back to finish, the 50 milers finish after their 6th loop and the 100k'rs do 7 loops followed by a 4 mile out and back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSkxynnWVQamcbF8IzY4RgIkoXy9QQtGMLO9AyHOiwPsvjQgX1B8dQzG9kNKbKJ6YcT4VRR-hichBwrICHeZqrm0NTe5ciRRkkaGVU39w2EDdSP9uPSAMHpDcatFLR1gCQC_QN7KtKqw/s1600/lw-100k-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSkxynnWVQamcbF8IzY4RgIkoXy9QQtGMLO9AyHOiwPsvjQgX1B8dQzG9kNKbKJ6YcT4VRR-hichBwrICHeZqrm0NTe5ciRRkkaGVU39w2EDdSP9uPSAMHpDcatFLR1gCQC_QN7KtKqw/s1600/lw-100k-map.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Course Map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As the race started, two runners jumped out front, while I hung back with Joe Lasky and Billy Preston. We were going nice and easy (7:40ish pace) and having some great conversation. Somewhere around 2 miles I just felt like I was going too slow and needed to run my comfortable, but aggressive pace. At this point I was still planning on racing 50 miles and I knew that in order to break 7 hours I had to be below 8:30 pace.<br />
<br />
I felt excellent. I was listening to tunes, and running very comfortable. My plan was to just run comfortable all day long, paying attention to my exertion level. I finished the 4.4 mile out and back in 36:27 (7:50 pace). I grabbed my bottle with 3 scoops of Heed Sustained Energy, put a lara bar in my pocket and headed out to start my first full loop after only spending about 30 seconds at the finish line aid area.<br />
<br />
I actually started to pick up the pace, because that is where I felt comfortable. I knew it would be very aggressive to try to maintain that pace for the full 50, but every time I reminded myself to slow down and relax I ended up just running the same pace. At this point I could see no reason to try to slow down more than I was. I felt good and started to get excited at the prospect of what I might be able to accomplish.<br />
<br />
Being that it is a loop course around a lake, it was no surprise that there were parts of the course where the wind was directly against us. With gusts of up to 30 mph, I kept reminding myself to just relax. If my pace slowed with the wind, then it would surely pick up when it was on my back further down the road. Again, my pace never really slowed, and I finished loop one in 57:42 (7:36 pace).<br />
<br />
At the finish line aid, I grabbed another lara bar, but I only added water to my bottle. I figured that I could eat the bar and get a few hundred calories over the next loop and that should be all I need. My strategy was to avoid making stops unless absolutely necessary. I had one hammer gel in the pocket of my bottle holder just in case. I never ended up using it.<br />
<br />
Loop 2 was much the same as the first. I continued to hammer, but at a pace that was just starting to get a little bit uncomfortable. I tried to slow, really I did! But again, I felt pretty comfy so I decided that it was just the day to go for it. I finished the second full loop in 57:32 (7:34 pace).<br />
<br />
I refilled my bottle with 3 scoops of drink mix and headed back out. I was probably stopped for only about 45 seconds or so. It was in the middle of this loop that I started to get a dose of reality. If I kept this pace up I would do a low 6 hour 50 mile. Considering that my 50 mile PR is 7:35 I was pretty excited. But that excitement was tempered by the increasing stiffening of my hamstrings. Even more concerning was my left heel. I have been battling what appears to be a bruised heel bone for about 2 months. It was starting to hurt.<br />
<br />
Whether it was a cop out or a smart move I'll never know, but I made an agreement with myself. If I could drop down to the 50k distance, but still be an official finisher, I would. If the RD told me that I wouldn't get an official finish I would continue on and hold on as long as I could, heel be damned. This put my mind at ease as I made a clear black and white decision for what to do at the end of the loop. Somewhere near the end of the loop I hit the marathon mark in 3:13. My current marathon PR is 3:15:10. I was flying. And I was really really enjoying running fast and strong.<br />
<br />
I finished the third loop in 58:34 (7:45 pace). Luckily Carl, the RD was right at the line so I asked him if I dropped would I be an official finisher. He said that I would and many people do that at this race. I was 3 hours and 28 minutes in and I knew that if I hauled ass I might be able to do my first sub 4 hour 50k and set a huge PR (my current PR was 4:35 from VT50 last year).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhhMaPj6jrQJh1T_qNKC_OTX_uYDEZqzvYjDRBVMrW8qEXaGodqKDMFMIlTjn0gbbZCZjGtD8XUS1VZw_SQBIgjGNNbLYonNugat700AJjnh3Hq5GyFZx9gYisO_icziQvYNaxLiRYcg/s1600/Lakewaramaugmedal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhhMaPj6jrQJh1T_qNKC_OTX_uYDEZqzvYjDRBVMrW8qEXaGodqKDMFMIlTjn0gbbZCZjGtD8XUS1VZw_SQBIgjGNNbLYonNugat700AJjnh3Hq5GyFZx9gYisO_icziQvYNaxLiRYcg/s1600/Lakewaramaugmedal.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, so now this is what I was gunning for...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Since I had entered the 50 miler, I really had not paid much attention to how far out the turn around was, but my Garmin had me at around 28 miles so I knew I couldn't mess around. Now it was game on and I took off to run the last out and back as fast as I could.<br />
<br />
Shortly after leaving the aid station the first 50k runner was coming back, almost at the finish, and he was hauling ass! He ended up setting one of the fastest times in the history of the race with a 3:30:40. Solid! I knew that I couldn't win now. And I remembered that he had taken off at the start of the race with another runner whom I had not seen yet. Maybe I could get third today! But...another runner then cruised by me headed towards the finish. Damn. Maybe I can get 4th today! But...yet another runner went by me again. Funny, but he didn't look like he was moving that fast. A few more miles go by and the other runner who took off at the start went by me. I hadn't hit the turn around yet and although he looked like he was slowing, he was quite a bit in front of me.<br />
<br />
There was nothing I could do but just run as fast as I could. As I ran back towards the finish line I passed a ton of runners still on course who were all super supportive. I was an arm swinging drooling mess as I went by them, but they stoked my fire to finish strong! Within a few minutes I saw the other runner. Although he was still quite a bit in front of me I saw him actually stop for just a few seconds and stretch. I smelled blood and ran as fast as I could, cranking at a low 6 minute pace.<br />
<br />
I blew by him and finished in 3:54:36! I ran the last 3.8 miles at a 6:49 average pace and ended up with a 7:34 pace for the entire race. As I finished I asked the starter if I was 5th and he said that was about right. I was kind of bummed, but very excited to have a new PR.<br />
<br />
After showering and eating I returned to the race to do whatever I could to help my friend <a href="http://gotlactate.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-week-to-remember-boston-and-little.html" target="_blank">Ron </a>finish his first 50 miler. I casually looked at the results board to discover that I had actually <a href="http://mcmtiming.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/50K-Lap-By-Lap.htm" target="_blank">finished second!</a> It turns out that the other runners I saw coming back towards the finish line were early starters that had started an hour before us and they were just finishing up. I was psyched! I was first loser for the day, and I was totally cool with that. Considering that this race was a last minute decision and that I ran almost 30 miles last Sunday, I was happy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV0faa48cV8-5UCFsRCSlNt8imP6QWrTNT6R08t_dbb3U07HvzuxEjy7V7Xrb1RdD7uEKW3xkX15JUuFRcuodbYoUH3WcZxgRghwpy0V5vRrAcYH2EP5v-8rtWxUzbZB4gqiGWb1hjk8/s1600/JBLWURresultspage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV0faa48cV8-5UCFsRCSlNt8imP6QWrTNT6R08t_dbb3U07HvzuxEjy7V7Xrb1RdD7uEKW3xkX15JUuFRcuodbYoUH3WcZxgRghwpy0V5vRrAcYH2EP5v-8rtWxUzbZB4gqiGWb1hjk8/s1600/JBLWURresultspage.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes!!! Second place!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And it turned out that Ron didn't need my help at all. He rocked his first 50 miler with a time of 9:07 and got his VT100 qualifier.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5MZ3hfbBRe-b3A1Y0U2ugEJqtUuXI8xdsJrHeehh40kiH29cipUh7FwBmXpYCHhBeshZ7qgRyWWdUb1PRHzYeZtJKlyg-Ws8dPSkPgxsyIk_J6rFbRkJMUl7UM-tPNl7hyWnCgsSRjI/s1600/RonandIafterJBLWUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5MZ3hfbBRe-b3A1Y0U2ugEJqtUuXI8xdsJrHeehh40kiH29cipUh7FwBmXpYCHhBeshZ7qgRyWWdUb1PRHzYeZtJKlyg-Ws8dPSkPgxsyIk_J6rFbRkJMUl7UM-tPNl7hyWnCgsSRjI/s1600/RonandIafterJBLWUM.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron and I post race celebratory beer!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was an awesome day, enhanced by the laid back atmosphere and awesome people. I highly recommend that everybody do this race at least once. There is no corporate BS, just a bunch of super friendly people encouraging people to test their personal boundaries.<br />
<br />
Race stats:<br />
Food Consumed - 2 Larabars and 6 scoops of Heed Sustained Energy (about 1000 calories).<br />
Shoes - Skechers Go Run Ultra 2 prototypes. Similar to the current GRU with a few new test features. <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/12/skechers-go-ultra-review.html" target="_blank">Click here for my GRU review</a> on Runblogger.<br />
Blisters - zero. ZERO!!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5sXMRz7iARNnUW8y9oxNyBzDqrU72jd6ovP8ZtBUJ7Ke6xX6AsQCHDFmW1OmHH-Pyz86hB0mQeO1JlnMTbLqdEAmITkfgl1aTluLUZrg-8MBKGppAEGvq2MigbnNpDIx1uKdC19VEzc/s1600/PC050003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5sXMRz7iARNnUW8y9oxNyBzDqrU72jd6ovP8ZtBUJ7Ke6xX6AsQCHDFmW1OmHH-Pyz86hB0mQeO1JlnMTbLqdEAmITkfgl1aTluLUZrg-8MBKGppAEGvq2MigbnNpDIx1uKdC19VEzc/s1600/PC050003.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50k PR Footware by Skechers (Go Run Ultra)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-22365743851779110952014-03-31T16:30:00.001-04:002014-03-31T16:30:56.384-04:00Ultimate Direction SJ Ultra Vest 2.0 Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQY6_dU-spoAxZufI5gDgEWTwVeZ1RyC4kovmSk1VANzSGUUmeHk6-3Ihf2Hd7CLZVUYtR-6TYultPIC7LmsjvkVMi_xPC2RhFPKYE4rSR013i1K1-zDBjSi-87ZEITEAOGyp4v1fuRE/s1600/629_1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQY6_dU-spoAxZufI5gDgEWTwVeZ1RyC4kovmSk1VANzSGUUmeHk6-3Ihf2Hd7CLZVUYtR-6TYultPIC7LmsjvkVMi_xPC2RhFPKYE4rSR013i1K1-zDBjSi-87ZEITEAOGyp4v1fuRE/s1600/629_1_.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultimate Direction SJ Ultra Vest 2.0</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200</a> looming large in my future, I have already started to work on trying to figure out what gear I am going to need. Unlike a typical 100 miler, the aid stations are much farther apart. This creates a bit of a dilemma for me because I am going to have to carry more than I am used to. For my daily runs I like to run as minimal as possible. Give me a pair of shorts, a good pair of socks and shoes and let me loose in the woods. Unfortunately, that lack of equipment usually is not possible for longer races.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgntRezw24QsLKnyO4opNPR5LoKDxYVLKbwUdMZfQAS8udYIV_H6XZUVyU7C8MDCae1kdEkCZJjWpEg8zlLTRtmeJ6IDI3MIOg6Qmw9YC3iIdmAPNg2MkmDloFUIHiJVJOAyRPcmPZ8Y/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgntRezw24QsLKnyO4opNPR5LoKDxYVLKbwUdMZfQAS8udYIV_H6XZUVyU7C8MDCae1kdEkCZJjWpEg8zlLTRtmeJ6IDI3MIOg6Qmw9YC3iIdmAPNg2MkmDloFUIHiJVJOAyRPcmPZ8Y/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Front view with bottles</i></td></tr>
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I have many hydration packs, but still haven't embraced using them unless I absolutely have to. They slosh and pull the back of my shirt up. The drinking tube freezes in the winter. And I still haven't found one that works when I'm not wearing a shirt. And worse of all, I find that I just don't drink as much when I don't have a bottle in my hand. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhPsgeyC4OE-sS9B23SbxSJXDH8CKR0ip4uaGcsxZ8vCB9iax77AxAdNcl_CkOMBS2iBbJpQVWi_TkcsPB8sAkpjPSs1av91I01Q51v7sAYRqg2pkrFThNgAkzwAN8C8SX6MMX3234Qo/s1600/IMG_1290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhPsgeyC4OE-sS9B23SbxSJXDH8CKR0ip4uaGcsxZ8vCB9iax77AxAdNcl_CkOMBS2iBbJpQVWi_TkcsPB8sAkpjPSs1av91I01Q51v7sAYRqg2pkrFThNgAkzwAN8C8SX6MMX3234Qo/s1600/IMG_1290.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Back view</i></td></tr>
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But the biggest downside for me is that it doesn't work with my fueling strategy. Over the years I have perfected my nutrition. Basically, it involves sipping Hammer Sustained Energy (3 scoops per 28oz bottle) alternating with sipping water. That means that I need 2 bottles. But after a while (like, maybe 100 miles....) you get really tired of always having your hands tied up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvzTpoft3TZ25sNVE32VsD1ksC1m0HID3BWv6l1MR62BjxsyKyQisEPY61Fhwb2q0KhWB1jQy7tYLnwRHrEIe7XhBm3a1ozcLMR_-NfRZ9iGLYHrQDKkfz6LPqUhHLWqzctwfcBSJG2M/s1600/IMG_1284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvzTpoft3TZ25sNVE32VsD1ksC1m0HID3BWv6l1MR62BjxsyKyQisEPY61Fhwb2q0KhWB1jQy7tYLnwRHrEIe7XhBm3a1ozcLMR_-NfRZ9iGLYHrQDKkfz6LPqUhHLWqzctwfcBSJG2M/s1600/IMG_1284.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bottle holder with pockets on both sides</i></td></tr>
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The UD SJ 2.0 Vest might be able to solve that problem (note - this vest was provided to me free of charge as a media sample). Rather than using a bladder, it uses 2 pockets to hold bottles. So I can now mix one up with SE and fill the other with water. And I don't have to carry them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtPsvMgGgN47muDRPDaiNoDcsgYULPYTIfwMFrRE6pjrFmpRcHfP-BgssPazYzZZ3DJBLbFu_wXBK-BQCa9EDuNfSRGjnAeqaPR8sQc4SaszK_HMPhTYX8RQD93Zf0DoqRHyfupVGljU/s1600/IMG_1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtPsvMgGgN47muDRPDaiNoDcsgYULPYTIfwMFrRE6pjrFmpRcHfP-BgssPazYzZZ3DJBLbFu_wXBK-BQCa9EDuNfSRGjnAeqaPR8sQc4SaszK_HMPhTYX8RQD93Zf0DoqRHyfupVGljU/s1600/IMG_1276.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Inside view, notice the super lightweight material</i></td></tr>
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I was super excited to check out the vest. First looks reveal a very "techy" piece of equipment. And it seems to weigh about nothing. According to<a href="http://www.ultimatedirection.com/p-629-sj-ultra-vest-20.aspx?category=hydration-packs" target="_blank"> their website</a> it only weighs 11oz (15 with the included empty bottles). It has a ton of well placed pockets and cleaver ideas, including an emergency whistle.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI17B5crsVZQ15j9rLLW5369FGQN81MkOFSTWrOs7CREBF91ZWJ-Yh2cYGiZgbldA-3_Zmng3-zXo64g8kFzHJIFYmTAn_dwBBS6CFFFcLI2R6uq7jzlAlyVFFsiU32PL1m5tf2qwv8-A/s1600/IMG_1301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI17B5crsVZQ15j9rLLW5369FGQN81MkOFSTWrOs7CREBF91ZWJ-Yh2cYGiZgbldA-3_Zmng3-zXo64g8kFzHJIFYmTAn_dwBBS6CFFFcLI2R6uq7jzlAlyVFFsiU32PL1m5tf2qwv8-A/s1600/IMG_1301.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Emergency Whistle</i></td></tr>
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This model fits in the middle of their range of vests. The most minimal is the AK (Anton Krupicka) and the largest is the PB adventure. All models are now in their second version with improvements over the originals in materials and features.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK13wNyf2WZBpW7PsycvAtM4dYcm1ab7cXS33AY00zqGKuNF1agQGi3RAyQiBG3LOXG3mnFTYHb_bXaVryH6t75ih6vCd80vxpBEsGz15sgdWzd_0SnB3u8_TNbf6cvuovAxisPmmoiZ8/s1600/P1320724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK13wNyf2WZBpW7PsycvAtM4dYcm1ab7cXS33AY00zqGKuNF1agQGi3RAyQiBG3LOXG3mnFTYHb_bXaVryH6t75ih6vCd80vxpBEsGz15sgdWzd_0SnB3u8_TNbf6cvuovAxisPmmoiZ8/s1600/P1320724.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On top of Mt. Hancock</i></td></tr>
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I have had the vest for about 6 weeks now. I have worn it for most of my runs over 20 miles in all types of conditions from freezing wet runs to a hot 22 mile run at Red Rock Canyon. For such a small pack, it looks like it will hold a ton. In reality, it is not a very big pack. But if you are looking for a backpack to use for weeks in the woods you wouldn't even be considering something like this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hn1RKl1dujW5_OZHC1pYn_35Hb8q9iS855fww6x77Ud13BniKlUg-_SbsbFGkGZxtr-Kw1vmDc85CzboBRqy0us_yHgAcfqQmWa5afWs2y6xFZuKULsYVA1TZiCxMU6m5tRvmQUcYlc/s1600/nateatRR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hn1RKl1dujW5_OZHC1pYn_35Hb8q9iS855fww6x77Ud13BniKlUg-_SbsbFGkGZxtr-Kw1vmDc85CzboBRqy0us_yHgAcfqQmWa5afWs2y6xFZuKULsYVA1TZiCxMU6m5tRvmQUcYlc/s1600/nateatRR.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>At Red Rocks Canyon in NV (I took the vest off for the picture)</i></td></tr>
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The first thing I noticed was that it really stays put. There is hardly any bouncing. The bottles do make more noise than a pack with a bladder, but I got used to that pretty quickly. I was very excited to find that it doesn't pull up the back of my shirt either. I find that I drink more having the bottles where I can see them. And of course, I can now drink 2 different liquids because I have two bottles. Having my hands free is liberating. After using it maybe a dozen or more times, there is no sign of wear or tear at all. It still looks brand new.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sTQ8QGSP7uVMTWJxL_4x6fdwBJisxLiGFfifxNL5wRWvdPArpvsGxHzQMYbF-l0NnZAqDDtjR-osXtlD33iXqWZyYFwekWbzShpHwIsh_wz7AV8n6uPenraI-0RrUGhavVGiylz0YTw/s1600/et02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sTQ8QGSP7uVMTWJxL_4x6fdwBJisxLiGFfifxNL5wRWvdPArpvsGxHzQMYbF-l0NnZAqDDtjR-osXtlD33iXqWZyYFwekWbzShpHwIsh_wz7AV8n6uPenraI-0RrUGhavVGiylz0YTw/s1600/et02.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I wear it with a winter type shirt I find it fits great and is super comfortable. But when I wore it in the desert with only a thin running shirt I found that full bottles bouncing against my chest was not entirely comfortable. I have an extremely bony chest. I look just like E.T. without my shirt, but with more tattoos. Actually, looking at the picture, he might have more of chest than me... I will be testing it out for much longer runs when the summer gets here before I decide on using it for the big race.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyMSA5LPgJBVq-X-atY4Y-dg4rYEqxMxH6NjzRG2siqYdt8_fHZHxG-71vtu4fE8unzZ0c0nbY1qgl3MOVsPUjude1Lew6_GiL8b9tkTUi2_mMnkeMiuptNJkzWl_lyRgmXOslTUMpvw/s1600/IMG_1289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyMSA5LPgJBVq-X-atY4Y-dg4rYEqxMxH6NjzRG2siqYdt8_fHZHxG-71vtu4fE8unzZ0c0nbY1qgl3MOVsPUjude1Lew6_GiL8b9tkTUi2_mMnkeMiuptNJkzWl_lyRgmXOslTUMpvw/s1600/IMG_1289.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Smart phone pouch</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As far as storage goes, there are a lot of compartments. I have found it a little bit difficult to get to the side pockets when running, but with a little practice it's not too bad. One thing I would like to see them change are the "smart phone pouches" that reside under the bottle holders. I have an iphone 5. While it does fit width wise, it is to tall to be fully encased. I won't put my phone there for fear of it eventually bouncing out. But I find it fits rather nicely in the side pocket without any discomfort.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mF2GM_mkKKctJp2nWNtMYSK2HikWGoCw1UZS_AS8BWj41fgQbt9nZyNEt9oGpvMtJscwLbot59KnTxOamURxORveBbyWWhWQ39kRptOvZf9fXVJAE843eXxFYu2HRfBxlQ_jIk6VLu4/s1600/IMG_1282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mF2GM_mkKKctJp2nWNtMYSK2HikWGoCw1UZS_AS8BWj41fgQbt9nZyNEt9oGpvMtJscwLbot59KnTxOamURxORveBbyWWhWQ39kRptOvZf9fXVJAE843eXxFYu2HRfBxlQ_jIk6VLu4/s1600/IMG_1282.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Handy Velcro pill pocket under each bottle holder</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I am still waiting for the official list of gear that we will be required to carry for the race. If everything I need can fit in this vest it is most likely what I am going to use. It is a great alternative to a traditional hydration pack/vest.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsTEItt3zshv1LgwZgPfdrQ-ftCK-xMxDmXLTAqApSDaIwTPnySoJG6m3o9zEOD9XWcGOPOutbEOo6etjyJ14PyyCB_SA4y5KbtwYm_tif_N7lkmRqn2Ra8pYd3n19Ii5L9XqfWMn0rs/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsTEItt3zshv1LgwZgPfdrQ-ftCK-xMxDmXLTAqApSDaIwTPnySoJG6m3o9zEOD9XWcGOPOutbEOo6etjyJ14PyyCB_SA4y5KbtwYm_tif_N7lkmRqn2Ra8pYd3n19Ii5L9XqfWMn0rs/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Super lightweight airy material</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB70YiW7Undd38uY67MCxoq8agP4Cx9iTk2mNDC6VkyFtaUK_VeA410mf6VZDD4XDhS_Mj-fo1xmaWDHrmggIME9Sb-k1QGqJbjM252Prd6LdQiDq85gAqB2AK66B_shJcc3Pcacgi4k/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB70YiW7Undd38uY67MCxoq8agP4Cx9iTk2mNDC6VkyFtaUK_VeA410mf6VZDD4XDhS_Mj-fo1xmaWDHrmggIME9Sb-k1QGqJbjM252Prd6LdQiDq85gAqB2AK66B_shJcc3Pcacgi4k/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adjustable clips slide for better fit</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdhKqZH6DPMjSUfazyK2vm4n36Vjmx351Lc6xPGofLz5vIGb0wu94CR6VEJSgxSKijjcFe3U0_eSC51H1GpHkb2Q0tM7XXJJ7oNihpEIkQWKyTAbwZF1EPM1ropTSbRUhuNN-2Hyesno/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdhKqZH6DPMjSUfazyK2vm4n36Vjmx351Lc6xPGofLz5vIGb0wu94CR6VEJSgxSKijjcFe3U0_eSC51H1GpHkb2Q0tM7XXJJ7oNihpEIkQWKyTAbwZF1EPM1ropTSbRUhuNN-2Hyesno/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Outside zippered pocket</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu93B9S33p8bcx_Ts4vHNgiQAxJMkoT3-ArABmGPR-d-6_mcVH4t5Z76I2t8jjojp4u6QMbd_HP2buLBSplurzRotkvaw59xdOzsdbPNgvpJmCjWznUUWCzv6ojxVNlSuHnuDCBYUfUwc/s1600/IMG_1286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu93B9S33p8bcx_Ts4vHNgiQAxJMkoT3-ArABmGPR-d-6_mcVH4t5Z76I2t8jjojp4u6QMbd_HP2buLBSplurzRotkvaw59xdOzsdbPNgvpJmCjWznUUWCzv6ojxVNlSuHnuDCBYUfUwc/s1600/IMG_1286.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Which also has an interior Velcro opening</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Ultimate Direction SJ Ultra Vest 2.0 is available on the <a href="http://www.ultimatedirection.com/p-629-sj-ultra-vest-20.aspx?category=hydration-packs" target="_blank">Ultimate Direction website</a> for $129.95. Full specs are also on that page for those of you who want to know every little detail.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-61216102433651709932014-02-18T16:32:00.000-05:002014-02-18T16:32:18.310-05:00Addicted<div style="text-align: left;">
Becoming a runner has changed my life in so many different ways. What started as a simple way to lose a few pounds has turned into a lifestyle. It has taught me mental toughness and patience. It has brought me new friends. It has made me a calmer person, as exercise has been incredibly helpful in relaxing my frenzied mind. And it has helped me learn about how our bodies physically "work". But the biggest change that running has brought to me is in how I eat.</div>
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In the quest to become stronger and more fit, I have had to learn and accept that I can't eat the way I did when I was in my 20's. When I first started running a decent level of miles, say over 60mpw, I would end almost every night gorging on sweets. God forbid if there weren't several candy bars in the fridge after dinner. That combined with my love of Alcohol conspired to make sure that regardless of how much I ran, I was sure to not lose weight. As a matter of fact, I gained it!</div>
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As I've learned and changed my diet I have written about it here on my blog. In September of 2010 I started the Ultrametabolism diet by Dr. Mark Hyman. This was the biggest dietary change I've ever made. I cut out all added sugar, all wheat/flour and stopped drinking. I ate a ton of (good) fat and ended up losing weight and getting leaner than I ever have. <a href="http://bikernate.blogspot.com/2010/09/calories-in-vs-calories-out-is-it.html" target="_blank">I wrote about it here.</a></div>
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Then in May of 2012, after a period of slacking on the diet, I decided to follow it again but I added one twist. I decided to turn only to plant based, whole food (ie: Vegan). <a href="http://www.bikernate.blogspot.com/2012/05/becoming-vegan-30-days-of-pure-methane.html" target="_blank">I wrote about that here.</a></div>
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In doing all this experimentation with my diet I have done a ton of reading and learning. My biggest take away is that Sugar is, by most definitions, an addictive substance. If I slack on my diet and start eating sugar and wheat I not only gain weight, but I gain fat. The inner tube around my waist inflates in exact proportion to the amount of sugar, wheat and alcohol I consume. Every time. And equally predictable is that I lose weight and get leaner when I stop. Every time.</div>
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But why? I was a long time believer that weight was a simple function of calories in vs. calories burned. But I have learned that it is not that simple. My entire purpose for this post is to share the video below. It is by Dr. Robert Lustig, who's first video "Sugar, the Bitter Truth" has been viewed millions of times. This is part 2, with upgraded information, and it explains why Sugar is such a big part of the obesity crisis that we are now in the middle of. It is a long video, but if you have a vested interest in understanding what is happening to our food supply and how it is affecting our bodies, it will fly by. I hope you find it as fascinating as I do. After the video, please share your thoughts!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-74754023820559921082014-01-27T19:28:00.002-05:002014-01-28T10:51:10.313-05:00(UN)Welcome Back!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My view from Cannon Mountain</i></td></tr>
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Two week ago I went up to the White Mountains and for the first time, I tackled several climbs alone. Usually I go with friends a few times a year, and since they have so much knowledge of the area I don't pay much attention. I just follow them and enjoy the views. But knowing that I have to start training on harder terrain I decided to take the plunge. After all, what's the worst thing that can happen, except for getting lost and dying of hypothermia...<br />
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As it turns out, I had an incredible day. Both for the sense of accomplishment of finally doing something I've wanted to do for years, but also because it was just a beautiful quiet day of being alone in the mountains. I decided to climb two of the 48 4000ft peaks, Cannon and Tecumseh. Both are fairly short (5 miles each) with about the same elevation gain and loss (around 2500 ft).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crusty Ice and Snow on Tecumseh</i></td></tr>
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I was wearing my New Balance MT110 Winter's with Microspikes, which was a perfect setup. The trail consisted of lots of ice and a layer of new snow over the top, more so as the elevation rose. I had a little bit of a hard time at first since I was the first one on the trail and took the wrong entrance at Cannon. After a mile of bushwacking I crossed the trail and it was much easier from there.<br />
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On the way down from the first climb I noticed an old familiar feeling in my right lower shin. Its an itchy, achy pain that hurts when my ankle is fully flexed upwards, and lesser so but still present when fully flexed the other way as well. I decided to ignore it and drove to Waterville Valley to hit Tecumseh. It didn't get any better. As you might suspect, it got a lot worse on the climb up. Obviously the steep incline of the trail, possibly combined with the very tight fitting "boot" built into this shoe, was a combination that my shin didn't like.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QvvvT_7Xs6zN2B0YaHscPR5jWQFZPzb91jpsPpvyjGS4HVaPKz73onxBcSwqZwXNyvq9j9_49nu28O2RHFP66ivAf5T27sYHzA46mEFwdaaLVAUknfW7rb2UhwVATC3rXQ-g1pLgDGc/s1600/ankle-tendons-anterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QvvvT_7Xs6zN2B0YaHscPR5jWQFZPzb91jpsPpvyjGS4HVaPKz73onxBcSwqZwXNyvq9j9_49nu28O2RHFP66ivAf5T27sYHzA46mEFwdaaLVAUknfW7rb2UhwVATC3rXQ-g1pLgDGc/s1600/ankle-tendons-anterior.jpg" /></a></div>
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My old friend, Anterior Tibialis Tendonitis is back. This is a chronic problem that used to plague me years ago, and hasn't really reared its ugly head for a while. The Tibialis anterior muscle is the large muscle that runs down the shin. Inflammation of the tendon sheath can cause pain at the front of the shin. It is terribly uncomfortable and feels like you have your shoes tied way to tight over the top eyelets. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN2qjIhR31rc96BYfE-runzyNbxMlCOU_o5M-pGB2dIYrphdOGm_hWt7JaUnTSNxEonpBsj_WFRhHd5Gk7BN-c3ihw-6bvpGbMyz5HY-p3HrEbSL92oJivry-TGGrs8w2o1SAB_98adQ/s1600/brett_headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN2qjIhR31rc96BYfE-runzyNbxMlCOU_o5M-pGB2dIYrphdOGm_hWt7JaUnTSNxEonpBsj_WFRhHd5Gk7BN-c3ihw-6bvpGbMyz5HY-p3HrEbSL92oJivry-TGGrs8w2o1SAB_98adQ/s1600/brett_headshot.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dr. Coapland</i></td></tr>
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Knowing that I have to train harder than ever to compete in the Tahoe 200 I am kind of freaking out. But I have some powerful weapons in my corner. Brett Coapland from <a href="http://performancehealthnh.com/" target="_blank">Performance Health</a> and Peter Larson from <a href="http://www.runblogger.com/" target="_blank">Runblogger</a> (who also has an office and does gait analysis at Performance Health).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Professor Larson</i></td></tr>
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I've seen Brett twice so far and I plan on seeing him until this gets fixed. He is the one who fixed it the last time, and I have full confidence in his ability to help me again. He uses a combination of ART (Active Release Therapy) and a form of acupuncture called dry needling.<br />
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Peter helped me the last time by suggesting that I change my stride. This lead me to discover running in more minimal shoes and leaning how to be more of a mid-foot striker. I wrote about this transformation almost three years ago <a href="http://bikernate.blogspot.com/2011/06/taking-it-all-in-stride.html" target="_blank">here on my blog</a>. This time, Pete took some slow motion video to see if it once again might be a striding problem. We are going to take some more video this week in different shoes for more analysis. The good news is that the video showed that my stride is pretty efficient and at this point not seeming to be the problem.<br />
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I feel compelled to give them both a shout out here on my blog. I am a non-professional recreational runner. These two guys make me feel like an Olympic athlete that needs to get fixed for the big race. I have the utmost confidence that with these guys in my corner that we can nip this in the bud. If you have a sports injury and you live anywhere close to Concord NH you should give them a call. I can't say enough good about them. I'm very lucky to call them friends.<br />
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<a href="http://performancehealthnh.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://performancehealthnh.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSmRqqpq_4m1oFMc7u9ZfLyNkrNeh3CRTfimUzzlIM-pCJ0l0hW5ykZ4ljbfu_ligvf_YbZAZcCAlIoJokkUlyBkAcYLeLWiI10dehVDduRkGrRBlULA2wjlfSFacwmn5JBFmMCvvbDE/s1600/ph_main_logo4.png" height="77" title="" width="320" /><span id="goog_886985778"></span></a><span id="goog_886985779"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-90169198342055295422014-01-17T18:00:00.000-05:002014-01-17T19:32:55.280-05:00Hoka Rapa Nui 2 (Trail and Tarmac) Shoe Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't know if I've ever anticipated getting a shoe longer than the Hoka Rapa Nui. I first saw them on Karl Meltzers feet, then saw a post about them on Ian Corless' blog in August of 2012. I was extremely intrigued. I have had every single model that Hoka makes, eventually deciding that my favorite was the Bondi Speed. I have run thousands of miles in Hokas, even naming the Bondi Speed my <a href="http://www.bikernate.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-5-trail-running-shoes-of-2012.html" target="_blank">top trail shoe of 2012</a>. It was like a late Christmas present when I finally received a pair three weeks ago. (Note: these shoes were provided at no charge by Hoka as a media sample).<br />
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Obviously the brand has grown huge amounts in the last 3 years. Once an oddity, it seems that now they are the dominate player in the (super) long distance shoe market. In reality, they created an entire new market and the response from runners falling in love with the pillowy soft cushioning has spured the industry to create a new segment. It seems that the biggest trend for 2014 is the "Maximal" Cushioned shoe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVh9lgXhT_7m3C6ipmvKXkcepDeRJFHdxsl-U2mktTZ9snkrAPD_da1inOLCKZP3QCo0E5s0Zfg0zK-ZzRGZPQUAzo2PD-WElUbvInoowFOozDygYaST0vQ9WxboV_rkJ9g_j5kWfNJM/s1600/IMG_1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVh9lgXhT_7m3C6ipmvKXkcepDeRJFHdxsl-U2mktTZ9snkrAPD_da1inOLCKZP3QCo0E5s0Zfg0zK-ZzRGZPQUAzo2PD-WElUbvInoowFOozDygYaST0vQ9WxboV_rkJ9g_j5kWfNJM/s1600/IMG_1169.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZIDnWtRDm6bCbmPmJ0eFaQLxV6kWEco9FsabRbRaJ16pSDx74HfzxnXHYnUs9t0M8uNmvIMjcTrCh53yO_nnlfn45Og17aTwobKIXdTaaDm-d26qISPgH-3ZuyzNWi_6LKuNWL8Ooxo/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZIDnWtRDm6bCbmPmJ0eFaQLxV6kWEco9FsabRbRaJ16pSDx74HfzxnXHYnUs9t0M8uNmvIMjcTrCh53yO_nnlfn45Og17aTwobKIXdTaaDm-d26qISPgH-3ZuyzNWi_6LKuNWL8Ooxo/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a> While all that was/is going on, Hoka has actually produced a shoe with LESS cushioning! The Rapa Nui was designed as a faster, more minimal shoe for the racier crowd. "Relevant" is the word that comes to mind, as the words "minimal" and "Hoka" really don't belong anywhere near each other. Only in Hoka land can a 11.7oz (my actual weight of a size 10.5) shoe with 21/25mm of cushioning be considered minimal. But, in relevance to their other offerings it is.<br />
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The Rapa Nui addresses my biggest concern with the other Hoka models, which is to much "squish". While the others feel awesome at first, I actually find that they cause a certain type of fatigue that no other shoe does. Specifically, my hamstrings and periformus seem to get overwhelmed after very long runs in those shoes. Unfortunately, this problem has led to several DNF's in races where I have worn Hokas from the start. I have actually had races where I changed out of Hokas after 60-70 miles into a more traditional shoe and felt way better. Knowing this, I changed my shoe strategy for 100 milers this year. At the VT100, where I got 9th place with a PR of 18:53, I wore traditional shoes until mile 81. Then I switched to my beloved Bondi Speeds and felt invigorated enough to run the fastest last 19 mile split in the 4 times I've run that race. <br />
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So when I heard that the Rapa Nui had 1.5x the level of cushioning of a normal shoe rather than the usual 2.2x I was excited. Could this be the shoe that strikes the perfect balance of maximal cushioning without being overkill?<br />
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I have read other reports that this shoe is more flexible than other Hokas. Well, yes and no. It is way more flexible than their thickest offerings, the Stinson Evo and Mafate. Both of those rely on a rockered sole for a smooth ride. The sole on both of those are quite stiff. The flex on the Rapa Nui is similar to the Bondi. Still very stiff in the traditional world.<br />
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The EVA foam sole feels more like the Stinson Evo, but because of the lower volume it flexes more. It also has a much less pronounced rocker effect. Frankly I don't feel the rocker effect at all on this shoe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEW8axBdYYrbC2ln3EJAOb72jIVxVtc4V3pSImFayhtyhu1MOk8GsUk4T9d0Ow91iP0zk5x9UaAQFxJGuE-uDgCQ8QPThwL4rvQeaGQRGjE86KGhTqKV8Wqn6No_CzfW8IpUJhWnb7mI/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEW8axBdYYrbC2ln3EJAOb72jIVxVtc4V3pSImFayhtyhu1MOk8GsUk4T9d0Ow91iP0zk5x9UaAQFxJGuE-uDgCQ8QPThwL4rvQeaGQRGjE86KGhTqKV8Wqn6No_CzfW8IpUJhWnb7mI/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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One thing that really worried me before I received them was that the toe box looks extremely narrow in pictures. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they don't feel narrow. They actually have more room than my Stinson Evos. It's not only the internal width, but the height of the toe box as well. This combined with a nice snug fitting mid foot creates a very comfortable shoe. They fit true to size with a fair amount of room in front of your toes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9P3hJT4Mk9rE9ATyNxhcuRX2UmVX7oiPivH3HqfVkpchms8-h84XQSYFHhM99XWHjPANb4-meuYTLvBytWPa4pxi9jZ0k_2VLnRoU6Eb-gtVOsFgF4fF6qm4A5YyKOTwVhRAu2KYT6E/s1600/IMG_1161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9P3hJT4Mk9rE9ATyNxhcuRX2UmVX7oiPivH3HqfVkpchms8-h84XQSYFHhM99XWHjPANb4-meuYTLvBytWPa4pxi9jZ0k_2VLnRoU6Eb-gtVOsFgF4fF6qm4A5YyKOTwVhRAu2KYT6E/s1600/IMG_1161.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgIiPFmfZNIdW6950uNuzXxhcOSBwWfgv6pTdxWaADn-BYr0Ojc8lVjg-W0uryqv5CNBykEijLpVf3XZD4P6uGyGXX2ft6EvuIgz53Inw_mrFckk2LsX7MyzKWC-49LOOC7TAiSzikVw/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgIiPFmfZNIdW6950uNuzXxhcOSBwWfgv6pTdxWaADn-BYr0Ojc8lVjg-W0uryqv5CNBykEijLpVf3XZD4P6uGyGXX2ft6EvuIgz53Inw_mrFckk2LsX7MyzKWC-49LOOC7TAiSzikVw/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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So, was the wait worth it? Yes, it was. I absolutely love these shoes. They have a feel that seems to provide a nearly perfect level of cushioning, without feeling like they are robbing energy. The climb better than my other Hokas, they have the best level of traction due to the chevron shaped lugs, and they have the best fit of any Hokas I've used.<br />
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I find myself running longer than I planed to when I wear them. I just want to keep running because my feet are so happy! I do need to report that the longest I have worn them for at this point is only 15 miles, so I still haven't tested them on any really long runs. But based on how they have performed so far I doubt that I will have any trouble wearing them longer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW8E97kGIYTZ-WbCOj5I0QEqnUxzpBKpPNbz2JbcOtyKMsYrB-mp5xfpnJPge8cj8LFPsRE7_7bt3anNeLK_hsFUnHU3GR55gcNb7ZgRwBRNSYF8isLfb_S9jX0jG_8kQ10KJx4MRmy0/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Road Version, the Rapa Nui 2 Tarmac</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqjdvc1p_sR2fGjxke9-TJMJoThyphenhyphenul03FmwsYkWB04UDR98ZLGgNLxLUNUO8aQFBu8W3TjkEfm3sCVw3ckvvwA4w4C3hiEzEXFIv4tQgAOMdl15K8piBs5wt6uStkjX7oLaRDsRZxq0Q/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqjdvc1p_sR2fGjxke9-TJMJoThyphenhyphenul03FmwsYkWB04UDR98ZLGgNLxLUNUO8aQFBu8W3TjkEfm3sCVw3ckvvwA4w4C3hiEzEXFIv4tQgAOMdl15K8piBs5wt6uStkjX7oLaRDsRZxq0Q/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The only difference is the tread pattern.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After 80 or so miles, with about 1/2 of that being on pavement, the rear most lugs are starting to wear. I don't by any means consider it excessive, but since I want these to last as long as possible I purchased a pair of the Rapa Nui 2 Tarmacs (previously called the Kailua) from Boulder running company. I have been using them for the treadmill and road runs. Except for the tread, they feel and fit exactly the same as the off road versions. Hence, there is no need for a separate review. For my first run in them I had planned on running 4-6 miles. I was having so much fun that I went 13. And that sums up how I feel about them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-45205384447007492632014-01-12T17:27:00.000-05:002014-01-12T17:27:08.116-05:00What? Running 100 miles isn't hard enough?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn4gwrETjSBP28St2fmVAmQoVpndxyV8WVTfQYrA_pVc8wZce790UM5IhOQHMLzbrHRx-D3ICPutRKC_4b5dzsMdR4PzGNuWWCDFy_hd7JlAQoIDOLnmgSsW_K-NPV3puruJcYHd8xNY/s1600/tahoe200logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn4gwrETjSBP28St2fmVAmQoVpndxyV8WVTfQYrA_pVc8wZce790UM5IhOQHMLzbrHRx-D3ICPutRKC_4b5dzsMdR4PzGNuWWCDFy_hd7JlAQoIDOLnmgSsW_K-NPV3puruJcYHd8xNY/s1600/tahoe200logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>2:53pm, Sunday January 12th: </b> In about an hour I am going to find out if I have been picked in the lottery to run the Tahoe 200, a 200 mile foot race around Lake Tahoe with almost 40,000 ft of elevation gain and loss. Ever since I first heard about this race I have been consumed with the idea of running it. According to their site, the race is the first of its kind in the US. There are other (very) long distance races of 200 miles or more, but none of them are one continuous trail, as opposed to a loop course.<br />
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For the first time in several years, I have that "what if?" and "how the hell can I possibly do this?" feeling again. I had this feeling when I decided to run my first marathon. And then again when I did my first 50k and 50 miler. But it really feels like the first time I decided to enter a 100 mile race. My first 50 miler was a huge endeavor, I just couldn't imagine how I was going to be able to cover twice that distance. But the fear of the unknown is a strong motivator. And after running a bunch of 100 milers my motivation to continue with this sport has been waning. I'm sort of at a cross roads as far as ultra running is concerned. I know I can run 100 miles. I know that I can place pretty good at them. I know that I love the training. But, the only thing I can really set my sights upon is getting faster and trying new courses.<br />
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When I first got into Ultra running I didn't care what place I came in. I had two goals. Finish, and enjoy myself. On some level I have come to dread racing. I would love to think that I could just run 70-100 miles a week because I enjoy being outside. I would love to stop with all the specificity that the training involves and just run. And more than anything, I want to learn to be patient and enjoy being outside again.<br />
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The thought of trying to run 200 miles has rekindled the fire. Every running step I have taken since hearing about this race has consumed me with the thought of getting ready. But, really, how the hell do you prepare to do this? And THAT'S the fun of it!<br />
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I will finish writing this post in an hour, after I find out if I got in or not. There are only 75 spots available and almost 200 people in the lottery. I've got pretty good odds and a good feeling that I'm going to get in. I have my fingers crossed!<br />
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<b>4:55pm:</b> <b>WHOO HOOO, I'm in!</b> Man, that was tense. They announced the winners of the lottery 6 or 7 names at a time on twitter. My name was pulled 67th and I had almost given up. So now, the mystery of how to prepare for this thing begins. For more info about the race, check out their website, <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200</a>. Now I just need to figure out what shoe(s) I'm going to use!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NU7fTknx0QFq7GZuYeulN-kvkrp5vjc-znY95bpTzxw0wbfwru3FDuyhoCsX9iXtsq9qJYw0CNBJQpQtJKOftB2BEMYbLypHFI-PnZSql0sB_wjnpid1HedezQnSmRRzZReuYDKAceo/s1600/tahoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NU7fTknx0QFq7GZuYeulN-kvkrp5vjc-znY95bpTzxw0wbfwru3FDuyhoCsX9iXtsq9qJYw0CNBJQpQtJKOftB2BEMYbLypHFI-PnZSql0sB_wjnpid1HedezQnSmRRzZReuYDKAceo/s1600/tahoe.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo credit: Tahoe 200 website</i></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-28293310648403528592014-01-04T10:30:00.000-05:002014-01-04T15:16:16.528-05:00Top 5 Trail Running Shoes of 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5xju6CHa1pFCNd8HAEiHiTxBFWXgaEJDDsKcK-Q4iRlcBsoyr8TB6TK-6g79JouDcMbqBmt7YQ3LNQ6aG6bQSMmLSI0PzxjdUqQdlY8Qdoru_DDg4g4AwD6VpX1KIXIsvBt_uVg9SmY/s1600/Question_mark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5xju6CHa1pFCNd8HAEiHiTxBFWXgaEJDDsKcK-Q4iRlcBsoyr8TB6TK-6g79JouDcMbqBmt7YQ3LNQ6aG6bQSMmLSI0PzxjdUqQdlY8Qdoru_DDg4g4AwD6VpX1KIXIsvBt_uVg9SmY/s320/Question_mark.png" width="253" /></a></div>
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As I did last year, I'd like to present my top picks for Trail Running Shoes of 2013. I had a fairly typical mileage year and ended up getting in 3000 miles. Before I reveal my top 5, here is a list of all the shoes, to the best of my memory, I ran in this year.<br />
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Altra Lone Peak <br />
Altra Lone Peak 1.5<br />
Altra Torin<br />
Brooks Pure Grit 2<br />
Hoka Bondi B2<br />
Hoka Bondi B Speed<br />
Hoka Rapa Nui<br />
La Sportiva Helio<br />
Merrell All Out Rush<br />
Merrell All Out Fuse<br />
Merrell Bare Access II<br />
Merrell Ascend Glove<br />
Montrail Fluid Flex <br />
New Balance MT1010<br />
New Balance MT1010v2<br />
New Balance MT110<br />
New Balance MT110 Winter<br />
Newton Boco AT<br />
Nike Terra Kiger<br />
Patagonia EverLong<br />
Patagonia Evermore<br />
Salomon SLab Sense<br />
Skechers Go Bionic<br />
Skechers Go Bionic Trail Prototype<br />
Skechers Go Run Ride<br />
Skechers Go Ultra Prototype<br />
Skechers Go Ultra<br />
Skechers Go Run 2<br />
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I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to try quite a few new
shoes this year! The top five represent the ones that I liked the
best. My list is based on nothing other than personal preference and
is completely biased towards what I liked running in. Since I really don't have a clear favorite, this list is in alphabetical order, not in order of my preference. Here we go!<br />
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<b>Altra Lone Peak 1.5 (175 miles)</b><br />
Altra called this version a minor update from the original. I found the subtle changes to be a huge improvement. An excellent fit, wide toe box, great traction and rock protection make this shoe my pick when going to the mountains or doing tough terrain. You can read my <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/07/dirty-runner-altra-lone-peak-15-review.html" target="_blank">Review HERE</a> on Runblogger. <br />
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<b>La Sportiva Helio (235 miles)</b><br />
This was my first pair of La Sportivas. I found them to drain well, have excellent traction and provide adequate protection from the elements. You can read my <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/06/dirty-runner-la-sportiva-helio-review.html" target="_blank">review HERE</a> on Runblogger.<br />
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<b>Nike Terra Kiger (238 miles)</b><br />
My first pair of minimal shoes was the Nike Free. I loved the way the upper felt like part of my foot and I ran a ton of miles in them. I always wished that there was a trail version. It took Nike a long time to deliver just that, but it was worth the wait. This shoe is one of my all time favorites and it is good for a very wide range of terrains. I would even consider running a road race in them because they ride so smoothly on pavement. The shoe drains well, is super flexible, has decent traction and a perfect level of cushioning. And from what I've been reading you can pick them up super cheap now! I went up 1/2 size for a perfect fit. I never did get around to reviewing them, as I was to busy enjoying them. <br />
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<b>Pearl Izumi EM N1 Trail (237 miles)</b><br />
My first pair of Pearl Izumi's, and after seeing Timothy Oleson kill it at Western States twice I was really looking forward to trying them. They didn't disappoint. I found them to be another shoe that was good in many different environments. They have a light, fast and smooth feel. You can read my <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/08/dirty-runner-pearl-izumi-em-n1-trail.html" target="_blank">review HERE</a> on Runblogger.<br />
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<b>Skechers Go Ultra (148 miles)</b><br />
After working with Skechers describing what would be my dream Ultra Marathon shoe, they came up with the Go Ultra. It satisfies almost all my requests and is an incredible first effort. Think of a Nike Free/Hoka mashup and you'll get an idea what they are all about. And at only $80 they are one of the best trail running bargains in the market. Read my full <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/12/skechers-go-ultra-review.html" target="_blank">review HERE</a> on Runblogger.<br />
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There are two shoes that I also need to mention. Since this is a list of my 5 favorite trail shoes, the <b>Altra Torin</b> doesn't qualify. But....I used that shoe more than any other shoe this year, putting 809 miles on two pairs. I used it for the majority of the Vermont 100, which I set a PR. It has a perfect fit, perfect level of cushioning and is the shoe that I grab when I am going to be running any length of time on hard surfaces. You can read my <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/01/dirty-runner-altra-torin-shoe-review.html" target="_blank">review HERE</a> on Runblogger. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dCwxMIHs58y3FASwdxsxVDYctIKnCaT2eFkcffQyTFj7Luwc5nt-2CdVXeBWBmLGYvqgtv-PrRfEDlFvSZ0oN_VA5afgKi5tVZ-Sp9xqE5twzzAzfy46LqcRe_WQUQ2x-Lyy777zupo/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dCwxMIHs58y3FASwdxsxVDYctIKnCaT2eFkcffQyTFj7Luwc5nt-2CdVXeBWBmLGYvqgtv-PrRfEDlFvSZ0oN_VA5afgKi5tVZ-Sp9xqE5twzzAzfy46LqcRe_WQUQ2x-Lyy777zupo/s200/IMG_1160.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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The other is the <b>Hoka Rapa Nui.</b> I received them 8 days ago and have used them for almost every run since. I have been looking forward to trying them since I saw Karl Meltzer using them a year ago. I will be doing a full review soon (I already have 50 miles on them) but I can't imagine them not being included in next years top 5. I really like them!<br />
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So, what were your favorite trail shoes of this past year? How about the shoe that you are looking forward to the most for 2014? Leave a comment and let me know! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqkJTreIH-3KrMETscczxKDDogOhPU6hMfYrEifxp2f7uuyDtB8yKEVZVJdtnYPtBZ4lheqmCwp0FsUoNGB2CvcG_RgLHANyeV_2ydeLErxhvt-F3GckvzY-UhgpmNhqluDMlTS5eFpc/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqkJTreIH-3KrMETscczxKDDogOhPU6hMfYrEifxp2f7uuyDtB8yKEVZVJdtnYPtBZ4lheqmCwp0FsUoNGB2CvcG_RgLHANyeV_2ydeLErxhvt-F3GckvzY-UhgpmNhqluDMlTS5eFpc/s400/IMG_1179.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Top 5 Trail Shoes for 2013</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-72767181202125038412013-11-27T18:09:00.000-05:002013-11-27T18:09:28.951-05:00Giving Thanks.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN431j6cHpF8VcLAcYhbZXjCCcFF1KyyPuu-1_5_ip_-Z1S6zSk5Lt71DGj_zPtIn7YHX0cEkx8iN1jw6XMCNfmuJ-Kz6YgABU_ZRoCiK3C4y1oa-O3FqkFxynP_TiUtk3ya27PgPKbdo/s1600/happyfamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN431j6cHpF8VcLAcYhbZXjCCcFF1KyyPuu-1_5_ip_-Z1S6zSk5Lt71DGj_zPtIn7YHX0cEkx8iN1jw6XMCNfmuJ-Kz6YgABU_ZRoCiK3C4y1oa-O3FqkFxynP_TiUtk3ya27PgPKbdo/s400/happyfamily.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I'm most grateful for, my family!</td></tr>
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I love Thanksgiving. It's so nice to have the day off from work, spend time with my family and relax. It also seems to initiate a kinder gentler way of treating each other. For this one day in the United States people seem to have a little more patience and caring. Everybody just seems a little bit nicer because they have taken the time to reflect on the good in their life.<br />
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Just think what our lives would be like if we could carry that mentality and attitude every day of the year, not just on this special day. <br />
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I read a lot of books by folks who look at life a little bit differently than the masses. From Entrepreneurs to deep thinkers/philosophers. I always seem to take away at least one positive piece of advice from each one of them. I also try to surround myself with people who are not only successful, but more importantly positive and happy.<br />
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One habit I've picked up is the practice of being grateful. Every day, and I mean every single day, before I get out of bed I spend a few moments reflecting on the things I'm grateful for. There are several reasons I do this. One is because I believe in the Law of Attraction. Simply stated, the LOA says that what you think (positive OR negative) the Universe returns back. It's exciting to think that if I spend time really thinking about all the good things in my life, the universe will return to me even more. From how much my life has changed since discovering this, I have to say I'm a big believer that this is real.<br />
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The other reason is that it sets the tone for the day to come. When I wake up I have the choice to focus on the things I'm stressed out or worried about, or I can say a prayer of thanks for the positive things in my life. I really believe that light obliterates dark, and in the same way, positivity obliterated negativity. You just can't feel bad when you focus on the good in your life.<br />
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I hope this post doesn't come across as preachy. What I do hope is that anybody reading this makes a conscience decision each and every day to be grateful for the good they have in their life. Not just on this one day that we set aside to do just that. Happy Thanksgiving, I'm grateful that all of you are in my life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-13591221371278141682013-10-22T13:32:00.000-04:002013-10-22T13:32:02.122-04:00The Next Chapter for National PowersportsIt was only 10 months after I started National Powersports (then known as "The Collectable Trader") that my vision for the company became crystallized. I knew that I was onto something that was going to be big, and I had an image in my mind of a huge warehouse filled with hundreds and hundreds of motorcycles. To this day that image has stayed with me. I even wrote about it in an earlier post called "<a href="http://www.bikernate.blogspot.com/2013/03/using-vision-to-change-your-life.html" target="_blank">Using Vision to Change Your Life</a>"<br />
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Well, very shortly we are about to get a lot closer to that vision. On October 29, 2013 National Powersports will be moving to our new location at 319 Commerce Way, Pembroke NH. This 52,000 square foot facility is beautiful! We will finally be able to display our complete inventory, which is currently at 650 motorcycles. I'm so excited and grateful for all of our customers and our incredible team of employees who have shared my vision and worked so hard to make it happen.<br />
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Here are some pictures of the construction going on in the building as we get it ready for our opening day, October 29th.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglje2clR1v-KcoSxOYgNCYtK-a3yTj5yAhP9D0VKM40a4XhyLoSpQrq-UVGBpxxnejXPYHz5A5tW61bIbJ0dlTQChfiuPv-pzZreok8K5bCrUl_q3bYL7tJ3R6QQvFmFjJKrnf0s-9UnQ/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglje2clR1v-KcoSxOYgNCYtK-a3yTj5yAhP9D0VKM40a4XhyLoSpQrq-UVGBpxxnejXPYHz5A5tW61bIbJ0dlTQChfiuPv-pzZreok8K5bCrUl_q3bYL7tJ3R6QQvFmFjJKrnf0s-9UnQ/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Outside of building. 52,000 square feet with over 100 parking spaces.</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPcG-mV_xgkkFeTA63-4FFxvO2eUuw0unAjElgAD8vfxbHlOb0eechrNXvW5o_YQyHe9Pi2juyd6VthZPpE-IBLBQJpT3GYsBQeZLRU5cwfbhz0LEP3CiuPp-TCFzbn1iJ2Oai5N353U/s1600/IMG_1068.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPcG-mV_xgkkFeTA63-4FFxvO2eUuw0unAjElgAD8vfxbHlOb0eechrNXvW5o_YQyHe9Pi2juyd6VthZPpE-IBLBQJpT3GYsBQeZLRU5cwfbhz0LEP3CiuPp-TCFzbn1iJ2Oai5N353U/s320/IMG_1068.jpeg" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sales Entrance sign going up.</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9EPDOy95a6AWYGr_S6vqcO4XJ6pUVSqZulprE7f4JG3gqvNqnH6rrTExchXs1NQKic59fYQ7DkGsNuRqirjObDPOiCGUUsMlNXNbbZp9d1ddYlERmrIgJRctRrS2Y6YurAyImyXKTio/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9EPDOy95a6AWYGr_S6vqcO4XJ6pUVSqZulprE7f4JG3gqvNqnH6rrTExchXs1NQKic59fYQ7DkGsNuRqirjObDPOiCGUUsMlNXNbbZp9d1ddYlERmrIgJRctRrS2Y6YurAyImyXKTio/s320/IMG_1063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Big Ass Fan" We put two of these cool fans up.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0DPoy8zfFLWihm_4dFz_fhPCGMRNh7HCjsJIpcM_2cf2VYnBh0zubM4pCPjZHV5jVVL_vZyT9uUVgkQNkuYkPc65_h6yW4N-p_YxHCgbTmyEE5BOMBYyYlrz4ctQLVXNrohBv6xBIVI/s1600/IMG_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0DPoy8zfFLWihm_4dFz_fhPCGMRNh7HCjsJIpcM_2cf2VYnBh0zubM4pCPjZHV5jVVL_vZyT9uUVgkQNkuYkPc65_h6yW4N-p_YxHCgbTmyEE5BOMBYyYlrz4ctQLVXNrohBv6xBIVI/s320/IMG_1060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We are finally going to have a customer lounge!</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jdbbRUInFto_5rIZJIdbpBWUtWBKN3kXQweTSi46J8gXftWr5qKWQJGzBSynR7FTKhCx0w745fGUFEq5KIieiBNTawL9DbwxDDfKDS5VLZyokgrfq-pzzaSAjRgBbOTam9nSEhfmJX0/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jdbbRUInFto_5rIZJIdbpBWUtWBKN3kXQweTSi46J8gXftWr5qKWQJGzBSynR7FTKhCx0w745fGUFEq5KIieiBNTawL9DbwxDDfKDS5VLZyokgrfq-pzzaSAjRgBbOTam9nSEhfmJX0/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Main showroom</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41pMov_qiHljCyC8ihhTuLB9wxPFSo61xT4GdxDqdJbFapL6cYiKk_vMA6XwvQEWAQok6jL0u3HjqBsu2X2zroOy7gHeNfwZ2ADUcWLSEIHU2bNpuddBJRYqnDEi6uSanUK_Mhyphenhyphen9ezT4/s1600/IMG_9526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41pMov_qiHljCyC8ihhTuLB9wxPFSo61xT4GdxDqdJbFapL6cYiKk_vMA6XwvQEWAQok6jL0u3HjqBsu2X2zroOy7gHeNfwZ2ADUcWLSEIHU2bNpuddBJRYqnDEi6uSanUK_Mhyphenhyphen9ezT4/s320/IMG_9526.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We had to build this ramp. Here we are installing the railing.</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxCZX9qUi90Jn-o5Y4ZGgGdz7GE-PDtO8LMuG0SzKlgxFrqcgK02VikJFvfh4v7zymoXw5brCT5CTXzqsUMzesHECc2U-EER0xseLNGtyQW4fATe1e8oJKaQjOORSvrRqPfozGPDd_8o/s1600/IMG_1040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxCZX9qUi90Jn-o5Y4ZGgGdz7GE-PDtO8LMuG0SzKlgxFrqcgK02VikJFvfh4v7zymoXw5brCT5CTXzqsUMzesHECc2U-EER0xseLNGtyQW4fATe1e8oJKaQjOORSvrRqPfozGPDd_8o/s320/IMG_1040.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We replaced all the old light fixtures with these super energy efficient LED ones. State of the art lighting!</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqnBycB1YMi64GaxMAjin_I6S46zZpnog20KF9-__GS9NCaZP65E3TokShekahGsT6OOXjfrE_o4z-d8_ySQs4il1ETKKm8U_BVYGfWt0Av9_o1SEH888MoT1cPpUBybAd03m4pzCV0s/s1600/IMG_1068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqnBycB1YMi64GaxMAjin_I6S46zZpnog20KF9-__GS9NCaZP65E3TokShekahGsT6OOXjfrE_o4z-d8_ySQs4il1ETKKm8U_BVYGfWt0Av9_o1SEH888MoT1cPpUBybAd03m4pzCV0s/s320/IMG_1068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Creating the Parts and Service window.</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vf7PchsK2r2Bd9HXR9V5OuVNha3W2Xxbpd-tqy6tjYf6bPxEPjURZyApbL-_JD3s__HFqAD7sw1WYUk5gZoAfCklsvjrNUvjbTpgVBoXnmspld6AZOAkGsPUT2qa1Cax2GJhPwQws4U/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vf7PchsK2r2Bd9HXR9V5OuVNha3W2Xxbpd-tqy6tjYf6bPxEPjURZyApbL-_JD3s__HFqAD7sw1WYUk5gZoAfCklsvjrNUvjbTpgVBoXnmspld6AZOAkGsPUT2qa1Cax2GJhPwQws4U/s320/IMG_1069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the shop area. 20,000 square feet of room to work on bikes.</i></td></tr>
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I can't wait to be open for business in this building! I'll update my blog with more pictures as we get closer to our opening day of Tuesday, October 29th! For those of you wondering where the new building is, here is a map. It's only .5 mile from our current shop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcz3NKHhzzTxLz7u_Jq7oEts3n48pcmJU1DG_3F4Mo5LxhVW_78XtswyovnQssBrp4GrnhqoHWAoTddTelVgUUEOkqxY6pMmzOQWyOGL-c44lfoAyqC8xWkCF4caobI8N5BjCdkAr5UE/s1600/Moving+Map+Pre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcz3NKHhzzTxLz7u_Jq7oEts3n48pcmJU1DG_3F4Mo5LxhVW_78XtswyovnQssBrp4GrnhqoHWAoTddTelVgUUEOkqxY6pMmzOQWyOGL-c44lfoAyqC8xWkCF4caobI8N5BjCdkAr5UE/s320/Moving+Map+Pre.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-73660602476970845422013-10-21T14:11:00.000-04:002013-11-02T09:00:09.806-04:00Patagonia EVERlong review and giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy7OSEnO4MTMPlnqqpUtCcAzfRcq3wZaUpMtzsPDVsO9bjiyH09fsRoNJAuciKvC7D3bvA3Wlly6S-MB3pKmbcroAu1k54lkoFFjPMebQvNxMn9A53XkAC-z8_g7h_TGa3Ea0IOKJUjQ/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy7OSEnO4MTMPlnqqpUtCcAzfRcq3wZaUpMtzsPDVsO9bjiyH09fsRoNJAuciKvC7D3bvA3Wlly6S-MB3pKmbcroAu1k54lkoFFjPMebQvNxMn9A53XkAC-z8_g7h_TGa3Ea0IOKJUjQ/s320/IMG_1035.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are a regular reader of my blog, this is going to sound like I'm beating a dead horse. There is a specific type of shoe that I am always searching for. I love the feel of barefoot, or minimal shoes. But I need enough cushioning and protection to run Ultras. Two years ago that shoe didn't exist and I was forced to do a lot of cobbling to try to get what I wanted. It seems as though I'm not the only one looking for that combination in a shoe, especially now that the popularity of Ultras is rapidly increasing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfvLzSflskGPGfjD5y_qD90CmvA18mB4vmGLqe-TXxYup2bF_mmSxZTm2LzUB5AEPUvxRZBWS-YWVHlGX4p7Yurpk8h0xrHsXJNvaa1fvmlMZAgdpmrL6zy6sI5ByUWvrWeKT8TQF9pA/s1600/IMG_1020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfvLzSflskGPGfjD5y_qD90CmvA18mB4vmGLqe-TXxYup2bF_mmSxZTm2LzUB5AEPUvxRZBWS-YWVHlGX4p7Yurpk8h0xrHsXJNvaa1fvmlMZAgdpmrL6zy6sI5ByUWvrWeKT8TQF9pA/s320/IMG_1020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Obviously it is not easy to make a shoe that feels like your running barefoot, but still protects your feet and protects against rocks, roots, etc for hours on end. The newest offering from Patagonia aims to do exactly that (<i>disclaimer: these shoes were provided free of charge for review purposes by Patagonia</i>). Designed with help from Ultrarunner Jeff Browning (<a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Jeff&lname=Browning" target="_blank">impressive list of race results here)</a> I think they have done a great job of meeting both expectations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The shoe has <i>"A
flexible 4mm drop midsole and outsole allow for a more natural mid to
forefoot strike while the 24.5mm/20.5mm (men) and 23mm/19mm (women)
stack height provides added cushioning for long-distance comfort. A
lightly padded, semi heel counter “pod” secures the heel"</i> as described by Patagonia. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiazToaRa-F7UJEav75RaRyJwei2Yy2SM7rDGnfeD2aUeG-o5yUMV6HuJfcrARllS8t-82xuQqAlG-lHRmU7VpqnBUaAs8CZok7ZmMmlvsiqBynchm3G0LH6Vyl7vwcusD2wA-TCs4x8Y/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiazToaRa-F7UJEav75RaRyJwei2Yy2SM7rDGnfeD2aUeG-o5yUMV6HuJfcrARllS8t-82xuQqAlG-lHRmU7VpqnBUaAs8CZok7ZmMmlvsiqBynchm3G0LH6Vyl7vwcusD2wA-TCs4x8Y/s320/IMG_1030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It
actually has some very interesting features, including the most minimal
heel of any trail shoe I've ever encountered. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntcyQd0T_0OFrP8d3GaTtzfjRfSEUwnt4424r6-nko2O1ta9lIpOhfM7PwcY2EUQcj0Qj104irziEADdvLM60Bt3hzspL7Sk9X10UZZ3xddrnHMA72lO5aqYwyT15-zd4My2xx5bO18Y/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntcyQd0T_0OFrP8d3GaTtzfjRfSEUwnt4424r6-nko2O1ta9lIpOhfM7PwcY2EUQcj0Qj104irziEADdvLM60Bt3hzspL7Sk9X10UZZ3xddrnHMA72lO5aqYwyT15-zd4My2xx5bO18Y/s320/IMG_1034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Putting it on for the
first time it felt like putting on a slipper. Literally. It feels like
there is nothing on your heel. I was initially concerned that this
would lead to a sloppy fit and excessive foot movement. But that is not
the case. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGc2fYSUaFCn3iAnnepOCKa4FIdkWR7uhw1iFqUVCtC03ZYV8q1FBDKYN37Gfq6VDG6AxbjL1KgyZd4S_xdf5WHO4dgMPKYBdMFHimFhkqbYP_bkai_GR07y_8SJWc7FO9tV1PHsxWDM/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGc2fYSUaFCn3iAnnepOCKa4FIdkWR7uhw1iFqUVCtC03ZYV8q1FBDKYN37Gfq6VDG6AxbjL1KgyZd4S_xdf5WHO4dgMPKYBdMFHimFhkqbYP_bkai_GR07y_8SJWc7FO9tV1PHsxWDM/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They feel very light on your feet and in fact only weigh 8.5 Ounces in my size 10.5.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The internal heel "pods" are almost identical in design to
the heel on the Montrail Fluid Flex, and they work just as well. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyazEnq8uWJNiO8h5UKmqLD4-O1-uBXzCIOYmvdX7qouL7aqpmkkkXOFiPbZcfpRM1sXqcIhUUPSOSSJwodK8nmAFsvefhpogvnSKvQbwwn7Sko2GoQx_sUCLWnGIWQ9WnZ5gR442SLo/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyazEnq8uWJNiO8h5UKmqLD4-O1-uBXzCIOYmvdX7qouL7aqpmkkkXOFiPbZcfpRM1sXqcIhUUPSOSSJwodK8nmAFsvefhpogvnSKvQbwwn7Sko2GoQx_sUCLWnGIWQ9WnZ5gR442SLo/s320/IMG_1026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have
not experienced any heel lift while running and the softness of the
heel is very comfortable.The
forefoot fits nice and snug with very little lateral slop. Even
running downhill my foot does not slip forward and hit the front of the
shoe. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU4HFxjje0Keb_OxGM9ahU4Gm4liLA_FMNjWWRnmuafQ3qXcv4FALXi3bskagqDP87ge9B4z3AoTJ4fvQ4533MKwaN1Mg65mEBqULHYM-QeGuZZzYbevewRlKw7jfT50_hW0bPj6g9yo/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU4HFxjje0Keb_OxGM9ahU4Gm4liLA_FMNjWWRnmuafQ3qXcv4FALXi3bskagqDP87ge9B4z3AoTJ4fvQ4533MKwaN1Mg65mEBqULHYM-QeGuZZzYbevewRlKw7jfT50_hW0bPj6g9yo/s320/IMG_1028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Speaking of the front of the shoe, the toebox is very roomy and
the slight stretchiness of the upper material make it extremely
comfortable. My one complaint about the shoe is the sort of odd shaped
toebox. Specifically, the very front of it is pointy, leaving a gap
over my middle toes. It's not a big deal, but it feels like a "dead"
area that I occasionally catch on rocks. The shoe fits absolutely true
to size and its the only area of the shoe that fits a bit oddly, so it's
not an issue of it being to big for me. I would have been tickled
pink if the toebox was shaped like the last Patagonia shoe I tried, the
Evermore (<a href="http://www.runblogger.com/2013/03/dirty-runner-patagonia-evermore-shoe.html" target="_blank">my review on runblogger here</a>), which has one of the nicest fit of any of the shoes I own.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What
I really like about this shoe is the sole. There is a perfect amount
of softness and "squish", but yet its very flexible. This encourages a
nice forefoot stride, but still is comfy when heel striking. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH1IU8Fgw1ExtebXU1ulYR-g9eHEmKfVMERDE7ze2psspmyCEjX3PZWaWJ-puYpBjYZbocPn6p5EKmQ8R9G1Mg9ufzzaRDOnBxSzSdKwaHa7jULx0IQFIXsGN2xialUrsiaAlcDns_ys/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH1IU8Fgw1ExtebXU1ulYR-g9eHEmKfVMERDE7ze2psspmyCEjX3PZWaWJ-puYpBjYZbocPn6p5EKmQ8R9G1Mg9ufzzaRDOnBxSzSdKwaHa7jULx0IQFIXsGN2xialUrsiaAlcDns_ys/s320/IMG_1021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The tread,
while on the minimal side for a trail shoe, provided adequate
traction. I was actually surprised at how much traction they have, but
that might be because I had very low expectations since it looks more like a road shoe pattern. I'm sure in very burly conditions it would become
evident that there are no toothy lugs. I just haven't tested them in
those kind of conditions yet. As a result of this minimal tread, they
are extremely smooth on pavement, making them an excellent transitional
shoe good for a full day of running on roads and trails.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For another point of view, check out this review by guest blogger Laurie Greenberg on <a href="http://www.runblogger.com/2013/10/patagonia-everlong-trail-shoe-review.html" target="_blank">Runblogger.com</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Patagonia has generously allowed me to give away a free pair of EVERlongs to one lucky reader. Just watch the video below and then answer this question in the entry form below. "What slogan is featured on the bottom of the EVERlong sole?" I will randomly select a winner on November 1. Patagonia will directly ship the winners shoes by November 15. This offer is good only to residents of the US and Canada. </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Good luck!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Update 11/02/2013 - Congratulations to Jordon Psaltakis!! Your the lucky winner of a pair of Everlongs! Your shoes will ship directly from Patagonia sometime after Nov. 15! </span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-9530284224051592552013-10-16T19:01:00.003-04:002013-10-16T19:13:31.040-04:002013 Vermont 50(k) Race Report<br />
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I can't believe that I haven't written anything here since July! Ever since the Vermont 100 I have been in a pretty serious running funk. Truth be told I've actually been in an overall funk. There are a lot of things going on in my life, like buying a new building for my shop and all the headaches and worry that go with getting it ready to relocate. My training has suffered, as I just haven't been motivated to run for a long time. It seems like every time I planned on running long, I just didn't have the mental patience to stay out there for very long.<br />
<br />
As a result, I ran only one 20 mile long run in the time between VT100 and VT50! Usually in heaving training I do at least 2 20+ milers a week, sometimes 3. Most of my weeks were in the 45 mile range, down from my average of about 70. I attempted to run the Hampshire 100k on August 18th, but dropped after only 10 miles. I just didn't want to be out there that long. I also entered the Jay Peak 50k on Sept 1, but the option to drop down to the 25k after one loop did me in and I succumbed to the fact that I could still get a finishers place by doing so. Although I came in 7th place, it didn't feel like a success since I once again didn't seem to be able to go long.<br />
<br />
These runs and races were supposed to be training for my fall goal of breaking 8 hours at the Vermont 50. But the week before the race I decided that it might be smart to drop down to the 50k distance and try to have a good race rather than suffer an inevitable DNF.<br />
<br />
I felt pretty good about the decision. Since the 50k runners start at 8am there was also the bonus of it being warmer at the start than it normally is for the 50 miler, which starts at 6:45. Even though it was a little chilly, the forcast called for mid 70's and perfect weather. Although I was still a bit chilly in my singlet I knew I would quickly warm up. I was amazed at how many runners were wearing warm weather gear and thought about how much they were going to regret wearing so much in just a short while.<br />
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At the start I ran into George Lapierre, whom I hadn't seen in quite a while. It was really nice catching up with him and we both started from the front. I didn't realize that it was his first 50k, and thought that he would be strong competition for me. He is an incredible biker and he has done well in the few shorter running races he has done.<br />
<br />
As we took off two runners immediately took off like they were doing a 5k. One of them had two water bottles in the back pockets of his shorts and I was a little perplexed as to what he was doing. Geo and I made a few comments to each other about his performance and settled into a nice easy pace. When we got to the first hill we were in the top 10 or so and he said, "this is were everybody passes me". I didn't expect that, and kept my very easy pace going up the hill. That was the last I saw of him until the finish line.<br />
<br />
I did not know any of the runners in front of me, but I started passing people on that first hill. My plan was to take it super easy for the first half and then see how badly my endurance had suffered and hang on my best for a solid finish. Since I haven't raced a 50k in years, my 50k PR was a pretty soft 4:50. I was hoping that if I felt good I might be able to break it if I had a good day. By mile 5 or 6 I knew I was going to have a good day. The hills seemed easier than I remembered and there was almost nothing that I needed to walk.<br />
<br />
The fall foliage was in full bloom and it was incredible, keeping my mind occupied as the miles ticked away. I decided to use a similar fueling strategy that had worked so well for me at the 100. I was going to rely on Hammer Sustained energy for my primary source, supplementing it with Hammer gels if I need extra energy. I had one drop bag at mile 12.9 which contained a few gels and a new bag of SE power to make a new bottle. <br />
<br />
At 2 hours into the race my hamstrings started to tighten up. I decided to take 2 advil. I am fully aware of the danger of using Nsaids at races, but I've been doing so since I started races and have never suffered any ill effects. The one rule I have about using them is that I have to make sure I'm well hydrated. If I am showing any signs of dehydration I will not use them as the danger drastically increases. Since I was on top of my hydration I decided to go for it.<br />
<br />
A half an hour later I felt really good as the advil had kicked in. I was enjoying the beautiful scenery and I was very grateful to be outside, running well and in a very good mood. Of course that influenced my pace positively. Somewhere in the 20 mile range a few people passed me. I chatted with one of them for a bit and he told me that it was his first 50k and that he was feeling good so far. He told me that his Marathon PR was 3:15 (the same as mine) but he had been training hard and was in 3 hour shape. He sure looked it as he pulled effortlessly away from me on a flat section of dirt road.<br />
<br />
Sometimes getting passed in a race like this gets inside of my head. But today it didn't bother me. I kept repeating to "run my own race" in my head and not worry about anybody else. I've done to many of these things to know that the majority of people blow up in the late stages. Just focusing on how I was feeling, which was great, helped me enjoy being out there. At this time I was in the top ten, but not sure exactly what place. I ran alone for quite a while and enjoyed the solitude that came with being in the woods on a perfect fall day. Run Happy crossed my mind many times.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcW85YJDhoLWzYun9ddUZ4UojoxkK05W0GcA41NTAwHtegQxRges_7Llc3vxYRlrJ-0pBVAg3wCGQt13lL1Ww3yUHTdDrc199Np1_dmoByMu5umIIH0DwmaOHaa9Flb4TKhgHygGbXIlQ/s1600/2013vt50kfinishcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcW85YJDhoLWzYun9ddUZ4UojoxkK05W0GcA41NTAwHtegQxRges_7Llc3vxYRlrJ-0pBVAg3wCGQt13lL1Ww3yUHTdDrc199Np1_dmoByMu5umIIH0DwmaOHaa9Flb4TKhgHygGbXIlQ/s400/2013vt50kfinishcropped.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running Happy! (Photo, <a href="http://www.farnorthendurance.com/race-recap-the-2013-vermont-50/" target="_blank">Far North Endurance</a>)</td></tr>
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Somewhere around mile 22-23 I came upon the guy with the bottles in his rear pocket. He said "nice job" and told me that I was now in 5th place overall, with 2 girls in front of me. Being a math wiz, I realized that I was now in a podium position (3rd man for those of you who didn't figure that out). This really lit a fire under my ass. I was not expecting to do so well and since I felt good I decided that my goal for the day was to not let anybody else pass me. I really wanted that 3rd!<br />
<br />
I knew that with about 10 miles to go that it was premature to place myself on the podium. Anything can, and usually does, happen with an endurance race. But I HAD to try. So I ran with purpose. I ran every single hill from that point on and pushed hard. Somewhere in this time frame I passed the early lead woman, who was clearly struggling. The eventual woman's leader had come by me earlier. We chatted a bit and she told me that last year she had finished in the 5 hour range and all she wanted to do was beat that time. She looked fresh and was running great. Now that I had passed one of the women I was in 4th overall.<br />
<br />
The last 5 or 6 miles I kept looking behind me to see if anybody was coming, but nobody ever came into sight. I spend quite a bit of time with a group of bikers who were very encouraging. I would pass them going up the hills and then they would come back by me on the downhills. Everytime I would go by them they would tell me that I was killing it, or that I was an animal, etc. It was a lot of fun and kept me motivated to run the hills.<br />
<br />
I was looking forward to getting to the last aid station, which I thought was less than two miles from the finish. When I got there I was out of my Sustained Energy so I asked them if they had any gels. Somehow I thought that the aid stations were supposed to have Hammer gels, like in the years past, but they didn't. Luckily somebody who was at the aid station asked me what I needed and I said I just need one gel to get to the finish line. He said "here" and handed me a berry Hammer gel. Perfect!! I wish I knew who it was so I could thank them, it really helped me.<br />
<br />
As it turned out, the aid station was still 3 miles from the finish, so I really had to push if I was going to get that PR. I believe that my watch said I was about 4:10 into it and there are some good hills in that last section. I put the bit between my teeth and went for it. About a mile from the end I started to cramp and had to fumble to get two electrolyte pills out of a little baggie I had, while trying to hammer as fast as I could. I was just praying that the cramping would hold off just a little longer!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3R4KIMv4XOGLlR-miwkZoqy9etgWJBICYNrqNiDhc_f330xf0yjyl8LT95CR4AlpXV5J32NQn2yad1BnOx5gT7leV0roTLVCgRWWGNQ9rodeCmulwjggHrd_1kxMYcTSVI6B3x4jBMbo/s1600/2013VT50kfinish2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3R4KIMv4XOGLlR-miwkZoqy9etgWJBICYNrqNiDhc_f330xf0yjyl8LT95CR4AlpXV5J32NQn2yad1BnOx5gT7leV0roTLVCgRWWGNQ9rodeCmulwjggHrd_1kxMYcTSVI6B3x4jBMbo/s320/2013VT50kfinish2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed down the last chute to the finish line! (photo, <a href="http://www.farnorthendurance.com/race-recap-the-2013-vermont-50/" target="_blank">Far North Endurance</a>)</td></tr>
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I flew down the last downhill chute to the finish line and crossed the line in 4:38:45 for third place and a shiny new PR. I was so relieved to not only have finished, but to have placed and ran well. I spend my of the rest of the day hanging out and watching friends finish. There were some amazing performances on this picture perfect day.<br />
<br />
Between my <a href="http://www.bikernate.blogspot.com/2013/07/2013-vermont-100-race-report.html" target="_blank">18:53 at the VT100</a> and my PR at the 50k, I know I'll be back for more next year. I love Vermont!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnhoRD9_6zpA8mwZWxnaXkQierX8ndm6QImLsMTwhahXNuTWsAqBKKHjACL0dUj-JIZrdZeRn_PUPRycn32q5Mcs4o9lnjVcNAZc-az4W_OPMKcEOZSGjpohfl2How9KemiCHkrSeODY/s1600/2013vt50ktop3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnhoRD9_6zpA8mwZWxnaXkQierX8ndm6QImLsMTwhahXNuTWsAqBKKHjACL0dUj-JIZrdZeRn_PUPRycn32q5Mcs4o9lnjVcNAZc-az4W_OPMKcEOZSGjpohfl2How9KemiCHkrSeODY/s320/2013vt50ktop3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top three after awards. <a href="http://www.farnorthendurance.com/race-recap-the-2013-vermont-50/" target="_blank">(Photo, Far North Endurance)</a></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-42781208476441876202013-07-24T21:05:00.000-04:002013-07-24T21:05:38.047-04:002013 Vermont 100 Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mX0fNVihg9dlctfn6M_-fPddDeDEhIwJGEpcxu506OBU95BHiEEbI0IN6kKwAN2__ZHpyvCYDItRLFMBtKMO17kNpgVNZlvVC9EJDhyBivhs3CeN1nW-hI-zNd4pSbSP7T6H7JnAtB0/s1600/VT100sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mX0fNVihg9dlctfn6M_-fPddDeDEhIwJGEpcxu506OBU95BHiEEbI0IN6kKwAN2__ZHpyvCYDItRLFMBtKMO17kNpgVNZlvVC9EJDhyBivhs3CeN1nW-hI-zNd4pSbSP7T6H7JnAtB0/s1600/VT100sign.png" /></a></div>
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It's 3:55am and I'm standing at the starting line for the Vermont 100. It's a familiar place to me. In 2008 I was lined up at the same place, incredibly full of anticipation for the unknown experience of attempting to cover 100 mile by foot for my first time. Except for 2010, I have been at every start since. Until last year, I had finished every race. My quickest time being 20:29. <br />
<br />
Last year was a rough one for me, as far as finishing races go. I ended up DNFing Vt at mile 70. It just seemed like I lacked the desire to get to the finish line. Sure, I had problems (wrecked quads and blisters) but that's par for the course when doing one of these things.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately the string of DNF's (Did not Finish) continued for me earlier this year at the Massanutten 100. I got sick on Monday before the race and the cold turned into walking pneumonia by race day. I started, but only got to mile 20 before massive fatigue, coughing fits and a tough time breathing got the best of me. It was particularly disappointing because I trained harder than ever and felt very ready to go.<br />
<br />
And now again I find myself full of nervous anticipation. I want to break 20
hours. Badly. But I don't know if my head is strong enough. Will I
fail once again? I tell myself to relax and trust my training. I know that if things go terribly wrong my real goal is to just finish. If things go right hopefully I can get that sub 20 hour finish that has eluded me at this race.<br />
<br />
I know that in order to get my goal I have to be quicker through the aid stations. In the years past I have wasted a lot of time there managing blisters, sitting down too long and just being unfocused. This year I have my favorite crew, my wife Amy and my brother Barry. And as an added bonus, my best friend Jeremy is along for the ride. I have given the exact instructions on what I need at each stop. The goal is for me to spend 2 minutes max at each stop.<br />
<br />
I have a strategy for everything. But as anybody who has ever done a 100 mile race knows, the best strategy is to be mentally prepared for surprises. You just can't anticipate what you are going to have to deal with for this big of an undertaking. And I have painfully learned that even my experience doing these races doesn't guarantee a finish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amy and I at the start. The calm before the storm.</i></td></tr>
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The race stared promptly at 4am after a nice surprise fireworks show on a nearby hill. (Yes, I know I just changed from present tense to past tense....) It was a cool way to start the race and I felt great as I ran down the first hill and into the woods for the first time. We had been warned that the trails were much wetter than years past due to the extraordinary amount of rain that Vermont has received this year. Keeping that in mind, I started the race in my Brooks PureGrit II shoes. I had planned on wearing my Altra Torins, but the Brooks offer better traction and drainage. My plan was to see just how wet it was and then change into the Altras if possible.<br />
<br />
Although the trails were somewhat wet, they really weren't that bad. I was enjoying the early easy pace, but my stomach felt like it had a big bubble of gas in it for a bunch of miles. I took a couple minute bio break in the woods off the road and felt much better afterwards. As I was running down the hill into Woodstock I saw my old buddy, Sherpa John up ahead. I caught up with him and chatted a bit. He was running great and it was nice to see him. He was wearing a GPS watch and informed me that we were running at a 7:45 pace. I was surprised as I felt so comfortable. I reminded myself to make sure I didn't hammer too early.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Changing into the awesome Altra Torin shoes</i></td></tr>
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I reached the first Handler station, Pretty House (mile 22.5) at 7:34am. I spent less than two minutes changing shoes and socks into the Altras, grabbing two new bottles, and an extra gel and 3 Perpetuem solids that I ate as I took off. I also drank a Vespa CV-25. My crew was absolutely fantastic and had everything ready to go. About a half a mile after leaving I realized that I still had my headlight on my head. For about 10 seconds I started to get upset, but then decided that it really was no big deal even though I would have to have it there for another 8 miles. Just as I stopped worrying about it coach Jack came driving by and I yelled at him to stop. He took the light from me and later gave it back to my crew.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amy helping me make another super quick aid station stop</i></td></tr>
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Stage road was the next Handler station, at mile 31.4. I arrived at 9:09am and was out in one minute. In that time I got two new bottles, drank a Vespa, ate 3 Perpetuem Solids and restocked on my gels. I was in great spirits and ready for the 17 mile stretch until I saw my crew again. My shoes were working very well, my feet were great and my fueling strategy was working excellent. The day was not nearly as warm as I had expected and there was a nice cloud cover keeping the sun from being to hot. As far as I was concerned, the conditions were perfect.<br />
<br />
Somewhere in the next few miles I caught up with Amy Rusiecki who was going through a rough patch already. I usually keep to myself and don't do much talking to anybody else during a long race, but Amy said that her hamstring was hurting and she was upset that she already felt bad so early in the day. We had a nice chat and I reminded her that last year she wanted to drop, but stuck it out and got second place. During our talk she seemed to pick up the pace and started to feel better. It's amazing how much our brain is in control of our bodies, regardless of how hard we train or how fit we are. I was able to physically see a change in her demeanor, running and attitude just by having something to take her mind off of her current pain. It was cool. And she went on to finish 3rd woman with a time of 19:53!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUG9pcEO1-8Sp8jbRt2gltxfMRSISJZ-mGG8zwxMDNuxJuxQeyuXLKKiCGpWwCqHtGcblZ4wYh74f-EZ7D_Ld3hmtG41HURPh3Jq_Gv4rEQkPTuRhp3y85GM7sm88RU9ABfdt93y7Ls0/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUG9pcEO1-8Sp8jbRt2gltxfMRSISJZ-mGG8zwxMDNuxJuxQeyuXLKKiCGpWwCqHtGcblZ4wYh74f-EZ7D_Ld3hmtG41HURPh3Jq_Gv4rEQkPTuRhp3y85GM7sm88RU9ABfdt93y7Ls0/s400/IMG_0868.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Weighing in at the medical check</i></td></tr>
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As the miles clicked away I was happy that I never really slipped into any type of low patch. I was starting to chafe a bit, but it was nothing serious (yet....) and I just kept plugging away. It just a hair under 3 hours until I arrived at Camp 10 Bear at mile 47.6. It was 12:10 and I had covered almost half the course in 8 hours and 10 minutes. I was over one hour ahead of my planned time and I felt great. I got checked in by the medical staff, where I weighed 2lbs less than my starting weight. That was a good sign that I was staying properly hydrated. With the usual drill of two new bottles, a Vespa and some new gels I was on my way out for more. <br />
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I don't remember much about the next 11.5 miles except that somewhere along the way I got hit with a huge wave of nausea. I thought for sure this would finally be the first time I've thrown up in a race, but nope, it didn't happen. After a few dry heaves I felt better. It was strange and I was grateful to not have to deal with being sick. As I arrived at the Seven Seas station, mile 59.1 I decided that I needed some real food. I ate some brown rice with tofu and avocado and felt much better. My crew got me out in 2 minutes and then made the mad dash to the next handler station, the famous Margaritaville. It was only 3.4 miles away for me to run but it was 17 miles of driving for the crew to get there. When I got into the station they were just pulling in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZReAtjzt5i-Ri1UsnQw_Dsw2RlOGsGE4D2y14IIqGKIpl28BBLyv3Ufr5m6JUi1MKB40hGsIZfM2Koxw2XYVzTYCOFDQP6iRkNWl4kJvsDMNPILxKipFZOAK2wh0T5RwxNUjFQDSkHi0/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZReAtjzt5i-Ri1UsnQw_Dsw2RlOGsGE4D2y14IIqGKIpl28BBLyv3Ufr5m6JUi1MKB40hGsIZfM2Koxw2XYVzTYCOFDQP6iRkNWl4kJvsDMNPILxKipFZOAK2wh0T5RwxNUjFQDSkHi0/s400/IMG_0885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wet macerated feet</i></td></tr>
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Here is where I made the decision to take a bit longer than normal and fix some issues. Since my feet had been wet from the trails for hours and hours, they were starting to get macerated. The military calls this condition "swamp foot" and if not addressed it can be extremely painful as the waterlogged creases on the bottom of your feet start to blister. I took my shoes off then rinsed, washed and dried them. I changed the insoles for dry ones and powdered the hell out of my feet to absorb any moisture. I put on a dry pair of Wright Socks and was ready to go. Since the chafe was starting to get pretty bad too (you really don't want more details on where I was chaffing...), I decided to change my shorts as well. After everything was done I had spent 8 minutes, my longest stop of the race.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEE5mq9FyTBeDzlqCD8UIGJdqz1kya1jxAG_OHYwWbhYIoGQ3em4Y2ZZjWh6C2T_G6BdsDj7cVC9Y-80b7IjAUUot6BcZqIu891LBTjaGYQuMFEMmZsXF5BX6l2eczB5x0e0GlfrGqFY/s1600/IMG_0897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEE5mq9FyTBeDzlqCD8UIGJdqz1kya1jxAG_OHYwWbhYIoGQ3em4Y2ZZjWh6C2T_G6BdsDj7cVC9Y-80b7IjAUUot6BcZqIu891LBTjaGYQuMFEMmZsXF5BX6l2eczB5x0e0GlfrGqFY/s400/IMG_0897.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Feeling much better after dry socks and new shorts</i></td></tr>
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I'm convinced that it was one of the smartest moves I made all day. Although I was starting to get pretty tired I felt like a new man with clean dry shorts and shoes. The new shorts didn't eliminate the chaffing, but it did improve it. Sometimes the little things make a huge difference when you are so raw.<br />
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The next 8 miles felt great. Mentally I was super excited. Last year this stretch is where everything fell apart for me. This year I was cranking. There are some long downhill stretches and I felt like I was flying. I was trying to preserve my quads, but I also knew that if I wanted to break 20 hours I needed to take advantage of these quicker parts because the last 30 have lots of hills and are slow.<br />
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I pulled in to Camp 10 Bear, mile 70.5 in high spirits at 4:41pm and was super psyched to be there so early in the afternoon. I lubed the chaffe, ate some more rice and tofu, drank a Vespa, and got new bottles and gels. I was out in 2 minutes accompanied by Matt Wilson, my pacer for the last 30 miles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRIjgBb5B8IXe4VA8afH3Z1YAX0q6EAg7wil96UpS9n4EpQT05zJdYbY1rm5gEixtfaHyBF4PyP7aMrpuUdXTmffCQgKYs-sbpw4LC_g_M30iCefrkZsGCDu3FIiqLL3unhVQOLRdTBU/s1600/mattwilsonws100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRIjgBb5B8IXe4VA8afH3Z1YAX0q6EAg7wil96UpS9n4EpQT05zJdYbY1rm5gEixtfaHyBF4PyP7aMrpuUdXTmffCQgKYs-sbpw4LC_g_M30iCefrkZsGCDu3FIiqLL3unhVQOLRdTBU/s400/mattwilsonws100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Matt at Western States this year (Photo Luis Escobar)</i></td></tr>
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I actually have not used a pacer in over 2 years. And I had no plans on doing so here. In the few days leading up to the race Jack emailed me explaining that Matt was coming up all the way from PA to pace me and that he was a great guy was had just run Western States in a little over 20 hours. Jack said that he would kick my ass to the finish line and get me home in under 20 hours. Frankly I was a little bit reluctant and told Jack, thanks, but no thanks. But it seemed that he wouldn't take no for an answer. It sounded like a recipe for disaster to me. At the same time, I am learning that the Universe answers all requests and provides us with all the resources we need to achieve our wants and needs. It's up to us to choose to recognize those gifts or ignore them. I decided that this must be one of those occasions and gave in to the fact that Matt was going to pace me. As I'll explain, I'm glad I did.<br />
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As Matt and I got to know each other a bit better I found him to be very easy to talk to. I was actually a bit intimidated by him because he is such a strong runner. I wanted to be strong and run well even though I was getting tired. I tried my best not to whine too much, but I have to admit I did so a bit. Matt was super good about watching our average pace and keeping me moving in the areas that were flat or downhill. The nice part was that he wasn't sharing with me the actual math, he was just telling me if we were on pace or not. When I did have to hike up the steep hills he was very reassuring by telling me that we were still moving well and on track.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ecOoKFWW_Gb46A_roRGvEDPeMc_ILVVPRXROBUEMT32Bfim7EZTq42wk4G1L2nfjwpz09eQpnyqRp5bSRdC-fHCzQmPhVtb_-jvgIffo_OcjH8HuqJcuCov5I0KDN-Kl7PUrgD-997o/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ecOoKFWW_Gb46A_roRGvEDPeMc_ILVVPRXROBUEMT32Bfim7EZTq42wk4G1L2nfjwpz09eQpnyqRp5bSRdC-fHCzQmPhVtb_-jvgIffo_OcjH8HuqJcuCov5I0KDN-Kl7PUrgD-997o/s400/IMG_0905.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tired and confused at mile 77</i></td></tr>
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We next saw the crew at the Spirit of 76 aid station (mile 77.4) and we actually ran the steep hill that comes into the station. It was still light out and it was only 6:09pm. One of my stretch goals was to make it to Bills Barn, mile 89 in the light, which I've never done before. Now I had about 2 1/2 hours to try to accomplish that, but I was starting to get pretty tired. We were at the station for less than 2 minutes, did the usual bottles, Vespa, etc and headed out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R9iorypCHsf7_mkM0sahZhz3J1v02N-c0_pU8CV7IePHf-qXCCFy4s6XhiOQYv7E1knKslqm7WhNWhcWVgowcfoCIikUhnWjvURj_xJeHojNmlQrk1jzrOiYKNdNt459Jy4PvtiDPrU/s1600/IMG_0879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R9iorypCHsf7_mkM0sahZhz3J1v02N-c0_pU8CV7IePHf-qXCCFy4s6XhiOQYv7E1knKslqm7WhNWhcWVgowcfoCIikUhnWjvURj_xJeHojNmlQrk1jzrOiYKNdNt459Jy4PvtiDPrU/s400/IMG_0879.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>70% hardpacked VT roads = sore feet</i></td></tr>
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My Altra Torin shoes were working great, but the pounding of the hard packed roads was starting to get to me. Matt was wearing Hokas and we talked a bit about shoes. I decided that I would change into my Hokas at Bills for the final stretch once we got there. This thought kept me going as we continued to pound out the miles.<br />
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This stretch has lots of very steep hills that are not runnable for me when I'm this tired. I concentrated on power walking at a brisk pace and found that I was starting to catch people. About a mile before Bills, while going up a miserably steep road I passed Bob Ayers from Vt. Bob is a super nice guy and incredibly strong runner. He was gracious and told me that I was doing great and I needed to enjoy the good ones when they happened. Seeing him picked up my spirits a bit. I've never been even close to him at any race. It was a good sign for me that I was moving well.<br />
<br />
Shortly after I passed the early woman's leader (who was now in second place ), Traci Falbo. She was struggling a bit. As I went by I said "Welcome to VT, these hills are brutal aren't they?" She was in no mood to talk and gave me a look like she wanted to kill me. I later apologized explaining that I was just trying to keep things light, but she was in no mood to engage with me. I didn't take it personally. When you are doing one of these races and in a bad spot you are incredibly raw.<br />
<br />
Shortly after the top of the hill, with Bills in sight, I saw my friend Adam Wilcox for the first time. I didn't realize it was him as the sun was just starting to go down. He was facing a tree with both hands resting on it and had one foot lifted up behind him. His pacer, my other friend Ryan Welts, was removing his sock and shoe to remove what Adam thought was a pebble in his sock. It turns out there was nothing there, but the blisters felt like a pebble and they were trying to fix it. Adam seemed a little surprised to see me and not really that happy about his situation. I could tell he was hurting, but he wouldn't admit it to me. I wished him luck and kept going.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8UQIB9aXXCfQynqfzkaITby6JEoSrpiBJunpeaqKDHVTQlScown3OyIrsWYZ3VYLpcVkjLTwPZ6EfT82AErstfyN4lB_65avaJibokCZgzo0F7gjS-TKhCJmno1dmhP_yNKoL70iVoY/s1600/IMG_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8UQIB9aXXCfQynqfzkaITby6JEoSrpiBJunpeaqKDHVTQlScown3OyIrsWYZ3VYLpcVkjLTwPZ6EfT82AErstfyN4lB_65avaJibokCZgzo0F7gjS-TKhCJmno1dmhP_yNKoL70iVoY/s400/IMG_0908.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bills Barn, mile 89</i></td></tr>
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I was elated to get into Bills while it was still light out!! It was 8:28pm and I had now run 89 miles in 16 hours 28 minutes. Matt went ahead to tell the crew that I needed my Hokas. As I was approaching the station I saw our car and stopped to see if my Hokas were there. That way they didn't have to run back to the car to get them. I looked in my shoe bag and they weren't there so I assumed they had them with them and headed in.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvn5eMAQrWp9co8TgV-YWnERU-eV5hCIKxW3CHmFa0TS6-tHZR5rdpSDrGujDjf96uCmDLYRENrHbU82EytqtNDQvMuwEx-Dnxg0c86VJ22DobV6bqdSBcac6T25lg9yw_EcXEPbbDyA/s1600/IMG_0899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvn5eMAQrWp9co8TgV-YWnERU-eV5hCIKxW3CHmFa0TS6-tHZR5rdpSDrGujDjf96uCmDLYRENrHbU82EytqtNDQvMuwEx-Dnxg0c86VJ22DobV6bqdSBcac6T25lg9yw_EcXEPbbDyA/s400/IMG_0899.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeremy, keeping everybody entertained.</i></td></tr>
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<br />
When I arrived I weighed in at one pound over starting weight and medical cleared me to keep on. I went over to the crew to discover that they did not have my Hokas. As I took off my socks and washed and prepped my feet Jeremy went on a mad sprinting dash to get the shoes. I lost zero time as he had them back before I had my new socks on. He was breathing hard and said, how the hell do you do that for 100 miles?? I only wish that I could run that fast for 100 miles!!! <br />
<br />
On top of the shoe change, I got my usual bottles, Vespa etc. I also did my best to try to fix the chaffing which now was starting to get pretty bad. Amy keeps notes from each station and for here they say "Surprise!, flying!, ready to kick ass". Matt and I headed out excited that only 11 miles stood before me and the finish line. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6uF5oTC0A_T3hgqqZEOuQKtRlCGKrwyUrIc9crtIS0QN3oHpf9YJYuzM04B2TN0Y6FQteW-eAA2e93bdSQVJkfpsOy-2x-qlFZXFP6_SUzPlbyaAI2Bf7T_inlcMHdcpZfEd0Ou3gas/s1600/IMG_0922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6uF5oTC0A_T3hgqqZEOuQKtRlCGKrwyUrIc9crtIS0QN3oHpf9YJYuzM04B2TN0Y6FQteW-eAA2e93bdSQVJkfpsOy-2x-qlFZXFP6_SUzPlbyaAI2Bf7T_inlcMHdcpZfEd0Ou3gas/s400/IMG_0922.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heading out of Bills, with Hokas on feet.</i></td></tr>
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<br />
The next 6 miles to the last handler station, Polly's (mile 95.9) were tough. I was struggling to run even when it was flat and I was walking more than I wanted to. My chaffing was killing me, so much so that I took off my shirt and stuffed it down my shorts to create a barrier between my thighs and my ....never mind.... My makeshift repair did make it a bit better and I was just trying to stay focused and get through the pain. The entire time Matt kept being extremely supportive letting me know that we were way ahead of the 20 hour goal and prodded me to get into a running shuffle as much as possible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJHqxYob_mSGGtz3T-PukD0U8pFqN5GLnJyzBhuRbiL7yQGykeRKgl-_-3uOJoqjvSZUGQ6mDTDtVz2mYHpcxTNEQokQwuDYwQF41LLukqR5EcnV4sw0iZTQawyyuFnvnTw10oFzqzOo/s1600/IMG_0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJHqxYob_mSGGtz3T-PukD0U8pFqN5GLnJyzBhuRbiL7yQGykeRKgl-_-3uOJoqjvSZUGQ6mDTDtVz2mYHpcxTNEQokQwuDYwQF41LLukqR5EcnV4sw0iZTQawyyuFnvnTw10oFzqzOo/s400/IMG_0927.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trying to eat quickly and get the hell out of the aid station</i></td></tr>
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<br />
I got to Pollys at 10:05pm, 18 hours and 5 minutes into the race. Now I only had 4.1 miles to finish. I remembered this section as pretty slow and tough, but it actually had more flat and downhill than I remembered. For the next two miles I was doing the math and realizing that I had a real possibility to break my all time PR for a 100 mile race of 19:19. When Matt and I came upon the 2 miles to go sign I looked at my watch. It was 10:35pm. If I could do the last two miles in under 25 minutes I could break 19 hours!!<br />
<br />
Matt and I had actually run these miles on Friday before weigh in and I knew what they were like in the day. They were hilly, but certainly runable. I looked at Matt and said, "Lets go get a PR!" Matt said "Hell yes, let's do this!" and I took off like a bat out of hell. As I went flying down the trail, through the muddiest part of the course I started passing people. We went by at least 3 runners with their pacers, two of which we actually startled because we were running so fast!<br />
<br />
As I went by Adam and Ryan, whom had passed me a bit earlier, they were supportive and gave me words of encouragement. But I know Adam's fierce sense of competitiveness and was running scared, positive that he would come flying back by me. But nobody did. I ran the last two miles in 18 minutes and crossed the finish line in 18 hours and 53 minutes. I was floored when I learned that I had also finished in 9th place. 9th place!!! I never dreamed that I could do that at such a competitive event.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCLBYOo_Vf4cOgKF9ZvuSMZTGrfflnjFS6r6ZAQUlffbAiv2NpQ0zApSJVkasYba1ncYv79I1O8lZK6zpNzoTopSh5XFE5EeHJeLGhgX0yaarhO9KnnmGUx3a94Li7Pj2pLL2vD1H6-Y/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCLBYOo_Vf4cOgKF9ZvuSMZTGrfflnjFS6r6ZAQUlffbAiv2NpQ0zApSJVkasYba1ncYv79I1O8lZK6zpNzoTopSh5XFE5EeHJeLGhgX0yaarhO9KnnmGUx3a94Li7Pj2pLL2vD1H6-Y/s400/IMG_0929.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crossing the line</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Matt and I at the fnish</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03liiNhnQmIwnXF4OHWm_CqroAqn7zQHENgPuO3o2parDLMf0hDscW7CgM6lsNEZ4Y8cFHRooh3_xwAXpvoqQXQRp5y13vA5RzkRfplJiCUwTm9kgf-VcepD47wrQ5nzwBGHmaqyhqus/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03liiNhnQmIwnXF4OHWm_CqroAqn7zQHENgPuO3o2parDLMf0hDscW7CgM6lsNEZ4Y8cFHRooh3_xwAXpvoqQXQRp5y13vA5RzkRfplJiCUwTm9kgf-VcepD47wrQ5nzwBGHmaqyhqus/s400/IMG_0934.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's official - 18:53:56 and 9th place (2nd in age group)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xYwyrDBQvTB8pb6dM4wZXpTc2c0e8V7LLy1KAUrDYSIpnLhizOdyfNszggdx3Q173wee4-LB7hYNn5a8EiktquNDnok5WJ86c6mDO6fmsDn-i8RmT7reTyBDGpoLTwkMPuhHjKtkNpk/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xYwyrDBQvTB8pb6dM4wZXpTc2c0e8V7LLy1KAUrDYSIpnLhizOdyfNszggdx3Q173wee4-LB7hYNn5a8EiktquNDnok5WJ86c6mDO6fmsDn-i8RmT7reTyBDGpoLTwkMPuhHjKtkNpk/s400/IMG_0935.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Now the pain begins...</i></td></tr>
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<br />
As I sat down in a chair the intense pain in my legs took over and an incredible wave of nausea overtook me as well. I was sure I was going to throw up and even told Amy to move her feet as I was going to lose it. After moaning and groaning a bit, the crew decided that I should go to the medical tent to lay in a cot for a bit. I was shivering uncontrollably. The extent of the chaffing became evident as the adrenaline wore off and the pain set in. But I don't think any amount of pain could overshadow the feeling of accomplishment.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhgE8y0AVL62gQi4_x7oXqxnmrHYuPOzCkEQFUPf0ao8cDcBBJNOWOAbQuXM2jhLuNJ_8IWMfAOfqfKG_ecQwrflNgR0O42mPkYcL2jfLrEHZ23mYkaohygRJqM-mCdLIR8deXKAHEhI/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhgE8y0AVL62gQi4_x7oXqxnmrHYuPOzCkEQFUPf0ao8cDcBBJNOWOAbQuXM2jhLuNJ_8IWMfAOfqfKG_ecQwrflNgR0O42mPkYcL2jfLrEHZ23mYkaohygRJqM-mCdLIR8deXKAHEhI/s400/IMG_0944.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Special "Top Ten" Buckle</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9LEIzOmfRVzr-7Vt8iA-E3x5Q3xg8o416IJV1F4OJxG5pNqxUHWE1QKbBz3HykSc3IItBOD5P6LZnZXOL7UH7wC309n7Fa0B8x_qv7eGgfjKAit_7lncpND9RynQvSAGMz6l9wAjFpk/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9LEIzOmfRVzr-7Vt8iA-E3x5Q3xg8o416IJV1F4OJxG5pNqxUHWE1QKbBz3HykSc3IItBOD5P6LZnZXOL7UH7wC309n7Fa0B8x_qv7eGgfjKAit_7lncpND9RynQvSAGMz6l9wAjFpk/s400/IMG_0955.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Standing with the fast crowd!</i></td></tr>
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The next day at the awards ceremony I got to stand with the top ten. I was pretty honored to be up there with such runners as Ian Sharman, Brian Rusiecki, Nick Clark, Jason Lantz and of course my good friend Adam Wilcox, whom I knew would be top 10.<br />
<br />
It was an incredible day. And I would not have been able to do it without Amy, Barry, Jeremy, Matt and Coach Jack. A million thank you's go out to them and everybody else who has been so supportive of this endeavor. Success is that much sweeter after failure, and I learned that the saying "Never give up" really holds pays off in the end. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Stats for the day:<br />
Shoes - Brooks Pure Grit II - first 22 miles, Altra Torin - 66 miles, Hoka Bondi Speed - last 11 miles.<br />
Socks - Write Sock cool mesh - 2 pairs<br />
Gold Bond Powder - in socks and on feet after cleaning them<br />
Shorts - Brooks<br />
Shirt - Columbia Omni Freeze cooling shirt<br />
<br />
Food: Vespa CV-25 - 8 Pouches, Vfuel gels - about 10, Hammer Sustained Energy - 9 bottles (3 scoops per bottle), 9 Perpetuem solids and about a cup of brown rice with avacado and tofu. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168160086976012326.post-70790434666439334852013-05-13T20:39:00.000-04:002013-05-13T20:39:32.926-04:00One week to go! Massanutten 100 training re-cap<div style="text-align: center;">
Weapon of Choice.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sMZwZiU0kKs" width="420"></iframe>
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This was my last week of any substantial running before the race. This week, the week of the race I will only be running 16 miles before I toe the line on Saturday the 18th. I spent most of this week obsessing about which shoes to wear and how to not gain weight... Here is what I did for training last week.<br />
<br />
<b>Monday </b>- Scheduled day off. <br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday</b>
- 10 miles
on trails (1:17:58 - 7:48 pace). 3.5 miles warmup, 3 x 1/2m hill repeats (up and down) then 3.5 home at a
spirited pace (under 7mm for last mile, easy effort to maintain). Felt
really good this morning. Shoes - La Sportiva Helios<br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday</b> - 5.4 miles of trails (47:57 - 8:53 pace). Ran at the quarries to simulate MMT. Lots of rocks. Actually bruised the bottom of my foot. I thought I was settled on using the Helios at MMT, now I'm not so sure. Shoes - La Sportiva Helios<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday</b>
- 10 miles of trails (1:21:32
- 8:10 pace). Did HR x 3 at mile 4. Felt a bit sluggish today. Wore my Hokas because of bruise from yesterday. Slipped at end of run on log and slammed my arm and hip. Luckily unhurt. Shoes - Hoka Bondi B 2<br />
<br />
<b>Friday</b> - Scheduled rest day, but I couldn't do it. Went 6 miles on trails (48:19 - 8:04 pace). Was super excited to try my new Altra Lone Peak 1.5's because they felt so good out of the box. Loved the shoe and decided that it might possibly be my MMT shoe. Got an email from Coach Satan about 2 hours after the run telling me "not to be an overachiever" because I had a very long run in the woods of VA in a week. When he says day off, he means it!!<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday </b>- Rest day. No sir, don't like it at all.<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday </b>- 20 miles of trails (3:05:15 - 9:15 pace). Ran the Powerlines trail. Was so happy to be able to run. Coach said "No Hammering!!" so I concentrated on practicing my 100 mile pace/effort. Even walked a few hills. Felt really good. Only ate 1 Lara Bar and about 1/2 bottle of water. Put the Lone Peak 1.5's through everything I could throw at them. Only complaint is that they take a long time to dry out. But all the good (great traction, super good fit. no toe jamming on downhills, great toe cap rock protection) out weigh that concern. They were soaked the entire 3 hour run as it was a very wet trail. Love how they feel. <br />
<br />
<b>Summary - 51.4 miles in 7 hours 21 minutes</b><br />
<br />
I was pretty cranky this week and really wanted to run. As usual, I have put back on a few pounds and it messes with my head. But, I am as ready as I have ever been and looking forward to rocks, blisters, ticks, 85 degree humid heat and incredible views!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvvYNdgeSXRkMV6aV-5G-bJhljWl5ErKlh0rL0azSOKqy7xobUXg70OhT_WZbxxgaauDG-stHhg3uLRXh5-fPrZu1AKum8pVpRcA9CpdqfpzctDfs2AYoJGgIqtNiLZf5K2KwtAHP06M/s1600/helios.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvvYNdgeSXRkMV6aV-5G-bJhljWl5ErKlh0rL0azSOKqy7xobUXg70OhT_WZbxxgaauDG-stHhg3uLRXh5-fPrZu1AKum8pVpRcA9CpdqfpzctDfs2AYoJGgIqtNiLZf5K2KwtAHP06M/s320/helios.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can go with this (Helio)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or you can go with that (Fluid Flex)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can go with this (Pure Grit)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRrr-6PinR_JbS7xRZ4XZFb6hrGs5yTVsSr0P2fBL2zVfMe6JvZiw6rlp_iO1_FDDvwkIXj9XTl2gSSplo08iSTUcUKhlIb1E8SEG_LYVjxVqz39m46tm-liPTT8fvbHXVxnFr-4IFFk/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRrr-6PinR_JbS7xRZ4XZFb6hrGs5yTVsSr0P2fBL2zVfMe6JvZiw6rlp_iO1_FDDvwkIXj9XTl2gSSplo08iSTUcUKhlIb1E8SEG_LYVjxVqz39m46tm-liPTT8fvbHXVxnFr-4IFFk/s320/IMG_0353.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or you can go with that (Bondi Speed)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaZla7NKdnUF4p783sGjK1wnQI5M6dAOSDLIDFnEHSwIUEJhReEFg4G0CJCcDEnJYTOwxMmceSixzPgdEFl7-2uk6bNtTjP7Mz_YfF211cJP0dTKHRbReB39LguG47dA2cM_bGBuXCRs/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaZla7NKdnUF4p783sGjK1wnQI5M6dAOSDLIDFnEHSwIUEJhReEFg4G0CJCcDEnJYTOwxMmceSixzPgdEFl7-2uk6bNtTjP7Mz_YfF211cJP0dTKHRbReB39LguG47dA2cM_bGBuXCRs/s400/IMG_0734.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't be shocked by the tone of my voice. Check out my new weapon, weapon of choice (Lone Peak 1.5)</td></tr>
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<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1