2014 Summer Running Gear

Here in the Nation's capital, it is hot!  In the month of July, we typically will see 14 days that reach 90 degrees or higher, and with the high humidity, it feels much hotter.  To keep running, you need the right clothes and the right gear.  Here is what has been working for me this summer:

The North Face Better Than Naked Hat.  Before this summer, I never liked running with hats.  They made my head hot, and the headbands frequently gave me headaches.  It turns out, I was just wearing the wrong hat.  This ultralight hat from The North Face keeps the sun out of my eyes, the sweat off of my face, and my head stays cool.

The North Face Better Than Naked Shirt.  Is it insane to pay $50 for a running shirt?  Not if it feels like it's made out of butterflies' wings.  The Better Than Naked Shirt is insanely light, it wicks sweat away quickly, and it never gets wet and heavy.  This shirt is simply light years beyond any other I've tried.  Durability remains a question mark, but so far, so good.

Salomon Trail Shorts.   Sorry, North Face, but Salomon still makes the best runnning shorts around.  Soft, comfortable waist bands, pockets that hold everything I need, legs that don't ride up or chafe.  Perfect.

Drymax Running Socks.  I used to wear Drymax Lite trail socks, but the regular running socks have a more open weave that breathes better.  It turns out, nothing is better than the original.

Amphipod Handheld.  Amphipod claims that their ergonomic shape allows the hand to relax, thus eliminating hand cramping and tension.  Personally, I've never heard a single runner every complain of hand cramping.  Regardless, this handheld is far more comfortable to carry than the typical round bottle, and the curved shape makes it easier to fill at water fountains.  There are all sorts of versions with neoprene insulating sleeves, iphone pockets, and the like, but I prefer the most stripped down version for its lower weight and lower price point.

What's been keeping you cool?

Review: Salomon S-Lab Advanced Skin M Belt Set

In 2013, Salomon's S-Lab debuted its first running belt, the Advanced Skin 2 Belt.  Although some reviewers noted it was a bit fiddly and that there were durability issues, most praised its light weight, breathable comfort, and ability to balance a load.  I was intrigued, but there was a deal breaker: the 2 Belt is designed to carry Salomon's 8-oz soft flasks.  In a race, those are great if you have a crew who will have bottles prepared for you before you arrive at the aid station.  But for the self-supported runner dependent on aid station crews to refill bottles?  Not so much.

Fast forward to 2014.  The S-Lab has produced its second belt, the Advanced Skin M Belt.  This belt is designed to hold Salomon's 16-oz soft flasks.  It has fewer pockets than the 2 Belt, but they are considerably larger, giving the M Belt 3 liters of storage capacity, where the 2 Belt had "only" a 2 liter capacity.  It also has various elastic straps for holding jackets, gloves, or other gear.  Thus, the M Belt holds much more than traditional packs, although still less than a backpack or vest. 

According to Salomon, the front piece is meant to hold energy and hydration, while the back element is meant to hold equipment and apparel.  Of course, a runner could wear either piece on the front or back.  I prefer to wear the front piece in front, but given that I don't travel with too much equipment, i put a 16-oz flask in the back.  A second 16-oz flask can be put in the front, depending on how much else I am carrying.  

the front

the back

(Speaking of flasks - Salomon appears to have updated the shape of the novel on its flask - the nozzles on the new flasks are wider at the top than the bottom.  Apparently these offer a higher flow rate; I've also noted that they are less apt to leak if the flask is accidentally squeezed).

2013 flask (left) and 2014 flask (right)

The M Belt itself is insanely light (together with an empty 16 oz flask, it weights just 4.2 oz), though of course if you load it fully, it can get heavy.  It is nice to have that weight around my hips, rather than on my shoulders.  By adjusting the top strap (which runs along my waist) somewhat tighter than the bottom strap (which runs along my hips), I've been able to dial in a fit that prevents bouncing even when the belt is full.  I've not had an issue with the straps slipping, which some runners reported with the 2 Belt.  

Lastly, the honeycomb mesh breathes wonderfully.  However, since this is the only layer between you and much of what you are carrying, things could get a bit damp inside.  

The M Belt is not yet available on Salomon's website, although a few select retailers such as Running Warehouse are stocking small numbers of it. I've not yet had a chance to race with it, but on a 20-mile run this weekend it performed admirably.   I'm looking forward to wearing it in my next race.

Troubleshooting a Blank Screen for a Garmin Forerunner 110

I had a birthday a few weeks ago, and am now the a happy owner of a Garmin Forerunner 110. Overall, i'm very pleased with it - it's much more convenient than wearing my iPhone on an arm strap, and I love having my pace and time information available to me on my longer runs. But the experience hasn't been completely smooth; my computer doesn't always recognize the watch right away, forcing me to repeatedly connect and disconnect the watch to the computer.

One time, connecting and disconnecting the watch to the computer caused my watch's screen to go blank. It became completely unresponsive. Panicked, I turned to the Google and found this great article on BruSimm. It summarizes all of the solutions available out there and concluded with a crowdsourced solution that worked for me:

Brusimm reader Steve G said he didn't have good luck with any of the first four suggestions, but he called Garmin, who added this new aspect to the potential fixes:

• While the watch is connected to the charger,
• Hold the light and start/stop buttons at the same time for 20 seconds.
• In addition, connect the watch to the clip BEFORE connecting it to the charger.
• When the clip is being connected and then unconnected, it causes problems for the watch.

Be sure to click through for the entire article for good information. Hope this helps anyone else out  there that might have the same problems.

Summer Running Gear

Here in the nation's capital, we've been having an unusually hot, humid summer.  It started the first weekend of June -- the weekend of The North Face Endurance Challenge -- when temperatures reached 91 degrees with an average humidity of 57%.  Since then, the temperatures have kept and rising, and so has the humidity, which often hovers in the 80-90% range during the day.

So, what running gear works in this kind of weather?

So far, I've been happy wearing the same shoes and socks.  My road shoe are Brooks Launch, and my trail shoes are Brooks Cascadia 8 and Inov-8 Roclite 295.  Drymax Lite trail running socks continue to be go to socks, whether I am on the road or the trails.  But what about the rest?

Salomon trail running shorts are absolutely the best shorts I've found.  They are super light, comfortable, don't bunch up, and don't chafe.

On top, I've taken a page from fellrnr and am wearing the Under Armour long sleeve shirt.  It evaporates sweat quickly, and it keeps the suns rays from beating directly on my skin.  Whenever there is even a slight breeze, it feels icy cool.  I've also been impressed by my North Face technical T-shirt with FlashDry technology.  It does what it says.

My Maui Jim Hot Sands sunglasses absolutely rock.  I wore them on the 50-miler and they never felt heavy or tiresome, never too dark or light, crystal clear vision the whole way.  Love them.

I have a love-hate relationship with headwear in general.  I'd rather not have anything on my head, but a visor does keep the sweat from dripping all over my face.   The Patagonia visor I wear has a nice wide headband, and comes in white, which can get a bit grungy looking, but reflects the heat.

On long runs I continue to use a Nathan HPL 020 race vest.  Super comfortable, very light, very breathable.  It never gets hot or sweaty on my back or underneath the straps.  I love having the multiple pockets up front.  No wonder its the favorite of ultra runners everywhere. My only complaint is the slightly leaky reservoir that came with it, which I've since swapped out with a Camelbak reservoir.

Questions about any of the above gear?  Favorites of your own you want to share?  Leave a comment!

Review: Feetures! Elite Socks

At the same time that I bought some Injinji socks a few weeks ago, I also picked up a pair of Feetures! Elite socks to try out.  These are billed as both a running and a cycling sock, and the version I am reviewing is the low cut, ultra light model.

The sock brags of several features common to many high-end running socks, including a seamless toe and anatomical left and right socks.  But what is exclusive to Feetures! is the "Power Arch" which -- according to the packaging -- is "anatomically constructed to provide targeted support where it's needed most."  In addition, the technical fibers are different from those in other socks I've tried -- the socks are made primarily of iWick, which I understand to be a form of nylon that is proprietary to Feetures, together with a lesser amount of polyester and spandex.

All fine and well, but the proof comes in the wearing.  In this case, the socks felt like no other socks that I've worn -- they were like compression tights for the feet.  I wore them around the house for an hour to see if the feeling would disappear.  Nope, still there.

That meant that there was no slipping of my foot inside of the sock while I ran.  To some extent, the claim on the packaging was right -- it did feel as if my sock and my foot were one.  Except for that compressed feeling, and also the fact that my feet felt a little bit slick inside of my shoe, probably due to all that nylon.

I'd recommend this sock for those who are fans of compression gear, and it may also be worth a try for those who are experiencing arch problems.

Related posts:
Review: Injinji Toesocks

Review: Injinji Toesocks

From the time I started running, I have had problems with blisters.  Blisters on the bottom of my feet, blisters on my toes, If you describe them, I've probably had them.

In search of a solution, I tried a number of different synthetic fiber socks.  Some I liked better than others, but the sock I ultimately settled on was a pair of lightweight Merino wool blend socks from Patagonia.  (The exact model has been discontinued, but I believe that these are the replacement.)  They fit great, kept my feet drier than any synthetic fiber, and eliminated all of my blister problems but one.

The remaining problem was with my middle toe on my left foot.  During my long runs, it invariably develops a huge, blood filled blister at the front of the toe.  I have no clue why - the toe is normal sized, doesn't curl in any direction, and generally appears normal.  While the blister hurts, it doesn't impede my running, so I've pretty much learned to accept it.

OK, enough about my toe problems.  Lets talk about this weekend's run.  Last time I ran, I discovered that my wool socks had worn through, which happens pretty quickly with wool socks.  Time passed, and I failed to get down to Patagonia to replace them.  So, Friday night I ducked into a running store near my work - and found myself staring at a bunch of brands of socks I'd never tried before.

I ended up picking up the Injinji Performance Series Original socks, because I was intrigued by the five-toe design.  Note that Injinji doesn't market the five-toe design as a solution to blisters.  Rather, it claims that the reason for the design is that, by allowing the toes to spread out, it "allows proper alignment for stability, gripping and balance."

I don't know if I achieved any better stability or balance, but I can attest to the fact that my toes were able to to spread out inside my shoes much more than they were used to.  In fact, I could feel my big toe touching the side of the toe box, which never happens with regular socks!

Some people claim that these feel a bit strange at first, but for me they felt perfectly natural (perhaps because I am used to walking around the house in bare feet.)  The only fit issue was that the there is too much space for my little toe.  But even though there was some loose sock at the end of the toe, it didn't cause any problems.  Also the "Mini Crew" version comes up higher on my ankle than I expected - but its a perfect length for keep debris from getting into the socks, so I actually really like it.

But the big question is, how were they for running?  Well, they felt great the whole time.  (I got the "original" level of cushioning; they also come in lightweight and midweight.)  Just as importantly, after 18 miles, I came back without a single blister - not even one on my middle toe.    Wherever it was rubbing the problem, the problem is solved.

For now, I am loving these socks.  The only caveat is that today was a cool day - so, we'll see how well they do keeping my feet dry (and thus, the bottoms of my feet blister-free) when it gets hot.  The Performance Series of socks is made with 70% CoolMax fiber, which has been pretty good to me in other products, but not perfect.  I suspect, in any case, I'll want some of the "lightweight" ones once it warms up.

It turns out, though, that there may be an even better sock for me:  Injinji also makes an "Outdoor Series" of socks, that are made with 70% NuWool (which in turn is a combination of Merino wool and other fibers).  I hope I'll get a chance to try them out and report back on them...

Review: Asics ARD Tights

It looks like winter has finally arrived.  To help me make it through, I picked up a pair of Asics ARD tights from Running Warehouse.

It is pretty hard to compare tights from different manufacturers online.  They all look the same, and the manufacturers' marketing materials rarely yield any useful information.  However, Running Warehouse makes it easy to narrow the field, providing measurements and fabric ratings for each pair of tights they sell.

When I started looking around, I knew I wanted three things.

First, they had to be long.  I am tall, with long legs, and I didn't want to be leaving bare skin above my ankle exposed to the cold.  Asics' tights fit the bill, with an inseam that was 1 to 3 inches longer than most other brands.

Second, they had to be appropriate for Washington DC's generally mild winters.  Running Warehouse lists the Asics ARD tights as being good for "moderate" temperatures, ranging from 30 degrees to 65 degrees.  I can't imagine wearing tights above 45 degrees or so, but the low end of the stated range was what I was looking for.

Finally, they had to be on sale.  After applying a discount code, the Asics tights set me back $46, compared to an MSRP of $75.  Good deal.

The Asics ARD tights look like your basic, black tights, but they do have a few features worth mentioning:

• They are fitted throughout, including up front.  I'm pretty slim, and even for me, the drawstring on the waist is wholly unnecessary.
• The calves are zippered, and the zippers themselves are long and reflective, which is a plus for running when its dark.
• The fabric is exceptionally soft and comfortable.  
• There is a small envelope pocket in the center of the back.  It is not big enough for much more than a credit card and a key, and I'd feel more comfortable if it had a zipper closure, but I didn't lose anything during my run today.
• The logos are small and discreetly placed, which I appreciate.

So how did they perform?  When I set out today, the temperature was 39 degrees, with a chilly 15-20 mph wind blowing.  My legs felt pleasantly cool throughout the run, which is how I like them.  14 miles later, I had zero complaints about their performance: nothing bunched up, nothing chafed, nothing restricted my movement.  It was a happy run!

Related posts:
Review: Cold Weather Gear

Review: Patagonia Merino 3 midweight hoody

As I've mentioned before, I have a couple of pieces of Patagonia gear made from their Capilene synthetic, and while it works fine, it's never felt perfect to me.  It doesn't breathe quite as well as some other technical fibers, and when it gets wet, it sticks to the skin and feels clammy.

On the other hand, I absolutely love Patagonia's merino wool socks.  So, I've been pretty interested in trying out their merino base layers.

Happily, Santa (actually, Mrs. Santa) came early this year.  In fact, she was just in time for last weekend's cold snap.  So, I got try out my new Merino 3 midweight hoodie over the course of a two-hour run in sub-freezing weather.

The Merino 3 fabric is 80% merino wool, blended with 20% polyester to increase the fabric's durability.  And boy, did it work wonderfully.  I stayed warm and dry throughout the run.  When zipped up, it even covers the neck nicely.  And when the sun came out and I started feeling a little too warm, a quick pull of the zipper released the extra heat and brought my body temperature just where I wanted it.

But the best feature is the hood.  I had doubts whether it would be able to replace the beanie that I usually wear.  But this hood did the job and then some.  It stays on around my head even when I'm running fast (well, sort of fast), keeps my head warm without overheating, and again, when the sun comes out, its easy to pull back the hood.  Unlike with a hat, you don't have to worry about stashing anything in a pocket.

Which is good because the one thing this top is missing is pockets!  I get the fact that this is a base layer, so it is not meant to have pockets like a top layer.  But on most DC winter days, this hoodie is perfect without a vest or additional layering.  A zip pocket to stash a few things would make this even more perfect.

But, I'm not complaining!  While running, I almost never had occasion to think about the temperature outside, which is the best compliment I can give a piece of winter gear.  Plus, not only does it look sharp, it fits beautifully.  You might just find me wearing it out and about when I'm not running...

Related posts:
Cold Weather Gear
Review: Patagonia

Review: Cold Weather Gear

Lately, my co-bloggers have been dashing off 9-10 mile runs on the weekdays, and then heading out on the weekend to run serious races. Not wanting to be left too far in their dust at Burlington, I figured I'd better get onto the street and knock off a run of 2+ hours.

 The only challenge? This weekend turned out to be the coldest weekend of the winter so far. Which meant digging out my winter running gear.

Now if there's anyone who knows about running in the cold, it is the Swedes, and that means I trust my winter needs to Craft Performance Apparel.  In particular, gloves.  Once the temperature dips below forty degrees or so, my hands get uncomfortably cold while running.  These gloves are the solution: lightweight, thin, easy to grip a watch or a water bottle, but oh so warm.

And, if the temperature rises, its easy to stuff them into the pockets of my running vest.  This vest is perfect over a lightweight, long-sleeved, technical shirt.  (Or a heavier shirt if the temperature drops.)  Just zip or unzip to regulate temperature.  My only complaint is that it is a little tight.  I have 42" chest, and with any other running brand, a size "L" is almost baggy.  I guess Swedish men are svelte!

Craft has pretty good clearance sales from time to time on their website, and you usually don't have wait until spring to save on some cold weather gear.  You can also find their stuff at the usual online retailers, such as Running Warehouse.

Beyond the above, I have a random collection of odds and ends -- wool socks, a beanie cap, and the like.  I haven't broken down and bought tights yet, because it hasn't gotten that cold.

What is your must-wear winter gear?

Lighting up the Night

I need to run in the dark. Not because of any huge desire to be out at night, but because as I work to increase my mileage for marathon training, I’m finding that the only time I have for long runs are at night or early morning.

As I spend more time running in the dark, I'm quickly finding out that I need something to illuminate the path in front of me. In a perfect world, I could rely on my night vision, but most of my running occurs on suburban streets with various lights and cars and so I need something more to help me see where I’m going. In addition, this light source will need to cut through the lights of oncoming cars; their headlights can be so blinding that I can't see anything without a light source.

I’m currently using a head lamp, but its beam shoots its light past my eyes, killing my night vision. I’m pondering picking up a GoMotion Sport Runner 100 sport belt, which seems like it would work given that its light would be closer to the road. However, I didn’t get a chance to try it in the dark, am unsure of how comfortable it would be on longer runs, and also don’t really know what else is available.

What do you use to light up your night runs? Do you have any gear that you swear by?

Decisions

1Q84 will hit the shelves at the end of this month, and even though it would be a lot easier to carry around on a Kindle, I've pretty much decided this is a book I want to own in hardcover.

The price difference, potentially, is not that much:  Amazon.com sells the Kindle edition for $14.99, and the hardcover for $16.04.

However, I believe in supporting a local bookstore if it sells the book I want to buy in the format I want to own.  Preferably, not the Barnes & Noble kind of bookstore, but rather, a local, independent bookstore that is owned and operated by people who love books.  Wherever I have been, such stores have been places of happiness and comfort for me, even if their selection is not as great or their prices not quite so low.

But in this case, said bookstore is likely to sell 1Q84 at its list price ($30.50).  That's $14 more than Amazon.com (which is likely taking a loss).  What to do?

And as I thought about this, I began to ask the same questions about running gear purchases.  Yes, the best prices for a new water bottle or a new pair of shoes are to be found online.  But perhaps, there is a local store that sells the same item, that is more deserving of support.

I can't say I have any answers here.  Just questions.

Accurate Measurements

I went for a seven mile run today. Enjoyed it a lot – ran at a fast clip, had Life’s Rich Pageant spuring me on – but when I got home found out that Runmeter (my iPhone tracking app) had not captured a good chunk of the run because the GPS crapped out again. Now, I was able to enter the missing data into the phone manually, but I’m finding myself continually frustrated by tools that don’t measure what they’re supposed to. This is not to bust on Runmeter, which I think is a fantastic running app. The problem could be with my phone, the GPS signals in very hilly and tree-covered Ashland, or another random issue I haven't thought of. I bring this up because I've been thinking about how difficult it is to accurately measure something (outside of a laboratory).

Just last week, Eric and I were talking about tracking your fitness on the Daily Plate and being surprised at the number of calories that the program credits you with burning. For example, the Daily Plate tells me that my 53.5 minute run at just under 8 minute miles for 7 miles burned 861 calories. Doesn’t sound accurate to me, but I’m also not sure which of the many “running” options to choose: selecting 7 mph credits you with burning 1,190 cal/hour, while selecting 7.5 mph credits you with burning 970 cal/hour. WTF? Another example was a health check my company provided for everyone this past week. Standard measurements of cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass/weight, etc. Essentially a physical. But the scale that these folks used informed me that I weighed 163 pounds. This didn't seem right to me, so I used the sliding weight scale in the gym which told me I was at 170. Which is right? Who to trust?

Of course, the Red Sox connection here is which stats to trust. As we’ve argued before, which stats are the ones to trust? ERA? WAR? etc. etc. Consider as well the human factor of calling balls and strikes.

All this uncertainty can be fun to ponder, but at the moment I’m frustrated because I’m trying to be more scientific about my training and can't be sure if the numbers I have are right or not. I’m trying to consider new factors and new information , but I’m just not sure how accurate it all is, and it’s starting to bug me the point where I should probably just invest in high-quality gear (heart rate monitor?) or just go back to running by feel.