Wednesday, May 22, 2013

SKECHERS GoRun Speed new color!

Sweet new GoRun Speed colors!

Pocono Marathon Relay

This was a foggy and rainy morning. Did second leg of Poconos Marathon relay. Morning did not start well, forgot my GPS at home and shoes I was going to bring to Reno....Due to so,me road work the organizers had to change the course totally. On the elevation map it look similar but last legs was something different this year. The start was located at Poconos raceway, huge place. Unfortunately the organizers was not prepared, no answers given were to go etc...... We could also use the Raceways bathrooms, could have been good if they had opened up more of them.
Meg was going to the first down hillier part of the Marathon.
Strong Finish



From the start we took a bus to the relay change. Me and Reno did an easy 2 mile warm up going out the course. The first mile was straight up, really tough start it seems like.  Meg had hopes of doing close to 1.30. She came in around 1.33 and place 4th in the coed relay. First team came in around 1.28, so I had 5 min up to the leader.  The climbing started immediately. I felt good climbing and paced myself well. I had no intentions to try to follow Reno. After the long first hill the hills just continued. Mile 16-20 was slightly down hill, but you could barley notice it. On the elevation map it looks like its mostly downhill but all those nagging rolling hills tear up you legs. At mile 22 I was really tired but at one of the few flat sections I pushed a bit to try to wake up legs  and it worked. The last 3 miles I decided to try to push harder and I was able to pick up some pace. Felt really good. Over all a good race but really tough. My time was 1.24+, second fastest time on the second leg. Our team finished secon of the coed, fourth over all. Total time was 2.58.33. Satisfied how I ended the race hard and strong on a very difficult course. Reno Stirrat said after the race, that this was the toughest half marathon course he had ever done. Reno knows what he is talking about with more then 40 years of experience!....Of course the Skechers GoRun Speed preformed well, this was the first time I tried them on really wet surface. Excellent grip!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Recofit Compression Sleeves

 Facts
Recofit is the thinnest, lightest and coolest sleeve I tested so far. The materials are composite material of 62% nylon, 35% spandex, and 2% carbon. Recofit calls this technology "Resistex" You can read about the technology here:  http://recofit.co/compression-technology/ . The sleeve is made from two pieces of fabric: a back panel that wraps the calf muscle and another one that wraps around the rest of the shin and soleus. The back calf panel is tighter and less stretchy, while the wrap-around piece seems to be a uniform tightness the entire length of the sleeve. The compression is gradient

The sleeves comes in two colors, black and white and are left/right leg specific.



On the run
As mentioned above this sleeves are very slick and light weight. The sleeves material breaths well and transport moisture away from your skin. Recofit has paid attention to other sleeves downsides by adding features such the way of secure the fit. Recofit has added a loop of spandex at the top of the sleeve, this feature secure the fit and the sleeve stays up during all my runs.This will be my choice of sleeves on race day due to its light weight and breath ability. Recofit looks fast and they feels fast. Recofits sleeves are by far the best sleeve when it comes to the performance of the race day for those reasons.

In Short:
Great lightweight breathable sleeve with nice compression and a secured fit. A sleeve for the race day.

 Disclaimer: The product was given to me for free and I haven’t been compensated in any other way by the company. The review is straight up based on my opinions on the product and it has not been controlled or affected by the company mentioned in any way.






Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Go like Me....b

Win Meb gear!!!

Meb says the key to a successful training routine is to stay healthy and be consistent. Check out Meb's post for more tips, and enter the GO Like Meb Sweepstakes for your chance to gear up like America's top marathoner: http://on.fb.me/18qfgu4
Last week we talked about getting started. This week I want to focus on training. My routine can change from week to week but typically I’d run an easy 10 miles on Mondays, followed by intervals on Tuesday and a semi-long 15-20 mile run on Wednesday. On Thursday it’s another easy 10 miles. Friday is my tempo day where I try to maintain 5-minute pace for 16 miles or so. Saturday is another easy 10 mile day and finally Sunday is my long run up to marathon distance. On the easy days, I do have a second run in the afternoon, ranging anywhere from 4-6 miles. The speed of the second run is not as important, I usually just listen to my body and see how I feel and decided if that afternoon run is necessary or not. The key is to stay healthy and train consistently.


I use altitude to my advantage and of course a very extensive stretching program plus weights are part of my routine. My plan may not be right for you. There are many marathon training regiments out there, including customized training plans from runcoach.com. Find one that fits with your fitness and ability and expect realistic results. If you’re a couch potato at the start, you’ll probably need more than ten weeks to be in marathon shape. But that’s OK. You will get there and you’ll feel amazing when you cross that finish line. Before you get back to training, don’t forget to check out the this month’s contest for another chance to gear up like me!

http://on.fb.me/18qfgu4

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

5K's and Poconos Marathon

The 5K season has started here in NJ for sure. In Sussex County were I'm located they have a few good ones so I have been able to get to ones in already. Cinco De Mayo 5K in Lafayette two weekends ago and this past weekend Dora Pederson 5K. I never been a good 5K runner and without any 5K speed training, they have been a bit painful for my lungs. Add the allergies season comes with the start of the 5K season as well. The grass kind of bothers me and the breathing during higher speed does not feel smooth and comfortable. last week I also strained my quad, it does not effect my speed but it tightens up a little bit. Ive been able to place second and third but not been happy with my times. I should be able to get in a sub 18 pretty soon when legs and lungs has recovered. For the 5K's I have been using my SKECHERS GoRun Speed. Its not only a great marathon shoe, it works fantastic as a 5K shoe as well. They give back ton of energy and the respond is amazing.
This weekend Poconos Marathon is coming up. I will be doing it as part of a relay team, Team Space Running. We will compete in the co ed category, the goal is to win the category and break sub 3 as a team. Last year I ran the full Poconos Marathon and it was around 90 degrees, hopefully the weather is a bit kinder to us this year. The course is very scenic and has a lot downhills. It should be a fast one. I'm not sure how my legs and lungs will respond to this one. Hopefully I can log my half around 1:22.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Skechers GObionic Trail

Skechers GObionic Trail

 SKECHERS has released some serious good road shoes. With the new GoBionic trail they are aiming the serious trail runners as well.



The Skechers GObionic Trail is built on the top performing GObionic platform. It is more minimal and flexible than the current GOtrail since it’s a zero drop without the Ortholite sockliner and 4mm drop with the sockliner. The outsole is now made out of Resagrip, a new Skechers’ proprietary compound intended to be durable, flexible and lightweight. Upper comes with a  integrated tongue and it can be worn with or with out socks. The flex grooves been designed to avoid collecting debris.  In addition, the GObionic Trail has a diffusion plate in the sole to disperse pressure on rough terrain. It also performs very well as a road running shoe due to it flex grooves.
 
Read Coach Caleb of Team Wicked Bonk Proof  excellent review and his take on the design process!
http://www.coachcaleb.com/training/tips/shoe-review-skechers-gobionic-trail-my-50k-winning-shoe-hat-run

The GoBioninc trail comes in several different color schemes, you can check them out here:
http://skechersperformance.com/running/mens#/content/gobionic-trail-mens-53610

Available June 2013 with an MSRP of $80.

Win Mebs gear!

Here's your chance to gear up like America's #1 marathoner, Meb! Enter the GO Like Meb Sweepstakes once a day every day for your chance to win a weekly prize pack with products from the Skechers Performance Division, Oakley, Sony, Generation UCAN, CEP Compression Sportswear, PowerBar, KRAVE JERKY and Garmin, PLUS a copy of Meb's book "Run to Overcome". Enter here: http://on.fb.me/18qfgu4

Monday, May 6, 2013

Back to racing again

Saturday I did the Cinco the Mayo 5K in Lafayette, NJ. A small local race in northern NJ. I did not have a goal really just needed to get some speed back in my legs. This was my second race representing SKECHERS Performance Division, using the all black gear and the great SKECHERS GoRun Speed.

The race opens up with a mile long hill, a bit steeper in the incline then Heartbreak Hill. A really tough start and you get really heavy breathing already from the start. Second mile is flat with some downhills but I found it hard to recover from the first hill. Third and the last mile is on trails, unfortunately the trails were to soft and it was hard to keep the pace. My SKECHERS GoRun Speeds had good traction but the softness of the trail drained the legs. Right quad bother me a bit and it slowed me down some as well, as I didn't want to push it to hard. I had hopes to do a sub 18 but got 18:42 on my watch, official time was 18:51. Place second. A decent race with some good speed.

It was nice to be back in the all black SKECHERS gear after Boston, getting some nice speed. I could definitely feel the marathon still in my legs as they were very saggy, but overall I'm happy with the performance.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

New Goals

Its more then two weeks after Boston and the feelings are still bitter sweet. Its kind of hard to digest all impressions. With a new personal best its time to move on and set up new goals. I have started very slowly to amp up my mileage, picking up paces at times. Nothing major at this time. The legs has responded pretty well to it but of course they are tired. Motivation after Boston has been very low, kind of feel drained after the race and the terror attack. Sure thing the bombers got the message out, Its just to sad they got more publicity then the winners of the marathon.
Lelisa Desisa and Rita Jeptoo winners of Boston Marathon 2013




 For the spring and summer I will do some local 5K's and the Poconos Red Cross marathon as a part of a relay team. Team Space Running powered by SKECHERS has a great chance to win the mixed category of the relay.
As a part of SKECHERS ambassador program I will have the opportunity to try some new shoes. The last couple of days I have been using the new GoRun Ride 2. Very nice cushioned ride for easier and longer days. As soon as I have some more mileage on them I will post a review.

With the new PB 2:59:47, I do believe I'm ready for a sub 2:55. With the support from SKECHERS performance Division, if I can stay healthy over the summer, and with some good coaching.
 Possible marathons for the fall are Steamtown (very fast marathon) and NYC.