Barefoot Matt

Review: Kool Breeze Scarf

2012-05-15T11:15:00.001-05:00

One benefit to having some extra time to kill before spin class about a month ago is that I came across a really cool (literally) scarf. It looks kind of like a rolled up bandanna but it actually has some kind of absorbent gel inside. This scarf came in real handy on Sat when I decided to do my 10 Mile long run outside. Your supposed to soak this in water for about 5 minutes prior to using it and then pat the outside dry with a towel. I usually just run this under the faucet for a couple minutes and lightly dry it.

I wear the scarf tied around my head like a bandanna and not only did this scarf keep me cooler but it also helped keep the sweat off of my face for the entire length of the run. These scarfs are available at Walmart for about $4 and are reusable for hundreds of times. Eventually the gel is supposed to disintegrate which will limit its cooling abilities but so far it seems like the life span of one scarf is likely to be several months at least. I plan on wearing the scarf in a couple weeks for my half marathon run and look forward to a nice cool run with it.

Building lots of miles

2012-05-15T10:27:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the infrequent posts lately. I have been building my miles up to get ready for my next race. I am jumping from a 7k in the middle of March to a half marathon on June 3rd. Both races were put on by one of my preferred organizations Team Ortho. I like this organizations races so well because they are well organized in general and have massive numbers of runners turning out for their races. The 7k I did was Get Lucky which had over 8k people on a 7k course which is a logistical nightmare but they managed to pull it off in style. I am currently training for the MPLS Half Marathon which is on a similar course to the 7k though they did have to make some modifications as several of the bridges that had been there in years past are currently not their anymore (MN construction season) This course change means a flatter course as well which will mean many of the runners are likely to get a new pr on the course.

I have been training for this race with what some may call a crazy training plan that I concocted on my own. Below is the table of what my training plan looks like for those who are curious how to triple milage in 6 weeks.

6 WEEK RUN PLAN
Monday		Wednesday		Saturday LR
M1	4 Miles	W1	5 Miles	S1	8 Miles
M2	5 Miles	W2	6 Miles	S2	9 Miles
M3	6 Miles	W3	7 Miles	S3	10 Miles
M4	7 Miles	W4	8 Miles	S4	11 Miles
M5	8 Miles	W5	9 Miles	S5	12 Miles
M6	9 Miles	W6	10 Miles	S6	RACE!!!

This plan allows you to gradually add mileage while building up to the race. I am currently on the 4th week and I must say this plan is keeping me on track for the most part. I only shorted one of the Monday runs so far and that was because I was not feeling well at all. Otherwise this plan has been very helpful to me in getting my mileage up in time for the half marathon. I plan on creating a similar plan but including some plateaus to allow myself to better acclimate to the distances once this race is over and have it continue on from 13 miles up through 20+ miles so that I can be ready to run some marathons in time for next year. The ultimate plan is to sign up for the longest distances on the entire Team Ortho Monster Series next year and possibly throw in an ultramarathon at some point next year as well but we will see how I do.

Are you ready for anything?

2012-03-25T21:48:00.002-05:00

Are you ready for anything?

I chuckled a little at this the first time I saw it about a year ago but after thinking about it for a while I have to agree. If your ready for the Zombie Apocalypse then your ready for any disaster out there. The CDC is excellent at planning for just about anything. I would say you could take their disaster preparedness plan and re-use it for darn near anything you need to plan for. Going for a camping trip? Your going to need to plan for a clean water supply as well as food, clothing, shelter. Don't forget a few tools like an ax, shovel, and flashlights + batteries. First aid supplies also come in handy when you least suspect them. Below is the CDC short list to pack for. I would wager if you used this to pack for anything from a day trip to a month long hike through the woods that you would survive and come out fairly healthy. I also believe anyone following this automatically should earn at least a couple Boy Scout Merit badges.

Water (1 gallon per person per day)
Food (stock up on non-perishable items that you eat regularly)
Medications (this includes prescription and non-prescription meds)
Tools and Supplies (utility knife, duct tape, battery powered radio, etc.)
Sanitation and Hygiene (household bleach, soap, towels, etc.)
Clothing and Bedding (a change of clothes for each family member and blankets)
Important documents (copies of your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate to name a few)
First Aid supplies (although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado orhurricane)

Gas coupon

2012-02-12T22:03:00.002-06:00

Ok folks I realize I didnt keep up on the gas coupon before. To make up for it here is a sheet of .12 and .20 cent coupons http://bit.ly/xR1OZ1. These coupons are valid till March 10th, 2012 and will be accepted at most SA stores (.20 coupon must be used at locations with a wash). Also remember most SA stores in the metro also double competitor coupons on Tuesdays. Enjoy.

Get Lucky 7K training

2012-02-11T18:46:00.000-06:00

I have been training with a purpose lately. I signed up around christmas for the Team Ortho Get Lucky 7k race. I have been focusing mainly on speed training as I have always been a slow runner. Today I did my first long slow distance run and went the full 4.5 miles or 7k oops :D.

This has me thinking if maybe I shouldn't find a longer race to run sooner than I had originally planned. My plans were originally to do a half marathon before the end of 2012. With these big leaps forward in my running endevours I am thinking about signing up for the Red, White and Boom race on the 4th of July. I think I could manage to train for that race as its about 5 months out and only 3 times further than I am currently running. My biggest concerns are that because I am such a slow runner I don't know if I could finish that long of a run in the alloted 3.5 hours. Theoretically at the rates I am able to run at today I could finish with a half hour to spare but thats cutting it a little close for my liking. Plus if I take too long of a walk break I could end up being picked up by the sag wagon.

Manzella Fahrenheit 5 Gloves Review

2012-01-19T21:03:00.001-06:00

I have been testing out the Manzella Fahrenheit 5 Gloves this week since the weather has turned nice and cold. So far I can say these are some of the lightest yet warmest gloves I have ever owned. Being a Minnesota resident I can attest these gloves will keep your hands warm well into the -10 degree range with a -25 to -35 degree windchill.

Fit
Due to the abnormal dimensions of my hands (I have wide hands with shorter fingers) I don't believe that I will ever find a pair of gloves that will "fit like a glove". In my case I always seem to either have excess material in the finger tips or I have a difficult time getting my hands into the gloves. These gloves are no exception I have about an extra half inch or so of glove left in the fingers; But I can easily slide my hands into the gloves which is the way I prefer the glove to fit around the hand anyway. I did follow Manzellas' sizing chart and the dimensions matchup perfectly to the chart. I also really like the wrist straps to allow you to snug the gloves down tight around the hands and help lock out any breeze's that might try to squeak through. There is also a nice quick release so that when you're not wearing the gloves you can snap them together and not have to worry about misplacing one of them.

Comfort
The gloves are very comfortable to wear. They keep the hands feeling warm but not to the extent that your hand would start to sweat in most situations which is just what you want in a pair of gloves. If your hand were to start sweating quickly in the glove then your hands would quickly become cold. Around the wrists there is also a nice interlock with a soft inner material that can be tucked into your jacket sleeve with a separate outer fabric that goes on the outside of your jacket sleeve. This interlock of fabric helps prevent breezes from getting both into the glove as well as into the jacket.

Design
The gloves have a very functional design with black being the only available color in this style. Every component of the glove seems well thought out right down to the palms with a synthetic leather to prevent the palms from wearing out quickly. This leather also seems to have a bit of stick to them which is nice to prevent anything your holding from slipping out of your hand. The insert fabric is Gore-Tex with 200 grams of insulation which makes the gloves a wonderful breathable waterproof and warm addition to anyones winter clothing box.

BodyBugg Weight Management Solution Review

2011-11-04T21:44:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone its me again. So here it is what you have all been waiting so long for. The review of my BodyBugg Weight Loss Management System and a few barbs at Justin Beiber and his funny hair-do.

I have been wearing my BodyBugg for the past several weeks now and have a fairly good idea now of where it excels and where it fails. The system is fairly accurate at gauging calorie burn however it would be nice if it would also monitor heart rate and possibly blood pressure.

Comfort: I think the BodyBugg is very comfortable. I usually dont even notice it once its strapped to my arm and I put a shirt on. Initially there was some irritation which I think was due to wearing it to tightly. Once I loosened it up slightly that seems to have vanished. They recommend you leave the bugg off body for about an hour each day however I have been fine with less time. I recommend not undoing and redoing the velcro constantly as the velcro doesnt seem to be real high quality and seems like it will wear out quickly if you do that.

Charging: My BodyBugg generally holds its charge really well. I have not synced most of the week and it still has plenty of charge to carry me into the weekend. It seems like the battery for such a small device is impressively long. It took a couple hours to recharge and if you plug it in to sync daily you likely will never deplete the battery significantly.

Website: The website seems to be fairly user friendly but I do have a couple issues with it. The food list is relatively extensive however it would be nice if more fast food chains menus were included. There seems to be only a handful of menu items from each restaurant currently pre-entered. I also wish it would stop switching between the food log and body measurements after you update your body measurements. Otherwise it is very easy to add new food items and create menus on your own. Syncing the body bugg couldnt be much easier though it would be nice if it was supported by more than just Internet Explorer for doing the sync.

Overall I am very impressed with this little gadget. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is having difficulty in loosing weight.

Gas Coupon Sheet

2011-10-12T15:00:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone,

I thought I would share with you a great deal. Most Super America and Holiday gas stations accept competitor coupons. Super America also doubles all coupons on Tuesdays with some restrictions. This link is to a coupon Sheet that I make and print to keep in the car. These coupons are valid till 12/5/11. I Plan on posting an updated sheet each before this sheet expires.

http://bit.ly/qclJ6N

BodyBugg Weight management solution

2011-10-08T16:09:00.001-05:00

I am currently testing out the BodyBugg weight management system as seen on The Biggest Loser. I will be offering up a review of this weight-loss product soon so stay tuned.

VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Review

2011-10-08T16:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my VIVOBAREFOOT Neo review. This review has been a long time in the making after doing extensive testing over several months. With both everyday wear as well as running on grass, dirt, pavement, and the treadmill I feel I have a firm grasp of what these shoes are all about. I don't think that many famous celebrities like Justin Bieber (The Bieb), or Steve Jobs would write a review for this wonderful company so I have taken it upon myself to do so.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As an update to this review I can now post on longevity of the shoe. After wearing these as my go-to shoe since I got them I have developed a hole in the sole of the shoe on 2015-08-21. That places these shoes at about 4 years old as the shoes were ordered 2011-08-05. I feel that I have gotten a bargain on the shoes for that long of a life. And my only regret is that they are no longer making this particular shoe so I will have to pick a different one to replace them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let me start with a little more information about the company behind VivoBarefoot Terra Plana. This company has a wonderful eco-friendly mission to use recycled locally sourced materials to make all of their shoes. My shoes were even shipped eco-friendly using carbon credits. Additional details about Terra Plana's eco policy are available on their website. Well, I suppose we should probably move along to what you have all been waiting for Justin Bieber. No, you haven't been waiting for that? Ok heres the review after the break.

These shoes are very comfortable to wear. They are also fairly light weight at 9.25 oz per shoe.

The shoe runs a little large compared to my Vibram Five Finger KSO's I would estimate maybe a quarter size larger. For me this is good because it means I can fit my foot in them with socks when its really cold this winter. That was actually my primary reason for purchasing these as my KSO's were incredibly cold during the one snowfall that I wore them in.

These shoes come with a removable foam shoe bed. This extra little piece of foam does a couple things. It gives your feet a warm pad between the ground (good for the winter, not so good during the summer). This foam also has the downside of blocking some of the proprioceptors (feeling of the ground) function. What this means is that I smash my foot into the ground a little harder when I wear these vs barefoot or in my KSO's. I will gladly take this tradeoff to have these warmer shoes.

They have a solid sole with a hexagon shaped lug pattern to provide extra traction. This extra traction doesn't do much for running on roads however off road it provides extra traction especially going uphill. I hope this will also provide a more firm footing on snow and ice this winter. If not maybe I can talk to Terra Plana about designing a shoe for Minnesota's 6 months of winter. These lugs also block some of the proprioception of running on roads for some reason. The soles are 4 mm thick vs the KSO's 3.5 mm thick so not much of a difference but that difference is noticeable.

The uppers are made of a nylon breathable mesh layer that allow the shoes to breath to some degree. On an 80+ degree day that I wore these to renfest they were a bit warm but otherwise they have been fine. The mesh seems thicker than on my KSO's as well which make the shoes warmer than those. This is again a benefit as these will be my normal winter go to shoes.

Cleaning of this shoes so far has just involved taking the insoles out and washing them in the sink following my How to get rid of that funky minimalist shoe smell article. I also wiped the uppers down with a wet rag after renfest to get all of that fine chalky dirt off of them. You may notice in the photo below that the shoes changed from a nice dark black to more of a sandy brown. To the left of them is my Bedrock Sandals which I will also be writing a review of soon.

Overall these shoes are really comfortable for general wear and for running off road and biking. For running on roads and the treadmill I prefer to wear my KSO's or go barefoot because of the reduced ground feel and feet-back. More good reviews to come so stay tuned.

Vivobarefoot Neo's Review

2011-09-07T09:46:00.001-05:00

I received my new Vivobarefoot Neo's a couple weeks ago and have been testing them out since. I will be posting a detailed review once I have completed some additional testing. My initial opinion of them is that they are a great shoe for trail running but not as good on the roads due to reduced feetback.

Why the Warrior Diet?

2011-09-01T17:13:00.000-05:00

I like the Warrior Diet extremely well. I have tried a number of other diets in the past. Everything that I have tried was well thought out by some nutritionist somewhere. Most of the diets I have tried have you eating every couple hours which is not always feasible. Every one of these diets has had the end result of me gaining weight.

Fortunately I was introduced to the Warrior diet which is essentially the Paleo diet with a couple modifications. The key tenants of the diet are fast and feast. I eat little to no food for much of the day except for a short feasting period during which I can eat as much as I need. I generally will eat once or twice during the feast period. The idea behind eating 1 large meal usually in the evenings is because for thousands of years our ancestors would have needed to go out and run down and kill our food before the tribe could eat a meal. Many times this would take several hours to track and exhaust dinner hence why we would be more adapted to eating 1 meal late in the day. The remainder of my diet is essentially the Paleo diet.

The Paleo diet is based around the idea that for tens of thousands of years we only had certain foods to eat from. It wasn't until very recent history that we were able to domesticate grains, grind them into flour, and make breads and such with that. Similarly dairy products were very difficult to come by. Instead back in the day our ancestors would have survived on a diet made up mostly of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and nuts.

This diet has had a number of effects on my life in the short time that I have been on it so far. My acne has almost entirely cleared up. I used to get terrible acne year round that I would pick at till they were scratched open and bleeding. I have lost several pounds of weight including some noticeable fat loss from various parts of my body. I have more energy and can tell that my body is able to make better use of the energy that I have been taking in. By exercising before my feasting window my body is able to burn fat rather than the carbs that I am eating which results in even more fat loss more rapidly.

How to get rid of that funky minimalist shoe smell

2011-08-13T22:24:00.000-05:00

If you or a friend have experience running in minimalist shoes chances are you may have noticed one of the downsides to running without socks. When you wear socks you can wash the socks after 1-2 days of use. When you run in minimalist shoes however it is far more difficult to drop the shoes in the wash as chances are they are being worn daily. Some people have solved this problem by acquiring dozens of pairs of free shoes like my friend Saypay. Others who are less fortunate have found other tricks to getting our minimalist shoes to have that new shoe smell.

I originally started putting my shoes in the washing machine once then twice a week as the summer heat moved in. This worked for a while till my nice Vibram KSO's started to show serious aging from frequent washings.

The next idea I tried was a spray can of foot deodorizing powder. That lasted less than one day before it was all bunched up in my toes and gross feeling.

My final try and most successful option thus far has been this miracle product called OdoBan. All I do is take the spray bottle and saturate the insides of the shoes with the OdoBan spray. I then leave the shoes sit for 10-15 minutes which according to the product labeling will kill not only the HIV virus but also most variants of virii and fungus that may have taken up residence and is likely what is causing your shoe odors. Once the time is up simply rinse the shoe out with warm tap water in the sink. I usually also agitate by hand the insides of the shoe to make sure any debris that may be there is loosened up and removed in the rinsing. Once that is done I drain and set the shoes in front of a fan to air dry which usually takes 6-8 hours depending on ambient temperature and humidity levels.

This last trick has left my minimalist shoes smelling cleaner than new for a week at a time which is an even better result than just dropping them in the wash. It has also save my shoes from further deterioration which for a $80 pair of shoes is a much appreciated savings.

If anyone else has any other tricks for keeping their minimalist shoes clean and odor free please share your secrets.