Running and Rambling

Special Agent Minimus

2010-07-29T20:30:00.001-07:00

When I was a kid, I sometimes imagined what life would be like as a spy - charged with keeping confidential secrets, only able to disclose carefully selected bits of information to certain people at predetermined times, knowing that one false move could result in disaster for me or the agency I’ve committed to serve.

About 30 years later, I’m finally getting a sense of it, from a handful of shoe manufacturers who protect their secrets as if lives depended upon it – the latest of which comes from a mainstream company who has been making strides towards minimalist footwear for quite some time now.

On that note, think of this post as a high-level intelligence briefing, where I’m authorized to divulge information solely on a need to know basis, and keeping some other details under lock and key until another day. The occasion for our meeting is to partially unmask a running shoe whose appearance has thus far remained strictly classified: the New Balance Minimus, scheduled for release in March 2011.

Actually, the cover of this shoe is about to be blown wide open in the very near future anyway, as it will be presented at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer trade show next week. New Balance will offer a whole collection of “barefoot inspired” footwear – including something called “wellness” models, which seem to directly target the everyday minimalist market currently occupied by VivoBarefoot and Soft Star, among others - and my NB contact was nice enough to pass along a bit of background information, and even a few dossier photos of the running model.

There’s a much more thorough portfolio of information available about the Minimus shoes, including some insight to the development of the collection, and what makes it different from existing minimalist footwear, here on the New Balance website. Otherwise, the company is intentionally telling the story slowly, and is officially only releasing snippets of images, which follow below:

A positive ID: That's our man - Special Agent Minimus

Along with his partner in crime, who goes by the code name Vibram

A thin mesh heel, and suspiciously FiveFingers-looking strap

And if you think I’m exaggerating this secrecy thing, it’s worth noting the e-mail exchange I had with the rep shortly after receiving the pictures:

Me: Those look cool – do you have any pictures of the whole shoe?

Her: For now we aren’t releasing full shoe shots … as soon as I have permission to release them, I’ll send them along.

In other words, once her agency lifts the security clearance, she’ll forward that intel to my agency, and we’ll have full disclosure on this elusive target. Until then, it’s still a bit of a cloak and dagger game – but I think I’ve learned enough about Special Agent Minimus to know that I’m very anxious to meet him in the flesh sometime.

You Are the Technology (You're Also Pretty Hot, and Buck Naked Except for Your Vibrams)

2010-07-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Every now and then something comes through my inbox that makes me wish I had a completely different life. Truth be told, it’s been happening more and more frequently lately … but that’s a separate story.

Anyway, the latest event to trigger such a reaction was the launch of a new microsite for the Vibram FiveFingers Bikila. It’s an intentionally provocative campaign called You Are the Technology, and it’s the kind of thing that makes me wish I had gone into computer programming or website design – because I’m 100% certain that the people who made this site had an absolute blast while building it.

Basically, the site features a fairly good-looking man and woman - Adam and Eve, presumably? - as naked as they were in the Garden of Eden … except, that is, for the pair of Bikilas on their feet. (My snap judgment is that the dude is a much hotter dude than the woman is a hot woman – but maybe I shouldn’t be saying that out loud.) They cleverly conceal their naughty parts - although trust me, the site is still fairly NSFW – and have writing scrawled over strategic parts of their bodies.

Adam?

Here’s where it gets fun: from the main splash page, you click on the male or female to zoom in and read the writing. Once zoomed in, you can scroll up or down, and there are several spots on the body where the arrow will turn into a hyperlink finger. Click those, and the models rotate and/or zoom in further so reveal a narrative about natural running. Click again to zoom back out, then pick another spot to zoom in again and repeat. And so on and so on.

Eve?

The narrative is told in a head-to-toe direction, and is generally the same on each model, but it’s worth clicking around both models just for the “wow” factor of it all. Here’s the thing, though – once you get started, the site is kind of a time magnet, so make sure you give yourself enough time and space to check it out from top to, er … bottom. I’ve already mentioned that it’s probably NSFW - and I can also attest from personal experience that if your six-year-old daughter happens to be looking over your shoulder just as you’re looking at a close-up hi-res shot of somebody’s butt, it will most likely send her into hysterics. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Sound interesting yet? If so, go check out YouAreTheTechnology.com for a while, then feel free to weigh in below to let me know what you think. Is it crazy? Cool? Maybe a little creepy? Is the dude hotter than the girl? Discuss.

GU Mandarin Orange Winners; CLIF Winner APB

2010-07-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

A quick post to announce winners here, and another post to follow shortly ...

Michael Helton and CK: send your address to me at info@runnningandrambling.com - you've won the GU mandarin orange giveaways!

Also, following up on a previous giveaway - Snowshoe Hare, you have 48 hours (until midnight Friday) to contact me with your address, or I'm giving your winning CLIF bar entry away to someone else. Get going, girl!

As always, thanks to everyone who participated. Look for another giveaway drawing (a pretty cool one, if I do say) coming up next week.

Mandarin Orange GU Giveaway

2010-07-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Holy cow … July is practically over already! This probably won’t be remembered as the best summer ever at Running and Rambling, but it just might go down as one of the fastest-moving. I had a post in mind that described how quickly summer was passing me by, but I haven’t actually gotten around to writing it yet, because, um … time sort of passed me by.

In the spirit of quickness and brevity, I’ll keep this giveaway post short – but I’m still throwing in a little anecdote to show you that I really do pay attention to these product situations.

When I paced Gretchen at the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 this month, I noticed that a lot of runners (including Gretchen) had their own stashes of energy gels in drop bags. It initially seemed strange to me, since I knew that there would be gels handed out on the course.

I started asking around, and discovered that some people had tried the course gels (the brand of which I’ll keep anonymous) in years past and didn’t like them, or found the pouches too big to stash conveniently in a pocket. Then I began checking to see what kind of gels people were voluntarily carrying in their place – at their own expense, in most cases - and almost unanimously, they were carrying GU.

I know my observations were just a few snippets from a very long day with many more people than I directly observed, but I think it says a lot about how dedicated GU users are to sticking with a brand that works for them. I also know that if I run the TRT next year, and if the same gel sponsor is on the course, I’ll do the exact same thing with my own private GU stashes. Keep my Roctanes and Jet Blackberries coming, and I’ll run until the sun goes down, and keep running until it comes up again.

So you get the idea: GU rocks. This spring I announced that a new mandarin orange flavor was being developed, and I was lucky enough to get some prototype packs in advance of their release. Well, the new flavor is now available in stores, but I’ve still got a lot of the pre-release packs – and if you’re one of the two winners I pick from the comments section below, I’ll mail you a healthy supply, plus a couple other flavors thrown in for good measure.

See? I can be quick sometimes – and unlike a fleeting summer, in this case quickness isn’t such a bad thing. Log in below, and I’ll pick winners on Wednesday night. Good luck!

All at Once

2010-07-24T21:24:00.001-07:00

“All at once, the world can overwhelm me -
There's almost nothing that you could tell me –
That could ease my mind -

Which way will you run, when it's always all around you –
And the feeling lost and found you again -
A feeling that we have no control.”
- Jack Johnson, “All at Once” (video after post)

These are kind of interesting times around Running and Rambling headquarters lately.

It’s a period of transition for our family in many ways – most of them good, but all of them with a degree of uncertainty that cumulatively seem overwhelming at times. At the same time, there are some bigger projects I’m trying to work on as well, creating one of those situations where I’ve got about 10 different things I’d love to pour myself into, but barely enough time to do any one of them effectively.

The weight of it all was enough to compel me to spend several hours on a beautiful Saturday getting lost in my work – but fortunately, this was my office:

A nice little bench above Carmel Beach where I stole some time for myself to sort through some thoughts and give focused attention to one particular project that’s been weighing on me for longer than I would have liked.

The day ended pretty well: the satisfaction of finally making some progress combined with the serenity of a perfect beach day were enough to ease my mind for the time being. However, it’s probably only a matter of time before I’m trying to decide which way to run next.

This post isn’t intended to be cryptic, or indicative that life has taken a bad turn; on the contrary, I’m very grateful for the situation I’m in, and faithfully optimistic that I’m following the path for which I’m intended. I guess the main point is to say that things might be unpredictable around here for the near future, but I think some of the end results will be worth all the trouble.

And in hopes of starting the week on a less melancholy note, I’ll kick off another giveaway drawing with my next post. Until then, let’s just enjoy the music.

Jack Johnson, "All at Once", live at Kokua 2008 (click to play):

Got a Bad Obsession?

2010-07-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

"It's a bad obsession, it's always messin' -
Always messin' my mind."
- Guns 'n' Roses, "Bad Obsession" (video after post)

*
It seems to happen at some point in the development of every runner: a tipping point of sorts when an activity that started simply as a healthy habit becomes something more. Our identity becomes intertwined with the lifestyle, and we try to absorb as much information as we can about the sport.

When that time comes, some of us might call ourselves obsessed.

Of course, there are different levels of obsession. My friend Mike and I are both pretty knowledgeable about most aspects of running, but we know some people who would put us to shame with their passion for everything related to this pastime we share. And that’s not something we necessarily strive to emulate.

I guess what we’re saying is that it’s possible to become too focused on running - and we used that thought as the premise for last week’s Monterey Herald column which follows below. It’s a goofy little self-assessment to determine if your individual running obsession is a good one or bad one.

*
Running Life 07/15/10 “Running Obsession”

So you call yourself a runner? Think you’re obsessed with your running life? Let’s find out.

We had some fun a few months ago when we created a test to rate your running partners – so we’re doing it again, but this time you’re rating yourself! Get yourself a piece of paper, and let’s see how dedicated a runner you really are.

MILES: Give yourself 1 point for each mile that you run in the average week. If you don’t keep track of your miles then give yourself 5 points for each day of the week that you run 30 minutes or more.

RUNNING SHOES: How many types of shoes do you have? If you own regular running shoes, add 5 points for each pair. Add 7 points for each pair of trail shoes. Add 10 for each pair of racing flats, 15 for each pair of running spikes or Vibram FiveFingers, and 20 if you’re brave enough to go barefoot!

PERIODICALS: Award 5 points if you subscribe to Runner’s World magazine, 10 points for Running Times, and 15 points for Marathon and Beyond. Score 20 points if you regularly get Running Research News.

BOOKS: Add 10 points for the number of times you have read each of these books: Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr., Running & Being by Dr. George Sheehan, Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Galloway's Book on Running by Jeff Galloway, and Running with the Buffaloes by Chris Lear.

(*Web bonus: if your favorite running book isn't mentioned here, feel free to let me know in the comments)

WORKOUTS: Give yourself 5 points for each type of workout you’ve done in the last 3 months. Fartlek. Hill repeats. Form drills including butt kicks, high knees, and karaoke. Tempo. Planned marathon pace. Yasso 800’s.

RUNNING HEROES: If your role model is Dean Karnazes give yourself 1 point. If you are motivated by Kara Goucher and Ryan Hall give yourself 5 points. If you admire Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi, score 10. Likewise with Bill Rogers or Frank Shorter (for you older folks) – still 10. If you are inspired by Terry Fox or Sarah Reinertsen, score 15. If Scott Jurek or Anton Krupicka are more your style give yourself 20. If no one impresses you but Quenton Cassidy, score 25. If you don’t recognize any of these names, minus 50.

TRAVEL TO RACES: Score 25 points for each trip you’ve made to a race in the last six months that required a passport. Score 20 for each race that required air travel. Give yourself 15 for races that required at least one night in a hotel. Add 5 for each race you did that you slept at home.

THURSDAY MORNINGS: If your first thought on Thursday morning is about reading The Running Life, give yourself 20 points.

Yes, that last category was self serving … but we’re just trying to fluff up your score a bit. And now it’s time for the results! Check your total score and place it in one of the following groups:

OVER 300: Dude … wow. You’re totally obsessed. Have you seen your spouse or kids lately?

200 to 299: You’ve always got running on the brain … and your friends probably consider you absent-minded.

100 to 199: This seems about average – we’ll call this “running balanced”.

60 to 99: So you have a running life … but not very much of one.

Under 60: You want to learn about this strange lifestyle, but haven’t quite jumped in yet; we’ll call you “run-curious.”

Now feel free to test your training partners, and compare your scores!

*
As for the song: Guns ‘n’ Roses will forever be known for their phenomenal debut album, but their follow-up discs demonstrated flashes – such as the song that follows - of just how talented and versatile they could truly be. They undoubtedly had the ability to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time, which is why it was so agonizing for fans like me to see them implode in a drug-and-alcohol fueled fury so quickly in the 1990s. Of course, with those guys, such an ending was probably inevitable - so maybe the real surprise is that they kept their acts together for long enough to crank out three full-length albums without any of them suffering a fatal overdose.

Guns 'n' Roses, "Bad Obsession" (click to play - and since it's GnR, it should be considered unsuitable for little ears):

My Kind of Doctor

2010-07-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

A couple of administrative notes prior to today's post ...

1) Before you settle into this one, take a detour to Gretchen's blog, because she just posted her race report from the Tahoe Rim Trail 100. Go read it, congratulate her on her awesome accomplishment, and tell her what a good pacer she had, so I might get invited back sometime.

2) Apologies in advance for the amount of type I’ve devoted to one small injury; bear with me for one more post, and I promise I’ll stop kvetching about my pinky toe. At least I'll try to.

*
When I first reported on my toe injury, I mentioned that I was too lazy and too cheap to hunt down a doctor in the middle of the Sierras who would take an x-ray, tell me it was broken, and that there was nothing I could do about it but to rest. There just didn’t seem like much point to it.

On the other hand, I didn’t mention that one of my friends at home is an orthopedic surgeon who also happens to be a runner, and who gets a kick out of throwing body parts under an x-ray machine just to see what they look like. So earlier this week, I stopped by his office, and this is what we saw:

In medical terms, they are nondisplaced fractures. On the picture, they're the skinny little white lines that the arrows point to. In practicality, they're the reason I’m still having a fair amount of pain.

My friend and I also had this exchange …

Me: Is there anything I can do for it?

Him: Not really. It will eventually heal on its own.

Me: How long does it usually take?

Him: About 3 to 4 weeks – but since you’re going to keep running on it, more like 6 to 8 weeks.

It’s probably worth emphasizing here just how completely cool this doctor is: there was no lecture about being more careful, no criticism about running mountain trails in Vibrams, and no questioning whether or not I’d keep running – it was just a “here’s the deal” explanation, and a standing offer to come on back the next time I manage to bust myself up.

Because we both figure it’s bound to happen again. Some things you just know.

GoLite Manitou and Wildwood Shirt Reviews

2010-07-20T13:15:00.001-07:00

Summer comes a bit late to the Monterey Peninsula, and even later to runners like me who do the majority of their workouts in the early morning. So it took a little longer than I expected to try a couple of warm-weather tech shirts, but I can happily say that GoLite’s stuff was worth the wait.

Speaking of weight (I know that’s a different word, but homophones count), one of the shirts I got to test was most remarkable for its weight – or rather, its lack thereof. The other shirt is just a great all-around trail runner, and since it’s the one I’ve got the most mileage out of, that’s the one I’m starting with.

If you’re a mountain running aficionado, the name Manitou conjures one thing: the town of Manitou Springs at the base of Pikes Peak, and the start line of the infamous Pikes Peak Marathon. Having fallen in love with Pikes Peak several years ago, GoLite’s Manitou shirt not only triggered a nice memory, but declared itself a hardcore trail accessory.

Thankfully, its performance lived up to the name. It has a semi-fitted silhouette that slightly contours to the body without feeling tight, and has strategically placed seams to avoid any underarm or trunk chafing. The shirt is listed under GoLite’s hiking category, and the seam placement is ideal for backpack wearers as well as runners. Long sleeve and ¼ zip versions are also available from the GoLite website.

The Manitou is constructed of GoLite’s fast-wicking Cocona Minerale fabric, which utilizes microporous particles from coconut fibers that provide moisture transfer and odor resistance. It feels very comfortable against your skin, even on several hour runs ...

Cooling my feet in the Stanislaus River about 30 minutes after breaking my toe. Oh, yeah ... I'm also wearing a GoLite shirt

... and especially in comparison to breaking your toe, which I did while wearing the Manitou. Despite this, I really like the shirt and have no reason to believe it’s cursed.

GoLite’s Manitou comes in five different colors, and weighs 5.0 oz (136g). I’d consider it a midweight short sleeve tech shirt, especially in comparison to the next shirt I tested.

GoLite Wildwood

Keeping the “let’s name our clothes after cool trail running locations” theme going, the GoLite Wildwood – a shout out to the famous Pacific Northwest trail - is a super-lightweight, super-comfortable shirt that’s ideal for hot temperatures when you don’t feel like going sleeveless. Since I really don’t like running in tank tops (too many reasons to explain here, but trust me), I love shirts like this when the weather heats up.

The Wildwood weighs a mere 3 oz (80g), and has the same breathable and moisture-wicking fabric construction as the Manitou. It has a fitted cut, meaning it is closer to the body than the Manitou, but not skin tight. Side seams are traditionally aligned, but they’re not noticeable on long runs – except for the interior tag at mid-torso level on one side, which can sometimes be a minor annoyance. As with the Manitou, the Wildwood is also available in five different colors.

My personal preference between these two is the Manitou, because 1) I like my shirts slightly loose, 2) midweight shirts are better for me on our relatively cool summer mornings, and 3) the huge GoLite logo on the Wildwood makes me feel like a billboard. However, the Wildwood would be preferred for consistently hot climates, and it also has a cool little stash pocket on its hemline that's lacking on the Manitou. Either of these tech shirts would make a great high-performance addition to your summer trail running wardrobe.

GoLite’s Manitou and Wildwood are both available from Amazon.com, which has nice discounts on some sizes and colors, and retail for $45 each from the company website – links are here:

GoLite Manitou (Amazon.com)
GoLite Manitou (company website)

GoLite Wildwood (Amazon.com)
GoLite Wildwood (company website)

*Products provided by GoLite
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

We Did It!

2010-07-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

"We did it, we did it, we did it - hooray!"
- from Dora the Explorer

Gretchen and me, shortly after her 100-mile finish this morning

Well, more accurately, SHE did it - I was pretty much just along for the ride. But the ride was nearly incredible; Gretchen was a complete studette in posting her second Tahoe Rim Trail 100-mile finish, and I was honored to be able to witness it.

I may publish a brief post about my pacer experience later this week, but I really don't want to take too much attention away from the real star - so head over to Gretchen's blog and tell her congrats. I'm guessing she'll have a full race report in the near future, but for now, I can only hope she's catching up on some sleep.

CLIF Giveaway Drawing Winners

2010-07-18T18:47:00.000-07:00

Keeping this very brief because I'm publishing another short post tonight as well ...

Snowshoe Hare, Golden Trails Dave, and Russ138: send your address to me at info@runningandrambling.com - you've won the CLIF C and CRUNCH drawings. Congrats!

Thanks to everyone else who participated; stay tuned for another drawing in the near future.

To the Mountains!

2010-07-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

A quick admin note: if you missed the previous post, there's still time to enter the CLIF bar giveaway drawing before the winners are picked on Sunday evening. Thanks to everyone who has entered so far; the response has been fantastic.

*

“Walking along in this haze of confusion-
Sometimes I can laugh but sometimes it takes all of my strength-
Just to find enough reason to take the next step-
But I will, but I will, till I do.”
- Dave Matthews Band, “Eh Hee” (video after post)

I don’t know why my mind tends to gravitate towards Dave Matthews songs before an ultra … but I also know that it probably wouldn’t do much good for me to question it. Consequently, my road trips to races almost invariably feature a DMB concert disc to occupy my thoughts before the big event.

What’s different in this case is that the race isn’t even mine – although I’d argue that covering 50 miles of trails with 12,000’ of climbing still qualifies as an “ultra-ish” effort, even if it’s merely as a pacer. Nevertheless, the above song has been on a continuous mental loop for the past couple of days – and since it’s been a while since the last music post, that’s what you’re getting today.

Unfortunately, the official video is restricted and unembeddable, but the following clip is nearly as cool: it gives you a good feel for the song - including the verse in the above into, which is one of many lyrics that make me swear Dave Matthews must have been an ultrarunner in another life – as well as an interesting story of its origin.

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, “Eh Hee,” excerpted (click to play):

And if you’d like a full sampling of the song, you can follow this link to see Dave and Tim crank it out (parental and/or work warning: there's one F-bomb).

That’s all for this morning; the mountains are calling, and I must go. Eh Hee!

New CLIF Bar Giveaway!

2010-07-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

Since the primary point of this post is to giveaway some great-tasting swag, I’ll try to keep the preliminary info somewhat restrained – however, it should be clear by now that when I’m talking about CLIF, I sometimes tend to get a little carried away.

I mentioned that my headquarters visit in April featured a lot of new product sampling, some of which I had to keep secret at the time. And in my review of CLIF founder Gary Erickson’s book, I explained how one of CLIF’s aspirations is to sustain the brand name by providing a diversity of product offerings based on consumer demand. Today, both of those thoughts converge, as the giveaway prizes consist of two new product offerings I taste-tested, one of which I wasn’t allowed to discuss in the spring.

The first product is one I’ve previously described: the new CLIF C bar, which is a double layered fruit and nut bar made with all natural and 70% organic ingredients. It also embraces what’s known as the “simple food” philosophy of using a limited number of overall ingredients; every C bar features just 9 items, primarily a combination of fruit and nuts, with a dash of salt for taste.

(Even more interesting – to me, at least – is that an offshoot of this simple food philosophy is the primitive food movement, part of an overall minimalist “back to basics” mindset that also includes – you guessed it! - barefoot running. So if you like the C bar, you’re implicitly endorsing the barefoot movement as well – at least that’s the way I prefer to see it.)

CLIF C bars in four flavors: cherry pomegranate, raspberry, apple, and blueberry

C bars come in four different flavors, which vary by the type of fruit on the top layer. Each flavor has a nut crust on the bottom with a blend of almonds, macadamias and dates, and a sprinkling of toasted almonds. One bar contains a full serving of fruit, and has 130 calories. Winners of the giveaway will get to try each variety.

The second giveaway item is CLIF’s formerly-secret entry in the rapidly expanding granola bar market. CLIF CRUNCH (yes, it’s written in all caps … don’t ask me why) are all all-natural and 70% organic, and have a noticeably lighter texture than other bars I’ve tasted.

CLIF CRUNCH, 10-pack boxes in four flavors

All CRUNCH bars are made from organic oats, barley, rye, and rice crisps, and like the C bar are available in four flavors. There are whole chips baked into the chocolate chip and white chocolate macadamia flavors, although to this point my favorite flavor is the traditional honey oat (the fourth flavor is peanut butter). Each two-bar packet delivers a full serving of organic whole grains and 4 to 5 grams of protein, as well as a good source of fiber in 180 calories.

CRUNCH bars should now be available in natural food stores as well as some grocery stores, but if you win the giveaway, CLIF will make it easy for you and send some samples directly to your house.

So let’s follow the regular routine here: place a comment below, and I’ll pick three winners to receive a sample package. Since I’m out of town this weekend, the contest will be open until Sunday at 5PM, and I’ll announce winners shortly afterward. Good luck!

GoLite Summer Fun Giveaways

2010-07-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

Today’s post was originally penciled in as a CLIF giveaway, but I received an interesting e-mail to my inbox recently, and it’s one of those “the sooner you hear about it the better” announcements, so I’m interrupting the schedule just a bit to pass along the details.

If you haven't heard about GoLite’s summer-long GoLite Up Your Day giveaways happening right now, you need to jump over to their website right away to get in on the action.

Basically, GoLite is giving away one piece of gear per day all summer long. The contest will be 93 days long, and they’re currently on day 24. You might win anything from a $700 tent to a $300 jacket, running gear, hydration systems, apparel, and other items from their diverse outdoor product line.

GoLite has made it easy to participate as well: all you do is enter your e-mail address one time on their website, and you’re signed up for the entire contest. So head over there and enter, then start checking the daily results on GoLite’s Facebook page.

That’s all for today; quick and painless, huh? Check back next time for the CLIF giveaway.

Book Review: Raising the Bar

2010-07-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

“I ride my bike because I love to be on my bike. I don’t ride just to get to the finish line; what happens on the bike makes the experience. I love white road journeys. I thrill at the high mountain peaks, the feel of the pedals and gears, the picturesque villages, the shared loaves of bread, the physical challenges, the being in a space where I can think clearly and listen to my heart.”
- Gary Erickson, from Raising the Bar: Integrity and Passion in Life and Business: The Story of Clif Bar & Co.

*
Shortly after I described my behind-the-scenes tour of the CLIF Bar headquarters this spring, which detailed the many ways that company founder Gary Erickson provides amazing perks for his employees, and highlighted some of the company’s multiple socially responsible initiatives, several people responded with a similar comment: that guy should write a book.

What I didn’t realize at the time, but was pleased to find out soon afterward, is that Erickson has already written a book; not only that, but it’s a pretty darn good one. It’s also a point of introduction for a couple days of CLIF-related posts that will conclude with a giveaway drawing of some new products later this week.

For today, however, it’s all about the book: Raising the Bar is one part autobiographical, one part instructional, and one part philosophical – a combination which adds up to an extremely interesting read all the way around. It’s truly an inspiration to know that there are people like Erickson and companies like CLIF out there – and aside from the inevitable fact that reading this story will probably make you feel woefully inadequate in your own life’s adventures, Raising the Bar will forever make you think differently about the way businesses can and should be run.

Instead of recapping the whole book, I’ll just highlight a few items that grabbed my attention, especially in light of the visit I enjoyed this spring …

* The entire CLIF enterprise is built around the “Five Aspirations” business model, where the company commits itself to

1) Sustaining their brands: by creating a diversity of nutritious, high-quality products based on customer demand rather than contrived marketing campaigns.

2) Sustaining their business: by remaining a privately owned company that provides a good standard of living for its employees, and positions itself to thrive for future generations.

3) Sustaining their people: by providing a place where people can contribute, learn and grow while living the life they want to live.

4) Sustaining their community: by using a portion of funding and manpower to support local social and cultural needs, and being a conscientious neighbor with all those they directly impact.

5) Sustaining their planet: by minimizing their global footprint as much as possible through a wide variety of ecological initiatives ...

... and it only takes you about 1 minute of walking around company headquarters to realize that the Five Aspirations aren't lip service; ample evidence of these commitments in action are all around you.

* A central theme to the book is taking “white road” journeys, which denote small rural routes on the European maps of Erickson’s adventure travels, instead of the red roads which indicate major thoroughfares. This is a lengthy analogy, but the main idea is that our purpose in life shouldn’t be to simply reach our destinations as quickly as possible; we should take time to enjoy the scenic, unpredictable route, and appreciate the entire journey, wherever it may end up leading us.

* Finally – remember how cool I said it was for me to meet Gary Erickson and his wife/co-owner Kit Crawford on my visit? It turns out that probably wasn’t a happy accident; Erickson explains how CLIF intentionally minimizes traditional advertising methods in favor of connecting directly with its customers on a grassroots level as much as possible. He takes every opportunity to talk to customers face to face, and looks for ways to make meaningful personal connections. I’m guessing one of those ways is stepping out of his office to say hello when a certain idiot blogger happens to be in town.

Suffice it to say that Erickson has successfully made a connection with me – and I’d absolutely recommend taking any opportunity you can to learn more about the CLIF company and support its various endeavors. I’ve got two suggestions for how to get started: first, you can purchase Raising the Bar from Amazon.com, or check it out from your local library. Trust me, you’ll be dazzled.

The second way to get to know the company a little better is to win the giveaway that’s coming up later this week … but for that, you’ll have to wait until the next post.

Vamanos a Tahoe!

2010-07-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

Last summer, 22-year-old Kilian Jornet announced his intention to break the fastest known time for a complete circumnavigation of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Over the next several weeks, he assembled crew members and a team of pacers, and successfully took down the record in late September.

By the end of the year, Salomon Running, Jornet’s primary sponsor, had produced a video series on the record-setting run, and I used those videos for a post in January. In the post, I mentioned that one of Jornet’s pacers was Bryon Powell, who in addition to being a tremendous blogger, also happens to be a badass ultrarunner – as in top-10 at Leadville badass.

Around that same time, I was considering entering the Tahoe Rim Trail 100-Miler which takes place this coming weekend – but with a very short entry window, and a lot of uncertainty as to what my day to day life would look like this summer (a situation that still exists, come to think of it), I decided against entering the race. However, I had several reasons for wanting to be in Tahoe and get a taste of the event, so I volunteered my services as a pacer to someone I knew would be an ideal companion for fifty miles of Tahoe trail running: my soul sister Gretchen, who practically nursed me back from the dead at Western States last year. I figured the least I could do was repay the favor, while also doing some reconnaissance on a course that’s very high on my 100-mile wish list.

After that January post featuring Kilian’s Tahoe record, Gretchen left this comment: I’ll be your Kilian Jornet if you’ll be my Bryon Powell.

To which I replied, I was thinking more along the lines of Boots and Dora.

And while that was admittedly a knee-jerk reaction from someone who lives with two grade-school-aged daughters, it actually makes a fair amount of sense. Dora’s a chick who goes on one adventure after another, and is more than capable of getting herself through any problems she encounters whenever she goes exploring. Boots is basically there for companionship and some occasional comic relief, and ends up learning from Dora’s expertise along the way.

I could even take the analogy a little further: just like the main characters on Dora the Explorer, I’ll be equipped with my very own Backpack, full of the supplies we need to make it to our destination. I should also carry a Map of some sort, to prevent us from getting lost along the way (because it’s happened to me lately – more than once, in fact).

When it comes to these ultras, Gretchen’s no joke; she’s steadily climbed the ladder in race standings over the past couple of years, and has been dutifully logging the kind of hours and mileage on the trails this spring and summer that I can only dream of. She’s made this her goal race for the year, and she’s as familiar with the Tahoe trails as anybody – in other words, she has the potential to have a very good showing next weekend.

So I’ve been taking my role as Boots quite seriously, mainly because I don’t want to screw things up for her. I’m trying to identify with the character, and even hunted down an unsuspecting Dora one day last month to pick her brain for some advice on how to get through the super-exciting adventure we have coming up next week.

Me and Dora, shortly after talking race strategy

And that’s the main reason that getting sidelined in the Sierras last week was such a bummer for me: I had already been something of a slacker in my own training over the past few weeks, and I had penciled in this vacation as an ideal time to turbo-charge my running for one last fitness boost before assuming my role as Gretchen’s pacer. Then I went and nearly wrenched one of my toes off, and ended up not doing anything for several days afterward. Needless to say, I'm not exactly arriving at the top of my game.

It’s one thing for me to be an idiot; I’ve come to live with it. What concerns me is the possibility of any of that idiocy rubbing off on Gretchen during her race. She’s ready to roll, and deserves a good pacer to make her adventure a success, instead of some goofy out-of-shape monkey with a broken toe who’s just along for the ride.

For the time being, I'm remaining optimistic that things will work out just fine - and by this time next week, we’ll know for sure how the story ends.

Things Fall Apart

2010-07-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

Since my previous post demonstrated – quite forcefully, as it happened – one of the drawbacks of minimalist footwear, this seems like a good time to throw together a collection of photos that address some other shortcomings of my most heavily-used trail runners over the past several weeks.

Mainly, the issue is one of durability, and each of my favorite brands – VivoBarefoot, Soft Star, and Vibram – have demonstrated some limitations in this regard. Before we get to the specifics, a few general observations are worth mentioning:

1) Durability seems to be an issue of high importance for minimalist runners, although I tend to think it’s a little bit overemphasized. The thinking goes like this: since true minimalist footwear doesn’t have a midsole, the conventional recommendation of changing shoes every 400-500 miles – a guideline perpetuated by traditional shoe manufacturers, and ostensibly based on midsole life – doesn’t apply to minimalist footwear. Therefore, the only things that prevent you from running 1000 or 2000 miles on your minimalist shoes are the outsole durability and structural integrity of the upper.

However, even though this is a post about problems with shoe durability, keep in mind that I’ve put a minimum of 400 miles on each of these pairs, which represents a typical running shoe lifespan, and would ordinarily justify the purchase price. But for whatever reason, for better or worse, the yardstick for minimalist stuff is different.

2) I think it’s fair to say that I’m pretty brutal on my shoes, and put them through some extremes that a lot of other runners might not encounter. I test everything on trails, whether they’re intended for trails or not. I go through river crossings, dense brush, bushwhacking off trail (sometimes intentionally, other times not) and routinely do very steep climbs and descents on virtually all kinds of terrain. And with increasing frequency, I’m using these minimalist models for my ultra training and racing. So in medical parlance, I do a lot of “off-label” use that might not be a factor if you’re merely looking for something to run around the neighborhood in.

The secondary benefit – besides all the fun of the actual testing, that is – is that weaknesses in the construction of these shoes become apparent a little earlier in the lifespan with hardcore use – and that brings us to the photos:

Exhibit A: VivoBarefoot Evo

These are my VivoBarefoot Evos with approximately 425 miles on them:

Of all my minimalist shoes, these have the best overall fit, they’re extremely comfortable, and they’ve performed much better than expected on rugged trails even though they’re not intended as an off-road shoe. I wore them for my (unfortunately, ill-fated) 100K last month, and the only performance issue I’ve ever had with them is diminished traction on loosely packed downslopes. The structural problem here is with the uppers:

As you can see, the mesh and TPU upper have begun to split apart - and this wasn’t due to a fall or unusual trauma, as both the left and right shoes show the exact same wear in the exact same location.

My VB contact person informed me that a similar problem had been reported by a couple other high-mileage runners. Apparently with a narrower than usual (by VB standards) last shape, the impact and flex points cause too much pressure on that particular region of the upper, causing it to split. These incidents all occurred with the very first production run, and VivoBarefoot’s technicians and design team have already addressed the problem for the 2nd production run which is currently sold in stores and on the website.

To give you a sense of scale, the mesh on the first production was tested to 20,000 "flexes", and the newer production runs are tested to 300,000 - in other words, you'd have to log 15 times more mileage to reproduce this same failure on the current version. What's more, the rep told me that VivoBarefoot is currently testing an even more durable material for the Evo models that will be launched in the fall; needless to say, I’ll be very eager to put them through the paces.

Exhibit B: Soft Star RunAmoc

These are my Soft Star RunAmocs with about 550 miles on them:

My love affair with the RunAmoc is well documented; from contributing to the design process to campaigning for the name selection to wearing them for my first 50-miler of the year this spring, they’ve been nothing short of a delight to wear from the moment the sizing and material selections were dialed in.

The fit of these is much looser in the rearfoot than the Evo, and since I tend to land on the inside of my heels – especially on the right – the wear pattern on the outsole is abnormally heavy on the inner section:

Traction on the outsole has worn down enough that I have some minor slipping on loose terrain, but that’s not the point of breakdown here. Rather, since my heel impact area drifts so far inward, I actually land upon the inner portion of the perforated leather upper – and I’ve done this so much that I’ve worn a hole in the leather:

My Soft Star contact said she is pretty sure they will be switching to exclusively suede backs instead of perforated leather on the next version of the RunAmoc, because it is a more durable material, and it also "stands up" and holds its shape better to keep the foot more centered. Since my pair was a hybrid (one perforated leather heel, one suede heel), I can attest that the suede heel style does indeed hold up much better; my only concern will be how well it dries after getting soaked in wet grass or stream crossings.

If the heel is switched to suede, I’d like to see the forefoot upper remain perforated, both for the ventilation benefit and for faster drying. In the meantime, I’m still logging mileage in my current pair, because I truly love using them, and because I’m curious as to just how far I can run in them before they completely fall apart.

Exhibit C: Vibram FiveFingers KSO

Here is one of my FiveFingers KSOs after nearly 750 miles:

The KSOs were one of my first pairs of minimalist footwear, and this pair has more mileage on them than any shoes I’ve ever owned. The outsole is holding up fantastically, but as you can see I have a little “situation” with the heel strap – namely, it tore in half about 4 weeks ago. Normally the end of the strap threads through the horizontal eyelet, and the top portion folds through it before doubling back on itself with a Velcro attachment.

I’ve still been running in these, with a makeshift adaptation:

Now I thread the top strap directly through the eyelet, and there’s barely enough length to fold it back to fasten on top. The heel isn’t quite as secure as it was before, but it still manages to stay on my foot fairly well. I also make one more adjustment:

Since I haven’t brought myself to officially cut the torn strap off yet, I just wrap it around its remaining portion and go on my way.

As far as the upper is concerned, I’ve experienced another structural issue that’s not unusual with FiveFingers users:

Separation along the seam of the big toe, which is more likely to happen if you pull directly on the toe when removing the shoe. I quickly learned to take off my FiveFingers by grasping the underside and pushing it forward off my foot, but by that time the damage was already done.

Obviously, neither of these problems has prevented me from racking up mileage on the KSOs, and I haven’t experienced either of these issues with the KSO Trek. However, I’m definitely more attentive to the Treks, making sure to rinse the uppers after every few runs – I suspect that salt buildup might have contributed to brittleness of the KSO strap – and removing them properly each time.

*
Even with all of the above developments, I’m very satisfied with the performance of each of these minimalist options, and none of the issues I’ve described is enough for me to stop using those particular brands. Rather, I believe that as these products become more prevalent and more rigorously tested by various users, the companies will identify points of weakness so they can tweak future models for improved performance. Vibram is famous for incorporating user feedback into new models, and it appears that VivoBarefoot and Soft Star are proving themselves to be just as responsive.

Each of these companies has demonstrated a commitment to developing high-performance minimalist footwear, and I look forward to seeing what changes and improvements they have in store in the future.

Ouch!

2010-07-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

(Warning: pictures of feet attached.)

Say ... does one of these toes look strange to anyone?:

So much for all those epic runs I had planned. I used to consider the pinky toe a generally useless appendage – but all it takes is a minor fracture (or hopefully just a deep bruise; I'm too cheap - and too much of a slacker - to hunt down a mountain doctor to find out for sure) and a decent amount of swelling to make you realize just how many small movements and muscle contractions that little thing does during the course of everyday activity.

And right now, every one of those little movements is killing me.

What you see here is a result of me playing around with my downhill speed in my FiveFingers on a rocky trail in Big Trees State Park. Apparently I wasn’t paying close enough attention when the trail got a little narrow, and the rocks got a little rockier, and … bam.

It happened about 45 minutes into a 2.5 hour run; needless to say, the rest of the run wasn’t exactly what you’d call comfortable.

So now I’m icing and splinting and taking meds in hopes that the pain dies down sooner rather than later so I can head back out to some of the killer trails right outside my door. Meanwhile, my wife is Googling all of the possible complications that might possibly befall someone who suffers a broken toe, and worrying that I’ll develop a chronic pain syndrome, traumatic arthritis, or some horrible infection that eventually necessitates amputation.

Painkillers and paranoia – I can’t say it’s my favorite way to start a vacation, but I guess things could be a lot worse.

4th of July, Big Trees CA

2010-07-04T10:26:00.001-07:00

This is the view from my cabin window this morning:

Honestly, our family’s annual summer escape to the Sierra Nevadas couldn’t come at a better time; thus far, 2010 has been almost completely chaotic, with the craziness reaching a crescendo over the past couple of weeks. In light of that, this vacation is an opportune chance to catch our breath and reconnect with each other, while appreciating all the blessings our family enjoys.

I’ve got some plans in mind for what the week may bring, and a couple of epic-ish runs that I might report on a bit later … but then again, maybe I won’t. Above all else, our Sierra vacation gives us the freedom to do whatever we want to do – or more importantly, to not do whatever we don’t feel like doing. At this point, I have no idea which way things will go.

So the posts could be a bit sporadic around here for a while, and life looks to be approaching some transition points in the weeks to come. (Don’t worry – it’s nothing terrible. Just very different.) In the meantime, I’ll be relaxing with the family in the mountains, giving thanks for where life has brought us so far, and remaining optimistic for all that’s yet to come.

SCAPE Sunblock Review

2010-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today’s review starts with a confession: I almost never wear sunblock.

I know that violates a cardinal sin of outdoor athletes – not to mention dermatologists – but it’s always seemed like more hassle than it’s worth. I also benefit from having a relatively dark complexion (my Italian mother is beaming with pride right now) that makes me slightly less susceptible to sunburn during long days outdoors. I know that my genetic good fortune doesn’t protect me from risk of skin cancer, but that’s one of those medical dice rolls I feel comfortable making, at least for the time being.

On the other hand, in a classic example of “Do as I say and not as I do” parenting, I make my kids wear sunblock whenever they’re at the pool, beach, or long outdoor activities. So when I received an offer to test some new sunblock products, I knew exactly who my guinea pigs would be.

SCAPE – it stands for Skin Cancer Awareness Protection & Education – was developed by Dr. Nic Martens, a biochemistry PhD and accomplished endurance athlete who also happens to be one of the inventors of Neutrogena’s well-respected skin care products. This particular product line is a collaboration between Martens and Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander, and has been field tested by professional triathletes, surfers, runners, cyclists, and winter sports athletes at various stages of development prior to its launch in April 2010.

I’m not much of a biochemistry expert, but SCAPE claims to have an innovative polymer technology in their products that makes them unique in comparison to your everyday drug store sunblock. More specifically, SCAPE is reportedly five times more waterproof than any other product on the market, but still allows the skin to breathe for temperature regulation. It has an SPF of 50 with the highest UVA protection available, and is enriched with vitamin E and antioxidants to protect and nourish your skin. Best of all, it won’t clog your pores or rub off into your eyes.

Sounds pretty impressive, huh? You can see why I was so eager to try it – on my kids, that is.

I received three different products for testing: sunblock lotion, lip balm, and face stick. The sunblock has almost no aroma to it, and feels a bit less greasy to the touch than our usual Coppertone or Banana Boat stuff. Its water resistance seems pretty strong, but my kids did get a little bit pink after a long pool party recently, so I’d still recommend reapplying after a few hours of use.

SCAPE lip balm also has SPF 50, and has a pretty neutral scent and taste – not the overwhelming menthols or fruit tastes that most other brands force upon you. The only problem is that at the rate my girls go through lip balm, this could become a pretty expensive habit for them to pick up. But if you’re a grown up and can use it judiciously, it’s a very solid option.

I was probably most impressed by the face stick, primarily for it’s convenience of use. Normally when I apply sunscreen to the kids, I tell them to close and scrunch their eyes while I rub lotion from my palm onto all the little curves and bumps of their faces. The sun stick has a deodorant-style container, and glides smoothly (it reminds me a lot of BodyGlide, in fact) on the skin, giving the same UVA protection and SPF as the other products in this line.

Based on my lab sample of three kids, I’d say that each of these products is a strong option for outdoor athletes, with the lone caveat that the advertised water resistance doesn’t prevent you from having to reapply from time to time. They're a little more expensive than your average sunblock, but if you're smarter enough than me to take skin care seriously, they're definitely worth a try.

Aside from that, the hardest thing about using SCAPE might be finding it to purchase, as availability is still somewhat limited. The products are sold in a handful of specialty running and cycling shops, and the best online outlet is TriSports.com, where the 4-oz sunblock retails for $14.99, the lip balm for $3.50, and the face stick for $11.99.

*product provided by SCAPElabs
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

GoLite BareTech Trail Running Shoe Preview

2010-06-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

In conversations with several friends and fellow runners over the past year, I’ve declared that my best hope for the whole barefoot running craze would be a paradigm shift away from the over-built, over-engineered, over-corrective mentality which has been conventional wisdom in the shoe industry over the past few decades.

We don’t all have to be minimalists – but if we can collectively diminish our mindset that shoes need to fix our feet rather than just let them work naturally, that would be an enormous improvement. That’s why I’m always excited to see companies embrace the “less is more” philosophy, especially when they specifically target trail runners.

It shouldn’t really surprise anyone that GoLite has moved into this category, unless of course you’re currently saying, “Wait – GoLite makes shoes?” The company hasn’t traditionally had a huge impact on the running shoe market, but they’ve always been famous for lightweight, minimalist outdoor gear and apparel – so it seems like a natural extension for them to overhaul their footwear lineup with the same premise in mind.

Two products in particular look very interesting, which I’ll have the opportunity to test later this summer and winter. I’ll keep the descriptions brief for now, and save the detailed analysis for full reviews later.
The Amp Lite Trail Runner is intended as a long-distance trail runner. It uses something called BareTech technology, which is intended to complement your natural foot motion instead of trying to correct it.

I really appreciated that the GoLite rep intentionally pointed out to me that they are not true minimalist shoes, but they give the runner a neutral heel and allow the biomechanics of natural running. She said they’re ideally “designed for the barefoot runner who enjoys trail running.” And with that, I was hooked. The Amp Lite will be released this fall, and I’ll hopefully be testing them by the end of the summer.

But that’s really just the warmup for GoLite’s minimalist push, because next Spring, they’ll release this:
It’s called the Tara (as in Tarahumara, of course) Lite, which aims to take the best aspects of the classic huarache sandal and add some protection and traction while allowing the foot to function naturally. It reminds me a bit of Nike’s old-school Air Huarache, but about 10 times more advanced.

The Tara Lite is a “true trail race shoe for the elite outdoor athlete”. Despite that elite thing, they’re going to let me test a pair anyway sometime around the first of the year, in advance of the shoe’s release in Spring 2011.

GoLite is also applying their BareTech design to a whole line of running, hiking, trekking, and casual shoes for both men and women. If you want more information on these other styles, check out this great overview by Runblogger, and stay tuned here for reviews of the trail models as they become available.

Soft Star RunAmoc Update; Soft Star Video Contest

2010-06-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

Having recently eclipsed 500 miles on my Soft Star RunAmocs, I figured it was time for an update post soon. The timing also worked out well to talk about another pair of Soft Stars that has been my most heavily used shoe so far this summer. And just as I putting both of those ideas together, I received an e-mail from the company announcing a contest opportunity to win free mocs for life* (*well … most of it, anyway). All of which meant it was time to get going on the post.

This is also a good time to mention that I don’t just review complimentary pairs of Soft Stars that are given to me – I also spend my own actual money (shocking, I know) on shoes and slippers that have become my absolute favorites over the past year.

Soft Star RunAmoc, chocolate suede with road outsole

A good case in point is my chocolate suede RunAmocs, which I purchased with no intention of using as a running shoe. Rather, they’ve been my general all-purpose shoes just about every day over the spring and summer so far. I’ve worn them to restaurants and museums and amusement parks and college campuses, for shopping and hiking and even shooting baskets on the playground.

I consider them a perfect combination of minimalism (with just a 2mm outsole), durability, and comfort, and I also have to admit that I simply love the style of them. I know that the moccasin look isn’t for everyone – insert your elf or hobbit joke here – but there’s just something very native and "back to basics" about it that I find simply charming. And if that sounds like a little too much fondness for a pair of shoes, so be it.

Truth be told, I have an almost equal amount of love for my ventilated leather RunAmoc Lites that I use for – get this! – running. It’s no secret that I’ve tested a lot of minimalist running shoes around these parts, but time and again I find myself reaching for my RunAmocs before the longest or most ambitious runs. (The Evo is also very high on my list; those two have been duking it out quite a bit as my favorites lately.)

Soft Star RunAmoc trail soles after 500 miles

Sadly, after more than 500 miles, they’re starting to show signs of age. On the outsole, the heel areas have worn down to the point where I am definitely sacrificing some traction on really challenging terrain like steep hills with loose dirt, so I now have to be a little bit selective about where I wear them. I’ve also discovered a minor weakness in one particular portion of the upper, which I’ll describe in more detail in an upcoming post.

I have to say though, 500 miles is a very reasonable lifespan in my opinion; it certainly is comparable to the longevity of a standard pair of running shoes. It’s not quite on par with the durability of Vibram’s FiveFinger outsole, but both Vibram and VivoBarefoot have some structural integrity concerns that I’ll write about in the near future as well (Don’t worry - I’ll be sure to copy you).

For now, instead of replacing them, I’m just going to keep running in the pair I have – partly because I still prefer them to most other running shoes, and partly out of curiosity to see how much more I can beat them up before I finally feel like they’re unusable.

*
And now for the contest: Soft Star is marking its 25th anniversary this year, and they’re celebrating by conducting a sweepstakes that doubles as a community video project.

Here’s the deal: create and submit a short (20 seconds to 3 minutes) video portrait that meets two criteria:

1) Includes a single written word that describes how it feels to wear Soft Star shoes, and

2) Answers the question, “Where have your Soft Star shoes taken you?”

The winner will receive one $60 gift certificate per year for 20 years. While it’s not exactly a trip to Mont-Blanc, it’s certainly enough to keep you supplied with my favorite moccasins for a very, very long time. And you’ll make your feet extremely happy.

Better yet, your chances of winning this contest are pretty good. How good? Consider this line from an e-mail the company sent out earlier this month:

You have an EXCELLENT chance of winning the grand prize: No one has sent anything in yet despite the contest being out since April! We are looking forward to seeing the faces of many of our customers from around the world.

Obviously, the contest favors people who are already Soft Star owners. There’s still a lot of time left, though, so you could potentially go shopping for a pair now and enter the contest before the August 15th deadline. Or maybe you could borrow a pair from a friend and try your luck. Whatever you decide, click here for full contest details.

I have a video idea in mind that I might enter; the only question is whether I’ll ever have time to actually go out and film it. If not, I’ll keep racking up the miles on the Soft Stars I already have, running and walking and slipper-ing to my heart’s content.

Buona Notte

2010-06-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

Long day. Crazy week. Oh, wait - there's one more day to go; make that a long, crazy week.

If that weren't bad enough, my beloved Azzurri were unceremoniously bounced from the World Cup today.

He looks the way I feel; photo courtesy bild.com

I sat down to start a post tonight ... but I'd rather just go to bed, and hope tomorrow will be better.

Nathan HPL 020 Hydration Vest Review Update

2010-06-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.”
- Jim Collins, Good to Great

It’s unclear to me whether the folks at Nathan purposely had the tenets of Jim Collins in the backs of their minds this spring, or whether they just happened to prove his point accidentally. Good to Great (subtitled Why Some Companies Make the Leap, and Others Don't) describes how truly outstanding companies don’t settle for performance that’s “good enough”; they are constantly looking for ways – either through personnel, operational efficiency, innovation, technology, creativity, and various other means – to make their situations better.

And this might sound like an unusual way to begin a product review, until you consider that the product in question is Nathan’s HPL 020.

Nathan HPL 020

When I first reviewed the pack last spring, I showered it with praise in everything from its feather-light (6.0 oz) overall weight to its comfortable vest-style design to the highly convenient front pockets and generous rear storage space. (And rather than re-hashing all of that here, I’ll just refer you to last year’s post if you’d like to review the whole thing.) It was one of my two favorite packs last year, and it pretty much came down to a coin flip between the 020 and Ultimate Direction’s Wasp in deciding which one to wear at the Western States 100 last summer.

HPL 020; front view with multiple pockets

Clearly, it was a very good pack, but there were a couple of small issues that prevented it from being a truly great one. The main difficulty I had was dealing with the fluid reservoir, which had a somewhat small twist-top opening, and an occasionally tricky bite valve mechanism. So when I heard that the pack was being updated this year with an improved reservoir, I knew that was a game-changing factor that could potentially eliminate any doubt about which hydration pack would be my top choice for ultrarunners.

Nathan turned to its partner Hydrapak, a company that’s made very impressive strides of its own in the last few years, to update the fluid reservoir of the HPL 020. Hydrapak responded with a top of the line 70-oz reservoir that’s not only super durable, but incredibly easy to use. Basically, it’s a fluid container that’s as tough as the rest of the vest.

Old HPL 020 reservoir on L, new reservoir on R

How’s this for durability? The new reservoir is made from thermoplastic polyurethane, the same stuff they use to make whitewater rafts. It’s puncture and abrasion resistant, and can expand to eight times its original length without bursting. The entire delivery mechanism – reservoir to tube to bite valve – has a lifetime guarantee against leakage.

From a convenience standpoint, Hydrapak’s reservoir features a fold and slide closure, with a molded clip clamping the top of the bladder shut to prevent leaks. It’s a very simple two-step process to open and close, and the opening is much wider and easier to access than the old screw-top mechanism of the previous model.

The best thing about Hydrapak’s reservoir is that its rectangular shape and full-width opening make it completely reversible. No more stuffing towels into a narrow opening or hanging your pack beside the sink for two days; with the new bladder, you just wash it, flip it inside out, and wipe the whole thing dry. This feature alone is enough to tip the scales for me in favor of the 020 over any other challengers.

Reservoir turned completely inside out, with tube detached

In my field testing over the past couple of months, Hydrapak seems to have improved the bite valve mechanism a bit as well. It’s easier to pull out and push in than I recall from last year’s pack, and I haven’t experienced the annoyance of the rubber cap sliding off the valve entirely, as I did occasionally last year. Maybe I’m just more alert for that possibility this time around – but if I had to guess, I’d say there was a spot of re-engineering here as well.

[*Update: Hydrapak's reversible reservoir now comes equipped with a surge valve, which is angled differently and provides a higher flow volume than the previous design. Some commenters below indicated quirks with the old valve (which I haven't experienced myself); the Surge valve was designed to fix those problems, and is now included with all new HPL 020 vests.]

Aside from the fluid reservoir, the HPL 020 is exactly the same for 2010 as it was last year – which is to say, it’s still pretty flippin’ awesome. If you’re a dedicated ultrarunner looking for the perfect pack to power you through those long training runs and races, you really can’t do better than this. With this upgrade, Nathan’s HPL 020 has successfully made the leap from good to great.

Here’s where things get tricky, though – because when you’re buying this product online, it’s sometimes tough to tell which bladder will be on the inside. A Nathan rep told me the replacement was a rolling change, so the company can’t verify which retailers still sell the old pack, and which have the new one.

Last year, I linked to Amazon.com, which continues to offer these at a significant discount - currently $64 as opposed to normal $85 retail - but I’m not 100% certain if they have the new reservoirs. The only vendor I know for certain has the new reservoirs is Wilderness Running Company, where you get free shipping plus a 10% discount by using coupon code R&R10 on either the HPL 020 or its female equivalent, the Intensity.

*Product provided by Nathan Sports
*See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

Merrell Goes Barefoot!

2010-06-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

If you’re a minimalist trail runner, the following might represent some kind of dream scenario:

1) An established, well-respected gear company known for its comfortable, durable footwear fully commits itself to not just a single minimalist style, but a whole series of options for a variety of outdoor activities, and …

2) That company has a partnership with the preeminent manufacturer of high-performance outsoles in the world.

If that’s the case, last week’s announcement from Merrell and Vibram was certainly a dream come true.

Several websites (such as FeedTheHabit.com, which has the whole press release) have reported on the new Merrell Barefoot line, billed as “minimalist, lightweight, versatile and efficient footwear,” and scheduled for release in February 2011. Merrell has a longstanding relationship with Vibram, whose CEO Tony Post is “excited to extend the benefits of barefoot alternatives in the outdoors.”

Post’s endorsement is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. First is that Merrell Barefoot doesn’t necessarily represent a threat to Vibram’s market share or stature in the minimalist community; rather, it's a sign that the community is growing and diversifying to such an extent that there's room enough for everyone. To minimalist fans, this is great news – because the more options we have, the more likely we are to find that “perfect” design that works best for us.

The second thing Post’s remark indicates is that this isn’t simply a company calling something minimal just because it’s the trendy thing to do. Vibram knows what true minimalist shoes are, and they wouldn’t be promoting Merrell’s new offerings as barefoot alternatives if they weren’t the real deal.

From this point, I’ll let pictures tell the rest of the story. Merrell provided me with some images of the new models, which I’ve combined with brief descriptions from the press release below:

Men’s Trail Glove: an athletic trail runner for a close-to-terrain ride. Mesh and synthetic leather upper.

Men’s True Glove: a streamlined, all-terrain multi-sport shoe for scrambling across creeks and crags with natural ease. Mesh and synthetic leather upper.

Men’s Tough Glove: Tough to see details due to the color, but this is a foot-conforming soft leather model, with versatility for wearing around town or into a spontaneous game of Ultimate Frisbee (seriously, it says that).

Women’s Pace Glove: a low-profile trail runner with breathable mesh upper.

Women’s Power Glove: ankle-high design with Velcro closures for multi-purpose on- or off-trail activity.

Women’s Pure Glove: a super low-profile Lycra mesh Mary Jane for multi-purpose activity.

At first glance, the lineup looks pretty impressive – and having two companies with such an established track record involved is quite reassuring from a quality and performance standpoint. Until they’re released, however, we’ll all just have to speculate about how they'll measure up. In the meantime, check out Merrell’s blog for more information, and hopefully you can check back here in 2011 for first looks and reviews of these very promising new models.

Born to Golf?

2010-06-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

Regardless of how many other industries thrive here, there’s no debating that on the Monterey Peninsula, golf is king.

People make pilgrimages here from all corners of the globe to play at our numerous world-class resorts, and hotel rooms all over town sell out months in advance of the annual AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Whenever there’s a big tournament in town, the traffic snarls and tourist swarms are enough to make locals avoid venturing out of the house until the frenzy dies down – unless, of course, they’re part of the frenzy themselves.

And whenever the U.S. Open comes to town, all the insanity gets ratcheted up exponentially.
Such is the case this weekend, as Pebble Beach hosts the 2010 championship. And for our local newspaper, the tournament isn’t simply a weekend event – it’s a cause for week-long coverage of every conceivable story line you can imagine.

It also eclipses any other sporting news that might take place during the days leading up to the big show. This week, Giants and A’s reports were confined to the back pages of the sports section. The NBA Finals received cursory coverage. World Cup results were buried in the box scores.

So if you’re the author of a measly running column, you definitely shouldn’t expect much in the way of promotion.

Our regularly scheduled column slot was on Thursday, which also happened to be the first round of the Open. I figured there was a pretty good chance that the column wouldn’t run at all – but my friend Mike and I gave it a shot anyway.

To improve our chances of getting published, we came up with an angle that was golf-related, but still allowed us to tell a story that had running as its primary focus. Honestly, I think it was a pretty clever stretch on our part; you can see if you agree after reading the article that follows below.

Nevertheless, our column was indeed bumped this week in favor of golf coverage, so this one hasn’t yet seen the light of newsprint. It might appear at a later date – but since the tournament is going on this weekend, I figured the timing was right to post it here anyway.

**

Running Life 6/17/10 “Born to Golf?”

Think you know who invented golf? If you’re like most observers, you believe that the sport as we know it was invented in Scotland in the late 1400s.

Some historians also note that the ancient Romans played games with sticks hitting stones on the ground, but this pastime had no link to modern day golf. Others attribute some influence to activities called kolven in Holland and chole in Belgium that involved sticks and rudimentary balls or stones - but for the majority of golf purists, the pursuit of hitting round objects into slightly larger holes in the ground is strictly attributed to the Scots.

However, with all due respect to those historians, we have another theory: maybe golf was created by a band of runners.

Chris McDougall’s book Born to Run describes the reclusive Raramuri, indigenous people of the treacherous Copper Canyon region of northern Mexico. Raramuri are the world’s greatest distance runners, whose “superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity.” These natives were so reclusive that they were not discovered by the outside world until the 1500s by the Conquistadors, who mispronounced the name to call them Tarahumara. (They are still commonly called Tarahumara by outsiders today.)

The name Raramuri means “runners on foot” or “those who run fast”, and the entire culture of the tribe involves running for joy. McDougall set out to chronicle the Tarahumara to understand how they could run for hundreds of miles without getting injured. Among other observations, his documentation of huarache-clad ultrarunners has greatly influenced the recent barefoot running boom in the United States.

And what does any of this have to do with golf? McDougall also observed that the favorite pastime among the Tarahumara is a game called rarjiparo. These contests are typically held between village teams and involve running continuously for 36 or 48 hours over hilly and dangerous terrain. The object is for each team to move a small wooden ball called the rarajipari, made of hard wood from tree roots.

Men kick the rarajipari to advance it, but women are allowed to use an implement called the ariweta – “a ring of strong plant fibres or twigs which are hooked with a curved wooden end which allows the ball to be hit”. They hit the ball, then chase after it – up and down hills, around curves, into the dirt or bushes, and occasionally dropping into holes in the ground. Sounds like a group of amateurs on the back nine, doesn’t it?

Furthermore, Tarahumara villagers gather from miles around to watch these events - a primitive gallery, if you will - and bets are often made involving pelts, livestock, blankets, jewelry, and other items. After a rarjiparo, it is traditional that “winners do not demonstrate arrogance, and the losers show no anger” – as rivals often gather together and spend the next 48 hours drinking tesquino, a corn-based beer, until they pass out. Since the Tarahumara have no refrigeration devices, all of the tesquino had to be finished within the 48-hour party.

So let’s recap: a game that involves using sticks to knock little balls around, which claims specific rules of decorum, features large spectator galleries, and encourages betting, beer drinking, and camaraderie. What game does that sound like to you?

The Tarahumara have been doing this for more than 2000 years. Perhaps they weren’t just Born to Run, but Born to Golf as well - and maybe all the passionate golf fans at this weekend’s US Open owe a tip of the hat to these natural born runners.