West Stride Running Form Clinic

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This past month I was given the opportunity to participate in a Running Form Clinic offered by West Stride in cooperation with running form expert Kyle O’Day of Continuum Sports Solutions.  I, like most runners, am aware of my form, but I am never absolutely sure if I am doing it right.

If you read much about running form you know that a lot of emphasis is put on foot strike and what type of shoe you wear or maybe don’t wear.  Too many times people try to fix their form and bent toward injury with shoes or other gadgets instead of seeking professional help with tuning up their form.

Running on the Moon–Alter-G Style

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Just over a week ago I was contacted with an opportunity to give the Alter-G, an Anti-Gravity Treadmill, a test run. I have been on the path trying to lose some weight and what better option than to change the world around me rather than changing what and how much I eat! After a brief visit to fantasy land, reality once again set in and I decided it would be quite an inconvenience to walk around everywhere with this treadmill strapped under my feet, so I guess I will still need to get back to that healthy eating thing after all.

The Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill is much more compact than I would have originally anticipated. While it does take up a little more room than a traditional treadmill, it is not as big as I expected it would be. While I am thankfully not injured at this time, the Alter-G was adapted from a design originally conceived for use by the NASA astronauts with just that in mind – to help recovering athletes continue to get the benefits of aerobic training without the stress from the constant impact experienced while running or walking with full weight.

Saucony Is Going Minimal, Are You?

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Lately Minimalism has become all the rage.  It is either barefoot running or differing levels of minimalist shoes.  Have you jumped on board yet or are you still watching from the sidelines?  This past year we have seen some sort of minimalist shoes from nearly all the top running shoe manufactures.  One of the most interesting of course has been the Vibram Five Fingers as I mentioned in a recent post, but Saucony has recently taken it to a new level.

To Be Fair To BodyMedia

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A couple weeks ago you may recall when I posted a review about the BodyMedia Armband.  I was given an opportunity to take the BodyMedia FIT Weight Management System for a test drive, but I really wasn’t happy with it.  I was intrigued by the device and the service because of my history of being grossly overweight and the subsequent loss of 90lbs in 2007.

BodyMedia Review

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A few weeks ago I was contacted with an opportunity to take the BodyMedia FIT Weight Management System for a test drive.  The test drive was 4 weeks long and ran parallel to others test driving it at the same time I was.  I was provided with a BodyMedia Armband, which retails for $249, and a one month subscription to the online Activity Manager, which starts at $6.95.

26.2 Quest Bumper Stickers

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Like many other bloggers I was contacted by Build A Sign some time ago with the offer to make some Custom Bumper Stickers for my blog.  I loved the idea, but didn't really know where to start other than my logo.  Megan was more than helpful to step me along in the process and help me ultimately get a great looking product.

Running on Empty Book Review and Giveaway

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I know not everybody is driven by or even interested in running anything further than 26.2 miles, but that doesn't preclude them from getting any benefit or inspiration from Marshall Ulrich and his book Running on Empty which goes on sale today.  Running on Empty is An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America and shares all the behind the scenes information on what he had to go through to complete the 3,063 miles in just 52 days.

The book is an easy read with a relaxed style and in many ways I find it reads similar to a very long blog.  You feel like you really get to know Marshall as you read it and you become part of his journey.  At any age it would be a challenge to run across America, but at age 57 Marshall had more to deal with than if he was much younger, not to say there is a prime age to be an Ultramarathoner.

KT Tape - Have You Used It?

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Some time ago I was sent some KT Tape to try out and see what I thought.  I have not had the types of injuries to use these and give them an adequate test so I tried them on my daughter's foot following their instructions to try and alleviate her arch pain.

Payton actually had more pain when she ran with the KT Tape, but I am not blaming the tape, but rather that we were providing more support with the tape, and that is not what she needed.  It turned out that her arch pain was much more than what could be helped with just tape, and we ended up having to go with some Custom Orthotics before we actually made any progress with her issues.

Road ID Review And Giveaway

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If you run alone any time of day or night and have not checked out Road ID yet, I highly recommend that you do.  I have been running with a Road ID for nearly a year now and have been very happy with it.  I have luckily not needed to use it yet for an emergency which I am happy for but I still strap it on each time I head out the door by myself... day or night.

 Some may say that I can't prove it is needed because I haven't had to use it yet, but just like life insurance or a fire alarm you don't want to be caught without them when the dreaded time comes.  I don;t have any medical issues, but I would like my wife to know quickly in the event something does happen rather than them trying to figure out who I am while my family sits at home either worrying or maybe even not knowing what is going on.

Ryders Eyewear Review and Giveaway

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A few weeks ago I was sent a pair of the HEX 480's from Ryders Eyewear.  I have to be honest and give you a basis for this review.  I typically do not wear sunglasses, but when I do it is usually only in the car and it is some cheap pair I picked up for a couple dollars that make me look like one of the Beatles.... if they were bald.

I never have run with sunglasses before trying these out.  This is mainly because I don't need something else that I have to deal with all the time.  I don't want something that I have to keep from bouncing, keep in place, keep clean or anything that will distract from the run.  All that being said, I was ready to give these Ryders a try.

The first time I wore them my daughter Payton and I were headed out for a trail run.  As we were driving to the trails she said they looked cool and she even had to try them on. Now notice I didn't say that she said I was cool, but that the glasses were cool.  She stopped telling me I was cool 5 years ago when she was 10 years old.

Do You Use Protein Supplements? (Giveaway)

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I am a strong believer in Protein Supplements when it comes to both running, lifting, and workouts of any type that deplete or tear up my muscles.  In the research I have done over the years I have come to the personal conclusion that Protein Supplements are for more than just getting big muscles and make the use of them a regular part of my routine.

I have used plenty of different brands and kinds of Protein Supplements over the years, some that I have liked, and some that were so disgusting that I took them back were I bought them and demanded my money back.  I was using a brand that I have been very happy with lately, when I was contacted on behalf of BSN Suppliments with an opportunity to try their SYNTHA-6™ Product.

I Don't Stink Any More! (Giveaway too!)

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Some people in my house actually have the nerve to tell me that I stink when I return from running.  I normally don't admit to the stench and blame it on the dog, but deep inside as I am gagging I know running brings along many joys, especially it's very own odors.

The colder weather we have been having lately does help things, but only a little.  If I have had a good run I am sweaty, that is the bottom line.  It doesn't matter if it is 90 or 12, if I have done what I set out to do I stink.  I am OK with this, and so is the rest of the family...... OK, maybe not my wife and kids, but the dog doesn't care..... usually.  You know, I still don't understand why my girls complain about my smell when I return from a run, it's not like they smell all pretty and everything when they get back from a run.... OK, they do, it is just me that smells.

Black Toenail Polish?

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I have never wore black toenail polish before and I don't plan on wearing it anytime soon just for the record.  Another thing I have never had before was black toenails from running.  I have run a marathon, multiple half marathons, and many other small races and I don't ever recall having a black toenail or losing one.  I did come close at one time with a toenail that looked a little off but it eventually grew out, but never fell off.

Arctic Blast 2010 - Is this really Georgia?

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I have been told more than once in the last couple days that I am crazy for running in this weather, and sometimes I wonder if I am not a bit crazy.  Who in their right mind would want to get out of a warm bed and 5:00 in the morning to 15 degrees with a wind chill of ZERO!

This past week has been colder than normal in the Atlanta area, in fact I think we set a new low temperature record yesterday at 14 degrees.

Sunday I went out for my longest run since the marathon and then back issues and finished 6 miles.  It was 28 degrees, windy, and snowed the entire time I was running.  It wasn't a snow that would stick, but it made it much more enjoyable to run.  I ran at Tribble Mill Park and we were one of a very small group of people that were at the park that day, in fact the entire time we were there our car was the only one in the parking lot.

Too hot for me today - and it showed!

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I was not able to get out to run till after 9:30 this morning and I knew it was going to be disastrous.  The temperature at the start of the run was 84 degrees.  It was humid, and yet still very sunny.  The feels like temperature was 92 degrees.

I hydrated well, put on some SCAPE Sunblock, and hit the road.  If you haven't tried SCAPE I recommend that you do.  SCAPE sent me some to try out and I have to say overall I am impressed.  I did have a little trouble putting it on at first because it seemed to require a bit more for coverage than I am used to with other sunblocks. Once on I had the perfect test this morning with how well it would work.

The SCAPE Sunblock did not run into my eyes just like it claims.  I was sweating profusely by the time I got to mile 2 so if anything would run into my eyes that would be the time it would do so.  I wiped my face quite a bit to keep the sweat out of my eyes, but one thing I noticed was no stinging at all.  I almost always get some stinging in my eyes when I sweat this much, but this time I felt none.

Pearl Izumi SyncroFuel XC - A Great Shoe!

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It was nearly two months ago when Pearl Izumi contacted me and wanted me to review a pair of the SyncroFuel XC's.  At first I was a bit apprehensive because I have tried Pearl Izumi one other time about a year ago and didn't get past 7 total miles in the shoes before retiring them to the closet.  It turns out the reason I didn't get past 7 miles was because the shoes were too narrow and just plain hurt, not an indication on how good the shoes were.

I received the shoe and was anxious to give it a go.  This shoe is more of a neutral shoe than I have ever run in so I was cautious as I first laced them up.  When I received the shoes I had never ran off-road or on trails and this shoe is designed for trail runners.  I planned on taking it on the road first to see how it compared to what I was running in and then taking it to the trails to give that a go as well.

Strands Review - Win A Pair Of Shoes!

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When I first heard about Strands.com a year ago and signed up I didn't have much time to give it much of a chance.  One of the things Strands has going for it is that they offer almost anything you could think of with a running log.  I have tried many running logs over the past 3 years and they all seem to be missing some key things that I would like to have.  Strands has a few of those which I will mention later, but none of which I would consider to be core needs.


I have resurrected my Strands account and have given it another go at their request.  This time I have spent much more time just getting to know the interface and checking out what it has to offer.


They have thought about almost everything.  All the basics are there, the profile, the gear, the routes, and the ability to log your workouts and races.  One of the pleasant surprises was how well the mapping utility works.  I have tried this same feature on many sites and they are either clunky or just not very accurate.