Polygamy in Shoe Brands

Have you run the one you love into the ground? When your favorite pair of running shoes has reached its maximum mileage, it might be time to try, not only a new shoe, but a new brand on for size.

From triple knotting shoes to listening to the type of music that could only belong to pre-teens during a warm-up, runners have the most unique of quirks. Yet, there’s something to be said about the inherent and obsessive shoe quirk within runners. If there were a set of norms—commandments, if you will—in the running subculture, they might include matters such as, he who eats pasta on the eve of race-day shall perform best, and running brotherhood is to nod at passersby on trail runs. Of these, the tenth commandment of running would likely read, thou shall commit to one brand of running shoe and never turn back.

Come race day, Andrew Goodman, a collegiate runner at Colorado State University, sports racing flats belonging to the College’s athletic sponsor, Under Armour. During training, Goodman admits that for four years he, too, was an offender of commitment when it comes to running shoe brands. Up until the summer of 2013, he pledged his feet to a certain Nike Pro shoe from season to season and he’s gained the run-down pile of shoes in his closet to prove it.

Up until now, you have probably dipped your foot into the pool of a couple of different brands looking for the right one. No doubt, a process reminiscent of Cinderella’s own shoe wear, runners have been dabbling in the wrong fairy tale plot.

Megan Price, a 39-year-old career woman, says running is both a release and helps her refuel her mind. "I've learned, though, that if I want to use running as my primary release, I have to take care of myself," Price says. "Whether that means taking days off, or equipping myself with the best gear, you can't enjoy something when it gives you pain."

“Runner’s have to know that the shoe is going to be your best friend or your worst enemy,” says Thomas Hecker, Doctor of Podiatric Medicane at the Orthopedic Center for the Rockies (OCR) in Fort Collins, Co. As a practicing doctor on the biggest team at the OCR, the Foot and Ankle team, Hecker has gained years of insight in his foot injuries amongst runners.

“Be it injuries blisters, it’s all the same in the eye of a runner,” Hecker says. “They want a brand that they know is going to take care of them, and I have to coax people into seeing why different shoes will help them perform better”.

Although the fourth commandment in running may read all pain is curable through an ice bath, not all commandments can stand the test of time. A runner’s most valued tools are the feet. And when the only shield you can offer them is a shoe, concerning yourself with optimal fit versus renowned logo will allow for longer trail runs and many more race days ahead.

“Every little thing I can control, I want to control. It’s a mental aspect and I want to know that my shoe is a good fit when I get on the line and race,” Goodman says.

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Desert's Edge Triathlon

Nearly on the border of the dry and barren border between Colorado and Utah, is a town called Loma, Colo. A town enveloped in a wingspan of mountains, the Colorado National Monument looms in the south, The Mesa stands tall to the east, and The Bookcliffs complete the haphazard circle on the northern stretch of the area.

An outdoor haven, indubitably, this area of Colorado is the home of many natural arenas that have become the setting for races of all kind. On Oct. 6^th, 2013, Highline State Park in Loma served as the hub for the Desert’s Edge Triathlon.

As I scraped ice from my windshield at 7:15 a.m., I began making plans for an extended warm-up run for the race that began at 9:00 a.m. Bike racks, wet suits, and plenty of water stations gave heed to the race taking place.

Being part of a relay team, and the last leg of my relay at that, I watched as anxious athletes began their quirky, muscle loosening routines. Their breath left their bodies like steam leaves your mug of coffee—slowly and lingering.

Despite the chilling temperatures, athletes took to the course with personal records in mind. The top male finisher in the Olympic triathlon, John O’Neill from Edwards, Colo., finished in 1:59:54 minutes. The top female finisher, Heather Gollnick from Steamboat Springs, Colo., finished in 2:24:22 minutes.

Due to the ice bath that was Highline Lake, the swimmer on the relay I was a part of forfeit during his race. We finished the triathlon with an added penalty, but without the competitive adrenaline pulsating through our veins.

A ‘Did Not Finish’ (DNF) alongside our team name serves as my fuel for continual and intensive training.

Happy Trails. 

Here's a look at the tri course compiled by the race officials:

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Fourth Meal: 3 Great Snack Ideas

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee on any morning is enough to pull you from your bed to the kitchen. After your senses have been shaken awake and your bed-head has started to lay flat, however, you might not crave a hot cup of Joe. In order to get a midday fill of energy, open your cabinets to one of the following snacks.

1. Hummus on wheat crackers: A mini meal, hummus with your preferred wheat cracker, like Wheat Thins or Triscuits, will give you an appropriate dosage of protein and fiber. This is a heavier snack that can help you re-energize if you have a more intensive workout on a particular day. (280 calories for 3 oz. hummus and 8 crackers)
2. Popcorn (Unbuttered or lightly buttered): For the salty snack-lovers in need of something filling and low in calories. (80-100 calories for 2 cups, popped)
3. Fruit Popsicles: If salty is your second choice, and you’ve got a sweet tooth to satisfy, reach for a store bought or homemade fruit popsicle. For a homemade recipe, use your favorite low-sugar lemonade or juice and mix in sliced fruit for a more filling snack. (75 calories for every 3 oz.)

For a complete list of 25 snacks for a runner's appetite, check out this article from Runner's World. 

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Don’t stay still during your warm-up

No matter if you prefer distance or sprints, every runner will face injury or extreme fatigue at some point in the road. Some runners stand by the claim that stretching after a run is much more rewarding than before. This is becoming a more popular belief after research has surfaced on more active warm-ups being the most beneficial to serious runners.

While stretching after your workout might be much more relieving for your legs, there is a great amount of warm-up taking place in your most valued muscles when you take pre-emptive action. While stagnant stretching may be a habit, more active warm-ups before your workout, like high-knees, jogging, and fast skips.

According to Bill Roberts, Sports Doctor at Runner’s World, stretching can be a waste of time before your race. You should choose actions that will lightly raise your heart rate and mimic the motions you will make during your run. As mentioned in his article, Roberts says that flexibility and stretching is important, but is too much of a motionless warm-up to prepare you for your run ahead.

Check out Bill Robert’s article here. 

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Three fresh Pre-race Dinners

The number one rule the night before a race is to consume carbs, carbs, carbs. But there is no rule that says you must always get these carbs from pasta. Check out these recipes and take a break from plates upon plates of noodles in your next pre-race dinner.

1. Cheese-free Pizza: a great meal to consume a fair amount of carbohydrates in the dough, and choose some natural toppings such as olives, spinach, tomato sauce for vitamins, or meats for some added protein
2. Waffles, fruit & yogurt, and eggs: Try a classic breakfast for your last supper before race day. This meal will satisfy all the needed food groups and add in some potassium from the fruit, and calcium from the yogurt.
3. Chicken and rice: Grilled, slow-cooked, or marinated, chicken serves as a good base of protein to compliment your preferred grain of rice which is low in fat, sodium and cholesterol.

Check out more tip for innovative pre-race dinners at Triathlete.competitor.com

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