Gear Review: New Balance NBX 2-in-1 Shorts

I bought these shorts not long before the Chambersburg Half Marathon.  During that race - in the pounding wind and rain, I never thought about my shorts.  And I think, as a distance runner, that's the best compliment you can give a piece of clothing.  The perfect piece of running clothing functions so that you only know it's there enough to know you're...ahem...covered.

The moniker "2 in 1" refers to the fact that the lining, instead of being in the form of a "brief", which can bunch and chafe, is instead shaped like a boxer-brief that stays put and does not rub against your skin  in unfortunate places.  So they are both a performance compression-short and a standard loose-fitting running short.

Also, many runners are comfortable heading down the trail in "Daisy Dukes" with tiny 4-inch inseams.  I am not one of those runners.  The seven-inch inseam of these shorts give me adequate coverage, but not so long that I feel like it's flapping in the wind like a pair of basketball shorts.  They're short enough to be physically comfortable, but long enough to not be socially awkward.

The fit is supportive, but not tight.  I don't feel like they are going to fall down, but at the same time the waist band isn't digging into my skin.  The same goes for the elastic on the lining's leg cuffs. 

The one thing I didn't like about these shorts is the absence of pockets.  There is one pocket on the side for an ICE (in case of emergency) tag that can also hold a car key (singular) or gel packet.  And there is a small pocket in the liner that can also fit an ID card or key, but that's it.  If you're planning on carrying several gels in your pockets (as I often do) you will need to plan on carrying them in your hydration pack, bottle holder or jacket pocket - assuming you have one of those three things with you.  For the most part however, if you need a gel you are probably carrying water with you, so you'll find a way to carry the gel too.

Overall I would say that there's no doubt that New Balance have created a winner here: it's a perfect fit for the runner's body and a runner's needs.  There might be a loss of convenience if you want to carry gels or other items in an easy-to-reach place, but the sheer comfort of these shorts makes up for it.

The New Balance NBX 2-in-1 Shorts is also available at Road Runner Sports.

Entenmann's Debuts on the Sports Nutrition Market

Entenmann's might be a stretch, but with Jelly Belly and Snickers already creating energy food, you can understand why I did a double-take when I saw this in the sports nutrition aisle:

Obviously, someone just stashed some eclairs they decided they didn't want after feeling guilty looking at all the PowerBars and Clif Bars.  But the size and shape of the box made me think:  Entenmann's Sport Eclairs:  Packed with extra electrolytes to power you through your next long run, ride or swim (also probably a sign of the apocalypse). 

ATSA 5K Trail Run (Messiah College) Race Report

Beth brought this race to my attention several weeks ago.  It seems that their only form of marketing was a couple campus-wide e-mails (Beth works at Messiah College) which is a shame, because the course was perfect for any trail running aficionado.

The race was student run and benefited the Athletic Training Student Association at Messiah.  This was its first iteration, and it showed - there were only about 12 participants (due in part to the weather which was dreary and damp, but not rainy), and organization wasn't great, but with only 12 runners you just have to make sure everyone knows where to start and stays on course (which we all did).

At the start they offered a map of the course, even though I was pretty familiar with the lay of the land (having graduated from Messiah) I took one.  As I looked at the course I was a little confused about the second crossing of the Yellow Breeches Creek.  The first went over the famous Swinging Bridge (which felt weird to run across, being a suspension bridge), but the second, instead of going over the covered bridge, crossed further downstream.

I ran that portion of the course in my warm-up, but still couldn't make heads or tails of the situation.  To cross at the next bridge downstream seemed to make the course longer than 5K.  Then at the start, the course was explained and the race director pointed to the scoreboard for the baseball field and said, "the second creek crossing is just to the left of that scoreboard.  If you don't want to get wet you can turn around at the cone and take the covered bridge, but you will lose some time."  Then the lightbulb came off.  Creek crossings are usually adapted by sadistic ultra race directors, not first-time directors of a 5K on a college campus.  That being said, I loved it.  It was the perfect touch for a short trail run.

When I scanned to competition at the start I realized I could only hope to finish strong.  There were nine college students (all looking like they were probably student-athletes) and two other "old guys" like myself, one who looked very fit and judging by the way he interacted with the students was likely a coach.  So as the race started, I was surprised to find myself running with lead pack.

As we galloped across the athletic fields, I listened to their breathing to see if it was as hard as mine.  For the most part, it was.  Then I started thinking crazy thoughts.  I usually have a strong finishing kick.  If I could hang with these kids until the very end, I have a chance to out-sprint them to the finish and win this thing!

My head started getting bigger and by the time we reached the woods, it was obviously creating a certain amount of wind resistance and slowing me down, because when we hit that first hill, the lead pack took off and I didn't see them again until the finish.  The woods at Messiah are very hilly, so I focused on running with the trails instead of fighting them.  I dropped into a "lower gear" when going up hill (even walking a short portion of an especially steep hill), then let gravity takeover when I ran down.

As I climbed the first hill a student who wasn't in the lead pack passed me.  Then I passed him back on the way down and he passed me again on the way up the next one.  I could tell that he was pushing to get up the hills quickly then relaxing to catch his breath on the way down.  So I put a mental target on him, planning to get past him in the largely downhill return portion and hold a lead (or at least hang close to him) until the home stretch.

Sure enough, as we climbed the hill to the water tower he started walking and I knew he was gassed.  (This was also the hill I took a brief walk on.)  On the way down I passed him and kept my fast pace until we got out of the woods and onto some more level ground.  I knew this wasn't the kind of race you PR, so my plan was to just finish in the highest position possible.

I tore out of the woods (on a steep downhill) and blew past a volunteer pointing the way.  I glanced back and saw noone.  So I kept up a fast pace on that straightaway in anticipation of the creek crossing.  As I approached the crossing point, I glanced back again.  Noone.

I jumped into the creek expecting and arctic blast to suck the energy out of my legs.  No such blast happened.  The water was chilly, but not really cold and I had worked up a lot of heat as I ran.  I crossed without incident (in other words, I neither fell in nor lost a shoe) climbed the muddy bank and headed down the grassy path to the finish.

The finish was uphill (oh joy and rapture!) and keeping in mind that time was not truly of the essence I glanced back, saw noone behind me and pulled the pin.  I cruised up to the finish in 26:03.  Considering the course (and the fact I didn't sprint for the line) I think that's a pretty decent time.  I glanced over the results and the winner had come in at a little over 23 minutes.  And I know a couple of them had been on the cross-country team - what an ego boost to finish less than three minutes behind college athletes!

I'm hoping that they bring this back next year.  It's a great primer for those interested in trail running, with a course that's not technical, (most of the trails were covered with mulch) but challenging.  If they advertise it with the local running clubs or on Runnersworld.com, Runningintheusa.com or Trailrunnermag.com they could really have a great turnout and spectacular event!

Getting Back to My Roots, Rocks and Mud

This year most of my trail running has been on the Appalachian Trail, in a section that is relatively flat, and not especially technical.  On Thursday I took the afternoon off of work to do a 10-mile trail run.  But instead of going to the AT, I went down to where I first started running trails, Gifford Pinchot State Park.

Pinchot is where I decided to try the trails for the first time.  It is where I did all my trail-specific training for my first Finger Lakes Fifties 25K.  And there is a lot more roots, rocks and mud at Pinchot than there is in the Cumberland Valley section of the Appalachian Trail.

How many rocks?

Let's just say I won't be barefooting this trail. 

How much mud?

I've already changed the newspaper stuffed in my trail shoes once and they're still soaked.

It was a surprisingly warm day and I found myself thankful that I decided to be conservative and take two bottles of water with me.  I didn't take any calories in, but after one hour my first bottle was empty.  It would have been a tough slog back to the car had I only had that one bottle.

The trail around the lake is only nine miles, so despite earlier statement about barefooting this trail, after I finished a lap I took off my shoes and did a one-mile out-and-back.  It started out on a paved path, which of course wasn't so bad.  But then I reached the gravel.

I don't recommend barefooting on gravel.  They say that you should listen to your feet when running barefoot and mine were screaming, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? YOU ARE RUNNING ON GRAVEL!!!  THIS HURTS LIKE THE DICKENS!!"

And the small section of true trail that I ran barefoot on wasn't much better.  So maybe it's best that I not run barefoot as a cool down to every run.  I know there are people out there who will barefoot anywhere, regardless of the trail.  I am not one of those people.

But as far as the shod portion of my run went, it was great!  I did my best to keep my "barefoot" form, which is sometimes difficult running downhill or through rocky or boggy sections of trail.  I finished up feeling great and recovered well, so things are looking pretty good as this minimalist/barefoot experience goes.

Superstition, Science and Sports OR Smoothies, Shorts and 600 Series

They say that baseball players are the most superstitious people in sports.  When they are on a hot streak they will do the same thing every day until the mojo wears off. 

I do something similar when it comes to bowling.  If I have a good night I try to eat something similar or wear something similar the next week.  This rarely works. 

But a couple weeks ago I wore shorts and drank a "POM Beach" smoothie from Juice and Java before my bowling league and bowled a 614 series (the total of three games).  This was my first 600 series in over two years (possibly three, but my memory is not what it was before Adele was born). So the next week I did the same thing.  608 series, with a high game of 243. 

I was on a roll, but this week it was a bit cooler out, so I wore pants.  Lightweight pants - practically wind pants - but still bought the same smoothie.  I did not get a 600 series.  Actually, I did not even get a 500 series.  I bowled lousy.

Now, it could be that it was just my routine that was messed up.  I swung by the UPS store after work to drop off a package and did not stop at home before going to the alley (by way of Juice and Java).  And I arrived much later than I normally do - practice bowling had already started.  So I am not sure I can blame the pants on my poor performance.

The point of all this to say is that when athletes are described as "superstitious," I think that's a bit of a misnomer.  Routine is a way to get your mind and body ready for competition.  Before a race I usually get a cup of coffee.  This isn't a superstition as much as a way to get my mind and body awake and ready to run hard. 

I'm just as likely to walk under a ladder, spill salt or open an umbrella indoors and think nothing of it.  Actually, I would think something of opening the umbrella indoors, because really, who does that?  But if I don't get a cup of coffee before a 9:00 AM race, I'm a little ancy because I don't feel like I've done everything I could to ensure a good performance.  There is nothing "magical" or "religious" about that cup of coffee, it is more science than anything - even if it is about creating a routine that keeps my mojo straight.

That being said, I think next Monday night I will wear shorts.

Book Review: Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performance by Matt Fitzgerald

I picked up this book because I like to eat.  But I also like to run and ride my bike and would like to do that faster.  I was hoping Racing Weight would tell me how I can do both.

Obviously any endurance athlete, even those looking to get leaner, knows that you need to eat to keep up your energy and train well at all.  But how to eat is a different story.

This book gives a 5-step plan for getting lean to perform your best in endurance sports (specifically, running, cross-country skiing, cycling, rowing and triathlon).  Before Fitzgerald gets into the plan though, he gives some great basic information on athlete's body types, tracking your progress, seasonal considerations and some excellent tips for beginner athletes who may have started training for the sole purpose of losing unwanted pounds (the long and short of which is enjoy your training and don't view it as a chore).

If you are detail-loving "type A" personality, you can go through the book step-by-step and adopt the Racing Weight strategy for weight loss and reach your ideal racing weight in time for your next big event.

Being a "type B" personality, I won't be doing this, and at first I was a bit overwhelmed by the attention to detail needed to get through the first several steps.  But, like most books I've reviewed here I'll take bits and pieces of it and incorporate it in my daily life.  As Floyd Landis once said, "you can't do everything,"  (Hmm...maybe I shouldn't be quoting Floyd Landis here...or anywhere) personally, I'd go a little bonkers counting calories and making every part of my diet is in perfect balance.  What I will be doing is working on those things I'm already working on and tweak them according to the Racing Weight plan.

For instance, Step 5 is "Train Right."  Here Fitzgerald dispels some of the myths surrounding training and fat burning and brings together the two sides of the fat-burning debate:  yes, moderate-intensity exercise burns more fat, and yes interval-training burns more calories, but using types of training is the best way to maximize fat loss.  And he backs up assertions with science.  Lots of science.

As I read this book, I wondered if there was a scientific paper on endurance performance that Fitzgerald hadn't read as he did his research for this book.  It is incredibly well researched, with a "references" section nine pages long (and these aren't tiny pages!).  He sorts out all of this scientific research and boils it all down to what the endurance athlete needs.

This isn't so much a 5-step plan as much as a 5-part program.  You don't need to do everything in order to reach your optimal training weight, but if you take all five parts as a whole - paying attention to each separately you can arrive at the same place as if you were to do these steps in order.  So you don't need to get your "nutritional timing" (step 3) down before working on "managing your appetite" (step 4).  Each step can be done independently of one another.

Whether you are looking to shed a few pounds to get faster or want a thorough weight-loss plan to make sure you're at your best for your next goal race, I'd recommend this book.

A Quick Post

I'm on my lunch break right now, but I wanted to spread the word that Irunfar.com is having an Earth Week Giveaway (they call it the ReUsaAPalooza).  There is a giant list of gear that they're giving away this week in order to make room for all the stuff they'll be testing and reviewing this year.  And judging by how much they're giving away I suspect that they are in violation of some kind of fire code.  Or Bryon just needs to clear a place to set his laptop.

So head on over to Irunfar.com and get some free stuff (but don't request the drymax socks - I've got dibs on those!).

O - Dark - Hundred

In running, there are a lot of numbers; 13.1, 26.2, 50, 100 (miles), 4, 24 (hours), but if you read enough ultra running blogs, you'll see one number come up that you might not expect.  Or maybe you would if you know what training for an ultra is like: 4:30.  As in 4:30 AM.

I try to avoid consciousness at that hour in most situations.  I've made a couple exceptions to feed Adele in the middle of the night and I got up that early a couple times when training for my first marathon.  But not often.

After missing Monday's workout due to a sore knee, and needing to fit next week's long run somehow in the middle of the week due to a Sunday (afternoon) 5K, I thought it would be a good idea to do this week's long run on Friday instead of Saturday.  Besides, that meant I could participate in our church work day without any concern for being too tired to run in the afternoon.

Sometimes a little sleep deprivation is exactly what you need to get the training miles you need in without affecting your family, work, church or social life negatively.  So on Friday, the alarm went of at 4:30 or, as I like to call it, O-dark-hundred.

I forced myself out of bed, got changed, ate a Clif Mojo bar, peeked in on Adele (who, by the way, was awake and playing quietly in her crib!) and was out the door by 4:45.

It takes a few minutes to get used to the dark when running that early.  Or maybe it's just getting used to being awake after just a few hours of sleep.  Whatever it is, it's different than running in the afternoon, at lunchtime (I got an e-mail on Friday that the showers are finally fixed!), or even at 5:45 AM (when I've been usually doing my morning runs).

It also probably didn't help it was the first time I had worn my Brooks Mach 11 Spikeless cross-country flats.  Yes, it was the first time I've worn racing flats, and I ran nine miles.  Yes, I got a nasty blister, and yes my calves were sore Saturday morning.

In addition to all that, I was really slow.  When wearing my traditional cushioned running shoes (or foot coffins, or injury boxes, or whatever you want to call them) I had run at about a 10 minute/mile pace.  Friday, in my minimal flats with my new mid-foot strike, I averaged about 11:30.  It shouldn't bug me as much as it does, but I did just PR a half-marathon and I don't like the idea of getting set back two and half years.  But I suppose if I didn't have to miss so much training due to injury, it's more like eighteen months.

I didn't bring a light with me, since I would do most of my running in town and the street lights would illuminate my path.  But after running through town I ran a short distance on a quiet backroad, and while I was okay in the dark for the most part, I was occasionally blinded by oncoming headlights and at one point came within inches of ... running into a mailbox (you have to imagine the dramatic pause there).

After 8.3 miles, I got back to my start point and did about eight-tenths of a mile barefoot.  Which felt surprisingly good after running so long in new shoes.  It was still slow (actually even slower than the previous 8.3 miles), but I've got my form down and I no longer agonize over every footstrike, making it automatic - unfortunately I'm still not yet to that point when wearing shoes. 

The next challenge was to stay focused and awake during a full day in front of a computer screen at work.  I was a little more tired for most of the day, but it didn't really catch up with me until well after I got home.  I doubt I'll be making runs at "O-dark-hundred" a regular part of my routine, but it's nice to know I have the option if the need arises again.

I'll Never Like Mayonnaise

Beth says that I'm a picky eater.  Maybe not "picky", but she doesn't get why I don't like certain foods.  (Of course, she's the one who doesn't like mushrooms or bacon!)

The list is tomatoes, raw green peppers, green beans, coconut and mayonnaise.  There might be other stuff, but those are the things that most people like and I don't.  Maybe that's weird, I don't know.

The thing is I wish I liked a lot of those things.  Do you know how much easier my life would be if every time I ordered a burger I didn't have to say "with no tomatoes" (only to have them put tomatoes on anyway)?

So I'm working on that stuff.  I believe you can "train" yourself to like certain foods.  Hot dogs grew on me.  Why can't tomatoes or green beans?

I refuse, however to try to like mayonnaise.  I tolerate it in tuna fish sandwiches (and when used as an ingredient in crab cakes), but other than the occasional small-dose ingestations I find it completely repulsive.

Mayonnaise has no redeeming qualities.  It's pale, oily and the very smell of it makes me gag a little.  Unlike tomatoes, green beans, raw green peppers and coconut, it is really bad for you.  So why would I want to like it?  Isn't it really a blessing to dislike something that's bad for you?  Imagine how greater our lives would be if we indulged on brussel sprouts and asparagus and shunned donuts and chuckles.

I'm just saying...tomatoes?  Maybe someday.  Mayonnaise?  Never.

Family Trail Day

For a while Beth has mentioned that she'd like to hike some of the Appalachian Trail where I run.  I sometimes think that hiking is better for mountainous trails, and where I run the AT is it relatively flat.  And if it's flat, you might as well run.

But even flat trails are good for hiking, especially if you have a 15 lb. baby strapped to your back.

After church, we all changed into our "play clothes," got some lunch at the Carlisle Red Robin (to give Adele a bit of a nap in the car - and no, I did not ask for seconds of their bottomless steak fries) and headed to the trailhead on Trindle Road.

It was a perfect day for hiking.  It got a little warm when the sun came out, but other than that it was ideal.  We turned around after going through the horse pasture about 2 miles from where we parked.  Beth wanted to try the child carrier, and she hiked the whole way back carrying Adele (and quite honestly, complained less than I did).

Hopefully this Spring we have many more family trail days ahead of us!

Barefoot Update #2

Yesterday things started to really click while I was running barefoot.  Not "click" as in making a clicking sound - in fact there was hardly any sound at all when feet hit the ground (which is really the point of why I'm doing this) - but it clicked as in running barefoot has become pretty much effortless.  I'm moving quickly, it doesn't beat up my feet and I feel like I can do much more than the eight minutes sessions I did this week.

The downside is, running barefoot is making me hate my running shoes.  (Or is that the upside?)  It seems almost every step in my Asics Gel-Nimbus 11 makes my heel scuff the ground.  So trying to maintain a midfoot-to-forefoot strike is especially difficult and I find my self trying to contort my feet in all kinds of ways to try to land properly.

Here's how the last two weeks have looked barefoot-wise:

Week 3: One six-minute run on concrete and one seven-minute run on dirt.

I missed my first barefoot run this week due to weather (and worms).  But Wednesday morning's run went well, with no bad after effects.  I did so well, I added another minute to my barefooted-ness on Saturday on the trail.

Week 4: One seven-minute run and two eight-minute runs all on a mix of concrete and asphalt.

Now things are really moving.  No blisters, no hot-spots.  I'm getting my form down.  Wednesday I up it to eight minutes, doing a loop that mixes concrete sidewalk and asphalt road (parking lot, actually).  I've learned not to push-off and reduce the friction between my feet and the ground, things are coming around beautifully.  And just in time, too.  In a week or two I'll be increasing the lengths of my runs by greater amounts - and now I'm really feeling ready for it.

There Has to Be a Happy Medium

The other day I was at Starbucks.  Technically I was at Barnes and Noble, so I wasn't at Starbucks, even though their cafes are "Starbucks", they're not really Starbucks.  Get it?

So I was ordering at "Starbucks" (not Starbucks).  I was the only person in line.  They still wanted my name to write on the cup.  When I say I was the only person in line, I mean I was the only person either in line or waiting for their drink at the delivery counter (I'm not sure that's what they call it, but I'll call it that).  Yet they still want my name for the cup.

I'm not a contentious person, so I say "Jeff" and they write "Jeff" on the cup.  (I suppose I should be glad they spelled it correctly.)  I could go into a diatribe about the origins of writing names on cups and the obvious loss of time and productivity it creates when you unnecessarily write a name on a cup, but that would just waste more time and I wanted a non-fat cinnamon dolce latte.

But that's not what really got me.  What really got me was that when my drink was up and they said "non-fat cinnamon dolce latte for Jeff" (again, I was the only one waiting for a drink), I took my drink and the barrista said "Thanks, Jeff." 

Really?  I just bought coffee from you - are we really on a first name basis?  If I was just in negotiations with you over a $34,000 vehicle, then yeah, go ahead and call me by name.  But I only gave you my name so that my coffee wouldn't get mixed up with anyone elses, not because I thought we'd be lifelong friends.

And yes, I know that is one of those customer service tricks to call someone by name to make them feel appreciated, but more or less it just makes me feel a little like you're going to start stalking me (maybe it's just because I'm an introvert).  Like people who work at furniture stores and follow you around until you buy something or leave.

On the other extreme, you have the guy who worked at the Panera Bread.  It's been a while since I've seen him there, but he used to always greet you with a monotone "Welcome to Panera can I help you,"  (note the absense of the question mark- he was big time monotone) while staring directly at the register.  In fact, through the whole order he would never look up from that register even when answering a direct question.

So there has to be a happy medium, but it seems every retail store is one extreme or the other.  Try getting help in a department store without walking all the way up to the service desk.  Or try walking through the mall without being accosted by someone manning a kiosk (okay, not so hard - just don't make eye contact with them). 

It just comes down to "yes, I want someone to answer my questions, but no, I don't need you to guide me through the pros and cons of various brands hair gel."

(And no, I did not take this cup picture, and yes I did rip from the internet - courtesy of starbucksgirl.wordpress.com)

I Still Ride My Bike (Sometimes)

Trying to get into a regular cycling routine, even with this amazing weather we're having this week (80+ today) is tough.  Especially when you're working on new running skills and have a wife and baby that occasionally likes to see you.

But this weekend I had the perfect excuse.  My parents were coming up for Easter and my dad was bringing his bike. I still did my "long run" in the morning, but with it only being seven miles, I had plenty of gas in the tank for an afternoon ride.

After having lunch at T.J. Rockwell's I wasn't so sure about doing an afternoon ride (I had a cheeseburger - with bacon and mushrooms and fries), but apparently my morning set me into "super-digestion" mode where large meals that would normally make me feel sluggish and sit in my stomach for hours go down like a Clif Bar and I bounce back from the calorie-laden goodness quickly.

We did my "lollipop" ride - but modified it so it was 18.4 miles instead of the usual 15.6 (Dad said he could handle a few hills).  We weren't especially fast, but it felt great to finally get out.  When I went to log the ride later I realized I hadn't been on my bike since February (on trainers) and not outdoors on my bike since December.  Amazing how time flies when you're slacking off.

Sunday morning I woke up with some seriously sore calves (calfs?  Is it the same spelling for your legs as for cows?), not injury-sore, a good sore.  I suspected that these were more likely from my run than from my ride.  The removal of the insoles from my trail shoes and the adoption of a "barefoot" gait (forefoot strike) probably put a lot of strain on my calves for that seven miles and they were showing their displeasure.

After my self-diagnosis, I determined that I'd be fine for an afternoon bike ride, so we went for a 23.5-mile loop I call the "stone school" loop.  (So named because it goes along "Old Stone House Road" which Beth and I consistently call "Stone School" Road for some unknown reason.)  Shouldn't have been a big deal, but at a T-intersection while I was leading the way, I had slowed down for a "rolling stop" when suddenly a care came up over the hill.  I quickly clipped out of my pedal and stopped, but Dad's reflexes weren't so quick.

He rolled up into my back tire and tipped over.  He was fine - not even a scratch and he just had to fix his brake lever that got knocked a little askew.  We started back up, but then a couple hundred yards down the road his bike started going "click-click-click-click-click..."

I recognized the sound from my recent battles with my cadence counter (which is suddenly magically fixed) that the magnet on his front wheel (for his computer) was hitting the sensor.  We fixed that and continued.  A few miles later it happened again.  We fixed it.  A few miles later AGAIN.  Fixed it again.  Then AGAIN.  The fourth time must have been the charm because we finally got it after that.

Dad kept commenting on how pretty it was on the backroads up here (there is quite a litterbug problem in South Carolina), so I think he enjoyed the ride (even though he also got stung by a bee as well as tipping over).  We rolled back home with 1:43 of on-the-bike time (plus time tipping over, and fixing cyclocomputers).  So in two days we road 41 miles.  Which is more than I've done in most months since October.

So in case you were wondering, yes I still ride my bike.  Sometimes I just need a really good excuse.

Get Dirty

Since we finally thawed out from winter, I've been itching to get back out on the trails.  It's tougher than it used to be, because I can't just hit the trails straight out my backdoor.  In fact I can't go anywhere straight out my back door except our screened-in back porch, since we live in a second floor condo.

But Saturday I had my parents coming and figured since I was only running seven miles I could squeeze in the extra time and drive down to the Appalachian Trail to do my run.  So after waking up at about 6:45, changing the baby, making coffee, eating breakfast and getting my gear together I was on my way.

We're having a bit of a warm spell now, so it's a little bit of a shock to the system to be running in shorts and a singlet and be sweating.  Especially since it was still only 50 degrees out but with a LOT of humidity.  So humid, in fact that the lens on my camera got a little foggy.

I think it looks kind of neat.  If I ever write a post about having a dream about being chased by wolves through the woods, I might use this photo again.

I did my best to run with "barefoot form", landing as much as I could on the balls of my feet and just letting my heels touch the ground before I lifted my foot again.  It helped that I took the insoles out of my trail shoes.  It definitely gave me a lot better ground feel and my shoes felt so much roomier without those thick orthotics in there. 

After 3.2 miles I turned around so I could get back to the care and take my shoes of and do seven minutes barefoot.  The trails were definitely a different experience than the roads barefoot.  Surprisingly, I didn't have to think much at all about my form, and the dirt (now a little muddy) portions felt great, but it was a bit of a challenge watching out for sharp rocks and twigs.  And the rocky sections were a bit of a challenge:

I think long-term I won't be barefooting much on the trails for these reasons.  Besides, the Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian Trail is know for its rocks and rattlesnakes.  Neither of which I'd like to encounter barefoot (the latter I'd prefer to not encounter at all). 

I will however, be on the lookout for trail-appropriate minimalist shoes - possibly a step down from the New Balance MT100.  I think I have a while though before my MT840s wear completely out, so hopefully in the meantime the shoe companies will come out with some good trail-worthy options.

Happy Easter!

Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

John 20:3-10 (The Message)
(from BibleGateway.com)

If You've Seen Napoleon Dynamite...

You'd have to agree that Pro Day workouts by prospective NFL draft picks look a lot like Uncle Rico throwing his football at his video cameras. No rush, no coverage, no problems.



If Uncle Rico could just get Napoleon or Kip to run a few routes for him, he might get a tryout.

I'm just sayin'...