Racing Heart

So this past weekend was a fairly busy couple of days! We had 4 different races: Penguin in the Park 5k, Doc Dash 5k, Prairies of Miracles 5k, and Run D.C. to DC. I will be updating my race page to include the results for these races so you will have easy access to your own results. Like I said in that post, if you have any races that you have coming up that you would like to share, please let me know! I will gladly add them to the race list to share them with others. As for shoes, this week, (or more specifically, April 1st), we have 2 shoe updates. The Nike Vomero 10 and the Saucony Kinvara 6 both are released. I will go into detail about the shoes when I do the reviews, but let me give you a couple of hints. So with the Kinvara, there are not too many updates. The biggest update is a new, sleeker look to the shoe. It will still use the same platform as the Kinvara 5, and the same cushion, but the new look of the upper looks slick. The Vomero, you wont recognize. The upper is g...

****DISCLAIMER: everyone's feet are shaped differently, and because I say that this shoe works or doesn't work for me, doesn't mean that it'll work for you. I intend on telling you about the structure and feel of the shoe and giving my opinion. Take it as you may.*** Brooks Pureflow 4 Category: Natural/Minimal Fit: Snug around midfoot, but the toebox is nice and roomy. Cushioning: Its a soft, plush feel, but nothing too squishy or anything.  Heel to toe drop: 4mm Weight: 7 oz. Price: $110 Comparable shoes: Saucony Kinvara, Nike Free Company says: For a lightweight ride with plenty of cushion, look no further than the new PureFlow 4 women's running shoe. It boasts all the features you want in a high-performance running shoe -- a rounded heel for a smoother stride, improved Toe Flex for better alignment, a wider Nav Band in the upper for a snug fit -- and wrapped them up in a slick new design that brings loads of style with no added w...

****DISCLAIMER: everyone's feet are shaped differently, and because I say that this shoe works or doesn't work for me, doesn't mean that it'll work for you. I intend on telling you about the structure and feel of the shoe and giving my opinion. Take it as you may.*** Asics Nimbus 17: Category: Neutral high-cushioned Fit: Hugs the midfoot and the heel, maybe not as tight as other Asics models, but a nice, glove-like fit.  Cushioning: They added a thicker Fluidride foam over the gel, which makes this shoe hella-soft. Like I am not kidding you. It is too soft for my preferences, but for those that like a lot of cush, this is a shoe for you.  Heel to toe drop: 13 mm Weight: 8.8 oz Price: $150 Comparable shoes: Brooks Glycerin, Saucony Triumph, Adidas Energy Boost What the company says: When designing the new GEL-Nimbus® 17, ASICS opted for a little more revolution than evolution. Serious weight reduction takes center stage, with a nearly se...

Hey everyone! Sorry that I have been gone and posts have not been flowing out as quick as they used to be. I have been on a little bit of a hiatus from running, due to health issues and time constraints, (Im a full-time student who also works 2 jobs outside of class). But I wanted to let you know that I am back, and I will be doing a few posts here in the next week. A couple of great new shoes just came out and there are more that are getting updated next week, (April 1st: Nike Vomero 10, and Saucony Kinvara 6!!!) Sorry, I am pumped for the April 1st updates, especially the Kinvara 6. Just a heads up, the Vomero update is going to be fantastic, as it is getting a new, better upper. It wont look the same, but you'll see it either when you go to check it out, or when you read my blog post about it! Well I hope all is well and your running is going fantastic! Check back soon for new posts!

Here is the portion of my blog where I feature different runners and their thoughts on a few different ideas. I hope that all of you enjoy reading and learning about different runners as much as I do. If you would like to be featured as a runner, send me an email! I would be more than happy to feature any runner who contacts me! Life of a Runner: Tanner McClenahan, 22 Coe College cross country and track runner from Iowa How long have you been running for? I've been running since I was a little kid, I don't really remember when exactly. How seriously I've taken running in the past fluctuated but I've done some amount of running every year. I ran track from 7th-12th grade and then the last two years doing cross country and track at Coe has had me doing the most serious running I've ever done. It's definitely more apart of my lifestyle than it's ever been before.  What shoes are you using? I'm running in the Asics Kayano 20 and Saucon...

Here is the portion of my blog where I feature different runners and their thoughts on a few different ideas. I hope that all of you enjoy reading and learning about different runners as much as I do. If you would like to be featured as a runner, send me an email! I would be more than happy to feature any runner who contacts me! Life of a Runner: Hunter Schmitt, 21 Runner from Iowa How long have you been running for? I have been running for a total of 12 years. I started running in 5th grade because I got beat by a girl in the 1/2 mile run actually. She kept rubbing it in my face that she had won so I started running every day at recess (I did eventually beat her.) I really didn't start to get into competitive running until I got to 7th grade in which I did middle school track and then did cross country and track all 4 years at Hempstead High School. I went on to go participate in Collegiate cross country at Clarke University and Loras College for one season each...

Hello to all you "newbies"! Do not take offence to that. We were all new to running at one point or another. I am actually really pumped that you have decided to take on the challenge of running and train for a 5k. This is awesome! So for you, I thought I would offer some great pieces of advice for you and some valuable tools that will help you along your way.   So first things first, some advice to live by. Listen to your body. Your body will tell you all you need to know. "Hey, youve ran too far" "This is a comfortable pace" "Its time for some new shoes" are all things that your feet, knees, back, and rest of your person will tell you as you run and train.  Having a training plan will aid and help you ease your way into a 5k. You do not want to rush into things, as this can lead to injuries, so a training plan will slowly get to you up to speed.  Join a group! Talk to local running shops and see if they know any groups to join....

Here is the portion of my blog where I feature different runners and their thoughts on a few different ideas. I hope that all of you enjoy reading and learning about different runners as much as I do. If you would like to be featured as a runner, send me an email! I would be more than happy to feature any runner who contacts me! Life of a Runner: Caitlin Handcock, 27 Coe College cross country and track coach How long have you been running for? I started as a soccer player. They always put me at midfield because I could "run forever" and was often the fastest girl to the ball. In middle school I did track to stay in shape for soccer but I quickly found that I was far better at track than I ever was at soccer. It didn't take long for me to drop soccer and focus on indoor and outdoor track. As a runner my background is a little different. The farthest I often ran was the timed mile in gym class. I like the short distances and I liked the jumps and hurdles e...

So I know many of you have read my profiles on other runners. Many people that I did profiles on told me that I should do one on myself.  Life of a Runner: Kelsey Kemp, 20 Me, on the right What is your running history like?  I had a late start in running. I decided my sophomore year in high school that I wanted to do cross country the following fall. I was never the fastest, I actually ran most of the meets at the back of the pack. During postseason, I did a lot of training through the winter and spring. This all led me to putting way more than plenty miles in the summer and I ended up running varsity for a single meet my senior year (fractured my foot, so it was one of the 2 meets I ran that year). I now run cross country at Coe College, in the spring, I train for a half marathon or two, and I also work at Running Wild, a local specialty running store. I eventually hope to run a half marathon in every state (I have 4 already completed). What shoes are you c...

Here is the portion of my blog where I feature different runners and their thoughts on a few different ideas. I hope that all of you enjoy reading and learning about different runners as much as I do. If you would like to be featured as a runner, send me an email! I would be more than happy to feature any runner who contacts me! Life of a Runner: Nate Hopp, 32 High school cross country and track coach, elite runner, and Running Wild employee Nate celebrating his 100th race win How long have you been running for? I began running seriously when I started track in 7th grade (18 years ago). Prior to that I would do elementary track and field days and run around the neighborhood with the other kids in towns.When I joined track, I thought of myself as a 100m sprinter, wanting to be the next Carl Lewis. I found out I had the worst speed of everyone on the team. However, the next day the coach issued a challenge to us, saying that for practice we would run up to the gold cours...

Here is the portion of my blog where I feature different runners and their thoughts on a few different ideas. I hope that all of you enjoy reading and learning about different runners as much as I do. If you would like to be featured as a runner, send me an email! I would be more than happy to feature any runner who contacts me! Life of a Runner: Ben Mourer, 30 Coe College Head Cross Country Coach Ben Mourer, far left How long have you been running for? What is your running history like? I’ve been running almost as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are running laps around an old cinder track during my older brother’s Pop Warner Football games. I would have been about 7 or 8 years old and could usually put in 3 or 4 miles during a half of football. I had a few down years and then ran competitively through high school and college. Lately my running has been pretty relaxed as I focus far more on coaching. What shoes are you using right now? I’m a...

So you're training for your first half marathon. Scared? Anxious? Nervous? Dont worry, its completely normal to be. I have ran quite a few and I am here to offer my advice and give you a checklist of things you may need. So first off, some pieces of advice.  Slow and steady wins the race. Dont take off too fast, especially for the first mile. Think, you still have 12.1 miles left, so try not to run out of gas right away. My advice is to break the race up in to portions, halves or quarters, and tell yourself to pace at a certain speed for each of them. For myself, I run the first 6 miles at a slower pace, and once I finish, I decide how I am feeling and whether I increase my pace or not.  Here's a little secret. Half marathons are the best races to run. Why? Everyone, other racers and the spectators are there for you. The spectators think you are this amazing person and will just cheer you to finish rather than to run faster. The other runners know how much 13 mile...

****DISCLAIMER: everyone's feet are shaped differently, and because I say that this shoe works or doesn't work for me, doesn't mean that it'll work for you. I intend on telling you about the structure and feel of the shoe and giving my opinion. Take it as you may.*** Saucony Type A6: Category: Racing flat Fit: Socklike around the entire foot, with a snug heel. Cushioning: GRID cushioning. Firmer than the typical PWRGRID cushioning, however theres not much  cushioning in this shoe, as it is a racing flat Heel to toe drop: 4 mm Weight: 4.5 oz Price: $100 Comparable shoes: Nike Lunar Racer, Brooks T 7 Racer Company says: The perfect combination of lightness and responsiveness, the Type A6 is designed to help you get that qualifying time. The improved FLEXFILM helps maintain support and reduce weight in the upper, while the IBR+ forefoot rubber improves the reaction time you need for a quicker turnover. I say: if I were to ever buy...

****DISCLAIMER: everyone's feet are shaped differently, and because I say that this shoe works or doesn't work for me, doesn't mean that it'll work for you. I intend on telling you about the structure and feel of the shoe and giving my opinion. Take it as you may.*** Saucony Fastwitch: Category: Light Stability Racing Flat Fit: Hugs around the midfoot and heel nicely, giving some room in the forefoot. Cushioning: GRID cushioning, firmer than POWERGRID, but not too firm. Heel to toe drop: 4 mm Weight: 5.8 oz Price: $90 Comparable shoes: Asics Gel-DS 10 Company says: The all new Fastwitch is the first shoe in the Saucony line to use our brand new PowerTrac outsole rubber. With three times the traction compared to normal rubber, and a more responsive midsole, the Fastwitch is the perfect race day shoe. I say: Wow. I love the fit of the Fastwitch. The one thing I have always had with lightweight shoes is that there is never enough st...