Brooks In: Newton’s Out

I tried valiantly to love my Newton Momentum running shoes. (Product Review Here) Here is the deal, the Newton’s are built with a very low heal relative to the ball of the foot.   Even with 90 days of slowly ramping up distance, my Achilles and calves hurt for two days after each run.  This is due to the extra extension which is part of the shoe design.

In addition, the protruding lug design on the forefoot of the Newton’s seems to continuously irritate the nerve between my big toe and second toe near the metatarsal.  Again, by design, Newton’s position your impact toward your forefoot.  This combination puts a great deal of pressure in exactly the wrong place on my foot.

This pains me greatly because the Newton Momentum’s look very cool and they feel FAST.

However, there is good news.  I tried out a pair of Brooks Green Silence on the treadmill today.  The heel is not as low as thew Newton’s yet more aggressive than standard training shoes.  They are also light and very flexible in the forefoot, and relatively stable in the heel.  After a short interval workout my foot is definitely not worse and my Achilles and calves feel much better than they have.

I will write a proper review for DELTA Triathlon after a few more runs.  Anyone else have experience with either of these shoes that they care to share?

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Leave Your Underwear At Home

How many times have you wanted to point out to a fellow cyclist that wearing underwear under cycling shorts is just not done?

It doesn’t matter if you are wearing granny pants or something very small, it is easy to tell they are there.  Yes, that’s right, everyone behind you can tell that you have them on and will immediately assign you to the rookie category which will be very difficult to overcome.

Cycling shorts – those with a built in ‘chamois’ – are built to be worn commando. Period. Stretchy shorts without a chamois are not cycling shorts – these are horrible and pointless for riding.

The big issue for me is exactly how do I bring it up to someone who has yet to catch on?  Most often the rider is female and my typical strategy is to speak to an experienced and tactful female cyclist and ask her to quietly break the news to the uninformed.

When I have to give the speech I usually begin with comfort and explain that cycling shorts are built without seams in the wrong places which would cause chafing.  Also, chamois material is smooth and slick, which both reduces friction, hence more comfort and fewer ‘issues’, and is designed to ward away germ warfare.  The rule of thumb is to wash cycling shorts after EACH ride.

Please, for your own sake, leave your underwear at home.

Is Peeing In The Shower OK?

In a recent conversation with friends, a polarizing topic has arisen.  Two of four regularly pee in the shower (presumably at the onset not the end).  Of the other two, one is fairly agnostic about this behavior and one is disgusted.

I am anxious to find out how you feel about this.  Your comments would be appreciated for our informal poll.

Those in favor tend to argue points like, “it is going down the same sewer” and “hey, it’s just ammonia – it is practically cleaning the shower.”

Those disgusted tend to say, “ewwww gross!”

So far we have all been thinking about our shower at home.  Where do you draw the line?  Is it OK to pee in the shower at the fitness club?  Does the same logic apply?

But what about freedom of expression – does that apply to our #1 expression?

The narcissist in us may find that it is just fine for us to let it rip in the shower, BUT not OK for our roommate or S.O.

This is important, it is time to take a stand and speak your mind!

 

 

Chocolate Milk For The Soul

Without doubt, my favorite recovery drink is chocolate milk.  Study after study indicates this is as good or better than other recovery drinks on the market, if consumed within 30 minutes of exercise.

When we undergo the stress of physical exercise, with appropriate recovery (I.E. chocolate milk and recovery time), our body adapts and becomes more efficient. Once you adapt to a given stress, you require additional stress to continue to develop. Coaches and Athletes organize the load/recovery/adaptation into cycles and phases – this is periodization.

I am finding that same pattern applies to emotional, mental and spiritual growth as well.  Perhaps it is not so surprising, but busy periods where I am highly engaged, frequently engaged with people or experiencing emotional stress leave me feeling the need for some quiet time to reflect.  It is during these “recovery” periods that I seem to self-evaluate from a different, calmer perspective and the real evolution continues.

These recovery cycles are when I access my introverted characteristics.  The output is often writing, creative ideas, new approaches to old problems and sometimes an adjustment to my beliefs and views.

This all reminds me that I need to go to the grocery store.  I am out of chocolate milk.

 

This Took Me 50 Years To Learn

1. It is taking much longer than I expected to become the person I want to be.
2. It is always, always, always best to live by my own values.
3. Everyone you meet is better than you at something and vice versa.
4. From Mother Teresa to Richard Nixon, all people are inherently self-interested.
5. I am responsible for my own happiness.
6. My green and your green look different.
7. Most people continue to evolve, but most relationships do not.
8. There is almost always a lesson if we are willing to look.
9. You are going to piss off some people – just accept it.
10. Your very best friends will tell you the truth.
11. How you live changes your brain.
12. Exercise creates time.
13. Some people are just not good for you.
14. Appreciate what has happened as much as what will.
15. If you don’t love yourself, you can never love someone else.
16. You can keep going long after you think you cannot.
17. Unconditional acceptance is not unconditional agreement.
18. Analyze it, bounce it against your values, make a decision and don’t look back.
19. Forgiving yourself is damn hard and damn important.
20. I love being king of the cool kids club.
21. Life has a beautiful symmetry.

 

 

Whatever The Mind Expects, It Will Find

Keep company with those who make you better – English Proverb

All of us are affected by the people with whom we associate.  The more time we spend, the greater the influence.  The impact extends beyond our family and closest friends to the very edge of our circle of influence.

The transfer is subtle and instinctive.  We absorb and reflect the views, body language, and energy of others.  Right now you are thinking of someone in your life who brings you joy and energy and someone else who is draining you, taking pieces of your happiness with them.   Some people are both, depending upon the piece of your life they see or how deep you look.

A positive mind anticipates happiness, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it will find.

When I am around the right people for me, I am encouraged and inspired to live by my values, make tough choices, pursue goals and appreciate what I have.  I expect great things.

 

 

Top Ten Signs You Are An Aging Triathlete

1. Every morning feels like it should be recovery day.
2. Jeans and running shoes no longer qualify as “dressed up.”
3. Your orthopaedic surgeon, physical therapist, chiropractor, masseuse and acupuncturist are all  younger than  you.
4. You know which flavors of GU give you gas when you run and the runs when you are out of gas.
5. You don’t know what time Taco Bell closes.
6. You show up at El Rancherita, sweaty and smelly while wearing a hoodie, bike shorts, black socks and green shoes.
7. You select your races by how far away they are from home.
8. You no longer know how to work on your bike.
9. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.
10. Your AARP card arrives in the mail.

Take A Deep Breath…And Let It Go

In the spirit of “Heal Yesterday, Live Today and Manifest Tomorrow” – I have really been successful with pausing every few hours to breathe.  Thank goodness this is true, because so far 2011 has not been great.

Life can be challenging and I have historically dealt with this by allowing stress to accumulate and leak out or explode in unplanned ways.  Often, this has been at my expense and/or the expense of others.

However, Ray Lamontagne has come to my rescue with his Be Here Now video and lyrics.

How simple it seems – be self-aware, pause, take a deep breath, let it go and live today.

Life is so much more approachable with a clear and receptive mind and heart.

Take a deep breath … and let it go.