‘Running’ Articles
Written by Enid Burns on 23 August 2010
Socks are socks, right? Well, there’s running socks, tennis socks, cycling socks, general sports socks, dress sock and we could keep going. A little known sock is the compression sock used frequently for medical conditions. Travelers and athletes are learning compression socks can aid training and recovery. One Mile Runner David O’Meara, whose goal is to inspire athletes over 30 to avoid injury, wears compression socks during and after performance events.
As a runner O’Meara wears the Athletic Recovery Sock while traveling and after exercise. He wears the Performance Sock for running. Both are part of the Active Therapy Line from Sigvaris. The comparession in the sock helps to flush out lactic acid that builds in the leg during exercise. The sock’s benefits are the ability to relieve tired, aching legs and exercise-induced muscle soreness. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: compression sock
Posted in Apparel, Cycling, Footwear, Outdoors, Pro Sports, Running, Travel, Triathlon | 1 Comment »
Written by Peter Suciu on 17 August 2010
- Hey Steve, no laces to tie!
Boa Technology, you are our heroes this week! The company noted that Apple CEO Steve Jobs stopped in the middle of his talking points during a recent press conference to… gasp… tie his shoes. No big deal right? It happens to the best of us. But as Boa Technology noted in An Open Letter to Steve Jobs, “It struck us as downright appalling that the CEO of a company leading the charge towards the 22nd century would resort to First Century Technology to close his shoes.”
The company further noted that they sent Mr. Jobs a pair of shoes “that is true to Apple’s forward-looking culture” (their words, not ours as we’re far from Apple zealots at KineticShift.com). So what exactly makes the Boa Technology stand apart? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Apple, Boa, Boa Lacing System, dial-driven tightening mechanism, laces, Shoes, Steve Jobs
Posted in Footwear, Gadget, Running | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 16 August 2010
When it comes to doing a triathlon you can complete or you can try to conquer the competition. That’s what the makers at Australian-based Conquest Bike Wear also seemed to have in mind, with its latest line of new triathlon and cycling attire. Our friends at Trizone reported that the company has announced several new products, many of which have been upgraded to feature the latest material and technical components.
These include the Conquest trisuit, a protestional-level kit constructed of hardwearing “Lyrca power.” The fabric is reported to be chlorine and salt water resistant, as well as offering sun protection rated at UV50+. Making sure that the clothing can stand up to the harsh conditions is a real plus, as is the additional use of hydrophobic fabric to repel water quickly. This means that you won’t have to feel you’re sitting on damp sponge as you hit the bike. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bib shorts, Conquest Bike Wear, Cycling attire, lyrca power, trisuit
Posted in Apparel, Cycling, Running, Triathlon | 2 Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 10 August 2010
Montrail Sabino Trail Shoes
Over hill, over dale, I hit the dusty trail and the Sabino carried me along. After years of primarily being one to pound the pavement, I laced up with a pair on Montrail Sabino shoes and got off road. Now truth be told, given the state of many roads and even sidewalks in much of the country these days, finding “off road” isn’t as hard as it seems. But these performance running shoes are really designed for stability in true trail conditions.
The Sabinos are heavier than many of today’s lightweight running training shoes, but that’s because these need to stand up to harsher terrain. In other words you wouldn’t use a sports car where a SUV needs to go – then again, many SUVs probably couldn’t go where these shoes will take you. Made of synthetic leather and lylon mesh upper materials and thermoplastic midfoot shank, the Sabinos fit like a glove and were just right for the rather humid and warm day when I hit the trail. Whether we’ll be able to say if these were neither too hot nor too cold will have to determined at another time, but it is safe to say that these will do the job in a variety of weather conditions. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Hands On, Montrail, off-road, Running, Sabino, Trail Shoes, trails, walking
Posted in Footwear, Hands On, Hiking, Running | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 04 August 2010
Earlier this year Adidas unveiled its miCoach system, which put sensors on a runner’s shoes as well as a device on the arm to measure distance, pace and even stride rate. Users could get a lot of information, and could even sync the data to a website. Now the company has taken the next step by introducing a miCoach application for the iPhone and BlackBerry that is meant to work as a virtual personal and real-time trainer.
As with the miCoach devices, this app utilizes GPS capabilities, where real-time pace-based coaching and tracking is provided. The app essentially transforms a smartphone into a personal guide complete with voice coaching, personalized and sports-specific training regimes, workout calendar and workout feedback. The app also monitors, manages and analyses progress over time. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Adidas, Adidas Sport Performance, App, Apple App Store, application, Bernd Wahler, Blackberry, BlackBerry World, GPS, iPhone, miCoach, Running, smartphone, virtual coach
Posted in Exercise, Mobile Phone, Running, Software | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 02 August 2010
- He’s not an athlete, he just plays one (badly) on TV
Nike didn’t drop Tiger Woods as a spokesman after all of his “problems,” which suggests that even bad boys can still sell products. But the recent decision from K-Swiss to use a fictional athlete to market shoes seems way, way off base. A newly launched ad campaign for the TUBES fitness shoes from K-Swiss features “slightly delusional ex-professional baseball player” Kenny Powers, played by actor Danny McBride, from the HBO series Eastbound & Down. Considering that Powers seldom thinks before opening his mouth, it is an odd choice for a spokesman.
But David Nichols, executive vice-president of K-Swiss sums it up another way, “we wanted to deliver unfiltered straight talk about how awesome TUBES are. Who better to do that than Kenny Powers?” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: App, Comedy Central, Danny McBride, David Nichols, Eastbound & Down, ESPN, Facebook, HBO, K-Swiss, Kenny Powers, Tiger Woods, training shoes, TUBES, Workout Wingman
Posted in Exercise, Footwear, Running | 2 Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 29 July 2010
It is hard to think about winter given that the recent heat waves, but next week is the beginning of August and that means that fall is just around the corner. While there is plenty of outdoor running left, it is never too early to think about how to keep up the miles once it gets cold outside and the snow starts to pile up. While this reporter will stick to the treadmill, our friends over at the Competitive Runner have another tip for those who need to put in some real miles in the great out doors.
The site offers tips on transforming an old pair of running shoes into some winter trainers. The solution they’ve come up with involves adding some sheet metal screws to the soles, which should certainly provide some extra traction and stability when you hit icy conditions. It is a good tip, and a great reason to save shoes that still have a few miles left in. Maybe it will get those of us who prefer to stay indoors in the winter to actually head outside for a run.
[Via Competitive Runner: Make Your Own Screw Shoes]
Tags: Competitive Runner, Running Shoes, screws, Shoes, Treadmill
Posted in Apparel, Outdoors, Running | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 26 July 2010
Rubberized coating on these shoes make them spashproof.
Seamless is the new stitching. A new trail running shoe from Hi-Tec was on show at the OutDoor show last week, the Infinity V-Lite. Layers of technology make for a streamlined shoe. A seamless upper reduces weight and tendency to develop blisters. Hi-Tec worked with Vibram to provide an exclusive sole with two rubber compounds that provide traction and durability. A rubberized coating provides permanent water repellence. There’s plenty more features to give the shoe a comfortable fit and support while on the trails. And it looks cool too. We hope to get our hands on a pair when they become more widely available.
Hi-Tec
Via: Outdoors Magic Gear Blog
Tags: OutDoor Show, Running, seamless shoes, trail running
Posted in Footwear, Running | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 23 July 2010
Olympic athlete Paulo Villar tapes his muscles to get through the hurdles.
Working through aches and pains has gone way beyond the ace bandage. Kinesio Tex Tape Gold, a black and brightly colored tape that almost looks like an abstract tattoo, is often seen on Olympic and pro sport athletes. Kinesio Tex Tape Gold is latex free elastic therapeutic tape developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase ofer 35 years ago in Japan. The tape is applied over muscle sprains, tendon pulls and other maladies that might sideline a runner or athlete.
We spotted the black, hot pink and turquoise blue tape on many riders during the Tour de France, which is set to conclude in Paris on Sunday. BMC rider Cadel Evans managed to stay in the race after breaking his elbow through the use of the Kinesio tape. The current world champion cyclist twittered “This #TdF I’ve too much about ‘second skin’ & ‘kinesio tape’ …..it’s holding me together 
(” A rider from HTC Columbia has an artful application on his knee that mimics his muscle structure in his thigh attaching to the knee.
The tape is generally applied in the direction of muscles or tendons and creates a lifting effect to improve circulation and relieve pain. It can be used to both relax or stimulate muscles, depending on its application. This goes beyond wrapping an ace bandage around a body part. Kinesio offers training and certification, as well as DVD demonstrations to learn proper application to get benefits from the tape. You can pick it up at some sporting good stores, but to get real relief find someone authorized to tape you, which will last up to three days.
Kineseo Tex Tape Gold
Tags: injury, Kinesio Tex Tape Gold, kinesiology tape
Posted in Gadget, General, Pro Sports, Running | 2 Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 21 July 2010
While running might be the most basic workout there is; after all you don’t actually “need” anything. You just look at a spot and run to it. But over the years technology has changed the way we run, with everything from the shoes to the clothing and now with the apps. Yes, there is an app for running. So while the app runs on your phone, it can help you better pound the pavement over the long miles.
Over the past six months we’ve looked a few running apps, but our colleagues at The Detroit Free Press, which is the sponsor of the Detroit Marathon (Oct. 17), offered an excellent round-up of the best running apps and websites. Thanks to Free Press Web Editor Mark W. Smith for compiling the list. We’ll look for you on the road in October Mark!
[Via Detroit Free Press: Smartphone apps keep runners hitting the pavement]
Tags: c25k, Couch to 5K, Detroit Marathon, Free Press Web Editor Mark W. Smith, running apps, smartphones
Posted in Running, Software | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 15 July 2010
- Where running and cycling meet
Imagine being able to do the running and cycling parts of a triathlon at the same time? That’s sort of what the ElliptiGo can do. This outdoor elliptical bicycle essentially combines running with cycling, for what the manufacturer dubs a low-impact yet high-output cross-training form of exercise. The bike lacks any seat, but does utilize typical hand brake levers.
Developed by Bryan Plate, a former cyclist and Ironman competitor who suffered from hip and knee injuries, the ElliptiGo is a 18.1kg eight-speed trainer that is geared towards runners who want to avoid the impact of road work, but still want to remain “out of the saddle.” While the ElliptiGo is probably best for fairly flat terrain – and does require a reasonably smooth surface – the bike can reach some decent speeds, around 24 km/h, although the company maintains that strong riders/runners could reach up to 40 km/h.
The ElitptiGo retails for $2,200 and is available in blue, black and for the environmentally friendly, green.
ElliptiGo Official Site
[Via Asia Cnet: Taking the ElliptiGO bike for a spin]
Tags: bike, Bryan Plate, Cycling, ElliptiGo, Ironman, Running
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Running | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 06 July 2010
These trail running shoes will eat it up
If running on the pavement just isn’t your speed, and you prefer to get down and dirty than Columbia Sportswear has you covered – and your feet too. For 2010 the company has released a shoe that will let you eat up the trails. The 2010 Ravenous is just 600 grams a pair, and these feature a cushioned underfoot to make the hard trails seem not so hard.
To ease additional pounding the Ravenous are using what Columbia is calling a 3D Techlite heel system to offer a conforming fit while helping runners maintain stability in really rough terrain. This further provides a cushion that will make you feel like you’re running on a cloud while working up some dust. The shoes further offer a mesh upper, which is ideal for those summer heatwaves. But to protect your feet from the trails there is also a front toe bumper for good measure. All this combined result is a lightweight shoe that take a beating, and still looks stylish on or off the trails.
Columbia Ravenous Trail Shoe
Tags: 3D Techlite, Columbia Ravenous, Running, Trail Shoe, trails
Posted in Footwear, Hiking, Running | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 01 July 2010
The promise to train harder in a shorter period of time is one that many of us seek today. There is only so much time in the day, and the ability to run a shorter distance but still get a full workout is a dream. This is part of the concept behind the Skechers Resistance Runner line of shoes, which also has the promise to provide the corrective benefits of running barefoot.
To this end the Skechers shoes utilize the “shape-ups” technology. The idea here is that the shoes can make it so your heart rate is faster, and you actually activate your muscles quicker. The company believes the shoes will increase back muscle activation by up to 85 percent, hip muscle activation by 71 percent, calf muscle activation by 68 percent and that users can actually burn more than 10 percent more calories when compare to traditional running shoes.
So how is this done? Part of it is the “rocker bottom,” where the shoe has a rounded appearance, which the company suggests should make for a more natural running position. This is what is believed to be the key to barefoot running. The shoe’s Kinetic Wedge thus simulates running on sand.
The Skechers Resistance Runners are now arriving in stores, and should be available to go the distance later this summer.
Skechers Official Site
Skechers Resistance Runner
Tags: Resistance Runners, Shape Up, Skechers
Posted in Footwear, Running | No Comments »
