Mizuno Wave Rider 15 Product Review

So comfy!!

I have the best relatives! People who barely know me, yet send me money from New York to help buy running shoes. Thanks mom and dad, and Bruno, Camille, and Aunt Lorraine!!!! There has been a lot of internet searching lately to try to decide on my newest pair of running shoes. My best estimate is that I have about 150 more miles left on the other shoes I use, so it's time to work a new pair into the rotation.

I wear a 9.5 or 10, but also need the EE wide size to accommodate my huge left foot(that's right ladies!). The helpful people at a local gigantic national chain running store have told me my left foot is larger than my right foot and that a wider shoe will be more comfortable on longer runs. Sure. They also convinced me to eat a cricket for three dollars, and that's the LAST time I ever will.

Does this really need a caption?

I've been very happy with Asics and mostly happy with my Brooks, but I couldn't find the size with preferred color combination or limited edition, so down to the store I went. And this time, there would be know way I was going to eat another cricket. I met the helpful sales girl and gobbled three crickets before she could say hello we proceeded to talk about the shoes I have been using. She explained the minor differences between the neutral and neutral plus shoes, and I tried on about 5 or 6 different pair. Eventually I decided that the Mizuno Wave Rider 15's felt the best and bought a pair of size 10 EE.

After stopping off to buy some Ramen noodles for my family with the remaining grocery money, I unpacked, sniffed, defiled, and drooled on these babies until it was time to go night night.

This morning's run was a scheduled 5 mile progression. Planned 9:30, 9:15, 9:00, 8:45, 8:30. My Garmin battery died so I don't have exact data beyond the first mile, but I ran faster than planned and felt great the whole run. My feet had plenty of room in the toe box, which is great because I suffer from left-foot giant black toes. The soles felt grippy on the pavement and there was nothing else remarkable about them. They're new and over $100, of course they feel fantastic. I'll run on these exclusively for the next couple of weeks and write a review update. The sales girl person told me that Mizuno has a larger toebox than Asics and a better heel cup, and we sat and chatted about canal running, Adam's transgender modification surgery, and the Celtics, and would you know it? We both went through a whole bag of crickets.

Saturday Morning Long Runs

I love running my long slow runs (LSR) on Saturday morning, preferably at an early early early hour. Yesterday, I took off at 5:30 for a seven mile run. Not the longest distance, but I am slowly ramping up, sticking to the ten percent rule. The ten percent rule is a common running rule of thumb which states that we should not increase our weekly total distance run by more than 10% of the prior week, or we risk injury. My plan asked me to run 4 of these seven miles at my long slow pace of 10:00min/mile or more, and the last three at a tempo pace of 9:15. I pretty much nailed it and felt good the whole way.

This typical Saturday route starts out with a half mile uphill, then levels out on the canal for more distance than most people need. The Phoenix canal system goes for miles and miles East and West, mostly in one mile segments divided by major cross streets that are designed to scare the living shit out of scampering runners. Since I almost always do an out and back route, the run ends on that same half mile going downhill, which really helps with pacing and the psychological delayed-gratification feeling of finishing fast.

I am also monitoring my Heart Rate (HR) again because I'm trying to identify zones of running effort. If your telescope is strong enough to see the graph above, you can see a HR of low to mid 140's for the first 4 miles then up to around 160 for the last three miles. These zones are different for different people depending on a lot of factors. My 160 will almost never be the same as your 160. Without going into too much detail, these numbers can be used to identify zones of perceived effort. They can be used for a lot more than that, but I'm sticking to perceived effort for now. For me right now in my life, a HR below 150 is an easy rate where I can continue for a long time and hold a conversation with another person (real or imagined) or a 1 year old labrador retriever. On a percentage scale, 100% is my all out run-for-your-life can't do anything but get away from the Boogieman, and 60% is my conversational long run pace. So I would say that the 160 was probably near the 80-85% zone. I could maybe continue at that pace for about 5 miles or so. The more I track HR, the more accurate and precise these measures will become, until I cross-over into data overload and then I put it away for a while.

RUN!

These Heart rate zones can change over time based on fitness, so it's a good idea for me to wear the HR monitor, at least periodically, for overall accountability and to track changes in my overall running fitness. I'm a huge fan of the Garmin running GPS systems, and I use the Garmin Forerunner 305 with the Garmin HR monitor bra-strap.

"I would be very interested in testing and positively reviewing a brand new Garmin Forerunner 910XT multi-sport trainer", he gratuitously asserted to the Google digital marketing Venus FlyTrap.

Beautiful! Just beautiful!!

I've scheduled a race every month this year, mostly races I've run in the past. but there are a few new venues on the list, and I'm looking forward to competing against Jeph, my younger virtual training partner. I am also continuing to hold to the sweets-free January challenge. I've lost nearly ten pounds of blubber, and I do believe it's making a real difference. My wife is joining me, but she is considering a one day a month cheat-day. I thought about it, but know that one day of cheating will end up with me seeing June on the calendar from a back booth at Arby's.

Bring It!

FYTO 5K is next weekend. Are you registered? RTP has somehow gained another follower, welcome to sporadic randomness!

Product Review: Hot Wheels Mega Garage

The elevator really works!

The folks at Mattel have done it again. Depleting the cardboard honeycomb mines of Southeast Tunesia to package this toy which will be used for about three days. Then Norman, The Destroyer lab, will chew and crap it to pieces, and it will finally sit in a landfill for the next 500 years as historians scratch their heads with holographic head scratchers and marvel at the acres of plastic. And yes, in this scenario, a Native American stands at the edge of the dump, and a single tear runs down his cheek. But for now.... Awesome! Happy birthday Harrison.

About as Native American as I am Eskimo

Just some catch up. Last weekend I headed out to the desert to meet up with a complete stranger named Janette and hike with her through the night for about 15 miles. Oh, and this was one of six days in the year when it was supposed to rain. I got out there Saturday later in the afternoon and hung out with Stephanie, who claims to be friends with Lauren. But I can recognize a squatter simply by meeting one and squatting with them for a few hours. We squatted around in Lauren and Janette's camp and talked about lots of things, then Janette showed up for a transition. We did some math and determined that I would begin my pace loop sometime between 2 and 3am. So off to sleep I went and woke up to get back to the start at 1:30am. It was raining. At 1:30am. Night. This is the Javelina Jundred.

While waiting, I met up with some friends I had not seen in a long time and even saw some names on the race roster that I knew and will be catching up with them soon. Lauren had a tough time of it and had to stop, but my runner was still out there somewhere. Finally at around 4am, a race official told me she had dropped at Jackass Junction (sic) along with ten or so other racers and were waiting for a shuttle to get back to base. That was my cue to skeedaddle, narrowly avoiding a Navy Seal-like training experience. Watching those people cross the line after 101 miles made me want to do this Javelina Jundred thing next year  get home to a warm dry bed. And I got home just in time for the family to wake up. Cock a doodle doo.

I am starting to work on my New Year resolution list, which will likely include guidance towards running goals. 2011 has been a banner year for lots of reasons, but my running has definitely taken a back seat in these last few months. I want to increase my dedication to this past time in 2012 and reach some milestones that have been unattainable so far. I may even go to a coach, at least to give Nitmos something to rant about. Sure, I realize that coaches are for pros, but how can I ever hope to compete at the professional or olympic level if I don't have a coach? The only runner I know of at that level who is coachless is Ryan Hall, but he has that whole "Jesus Christ" thing going for him. Did you know that if your purchase a 2012 Ram Truck it will manufacture and assemble a log cabin for you in only one day? True. I've been running on Saturday mornings with a running group comprised of people who work in my school district, though everyone is welcome. We go for about 45  minutes starting near the Biltmore area in Phoenix and drink coffee afterwards. (Blog author wipes mouth and rises a bit shakey from vomiting these random thoughts out to you reader monkeys) ( I was told by a highly reliable source that calling you names would increase my roster of reader monkeys and I've always wanted 60-70 monkeys).

I went out today this morning for the Thanksgiving 5K/10 miler put on by the Arizona Road Racers. They always put on terrific events. There were lots of people there. I had originally planned to run ten miles, but my wife and kids wanted to come along so I deferred to the 5K, and ran it at an average 28 minutes. There were lots of walkers and I haven't been running much lately, so I took it easy. I have to stop this post now because I think I just burned off another calorie and I feel lightheaded. And now, a three day crescendo of gluttony!

Review of the Garmin Forerunner 305

THE Garmin 305 Forerunner

There are quite a few opportunities for TWSS in this post, so I'm just putting this one here at the start and you can cut and paste it anywhere you like (twss). I've been running with a Garmin Forerunner 305 gps device since January of 2009, and I love it. This ubiquitous gizmo is seen on the wrists of runners all over the map (Redundant? Only if you know what ubiquitous means, and even then, it's still an ok sentence. Certainly good enough for this blog).

The 305 ('ole Red) is worn on the wrist like a watch. Like a toaster-watch. Seriously, it's bigger than most watches but fits well for most people. It catches gps satellite signals so that it can track your exact location, your speed, your distance, the exact route you are taking, and combines that data into a few other useful displays like pace and time spent running. The 305 usually comes with a heart rate monitor strap which is worn around the chest, and you can also get a cadence sensor for your bike data and a foot pod to measure running data indoors (treadmill). The auxiliaries connect wirelessly to the main 305 and add to your information overload.

The 305 itself holds about 50 workouts and then it starts writing over the oldest workouts, so most people download their information into one or more of several online and/or pc-based applications. I use Garmin Training Center which is loaded on my laptop and also Daily Mile which is an online social running/workout network. After I download my workout, I simply delete the data from the 305 to keep it clear and to stay in routine. I used to load workouts into the Runners World online log but stopped because I wasn't using that information in any useful way.

The 305 has a multitude of functions and display options, and it really comes down to what I want to see while I'm out running, because I can get all the other information when I return home. The 305 collects everything, but only displays up to 12 fields (between three separate screens) on the unit itself. Those 12 fields are found on three screens that I can toggle between, and the fewer displays per screen the larger the data displays --one data display per screen is large, but with four, it has to divide the screen into four so the data displays are smaller. This only matters when you are gasping and wheezing and trying to see how fast you are accelerating after running off of a cliff. *

Most of the time, I like to see current pace and average pace. Almost all of my routes are pre-planned, so distance is known, and time is not ever important for me. I'm a pace junkie and that is that. So screen one is pace and average pace.

Screen two has three fields for lap pace, distance, and average pace. I use this screen when doing speed work and only really look at lap pace.

Screen three is a repeat of screen two, but distance is the top display. I look at this when I'm running without a pre-planned route or when I go off route.

The 305 also has a feature called virtual runner which allows me to set a pace in the computer and run against that pace. The 305 displays a skinny 20 year old Kenyan on roller skates racing against a pudgy stooped 45 year old running through mud. Guess who is who?

I love the free software "Garmin Training Center" that comes with it. It tracks all my runs and allows me to compare runs to each other. Garmin also has an online semi-social site called Garmin Connect which maps and keeps data and shares it with others. Meh. Not so much. For PC users, there is Sporttracks, which is the penultimate online tracking software. You can re-live your runs in 3D and see all sorts of other kinky cool data collusions. I'm an Apple user, so I don't get to play with that, but someday....... I can picture one lonely nerd in the back cubicle at Sportracks working to try to build a digital bridge for the Apple users. Give it up buddy, you'll never make it.

Some of the drawbacks:

• It is not waterproof, but does claim water resistance. Though after some heavy duty sweating, the sound of the beeps has diminished considerably and sometimes I need to clean the contacts on the back so it will connect to the cable. There is a waterproof version which can be used for swimming, and perhaps is more resistant to sweat. Salt from sweat is corrosive on most materials over time, so it may be a once every five years investment to get the latest version. Garmin is now moving a 610 version for $350 that has a touch screen but otherwise all the same features of the 305. $350?? Seriously??!? You can find a 305 with HRM for well under $150, and around the holidays for $99. That can't be beat.
• PIRNIG --problem in runner, not in Garmin. If you accidently press start and stop buttons on the 305, it will start and stop. It doesn't recognize accidental button pushes, or whether a runner forgets to restart the unit after shitting in the bushes stopping at Dunkin waiting, pissed off, at a traffic light.
• It's ok to let data drive most decisions, but a natural or 'naked' run is nice once in a while. That is a run without electronics or route or speed or anything else besides you and your 3" shorty-shorts. And running shoes. Barefoot running causes cancer and melodramatic heel spurs in everyone who even tries it just once.

I really love my Garmin, and recommend it for everyone who likes to keep track of their running and set goals for improvement.

Do you use a Garmin? What data fields do you use? What online or PC-based application(s) do you use?

RTP Rating:

Cake = it's great and I highly recommend this product. Keep your fingers away from my mouth.

* A despondent physics student jumps off a bridge, and falls for three seconds before hitting the water. How fast is he going when he hits the water?

Approximating g as 10 m/s², he will gain 10 m/s of speed each second. After one second, his velocity is 10 m/s, after two seconds it is 20 m/s, and on impact, after falling for three seconds, he is moving at 30 m/s.

Product Review: Tempeh

Tempeh: The healthful option

Tempeh (pronounced Tempeh) is a mixture of fermented whole soybeans, barley, oats, and other healthful ingredients formed into a cake and used in a variety of culinary creations. This is a staple food in Indonesia which is not located in the United States. Internet sources describe Indonesia as a series of islands near Asia riddled with sex slave industry and Tempeh factories. I imagine most people read about the variety of Tempeh uses, then actually cook and eat one and never look back. Tempeh is pretty nasty stuff.

The texture: mostly firm. You definitely need to slice it with a knife. Sort of like cheese, sort of like head cheese.

The aroma: Sort of like....mmmm... kinda........put some chicken pigeon in a crock pot and add some of that foo foo near-beer Nitmos likes and a pretty good dollop of dog shit. Simmer on low for a few hours and your kitchen your neighbor's kitchen will smell like Tempeh I think.

What it looks like: A bit like a veggie burger with some blue cheese dark spots.

Care: Keep it refrigerated or, better yet, in your neighbor's trash, or ultimately, leave it at that hippy over-priced grocery store you found it in. It's in the cooler near where Nitmos can be found smuggling Summer Shandy under his girly blue parka.

Taste: See 'Aroma' and go no further.

The Brand: Trader Joes 3 grain Tempeh (BTW, it is inexpensive, likely because of capital economics)

Today's Plate: Sliced into cubes and scrambled with three chicken eggs. Finished with two shakes of the ginger/wasabi sauce bottle. Ice water, a nose clip, and a 75 pound labrador retriever volunteer at the ready.

Knives ready in case any of this actually goes into my mouth

Nutritional benefits: Well yes, there is this. Tempeh is high in fiber, high in protein and "Tempeh  is a great choice for people who have difficulty digesting plant-based high-protein foods like beans and legumes or soy foods such as tofu. The process of fermentation makes the soybeans softer, since enzymes produced by the mould predigests a large portion of the basic nutrients. The Rhizopus moulds produce an enzyme phytase which breaks down phytates, thereby increasing the absorption of minerals such as zinc, iron and calcium. The fermentation process greatly reduces the oligosaccharides that make beans hard to digest for some people. Studies have shown tempeh to be essentially non-flatulent and producing no more gas than non-legume food."
http://www.tempeh.info/health/tempehhealth.php


RTP Rating:

Cow pie = not on your life, but it's sometimes fun to watch others interact with this.

Powerbar Energy Blasts Review

I'm leading, SUAR is in third place back there. Yep, stopped to crap.

Mmmmmmmmm good. PowerBar has hit a home run with these yummy little energy chews. I used the 2 for 1 coupon in last months Runners World to buy these. I only use gels on long runs of eight miles or more, and I only use other energy products like these chews before a long run, and then not very often.

So the other day I ate a pack before a five mile trail run thinking that the trails have been beating me up and I would benefit from a little extra energy. These are seriously yummy and hit my sugar peptide just right. I ate them about 30 minutes prior to the workout and felt....... the same when I finally hit the trail. It was hard to tell if I was feeling chemically energized or energized from the trail run itself. I don't know, my high/low  energy reference points are when I haven't had coffee in the morning and when little Jeffrey goes 'up periscope'.

But it doesn't matter because these are really good and relatively inexpensive. As for the 'squirt in your mouth' effect, I think I ate them too fast to notice. Nutritionally, these little guys are pretty solid and are positively endorsed by Josh Cox among others. Here's the breakdown:

45 grams of carbs, lots of sugar, and Black carrot juice for color. WTF? Black carrots??? Off to Google we go------

Keepin it clean for this family blog

Carrots originated in the Afghanistan region about 5,000 years ago. Though not a robust crop choice here in the West, black carrots proliferate in Asia and the Baltic states, and are becoming more popular in modern restaurants. The chemical composition makes for an ideal red coloring, and you can read a lot more here at the carrot museum online. I swear!

Post #150!!! Thanks for following!

RTP Rating for PowerBar Raspberry Energy Blasts:
Cake = it's great and I highly recommend this product. Keep your fingers away from my mouth.

Accelerade Review

That's the culprit on the left

I bought a canister of Accelerade sports recovery powder and have now had 5 RTP servings. Yuckity yuckfuckingyuck it tastes awful. I have the lemon lime flavor and I mix a half scoop into about 32 oz's of water which is about 4 times diluted. I can't even imagine full strength. When I run, I sweat like Klinger on a Texas rooftop, and like the idea of replacing salts in my system, but I am hesitant to take salt pills. I'm not sure if I sweat enough to warrant the pills. This powder gives me one more excuse to drink water so that's my option.

Here is the nutritional information which you can also read without the aid of a telescope on the website:

Quite a bit of sugar, but it's definitely offset by the Potassium and Sodium, and the sugars miiiiiight be the 'good kind of sugar'. Magnesium isn't listed but somehow you get 30%. Someone in the know can hopefully supply a better analysis.

And now the nitty gritty:

It kinda tastes like when you chew a vitamin. No no.... it kinda tastes like when you fill your mouth with tempera paint powder and then chew a vitamin. No wait, I have it now. It tastes like when you chew a vitamin and chase it with tempera paint and then bite either end off of a pigeon embryo. Yes, that's it! Maybe not that bad, but without a doubt you are not drinking Gatorade. Hopefully someone else can give better information about the nutrition. For instance, is sucrose a bad thing? It's the first ingredient listed. WTF is sucrose? I know it's table sugar, but is that bad? They include yellow and blue food dyes to make that green color most people associate with Martian squeezings. Do I feel better and more recovered after I drink it? Who the hell knows. I usually drink quite a bit of water and then coffee after a morning run, and sometimes a coconut water or choc milk after an especially long run. This stuff might be helping, but I'm not sure. The can cost $23 which comes out to about 38 cents per serving if you are following the 1 scoop per 12 ounce suggestion. With the RTP dillution, it comes out to about 8 to 10 cents per serving which should please some of the cheapskate runners out there.

Overall RTP Rating:

Fig Newton = it's good for you and tastes ok, but who really wants it? Survival food.

Don't Forget....

To lube. Dang it. And also Mother's Day..Don't forget Mother's Day. Mother's Day Mother's Day Mother's Day (go now to Walgreens and get a fucking card....... ooohhhh a new Man vs. Wild episode!!) Went out for a long slow run this morning and didn't apply Sport Glide to my saddle area. Redness, soreness, abrasion, you get the idea. I've been responsible about using this product for anything over 6 miles for about two years now. Goes on dry, doesn't crumble, keeps the red out.

How does RTP use Sport Glide? First off, he doesn't on May 7, 2011. But he does other days. For those of you imagining some kind of soft focus, slinky music-laced, R-rated slow motion scene, let me assure you it's so much more than that. Think "Ghost" and you are halfway there. Body Glide has a lot of competitors but I haven't tried them. I've received two sticks of this stuff free from blogger contests. I suppose I'll have to buy some eventually and maybe I'll try some of the other stuff. Jamoosh extolls Anti-Monkey Butt, Adam likes Muellers (I think), and SUAR is loyal to to Astro Glide (I imagine) (link too disturbing to post).

This Glide stick I'm working on now is a combo formula that includes sunscreen??? (His fingers paused over the keyboard wondering whether to go on. And like the fat girl on prom night, he decides 'go all the way!!'). Sunscreen?? For there???!!!!????? Why would I need to slather my juncque and neighboring region with sunscreen? I have a few ideas from that one website, but it sure doesn't involve a ten mile run on the canal. Is it for those who run shirt-free? Without a shirt, there is no chance of chaffage!! Unless...

Yeah, that would do it.

Lessons learned: Lube up for long runs. Don't spend too much time scanning images on Google for topics like this.

RTP Rating for Sport Glide:

Cake = it's great and I highly recommend this product. Keep your fingers away from my mouth.

I Went a Little Bit Longer Today

Twss I know I know. Got out a bit late this morning with running partner Suzanne. We had a front yard conference to discuss distance, pace, and future plans for races. We are pretty well committed to completing our long runs on Saturday mornings, and we are in agreement to keep the pace on the slower side: aerobic, conversational, train your body to burn fat, blah blah blah. So the long run pace for "Break 4:30" is 11:00ish, and we wanted to stay between 10:30 and 11:00. We finished at an overall 10:32 for 8 miles. Nice target shooting. The miles went by pretty effortlessly until about mile 6 when my calf started to really bother me. It tends to cramp in one particular spot deep in the outside gastroc. muscle. I've been wearing calf compression sleeves and running low mileages. The pain site was giving me warning signs at about mile 5, but I decided to see what 'running through it' would do. Is it not possible that not ALL Sports medicine doctors are right??

This jackass has two right legs.

I got to mile 6 and thought I would have to stop, but kept going and amazingly, I ran through the pain and the muscle relaxed again. Love my CEP compression sleeves! So at this point, Suzanne was giving me subtle reminders to keep the pace 'on pace' through the last mile, because I was starting to speed up. Part of our plan for long slow runs is to keep the pace steady throughout the run. Not happening. Not with this ego. Healthy finish and a couple of cold Coconut waters later, the workout was complete and another happy longish run is in the books.

That's us toward the back on the left. Love Changs!!

We got together with Adam and his wife and baby and Lauren last night for an almost free dinner at PF Chang's in Scottsdale. We had been trying to arrange a blogger meet-up for a few weeks, and even though some of us had to cancel, we still were able to make it and had a great time catching up and nerding our heads off about running. Sorry Tiffany! And Hayden unabashedly crunched his cyanide molar and slept through the whole thing. It looks a lot like I will be trying some trail running this spring. There are several good locations around town and I'm looking forward to the scenery, getting my dog Norman some exercise, and adding variety to my runs.

Suzanne brought me a Choc/Mint Gu to try and I may have a new favorite. Outstanding flavor, and no crappy aftertaste. I'm a big fan of Gu, and I can easily live with 4 of their flavors, unlike some of the other brands where I'm limited to one or maybe two flavors. Go Gu, you are the best!

Anyone got ideas about what the F is going on with my calf(s)? I'd sure like to know. Thanks for reading!

Review of CEP Calf Compression Sleeves

Ever had that fantasy dream that you are invisible and can sneak into the girl's locker room? Then you see SUAR's shoes under a stall door and you wake up in a cold sweat clutching blankie?

Picked up a pair of these compression sleeves in hopes that they would help with my calf problems. CEP, a German company, claims that they are good for athletes of all types and markets a few different styles customized to running, tri, walking, skiing, etc. Just what "CEP" stands for, I can't figure. Compression Exercise Products? Something with "Enters"? Who knows for sure. Maybe Heinrich, but he ain't sayin. I got the "All Sport Sleeves" which seemed to be just what I needed.

Heinrich tapping a kidney

I went out for a short slow run this morning due to the recent return of the hurtful calf. I've been dealing with a recurring calf strain for abut 3 years now, though its been quiet for the last 10 months or so. I also just picked up a new pair of Brooks Glycerin shoes at 20% off thanks to Runners Den and Books, though no thanks to Adam who was only able to score me a free Brooks bandana at the Expo.

You can guess where that bandana ended up. I have used (and will continue to use) the foam roller, the Stick roller, all kinds of stretches, extended sleep, and cheese binging to help alleviate the calf problem. These are my latest attempt to try to control the problem while continuing to run. I was measured at Runners Den (size 44! centimeters) which translates to size IV in CEP language and 14 inches in Arizona. 14 inches... 14 innnnnnnches. Speaking of language, the package includes six languages besides English. What a review this is turning out to be!

I have to say I really like them. They fit really nice. Snug and comfy throughout the hour. I felt like they were doing what they are supposed to do. And a true test of effectiveness; I felt my calf pain, but it was mild and did not increase with speed (I ran 1/2 mile of the almost 5 miles at 7:00). I'll go again tomorrow morning and finish the review.

Ok. That was a nice run with my friend Suzanne. And, though  bit slow, we ran pretty much at training pace. The last mile was fast and the last fraction of a mile was blazing. And no calf problems. I could feel lefty a little bit, but not a pain, just a reminder. So, in the end, my claim is that these sleeves work great and are helping me get out on the road when I might otherwise be recuperating on the couch.

Overall RTP Rating:
Cake = it's great and I highly recommend this product. Keep your fingers away from my mouth.

Trader Joe's: Joe Joe's

Monkey See, Monkey Eat

These cookies are pretty damn good. Notice the "All Natural" claim on the top of the box. The only ingredient I didn't recognize as a common pantry baking item is Soy Lecithin. After reading about this compound, I feel ok in my spirit that it won't hurt me.

The flavor of choice is chocolate, though I am partial to the vanilla, and during the December holidays peppermint comes to town and  my brain goes to junkietown for a few days.

For the review to be complete, these need to be compared to Oreos - the penultimate daddy late night Sportscenter milk dipping cookie. (Hey, I've completed many penultras!) This cookie stands next to The Big Daddy in our family photo of sugar treats, but only as a healthy, though clearly subordinate, little brother. For the bilateral cookie casements, these two are equal. But the filling tells a different tale. Oreos have a cream center --dare I say Centre??-- that has a positive sugary snap and a perfect grainy grind against the teeth and tongue. Joe Joe's in comparison have a smooth creamy filling that lacks but is still a notch above ok. Jamoosh and Viper, if you were stuck with only American convenience store grade O'Fool beer would you abide and partake, or subside on your bank of IPA memories and tap water----- self-said pariahs with growler size holes in your hearts? Adam, I won't ask you, you MGD64 whore! I can't speak for Oreo ingredients. I'm sure Oreos also have chemicals that make me eat entire sleeves on the drive home from the market, but my treatment program doesn't allow me to even shop in that aisle. My browser is fire-walled from searching, and does it matter? No. The Oreo is better.

In the end, I give this product a high RTP rating and urge you to practice moderation.

Cake = it's great and I highly recommend this product. Keep your fingers away from my mouth.

Futuro Recovery Compression Socks

I have heard about these from more than a few runners. Legs that go over 10 miles or so usually need extra care the rest of that day and sometimes the next. It's called that 'recovery', and proper care will help prevent injury and get us out on the road for the next run.

But I've always blanched at the prices of these socks. recently, someone wrote about the diabetic anti-embolism socks sold at the local drugstores. It was Viper in one form or another, the huaracha wearing cheapskate --but he puts in serious miles and so should know about recovery. I don't know about your town, but here in Maricopa county, you can't swing an immigrant hater without hitting a Walgreens or CVS, or one under construction. We received a $5 coupon via email to CVS and off I went yesterday after a 15 mile run.

I spent 30-45 minutes sitting in the aisle trying to figure out what to buy. They have hip high, but I knew from past court appearances that wouldn't be a good idea.

They had 'up to the knee and these seemed like the ones I had seen at marathon expos. Usually for $60. The $35 price tag on the ones in the store beat that, but my mind began to wander over to the $8 ace bandages.

What is the purpose of the socks and how do they aid in recovery? Simple mild compression of the lower legs creates additional pressure in the cells, veins, and arteries which facilitates faster oxygen delivery and waste (lactic acid) removal. The research suggests that this is especially good for recovery post-run but is also useful during the run as it delays soreness and fatigue. And they look so damn spiffy! But I want function, then form. What about those Ace bandages?

I looked at the 6" Ace bandages. These could be quickly wrapped around the calf area without going through all the pelvic gyrations, grunting, and hopping around on one foot the compression socks require to put on (hey, just like constipation!). The degree of compression can be controlled by the user -just wrap tighter or looser, and they can be used in a variety of other McGuiver household applications. The best part is that they cost $8.00. I flunked economics a few times during college and couldn't shake the "I've got a coupon" idea, and so spent $15 extra to get the socks. Besides, I wanted to try them first, and then possibly do a comparison against the Ace wraps. I ended up choosing the calf length Futuro brand. With these, I'd be way ahead of the technology!

Then there was the awkward few minutes of measurement to determine my size -just between medium and large of course, so I went medium which seemed to be right. This is a bit gross I know, but I also tried on the pair in the torn package to be sure. They had obviously been tried by more than a few embolism sufferers but I had to be sure. I also saw a peg full of "moderate" compression but there was no indication that moderate meant MORE or LESS compression. Leaders of Futuro take note and please provide clarification.

Ohhhh, sexy!

I got them home and worked them on to my achy legs and waited for the miracle. Hmmmm, feels just like pantyhose     feels just like I would imagine pantyhose feel    once my leg brushed up against a hot woman's pantyhose-clad leg while we were having energetic sex, and I recalled that feeling     my wife said they had the same material texture as old-lady pantyhose.

Receptacle End

Heck, I don't know. I wore them for a few hours, much to the amusement of my spouse. I didn't notice any extra oxygen delivery or lactic acid removal. And today, I feel pretty much like I ran 15 miles yesterday. I'll use them post long runs for a while because it sure didn't hurt anything, and I may try them during a run because I'm almost shameless in fashion. And I really do want to try Ace bandages to see if the focused compression makes a difference.

RTP Rating:

Cupcake = pretty good product, take it for what it is worth, leaves me wanting MORE

Sport Beans Yeccchhhh!

I got a pack of these in some shwag bag recently and they sat on my dresser top for a while until the other day. I took them to eat on the way to a hill repeat workout with Runlaur. Sport Beans are manufactured by Jelly Belly, a dubious name in sports at best, and this endorsement by Kevin Bacon does little to improve the rep. Really?? Mr. Bacon? (Really it's Brad Seng, an amazing Ironman athlete, 9:12 at Kona in 2006, I seriously doubt he has ever ingested one of these)

Kevin Bacon??

The purple package contained about 8 or 10 grape flavored jelly beans and I could definitely feel the grainy crunch of sugar crystals in each bite and also the ersatz grape 'berry' flavor. Grapes are technically berries along with melons and tomatoes but there all resemblance stops.

The website includes a link to published research, a foray sure to be more amusing than a trip through the Comedy Channel lineup. Example: "In addition, the athletes completed the time trials with the highest average "power outputs" with Sport Beans Energizing Jelly Beans."

I can live with that

Power Outputs from beans should only be used as material in The Boring Runner Blog and SUAR's blog, but here it is in this Sweet Home Alabama of a blog.


Hey, no more time wasted on these disgusting sugary little rabbit turds. I'll never buy them.







RTP Product Rating:

Cow pie = not on your life, but it's sometimes fun to watch others interact with this

Gooder Form Running

Completely stripped then realized it was just shoes and socks time. Embarrassing!

I was at Runners Den last night for a class called Good Form Running. The idea for this class originated out of a running store in Michigan, and one of the founding philosophers, Nathan, is now working here in Phoenix. Nate is a decent guy and a really fast runner and is teaching this 4 step plan for free to whoever signs up for the class. I knew it would be a serious class when I saw that Nathan was wearing his Vibrams. Sadly, I am short on photos because it was difficult to remain inconspicuous about the camera. I got a glare or two from the other ten participants and decided that it would have to be described in text and through Google images.

Most shots look like this: bank surveillance system quality.

Because I obsessively read about and discuss running, I was at least aware of all four tenets of the program, but it was nice to hear rationale behind each. Anyone can go to the website and get most of the information, but there are in-class examples and explanations that make it comprehensible of there is any doubt.

I knew Jamoosh was in this somehow! Barefoot!!

We introduced ourselves one at a time, our running history, sexual orientation, and any running injury information. Kiiiinnnnda like an AA meeting without the coffee and warts.

New to running and a bit sassy. I got her number.

As said, there were 11 of us, including one middle school kid with her mom who was trying to improve her form to compete in cross country. We went outside and Nathan video-filmed each of us running a short ten yard stretch once in shoes, and once barefoot. He explained that barefoot running  naturally puts most people into a near-perfect form.

He was not advocating barefoot running except as a spot-check once in a while. Nathan took us through the four points that would help our overall running experience.

Good posture head to feet (as in Kenyan style), cadence --180 foot strikes per minute, lean -gravity is our friend, and mid-foot strike -keeps the doctor away. Model and explanation for each, a bit of guided practice, and an invitation to join RD for the Saturday 6:30am group runs and/or the Wednesday 6pm group runs to run with Nathan and practice the form.


I like these kinds of gatherings and learning more about running injury-free. If you read my post from this past weekend, you know that when I tried the form, I was suddenly conversational in my seventh mile and maintaining a sub-10 pace. That has never happened. Looking forward to running with my team this weekend and trying these techniques again. Take care!!


Off topic, I bought a 3 hour maid service for Mrs. for mother's day, and we are finally using it today. God bless the woman who has to clean my shower.

Mmmmm Good Cookies

Just a short quickie (twss). The inlaws came last night and brought a little East coast with them. These italian cookies are yummy and best of all, kids don't like them because they have a slight licorice flavor and pignoli nuts.

Yeah, I had three and will likely hit the box until they are gone.

Thanks Bruno and Camille! Overall RTP Product Rating: Cake (uhhhh cake rating for cookies...)