Useful information!

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Useful information!

http://www.athlinks.com/

This is a website that I recently came across that when you enter your name it brings up all of the races (running, biking, triathlon, etc) you have done in recent years along with the finishing times, or so they say. When I put my name in many of the races I have done came up, along with several races and times for events that have taken place in States where I have never stepped foot. Also several runs I have done were not listed at all, so while this site can be useful if you have forgotten what your finishing time was at a certain race, you may or may not find it here, along with some races you didn’t know you did! Where are those finisher medals and t-shirts?

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Product review: Power gels!

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I recently tried two new gels on the market (new to me at least), AccelGel and Cytomax Energy Gel.

When I had initially tried the Cytomax product during a few longer training runs the weather had just started to turning warm here. The first thing I noticed about the product was it’s taste. I had the orange and vanilla flavors, and when I ate them it was like taking a bite of the most sugary, flavorful cake frosting that you ever had. Initially I liked the taste as it was a very nice change from many bland gels but I soon realized that all of that sugary taste comes with a steep price, a very sticky and dried out mouth. The first few times I had the gels I did not have water or a beverage with me, so although the gels went down without a hitch, the pending cotton mouth was a beat to be reckoned with. Plus the taste lingered in my mouth for a very long time which while initially enjoyable ended up being annoying (I know that I am easily annoyed). With water the gel is much more tolerable in regards to the sugary taste and the aftertaste does not linger for as long, but it is still there. Now this surprised me. When I looked at the sugar content I expected to see some out of this world amount of sugar content, however it only has 5 grams of sugar out of 27 total grams of carbs. So, I am not sure where that fluffy, sugary, came straight from the top of the richest cake ever made taste comes from, but it is there. Now that it is really getting warm here (90’s) I can’t imagine using this product on a hot long run. I think that my mouth would fuse shut. But with enough water or beverage it should do the trick just fine for those of you with an over sized sweet tooth.

As for performance, there was nothing remarkable about the product as it did as advertised and expected. Just like all gels it helped me through the longer stretches of the runs and got me home.

The next new product I tried was the Accel Gel Accelerade. What intrigued me about this product is that it contains the 4:1 ratio that has made the Accelerade and Endurox products famous. So while there is only 20 grams of carbs, there is also 5 grams of protein in each pack. I thought that this was going to require me taking more of the product in order to get through my training runs, but as it turned out my assumption was wrong (sense a theme here?). Compared to the taste of the Cytomax gel the flavor is very bland, but it is just enough to cover up the texture and natural flavor of gel.

As for performance, this product got me through my long runs feeling fresh and as if I was ready to keep going on. And when I was expecting to have some fatigue and post training soreness that I usually experience, there was none. I assume that it due to the addition of the protein in the formula. I have since started to exclusively use the Accel Gel as my training and racing gel of choice, but knowing that there is too much of a good thing and that the body needs change as it adapts and grows I will also occasionally supplement with other products like the Powel Gel I received a part of their training program sponsor program. I took a liking to the Accelerade line after using their drink at last years San Diego Rock and Roll marathon. I was not complete toast when I finished (I could walk around the finish area and did not have to collapse) and I was not as sore as expected afterwards. If you can’t tell I really like their line of products.

Ratings:

Cytomax Energy Gel 3.5 out of 5 stars

Accel Gel 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Lake Havasu Half Marathon

I received an e-mail today from Karen Opperud who is the President of the Havasu Hustlers running club. Karen wanted to let me extend an offer of $10 off registration if you are quick enough to register before February 15th. So, if you are interested in getting in a race in Lake Havasu, (and maybe do some boating afterwards???) go to their website and register ASAP!

http://www.havasuhalf.com/

Core Strength

I found this video at Runners World, and thought that it was useful and in need of being passed on.

Congratulations!

Many of you just completed your first half or full marathon at the P.F Changs after training for four long months with RunFar Arizona. I want to tell each and everyone of you how proud I am of the hard work and accomplishment you forged. I told all of you from the start that it would not be easy, buy the end would justify the means. Was I right?
Again congratulations and relish in the moment of your feats. Now, with that being said, the training for Rock and Roll San Diego will start in February, so I hope to see many of you again soon, and don't forget to invite your friends!

Shoe Review - Asics Gel Kayano 13

I recently received a pair of the new Asics Gel Kayano 13, which came very highly recommended by various persons. I was excited to try them out as I had heard so many great things about the Kayano line (the cushioning and just right amount of stability) that I was finally ready to try something outside the Mizuno stable.

Being a somewhat heavier runner (220 pounds currently), cushioning and stability are areas that usually vary greatly for me compared to what the general tester and wearer experience, but I had read several reviews of previous Kayano models that stated that the shoes were great for heavier runners, so what is there to loose? They were on sale for $89 and I was ready to try them out.

Initial impressions:

The fit was good for my foot type (fairly narrow) the toe box and heel cup fit nicely, with no slippage or sloppiness. They laced up well and felt sturdy and stable.

When I first tried the shoe on and did some light jogging, I thought that the shoes were very stiff and rigid, with most running shoes even non-cushioned versions there is usually a pillow cushioning feeling to them right out of the box, but it was missing here. After about 15 miles on them, the stiffness started to come out and the cushioning has started to make an appearance ( I have never worn a shoe that the cushioning started after putting miles on them, it is usually the opposite), but now that they have over a month of running on them I can not give them high marks compared to what I have experienced in various Mizuno's. The moderate level of stability is there as advertised so they have the nail on the head there, but the rest of the shoe left holes in the walls.

Rating:

I give the Asics Gel Kayano 13 3 out of 5 stars.

(I guess it also doesn't hurt to try running shoes on before buying them, but I live and learn!)

This rings true every day...

I found this online and wish that I could follow it daily, it seems easy enough, so why is it so hard to follow? This is part a commencement speech from Steve Jobs of Apple at Stanford University.

"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

I always liked this, but it never hit home until my grandfather (who was more like a father to me really) passed away on December 13th. I had never experienced death to someone I loved before this, I guess I was lucky-depends on how you see it-but it has been an eye opener and made me realize that I will not be here forever. I miss him daily and wish that I spent more time with him, but know that we had many awesome adventures and times together in Sedona.

I really need to start living every day to the fullest, which while being so very, very simple is also so very hard. Most of us have jobs, family, outside influences that pull us away from what we really want to be doing. But in the long run, we are already naked, what do we have to loose?

This can be applied to running at so many different levels. If you desire to run a half or full marathon because it is something you have always wanted to do, what is stopping you? An internal fear? You want to shatter your personal best at a certain distance, but you keep hearing how it is out of your range...don't listen. Are others telling you (to your face or behind your back) that you can't do it? You need to do what your mind and body wants to do, and so do I.