2015 Ironman Boulder on the horizon : thoughts : @AsicsAmerica updates #GelQuantum360

I'm down, but not out.

Plantar Fasciitis... I have it going wild and it sucks.  It started right as we left for vacation after a long run and has been bugging me ever since.

What I have I been doing to get rid of or minimize it before IM Boulder in 1.5 weeks?

Of course I ran on it a few times before realizing I was causing more issues and making it a lot worse.  Stubborn.  Bull headed.  Whatever.  I tried some trusted shoe models.  Stretched more diligently before runs, but ultimately it's a factor of not running to heal.  I've done some damage from not dedicating enough time to warm ups, using improper shoes and using shoes with too many miles.  There's a laundry list of factors, and I'm addressing them in the weeks leading up to Boulder.

For the past 2.5 weeks, and the week leading up to Boulder, it's elliptical only.  It's not the same, but it's the closest to running I can get without pain.  I couldn't even pool run.  Just pushing off irritated the PF.

Aleve has been my friend.  Large dose in the morning, very small dose before bed to get some good sleep.  As time has passed, the pain has subsided to non-existent for normal daily activities.  I'm reducing pain meds to minimum as possible in order to get maximum benefit on race day.  Yes, Aleve will be in my transition and special needs bags!

Straussburg sock at night before bed.  I cannot wear those things at night when sleeping as it wakes me up, but I try to hang my feet off the bed to not put them in position that shortens the achilles and promotes improper healing.  I can wear it for the few minutes between putting the kids down and going to sleep.

Proper warm ups and cool downs.  Warm up gently, dynamic stretching and then go after the workout.  After the workout, ample time stretching statically and getting some length back in the calf and achilles.  I have been better about doing this as opposed to not at all in the past, but it's been too short of time and not warmed up gently enough.  I'm getting old...

Massage.  My dude Kent at Thoroughly Kneaded Muscle Therapy has beat me up.  He's brutally attacked the heel and calf to get recovery stimulated and have the healing align with the tendons and not criss-cross which makes for a weaker structure.  Look it up.  ART is not hot air.  It's real and if you keep injury a certain body part, this could be key to get it to heal effective and be stronger in the long run.

I've messed around with shoe inserts and they just aren't doing it.  I figure if it hurts my feet just walking around, it's probably not helping.  I've been blessed with a blitz of ASICS shoes to try and while I have my staples, I might have used the new models a little too overzealously in my training runs.  Traditionally I go with the Gel 1100 series, GT 1000 or 2000 series or the Tri Noosa's.  Sadly I'm out of 1100's and GT's.  I don't have enough time to break a pair in with elliptical runs, so I needed an option I have already broken in.  That left me with the Gel Kayano 21's, Tri Noosa 8's and the Gel Quantum 360's.  Unfortunately the Kayano's weren't feeling good with the PF and the Noosa's are too rigid in the heel for the PF.  BUT, the new Quantum 360's are EXCELLENT!  They feel great just wearing for every day and for elliptical work.  Since I have had them for a few weeks and wearing them, I feel comfortable they are worn in enough to tackle IM Boulder.

So that's the plan.  Hit the bike and swim hard, run on elliptical only til race day, pain management meds full force for the race and a lot of prayer and rest and recovery / therapy.  I'm crossing my fingers that I have enough miles in the bank to get me to the finish line and enough Aleve to get me through the run.  ;)

ASICS Gel Lyte33 running shoe review from weekend Ironman Triathlon warrior

ASICS was kind enough to shoot over a pair of Gel Lyte33's that we tried out. After a couple of months on the road, paved trails and treadmills, here's a look from an every day triathlete.

Fashion / Appearance

The Lyte33’s are visually appealing. Some styles actually turn a little ugly in the larger sizes, but these were beauty's in size 12. The layout of the patterns meshed well together and avoided the appearance you might think with a Ford Mustang front end and a Ford Futura rear end; just wrong. Not the Lyte33.

They have style. We tested out the red traced with black that are comfy and stylish enough to wear out for casual outings aside from hill repeats or AT intervals. Asics offers a wide variety of colors to assure you have the right shoes for your personality or color requirements.

They do have that twist that comes with the lightweight running shoe line in appearance. It’s a combination of a casual shoe and running shoe that harkens to the crossover car market. It takes a little appreciation and acceptance from that diehard running shoe enthusiast.

Form / Construction

From ASICS.com, “The GEL-Lyte33 gets serious about weight reduction, dropping almost two ounces for a truly lightweight natural running experience. The GEL-Lyte33 is updated with a nearly Seamless Upper and Solyte® Midsole to maximize performance while minimizing weight. Built with FluidAxis designed for underpronators and neutral runners. Weight: 6.8 oz. Heel Height: 17mm. Forefoot Height: 11mm.”

Note that the Lyte33 is built for lightweight features, but contains the ability to be used for underpronators and neutral runners. We’re not sure about the rest of you, but very few triathletes and runners have perfect running form and when balancing work, life and training, few have time to correct bad form issues. It’s good to know that if you prefer lightweight shoes, you don’t have to give up functionality to assist with your running shortcomings.

On the outside, the overall construction looks solid. After over 200 miles of running on streets and treadmills, our tested Lyte33’s are still holding up, a testament to being designed to withstand the test of time and miles.

Fit / Function

Like we mentioned, we have tested out these Gel Lyte33’s for over 200 miles over a span of 6 months. They were used in a running shoe rotation from 3 mile easy runs to 16 mile long runs, pavement and treadmill runs. They were given the royal treatment and spared from no expense.

The soles showed minor wear, but held up overall over the pounding. A successful indicator of a well built shoe is the ability of the sole to stay adhered to the actual shoe. Nothing’s worse than that flopping toe deal after the shoe starts falling apart.

The insole stayed intact and another indicator of good construction is the printed images didn’t rub off after a few outings. The insole held its shape for a good duration of the 6 months of abuse. Towards the end, it probably could have used a refresh replacement.

We did notice a little less bounce back from the sole at the end of our trial. As with most running shoes, the recommendations are to replace the shoe near 6 months or a couple hundred miles of running, depending on make and model.

We have a notoriously bad running form, so to go to 100% lightweight shoe for running just isn’t a reality. We mixed in GT 1000’s and 2000’s with some other running shoes in a two shoe rotation to mix it up. More akin to the idea of running trails every now again to strengthen ankles and various other running muscles, using different styles of shoes in a controlled approach could theoretically yield strengthening in weak running areas.

There is a noticeable difference in weight going from a traditional running shoe or shoes meant for stability or to correct other run form issues. The Lyte33’s were, like the name implies, lighter. It was like wearing a neoprene swim bootie on your foot, but with a sole and laces. They are not rigid and very comfortable, even after a 16 mile run.

Cost

Shoe prices are getting out of hand, which is why it’s refreshing to see the Lyte33’s started at $90 and now run for $55. We suspect they might not have taken hold as hoped for, as color and sizes are limited these days.

But don’t let that dissuade you, the Lyte33 shoes are worthwhile as a solid option in your running shoe rotation. Similar to cross training to work often unused muscle groups beyond the basics swim, bike and runs muscles, they Lyte33’s can be used in moderation to work on muscles long forgotten thanks to shoes that almost run for you. They work great for strength training footwear and you don’t even need to change shoes if you run a couple miles after a lift for cool down. For $55, you can’t get much better quality for long lasting shoes.

Final thoughts

The Gel Lyte33’s are geared for lightweight running shoe enthusiasts. They have design characteristics that can carry them over into the mainstream running community, but with caution and controlled regimes.

The price has dropped since their initial release, which makes them a great deal for what is actually a solidly built shoe. If you have foot issues or bad run form (like 90% of us), don’t lose hope as the Lyte33’s were made with you in mind. It may not be an everyday option, but it is definitely a good shoe for shorter workouts and a savior and break for your long haul shoes.

Take a look.

Disclaimer

* Writer's note - Asics provided the products for this review at no cost and did not influence this review.

10 Questions with @CoachKastor at 2014 @ASICSAmerica @LAMarathon

Coach Andrew Kastor (http://www.coachkastor.com/blog/) was in LA for the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon with his runners and we got some time to sit down with him to ask him 10 lightning round questions. Coach Kastor spent 15 years as a competitive runner and has trained some of the world’s finest athletes and worked with other renowned coaches including Damon Martin (Adams State), Bob Larsen (2004 Olympic Team, UCLA & Team Running USA), Terrence Mahon (Mammoth Track Club) and Joe Vigil (2008 Olympic Team, Adams State & Team Running USA).

Coach Kastor is the consulting coach for ASICS, New York Road Runners online coach from 2008-2010, contributing coach to SHAPE Magazine, FITNESS, HEALTH, Women’s Health, New York Runner, LIVESTRONG.COM and Runner’s World. He has been involved in the daily lives of dozens of Olympic distance runners and continues to work personally with runners of all abilities, from world class marathoners to first time 5km run/walkers. Coach Kastor currently resides in Mammoth Lakes, California with his wife, Deena (Olympic Marathon medalist and American Record holder in the marathon, 2:19:36) and his daughter, Piper Bloom.

1) Who's was your Childhood inspiration?
Coach Kastor : Spud Webb (http://www.spudwebb.net/). He loved basketball when growing up and when he was 7, Spud was making a name for himself in the NBA and Coach Kastor was the same height at the time.

2) What's your favorite race?
Coach Kastor : 2001 NYC Marathon. Immediately after the WTC attack, they didn’t even know if they would run the race. It was so patriotic to be a part of.

3) What's your favorite post race treat?
Coach Kastor : Bloody Mary. Nothing better than recovering after a marathon in a hot tub with a bloody mary.

4) What do you hate about racing?
Coach Kastor : The last minute urge to pee before a race and the mad dash to find a bathroom or hold it.

5) What’s your best training tip?
Coach Kastor : Get a coach. They can see so much an athlete cannot. They know when to cancel a workout and when to test an athlete.

6) Does Training improve or sink your love life?
Coach Kastor : Since he is married to an Olympic runner in Deena Kastor, their life revolves around running and training, so it works well.

7) What’s your most embarrassing career/race moment?
Coach Kastor : In school after a track practice, Coach Kastor was a nude model for an art class so in the first session he rushed over and proceeded to pose on a stand with wheels. He stepped on with one foot, didn’t realize it had wheels and proceeded to do the splits in front of the art class, nude.

8) How do you push yourself through the pain?
Coach Kastor : Envision all of the pain going from you to the person next to you. Don’t compare your pain to theirs, actually think about taking the pain in your body and placing it in theirs.

9) Is winning everything?
Coach Kastor : Winning is a product of solid training and planning. If you train and plan to win, winning on race day will take care of itself.

10) What would you do if you were not a pro athlete?
Coach Kastor : Watch the movie Quicksilver. He would love to be a bicycle messenger running around LA like Kevin Bacon in Quicksilver.

2014 @ASICSAmerica @LAMarathon event review #BetterYourBest

If you have been living under a rock and not reading my blog, you missed out on ALL of the posts for the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon.  But, here's the event review for you to catch up!

Buckle up, this review is going to be fast and furious, unlike my finish time.  ;)

 

The Price 

If you registered early, is was a whopping $150 per person.  That's also at a savings of $10.  I looked around and wasn't sure what the final entry price was.  Here in Kansas that's a regular price entry for an Olympic distance triathlon and the Kansas City Marathon would be $130 at packet pickup.  Now, Kansas events may have 200 to 10,000 people.  The LA Marathon topped out at 26,000.  That's a lot of people and a lot of logistics to cover.  Not to mention, it probably costs a little more to shut down LA than Kansas City.  Just saying. LA is a destination race, so you get what you pay for.

 

Packet Pickup 

The expo was pretty huge and almost overwhelming.  We strolled around and checked out many booths after the streamlined bib, shirt and gear pickup.  I even found affordable sunglasses to replace the ones I left in my car in airport parking in Kansas City.

If you forgot it, they had it.  If you wanted any race clothes or goodies, they had it.  you could touch, feel and buy everything LA Marathon related.  We ventured in Friday, so it might have picked up Saturday and been more crowded.  My only wish was to have the bathrooms more accessible no matter where you were in the expo.  Minor details.

 

Web Site / Instructions / Course Info 

When you sign up, you are on the email list.  They peppered you with info and instructions, so if you were unprepared, you had no one to blame but yourself.  Plus, if you were subscribed to me over at Examiner.com, I also wrote up articles on vital race info and tips.

I followed on twitter and liked on facebook.  The problem is I follow and like too many pages.  Their posts got lost in the shuffle unless I went directly to their site.  But, as I mentioned, the email list from signing up was just right in keeping runners up-to-date.

 

Location / Parking / Access 

With being a part of the blogger challenge, they bused us to the start and had a spot for us to chill before the race.  I won't bore you with the glorious details, but there were several emails and posts regarding parking and logistics.

It makes it tough when the race is point to point.  It was a great venue, but you had options to park at the finish and ride to the start or spectators could drop you and park at the finish.  With 26,000 runners, good luck finding parking close to the finish line.  But hey, the race was a big deal so you have to deal with it.

If you got going early, you were safe.  If you like to cut it close, well, you'll be burning anxious energy.

 

Port-a-potties 

26,000 runners with spectators... you do the math.  There were hundreds of port-a-potties, but early and often was the theme for the race.  If you were in the seeded corrals, you might have to make a choice since you needed to be placed at 7 A.M time limit and a 7:25 A.M. race start.

They had a lot of potties on the course as well, so if you could make it to mile 4 or 5, you could pretty much just walk up and get a potty.

 

The Actual Course 

Running through LA, what can you say?  Yes, you did see some homeless, but you also say a lot of what LA had to offer.  Beverly Hills, Chinese theater just to name a few. You start at Dodger Stadium and end in Santa Monica at the beach front road.  Glorious.  You had so much to look at, it almost made the pain manageable.

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The actual course was well maintained and well marked.  You had to be totally oblivious to miss a turn and get off course.

One issue was fluids.  The sun broke maybe 2:15 into the race and the back of the pack runners were suffering.  Word on the street was that they ran out of Gatorade, so runners had to live with water and other options if they were dependent on the course aid stations.

It's California, it might get hot.  Plan ahead.  Personally I depended on the course and did ok.  I should have drank more Gatorade to make up for salt loss, but that was my bad.  I had plenty of opportunities.

 

Race Day Instructions 

The speakers were loud and someone was always talking.  You could not help but hear instructions at the race start.  Maybe if you were in the port-a-potties, but from arriving and getting off the bus to running through the start arch, you had plenty of chances to get informed about what's going on.

 

Finish Line 

After the death march, I mean 26.2 miles you got your medal, water and if you looked questionable, someone walked with you to make sure you were ok.

Now, I got to hang at the ASICS VIP area, so I didn't get too much of a taste of finish line amenities, but I'm sure there were plenty of fluids, food and medical assistance if needed. It was a celebration with a HUGE arch, finisher chute and hundreds if not thousands of spectators lining the last half mile cheering you in.  The cheering was the only thing that kept me limping to the finish and not walking.

Running in the sunshine with the ocean to your right, you don't get that in many places.

 

Overall Impressions 

ASICS and the LA Marathon put on a show.  There's a reason why this is year 29 and they have 26,000 runners.  Sure, the famous course landmarks attracts a percentage, but if it sucked, word would get out and it would be over.

As a triathlete and longer distance endurance athlete, it gets harder and harder to justify traveling to a destination event.  Not to mention money is not just growing on trees in my back yard, I know, I just checked.  Would I pick the LA Marathon to travel and race?  Maybe.  If they had good deals on flights and hotels.  It's definitely a destination event.  Cal in March, oh ya.

But, my wife has family near LA and running a marathon is a lot less of a hassle and stressor on the family than triathlons.  No bike, no swim gear.  bring your running gear and you're good to go.  As time goes on, it's more realistic to incorporate an event like the LA marathon into travel.  It's located in an awesome weather location and it's a bucket list type of race./

If you have the means, do it.  If they invite you to run and write about it, do it.  It was worth it even with a little suffering.

2014 @AsicsAmerica @LAMarathon blogger challenge team in depth #BetterYourBest

In all of the ASICS LA Marathon posts, you probably noticed a lot of mentions of the Blogger Challenge Team.

ASICS had the awesome idea to get some grass roots involvement from the blogger community and rounded up a team from all parts of the country to run the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon.

There was no standout qualification of marathon performance required.  We had BQ runners, triathletes, trail runners and marathon maniacs.  We had a wide variety and the common theme was our obsession with sharing the passion on the internet.  Afterall, it was the BLOGGER challenge, not RUNNER challenge.  ;)

This will probably be as close to I come to being a sponsored athlete.  I mean, we basically were.  They covered every detail from registration to travel to lodging.  We were bussed around to the expo and various events rubbing shoulders with elites like Ryan Hall and Andy Potts.  We were given access to Olympic coaches like Andrew Kastor and his wife, Deena (world record holder, Olympic marathoner... no big deal right).

But, in addition to the experience, I met 10 other passionate endurance athletes each with their own unique experiences and makeup.  Everyone was genuine and a great person to meet.  At times, I felt out of my league in the realm of twitter, facebook and instagram etiquette.  We all bonded with geeking out over elite athlete meetups and war stories of a hot rugged 2014 LA Marathon.  You couldn't have asked for a better and more diverse group of runners.

I just wanted to dedicate a post to the crew and give them a shout out.

Anne Mauney Blog: www.fANNEtasticfood.com Twitter: @fANNEtasticfood	Beth Risdon Blog: www.shutupandrun.net Twitter: @ShutUpRun
Jess Underhill Blog: www.racepacejess.com Twitter: @RacePaceJess	Mark Newman Blog: www.marathonomy.blogspot.com Twitter: @marathoner Tumblr: finisher.tumblr.com
Michele Gonzalez Blog: www.NYCRunningMama.com Twitter: @nycrunningmama	Monica Olivas Blog: www.runeatrepeat.com Twitter: @RunEatRepeat
Rachel Steffan Blog: www.runningrachel.com Twitter: @RunningRachel	Brian Kelley Blog: www.pavementrunner.com Twitter: @PavementRunner
Kristin Stehly Blog: www.stuftmama.com Twitter: @stuftmama Instagram: @stuftmama Facebook: facebook.com/stuftmama	Jamie Walker Blog: www.fitapproach.com | about.sweatguru.com Twitter: @FitApproach | @jamiewalker19

Mark in the back this time, Beth running off to give her camera for a picture... it was like herding cats.  ;)

Last minute thoughts for the 2014 ASICS @LAMarathon #BetterYourBest #RunLA

It's been a great 2 days in LA.

The weather has been perfect.

We have met TONS of great people and great ASICS athletes.

ASICS has taken great care of the blogger team with accommodations and arrangements.  Everything has been covered and all that's left is to rest up and run tomorrow.  No big deal, right?

I wouldn't say I'm nervous in the sense of the challenge of running a marathon.  I've run 6 before.  Some good, some bad.  I can finish unless an act of God cuts me off.  But, I would still like to kill my PR and maybe get to a BQ time.  I'm not sure how tomorrow will play out weather wise and the course looks a lot less hilly than Kansas City.  It's outside as opposed to a treadmill and it's not 0 degrees outside or 20 at best on some of my runs.  No rain in the forecast.  No SNOW for sure.  Maybe some wind.  The temps are forecasted in the 80's, so it may be warm, but not in the morning.

On our short run this morning with Coach Kastor, the California people commented on the humidity... which coming from Kansas City (steam central in the summer) I didn't really even notice it.  I was sweating, but it was pretty crisp and clean air.  I'll take it.

If you are interested in following me, check out the race web site HERE and sign up with either email or text alerts.  I'm bib B3444 (or try 3444 if that doesn't work).

Wish me luck!