Skechers GoRun Ultra Review

First of all I have to disclose that the triathlon team I am a member of, Fearless Racing has a relationship with Skechers. I have received one pair of Skechers GoRun 3. This review will be about the GoRun Ultra, and I have bought the pair for my own money on Amazon.com. Now back to the review.

The first thing you have to get over when you start running in the Skechers GoRun Ultra is not the really nice price of $85 (or cheaper on sale), but that you are doing running workouts in Skechers. Brand reputation will always play a part in how we look at products, but I have tried to be as open as possible that I am running in the same brand shoes as soccer moms watch games in.



I have been running in the Ultras for two months. They have been my main pair of shoes for all running except from intervals on the track. I am not the size of a typical Kenyan runner, but built more like a Viking, 6.2 (1.88) and 180 pounds. I have run in all different kind of brand up through the years and have even worked in a special running store during summer time through college. I am familiar with running shoes.



So how does the Ultra stack up. They are good. First of all they are light, weigh is according to Skechers 8.7 oz in a men's size 9. That is light for a training shoe. The shoe is well built, it does not feel cheap and the craftsmanship is impressive. I especially like the fit and the materials close to the foot. The feet are happy in the shoe. I know this is individual, but these shoes fits me.

The Ultra is a training shoe, it is higher than your normal training shoe, no minimalist approach to running here and that is good. These shoes are meant for long runs and Sketchers has used a lot of material to create a thick sole with a lot of cushioning. I have been waiting for the shoes to get the "tired mattress" feeling, but so far they are still feeling good.



These shoes are good for runners that like cushioning combined with low weight. You will have the cloud feeling in these shoes, so you have to be OK with that.

These shoes should be the go to shoes for long distance triathletes due to their light weight and really good cushioning. The only thing that has not been really good is that the sole has been worn a little to much.



Conclusion:
I am impressed with what Sketchers has done with these shoes and I really like them.

Soaring Eagle Trail Run Race Report

YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

The 2014 race season has started and my legs are feeling it. I decided to start this season in the woods. Or to be more accurate, in the local forest park here in Sammamish: Soaring Eagle Park. The Seattle area has a lot of low key trail running competition so I signed up for the 5 mile race.

The last interval workout before the race was awful so I was not sure about my shape.



As a member of the Fearless Racing Team I made sure my race gear was correct. Well, the new kit is in the mail so I went old school with a cotton t-shirt. I raced like everybody else in cotton t-shirts back when I was young and fast, so this most be the slowest race I have done in a regular t-shirt.



The trails at Soaring Eagle Park are full of elevations changes and have a lot of twists and turns. On Saturday I ran through the course but could hardly remember 10% of the terrain, and I have done a lot of running in that park before. The course was challenging and a real trail run course.

Race morning I could feel that I had a race. I always get more nervous for running races than triathlons. But luckily this was a positive nervousness.

The start of the race was a small parking lot, but the organizers had everything us runner needed. I have to say this was a really positive race.



Some last minute reading before start.



Then it was time to get to the start line. And since this is Seattle, no one wanted to stand in the first line. It was kind of funny.



The race organizer counted us down and said go, the 2014 race season had officially started.

I was in the lead after 10 meters. That said a lot about the field of the 5 mile race and not so much about my running abilities. But no matter what, leading a race is really cool. The first kilometer was on a gravel road, before the course started on single track trails with mud and turns. I tried to speed up down hills, look as much forwards as possible without doing face plants and when I had time look back to see what was going on. After 15 minutes I could not see any athletes. I was in front totally alone :-)

I tried to run in an even effort level, but my legs got really tired of shifting directions. I could tell that I got a little more clumsy at the end, but I kept myself on the feet and managed to even sprint for the finish. My time on my watch was 38.22.

 

My big take away. I had a lot of fun and it was a blast to be in the front for a whole race. Now I am looking forward to next race where I most likely will get killed.

Post Olympic stress syndrom

The Olympic is over and now it is back no a normal day and night routine. It is hard to sleep when all of my favorite events starts around 2 AM. So how did my two countries Norway and the USA. Norway did OK, got a lot of medals but had problem with skis and the male cross country skiing team. The US did not have the games they had expected after a strong start of their up and coming cross country team. But luckily the sport is more than the Olympics.

A friend of mine from Drammen and my cross country days sent over some pictures. Those were the days.











This is my friend Anders who became Junior Norwegian Champion in relay, he was on the same team as Ole Einar Bjorndalen. That is cool :-)

And yes I am still training and it is going just fine. I am easy when I am suppose to be and now manage to push the intervals.



But I am trying to be fearless in my training (or at least in my choice of t-shirt)

Born to run.....in real shoes

I am a triathlete and I am coming out of the closet. Yes it is true, I am a heel striker. Not all   the time, but most of the time. I did not chose to be a heel striker, I am sure I was born this way. But I have moments when I am not a heel striker, it is when I run faster.

Yes, the speed I run decides how I run. When I jog slowly I am landing on my heel, when I run fast I land on my mid-foot, and when I try to be a sprinter I land on my fore-foot. So when I was in the market for some new shoes I went with what is working for me (and most other runners), shoes with good cushioning. I bought a pair of Brooks Glycerin 10.





Every time I get new shoes I have to make them mine. The truth is that I can easily start to hurt in my Achilles if they  get any pressure. But luckily I have a solution, a kitchen knife.



I bought the shoes and went on a two hours easy run with no problems. Good shoes, now the runner has to be better.