New Shoes...

I just got a new pair of shoes in the mail from Running Warehouse, the Adidas adizero XT. They are advertised as a lightweight trail shoe, but could easily double as a trainer. Took a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. Notice the "wrap-around" tongue, this is something Adidas has been doing for a couple years now. It's coupled with a stretchy nylon strap over the top of the foot. I tried some of Adidas' racers last year, but they didn't work out. I am very excited about these. More to report later!

KC Groundhog 10k : Race Report

The 27th annual running of the Children's TLC Hunt Midwest Groundhog Run took place early this morning in one of the most impressive venues -- The Hunt Midwest Subtropolis. The Subtropolis is the world's largest underground business complex, featuring 5 million square feet of lease space and nearly 7 miles of paved roads. With year-round temperatures between 65 and 68, it is a great chance to run in shorts in January!

Rob, Steve K, Becker, Dan and I drove up in the wind and light snow for the 10am start (5k starts at 9am.) I was excited to start the year off right and was interested to see where my fitness was. I threw out my back 5 weeks ago and had a toe problem after that, so I haven't had too much time to get back on track.

After the singing of the National Anthem, we were off. I took out the first couple miles strong and hit the 5k mark at 21:40ish. I struggled a little after mile 4, but rallied for the final 1.2 miles. I finished in a PR of 44:47 (7:12/mi.) Overall I was happy with my fitness, but a tad disappointed in how I raced...I could have pushed harder.



If you ever get the chance, DO THIS RACE!!! It is amazing. Oh, and they gave out Powerbar Gel Blasts in cola flavor with caffeine...they were good! Give them a try.

Recipe : "Bowls"

Ashley and I made one of my favorite dinners tonight, "bowls." This a recipe we created sometime last year and make at least once a month.

Ingredients:
Spinach, fresh, 1 cup
Tortilla Chips, 28 grams (a handful)
Cheddar Cheese, .25 cup, shredded
Onions, raw, 1 tbsp chopped
Avocado, .5 fruit without skin and seeds
Beans, black, .5 cup
Brown Rice, medium grain, .25 cup
Sour cream, fat free, 20 grams

Directions:
Basically cook the beans and rice and put everything in a bowl!!!

Full nutrition facts are below and as you can see these pack a punch! Great for post workout or race. Plenty of calories, protein, carbs and vitamins. The fat content looks high at first, but most are monounsaturated fats. These are Omega-9 fatty acids, that lower LDL cholesterol, while possibly raising HDL cholesterol. They are also positively associated with breast cancer risk. Most of this comes from the avocado.



Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Gear Review : Asics Hyperspeed II

Asics Hyperspeed II

From Asicsamerica.com:
A wider than normal platform allows this versatile road shoe to offer runners greater stability, making it an excellent choice for racing and speed workouts. The GEL-Hyper Speed™ 2 features a rear-foot GEL® Cushioning System, midfoot trusstic support, and open mesh upper.

Style Number: GN707
U.S. Sugg. Retail: $70.00
Sizes: 4-13,14 (based on men's sizing)
Weight: 6.6 oz.


I raced in these shoes for almost all of 2008 and really liked them. I great lightweight racer with just enough cushion for my frame. I would not recommend for runs much past 13.1 mile or for anyone with a much larger frame than me (168 lbs.)

I run them with Easy Laces and really love them for the simple and light weight upper. They have a good response on the road and feel like I am running barefoot.

So if you want a good racer and don't need a ton on cushioning, then the Asics Hyperspeed II is a great way to go. Right now you can pick them up pretty cheap, if you can find them! Asics finds it necessary to "update"their shoes every year. Sometimes this is a good thing, but unfortunately sometimes they ruin a good thing. I did find a photo online claiming to be the Hyperspeed III, if it is real then I'm looking forward to picking up a pair.




Enjoy!
Stephen