From the October 2013 newsletter: Max's Tip of the month, layer up!

Written By: Max King

I just about froze on my run this morning. That signals the start of fall for me and a time when I have to give up the carefree shorts and t-shirt weather and have to actually carefully consider what I'm putting on in the morning before heading out for a run. It's now officially "layering" season. 

The tip to layering effectively is to have a good variety of options for different weather conditions. The nice cool Central Oregon mornings are usually served best with a light poly or Merino wool long sleeve top, with a light windbreaker vest, and a pair of 3/4 tights. As it gets to be a little cooler a heavy weight long sleeve Merino wool top, vest, light weight full tights, running gloves, and hat is the way to go.  With the occasional fall showers it's nice to have a lightweight nylon water resistant shell in your back pocket. I know it's tough to have everything in your running clothing quiver, but the nice thing is with Central Oregon, you'll end up needing it at some point and you'll be glad you have it. Remember, there's no bad running weather, just bad clothing. Now get out there and layer up. 

From the October 2013 Newsletter: Layering for 3 Seasons

Written By Ali Halpin

With the signaling of fall and the chilly temps we are all scrambling to figure out the proper dress to stay warm and toasty in the bone chilling weather that lies ahead. One of the most important thing you must remember when heading out on your runs is layers. Since the weather can turn from sunshine to rain during a run or even warm up or cool down 5 degrees from start to finish one must be prepared to adapt to what mother nature has to throw at us. Below are some great options for both men and women for layering up this winter.

BASELAYER

Craft Active Extreem Concept Piece: This is a great first layer. With Crafts signature Active Extreem fabric in the arms and core and cool mesh integrated into the garmet in the underarms and the back. This piece was created for high output activities and gives the perfect amount of warmth and breathability.

MID LAYER

Sugoi Firewall 180 Top (Mens and Womens)

Arcteryx Cyclic Zip Neck (Mens)

These are great options to go over your base layer. These offer a layer of warmth and light protection from the elements.

OUTER LAYER

Sugoi Helium Jacket (Women)

Patagonia Nine Trails Jacket (Men)

When the weather really turns on us we often need a light jacket to top things off. The nice thing about this outer layer is that it can pack down into a pocket when not in use. A great option for early morning runs or to carry if the weather looks like it might change on you. These are also great on a little warmer days as your mid layer over your baselayer if the wind is ripping or its sprinkling on and off.

BOTTOMS

Sugoi Mid-Zero Tight (Men and Women)

Craft Active Extreem Windstopper Gunde (Men)

The Sugoi tight is a great mid weight tight to keep all those leg muscles warm most of the fall/winter. For men looking for extra warmth down there the Craft Gunde is a great option. Fitted like a boxer brief these have the warm active extreme fabric with windproof fabric at the front.

HEADWEAR

Keeping your head covered is crucial in keeping warm during winter activities. We have alot of great options for hats here at the Footzone. One of our favorite new companies is Sauce out of Missoula, MT.

GLOVES

Craft Hybrid Weather Glove. Built with the warmth of a mitten but the veratilite of a glove. Wear it as a glove on warm to cool days. On those chilly morning pull the windproof mitten piece over your hands for extra warmth!

Farewell at Farewell

Written By: Cristina Stavro

Photo taken by Liz Stuart

August of 2011 was when I first laid eyes on Saucony’s Peregrine trail shoes.  They were new, they were so clean, and I swear I heard an angelic choir break into song when I first put them on.  My first long run ever the week before found me cursing my old trail shoes—too small, too clunky, and no way I was going to train for and run my first 50k in them.  Thus began the frantic search for new shoes between long runs.  When I tried on the Peregrines, it was love at last.

There I was, two years later and on the other side of the country at the foot of Farewell Trail in the very same shoes.  Much older, and much, much dirtier than when I first got them.  Other shoes have made their way into the rotation since then, but none ever came close to my Peregrines.  That’s part of the reason why I kept reaching for those shoes day after day despite their mileage being up well over a year ago.

Even with holes and complete lack of cushioning, these were the shoes I laced up before almost all of my Bend expeditions, big and small: Shevlin, Tumalo, Sparks, Green Lakes, even my scramble to the top of Broken Top.  But being someone who works with runners and shoes everyday, I always answer the question of “How long do shoes last?” Not this long, that's for sure.  I couldn’t keep running in these dead shoes, no matter how much sentimental value there was.

During my nightly map session before bed, I had kind of started a little game, trying to see what was the biggest loop I could make on Bend’s trails without overlapping.  My head spun with numbers as I added mileage and repeatedly lost count.  At one point I was up to 50-something miles and hadn’t even made it west of Broken Top. Then I came across Farewell Trail in the middle of it all.  It was a sign—and since bronzing my shoes wasn’t really an option, I figured one last run would be a great way to say goodbye to my Peregrines...and what better trail to bid adieux than Farewell?

A 5:30 wake up call got me in the car and heading toward Tumalo as the sun rose.  I choked back a few tears as the car rumbled down the forest service road with my shoes in the passenger seat and Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me” blaring through my speakers and into my soul, sparking a flood of slow motion flashbacks of all the good times my shoes and I had—falling in love with trail running for the first time at Canonsburg State Game Area in Grand Rapids, MI; running my first 50k in Chattanooga, TN; kicking up red dirt in Moab, UT; exploring incredible trails in Mammoth Lakes, CA with my best friend on our road trip out West; and virtually every time I’ve hit the trails in Bend, these shoes were on my feet.

When I reached the trail head, I shut off the car just as “My Heart Will Go On” started.  I took my time lacing up, knowing this was it. Looking deep into my Peregrine's eyelets, I could tell they knew this was it as well.  So I dug in as Farewell Trail instantly started its climb upward and the rest was history.  For the rest of the run, I picked through some rocks and roots, opened up in the clear spots and downhills, and stopped only to gawk at the spectacular view of Broken Top in the distance when I reached the top of the hill (okay, and maybe catch my breath, too).  It was a solid, heart- and adrenaline-pumping run that ended with my Peregrines and I cooling off in the creek at the end.

Tomorrow I set off to start a new tale of trails with a different pair of shoes, but my trusty, dusty Peregrines will always sit in my pile of shoes. Actually, does anyone know of a good taxidermist? They do shoes, right?

Cristina is a new member of the FootZone and OutsideIn crew. She's a Midwest girl and loving the the adventurous landscape of Central Oregon. Come meet her in the shops or at the FootZone Half Marathon Training Group, we're happy to have her as the group leader.