Geek Check

Well it has happened. I purchased a Garmin 405 GPS HRM doohickey and I am nerdy enough to download it and check out the details. It is kinda neeto to see how it just slaps your run, ride, activity onto a thing they call the dashboard and you can check out just about every aspect of that activity you would want. below is a link to my run this am with co worker Kristen Riley who was kind enough to slow down to run with me out on the trails.
As for my review of the 405 after flailing a little to get going with it (like all technology for me) I am now comfortable enough to use the thing pretty efficiently. Granted the watch will do lots more than I really will ever use but it's nice to know the options are there. The only downfalls I have seen so far is that initally the interactive bezel takes some getting used to as well as the operating system. But it only took me a little while to figure that out. The big downer is it tells me that I am A. not that fast B. for going not that fast my heart rate is kinda high and C. that I am not that fast. Overall it is pretty cool to know that at the end of your run you will know how far you went, how much elevation you gained and lost, what your average pace was, fastest pace was, and if you get the one with the heart rate monitor what your average and max heart rate was. As well as splits total time ect.

Peace out,
dave
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/398770

Deshutes Dash aid station

Many thanks to Melanie, Margaret, Melissa, Jessica, Patty, Chris, Brigid, Donna, Phyllis, Jana, Lynette, and Dave for helping out with the aid stations on Saturday for the Deshutes Dash. We did our best to keep all the runners happy with water, gatorade, ice and I even got my hands on a hose for a while to keep it cool. Rob of fz fame was a solid 3rd in the duathalon behind local favorites Chad Sage and Joel Vergona. Todd Riley (fz by marriage) rallied for 3rd overall in the olympic tri. Local John Craft formerly of Skinny Raven (alaska) fame came in first. Official 10k results should be up soon at http://www.freshairsports.com/ Cheers-Teague

Thoughts on trail running shoes

First of all, Central Oregon is a unique market when it comes to running. Many of us have the opportunity to run on trails a majority of the time if not exclusively. Unfortunately, it’s not like that most places. These shoe companies that go to great lengths to design and execute fantastic road shoes often treat trail shoes as an after thought. The market for trail shoes outside of Bend is a fraction of the road market. Conversely, the outdoor companies that are trying to capitalize on the popularity of running shoes often struggle to make shoes that compete with the balance and ride of good road running shoes. These are generalities and of course there are examples of good trail shoes from running and outdoor companies. My point is that there are fewer options and the options don’t always address all the fit and biomechanical needs of every runner.

Should a trail shoe address stability in the same way that a road shoe does?

This is a loaded question and one that depends on many factors? How rugged are the trails? Is the runner accustomed to the terrain? Is the runner used to supportive shoes? The case could be made (and has been) that medial stability to address pronation is worthless in a trail shoe because foot strike is so inconsistent that the runner will ultimately need to adapt.

That’s great in theory, but I’ve helped many a hearty runner who finds that they need stability and cushioning in their trail shoes just as they do in any running shoe. I love trail shoes and I’ll grasp at straws with shoes in this category because we have more demand than we have great shoes. When something really works in trail shoes we tend to have great luck with them.

Is it a running shoe or a hiking shoe?

The two are pretty convoluted anymore. I certainly have my biases with individual shoes. We distinguish between the two based on whether we’d want to run in them ourselves. But who am I to say a shoe isn’t a running shoe when someone runs forever in them. We sometimes carry shoes that the manufacturer calls a running shoe but we think of it as more of a hiking shoe. Often such shoes can work well for certain ultra runners, hikers or people just in need of great stable footwear.

What about all the minimalist trail shoes?

This is an ever growing category in both the running world and the cosmetics driven side of the footwear world. I’m a fan on the running side and often stock them at the FootZone, but they are limited in that the runner must be willing to adapt to a lower profile, less cushioned ride. Many runners will find that these shoes simply don’t have the support and or substance that they need to cover the mileage they’re interested in. Others will find this is the perfect thing for that close to the trail, nimble experience.

Cheers-teague

FZ Hash!

My it was warm, but the beer was cold and the 30+ of you who showed up we're all smiling by the end. Based on the post-hash enthusiasm, I'm guessing the next go round will draw a few more. This is a great style of run to keep the FRB's (Front Running Bastards) in close proximity to the DFL's (Dead F'ing Last). Mark Wednesday, August 6th on your calendar in pencil for the next one. We'll let you know when to trace it in marker.

On On! teague

Trail Work

Tonight was the first of 3 trail work nights that the FootZone will organize along with COTA (Central Oregon Trail Alliance). Since some genius (Me) picked the day before the 4th of July to do trail work we had only 5 hearty souls out there making trail at the new Wanoga trail system. We all worked hard and managed to get quite a bit of trail smoothed out. Thanks to those that showed up and we will see those that didn't at the next session on August 7th. Check the F'zone website www.footzonebend.com for updates on the next COTA/FootZone trail building extravaganza.

peace out,
dave

High Desert Dash

I never really understood the draw to running in relay events, until I ran the High Desert Dash...  I was actually just filling in for a good friend of mine that ended up not being able to run.  Yes, I was duped into doing it, but I quickly came to realize why people do these crazy events- TEAM SPIRIT!  I know I sound like a high school rally coordinator, but I'm being totally honest here.  Our group of five runners, all close friends of mine, decided to run our legs back to back which eliminated the cool down and stiffening process people undergo in the shuttle between legs.  Now I must admit, these great people that I joined for the day are also great runners.  I was definitely the weakest link and knew it and therefor chose two legs that were short.  Little did I know that the legs I chose were ALL uphill.  This is where the team spirit came into play.  As quickly as I was off, I realized I was in way over my head.  My teammates would drive up ahead and then stop and cheer.  Initially, I was quite bashful with their support.  I didn't want to let my teammates down and saw these cheering episodes as opportunities for them to see what I'm really made of, or really not made of.  Eventually, fighting back the urge to walk, vomit and cry, I was looking forward to the support of my teammates.  I often wanted to throw out an 'I love you guys'. 

Much to my dismay, it was never really about our individual abilities as runners.  It was more about our abilities to push ourselves to our own personal limit, which I know each and every one of my teammates did.  I often think about that long hill I climbed that day, and how I never really want to do it again.  But I would do it again for them.  

Pacific Crest Weekend

High praise to all of you who participated in the Pacific Crest events on this warm weekend. Despite all the heat, there were some stellar results by folks near and dear to us here at the shop. Erica Johnson and JJ Howard won the women's and men's marathons, respectively. It was a Bend sweep with Mariel Ettinger, Katie Caba and Jill Gozdowski taking the top three spots in the women's half marathon. Jill then spent the rest of her Saturday helping us out at the FootZone tent at the expo. We marvel at her energy and good nature. Cheryl Tronson, Jen Sventek, Mary Primrose, and Karla Nash placed 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th to give a spectacular showing for Central Oregon. Brian Gingerich was 3rd Male in the half marathon. Finally, Todd Riley (husband of Kristen here at the FZ) was 6th overall in the Half- Ironman Tri. Not to shabby for a full-time fire fighter, husband and father of two. He's the one in the picture and you can see Kristen in the background cheering him on. John Craft of Bend was close behind in 7th place. Congrats to all of you! We had a good time participating in the expo and special thanks to Jill and Ellen for helping us out. Cheers-Teague