Security measures are at an all time high in this country’s history and large races provide a soft target that can be easily exploited.  There are literally thousands of gym bags and backpacks in one area at the same time and it is impossible to put effective security measures in place.  Why wouldn’t Muslim terrorists want to strike at an event such as a marathon?  People from all parts of the country (and sometimes the world) come together to participate in a sport that accentuates our similarities rather than our differences.  Runners and spectators are old and young, conservative and liberal, black and white, etc..  A brief celebration where we can all leave any controversy miles behind us and support one another in a common goal.  This is everything a Muslim terrorist hates.

What are some solutions?  I am running in the Wisconsin Marathon/Half Marathon next weekend and their website states that security will be increased, but gives no specific details.  I’m okay with that.  Another reasonable idea that was thrown around by the sports media was to have large marathons finish inside a local stadium where the flow of spectators can be regulated and searched before entry.  I’m alright with that as well.  In most cases it’s private property and you must go through similar security screening to see a football game.  What I am not okay with are the knee jerk reactions that are being implemented.  This morning a friend posted a text message he received from a race he will be competing in this weekend.  (Click to view full size on the left).  Bullet point one states, “Participants are asked not to bring or wear backpacks or duffel bags to the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.  Please be aware that all bags and backpacks will be subject to search by security personnel.”  With this statement I have numerous problems.  Why is this just limited to participants and not spectators?  Seems like a pointless effort when it’s unlikely a Muslim Jihadist is actually running the race.  Second, this is a nearly unenforceable practice given the amount of runners at some events.  Are we now going to sit through intrusive searches and airport style security lines to run a race while the most likely people to commit a crime are in the crowds of fans and exempt from said searches?  Runners have to get there an hour ahead of time as it is.  Everyone reading this can do whatever you decide and I support your freedom to choose, but I speak for myself when I say that I will not give my money to any race that wants to instate some “feel good” security measure that does nothing to keep anyone safe.  What it does do is waste my time, needlessly inconvenience me and stomp all over the 4th amendment of the Constitution.  Let’s be realistic, you cannot police an open-air event that is 26.2 miles long.  To believe you can is about as foolish as thinking Williams-Sonoma removing pressure cookers from local store shelves in the days following the attack was somehow useful.  This is a problem we all better come to terms with instead of implementing some kind of ridiculous policy that will destroy the sport of running.  Attacks will likely happen again and we can only do so much in a free society to maximize our security.  So I suggest we use our heads and choose the best solutions rather than a quick fix illusion of safety that benefits no one.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. – Benjamin Franklin

Here’s a thought: Why don’t we have every self-absorbed distance runner whno maintains their own blog and brags or humble-brags about their achievements set aside ONE YEAR, yes just one year, to enter the race directing field? Then they could actually blog would an informed perspective on what it takes to put on a race and what’s involved in caring “not just for your own PR and personal survival” but the safe delivery to the finish line of thousands of participants.
How about that Dave, you self absorbed loser?
Sean Ryan
Race Director
Responsible for More Meaningful Runner Finishes Each Year
Than Dave can hope to Accumulate in a Lifetime

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Personal responsibility.  Either you believe in it or you don’t.  With the exception of the aforementioned extremely unfortunate in our society, I contend there are no gray areas here.  It’s like having a strong character, either you think it’s important or you don’t.   I have to ask you the reader, is this the temperament of a man you want in charge of anything in your life?  It seems Mr. Ryan is a walking, talking teachable moment to illustrate my point.  If you are the type of person who refuses to take responsibility for your own missteps, you likely think others are incapable of making responsible decisions on their own.  Even if you disagree with my past article you must agree that Mr. Ryan is an obvious total failure in the public relations department.  What’s more, he is completely inaccurate in his assessment of my character.  I challenge Mr. Ryan to find instances where I brag about my accomplishments rather than lift others up. It would seem he is the self-absorbed party here, judging by his closing statement.

There are possible solutions to mid-race cancellations such as capping with fewer participants or changing the venue/date, but this is not what I am here to discuss today.  We can forever debate those ideas and ultimately agree to disagree, but I ask you to consider this:  If I were to build someone a house and alter the homeowners floor plan without consent because I thought they were making a bad move, that would be wrong.  The customer would have paid for something that they did not receive.  I would not then double down on my error and tell them that they should be a carpenter for a year so they can speak from a position of experience.  If Sean Ryan’s philosophy held true, none of us would be allowed to comment on politics, war, bad behavior, etc. because we have not actively been in that person’s position.  So, for the sake of making my point, I would ask Sean Ryan, “How many races did you participate in during 2012?”  Nowhere near the amount I have, so according to his logic, he is not allowed to make judgments on what an experienced racer wants or needs when weather conditions turn unfavorable.  Unfortunately for Mr. Ryan little things like common sense and personal responsibility still exist where most of us come from.

Turn after turn he stayed right with me doing the same thing at each water stop. To make the situation worse, he never seemed to sweat as he waved cheerfully at passerby’s and enthusiastically thanked every volunteer working the race.  I started to lose my cool with his overly pleasant demeanor combined with a scorching and insipid course. My complaints about the lack of scenery, water stations and the temperature were starting to slip out.  Ten miles into the race I finally turned to him after he thanked yet another volunteer and snapped, “Stop being so damn cheerful!  It’s f@*c%n& hot out here!”  That’s when he laughed and asked me if I had ever suffered a running injury.  I replied, “Nothing serious.”  He then began to tell me a story about how he had experienced a terrible injury that sidelined him for quite some time.  He explained he was just happy to be out there running again. Needless to say, this made me feel about 3 inches tall as well as aggravate me that he had made an exceptionally valid point.

The next couple miles we ran in silence.  Approaching mile 13, I kept my shadow in view as he decided to run ahead.  The final water station appeared over a hill and I watched as he began to walk.  This was my opportunity to run wide with some other runners and skip the break in an effort to elude him once and for all.  He looked around but didn’t spot me.  My memory of the last mile gets a little blurry for me due to the heat and exhaustion.  I do recall runners struggling to finish and to be honest, I lost track of my upbeat sidekick.  Across the finish line I staggered and received my finish medal.  Looking back, he was nowhere to be seen.

The “after” party was spectacular and it wasn’t long before the results were posted. Scanning the age groups, I found my name. 4th place by a few seconds???!!!!  Right above me in third was my shadow who, as it turned out, was exactly my age.  Needless to say, this infuriated me!  Still, I had not learned my lesson and blamed the guy with an unusual last name for throwing me out of my zone.  I was acting like a poor sport for the first time and made no attempts to hide it.  After 20 minutes of childish pouting they re-posted the results which somehow reversed our positions and gave me third place by 2 1/2 seconds.  For a moment I was elated, but within seconds a feeling of embarrassment crashed over me like a wave and I knew that receiving my medal would feel undeserved and hollow. I never saw “the shadow” after the race or ever again.  A search online for his name turned up absolutely nothing in the way of past results.  Strange.

The moral of the story is this:  Conditions may be adverse at times, life will treat you unfairly and your future may appear bleak, but our lives are made up of choices.  We can choose to be happy in the face over overwhelming hardship or choose to surrender and be miserable.  Sometimes we forget this lesson and it takes an outside hand to place an exceptional person in our path who helps us understand our shortcomings and challenges us to be better people if we stop resisting and pay attention.

Run for fun but race to place everyone!

We all know someone overweight, depressed or generally in a bad place in their lives.  They may be a coworker, neighbor or family member.  Nevertheless, these are the kind of people who can greatly benefit from our guidance.  It’s likely very lonely where that person “sits” and it’s our duty to lend a hand, believe in them and give them that nudge that can put them on the road to a happier, healthier life.  I’ll admit, you can’t just throw a pair of shoes at someone, go for a leisurely jog with them and expect the habit to stick.  It’s a complete lifestyle change and they could very well need someone to rejoice in their accomplishments, tell them to “put down the donut and nobody has to get hurt” or physically accompany them on their journey. By performing some of these deeds we are given the opportunity to change lives and potentially create a ripple effect.  The people you assist today may go on to help others tomorrow.

Influencing kids of all ages to run is something that will undoubtedly help them make productive life choices and surround themselves with quality friends.  Beyond that, it increases self-esteem, develops decision-making skills and meets a need that children have for excitement. This is a responsibility I have recently chosen to embrace and here are a few facts to support my decision:

• Between 3:00 and 6:00 PM are the peak hours of violent juvenile crime and are also the hours when children are most likely to become victims of crime.  Choosing to run with them after school will consume this time doing something rewarding.

• Areas with high crime rates also tend to have lower rates of physical activity.  Idle hands (and feet) are truly tools of the devil.

• Female high school athletes are 92% less likely to get involved with drugs and 80% less likely to get pregnant than their non-athletic counterparts.

Our retired population also provides a wonderful opportunity for us to lend a hand.  Many of our seasoned citizens have health concerns and are unable to run, but are in desperate need of exercise.  Going for a short walk with Aunt Gertrude or Uncle Bert can be a great way to connect with someone, help them improve their health and maybe even motivate them to participate in a charity walk.  Just be sure to consult their physicians before you drag them out the door. 

On the rare occasions life is not throwing us a curve, our scheduled runs can seem almost effortless.  It affords us the opportunity to travel distant lands in our imagination, where running the big race or battling some fantastic enemy always ends with victory.  For a short time we’ve avoided the cell phone and never-ending e-mails.  But when our lives are disrupted by the tornadoes that tear us from our foundations, this escape is needed more than ever.  We can literally run through our personal land of make believe in search of a way back “home”.  Once in a while the journey begins with friends on a road paved with yellow bricks.

As runners, we take with us three very important and close friends to any competition.  The once Cowardly Lion finds the courage to stand up and confront our fears.   The Scarecrow can speak to us, providing the brains to make the correct decisions at the correct time.  And last, but not least, is our inner Tin Man equipped with the heart to keep pushing forward when it feels as if our legs could collapse at any moment.  With their help we will face any challenge. But what if we want more?  What if we have our three friends and it just isn’t enough to achieve our goals?

If you want to reach your full potential, a pair of Dorothy’s magic slippers MUST be on your feet.  By this, I mean the Cloudracer running shoe by On. They use the same Cloud technology as their other models but with a sleeker and lighter design for racing.  No matter what stretch of pavement you choose, they provide the comfort of running on a rubber track combined with traction superior to ANY shoe I have ever worn, which translates to a huge boost in speed.  After multiple races, a thirty second reduction to my 5k finish time was the immediate and lasting benefit when competing in the Cloudracers.  This can mean the difference between victory and defeat when the “flying monkeys” in your age group are hot on your heels.

Wicked Witch played by Michelle C.

Who is the Wizard of On?  Olivier Bernhard was a professional athlete, winning the world duathon championship several times as well as the Ironman title no less than six times.  Working with an engineer at the Zurich Institute of Technology, they developed the concept that has now become the science behind On’s running shoes.  With the help of his co-founders, David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti a revolutionary new shoe was produced that reduces the pain from running and therefore decreases recovery time.  The “clouds”, on the bottom of the shoe, roll to absorb the shock of forward motion as well as downward force.  Within each Cloud are a series of teeth that lock together upon impact and provide maximum stability and traction for pushing off.  For more information, please read my review of the Cloudrunner or visit On-running directly.

To be completely honest, I was reluctant to write this review because I’m giving away vital information about my secret weapon that will eventually be used against me.  It’s very easy to get spoiled by this brand of shoe and I can’t envision a day when returning to the technology of the past would be a sensible choice.  Besides, Toto’s become attached to his new Brooks chew toys.  

Mark my words, other running shoe companies will attempt to mimic On’s design when they realize the advantages.  Every year we see gimmicks and fads promising to increase speed and performance, but these shoes really deliver.  So be the first in your area to benefit from a pair of Clouds before your competitors get wise.  Like Dorothy says, “There is no place like home”, but home is even nicer when you return with a medal around your neck.   

As always, run for fun and race to place! (and maybe watch out for brooms coming out of the west)

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, most of my time was spent in the drive-through at McDonald’s   This did not bode well for my body, plaguing it with large amounts of weight gain, back pain, and those dreaded STRETCH MARKS.  After having her, I worked my butt off (literally) to get to that goal that most new moms strive for – pre-pregnancy weight.  It isn’t impossible to get rid of the baby weight, but it isn’t easy either.

Becoming pregnant with my second child, I was bound and determined to change the stigma of a pregnant woman’s fate.  I would not gain excessive weight.  I would lose the baby weight quickly.  This was my mantra.  I continued running, swimming, and cycling long into my third trimester.  My workouts were altered a bit, but I pushed on until I gave birth.

While I thought all of these were great ways to keep the pounds off, I met great opposition while exercising.  As I swam laps, jogged around the track, or even posted to Facebook about exercising, I was told “Be careful” and “ Shouldn’t you be stopping that now?”  I found myself defending my efforts to stay in shape more often than getting a pat on the back.  Why?  I wasn’t running a marathon 39 weeks pregnant like a woman in the Chicago Marathon last year, but what if I did?  What makes it wrong for a woman to stay active during her pregnancy?  Here are a few things I heard while I was pregnant:

• Running is going to hurt your baby!  Not. True.  That kiddo is packed so tight in there; You won’t hurt your little one by running.  They aren’t going to get jostled loose.  I wore a support belt while running and jogged or walked when I felt even a little fatigued just to be more cautious.

• You are depriving your baby of nutrients!  What’s funny is that many times I heard this from someone who was eating candy or something equally as unhealthy.  The baby gets what he or she needs from your body.  You are the one that suffers from lack of nutrients if you don’t take care of yourself, not the baby.  Just make sure to eat healthy and stay hydrated to keep up your supply of the good stuff.

• That will put you into premature labor!  I assure you, it did not.  If something was said to take a few days off of my pregnancy, I tried it.  If you have a healthy, normal pregnancy, exercising will not cause harm and will actually help you in many ways.

• You are eating for two!  I know a lot of women that took advantage of being pregnant by constantly shoveling junk food into their mouths (me included in my first pregnancy).  300 calories does NOT give you permission to eat a whole cheesecake every day for 9 months.  So when a pregnant woman eats healthy, why do so many people find it necessary to push them to this excessive behavior?

• You can’t change your baby if you exercise or not.  This sounds weird, but I’ll explain.  I heard this from my doctor.  We spoke about my exercising and how I was trying to reduce the weight gain that I had acquired in my first pregnancy.  The doctor told me I was going to have a HUGE baby based on my first pregnancy and that I would need to have a c-section to get her out.  My OB/GYN made me feel like I was brainless for insisting that I was helping my child by exercising and eating better and gaining less weight.  “That doesn’t affect your baby.  Your baby is going to be larger no matter what you do.”  After half of my pregnancy of going back and forth with him on this, I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, and SMALLER than her sister, baby girl.  While doctors can be smart, I think he (and many others) has this wrong.  While I am not a medical professional, I think you can positively affect your baby while pregnant.  Staying active helped me tone my body for giving birth, but maybe it also helps keep unnecessary things out of my system and furthermore, my unborn child’s system.  If you can negatively affect your child with drugs or alcohol, why can’t you positively affect them with a good diet and exercise?

I think a lot of this goes back to people wanting an excuse to be lazy.  In reality, you always can make an excuse to not do something.  Pregnancy isn’t an excuse.  If you should exercise and eat healthy normally, why would that change when you are trying to bring another person into this world?  You should want what is best for you and your baby.  It’s not just about you anymore.

As long as you keep your doctor in the loop on your activity level and they approve, your positive activities during your pregnancy will bring positive results.  A healthier baby, a healthier mom, and a jump-start on that post-pregnancy bikini body.

You might even help that little one appreciate fitness as well.  Can you say future Olympian??

Shadowing – When attempting to pass another racer of similar speed, it can be to your advantage to run as closely as possible to this person.  From either side or behind will work.  The object is to distract him/her long enough to blow their concentration.  This can be very effective in short distance races such as 5 and 10K’s.  Take care that you do not run too close and cause a safety issue for yourself and anyone else in the vicinity.  This method was very useful this past weekend in my 10 mile trail run.  The recipient of my aggression was somewhat displeased, but I did win the battle.

Blocking - Intentional or not, it’s been done to all of us at some point in a race.  If you’ve been running steadily but find the need to reduce your pace temporarily to recover, it is advisable to take the opportunity when  passing someone slightly slower.  Briefly adopt their stride and run side by side until you are ready to resume your previous speed.  This will create a temporary “wall” for anyone behind you, causing them to have to run very wide and burn precious energy.  This trick comes with a risk.  If you hang around too long some of the more aggressive runners will shove you to the side as they push their way between the two of you.  The more patient runners will wait for a better opportunity to pass and your objective will have been met.  They have stayed in your rear view mirror until you have had a chance to catch your breath and leave them in the dust. The victim may get a brief break as well but the benefit is lessened since it was not at a time of their choosing.

Elbow/Shove –  Many times at the start of a race, while trying to grab a position, someone will pull up their elbows and aim them at your ribs. If you closely watched the men’s 10,000 meter event during the Olympics this year, there were some perfect examples of this tactic.  I have used it occasionally going into a turn or blasting my way through two people who later admitted they were blocking me.  Try not to take offense when this happens, it’s part of racing and it may be me doing it.

Splash n’ Dash - This method is hit or miss literally.  What I like to do at a water station is to grab a cup of water, pour it over my head to cool off, crumble the cup and throw it down behind me but at the feet of the runner behind me.  This provides a very small distraction but it’s better than nothing.  You have the cup in your hand anyway, why not try to get a little more benefit from it?  I have witnessed others tossing the cup in the same manner as me but leaving a bit of water inside as to cause a splash when it hits the ground.

Stutter Step - If someone has really been giving you a hard time and you just can’t shake them from your six, you may want to resort to this malicious maneuver.  Try to get a SLIGHT lead on said annoyance going into a turn.  Once the runner falls in behind you, bring your stride down drastically for a split second and hope they don’t run into the back of you.  I have made the very few people I have used this on pretty mad but it blows their concentration and rhythm enough that they were no longer a factor in the race.  Be careful because this must be done perfectly or you will cause a crash, but when executed correctly it is very effective.  If you ask me, it’s their fault if they run into you.  What happens when someone stops short in traffic and gets rear ended?  The person driving the rear car gets the ticket for following to closely. Enough said.

Splashing - This is one of my favorites.  Rainy, snowy and all around sloppy days are required to pull this one off.  It’s simple, yet effective.  While running a race most people will choose to go around puddles and generally sloppy areas.  Check the conditions before the race and lace up one of your more unfavorite pair of running shoes.  If there are runners along side or behind you, aim right for that puddle and don’t pull back on your stride.  Depending on the depth, I have emerged on the other side with relatively dry shoes because when your foot hits the water or slush with force, there is a split second where the liquid is displaced and does not rush back in enough time to soak your feet.  Instead it does splash up the legs of your competitors. He he.

Gassing - Here’s a fun one that I have witnessed but never attempted and works for men and women alike.  If you are a woman, buy the cheapest, foul smelling “perfume” you can find and then proceed to apply it in excess.  Most runners are too polite to say anything prior to the start but they will surely understand your objective when the race starts and you are leaving a putrid wake vile enough to gag anyone who dares run behind you.  Most race courses are narrow enough that when the smell can’t be avoided, they will back off.  Now you just have to worry about who’s ahead of you.  Men, ours is a little harder to pull off.  Wear a shirt that you race in over and over without washing it.  By the time you hit four or five races and this sweat soaked shirt has been kicking around in your trunk, the smell will be bad enough to wave off even the strongest of runners.  Smell is the most powerful sense human beings have.  Why not use it to your advantage?

Run for fun and race to place everyone!

By now you have all heard the numerous controversies surrounding the storm ravaged city and the NYC Marathon.  If I may, I would like to examine the arguments posed by critics and have a logical discussion omitting all of the hysteria and hyperbole.  At the conclusion please post your comments and vote in the following poll.

First, runner safety.  Most of the New York City residents are calling for the marathon to be cancelled, which had led to rumors of widespread anger directed toward many of the participants.  There are people calling for spectators to block the course and hold protest signs while booing.  Let’s take a step back and look at the situation without involving Freudian displacement issues.  Is the fact that the race going forward the fault of the runners?  No, it is not.  Should they cancel their trip that many have planned for quite some time?  Once again, no.  So why must they be the targets of unruly city dwellers who are clearly thinking with emotion alone?

Currently the NYC death toll from Hurricane Sandy stands at 40 but is expected to rise.  Some people have lost their family members and homes, while millions are still without electricity.  It is going to require an enormous amount of money to repair and rebuild after this storm.  Taking that into account, I have to ask you, is it not a good idea to proceed with the marathon?  This race (the largest marathon in the world) typically brings $340 million to the city that is clearly, desperately needed.  It does not make sense to eliminate an event that helps local businesses thrive after the crushing blow dealt by Sandy combined with a stagnant economy.  Many residents, including Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, want to postpone the marathon. “The prudent course of action here — postpone the marathon, come back a different day.” said Stringer.  This is probably even more ludicrous than cancelling all together.  There is simply no way that tens of thousands of athletes coming from all over the country and the world can reschedule effectively enough for the race to be a success. 

Others have voiced concerns over “first responders” being stretched thin to cover the event.  Mayor Bloomberg has assured everyone that this will not be the case, but only time will tell.  The storm that wreaked havoc on Monday and Tuesday demanded all of New York City’s resources.  While this storm was not on the same scale as Katrina, it did manage to cause massive devastation to the northeast.  Three days after the storms departure, police and fire are still scrambling but the bulk of the life and death emergency operations are over.  Still, there are many reports of looting in the hardest hit areas.  Police and security forces will be greatly needed to prevent the plunderous parasites that inhabit all major cities from stealing business blind during the event.

Apparently there are reports of most, but not all, hotels kicking out victims of the storm to accommodate the arriving athletes.  Let’s try not to be emotional and employ some logic here.  Runners made their reservations far in advance of this storm and a hotel is a business that must honor the commitments it made.  While my heart goes out to the people that cannot return to their homes, I offer this as a suggestion:  Why can’t the city relocate the victims residing in hotels to accommodations that would be cheaper outside city limits for a couple days?  Runners would get what they paid for and storm refugees would be moved to a setting with some much needed normalcy.  The bottom line is that you MUST get this revenue into New York City to help with the cost of long term aid and reconstruction.  I want to assist the people affected by the storm as much as anyone else, but please don’t lose sight of the big picture.  If the money does not start flowing from events like this, it will never get there.  Soon the reporters will be covering another story, people around the country will go back to their everyday responsibilities and no one will think twice about the people displaced by the storm.  Everyone with a mouth will have had their righteous rants over the next couple days, shouting about how it’s “immoral” to carry on with the marathon, but will soon forget about the New York City residents and their continuing needs. 

While making the decision to let the race go on as planned is a controversial one, I happen to agree with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Probably for the first time ever).  Not because I am a runner but because I am an American.  When did we walk away from the American spirit of continuing with life as “normal” while still dealing effectively with a crisis?  Letting this race go forward will show America’s resilience to the rest of the world as we always have in times of disaster.  Are we still the great nation we once were or would we rather wallow in depression after such a catastrophe?

Not too long ago I was extended the opportunity to test and review a very unique style of running shoe.  Those of you that read my articles on a regular basis know that I am not one to hold my tongue when I have something to say, regardless of consequences.  What’s more, I am also one of the most resolute skeptics you will ever meet.  Tell me the sky is blue and I will ask you to provide credible sources to backup your claim.  With this as my standard, I accepted the chance to test the On Cloudrunner.

Beginning with a headquarters based in Switzerland, this running shoe upstart has managed to make a global splash in the athletic community.  They boast a rather lengthy and impressive list of athletes from around the world who endorse their shoes.  This has never swayed my opinion of a product in the past but it is a promising sign.

As runners, we are all aware that many of us suffer from pain and injuries due to the force exerted upon our legs during forward motion. In an effort to resolve this, an engineer set forth with the goal to keep the benefits of modern running shoes that minimize downward force and add new technology (CloudTec) to reduce the shock of forward movement.  From this concept, On-Running was born.

When the pair of Cloudrunners arrived at my door, I eagerly opened the package to find a very distinctive looking running shoe encased in one of the nicest shoe boxes I had ever seen.  It was adorn with clouds and attached to the inside was an almost credit card quality registration card.  This is when I became suspicious.  ”Why would you put your product in such an elaborate box if the product can stand on its own?”  I thought, being the eternal pessimist.  Putting my reasoning aside for a moment, I slipped on both shoes and stood up.  It was a very strange feeling, to say the least, and my first inclination was to take a trot up the road for a short distance.  The noticeable characteristic of the Cloudrunner was a greater “springiness” than other running shoes, yet they seemed to stick to the pavement when planting your foot, as if there were tiny suction cups attached to the soles.  I returned to the house with a grin imagining the possibilities if these shoes could hold up beyond my first impression.

After some varying distance runs in the Cloudrunners I determined my first assessment was correct.  They provide complete control that most runners are unaware they are lacking in other running shoes.  With the increased traction I was able to focus more of my energy in moving forward faster.  It is a very different running experience initially and takes a little getting used to, but well worth the short learning curve.  The best analogy I can think of to describe it would be to say that if your old shoes were the equivalent of the NASA space shuttle, you have now laced up something that can take you beyond light speed. So much for the theory of relativity.  But I digress….

Click To Enlarge

I do not fall for gimmicks and have repeatedly criticized scams that go on every season with regard to running shoes.  I must say that when I pulled the Cloudrunners from the box I was positive it was all glitz, but (wait for it….) I was wrong.  In the soles of these shoes are tiny rubber “gear teeth” that lock together when pushing off, providing greater traction on pavement and trail.  How do I know they also work on trail?  I decided to lace them up for the Harvest Trail 5K that turned out to be very wet and very slippery.  Hazardous conditions indeed, when combined with hairpin turns and forest debris hidden under a blanket of leaves.  So dangerous was it, that one runner DNF’d with a broken ankle.  The gun sounded and I darted forward to fall into approximately 20th position overall.  I ran cautiously until realizing these shoes were sticking to the trails as well as they did on the pavement.  With this ability in my arsenal of running tricks I cut every turn tight and fast which allowed me to continually gain ground on the leaders and pick off runners one by one.  By race end, I finished 7th overall and 1st in my division.  This was acceptable, considering my first mile was run very conservatively.  

Cloudrunners and 1st Place Medal

These shoes are outstanding for all distances and a variety of terrain.  All runners should keep an eye on this company or better yet, try “On” a pair of their shoes.  Most of you will have to go to a participating running store to try them but I will offer this to my local friends:  If you know me and have a size 10 1/2 foot, I would be glad to let you take them for a spin.  It is nearly impossible for me to convey how great these shoes really are.  It’s much easier for you to experience them for yourself.  My only regret is that they did not send the Cloudracer speed shoes for review because I could tear up the 5K’s if they are anything like the Cloudrunners.  This company should consider changing its name from “On” to “Keep-On”.  Keep-On Running, that is.  Thumbs up!

Run for fun but race to place everyone!

It’s product review day at Adventures In Running and I have been asked to test Core Power – Natural High Protein Energy Shake.  Once again, I must inform you that I am receiving NO compensation for this test.  Only the bottles of product that were delivered to me in order to complete my review. 

TASTE

When the Core Power arrived at my door, it was shipped in a tube containing the three 11.5 ounce bottles consisting of Strawberry Banana Light, Vanilla and Chocolate flavors.  After a run last week, I decided to try the chocolate.  This product boasts that even though it is made with real milk, it does not have to be refrigerated so I figured I would really put it to the test.  It had been sitting in my truck for a few hours on a cool day and was room temperature.  Cautiously I took a sip.  WOW!  I was very impressed.  Most of us have had to choke down dry, tasteless protein bars and get used to the chalkiness of Muscle Milk or similar products that leave you thinking “There’s a party in my mouth but who invited Nick Nolte?”.  Not with Core Power. There was no chalkiness or aftertaste.  If you gave me a choice of ANYTHING (non alcoholic) to drink, I would pick this drink.  It’s THAT good.  In the following days I consumed the Strawberry Banana Light and Vanilla.  They also have the same high quality taste but the chocolate is absolutely my favorite.  The other flavor offered is honey and I look forward to trying that in the future.

INGREDIENTS

Recovery supplements.  We know we need them after a taxing run but many are filled with additives our body requires as well as chemicals we can’t even pronounce.  But each Core Power 11.5 ounce bottle is made up of natural ingredients and is available in 26g and 20g protein versions.  The very first item on the content list is filtered, lowfat milk.  “But Dave, I’m lactose intolerant!”  That’s okay, so am I.  Core Power Protein Shake is lactose-free and still delivers 70% of your daily calcium needs as well as being preservative and gluten-free.    “With all that AND a great taste, it must have loads of calories.”  Surprisingly, it contains only 240 calories per bottle which is far less than many protein bars.  If you choose the 20g version, it weighs in at a manageable 150 calories.

CONTEST & INFORMATION

If you don’t trust me, (and you should by now) check out the Core Power Website and the list of athletes mentioned below that endorse this product.  Better yet, you can order directly through Amazon.com.

• Craig “Crowie” Alexander
• Laura Bennett
• Tom Danielson
• Tyler McCandless

Now for the contest details.  I have been instructed that I am allowed to give away one case (12@11.5 ounce bottles) of Core Power Protein Shakes completely FREE!  There are no shipping charges and you get to choose the flavor.  What can be better than that?  “But Dave, how do I get a chance to win?”  It’s easy!  Just sign up in the box in the right sidebar of this page or visit Crazy Dave’s Discount Running Gear and sign up there for this and ALL FUTURE contests.  

• Winner will be selected by random number generator
• Contest ends at 11 am CST 10/15/2012
• Product will be shipped from supplier using USPS Ground