Gear Review: Faster than Forty

I first heard about Faster than Forty by Mark Gomes and Rick Miller through the LetsRun message boards. Gomes is the 2011 USATF Masters National 800m Champion, and had been brought up on the board once before, in a post about his "NO RUNNING" program that led him to a 4:38 mile at 41 years old. (Don't worry, Faster than Forty is not about the "NO RUNNING" regimen...that came later and is hinted at briefly in the epilogue, but that's it). I checked out the excerpt on their website and found myself intrigued. So, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, here's the Faster than Forty review!

Gear Review: Brooks PureDrift

A few months ago, I was desperately searching for a new shoe. I had a stack of boxes of Brooks Launch sitting in the back of my closet, along with my emergency hand-crank flashlight and a few bottles of water in case the zombie apocalypse arrives, because, as we all know, the first rule of Zombieland is cardio (that's a YouTube link, so don't click it if you're somewhere where noise is bad). However, they were strictly for emergencies, like sore feet that required familiar shoes...or the zombie apocalypse. A friend of mine had just posted to Twitter that she had just run through her last pair of now-discontinued Nike Skylons, so I knew that, Launch supply or not, I needed something different. There was the Mizuno Wave Precision, but why start to wear that when that's about to be replaced by the Wave Sayonara? There was the Saucony Kinvara, but the upper on that didn't fit me quite as well as that of the Brooks PureConnect. There was...wait. Why not just wear the PureConnect? Which is what I did. Anyway, needless to say, the Launch was saved which made my search moot, but my stint with the PureConnect rekindled my interest in the PureProject (which, Brooks, if that was your intent, well played), so when I heard about the release of the Brooks PureDrift, hey, I wanted them too.

Resolution

I generally avoid making New Year's Resolutions because 1) if I tell myself I'm going to eat healthier or stop procrastinating or whatever, I know I'll break it in a couple of days, and 2) why wait until New Year's to fix things you're doing wrong? That's a lot of pressure...I'd rather start on a Monday, and then if I screw up, I have another chance next week! So I don't believe I've made a New Year's Resolution since elementary school. However, given the phone conversation I had about an hour ago, as well as a suggestion that ended up being posted on Twitter, I think it's time to get back on the Resolution train and be less of a negative headcase about my training. Now obviously, this isn't the best goal, since it's not specific, measurable, or time-bound (though I would argue that it is somewhat attainable and relevant), but seeing as I already have actual running-related goals, I figure it's better to keep this one low-pressure (but hopefully not so low that I just forget about it). My mental game is probably the weakest part of my running, and it's not unusual for me to hear someone say they did a workout like 18 at marathon pace or 20 with the last 10 at marathon pace and for me to freak because there's no way I can do a workout like that and that must mean that my marathon pace is too ambitious (false...my marathon went fine despite the fact that there's no way I'd be able to run either of those workouts untapered and in the middle of marathon training...although mad props to those of you who do).

So, to begin this year of positivity, on to track season! I'm hoping that my store team order comes in soon, because I have a pair of Brooks Wire 2s on order, and track season just isn't track season without spikes! (I actually do have a pair of Nike Zoom Ws from college, but if any of you did something like, say, ran the steeplechase in college, then after your last track meet in spring 2007, threw your still-wet spikes in a non-breathable spike bag, stashed them in the back of your closet, and then didn't really touch them again until last week, well, then you know why I'm really hoping to get my Wires before my first track meet. I already wore them last week for a track workout when the track was icy and flats just weren't going to fly, but the upper was stiff and weird and they smelled like death).

So tell me...do you all make resolutions, or not so much? And if you do, what are your resolutions for 2013?

On to 2013!!

And so closes another year. Being my boring self, I'm sitting here blogging, eating cereal, and looking over my running log rather than going out, but I seem to recall some famous runner saying that if running isn't the most exciting part of your day, you're doing it wrong. (I feel like maybe that famous runner needs a jar of peanut butter and a spoon, because there are definitely some a lot of days when that is more exciting than running...heck, even the chocolate chips I'm throwing in my cereal bowl are more exciting than my run today). But anyway, that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

The King is (Not) Dead...Long Live the King

My day is made: Brooks will not be discontinuing the Launch!

You can read my review of the Launch here, and my "Please don't discontinue this shoe" letter here.

Gear Review: Training on Empty

About a year and a half ago, a post on LetsRun led me to She was Once a Runner, a blog written by an anonymous runner about her college running career, an experience destroyed by a disturbed psyche and an unhealthy environment filled with her toxic coach, teammates, and parents. Quite different from the usual running books you see, like Running with the Buffaloes and Running for the Hansons, but unfortunately a story that proved to be all-too-familiar with many athletes on LetsRun, who all chimed in with their own experiences as they waited eagerly for updates. When the author stopped updating her blog (she did eventually publish the rest of her story on Smashwords), one poster managed to get in touch with her, posting an interview with SWOAR's author on her own blog, Training on Empty. This poster was Lize Brittin, whom those of you up on their running history trivia may recognize as four-time Colorado state cross-country and track champion, Pikes Peak Ascent record holder, and elite mountain runner. However, Brittin also struggled with an eating disorder, one that would eventually end her elite career (and nearly her life). Training on Empty (the name of her book as well as her blog) is the story of both her fight with the disease and how she eventually managed to overcome it.

Quick post today because I'm in the middle of finals, but I saw on LetsRun that a runner at Club XC Championships was struck by a truck and killed after the meet, and I felt the need to write something. Sincerest condolences to Lauren Woodall Roady's family and friends. I am so sorry, and hope that you find some comfort in her memory.

Just puts things in perspective, I guess, and reminds you not to take anything for granted. Stay safe out there, everyone.