Brooks PureCadence 4 Review

Just when you thought this shoe couldn’t get any better, leave it to the fine folks at Brooks to figure out a way to improve the Pure Cadence. I introduce to you the Brooks PureCadence 4:

After the success of the completely revamped PureCadence 3, the 4th edition updates with only a few changes to the upper. The outsole and the tread stay exactly the same so if you liked the traction, pronation control, and cushioned feel underfoot of the Cadence 3, then you’ll dig the 4 too. Because of this, I’m not going to get into the technical features of the outsole in this review. If you didn’t get a chance to try the Cadence 3 and want to know some of the technical features of the outsole, please refer to my review of the PureCadence 3 HERE.

While creating these updates, the team at Brooks was inspired by the Japanese word, “Takumi,” which means, each detail crafted with intension. This is reflected in the simple and plush design of the new upper. The first thing you’ll notice when you put the shoe on is the traditional lacing system. In the previous editions, Brooks experimented with attached tongue overlays and offset lacing systems with spiral, locking laces.  If that was too much jargon, just refer to the picture of the Cadence 2 and 3 below:

In the Cadence 4 pictured below, you’ll see that they’ve reverted back to a traditional lacing system where the tongue is only attached to the toe box. This is the area with the most change, so naturally there will be some negative points worth discussing here. If you wear low cut socks, the top of the the tongue may rub a blister into the front ankle. I have NOT experienced this personally, but I can see how this could happen given its thin design. Solution, wear performance socks that fit properly.

I’ve also read that the tongue slips to the side now. I have not experienced this either and I believe that’s due to two features; the combination of the NAV band and the new laces. For those that aren’t familiar, the NAV band is the flexible strap that wraps over the instep to comfortably secure the foot (and tongue) in place. Also, the spiral laces of the previous models have been replaced with some sort of stretch lace that locks down when pulled. I’ve never seen laces that do this. The only way I can describe the material is like a combination between a bungee chord lace and a soft microfiber t-shirt.  Weird, right? No….. Magical.

The next feature that you might notice is the plush material around the heel cup. It’s as if there’s two soft, custom fitted pillows on both sides of the heel cradling your achilles while also filling any empty space. This is especially useful for runners with a narrow heel that often experience slippage. I’ve had experience with my heels slipping in some of the previous Cadence models and it hasn’t happened in this one. The rest of the upper feels a lot like the Cadence 3; seamless, light (8.8oz) but durable, and super comfortable.

If I had to describe the Cadence 4 in one word it would be, PLUSH. The simple updates gently cradle the feet in soft, form-fitting and moisture wicking materials. This, combined with the guidance features of the outsole, make the shoe really feel like a part of your foot. Great for heel strikers, forefoot-foot landers, and everyone in between, Brooks nails it with this update! Please feel free to post any questions or comments below. Thanks!

Another Year Running

I covered approximately 1,209 miles in 2014 and participated in 13 races overall, 3 of which were Marathons. I also snagged Personal Records at the 8k, 10k, 1/2 Marathon, and Full Marathon distances.  The most remarkable stat is that I did this without getting injured (knocks on particle board). I only hope my training in 2015 brings similar results.

With ’14 behind it’s time to plan ahead.  Already on the race schedule is my first Ultra Marathon.  For those of you not familiar, an Ultra Marathon is defined as any distance farther than 26.2 miles.  You could run a 30 mile long run and technically, you’ve ran an ultra marathon. With that said, I feel that most Ultra runners consider 50-100 miles to be the defining distance. The Ultra Marathon on my schedule is the Delirium 24 hour Ultra in February. A race in which participants run laps around a 1.7 mile looped trail through the wood and whoever runs the most laps/miles in the 24 hour period, wins. If you run 85 miles you receive a finisher’s medal.  If you run 100 miles you receive a belt buckle. If you run 120-140 miles, well……..there’s a good chance you won the damn thing.

With only 1 month to go, there’s really little time for training.  I hope that the base I’ve built in the past few months will carry over into this. Also on the schedule this month is the Charleston Marathon. I was offered a spot as a pacer for the 4 hour finishing group and decided that 1) It will be a great training run for Delirium and 2) Pacing is one of the most rewarding accomplishments you can achieve as a runner. You have a chance to run with and guide your friends and neighbors in your running community to the finish and help them achieve their own personal goals. There’s probably no better feeling!

With the weight of these two race on my shoulders, January has to be a strong month both mentally, and physically.  With such little time to prepare It’s time to get serious so I’ve decided to give up booze for a month. That’s right, no shots with friends after the Carolina Panther’s first playoff win since 2005. No refreshing IPA’s after a long night of pouring them for strangers, and no hearty porter after a long, cold, rainy run.

Oh Beer, I shall miss thee.

After more than 13 years of getting to know you so well, I think it might be time for a break.  I know this comes as a surprise and I promise, it’s not you….. it’s me.  I just need to gather my thoughts and think clearly for once.  I really need to focus on my goals and I just can’t do that with you in my life right now.  Simply put, we just have too much fun together.  I know you’ll wait for me. You’re so patient. We’ve had so many good times together and I know we’ll have more, we just have to put them on hold for a few weeks.  I do trust you and appreciate you understanding our dilemma…  Also, you should know I’ve been talking to you’re sister, N-A beer and we’ve kind of hit it off. She’s not nearly as fun as you, but she helps me make more responsible decisions. I hope you respect this and I’ll catch up with you at Tatar’s Superbowl party in a month. I know you’ll be there.

Cheers,

-Drinker with a Running problem.

Brooks T7 Racer Shoe Review

If the shoe fits…..buy it…..over and over again.  This has been my experience with the Brooks T7 Racer for the past four years. Amidst another plentiful race season, I feel it necessary to share my experience with this shoe.  From my first 5k to this year’s NYC Marathon, the T7 goes the distance for me. Perfect for racing and/or tempo runs or track sessions.  Don’t expect high mileage from these, expect speed.

***Disclaimer*** I have a slender frame that has been referred to as sinewy. With a height of 5ft 11inches and a weight of only 144 pounds, my shoes don’t take much of a beating.  Because of my stride and my weight, I can get away with running a full marathon in this shoe but for normal to heavier runners, I think the shoe would be more suitable for 5k-Half Marathon distances.

When you try the shoe on for the first time, you’ll notice a few things.  The first thing you’ll notice is that the shoe is TIGHT.  It’s snug in the toe box, it hugs the arch, and it has a strong heal counter that locks your foot in place. This will probably turn a lot of runners away but hear me out.  My feet aren’t wide and they’re not narrow either. They’re average width with a normal arch and I run on my forefoot so my toes tend to spread out more.  The shoe still works great with the snug fit because of the flexibility of the upper. After only one or two runs, the shoes break in nicely. When I run fast, I don’t like a lot of movement in my shoes.  Too much movement equals blisters for me.  

The next thing you’ll notice when you try this shoe on is the significant heel-to-toe drop. It is extremely noticeable when you’re just standing or walking in the shoes, but because you’ll be running in them, that won’t matter. I know that drop is pretty large considering most minimal shoes these days are moving toward flatter, lower drops that will “supposedly” encourage less heal striking.  I say “supposedly” because I land mostly on my forefoot and this shoe works great for running on your toes.  In fact, the flatter forefoot gives a nice feel for the road underneath and encourages a faster turnover.  Also, if you tend to revert to a mid-foot or light heal strike when your calfs get tired on longer runs, there is still plenty of cushion underneath.

The third thing you might notice is the extremely lightweight feel. Weighing in at only 6.4 Oz’s, the T7 is built for one thing. Speed. The upper is made from a lightweight nylon material with synthetic cloth overlays that are sewed in for structure and durability. An offset lacing system with paper thin laces pulls the upper from both sides of the shoe ensuring a snug fit, especially in the arch.  The shoe is marketed as a high-arch shoe, but I found it to be very adaptable.  What I mean by this is that most of the arch support doesn’t come from the sole, but rather from the flexible sidewall of the nylon/cloth upper. This means that the arch fit will depend on how tight you lace the shoe.  Furthermore, the upper is practically seamless with smooth, soft fit all the way around.

Another reason the shoe is so light weight is due to the lack of rubber tread.  The bottom of the shoe has only two rubber tread pieces on the heel and very dense EVA foam covering the rest of the surface of the sole.  This tread grips really nicely to to all types of road surfaces and works well in wet conditions too. Actually, better than some rubber treads.  You might think that the lack of tread will make the shoe wear faster, which I’m sure it does for heavier runners, but in my experience the cushion in the sole becomes compressed before the tread wears out.  Because of this, you won’t get a lot of miles out of this shoe but keep in mind, it’s not built for that.  The T7 Racer is a run specific shoe that should be used during races or faster training runs. Simply put, it’s my weapon of choice when I want to run fast.  And if for some reason I show up to a group run wearing these, just think of it as a friendly challenge….

Please feel free to post any questions or comments.  As far as sizing goes, I normally wear a size 9 in Brooks PureProject shoes but have to go up to a 9.5 in this model.  The shoe is unisex so women should size down 1 full to 1.5 size smaller.  For example, if you normally wear a women’s size 8 try on a men’s 6.5 or 7.

 

Determination Proclamation

Investment.

Most people probably think of money when they here that word.  I think of miles.

You get out what you put in.

For me and my NYC Marathon training partner Victor, this was sort of our motto while training.  We could always be doing more.  We ran grueling bleacher workouts and hit the track once every week.  Mile repeats one minute faster than our goal pace (more like 1.5min faster for Vic). We added long run after long run and stacked up the miles all summer long. Our goal was to use our finishing time in NYC to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  We had to run this Marathon in less than 3 hrs and 5 minutes to qualify.  We were prepared for anything.  Even 20-30mph swirling winds with gust up to 40mph weren’t going to stop us, right?

Wrong.

We were zapped around miles 14/15 and we recorded terrible times considering our training and preparation.  Never have we been more prepared for a race, only to fall terribly short of our goal. For me it was a personal worst time for 26.2 miles. Yeah…We could blame it on the wind. We could blame it on the hills. We could blame it on so many factors, but everyone knows what excuses are like…

This isn’t a pity piece, so if you’re feeling sorry, don’t. We’ve been through that. This is a proclamation piece. A proclamation of determination for all runners chasing their individual goals.  Whether it’s finishing a race in a certain time, or simply finishing a race.

Stay. Determined.

Running is determination and determination is fire.  Use that fire through the training, through the injuries, through the pain, through the constant investment your body and your mind make. If you stay determined through these obstacles, you will complete your goal.

It’s really that simple.

That way didn’t get you the results you were looking for? Go back to the drawing board and try something different. Come back with an intensity no one has ever seen from you before. Light that fire under your ass and carry it with you everywhere you go. Eat, sleep and breathe with it burning. Let everyone see it in your eyes….And when you’re ready to get that return on your investment, unleash the inferno and burn your goal to the mother F-ing ground.

Now pick another goal….

Repeat.

Running for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society

The first marathon I ran was the 2011 Chicago Marathon and I ran it for my favorite charity, the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I learned a few things about fundraising for charity that first go round, the most important being that its not easy. But neither is running a marathon. So when I decided to run this year’s NYC Marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I knew the challenges that were ahead of me.

It’s overcoming those challenges that makes the whole experience so much more meaningful. The realization alone, that the challenges I will face are microscopic compared to those of the folks I’m raising money for, is enough motivation to get me through the hardest training run. The added weight of involving all the people that have joined the campaign by donating, will get me to the finish.  Hopefully in BQ time. Sub 3hrs 5 minutes.

While searching the list of charities available for the NYC Marathon, I was saddened to see that my favorite charity, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, was not on the list. After days of browsing through different charities, I saw the link to LLS. I’d recently volunteer-bartended a LLS fundraiser for my 10 year old sister Alex, who’s classmate is in remission. The family thanked and praised LLS so much for helping them through the tragedy and that struck me on a very personal level. I also realized that a lot of the children that were seeing their wishes come true by the Make-A-Wish Foundation had blood cancers, so in a way, I was still helping them too.

There are few charities as organized as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you’re involved in your running community then you’ve most likely heard of Team in Training or TNT, as they go by (because the alternative was Tit). If you haven’t heard of them, it’s a program created by LLS that offers marathon training assistance in exchange for fundraising. They set you up with a local (or remote) coach that sends you training plans and tips to help you through your training. Although I believe it’s a great program, it’s not for me. I feel that its geared more toward beginners working for their first marathon goal. However, the attention to detail and the highly organized fundraising platform that they use is for me and definitely went into consideration when choosing.

After choosing, LLS, Weeks went by and I had no idea how I was going to approach the fundraising this time around. Although I love supporting charities, I genuinely hate asking people for money. So when I saw that a guy on Kickstarter was raising money to make potato salad, it inspired me (fyi: he’s raised over $50,000…..to make potato salad).  I knew right away I was going to somehow have to piggyback on his campaign.

So I decided to start a war with him. I would boycott of Potato Salad until my goal of $1500 is reached. Check out my LLS fundraising page here, Michael’s LLS Fundraising Page, and my facebook page here, Michael’s Facebook Page to see some of my antics.

It’s been just over a week since I started this campaign and I reached just over 50% of my goal last night.  The campaign is moving faster than I ever thought possible and it’s all been through social media.  With so much time still left, I know we will reach $1500 and hopefully even exceed that!  With that said, I want to personally thank the followers of this blog who have donated already and ask those who haven’t for any contribution.  Join the fight against blood cancers by donating to LLS and/or make the symbolic gesture with joining my boycott of potato salad! With your help.

Just click on this link to join the fight 🙂

***BLOG SPECIAL**** If you donate today I will personally and randomly shout your full name at a water station volunteer along the marathon course!

Thank you all!

-Michael

MayDay Marathon 2014

As expected, the great folks at OnShore Racing threw an aMayzing Marathon and Half Marathon here in Charleston on May 1st.  To say the course is scenic is an understatement.  Some think that this course, Running the full 26.2 from Isle of Palms to Sullivans to Downtown Charleston and then out to Folly Beach is the best Marathon course in Charleston.  I have to agree with them.

Logistically, this point-to-point race would be a nightmare for most race directors but Rocky and Virginia knew exactly what to do when they thought up this unconventional race last year.  Just run the course open.  So that’s what they did.  They created a guerrilla race that runs on mostly sidewalks and with/against traffic. This RAYOR race, or Run At Your Own Risk Race, is like no other in Charleston and THAT is the appeal.  There are no over priced entry fees, the Half costs just as much as the Full, and most of the $30 goes right back to you in the post race party!!! Oh yeah, you also get receive a sweet tech-t and a badass, handcrafted medal. It’s all about the run man!  Seriously, this race couldn’t be any better! But don’t take my word for it, just watch the video below and see for yourself!

Vimeo Click Here: MayDay Marathon 2014

Feeling inspired now? Want more info? Registration is already open for next year’s race and you can check out all future OnShore Racing’s Quixotic Running events by clicking on the link below:

OnShore Racing

Oh yeah, My race report:

I dropped out after the first 13.1 so I could become the official Videographer… and because my legs were shot.   Big congrats to all those who suffered to the end!

Happy Healing,

-Michael

 

 

 

10 Running Songs That Won’t Make Your Ears Bleed….

Tired of hearing “Don’t Stop Believing” at races? How about the ole hit, “Move’s like Jagger”?

The last time I heard “Eye of the Tiger” during a race I had to physically force myself NOT to run into oncoming traffic….. And when I say I had to physically force myself,  I mean that I had to avoid the traffic by reaching down with both my hands and grabbing my ankles to slow myself to a stop, then dig a hole in the ground, bury my head in it like an Ostrich while humming the theme music to Captain Planet in a failed attempt to attract some dirty-ass underground earth insects into my goodassmusic loving ears to help compost my migraine prone brain into earthworm shit that would hopefully one day sprout a flower that inspires a  Radiohead/Roots collaboration album on which every single song matches the rhythm of 180 beats per minute…

AAAHHHHHHH!

After the bleeding stopped, I thought it would be a good idea to make a playlist of 10 of my favorite running songs (in order from warm-up to cool-down) to help those poor folks like me that are in desperate need of something different…

 

WARNING: if you like running to Kelly Clarkson’s, “Stronger”, you WILL NOT like running to the following songs….and I wish you the worst.

 

#1  Reckoner by Radiohead

This beautifully layered tune will ease you into your running experience while painting a landscape of the highs…and lows that are soon to follow…

 

 

#2 Wide Eyes by Local Natives

If the lyrics alone aren’t enough to move you, the drums most definitely will.

 

 

#3 Tribal War by Damian Marley and Nas

Speaking of drums…

 

 

#4 No Cars Go by Arcade Fire

Go to your happy place… look out for cars….

 

 

#5 All Alone by Gorillaz

As you should be…Because running partners that listen to headphones don’t really get it…

 

 

#6 Something Good by Alt-J (∆)

My new favorite band…anything from their album, An Awesome Wave, is run worthy…..and life worthy.

 

 

#7 Get Down On It, Kool and the Gang

The first song I heard after Eye of the Unmentionable, and it was so funky and refreshing to my damaged ears. It healed me.

 

 

#8 Velvet Snow, Kings of Leon

Almost there, pick up the pace with this little throwback.

 

 

#9 Wolf Like Me, TV on the Radio

The best running song of all time. Seriously.  “My mind has changed my body’s frame but God I like it, My heart’s aflame my body’s strained but God I like it.” If this song doesn’t get you to the end of your run,  you should probably start hitch hiking….unless you’re a wearing yoga pants…then call a cab…scratch that, the cabbie will probably be a creeper too…just walk home.

 

 

#10 Om Nashi Me, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Nothing like a little hippaddie dippaddie zen music to help increase that runner’s high you have by now, Enjoy my friends.

 

One day I will direct a race that plays all of these awesome running songs on repeat for your listening and running pleasure…

and also in hopes that all of the Van Halen “Jump” fans out there do just that……jump…..

off a frickin cliff.

 

-Michael

Gaining Momentum: A January Running Recap

Wow, 2014 has started fast and strong! Every new year usually brings with it new changes, new goals, and new challenges and this one is no different!

After a sickly end to a disappointing 13, 14 has brought with it some much appreciated change! Along with many other dedicated Brooks runners,  I was moved from the Brooks Inspire Daily Program to the Brooks Fanatics Program. Fanatics is a similar program but with a lot less sponsorship responsibility. This change comes alongside another recent occupational move back to bar tending. A  move that has paid off physically, and fiscally.  I’ve traded in grinding out my days in retail for more rest (sleeping in) and more training.

My first goal for 2014 was to start a running streak. Another goal was to run a third Marathon. Coincidentally, I received a free entry to the Rock-N-Roll New Orleans Marathon from the Fanatics Program.  I only had a month to get ready so I decided to start my streaking.  I’ve read about how streaks can make you a better runner for a number of reasons so I decided to try for at least a 5k a day for the month of January, and maybe even for the rest of the year. Below is a snapshot of my training in January.

January14 Training Snapshot

There was only one day in January that I didn’t run and it was due to an unexpected 12hr workday.  Running streaks are hard.  Not only are they hard on your body, but they wear you down mentally too.  They break you down to nothing and at the same time, teach you everything.  They force you to run when you’re tired.  They force you to run in terrible conditions.  Your body might not like it, but if done properly (the 10 percent rule), it will adapt to the extra load and you will become a stronger runner.  Streaks teach you how to adapt, so when the weather is less than perfect on race day, you’re prepared.  When your calfs are sore, you’re prepared.  When you have to run double the distance of your longest recent run in only two weeks, you’re prepared. Along with streaking, I  worked on strengthening my core by adding a rigorous routine of pushups, situps, and squats. I also cross-trained by playing soccer once a week.  January was a work month, but would it payoff in Nawlins?

On February 1st, the day before the marathon, I flew to the Big Easy.  It didn’t take long for me to settle in. Before I knew it, I was 3IPA’s deep and playing Texas Hold Em at Harrah’s Casino.  After grinding it out for two hours at the table,  I started to get a little stir crazy and the dealer threw me Ace/9 off-suit.  After limping into the hand, the flop came out 8, 8, 9. Two Pair with an Ace kicker. After everyone checked around the table, I over bet in an attempt to buy the measly pot. It pushed everyone out of the hand but my friend sitting to the left of me.  He saw my $50 bet and raised me another $50….”Does he have the 8,” I thought? I’m going to pay to see it. By that point I only had $60 left, so I pushed what was left of my pride into the pot.  All-in with a mediocre hand and sure enough, my opponent flipped over the only card that could’ve beaten me at that point…….the 8. Ouch….

After losing over half of my spending money in the first 2 hours of my trip, I walked to a near-by sushi bar to think over my poor decisions and drown my sorrows in Asian lagers and Dragon Rolls….Before I knew it, I had justified my first casino experience with a simple “When in Rome” and by 9pm I was back to the hotel with a nice beer buzz before bedtime.

At 4:30am my alarm sounded and I hit the Shower.  The sky was overcast with temps in the cool 50’s and a 30% chance of showers.  My head was clear and I felt relaxed.I had a plan.  My plan was to start the Marathon slow and have as much fun as possible.  “Make it easy!” I thought.  After running only 13 miles for my long run, there was no telling how my body would react in the later miles of the race. Was I prepared?

A calmness fell over me as I was standing in the first corral waiting for the gun to sound.  Probably the most relaxed I’ve ever been before a race.  It was probably because I wasn’t racing anyone but myself, and the time to beat was  3 hrs and 41 minutes.  My PR from RnR Savannah in 2012 came with a lot of aches and pains from starting out too fast, not eating enough, and not hydrating enough.  I was determined not to go through that again, so when the gun sounded, I let everyone pass…

With 100% humidity that morning, water coated everything including the roads.  Like Charleston, New Orleans isn’t exactly known for they’re newly paved roads.  Cracks and crannies crawl through the roads just waiting for a misstep.  Add the moisture in to the equation and there’s your recipe for a swollen ankle.  The first 6 miles of the race was spent simply trying to find my footing.  And then the rain came…

Before the rain:

During the rain:

After the rain:

After shedding my water soaked t-shirt, I felt lighter and faster.  While everyone was struggling through the second half, I was just warming up.  It’s worth noting that I ate a GU Rocktane every 30 minutes of the race and drank the water and gatorade at almost every station.  This extra boost of caffeine and sugar powered me through the tough times.  Marathons are monotonous, so having a reward to look forward to every 30 minutes really breaks up the race and boosts your mood.  The extra fuel powered me through miles 16-24.

Oh yeah, I robbed a bank along the course and the Marathon was part of my getaway:

Seriously though…..it’s on my bucket list…

At this point, people were dropping like flies and I was cruising!  Having lived it in previous races, I knew what they were going through and  I was wondering when my wall would come. The muscles in my legs started tightening around mile 24. From quads to calfs, my output began to diminish, but breaking the 3hr 30 minute mark was still in my sights.  I kept trying to do the math in my head, “Only 2 miles to go and I have 17 minutes till the 3:30 mark, thats like……… 8.5minutes/mile. I’ve got this”! I kept picturing 3:20 something in my head. My legs felt like dead weight at this point, and the last mile seemed to take longer than all of the previous miles combined…Until I saw the finish line 3:30:and some seconds!  I kicked hard.  I wanted that damn clock to stop inside 3:30!

My Kick:

Its all arms at this point.

As I crossed the finish line, I saw the clock change to 3:31:something. Oh well, I still shaved over 10 minutes off of my previous PR.  I was happy with my time, and even happier with my performance.  I had fun, and more importantly, I gained confidence.  26.2 miles had broken me before, but I just conquered it slightly hungover and in less than ideal weather conditions.  Now I know what I need to do to keep that time down and eventually reach my goal of Sub 3 hours.  Rock N Roll New Orleans was a success and it was time to celebrate. What better place to celebrate finishing my 3rd Marathon than Bourbon Street on Super Bowl Sunday?

Big thanks to Brooks Fanatics for the free entry, The Adventurer Bear Owings for the hotel room, and the rest of my friends and family for their never ending support and encouragement every day! I couldn’t do it without you! Next up, the Columbia Marathon on March 8th.  What, you didn’t think I was just going to party for the month of February and lose my Ethiopian physique did you? I have goals man!

Happy Running,

-Michael

Brooks Silver Bullet Jacket ii

Does better running gear necessarily make you a better runner?  Maybe, maybe not….. What it does do is make you a more accountable runner. It keeps you honest.  This is especially true on a day like today, where most of the nation is experiencing freezing temperatures, bitter winds, and less than ideal running conditions.  How many times have you taken a rest day just because it was too cold and you didn’t feel like running?  That use to happen to me…until I found the Brooks Silver Bullet Jacket II.  Now I have no excuses for not running in these polar conditions.

–   “Thanks Silver Bullet Jacket!”

The jacket is loaded with warm features.  The most important being the aluminum membrane material that it is made of. This extremely thin, light-weight membrane traps the warmth that you’re body creates on the run.  This means you don’t have to wear as many layers under the jacket.  Not only is it water resistant, it slices through wind like the lead duck in a Flying V….

The update also includes a hood that easily folds into the collar of the jacket and thumb hole wrist warmers.  Didn’t I say this jacket is water resistant? Water literally beads off the surface of the jacket so you stay warm and dry.  There’s also plenty of pocket space in the front including an inside cellphone pocket positioned in front of the abdomen to reduce bouncing.  Super light, WARM, water resistant and fitted…..What more can I say?  This jacket truly is that all-in-one piece of cold weather gear that every outdoor enthusiast should own.

You’re probably thinking, “Yeah it’s great Michael, but just how expensive is this jacket Michael?”   Well, originally priced at $170 at brooksrunning.com, this jacket can now be yours for the extremely low price of only $110! That’s right folks, $110 bucks….But wait! Call now and you’ll receive a second jacket for the low price of just kidding…. Seriously though, go buy one right now, its worth it.

Silver Bullet Jacket ii

Stay warm my friends!

-Michael

Brooks Pure Cadence 3 Review

On October 1st, 2011, exactly one week before my first Marathon, I received my first pair of Brooks Pure Cadence.  I took the shoe on an 8 mile test/taper run and new that I’d be crossing the finish line in it.  Now here we are, three years down the road and and there is a 3rd edition of the Brooks Pure Cadence.  

 

I received the pair pictured above in early December 2013 and have already put about 70 miles on them.  The first thing I noticed upon receiving them was that the upper material had changed from the the previous two models.  It seems to be lighter and softer on the roof of the toe box but reinforced with a more durable piece around outside toe area.  Another noticeable change is the the burrito wrapped tongue.  The Pure Cadence 2 had a one-piece overlay that wrapped from the outside of the foot inward.  The Pure Cadence 3 wraps from the inside of the foot outward as shown below.  The new wrap is designed to hug the arch much better than the previous model.  This design has been used for years in soccer cleats and gives adaptable support to the arch of your foot without being overly aggressive.

(Pure Cadence 3 pictured on the left)

Another noticeable change in the upper is the lacing system.  As you can see below, the Pure Cadence 3 seems to have wider eyelet spacing toward the toe box.  Also, the lacing system has the anatomical curve like the previous model, but is more centered due to the wider eyelet spacing.  I also noticed that the NAV band that wraps over the instep is made of a different elastic material than the previous models.  It is made of a thin layer of rubber where the previous models were made from elastic cloth.  When running I don’t notice the NAV Band in either model but it does give me a sense of security around that area of the foot.

(Pure Cadence 2 on the left, Pure Cadence 3 on the right)

Most differences in between these models are found in the upper material. The soles of these shoes almost feel identical.  The Pure Cadence 3 is still made with Brooks’ BioMoGo DNA blended sole.  This blended foam is really what separates the Pure Project shoes from others in the minimal categories.  The responsiveness, cushioning, and durability is truly unmatched in shoes weighing a similar 9-10 oz.  the 4 mm offset makes this shoe very appealing to all types of runners including heel strikers. Most minimal shoes encourage a Mid-forefoot landing but this shoe can handle it all.  I feel that the Brooks Ideal Heel is still one of the most beneficial new technologies introduced in recent years.  For those of you that don’t know what that is, Brooks shaved the back of the heel off of the Pure Project shoes to give it a more anatomically correct design.  This forces the point of impact to occur under the heel rather than behind it like in traditional running shoes.  The tread on the outsole is still an excellent road tread and the grip works great on wet surfaces.  

       

Notice that the tread pattern is slightly different on the Pure Cadence 3 in that they added a stability pod on under the arch of the foot to compliment the one on the outside.  This has been added for further stability through the gait cycle. Although I usually land on my forefoot, I don’t really notice the pod while running but can slightly feel it while walking.  My arch is moderate to high and the Pure Cadence has always been a great fitting shoe for me right out of the box.  It is marketed as a stability shoe and is designed to combat over-pronation, however, I am a neutral runner that lands on my forefoot and really just love the way this shoe fits my foot.  It hugs my arch perfectly and I was pleasantly surprised that the new version fits a little better than the previous models.  

One thing I’d really like to highlight about this shoe is that I’ve never had to break in a pair of Pure Cadences and this one proves to have the same ability.  The material is soft but durable, adaptable, and light.  After wearing all three versions of this shoe I can positively say that this is the best fitting shoe of the three generations.  I also think it is the best looking.  The Pure Cadence 3 updates with fresh colors and features that are still unrivaled!  If you’re looking for a shoe that is light and can go the distance, look no further. The Pure Cadence 3 can handle it all.

 

-Michael