Summer Running and a Shoe Update!

Summer running:
You know what's fun about summer running? That moment when you realize, halfway into the hottest month of the year, that you're finally acclimating! (Can you ever say, "I've acclimated" or is it an ongoing process with no definitive end?)

This weekend, I woke up Sunday at 6am and checked the weather: 79 degrees with 75% humidity. I contemplated skipping the run - 79F that early just seemed SO painful. But when I stepped outside, I was like, "Oh, this isn't so bad at all!"

Feeling strong and sweaty post-run!

And then I commenced to run at a fairly speedy pace without feeling like I was putting in too much effort or really huffing and puffing. I hardly felt I was sweating or working hard at all!

Sunday's splits.

Of course, after the run I realized I was completely soaked, but I felt totally great. I guess maybe I'm finally acclimated in a way I never have been before, because I've never experienced this level of comfort on outdoor runs in the height of summer.

Shoes:

I finally found them!

Soooo preeeeetty! They're a new color scheme for me, and I'm loving it!

Friday and Sunday's runs were both in my new shoes, and they are absolutely the ones I'm keeping. Some shoes I tried were automatic no's - like the Saucony Hurricane (which I wanted to love but knew the moment I put it on that it wasn't for me) - and some I vacillated between yes and no. But these Brooks Ravenna? Within minutes of my first run, I could tell a difference in the feel and feedback of the shoe, and yet it felt like they weren't even there.

They just felt like I didn't need to think about them at all. I could put them on and forget about them, which is exactly what I've been looking for.

Now, after months of stress and searching for new shoes, I'm almost glad for the changes in the Kayano because the Ravenna are so much more what I've been looking for - springier, less bulky, and lighter-feeling. (Although they're not light, they're 1.2oz lighter than the Kayano.) I may never have tried them out if not for the awful updates on the Kayano!

Remember this post? Oh, the drama!

I think going with the "energize" option (as opposed to "cushion") was also exactly right for where my running is these days. I ended up ordering both the Transcend and the Ravenna, but the Transcend felt clunky when I tried them; I never even took them on a run before returning them!

"Training":
My runs this week also gave me a little confidence boost! I've been worried about my speed work not paying off in longer distances (and by "longer" these days I mean the 10k), but the easy effort of my distance runs this week, paired with the paces of my repeats, have given me confidence for my 10k goal race in October.

Last week's runs via DailyMile.

I plan to add tempo runs more consistently into my training toward the end of the August, and I also plan to add a fourth weekly run into my schedule soon.

To be honest, I'm enjoying my working schedule, but I miss running, and I'd like to see higher weekly mileage, so I feel it's time to run more! Is it weird to miss something I'm doing consistently multiple times a week? I'm sure you guys know what I mean!

This post has been brought to you by the TOTR linkup!

Have you been acclimating well to the summer heat?
How many days a week do you like to run?
When you're not following a training plan, how do you make sure to get the most out of your speed work?

ABK

Weekly Workouts 7/11-7/17

I traveled a LOT this week, but still managed to be fairly successful with my workouts. I'm feeling good about overcoming circumstances and making fitness a priority on the road!

Monday: After traveling up to Clearwater to visit with my Sub30 buddy Melanie, I settled in at my parents' house for training this week and got in a couple quick ab circuits. Please disregard the stupid video titles. I really like Blogilates but I don't like that her older video titles really play on the old "bikini body" tropes.

I did 10 burpees before and 10 after, too.

Tuesday: After training from 9-12, it was looking very stormy at my parents'. They live on a loop that's 2/3 of a mile, so when it was clear that it wasn't going to storm but was going to stay kind of dark and cool, I went out for an earlier run than usual.

True story: 86 and 65% humidity felt downright cool at first. It's crazy how humidity can make such a difference.

As you can see by my splits, toward the end the clouds began to blow over and it started to heat up again and I began to feel queasy. I didn't want to run the last lap but I convinced myself to do it, even if it was slow. I know I also suffered because I've never done these longer repeats so fast; I'm usually in the 8:30s the entire time. The first three splits were closer to how fast I run 1/3 of a mile at the park. Between laps I did bicep curls, presses, and pushups.

Wednesday & Thursday: I rested both days. Wednesday my right hip flexor really hurt so I planned to rest, and Thursday we ended up having a late dinner with friends and driving all over Sarasota to visit Matt's old ceramics teacher and nana. I was okay with taking two rest days in a row because traveling allows leads to special circumstances.

Friday: I got up before work and ran 5 miles because I knew I wouldn't have a chance in the afternoon - more travel! I thought I'd only have time for four miles, but my new shoes and cooler weather (75F with 67% humidity!) meant I ran fast enough to fit in five!

I am super excited for my new Ravennas. I'll post about them after I've tried them out more, but I think I've finally got a good replacement for the Kayanos!

Saturday: We drove up to St. Augustine Friday night to spend the weekend at our friends' beach house. I was so excited to do a quick circuit in the morning on the balcony to our bedroom. It was hot and mildly breezy; I did about 15 minutes of core and upper-body stuff.

Sunday: I haven't really been motivated to run long at all since it's gotten so much hotter in July. Luckily, that's fine because I'm not training for anything long and this is my year for short distance! I got up and ran 4 miles at 9:38 pace (and negative splits the entire time) and felt pretty good about it all, especially because after a day hanging out with friends, it was hard to muster the energy to get out of bed.

But it was worth it, because this greeted me as I stepped outside! I ran on the Coastal Highway rather than on the beach because the tide was too high, but it was still a lovely run and a gorgeous view!

How was your week?
Do you like running on the beach?
Where do you go for weekend getaways? 

ABK

Shoe Conundrum

A few weeks ago, I bought the Asics Kayano 22s for the first time. I've been in my 21s for awhile, and the 20s before that. I've never had a problem, and I seriously thought the Kayano was my sole-mate. Unfortunately, as I've written here recently, the 22s are weirdly long and narrow in the toe-box.

After some run tests and returns, I've been in the Kayano 22 (wide) for a couple weeks now. I have about 20 miles on the shoe, and it's officially going back to the store. I think the extra width makes my forefoot slip around too much, which is creating hot spots on balls of my feet. Also, I have to lace them too snuggly and that ends up hurting the top of my foot.

I wish it weren't so, but it's back to the store for you pretties.

I've been changing my gait to deal with the discomfort, so now my calves and shins have been tight. I feel clunky during my runs.

All this means I'm officially on the hunt for new running shoes. I overpronate as I tire out on long runs, so I need a little stability and I like a soft, cushioned shoe, but lately I've also wanted to try something more responsive and bouncier.

I used the Brooks shoe-finder after I already kind of knew which shoes I was interested in, and it confirmed my thought process...but depending on if I chose "cushion" or "energize", it gives me both options I'm interested in! So now I'm still stuck!

I've narrowed my search down to the Brooks Ravenna and the Brooks Transcend. These shoes are both support shoes; the main difference is in how they offer support and in the amount of cushion.

My "energize" option.

The Ravenna is more responsive (bouncier), which I want to try out, but the Transcend is definitely softer and more cushiony. Once I eventually go back to marathon training, I think I'll want that cushion, but do I need it for distances up to the half marathon?

My "cushion" option.

The other sticking point is that the Transcend sounds ideal - it has the cushion I prefer and slightly stronger support - but I've read it's a bit wide. I don't want to deal with the same sliding/rubbing issue I'm having with the wide Kayano 22s!

The Transcend's specs.

To further confuse me, the Ravenna's heel-toe offset is more similar to the Kayano 21; I'm not a big fan of low-drop shoes (not that the Transcend is low).

The Ravenna's specs.

I know running shoes come down to personal preference, but I wish someone could just pick for me! And I wish my local stores had these two shoes in stock so I could try them on, but I'll have to order them first and then return what I don't want.

Shoe hunting is so frustrating. I hate that it takes a few runs before you really know if a shoe is working for you or not. If only there were an easier way. Wouldn't it be nice if running shoe manufacturers would stop drastically updating shoes that are perfectly awesome the way they are?

Any advice on picking between these two shoes?
What are your thoughts on cushion vs. responsiveness?

ABK

The Next Big Thing

I'm beginning to recognize that I have a tendency to know I love something, but be super tempted to try the "next big thing".
I am a notoriously bad running shoe buyer. As much as I know what I love, I really hate the price tag. Asics Kayano, which are my all-time favorite running shoe, are $150 a pop.

Other things working against them, according to today's running rhetoric: they're not very "trendy". They don't promote midfoot strike! They don't simulate barefoot running! They're the opposite of minimalist and weigh 9oz!

When I went to get new shoes before leaving for California, I went in with a list of shoes to try, some that were a step more toward minimalist but still considered support shoes.

Except for the Trance, which is even bulkier than the Kayano.

The bottom line, I think, is that I like the feeling of having cushioned feet! Plus, I'm looking at 26.2 miles. I don't think switching to a less-cushioned shoe is really smart at this point.

So, "next big thing" set aside for now, I went for the "other big thing", this time by switching up brands.

Like I said, the Kayano was heavenly. But after 230 miles, I began to get twinges in my legs that I associate with worn-out shoes. I run primarily on concrete, and I know this wears shoes out really quickly, but I was really disappointed in just how quickly.

I bought some new inserts and these helped for awhile, but now that my shoes are well over the 300-mile mark, it was time for new shoes. Preferably, new shoes that last longer.

These purple Brooks Adrenaline saw me to my latest 5k PR, but were just too small in the toe.

I decided to look at Brooks. They're being touted as the ultimate in running shoes right now. They apparently last a really long time (if you're not wearing the PureCadence or PureFlows, which have a more minimalist sole). They're comparable in price and feel to Asics. Matt loves his. So I gave them a try.

Originally I tried an 8, because I wear an 8 in the Kayano. But I quickly realized there were too small. They were my "true" size. I like my running shoes extra roomy.

After California, I returned the first pair of Brooks Adrenalines for a half size up. (Fit2Run has a 30-day-return guarantee for club members...you can tear your shoes to shreds trying them out, and they'll take them back, no questions asked.)

The Brooks Adrenaline beside my beloved Asics Kayano. They're all-around a more narrow shoe.

Yesterday I did my first run in my new Brooks Adrenalines. (They didn't have purple in the 8.5, so I opted for lime green. I didn't want another pair of blue shoes.) I had to immediately change how these were laced; the tongue really bit into the top of my foot. But once I skipped the middle eyelet, as usual, they felt great.

Nice cushion and support in the arch.

 My feet felt cushioned but not weighed down. A run in new shoes really is the best thing ever.

I had some leg twinges, but I'm not sure if they were caused by traveling (8+ hours sitting) or what. Also, I felt extremely sick. Like, almost throwing up sick. I think the jet lag and lack of sleep were still getting to me, because I planned to do 5 miles and called it quits at 3.5.

Both shoes have great arch-support.

You know that lightheaded/overheated/cold sweat/nausea-coming-in-waves feeling? Yeah, not really a good thing to push through at a crowded gym.

I need to learn that sometimes what works for other runners just doesn't work for me. I like to feel comfortable, and I don't think my stride or gait is inefficient. So why change up what I know works?

Anyway, I'm excited to continue trying out the new shoes. I hope the Adrenaline can be my new go-to, match-made-in-heaven shoe!

What shoes do you swear by?
Are you a sucker for the "next big thing"?
Are you brand loyal when it comes to running clothes, shoes, and accessories?

ABK