New balance 411 all terrain product review

This year almost every single race i ran, i ran 2 laps at every ocr, (11 races, mostly spartans, mostly 5 mile max per lap) these shoes are awesome! They started at F.I.T. Challenge in april, all the way through panic in the dark in October. These shoes (with darn tough wool socks) have been incredibly comfortable all year! The grip on these are good, i had no issue with grip on any of the trails, rocks, ropes, walls or anything in between. You can also see that there is still plenty of tread on the bottom, the shoes are still in good order just dirty from racing. These shoes are great quality, no tearing or any issues, they are regular trail runners so drainage is not great, but the material is breathable so you can still run an ocr in the with no real worry. You can find them for around 50 bucks and they are great, they have enough cushioning in there that all the jumping around on the trails does not kill your feet, and trust me (the random guy you may have not met) i put some damage on these shoes, i can land hard off the top of a wall, or jumping rock to rock. And i did not track the mileage on these shoes but they lasted the 6 months and they were still in good shape at the end of the life span of the shoes. So if you are like me and do not have a huge shoe budget, and want a quality shoe these are a good choice! (I spend my money on the races i can not volunteer for) 

Bottom line if you want a good trail runner on a budget these shoes are a great choice

Yulefest c5k

One of my new favorite local race companies is cambridge5k. I did their Oktoberfest and it was great! Fun, great environment, plenty of cowbells, all you can eat and drink after the race, free bag check, so happy i found this company. On Thursday i went to bib pick up at the cambridgeside galleria, and they gave us a giant coupon book, and 3 stickers for parking validation. And we were right next to Santa. Race day was awesome, meeting friends pre race, hanging out was awesome, i even managed a new pr, guess the whole ultra training is paying off. I had not run a 5k since their Oktoberfest (insert date here) everything had been either hiit on Mondays with strength mixed in, long runs, or medium ones, i had a few quick runs, just a mile i ran so i did not louse speed. But i was focused on slower speed, and longer distance, so lets just say i had been nervous about my speed (that and i had not run much the week before or after the ultra, it was an easy one 2 days before, then monday nights hiit. Afterwards i was sore, and had a myofasha massage to fix my hips and legs that were just crazy off from all the trail running and training. So my concern felt warranted, but man i hit the ground running, and from the back of the corral. Just another example that too much worry does not help things at all. Train to your best abilities, listen to your body, rest is very important, as is recovery. Even though at times it felt like i was wasting time, maybe resting too much, have faith in yourself, it makes a world of difference.

Back to the race, so it was a 5 k, we did a loop in Cambridge, you could easily find street parking close by for free. There were many people dressed up in costume, first place was some guy dressed in a banana costume, (matching a lady who went as a monkey). Bag check is free! And pretty close by, then it was time for the after party. Plenty of different and random beer vendors, and unos was giving out deep dish pizza. They had pretzels as well, they are great, and core power was there (hell they are everywhere). They had a dance party, and prizes for best male and female dancers, as well as prizes for fastest overall and age group categories, and costumes. This race series is always a fun event, and i look forward to more from this series in the future! (i Dressed as Superman!)

Now the next puzzle i get to work on is how to properly treat "off season" it is in quotation marks because in New England we still have races in the snow, more about those as they get closer, like blizzard blast, and polar bear challenge. Their may be more on the horizon but keeping work happy, and giving my body a break in the slower race time is very important. I think i may try to focus on strength more in the winter, and finally get the hurc hoist at a spartan on my own next year. 

Until next time

Keep training

Stephen

(P.S. Photo Credit Cambridge Chronicle)

The tarc ultra

I dnf'd, first time i have done that, and i am kind of ok with it? My legs were not happy with me. My it band got very sore around mile 10, but i was already about 2 miles in to my second loop, and i was not hoping to turn around. I at least got my 2 laps, so my first journey into ultras did not go as planned. But i started real strong, just faster than i had planned. Most of my body wanted to keep moving, just need to work on the hip flexors, it was supposed to rain all day, and be mid 40's but it was actually not really raining until the second loop that i ran, it was a small race, but an awesome time with awesome people, everybody was smiling and encouraging each other on course, and at aid stations. Some things i will keep in mind for next time: different pack, ( the looks i got for wearing my ruck bullet) i was told it was too heavy and Try not to be sick (luckily it was just a head cold). Also work on a race that is flatter, the constant rolling hills were asking to break those unprepared for  the millage. Even with all that happening, i will be back at it again next year. I can not stress how welcoming the environment is at tarc, they are awesome people i only knew a few people there, but everybody was super nice, and helpful, which as i was shivering was awesome when one of the volunteers wrapped a blanket around me! the idea of everybody chipping in with snacks is awesome, they had hot soup, (that really hit the spot!) i do not know if this is the world of all ultras, or just tarc, but it was an awesome experience. not completing the race was a big fear, and day of, seeing how warm people were, it did not feel like a horrible loss, but like i tried my best, and that is what mattered! it really helped as i was getting ready to drop out, to see a woman, who just walked right up, and was just like "i'm dnfing" so casual, at that moment i realized i was just making myself anxious over nothing, it took away all the stress, and i felt good with my achievement.

I did record my first lap, probably too fast to maintain for 32 miles, considering how hard this course is, i was very happy at the speed, it was about a minute or two off my pr for this loop.

Oh yeah, almost forgot this year, they did a great job with marking the course, i heard people got lost last year, and this year it was really hard to get lost! so it was awesome to see not only a great cmmunity, but also they made improvements over previous years!

Overall, i had a blast, and will use this to add to my determination to do better in the future!
Until next time
Keep training
Stephen

Group effort (training, and racing w/ battle buddies)

I can not stress enough the importance of group workouts. To me it has made a world of difference! To have people that hold you accountable, rivalry that form so you push each other constantly. It is a great support, because when you are tired somebody else is catching a second (or third or fourth) wind, which can help push you more. Weather it is running or strength training. I joined up with my teammates (New England Spahtens and our facebook page is Here) at the beginning of the year, (lost some hours at work, but kept my goal in mind) and quickly became friends, we still meet every week, all are welcome, and every week we work our butts off and laugh really hard as well. I would not change this routine for anything. Along the way i have made more friends, and train with as many people as i can fit into my schedule! I will always join in on a group workout if i can work on my work schedule. Plus in a group you can help each other with forum, and brainstorming new ideas, and when you get to do body weight with other people it is awesome! I have found out that even when there are several people that are faster, and stronger you can still push them, as you push yourself. I naturally like to be competitive a little, and push myself to be better than i was before, and when you get a few people together that think like that, you will be making strides in your training, more than you may realize in fact (i never notice my improvements until somebody points it out, or i look way back) There is also a term used in my team (and elsewhere i am sure) called battle buddy, usually in reference to somebody that will run a race with you and help each other out. It is a rewarding thing, i love to go all out and go for time, but after that i will easily do a fun lap, and help people through the course, it is also an amazing experience, smiling and laughing all through the course!

They say if you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far go with a group. I could not agree more, except they also help with my speed.

Untill next time
Keep training
Stephen

Garmin forerunner 10 review

I bought this watch over the summer (early July) based on the recommendation from some friends, internet research, and talks with sales reps. Firstly i was told, (by various people) to stick with a gps branded watch, Which makes sense because they have been working with gps for a wile. I am also tight on funds so i wanted the most economical watch, that did not skimp on usage. I have been using my watch for every run, and race for the summer and fall. This watch connects very fast, the only thing you need to do is not be next to a building, which is common for gps. And the more you stay in one place the quicker it reconnects, runs in front of my house seriously take a few seconds to connect, that is all. Even at races that i have not been to it connects real quick (from what i hear even faster than some of the fancier gps watches). This is a more basic watch, but it does it great! It holds mile, 5k, 10k, 1/2, marathon, and longest run records.
The only draw back i can see is that the battery lasts 5 hours from full charge, but for the price that is a minor gripe. You can use it as an everyday watch (which i have started to). It is also water proof, and for that natter mud proof. I have taken it to many ocrs and it has recorded them with no issue. They also have a good web cite that store all of your runs. You can customize the watch display to show speed, distance, time run, and time. Their is a graph that shows how fast you ran (in min per mile) over the distance, and you can lay it out over a map with terrain or streets kind of like Google maps.

Bottom line, if you are looking to record your runs, and do not have a lot of money to spend, with more gadgets than the average runner needs, buy this watch!

Goruck 10l Bullet Review

I got the Goruck 10l bullet in April, i needed a water bag that had good storage, and could take a beating. I have used it for a Goruck Light, a spartan super in new jersey, the spartan beast in Vermont, o2x at sugarbush, shale hill and plenty of training runs. This company is committed to making a high quality product. The lifetime grantee, and the fact that they fix and send it back if you somehow manage to break the military grade product is great. I know of people that bought their hat, and it shredded after years of use, and they sent a new one in the mail, no hoops to jump through. But back to the bag, this thing held the 4 bricks needed for the light with no real issue, it also held the water and plenty of snacks. I wore it wile rucking Washington, it was about 30 lbs, and considering it was 30 on my back the whole day, it was pretty comfortable, just make sure to wear a shirt, or you will get a nice mark on your back. In new Jersey i was testing how it would feel in a race, and it was great held up fine. It gives you the confidence to throw it wile doing the barbwire crawl, knowing i could throw it as far as i could, then roll and repeat until you are threw. Other than that i did not need to take it off and it was comfy, and i never needed to stop to get a drink of water, and i knew i was comfy for the beast when it was a requirement. O2X (is a great race, if you get the chance do it) i used it to carry extra clothes (hoodie and hat) that mountain was 18 at the top, so happy for extra layers that day, i was not ready for that cold yet, that is when i decided to get the under Armour (great move, so happy, see last review) and with killington it was great, i was able to put more food than i would need for the world championships, and more salt and mustard than i would need as well. The bladder has a cover over the mouth opening, which is great when it is dragging through mud and the like under the barbwire crawls. It has a drain hole so when you hop out of the water you are not drenched again with the water trapped by the bag. The water drops down and there are a few pockets that do not get wet. When i was at shale hill, i got to the top of an obstacle and did not want to crawl over a cargo net that was small, with the bag on so i threw it down 2 stories, and no issues. This is a high quality bag, that you have to try to break, and the good news is they fix it for you, and in most cases they do it for free ( I have not had to send anything back but i hear great things from people that have done more than i would, like high endurance races and other ways that could destroy most gear) so i have faith.

Bottom line it is worth the price, you will mot need to buy another bag. Only draw back is you have to buy the bladder, chest strap, the strap that holds the tube to the bladder. So you only get the bag, none of the stuff that  camel gives you with the purchase, but this bag will outlast camel, and you can do way more events. So if you want indestructible bag, buy this one!

Under Armour Cold Gear Infrafed Review

I bought these under armour tights and mock neck shirt for the Spartan Race Vermont Beast. I have had several chances to run in them and i am so happy that i did. They make running in the cold so much easier. I have discovered that the do great until you hit low 20's. They did wonderful for me in VT, and the weather in Vermont in September is not warm, the week before it was 18 degrees on top of a mountain 30 min away from killington. Killington was 55 degrees, i had to rool up my sleeves, it was just barley out of the max range for these guys, when i was under the trees they were great in direct sunlight a ittle warm. But my body does run a little high temp wise. On This past Saturday i ran the Fenway Spartan Sprint, and it was in the low 30's nothing like starting in the 7:15 wave and it is below freezing! this outfit works wonders! wile waiting i needed more layers, but when moving i was in a comfortable temperature, i did not notice the cold! I spent the whole day running around the stadium, my first wave was about around 7:25 am, through 5 laps, the final starting at about 2:30, and the only time i was cold was when i stopped moving. I also put a hat on for the later waves, and gloves. I joined The November Project for a run in Harvard Stadium, it was 22 degrees, and i had on a running Jacket, hast and gloves, my legs were slightly under temp, but if i had shorts on i would have been fine, i also had on wool socks (darn tough brand) boot cut so it covered the bottom of my legs. but for 30's and up these are perfect as is. anything lower and then they need another layer, but they are so close to the skin, they are not compression so they are looser, but still close enough that you can easily layer with these with ease. Bottom line if you want to run in the cold, real cold, these are highly useful, and you should buy them!




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Fenway Spartan Sprint 2014

This past weekend was the Fenway Spartan Sprint, this was my second race i did last year. I say this because, it lets me realize the growth i have made in a year, with the right friends, team, training buddies, and support group. Last year i think the race was longer, and my time was 1:0052.4. I was 3201 overall, 2372 in gender 484 in age group (bib #10544) i do not know the overall number of people, but i bet it was well over 10k when i finished around 1pm it was 9535 people. This year i stepped up to elite! it was a blast, placed 74 in elite, 66 in gender, and 21 in age group (bib# 7766) My only gripe about the race was that there were way more people walking in elite than should have been for a 2 mile race. I was also able to get in 5 laps, just a blast all around! i can feel the soreness from what i did, but I am happy that I was able accomplish my goal of 5 laps, and as always making new friends. i hope to keep making strides in my training, and this gives me such high hopes for the future, I wonder what next season will bring to me. All the cool new training devices, techniques, races, who knows, but that is what makes life so fun.

Until next time
Keep Training
Stephen

Fun Runs, and Ultra Training

So this past saturday (nov. 1st) i ran a local ocr, Panic in the Dark, it is a zombie run the day after Halloween, it was a blast. It was quick for me, but i got to see a bunch of cool zombies all through the course and some friends all through the course. They really had a good make up crew, and the people that were playing the zombies really enjoyed themselves, you could tell. after racing that course i am looking forward to the next race they put on, blizzard blast, one of the many cool races to take place in the winter in new england!

Then Today was interesting for me, i have been running through the fels reservation twice a week for about a month now in preparation for my ultra marathon (T.A.R.C. at the fels) i was talked into signing up for this race that will take place on dec. 6th by a friend, who explained no pressure, just sign up and see what you can do, since then i am determined to finish, i will have from sunrise to sunset to do my 32 miles. I am lucky because i have 2 friends that live 5 min from the reservation, that i run with each of hem once a week. 8 mile loop (unless we get lost and add mileage) on top of my own running, and other training. my friends are not new to the ultra scene, i am, and am very thankful that i can lean on them for advice and runs. I mostly run in new balance trail runners that i find on sale, as i cannot afford many other options. i will be sure to post a review on the ones i am using for my runs, after the ultra, and the pair that got me through all the races this year. In the time that i have been training i have been worried that i would not make it across the finish line for my ultra, as it is, i do not know if i will be able to, but i know i will try my best! and i will have plenty of friends running that day that i will be able to share smiles and hugs with that will put me in a good place. i got distracted for a little bit there. Today was an interesting, (but good day) because before work i ran one of the loops around the fels twice, and then in circles until i reached a full 12 miles, because it is better than stopping at 11.4 miles. This made work very interesting, left knee pretty sore, legs sore, hip flexors pretty banged up too. And just in case you are wondering, yes i did stretch a bunch, but my body is still getting use to the distances i am making it do, and in all honesty i am probably not doing the mileage increase correct, but overall for the mileage i am putting down, i fell pretty good about my development. That is one of those things i need to remind myself about as time goes on, and i explore this world of fitness and how little i know, and how much i want to know. Luckily it feels like a natural progression, into a great mystery of a future where i will keep making the challenges harder as i go along my path, nudged by some of my bad ass friends that tell me all about the next thing to keep on my radar.

*Important note to add, untill i was nudged to sign up for my ultra i had never run more than a 10k distance, i can not compare an ocr to a trail run, and just today with the 12 is my new record for just running. and had no intention of doing a marathon either. now however i will be doing a marathon next year amongst many other awesome things

Until next time
Keep training
Stephen

A little About me

I Started my Journey in Obstacle Course Racing in august (2013) last year at the amesbury, ma spartan sprint, my friend told me about it and i ran it with him. My second was the Fenway sprint. i fell in love with everything that there is about ocrs, the running ( i did not start running until i wanted to improve my times on the course) the obstacles, the environment, my team (New England Spahtens) This year i will have done 20 events (a Goruck, 2 road races, and 16 ocrs, and an ultra marathon trail race) I am going to try and do more next year, i have a full blown addiction to outdoor racing and it will be getting progressively difficult with future races and events next year. I have made some awesome friends through, and we encourage each other to keep pushing on to bigger and better. so as time gets closer to next season, i start pondering what i can do, i have quite a tall order for next year and i only have a few things planned, my marathon, my half marathon, a ragnar relay, the endurance society, and a whole lot of race local events, another trifecta, (or 2 if they are close enough) With all of these races, and many more, i hope i do not get in too much trouble for doing all these races next year. and that i can afford them all of course! I also laid out a few running goals in my last post and a few strength goals I will post one with an updated goal list in the future full of all kinds of crazy things,and i hope to achieve them all, and will post progress with them as well! One of my biggest problems is figuring out rest days, and realizing that all is fine, calming the inner demons (training for an ultra bring out a bunch of fears when i have only run 10 miles straight) but with time comes experience, and the knowledge that you can only do what you think is best, and have faith that it will all work out! my biggest fear right now is a dnf for my ultra, but i have faith that i will cros the finish line and do the 32 miles in what i hear that the cut off time is 10 hrs.

Untill next time
Keep training
Stephen

An introduction, and some goals

Hello,

I am bran new to this world of blogging (so bare with me). Last year i discovered a love for ocrs i did 2 spartan races, one in amesbury mass, and the other in fenway. This year i joined a running team and  i am on schedule to run 20 events this year (19 races, mostly ocrs a few 5k road races, an ultra, and a goruck) next year i plan to run more, and to compete at higher levels. A few of my goals are: sub 6 min mile, sub 20 5k, an hour and 10 min 10 mile time. My race goals are an ultra marathon, marathon, half marathon. Plenty of obstacle course races, probably a few 5k road races, some trail races. Handstand push up, behind the back handclap push up, plenty more body weight strength training goals. The point is i am planning on a bunch of stuff next year, and this will be where i document them from now on. I hope to inspire others to do more, and exchange advice on training and gear and food. This is just the beginning of a wonderful ride, i hope to look back and see my growth in the following months.

Thanks for reading
Stephen