New Balance, Hierro, version 3, trail running shoe review

I have been impressed with this trail running shoe from New Balance. I’ve worn these for the past four months. 

They look and feel great. They do however miss being the perfect shoe for me with a few items. 

Yes, they have a great grippy VIBRAM outsole with their “Fresh Foam” mid-sole. Not really sure how long with “Fresh Foam” feel will last. 

The outer sole is not wearing down, even with running on super rough and jagged trails and plenty of road miles wearing them. The color I chose was sweet. The super bright, eye popping Hi-Lite with Black & Bright Cherry. I wear the standard width and a size 14. 

The sold is pretty durable even on the toughest of trails I have run them on. I like how the shoe is  breathable with the small vents on the front of the shoe. it keeps my toes ventilated, yet protected from the trail dirt and dust. 

The shoe fits great, even having a difficult time tying them up as tight as I like them.  They are a little difficult to put on with the “dust stopping” ankle collar. 

After putting them on I have to go back and adjust the ankle collar on the outside near my sock. I wish they were one more set of lace holes near the top, near the ankle collar. Having this extra set of lace holes would help really tighten down some of the slipping my foot does while inside the shoe. I have never suffered from any blisters or toe issues while wearing the shoe. Being a heavier runner, I like the weight and protection of this shoe. 

I can’t wait to see if they produce a version 4, if that’s in the making. I like the shoe even with some of the fitting issues. For any trail runner, I would recommend this shoe. 

New Balance, Hierro, version 3, trail running shoe with me on the 14 mile San Tan Xterra trail run. 

2018 GIFT GIVING GUIDE

(NOTE: Check their websites as many are offering BLACK FRIDAY specials)


It's officially after Thanksgiving, so now it's time to shop for your athlete, runner, swimmer, cycling, or mountain biking friends. I have compiled a list of gift giving options that any of them would love to find wrapped as a gift for them. 

Some of these ideas can be a gift themselves or maybe a small stocking stuffer. 

For starters, participate in Small Business Saturday by supporting your local running store. If not to purchase that pair of running shoes they have been wanting, buy them a gift certificate. Let your athlete return after the holidays and pick out their own pair of shoes or favorite running apparel. 

Visit 

Queen Creek Running Company

KINeSYS sunscreen is a favorite of mine. With an SPF of 30 and water resistant for up to 80 minutes in the sun you can't go wrong. The great smelling, Mango scent, and alcohol and oil free clear spray will help protect anyone enjoying the outdoors hiking, fishing, training or just relaxing by the pool. 

KINeSYS

Keep them on track with the Suunto Spartan WHR. This sweet GPS with optical heart rate monitor will gather workout data that can later be looked at and tracked.

The Orange Mud Hydra Quiver is perfect for keeping anyone hydrated out hiking or running. This great hydration pack can hold more than just a bottle, it can hold numerous items including gels, nutrition, cellphone, keys and much more. Check out their site for other hydration carrying options. 

ORANGE MUD

Maybe another pack from Orange Mud might be a better fit. With the bumps and dips along the mountain bike trail, maybe a two liter bladder holding Endurance Pack (version 2.0). There is 4 liters of cargo space. 

It's perfect for running or mountain biking. There is plenty of room for nutrition and large pockets up front for cell phones, nutrition or adding more hydration options.  

The pack high on your back and stays put, after proper adjustment. Not sloshing around like a backpack while riding a mountain bike. 

It comes with the 2 liter HydraPak with drinking hose.  

Or maybe Orange Mud's transition wrap! This too is on their website.  Perfect for bringing to the pool and using to dry off. The newest version 2.0, of this is now softer than ever. Pick your athletes favorite color out of the ten they produce the transition wrap in. 

Use it to protect your car seat inside your vehicle, or even use it to wrap around yourself to quickly change out of wet swim trunks, without fear of getting a ticket for indecent exposure.  

Cat-Ears will keep your cyclist safe by letting them hear others around them while riding. These simply strap onto any helmet's straps, placing them in front of the ear.  Air Streamz by Cat-Ears
are proven and very affective. For winter riding outdoors they also produce a great ear warmer/sound reducing Ear Cover, check them out and order them in a combo pack.

Cat Ears

Ear Cover, perfect for winter riding outdoors! 

THESE ARE THE BOMB at keeping your head warm, yet not over heating like a skull cap would in winter riding. They still allow your head to vent your heat. 

Udderly Smooth body and foot cream will keep your runners feet and skin smooth or buy them a jar of Udderly Smooth's Chamois cream to keep them chafe free on long training rides and races.  Check out there full line of products. 

UDDERLY SMOOTH

Give them a little squeeze year round with RecoFit's calf compression sleeves. These are great for runner or cyclists. Recovery has never been so easy. 

How about the very innovative See.Sense smart front and/or tail lights.

Keep your athlete safer by getting them these extremely bright and driver noticing cycling lights. 

The See.Sense 2.0, the ICON or mid 2018 the release of

 the

 ACE.  Intelligent 

technology, motion gesture control smart tail lights with

 CREE LED’s provides a 180 degree light pattern. 

Check them out at 

SEE.SENSE

The See.Sense 2.0

 The See.Sense ICON, connect to your smartphone with a blue-tooth app. 

Get Arctic Cool wear for the golfer, runner or any athlete in your friends or family circle. Sure there is the popular crew workout shirt, but they also have polo shirts and tank tops made with the same material and various colors to choose from. Keep them cool during their workouts. I know it may be cold outside, right now where you are, or even snowing, but the summer heat is guaranteed to be back. 

ARCTIC COOL

And last but not least, maybe for the runner your shopping for that suffers from plantar fasciitis. The compression cold therapy decreases recovery time for athletes. Use it on your knees, ankles, neck or back.  Help joints recover fast with Frozen Peaz!  Theses can be used or either hot or cold therapy. Simply keep them in your freezer and apply after a tough workout. 

How about keeping their muscles loose and workout tight knots. The better than you typical foam roller, are Rumble Rollers. Check out the Rumble Roller itself or the new Rumble Roller GATOR and even the Rumble Roller BEASTIE.  All sweet products from Rumble Roller. 

RUMBLE ROLLER

and even Olbas essential oil to use as Aromatherapy or massage oil. It works as both. 

OLBAS OIL

The Spruzza 

Keeping your cyclist cool with the Spruzza mist system. Forget dumping water over your head to cool off next summer in the heat.  Simply mist yourself.  It sprays your head, neck and chest to keep you cool while riding. Don't believe me? Check out my blog when I first tried it out. 

Spruzza Mist, trying it out and YES it works

So there you have it.  A ton of great gift options for the athlete in your family or your group of friends.  

Xterra trail run at San Tan Mountain Regional Park Race Report

I was actually able to get a good nights sleep, the night before. In my head I just kept my thoughts calm and acted like I was just going into another long training run in the morning. 

I arrived early, as I still needed to pick up my packet/number/shirt etc. 

It was cold outside for me, so I dressed in a long sleeved shirt and warm up pants. I also had a coat on while walking around and stretching. 

While walking around I started drinking my pre-workout supplement about a half-hour before the start. 

I knew the weather was suppose to stay cooler, but I wanted to make sure I didn't over dress. So I opted for just my Arctic Cool shirt and my running shorts. I stashed two energy bars and two gels in my Orange Mud hydra-quiver along with a water bottle with some electrolytes in it. 

I planned on using what I was carrying for emergency purposes, and using the water and other nutrition from the four aid stations they were going to have on the course. 

The race started on time. It took me about two miles to warm up and get in a groove. There was one incline during the portion of the trail, and I kept running a pretty good pace up it. 

The next part I would encounter on the trail, was the part I got lost on during a training run, two weeks prior. The course was marked really well with ground markers on stakes and tied in the branches of trees. This portion of the trail is mainly in a desert wash. This made for tough running, like in sand along a beach. There was a four mile stretch of this, at times, thick sand. 

Climbing up out of the wash, I knew the trail was going to be more single track and hard packed trail. 

I was feeling good and was monitoring my heart rate, to not go out to fast and blow up. 

My upper legs were feeling tired from the motion of having to pick them up so high from the sandy wash area. 

The rest of the trail after coming out of the wash, I knew what to expect elevation-wise. When to rest up and walk if needed and when the down hill run could help me gain some time. On the backside of Dynamite trail, I know is a good 1.5 mile downhill before heading up the Goldmine trail. The saddle at Goldmine trail hits at about mile 12.5 and a good downhill from there to the finish line. 

I ended up fast walking up Goldmine trail. I was happy after getting to the top, knowing I was within two miles from the finish. 

I beat my person goal by almost 20 minutes to finish the 14 mile trail run. 

I plan on taking some time off, but know where I need to begin to get faster and improve myself overall for my cycling, mountain biking and running in 2019. 

I've totally switched

Leading up to this last mountain bike race, I swapped out to a set of new tires. In doing so, I also needed to add a tubeless sealant. I placed four ounces of Slime Tubeless Ready (STR) sealant in each tire. Beforehand, I shook the bottles up well. 

Of course I’m up for trying the newly released Slime Tubeless Ready (STR) sealant. They sent me a four ounce bottle to try out.  They claim it is suppose to stay liquid longer than others on the market. It’s work a try. They recommend between two and four ounces per mountain bike tire and one and a half to two ounces per road tire. 

I am now using a combination of Stan’s and Orange Seal.  This Slime sample will be interesting to test against the other two. 

Another key advantage with (STR) Sealant is that it’s able to withstand a wide range of temperatures and environmental variations. Whether cold winter temperatures or baking hot asphalt, the sealant remains unaffected. The (STR) Sealant is CO2 compatible. Other sealants can dry out or degrade when subjected to the cold temperatures created by CO2 cartridges, but the synthetic latex blend has an ultra-low freezing point of 3°F/-16° C so it won’t freeze or dry up when you’re making a roadside repair or setting a tire bead, lets face it we all don’t own air compressors,  with a CO2 cartridge.

With other sealants, I had to go back every five or six days and add more air to the tires, but so far, not with the Slime Tubeless Ready (STR) sealant. I am impressed. If you are looking for a tubeless sealant, I am a believer in Slime. 

#SwitchToSlime 

Four Years Later

What took so long?  That's a great question, and I guess I really have no answers for. 

I've kept active, road cycling and mountain biking, with some running. 

Four years after having my left knee's MCL repaired. Recovery and rehab took about a month or two. I have done a few short sprint triathlons over the past four years, but nothing really run focused. November 11, 2018, I will run the longest distance (14 miles) since that simple surgery. I have peaked in training at 10.5 miles. Sure, I could say there wasn't time to train or I was busy with other endeavors, and that would be correct. I have always had a love/hate with running. 

Who's happier in this image? My mom or me as I came out of anesthesia from the surgery. 

(Note: I was still a little out of it as you might notice I put my shirt on backwards) 

One note the doctor told me as I marked with a sharpie marker, which knee they were operating on, that he would have be back running, and this weekend it is. 

Images of the surgery the doctor took inside. 

I am excited. I have a few mental goals and time goals I am shooting for. The weather, now that it is fall and cooling off, will be perfect. 

Showdown at Usery Race Recap 2018

(Spoiler alert, we took first place in the corporate team category)

We compiled a great team of six riders, each doing a 10 mile lap/loop as fast as can be. The eight hour race that starts at 10am and each team or individual rides for the next eight hours. 

I first did this race back in 2016 as on a male duo team. We took turns riding a lap then resting. I learned a lot that year, mentally and physically. 

In 2017 team up with three friends and competed as a male quad team. Not that I am the fastest runner, but that year I ended up doing the Le Mans start. A run to your bike, 1/4 mile up an incline, grab the bike and go. Being a middle of the pack runner, I got caught up in a lot of traffic on the mostly single track course. 

This year, 2018 was different. We had a corporate team, sponsored by Xtreme Backyards, consisting of six riders. We had our fastest person, who also happens to be in super great shape, very active in playing hockey and is also 16 years old. 

He came off the trail, running the 1/4 mile Le Mans start totally out in front by margin. Not only did it get us out in front on the first lap, it helped up later on in the race not having to deal with the congestion on the trail. 

The ten mile loop course was beat up pretty in the late summer. Monsoon rains changed the trail and created a bunch of areas that go through washes to be filled with sand. 

The high temperature Saturday got to be 86 degrees, so I made sure to pack along my RinseKit. We used it to hose down the rider in the transition area before heading out on the course. We also meet up with the rider at the four mile mark and sprayed them down to keep their body temperature down. Mainly spraying their chest as they approached a corner and their back as they rode away. 

Our team did great. We watched the clock knowing when our rider left the start line and when to expect them back in the transition area. 

We accomplished 11, 10 mile laps/loops during the eight hour race. Because we started our last lap before the eight hours expired, we were able to finish and count that last lap. 

The team worked hard to prepare and do all they could out on the course.

We took first place in the corporate team category.  A big thank you goes to our sponsor, Xtreme Backyards and everyone else to helped us leading up to race day and race day itself.