Mucky Nutz, MUG GUARDS

The MugGuard is available in both 400mm and 600mm lengths. They fit 26 inch, 27.5 inch and 29 inch wheels with tires up to three inches wide. It's a must have to keep yourself and your bike caked with dirt while out on the muddy trails or roads. Is secured in place by Velcro or you can use zip ties as well.

Winter riding is just around the corner. Trails might be muddy.  Rule of thumb is, if your tires leave a mark, don’t ride on the trail. However, if you ride muddy roads of course you’ll want to avoid getting sprayed with mud or water, not only keeping you clean but your bike as well. 

Mucky Nutz, MUG GUARDS are just what you’re needing. These work on 26, 27 1/2  and 29 inch wheels. They work with boosted forks and tires up to 3 inches wide. The tread on your tire is going to grab on to the mud,  dirt or gravel and fling it around, The MUG GUARD will keep it from hitting you or your bike. They come in two lengths, 400 mm and 600 mm.   The 400mm or short MUG GUARD weighs in at 75 grams, with the Long MUG GUARD weighing in at 105 grams.  They help keep mud out of your forks stanchions.  They attach very easily to the bridge and fork of your bike. 

They come with re-usable Velcro to make them easy to put on and take off not only for cleaning but for transportation if needed. Each fender comes with 40 inches of Velcro. I cut into two 5 inch pieces, I use on the top, securing it to the forks bridge, and two 10 inch pieces to either side, going down the fork. They can also be attached using zip ties if you want to do it that way too and you see them being used or a longer period of time. 

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. 

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. 

Mountain bike race prep!

I'm ready.  Felt the best I have all year on and off the bike. Swapped out tires for a fresh set of rubber for the trails. Looking to have a great race, as part of a corporate team this year. Six riders, each riding their fastest 10 mile loop in Usery Mountain Regional Park.  I was hoping and will get back to the more in depth lead up to the race. 

Then I turn around and need to get ready for my 14 mile trail run next weekend. 

Training for the trail run went a little crazy last weekend, running 10.5 miles on the actual race course. Got lost on mile 4 to 6 due to the trail not being marked. This weekend they are marking the course prepping for race day, so I hope they mark it well. 

My lungs and breathing have never felt better

Not as much training as I planned this week, but had some key workouts completed. Trying to keep my power up while running, using the Stryd, power pod on my foot to measure just that.  

Synched with my Suunto Spartan, I can set a target heart rate or power output during a workout. 

I had a slower recover run last Monday, but still felt good afterwards. 

Thursday night, I set up my watch to keep me in my Zone 4 during a two mile run. I wanted to see first off what my power output in that zone is, and also hoped that keeping my heart rate there for the two miles would not have me totally gasping for a breath. 

It worked. I started off taking a little bit to get my heart rate up and then into my Zone 4.  An early downhill jaunt was not the trick, but quickly I had to work harder climbing up out a the area I was just in. Locked into my Zone 4 and just kept plugging away. On the more level ground I had some good speed and was still able to stay in the zone. The course was a one mile loop, I was doing twice. Of course my heart rate was going to go down a little on the descend, but I pushed hard and ran downhill faster to keep it up. Hitting the uphill I had to look down at my watch a few times because it kept warning me to slow down. I had my heart rate into Zone 5.  Pulled back a little on the speed but never fell out of my Zone 4.  Finished one of my fastest back to back miles in 10 minutes each.  I typically average a 12 minute mile as of late with a lot focus on the long steady distance, so not to go all out and blow up fast. 

I am very excited about my accomplishment and my lungs and breathing have never felt better. 

Looking back, could have I pushed myself to be faster, maybe so, but I wanted to stick in the Zone 4 and see where that would put me. 

Looking forward to a good weekend of cycling and running, hoping to get some trail miles in on Sunday. 

Up next....

Prepping for hiking the Grand Canyon at the end of this month.  Hiked 10 miles this morning with my wife at a local desert park. 

Progress taking place a month out from Race DAY!

A month out from race day and feeling very good.  From the progress I have made on the trail as well as my cardio, I am getting excited.  

I am in the process of still making a few minor adjustments to my bike. I am loving the 2.4, 29 inch tires on the front, helping me glide over the sandy washes that are part of the race course and lower PSI I can run in the tubeless setup. 

After every ride on the course, I am going back and looking at the stats my Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR is gathering. My progress on the course has taken me from just over an hour to complete one lap, to now just around 50 minutes. 

Race Day a little over a month away

So I am signed up with three other friends to do the Showdown at Usery this year.  Last year I competed as a duo, doing four laps of the almost 11 mile course.  This year it will only be two laps as the four of us will be trading out who is riding. I rode the course Saturday morning for a training workout, not really out to set any blazing times or anything, but just get a feel for the course again and know where I need to made some adjustment in my training.  We have just a little over a month and a half before race day.  Saturday morning I struggled hard with riding eastbound looking directly into the sun.  I had a hard time navigating the trail and the washes and turns, I couldn’t wait until the sun was to my side or behind me. 

Some of the washes on the course are a little thick with sand still, but that shouldn’t be a problem.  I will try and get out there a bunch more times leading up to race day.