The Best of Your Blogs - 2010 Edition

I’ve realized a stark truth about this blogging thing: Namely that it’s completely narcissistic.

And while I am a bit chagrined about this fact, I continue to plow forth with race reports, reflections, personal revelations, and opinions in which you may or may not be interested. (Although, ever since Victoria assured me that all writers are narcissists, I don’t feel so bad about it.)

The irony, and my primary comfort here, is this: The best stuff you guys write about is you. For me, that’s what it’s all about. Sure, you write great gear reviews. You talk about training techniques, race logistics, favorite trails, and who might win Ultrarunner of the Year. These are all interesting topics of discussion, (some more so than others).

But these are not why I read your blog. (Honestly, I’m pretty much a skimmer if it’s not about YOU. Sorry.)

I’ve learned that I read blogs for two primary reasons.

1) You know how to write. Seriously, it doesn’t matter if you’re writing about running, other endurance sports, your quirky job, raising your bright but impertinent children, the pointless yet painful argument you had with your Alzheimer’s-afflicted father-in-law, or the way you slipped on the ice in front of your hottie neighbor. You know how to put words on a page, and you convey something meaningful to me in the process. Thank you!

2) I like you. I want to hear about you and what you’re up to. Yes, I want your stories. You’re a cool person (as far as I can tell) and I can relate to you.

That’s it. You don’t have to be fast. You don’t have to know a lot about training, or gear, or what witty thing Jon Stewart said last night. You just have to be you. (Isn’t that nice?)

That’s why, this year, instead of writing some huge reflection piece on my racing season, I’m writing a huge reflection piece about your racing season! Well, no actually, don’t worry; it’s just about your blogs.

You guys write awesome blogs!

So, enough with the introductions. This is what I recall seeing in the blogosphere this past year.



Favorite Photos –

Two bloggers easily come to mind for this one.

Banff Trail Trash. If you lived in a place as beautiful as Banff, then you, too, could have incredible photos in every single post like Leslie does. Mind bogglingly beautiful scenery there. You’d have to put up with a lot of cold and darkness though. I prefer the photos, I think.

On the opposite end of the quantity spectrum, though possibly superior in quality, is RunJunkie’s Singletrack:Photos. Expertly taken, well chosen images of outdoor life. Simply beautiful.



Favorite Blogger Who No Longer Posts –

Zero to Boston. It seems now that Dean has qualified for, and run, Boston, he’s less inspired to post. Who knows what’s going on, maybe it’s that Publagia, but I really miss his sense of humor and quirky insights about running. (Dean, are you okay???) Peruse his archives to learn about topics like smart alec marathon posters, running sub-culture, and why all runners are liars.



Favorite New (to me) Blogger –

Run Home Pam. Pam is so obviously a writer. A very good one. I don’t know why I insist on loving things that make me cry, but I adore this post. And if you’re not interested in shedding a few tears, try reading this one - still heartfelt, just less painful. Pam doesn’t post often, but I’m completely okay with that. I’ll take this kind of quality over quantity any day.



Favorite Race Reports –

Race reports are often my favorite blog posts to read, but as such, they have a tendency to blur together by the end of the year. I chose three favorites here, not because they were necessarily the best, but because they still stand out a bit in my mind, each for their own reasons.

TNF 50 Mile SF by Geoff Roes. I don’t regularly read too many blogs of the elite runners, but I really appreciated this report on a second place finish from our 2009 and 2010 Men’s UROY. Geoff’s well chosen words convey a sincere respect for his competitors that is a nice compliment to his immense talent.

Father/Daughter Day at the Big Sur 5K. A few things I could say about why I like this post: 1) I love it when girls love running, and, 2) I’m especially impressed when first-time racers pace themselves well. Also, 3) it kind of reminds me of when I used to attend 5K races with my own dad. You know, back in the days when he could still beat me.

Marathon des Sables. Epic race, beautiful piece, amazing writer. Just go read it.



Favorite Poem –

RunJunkie’s “This is Just to Say – Ultrarunner’s Edition” Believe it or not, there are a number of runner poets out there. I find the two activities go together quite well, actually. And even though Hank wrote this one back in 2009, he found occasion to repost it last spring, so I feel quite justified in including it as a 2010 piece. I love the simple beauty of William Carlos Williams, and this one is inspired by his poem, “This is Just to Say." It makes me smile.



Favorite Humorous Post –

I can’t say I saw a lot of competition in this category this year. Maybe that’s just a reflection of my own mindset. Or maybe this is what happens when the economy tanks and unemployment rises: We lose our funny. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FUNNY?

Honestly, I still recall funny posts from years past, like the time Claire rode in a bike race with John Kerry and a fellow competitor shared her plan to nip by him right at the finish and then turn and berate him loudly for being such a loser. (This made more sense back when the post was written, around the elections, and it was much funnier the way Claire described it.) Or what about that time at a triathlon when Donald declared to an obnoxious girl in the port-a-potty line that he was only in possession of eight toenails, just to shut her up? Then there were the old Mark Tanaka posts, such as the year-in-review with a lustful French beauty queen, and an awesome, quirky race report. (To Mark’s credit, I’m already giving him the 2011 award for most backlogged race reports posted in the shortest amount of time - seven reports in as many days!)

It seems to me that there is just a bit less goofiness out there. What’s up?

Fortunately, I know this girl, Meghan. Maybe you know her too? She wrote this brilliant and hilarious recap of Fastpacking in the Land of Phalli. She must have been online with Urban Dictionary to write this one, because her vocabulary here is truly impressive. A pillar of wisdom, that woman.



Favorite Non-Running Post –

Russ’s “How I learned to Love a Loincloth” series. An account of his one-time summer job acting as various superheros at children’s birthday parties in L.A., most of this series was written in 2009. The last one, however, just squeaked across the line in January, 2010, so I say it qualifies. Equal parts hilarity and charm, these posts are sweet surprises in the running blogosphere. Here are the individual links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and The Finale. Read and enjoy!


That about wraps it up for this year. Thanks for all the beautiful blog posts, everyone – including the many that I didn’t even mention. I really appreciate the time, effort, and love that you guys put into your posts.

Now go out there and write something I can link to in my 2011 review. (Thanks!)

2010 Race Shirts Reviewed

I’ll never forget my first race shirt. It was from the Orange County Cross Country Invitational in 1987. I wore that shirt until it had holes in it. Then I kept wearing it. A white, cotton, ringer-T with multi-colored, neon palm trees on the front - it might actually be fashionable again. (Why do we insist on revisiting such a frightening fashion era as the 80’s?) But even if it met general fashion standards, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t meet modern ultra-runners' race shirt standards. A somewhat surprising fact I've noticed int he last couple years: We're pretty picky about our shirts.

As ultra-runners we don’t put up much with cotton, but our love (or hate) of a shirt goes way beyond performance. From fit (like the baggie-but-short-waisted women’s shirts at AR50 last year) to color (like the pink-on-black of those Quad Dipsea shirts) we seem to be highly critical. And with so many running shirts in our closets, why not? I have too many shirts that I love to bother with shirts that are just “okay.”

It was with these thoughts in mind that I realized what great shirts I received from the four ultras I ran this year. What makes a great shirt? Well, I suppose it’s a matter of opinion. Here’s what I think …

Leona Divide 50 – April 2010

This shirt kicked off the season with what I find to be the most important feature of any shirt: a women’s specific style. I’m not talking colors here; I mean the cut, fit, and drape. I want it to be flattering. I did mention I was picky, didn't I? This shirt was fitted (maybe just a bit too fitted – I could have gone with the medium instead of the small), a non-dirt-showing gray, and with a decent logo. My only complaint is that the fabric is just a bit thick, which means it stays in the closet on warm days.

Silver State 50 – May 2010

This was definitely the girliest of all the shirts. The cut was perfect, but the pink color was just a bit too pink for my taste. Still, I loved this shirt except for one major flaw: It had a scratchy tag. This tag was on a seam that comes across the abs, and it bugged me, so I cut it out. Big mistake. Now there is an even scratchier piece of “fringe.” Dangit! But I’m hoping after a million washings it will soften up.

Tahoe Rim Trail 100 – July 2010

This shirt scored big points for being a Patagonia silkweight capilene. Best fabric ever! (Well, except for Icebreaker, but we can’t hold our standards that high, really.) It also has a cute logo. Nice job, TRT! Unfortunately, this one doesn’t get a lot of use because it’s not a women’s shirt. Boxy and big—it’s simply not cute on me. Guess what? Women don’t really like to wear men’s shirts. Funny, huh? Still, I wear it running sometimes under my hydration pack. It will likely get a lot of use in the backcountry and as a layering piece in the winter.

Where’s Waldo 100K – August 2010

I consider this shirt the big winner of the year. I have zero negative things to say about it. If you have seen me out on the trails in the past month, there is a 90% likelihood that I was wearing this shirt. Yes, this means I have to do laundry frequently. Or else it means I’m kind of smelly. I won’t say which. But regardless, this shirt has it all: A comfortable, flattering fit (women’s styling, of course); light, airy, Sporthill fabric; that "doesn’t-show-the-dirt" gray; and a cool logo depicting the major climbs of the race. Beauty and performance! What more could a girl want?

The races out there just seem to get better and better. As do the shirts. I do, however, feel strongly that a good shirt is of secondary importance to the overall quality of the race. I was one of the few people that did not complain about receiving no shirt at TRT in 2009. Hey, give me a Buff and a coffee mug! That’s cool! But when a race shirt scores big, like these did for me this year, it’s pretty fun. They may not get as much use as that OC Cross Country shirt did, but they also have a lot more company in my closet.

What’s important to you in a race shirt? Does it matter what kind of shirt you get at your race? Do you have any particularly loved or despised shirts from recent years? I’d love to hear about them!

The Vasque Aether Tech

I’ve been in search of the perfect trail shoe for a number of years now. During my first several years of trail running, I typically ran in road shoes. I simply couldn’t find anything I liked as well as my Asics. In the past two years, I’ve finally developed a respectable quiver of shoes: some for road, some for technical trail, some that can handle either one, and some for snow or wet weather. The trail shoes each have an area where they shine, but they also share a common feature: I haven’t been entirely happy with any of them. Enter the Vasque Aether Tech.

After some major customer service from the kind folks at Wilderness Running, I decided to check out the Vasque line with their award-winning Aether Tech, (winner of Outside's 2008 "Gear of the Year" and Runner’s World’s 2008 “Best Debut” shoe awards).

The AT falls under what Vasque calls its Performance Line: shoes “geared for shorter distances at an aggressive pace.” As an ultra runner, you’d think I would have tended more toward their Endurance Line: shoes “built to handle great distances with ease.” As it turned out, I found the AT’s to handle technical trails at an aggressive pace, as well as great distances with comfort.

As a side note, I also have an appreciation for those who take the time to choose unique and appropriate names for their products, so I wondered about the word “aether.” Not only is it a reference to the Greek god of upper air and light, but in physics it is “a theoretical, universal substance believed during the 19th century to act as the medium for transmission of electromagnetic waves. The aether was assumed to be weightless, transparent, frictionless, undetectable chemically or physically, and literally permeating all matter and space.” So...I’m thinking “light and fast,” right? Turns out to be a perfect description of the Aether Tech.

Vasque as a company places a lot of importance on the perfect fit. Although that’s certainly not unusual for a running shoe company, they did a great job of helping me understand how this works, and actually delivering that perfect fit. Here’s their entertaining, yet educational, video on the ultimate fit:

These are the important features of the Vasque Aether Tech:

The Arc Tempo Last

The AT is built on Vasque’s Arc Tempo last, boasting an athletic fit and promoting quickness and agility over technical ground. The asymmetrical curve is suited for those with high arches, and places the foot in a more powerful position during toe-off. It has a medium volume heel and a tapered toe box.

Here’s another of Vasque’s videos, this one outlining the differences between the Arc Tempo last and their Perpetuum last used in their endurance line:

Women’s Specific Fit

All of Vasque’s women’s shoes are formed on a last that is adjusted to fit women specifically. This means it has a narrower heel pocket, more support in the instep, an adjusted heel-to-ball ratio, and higher arches. (Thank you, Vasque!)

Boa Lacing

The unique lacing system is probably the first thing you’ll notice about the Aether Techs. I have to admit I was skeptical at first. I tend to shy away from things that seem gimmicky or fad-ish. (Remember the Reebok Pump? They too, thought it was the end of the shoelace era.) Everything I read about the Boa lacing system claimed that it delivered a “glove-like” fit. As much as I hate the cliche, it’s 100% accurate, and I love the fit.

When my husband first saw the shoes he declared, “Oh, they have snowboard laces!” I was immediately more confident about the technology. After all, snowboarders basically revolutionized the ski industry in the 90’s. Why shouldn’t they do the same for other sports?

Boa technology was invented in 1998 by snowboarder Gary Hammerslag, who was tired of yanking all morning on his laces to get his boots tight enough for a float through fresh pow. (If you’ve ever worn old-school snowboard boots, you know exactly the pain and frustration I am talking about.) By 2001, Boa laces hit the snowboarding market, and now they are in use world-wide by athletes in sports such as cycling, running and golf.

In the Aether Tech, I found the lacing system to be brilliant for dialing-in the fit of my shoes. It offers smooth, even tension throughout the foot, and it’s easy to use. With the shoes on, push the knob in, and twist until the shoes feel good. I found that I liked to jog a few yards to let the tension even out, then re-tighten. To loosen, simply pull the knob out and pull up on the tongue. Many folks I talked to seemed concerned that the laces might break, but they are made of aircraft-grade stainless steel and they seem pretty bomber to me. They are also guaranteed for the life of your shoes.

The Upper

The upper part of the shoe comes in ether a lightweight mesh, or soft shell. Since I live in a dry climate, I chose the mesh. The high-breathability factor helped to keep my feet cool and dry. For wetter climates, the soft shell upper works to keep out the rain, as well as excess debris.

Something else to be aware of: Vasques tend to be on the roomy side, so you may need to drop down a half size.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am in love with my Aether Techs. During the past month I wore them for speed work, hill repeats and tempo runs on technical trails. They performed so well, that I could tell my confidence on technical terrain improved. I ran fast. (I really like running fast!)

I also wore them for several 30 mile trail runs on technical terrain without experiencing tired feet. These shoes may be marketed for “short, technical and fast,” but I would wear them in a 50 mile trail race in a heartbeat.

Here’s another interesting thing I experienced with my shoes. Normally after a run of 20 miles or more, I get blisters on the outsides of the balls of my feet and sides of my big toes. This isn’t because the shoes rub there, because they never do. It’s because of the way my foot strikes the ground. The skin right there wrinkles just a bit with each footfall, and eventually the skin layers rubbing against themselves cause enough friction for a blister. They’re usually not painful, but they do cause a nasty buildup of calluses that I am constantly fighting with my pumice stone. But this month: no blisters at all.

I think I finally found shoes that fit my feet so well that they actually changed the way my feet strike the ground. I couldn’t say exactly how my foot strike changed, but I am certain that it’s for the better. No Blisters. No tired feet. Happy runner.

The Aether Tech typically retails for $115-$125, so they are on the high end of the price spectrum for trail shoes. However, I really think the right shoe is worth its weight in silver belt buckles. I did find them discounted to about $90 at several online retailers, though with very limited size selection. Currently, you can find them at Wilderness Running for $110, and at REI (Men's only) for $125.

So, are the Vasque Aether Tech’s for you? If you have medium to high volume feet, (or, like me, low volume feet and use custom insoles) and want a great-fitting, high-performance shoe for technical trails, then the answer is yes. Even if you’re a high-mileage runner, you’ll appreciate these shoes if you prefer a light shoe that offers technical performance and a good feel for the trail.

My only question now is, what do I do with all those other shoes?

In Search of the Beacon of Hope: Energizer Trailfinder Headlamp Review

It’s difficult to explain how important the perfect headlamp can become to the success (or failure) of a particular mission. When considering the implications of this piece of backcountry equipment, I always recall the story of my husband guiding two young men on a climbing route on Wyoming’s Devil’s Tower.

They had begun climbing late in the day to avoid the oppressive heat of the July afternoon. Topping out at dusk, after eight thirsty pitches of classic but strenuous climbing, Andrew discovered that neither of his clients had remembered their headlamps. Setting up a long series of rappels in the dark, with two inexperienced climbers and only one headlamp, was a less-than-ideal scenario.

“The beam from the light didn’t shine far enough,” he explained. “We missed a critical rap anchor, and the rest of the descent was in trouble after that. What we really needed,“ he went on gravely, “was the Beacon of Hope.”

“The Beacon of Hope?” I thought perhaps this was some internal measure of desire, and one’s ability to press on through the suffering.

“You know: a good headlamp.” He nodded knowingly. “It would have made all the difference.”

When Energizer sent me their Trailfinder Series Headlamp to review, that was my first question: Was this the long-sought Beacon of Hope that might also serve the more practical aspects of backcountry travel? I was excited to find out.



Here’s a basic run-down of the features of the Trailfinder’s 6-LED light:


• Four different lighting modes:
- 2 spotlight LEDs
- 2 flood light LEDs o spot and flood lights together
- 2 red LEDs

• Push-button switch scrolls through each lighting mode

• Pivoting head to adjust direction of light

• Runs on three AAA batteries

• Stated MSRP is $14.99-$17.99 (Although I had difficulty finding it available online for less than $21)

• 50 hours of run-time with either the spot or flood lights, 20 hours of run-time with both spot and flood lights, and 75 hours with the red LEDs

• Weighs 2.6 oz with batteries

Here are some of the things I noticed and experienced when testing the light:

The light features a single headband-type strap, which was simple enough to adjust. It was thinner than that of most other headlamps I have used, but this didn’t seem to present any problems.

Directly behind the light there is some thin foam padding where the light rests against the forehead. This made it very comfortable to wear and kept the light securely against your head. I really liked this feature!

The usefulness of the red LEDs seemed questionable at first, but there are some scenarios where I could see the benefits. In the summer of 2006, Andrew and I were on a long canoe trip through northern Canada. We were paddling through the dark, battling a fierce wind and a stalking Grizzly (no kidding) and we had to repeatedly check the map to get our bearings. Unfortunately, turning on the headlamp to see the map also had the affect of ruining our night vision. Using the red LED’s would have alleviated this issue. This benefit is reinforced to me by childhood memories of my father bringing the family, all the camping gear and our giant telescope to Joshua Tree for weekends of star-gazing. He insisted all of our flashlights be covered with red cellophane. I guess he was on to something.

Unfortunately, here’s the downside of the design for the red LEDs: There is only one switch, and you have to scroll through three modes of white LEDs before you get to the red ones. This sort of defeats the purpose, I’d say.

For running, I preferred the flood light setting to the spot light, because it lit the general surrounding area best. The spot light was helpful for sighting things farther in the distance.

One of the first things I noticed on my initial run was what I consider to be the major drawback to this headlamp. Some of the light shines down onto my face, impairing my night vision and making it harder to see. I could actually see the headlamp while wearing it. This seems like a pretty major issue to me if you are someone who likes to run with the light on your head. I typically run with the light at my waist, but I do like the option of being able to move it if needed. The problem was also mitigated by wearing the headlamp over a hat with a brim.

The light worked well for general camp chores, as well as for reading in the tent.

Summary:

This light had many good features, the best of which was the reasonable price. Even at $21, it is about half the price of my Black Diamond Spot. I like the idea of the red LED’s (if the on/off system for it had been designed better), and the other lights were plenty bright for trail running. The light shining into my peripheral vision, though, is enough to keep this from being my primary headlamp. It makes a great back-up or general purpose light, but when all is said and done, it is not the Beacon of Hope.