Running into a Real Mother ________.

I had a solid 4.5 run last night in Central Park - just completed a solid 6 miler @ 80% this morning - I will hit September healthy and ready to get serious about training again - I have not been since my last race because I've not had a goal in mind to train for (despite the NYC Marathon being 2 months away). But let me tell you about a woman who did something rather unbelievable - I've never heard of before. Last night I was watching the World Championships (Track & Field) in Osaka, Japan - and I saw the unbelievable in the Women's 400meter hurdles. Sprinting is tough enough, imagine sprinting and having to jump over 10 obstacles in the process? Well that photo on the right is the event of which I speak and the Australian Jana Rawlinson is in the lead - went on to win and become the

World Champion. The real story here? The field of runners in the finals included 3 mothers. I've never seen something like this in a sprinting event at this level, the World Champion Finals @ 400m (CLICK TO SEE THE RACE ON YOUTUBE). It's nothing short of astonishing to have 3 mothers in this eveny ya'll. Yes, Jana the winner is a Mom, and the other Moms in the event were Tiffany Williams of the USA and Briton Tasha Danvers-Smith. After the event Jana said, “Apart from my marriage, and winning a second title, having a baby is one of the highlights of my life,” Rawlinson said. “Winning is all the sweeter for having a wonderful husband, and a lovely boy back home to share it with". That woman on the left is Jana, last night after winning the event - just look at her - Jana had a baby (boy) 8 months ago! , no kidding. Have a baby & become a Champion inside of a year? This is what I'm trying to do for crissakes and I've got the easy job on the baby front! When I took this feat in, in context, the enormity of it all - I just concluded "what's my f #@%ing excuse? "for anything?" Jana is proof positive that you can do amazing things - once you have a clearly defined goal and determination. You can have your cake and eat it too! Hope you have a splendid day!

Running into the Goddess of Speed

Another one day Wednesday, an 8pm 5 miler @ 75% or so - quite a few people in the Central Park last night, it was a warm Summer's night - got up early and was in Central Park this morning at 5:30am - no shortage of runners in the darkness of morning - I did a "Reservoir Lap" on gravel surface - as I saw a full moon still easily visible @ 6:00 am. As I was at the final stages of my morning 7 mile run heading up the steepest hill in Central Park - I was nearing the top and happened to glance sideways - caught the figure of a runner approaching from behind at a rather fast speed uphill - it was just a flash in the corner of my eye but I could see this runner was Black and pretty damn fast. My first thought? It is too early to be racing - I am not going to race this 'brotha no matter who he is -no Big D Contest - but I did stride to get to the top / peak first (hee hee) - and coasted down as this runner zipped by me - this was no 'brotha - far from it - this was a Sistah! When she passed me I thought, "Oh my God - look at that body - that stride - this was a very serious runner - not just any runner - a Superstar runner. I also remember seeing this specific woman a month earlier at the NYC Half Marathon - that's her on the right post-race - you don't get a bib # like #488 without being a speed demon ya'll. I saw her in warm ups - and again at mile 7 - before she pulled away from me in the race and gave me a thorough ass kicking. There was no way I was not going to meet this woman this morning - just look at that body on the left - that's her in the Half - she is the real thing - a real Sprinter for sure - Olympic caliber - and she was just as gorgeous this morning.....so I upped my pace - caught her and said, "you ripped that hill pretty well", I then told her I saw her in the NYC Half Marathon - she was very nice - we talked running - she too came out too fast in that race, the NYC Half Marathon she said - yet she managed a 1:28 time that day. She told me her name was "Nickel-ola". "Nickel-ola" I thought?....hummm...maybe I should tell her my name is "Shiney Penny", or FiddyCent...no, that one's taken right? Okay, stop acting silly Lance - one last corny coin joke, as they say in the ghetto, Nickel-ola is a "dime" (translation for the white people, that's a "10"). For clarity - her name is "Nikelola" or "Nike + Lola", literally, seriously ya'll. For those unaware, "Nike" is the Greek Goddess of Speed & Victory. "Lola" rings of the famed "Lola" racing cars. Nikelola did not tell me any of this, I am just a nerd and happen to know it. Lola is also the diminutive for "Lolita" and I don't even want to go there as I can twist that to NC-17 in a nanosecond. Suffice it to say her name alone? "SPEED". Oh, Nikelola has lived up to it too! She's a former NCAA track star at Tulane University, this woman has clocked 400 meters under 54 seconds. That's her on the right too - yup - your basic model in print, TV, etc. To all the men out there - why do I live in New York City?...- you can wake up and go for a jog and literally run into a superstar runner-brainy-beautiful model - ha ha ha, that's why. She's too young for me but guys - I would advise you to run Central Park at the 6:00 am hour and find a way to bump into Nikelola some way, some how. She like me is a Californian too! She was out for a 13 mile run this morning ya'll - read that to mean guys - you better eat your Wheaties!

And now for the wholesome segment of Harlem 26.2 - let me put some shine on that woman on the left, author Wendelin Van Draanen. Van Draanen, a well-known pre-teen author with 20 books in print, she is best known for writing “Flipped,” “Runaway” and the “Shredderman” series of books. In the ‘Shredderman’ series, the character grows one month at a time and through the series the character makes it through middle school learning lessons and through the character the students can have an adventure and take away wisdom about facing the same situations. Van Draanen is a marathon runner and is promoting a “Running for Reading Marathon” campaign where students run or walk a mile a day for 26 days and read 26 minutes a day for 26 days. The marathon begins Oct. 1 and ends Nov. 4, the day of the New York City Marathon in which both Van Draanen and her husband, Mark Parsons, plan to run. Van Draanen said one-third of our country’s children are overweight and two-thirds did not pass recent fitness tests. Studies show as childhood fitness levels go up, so do academic scores and expulsion rates go down.“The program addresses both schools’ wellness and literacy goals,” Van Draanan said. So her program is called “Running and Reading Marathon” , check it out! I wish we could get our urban centers in this country to follow suit, this sounds like a really great thing for kids. Have a fantastic Day!

Running into Katrina

Yesterday sucked running-wise...just too busy all day with real life, did not get a chance to run until 9pm or so and kept it to 4.5 miles. It was me, the bats & raccoons in Central Park. Yes, there are bats flying in Central Park at night and the raccoons truly take over the Harlem Hills. Sometimes I startle them with my presence in late night runs, they get pretty big too. I'm actually kind of scared of the bats, they're just too damn creepy and I keep thinking one's going to dive into my neck, fangs flaring, bite me and my life is instantly F @%#'ed! as I'm now a Vampire. I'm busy now and won't get a morning run in, crap! - but I will run tonight and reflect on my good fortune & blessings - and so should you - 5 years ago my Mother got tired of the Bay Area (California) "rat race" (traffic, congestion, stress & pressure, the Manhattanization of the Bay Area you might say). My Mother opted out, sold her house, retired early to her childhood home on coastal Mississippi, a small town called Waveland, 75 miles East of New Orleans. Sidebar: Most people who see my Mother think my Mother is White. Usually Black folks can instantly recognize the fairest skinned Black person as Black, but not my Mom - thin lipped, straight hair, blue eyes, etc. She bought a little house right off the white sand beach in a predominately White community (she grew up in 1940's in the adjacent "Black town", Bay St. Louis, MS. So before I go down there the first time I say to my Mom, "Do they know you're Black.....Mom?" (neighbors) LOL. Then I said to Mom, "I'm going to be running when I'm down there so I'm going to fax the local Sheriff & Police and let them know a Black man will be running on the streets and I am not down for any Rodney King, Emmitt Till, or Mississippi Burning BS!". My first time down there? Waveland was serene, tranquil, gorgeous I was blown away with how lovely Coastal Mississippi was. I ran along the only beach front road in extreme heat & humidity - but it was great, saw other runners who showed me down there when you need some water to hydrate, you just walk up to someone's front yard, anyone's house - and these were grand homes with sprawling yards, etc. you then politely remove their garden hose and turn on the nozzle, drink some water, turn it off and position it back in its place - it's all good, no kidding that's just how it is down there. Every single person down there, the cops, the old White retired folks speak to you greeting you with a "good morning" no matter who you are. I was running down there with no shirt on, just some strange Black man running in this lovely beach town and old White ladies power walking would wave and say hello from across the street - just for the sake of being neighborly and kind. Wow, I told my Mom these White folks are nicer to me than the Black folks in Harlem - how in the hell did that happen ? LOL. I was ready to go down there with my whole Al Sharpton attitude and those White people killed me with kindness. This little town Waveland actually held a Marathon there every Thanksgiving too, looks like the Gulf Coast Running Club is back at it with an active schedule. Anyway 2 years ago today my Mother safely evacuated to Atlanta on a Sunday night as Hurricane Katrina rolled in those very early Monday morning hours, it's eye direct on target for Waveland, MS - and this photo is basically pretty much the same of what was left of my Mother's home & everything she owned. If you want to feel connected to today's anniversary - if you read this blog - you are connected to Katrina. My Mom spends half her time in California ( Bay Area) and half in Mississippi and yup she has a FEMA trailer down there - she volunteers, her spirits are bright and is having fun determining the design of the new home she will eventually build. My Mom's done an amazing job coping with the enormity of it all, she's going to be fine and I am very proud of her. Ya never know what might happen to you in life - that's why it's important to make the most of each day, appreciate your surroundings, smell the roses, cherish bright moments, and just live like you mean it. I'll be running in Waveland again real soon. Have a great day!

Car-Free Central Park Update - The Cyclist Must Be Harnessed!

Okay - in response to Chris who commented on yesterday's topic - Chris is right, StreetsBlog is a terrific site, the leading authority on all things transportation - commute - movement in NYC. That's a photo was yesterday's feature - a bunch of cyclist in victory over the new car-free hours in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. However I'm not buying there would be a deterioration of Park maintenance, etc. with a car-free Central Park. The Park has become too much of a revenue generator, the tourist industry & adjacent real estate values are tied up in the preservation & appeal of the Park. Last week a cyclist moving at about 25 mph did come within about 2 inches of my leg as I ran in the jogging lane at about 7:10 pm - the Park was closed to cars. The problem in a nutshell? The Cyclist assume 2 car lanes when the Park is closed to cars, they assume a sense of entitlement to that space & the liberty to move at unrestricted or governed speeds. I'm all for cyclist training for the Tour De France - however it makes no sense to entitle and or for cyclist to assume 80% of the available paved surface surrounding the park as their exclusive race track or velodrome. All the wide open space induces their recklessness ya'll. We have competing interest (a fringe group of Lance Armstong Wannabees vs. parents with strollers, walkers, joggers, runners, rollerbladers, ) why should this demographic defer use to cyclist? I say let the cyclist continue to race their vehicles at unrestricted speeds dangerously around the many blind turns between 4 am and 6am, and 8pm - midnight. This way they are sure to hit a raccoon at he North end of the park and do a major face plant, crash & simultaneously earn the wrath of animal activist! Other hours they can use 1 car lane - that's it, expand the other road space to the demographic that's now forced to 30" inches or so width of space and now deprived. I don't feel you should be banned from Central Park. These cyclist are operating vehicles at higher rates of speed than the cars & motorcycles are legally allowed to move through park and in proximity to pedestrians, etc. How this problem will be solved? There on the left is crazy sexy cool Angelina Jolie with one of her kids on the Carousel in Central Park last Sunday. Can you imagine if Angelina Jolie & her baby(s) were accidentally hit by an out of control cyclist as they crossed the Central Park Drive? We'd see wall-to-wall CNN, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, etc. news coverage, investigative reports on these crazed cyclist and moratorium on cycling in Central Park. This is America and the way things get done is something has gotta happen to a celebrity before anyone takes note or cares. Anyway - be safe runners, most cyclist are actually okay - it's just a whopping 25% of them as the Gothamist Poll suggest that are the problem. This is particularly the case at the North end of Central Park, the Harlem section where the hills enable even the total neophyte cyclist to attain tremendous speeds as the hug blind turns. I've only been hit once, but I have had hundreds of near misses! Enjoy the day!

Running in a Car-Free Central Park

Was too busy to get a morning run in on Monday - did clock 7pm miles, half of that was on at the Central Park Reservoir. It was very nice to alter my running surface from road to gravel - the views were spectacular - nice to not have to run with an awareness of cars too, speaking of which I am sure the Prospect Park Track Club, Brooklyn Road Runners, are quite pleased with the efforts of Transportation Alternatives, and all that advocated for a car-free Prospect Park. They did not quite get it done all the way but a significant gain was made. In Brooklyn's Prospect Park (which as of yesterday) cars will no longer be allowed on the east loop drive between 5-7 pm. The only times in which Prospect Park will be open to cars are weekdays from 7-9 am on the east drive and 5-7 pm on the west drive. This was all based on how Brooklyn has less park space per resident than any other borough and thus prioritizes the hundreds of thousands of Brooklynites in need of recreation over the small number of motorists who use the recreational loop drive as a shortcut. Transportation Alternatives are the people you may see from time to time pushing for a car-free Central Park, you should check out their site - You can even sign their petition on the site & my feelings are congruent with theirs on way Central park should be "car-free" - take a look at all their campaigns and the simple & concise case for making Central Park car-free, just like it was in that 1895 photo above of cyclist in Central Park. But there are few cyclist that I would not mind seeing booted out the park as well - ya know a year ago the NYPD decided to crack down for a weekend and ticket cyclist for running red lights within Central Park, $200 a fine! I was once told by a cop there is an official speed limit & law on the books for cyclist in Central Park, it's 15mph! I did not know it but apparently this is a little war taking place in Central Park. It seems the cyclist hate the dog owners who let their dogs off-leash even more than they hate runners. Ya know cyclist can be very anal ya'll - they often feel their right to the road with no limit on speed whatsoever trumps runners, walkers, dogs, horse carraiges, strollers, basically everybody in Central Park, even the poor squirrels have to keep their eyes peeled for fear of getting ran over! If you're not familiar with The Gothamist, it's a pretty cool blog site - all encompassing pop culture NYC Blog that last month held a poll and asked, Who are the most annoying creatures on the roads of Central Park?

1,530 votes, the results?

Bicyclists 25% (382 votes)

Runners 2% (37 votes)

Rollerbladers 13% (202 votes)

Power walking groups 5% (82 votes)

Tourists 32% (488 votes)

People with strollers 12% (178 votes)

Hey this is great, we took last place! As I tell everyone, runners are the best people! Have a great day!

Running Safe!

I Clocked 5.5 miles on Sunday @ 80%, actually did not engage in a second run. Sometime this week I think I'm going to get a physical exam including the whole HIV/STD test. First of all there is something out there called the National AIDS Marathon Training Program, looks like a great thing, wonder why there is no chapter in NYC? People with HIV & AIDS are running marathons just fine - that's a good thing. Anyway a good starting point of info & services/ resources of all things HIV/AIDS is here. There's also an organization called BlackAids.org. White folks may not know the numbers but it’s down right scary out there in Black America where we make up approximately 13% of the population yet account for 50% of the new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the US. 1 out of every 4 Black men in Manhattan aged 40 – 49 is HIV Positive and HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death of Black women between the ages of 25 and 44. That right there sums it up and is why being single in NYC can suck – you can literally get killed out here dating and there is nothing cool or sexy about that reality. But it would be irresponsible to not deal with it in real life - married or not. My first HIV test was just last year and it was like “Welcome to the real world Lance”, I could not believe how before you’re tested you have to provide the name, address & telephone number(s), emergency contact info, etc of parents, siblings, etc - I imagine what happens is people learn they are positive and then the concern is their emotional psychological well being – coping – adjustment period and getting family involved in that process...but it's strange because it's as if the grim reaper is potentially looming - which I imagine can be the case. Then in a room you're counseled & questioned - it's pretty raw too. A lady I just met looked me in the eyes and said, “Have you exchanged saliva with a man in the last 2 years”? “Have you engaged in oral sex with a man in the last 2 years”? “Have you engaged in anal sex with a man in the last 2 years”? “Have you used needles, etc?” There are just some questions you never really have prepared for and it’s a trip when a stranger bluntly asks you the most private of questions. She kept probing in my sexual life, types of sex acts, number of partners, etc. and I frequently tried to expedite the whole process and said, “Can we just take the test?” She explained how she has to go through this list of questions and I patiently endured - to a point - and after some more pretty invasive questions I said, “Yes I'm 43, never married, a little light & curly, green eyes the whole bit - I know - but I’m as square as they come – no tattoos, never pierced an ear, I’ve not been doing the Horizontal Mambo with the guys at the gym, I’ve not been smoking crack, I'm not on the "down low", can we just take the test?” The whole process can be so over the top – you start actually believing you might be positive! I got both the blood and gums test – and it came back negative – but what blows your mind is you find yourself relieved to have favorable results, even though you know damn well you’ve not engaged in any high risk activity. It’s like they do a whole mind trip on you that there is "suspense". But ya know what – I actually understand it all and why? The stats, they are unbelievable! Men lie (yah, no shit right?) and it's these men that are giving HIV to women - and thus I have to wonder about the women I meet in concern that they've been lied to in this context....and ya know what, women lie too....and on reflection, I understand the line of inquiry at my HIV test as I actually did engage in high risk activity – just having heterosexual sex is a high risk activity in 2007 ya’ll. I learned this some years ago. I was getting to know a woman, did all the “take it slow” things, discussed our lives and aspirations and sexual selves. In a City where people are having sex on the 1^st & 2^nd dates, we did not get intimate until date 5 or so – and even then almost did not. Early in the dating she said she wanted to have a child, etc. and then later – just about when things were to become intimate she started crying with me and explained to me that she could not have a child because she had a hysterectomy years prior in her early 30’s. I swallowed this news and told her I was open to adoption, etc. however my preference would be to try and have a child of my own first before exploring that option – and as such, it might not be fair to her for us to become intimate as I’m going to date and look to partner with a woman to have a child with. This woman told me she understood and that was fine with her – yet she still wanted to develop and intimate relationship with me, etc. Long story short I’m at her place – it goes down – a long night of sex – unprotected sex. The next morning the sun is rising – we’re in the glow – all is great in the world right? I say to her – “Wow – this is great – we can be completely honest with each other – enjoy each other – have great sex and be open and honest – no risk of unintended pregnancy, no risk of diseases,”. Suddenly right in the bed she’s next to me and starts crying – she then tells me how she has not been completely honest – says, I should know, and proceeds to tell me she has Herpes. When she said this I just looked up at the ceiling stunned, in disbelief, and silent for about 10 minutes – and then she goes into a whole line of explanation on how it’s manageable, etc. – tells me she’s not in a “break out” and does not think she’s given it to me, etc. I’m stunned ya’ll – still looking at the ceiling – feeling entirely betrayed on so many levels. After not saying a word for 15 minutes and simply in a state of self shock I said, “You directly lied to me”. (She’s crying – apologized profusely) and I said, “You directly lied to me 3 times – you told me in 3 separate conversations over dinner that you did not have any STDs, etc.” More crying – and then she explains how she lied because she feared rejection with disclosure & truth. I was still stunned in looking at this woman - a woman of some fame – at one point she was at the very top of her field & considered one of the most beautiful Black woman by the Black mags like Ebony & Jet, etc. Yet despite being heralded - in her career & a great life - unable to be honest about herself - pathetic, that's all I thought. I then said to her, “you denied me my right to make an informed choice? And you took my health into your hands”? She was just crying. I got up, slowly put my clothes on and left – this woman called me that night to try and make a dinner date with me the next day – she called me the next day to try and make a date for later in the week – I never saw the woman again. What did I learn? No matter how well educated, accomplished and distinguished a person is in their life – they can still be so profoundly wounded, insecure with poor self-esteem - and driven to lie. This woman’s need to feel and be loved outweighed any personal sense of moral conscience and dignity in character. She did not give me an STD - although I am aware living with an STD is quite manageable - not the point in this matter - I saw first hand, up close and personal how and why these Stats are as they are. I don't want to bring anyone down here - just sharing an encounter & being real - have a great day!

To Run Like Kara: 32:02 @ 10K

Saturday was quite humid - got a late start and pushed 6 miles at about 1pm with the Heat Index @ about 100. Never recovered well for the 2nd run of the day - went out at about 7:30pm and could only manage about 3 miles before succumbing to the humidity plus I was dehydrated. I stopped in the middle of Central park. I'm about 6 .lbs overweight but I feel okay & on track for this Nov Marathon. Speaking of "track", wow, I saw a little history last night- that runner on the right is Queens, NY born U.S. distance runner Kara Goucher who on the track at the World Championships in Japan won a bronze medal in the women's 10,000-meter race. It was a performance of considerable historical weight -- just the fifth medal by a U.S. woman in a distance running event, and the first in 15 years in the 10K. There she is below happy as can be with her victory - as well she should be. Her coach is the famed Alberto Salazar - who you may recall 2 months ago nearly died from a massive heart attack. In speaking about that incident Salazar said, "For me, what happened two months ago was not a low...it really was a high. It reinforced for me that this'' -- here, [Salazar waved his arm at the empty track, bathed in bright, artificial light] -- "is all great. And I love this game. But it really is a small part of life. It's all just a trivial pursuit, a little thing. The more you can be relaxed about it, the better you can be. Realize how lucky you are and just enjoy it. It's just racing.'' Kara Goucher says, "My life has changed since Alberto's accident, for both Adam (her husband & also a professional runner coached by Salazar) and me. We've taken a different perspective on life and what's really important and even though we've been training really hard, it's just running.'' Women have run long distances in major global championships only since the marathon was introduced at the 1983 world championships. In that period, until Saturday night, U.S. women had won just four medals.....so what happened last night is really spectacular - and some random training info on Kara? Well up until '07 she was clocking 60 miles/week, this year she up'ed it to 75 miles/week & peaked at 90 miles/week. She has said, "I try not to get caught up on the mileage - hearing that so and so is running 90 or 100. I just want to try to continue the consistency for me and build on that a little bit. I guess I'm kind of different than most people because I just want to stay healthy". I saw her interviewed after the race - she used a sports psychologist to convince herself she was a "10K runner" (as opposed to a 1500m, 3000m, or 5K specialist). She said she tends to doubt herself a lot in the middle of races - but mentally refocuses and "go's for it". She said, "We've been training so hard in the heat," Goucher said. "With the pace so slow, I was thinking to myself that this is good for me. With two laps to go, I was thinking that fifth or sixth would be good, but then I thought about running in thesauna suit, and the 90-mile weeks, and the aqua jogging, and I said to myself, 'sprint.' Right On Kara! Wanna see day in, day out every day life for a husband & wife professional team? Check out this youtube video of Kara & Adam Goucher. It would be great to run like Kara - and I am getting there - taking it easy, not over-doing it - focusing on staying healthy & relaxed - and enjoying it. I hope you too are enjoying it, make it a great day - I'm going to push about 6.5 miles in Central Park.

Newton Running Shoe: $175....WTF?

I took it easy last night - did a 1 mile slow balls/toe strike training run. This is where I might try to mimic a gazelle or the like, prancing on the toes with long extended strides - after 1 mile was sweating up a storm. I took it easy because I knew in the morning I wanted to clock a solid 10 miler @ 80% which I plan to do after finishing this blog entry. Let me talk about another obscure shoe that I did not mention yesterday - the most expensive (non electronic technology infused) running shoe out there - the Newton Running shoe. Just so we're clear, the New Balance 2000 has an MSRP of $200 but you can buy it for less than $150 and it's made in the U.S.A. ( high production cost). The New Running shoe? It's $175, not a penny less and they make the shoe in China. These fluorescent shoes sport a raised, springy ridge toward the front that causes the shoe to bounce when it strikes the ground. The bounce can be explained by Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion — for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction — and it’s the inspiration for the company name Newton Running shoes. Here's there story by them: “Newton Active Membrane Technology allows you to land on your forefoot safely. Few shoes can come close to Newton’s impact rating in the forefoot. When your forefoot impacts first your foot has less of an opportunity to pronate or supinate as it would if you were heel striking, minimizing injuries. After the forefoot makes impact and the actuators are driven fully into their corresponding chambers (the action), then levering and propulsion come into play. As you push off and drive forward the lugs are released (the reaction) providing energy return that in comparison to traditional foam shoes feels alive and fast.”

Later on their website they go on to say, "This has not been an easy task to bring the Newton Running program to market. It has taken over 10 years to invent, design, test and now manufacture Newton Active Membrane Technology into lightweight performance running shoes. Our shoes have been granted seven U.S. Patents, with other U.S. and Foreign Patents Pending".

The problem with all this? Why are you telling me, "This has not been an easy task to tbring the Newton Running Program to market". Am I supposed to empathize with you? Wash your feet? Kiss your toes? Nominate you for the Noble Prize? Oh 'Brother, that line is straight out of the Rob Popeil "Veg-O-Matic" - Spray On Hair School of informercials. A $175 shoe should have its technology explained in detail with comparisons (charts & graphs) and or credible evaluations by biomechanic labs, dept.'s at Universities, etc. If you read this blog you saw last week the sock company that compared & tested their product across the competitors in its space? It is not difficult to demonstrate the physics of energy return (forefoot bounce) in a material and or shoe. For example, Spira Footwear unlike traditional shoe midsoles made primarily of foams, rubber compounds, or polymers, has their WaveSpring™ technology which they claim stores and disburses energy with every step. Testing performed by an independent source reports that 87% - 96% of the energy is returned from the WaveSpring™. This is the highest energy return score for any midsole material ever tested. Newton does not do this (assert engineering claims that can be fact checked & reproduced in a lab). If you take a look at Newton's website, they want to use language like, "

granted 7 U.S. Patents" as if that's a magic wand and the cosnumer need not further scrutinize or question the technology. I also am very suspect of the emphasis of this buzz phrase language called, "Newtonian Science". It's all over their website and emphasized more than the engineering of their own patented Active Membrane Technology. That's diversion. Newton seems to be focused on sweeping the consumer in to a story. That's salesmanship. Why? No one will counter or dispute Newtonian Science - it's their Active Membrane Technology that they don't place under the microscopic lens (other than referring to it with its number of patents). The other big problem with this shoe? It's spec'ed for 300 miles ya'll. A $175 shoe that's only good for 300 miles tops? Okay, hardcore running loons like me can slice and dice a shoe up 100 ways - and one of those ways is Cost/Mile. This shoe is $0.58/ Mile - that's outrageously expensive. Counter this for example a $90 shoe that gives you 400 miles? That's about $0.22/mile. I have high end elite shoes, trainers, I know all sorts of detail about shoes, their engineering, materials, and manufacture. This Newton running shoe? I see nothing unique on any level or parameter about the shoe. I see a lot of missing meaningful engineering info that could be communicated, I see a lot of salesmanship diversion tactic, I see an outrageous price for a Chinese made shoe, I see a shoe that can be matched if not surpassed by dozens of shoes priced from $60 - $90 easy. I DO NOT SEE $175. But of course I could be wrong - I doubt it though - Newton will read this blog - send me a pair, size 10 and I'll maybe eat my words - have a great day.

Da Vinci Code & The Industrial Running Shoe Complex

Clocked a 6.5 mile run last night at 75% - still taking it easy, looking to hit September healthy - there were a ton of runners in Central Park last night - I must have seen 500+ in 45 min or so at the 7pm hour. Going to hit the park this morning for an easy 4.5 - it's getting warm again & I am thinking about what shoe to wear. When I wear my Spira's, serious runners wonder what in the hell I have on. There are some obscure shoes out there that only the hardcore half-a-wingnut runners like me could recognize or even heard of. I'll share - that disaster on the left is the Z-coil shoe, it is not runner worthy - don't even think about it, I've seen it once in Central Park. Some runner worthy obscure shoes? Loco Running shoes, the small shoe company made up of runners in New Hampshire. Their big claim to fame as far as I know is they vow to keep your model of shoe essentially the same for at least 5 years - this in a world where the big shoe makers change the shoe with the seasons - however the thought of wearing the same brand & model for 5 years is kind of loco to me - perhaps thats how they came up with the name of the company. And did you know Finland makes a running shoe? -The Karhu Running Shoe. (on the right) claim to fame for starters is it's not a product of an assembly line, nope that's a handmade shoe - yup - I've actually seen this shoe 2 or 3 times on the road & at Marathon Expos. Ready for some grand conspiracies and exposure of the Industrial Running Shoe Complex? Buckle up - here we go! Meet Velocy, yes - the folks that say the big companies have been doing it all wrong- your supposed to put all the cushioning in the forefoot and not the heel. They have a master theme document called "Gravity Friend or Foe: - The Velocy Hypothesis". Wooooow, sounds like the Da Vinci Code, cool. But it does not end there - the conspiracy has numerous companies out to reveal the truth! Meet the Vitruvian Running Shoe Company and these good people are very serious about the Da Vinci Code unlocking and exposing running shoe secrets and the grand conspiracy of Asics/NewBalance/Asics/Nike, etc that a good running shoe need not cost $100. Almost everyone is familiar with the famous Vitruvian Man drawing. If the name doesn't ring a bell, the drawing certainly would. It was done by Leonardo da Vinci to celebrate the work of Marco Vitruvius, a Roman engineer and architect who lived from 90 B.C. to 20 B.C. Vitruvius wrote a book called De Architectural. In it is a passage called The Planning of Temples. It is here that Vitruvius describes the relative proportions and symmetry of the human body. This inspired Leonardo's famous artwork and it inspired our engineered performance running shoes, the Proportion and the Symmetr [so they say]. There you have it, they even offer a complete diagram of explanation of the simplicity in the shoe consistent with the De Architectural Code you might say as you see above - and prove it with their $30 and $60 running shoes. Have a great day!

Being a Visible Runner

Wednesday morning I had a solid morning 4.5 miles, in the early evening just before dark I got in a 5 miler easy, then this morning at the break of daylight turtled my way through 5 miles. Today we here in NYC have a decent chance of actually seeing the sun again - as we've not for 3 or 4 days now. Unfortunately my running thoughts of today are on the tragic side of this passion we all have. An elite runner training for the 2008 Olympic trials is in critical condition this morning after being hit by a car as the light changed. That runner is 39 year old Jenny Crain there on the left & right. Friends say she's in critical but stable condition and suffers from a broken jaw and fractured neck. Jenny missed the cut for the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, but has been setting personal bests during the past two years and training hard for this spring's trials. Crain left a corporate career six years ago to return to competitive running. At 39, her goal was to run the marathon in Beijing next summer, according to her coach, Mike DeWitt, and friends. So far no one has been cited for the accident because witnesses couldn't tell who had the right away because the light had just changed. She was just blocks from her home. News of the accident spread quickly among Wisconsin's running community, many of whom know Crain not only for her stellar racing career, but for her buoyant, upbeat personality. In online postings on two Web sites, friends and strangers expressed concern, prayers and hope that Crain would recover. Police said an investigation into the accident is ongoing. Accident reconstruction experts were called in to assist police, and investigators were trying to locate a number of people who witnessed the accident. No charges or citations have been issued against the driver, a police official said. Eric Hansen said he was standing at the intersection when he saw Crain stop at the corner, running in place. Hansen said Crain then looked and stepped into the street and she was hit by the car. "He (the driver) didn't have a chance to brake," Hansen said. Crain, was training hard for the U.S. national 20K championship, set for Labor Day in New Haven, Conn. In June, she finished 10th in the 10,000 meters in the U.S. Outdoor Championships. At the Boston Marathon, she finished in 2:45, a good time considering the wretched weather that day. I saw Jenny has been interviewed by NYRR site "Fast-Women". You can keep up with this situation at the WisconsinRunner site here. All the best to Jenny Crain for a full recovery. I read about this every single week all over America - runners-joggers getting hit by cars. There's nothing fun or uplifting in being the bearer of bad news - I just want to encourage and remind everyone to be very aware and alert if you run near cars, cross intersections, whatever. I myself run 3 miles twice a day on Lenox Avenue, a main New York City street. I doubt I would do this if I had a wife & child - in fact I am having second thoughts on street running. A lot of pedestrians are hit on NYC streets but I feel relatively safe on NYC streets because drivers (bus/car/taxi) are extremely conditioned to pedestrians on the street. When it's not daylight, I also wear a reflective running vest too, similar to that amphipod vest on the right & left. That vest on the right is one of my fancier vest but you can get reflective vest at cycle shops, sporting good stores, ebay has tons fo them. I also have the lighted hats, arm band lights, etc, that stuff is so-so ho hum. You need a full blown reflective vest ya'll. No matter where you run - it's pretty tough to be a runner & not have to negotiate an intersection. I gotta believe Jenny Crain is a seasoned & experienced runner in an environment of cars. Nonetheless accidents happen all the time - there's no guarantee any device or technology is going to prevent an accident - all you can do try and make yourself as visible as possible & hope for the best. Have a great day.

Some Daylight Running Please....

Ran 4.5 Miles last night - did not get a chance to hit Central Park until 8:30-ish, it was raining lightly, not too many runners at all it was in the 50's weatherwise, cold, dark, dank - I was not into it, was not enjoying it, and while running I went into a self-analysis mode to discern what's wrong - considered my diet, sleep, personal and professional matters nothing particularly stuck out as too troubling...and then presto!...it did not take me too long to note my last 3 outings for a run took place when it was very dark, cold relative to the Summer, and wet. Now I'm no hypochondriac but I could not help but wonder if I was having an acute SAD moment, it is possible. SAD, seasonal affective disorder due to the lack of light, the cold wet conditions. Got home and read studies have shown that people with seasonal affective disorder feel better after exposure to bright light. I read, "Replace lost sunlight with bright artificial light, and your mood improves. But it's actually far more complex. Alfred Lewy, MD, a seasonal affective disorder researcher at the Oregon Health & Science University, says it's not only a matter of getting light, but also getting it at the right time. "The most important time to get light is in the morning," he says. [end] He thinks seasonal affective disorder is due to a "phase-shift" of the circadian rhythm. The wall clock may tell you it's time to get up and at 'em, but your body's internal clock says you should be resting. Bright light in the morning resets your circadian clock. Lewy says. "The problem is waking up before dawn." Tom Wehr, researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, has proposed a new explanation for seasonal affective disorder: It may stem from too much melatonin. When the brain's pineal gland starts pumping out melatonin, we get sleepy. During winter, animals secrete melatonin for longer periods than they do at other times of the year. Wehr discovered that people do, too -- but only those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Light therapy would still work if melatonin were the main culprit, because light controls melatonin levels. Researchers are also testing a drug called propranalol, which they hope will improve seasonal affective disorder symptoms by curtailing melatonin flow in the morning hours. Lewy is studying the effects of small melatonin doses given in the afternoon, hoping that they will adjust circadian rhythms. That on the left is a Madhubani (India) painting called, "Blessing of the Sun". The weather alone will affect your mood ya'll - I don't care who you are - and no, I don't think I have SAD - but I do sense the environmental conditions of my last 3 outings on a run have impacted my enjoyment of the run. At some point today I think I will run with a friend and or in some daylight and who knows - the sun may even come out and I can enjoy its blessings! Here's a great listing of Seasonal Affective Disorder Articles & Overviews , might be helpful to someone out there. Have a great day!

Running into a Big Dick Contest

Okay - Monday clocked 6 morning miles, later that night 5 evening miles, 11 miles for a Monday - I'll take it, achilles a little stiff but tolerable. This morning in the rain I pushed 6 miles in Central Park. For the first time in almost a year I was in Central Park before 6:00 a.m. Wow, saw the whole early morning running scene, it was dark when I entered the park but it seemingly lightened up by the minute, soon it was dawn, then morning. When you enter a local running route at a time that's new and different for you - you encounter a whole new running culture. As runners we become regulars on our scene - familiar fixtures and so forth. So today I was the new entity on the "pre-dawn / dawn" Northern Loop (Harlem Hills) running scene. Now some of the regulars recognized me from a year ago - and I recognized them. However as I was heading up one of the steep hills I noted a runner behind me breathing and running hard - seemingly trying to catch me before I got to the crest of the hill. I noted this just prior to the top and was too close to the crest for this runner to quite catch me - I was only going at about 75%. But as we crested I maintained my pace and this runner slowed up - seemingly content to stay slightly behind me - I then picked up the pace a bit, as did this runner. I slowed a tad and sure enough the runner did too - at that juncture I thought, "I'll be damn, this motherfather is shadowing me" I know when I am being shadowed, I know when a runner is pacing off me, I know I know I know! I could not believe it, here I am minding my own business, it's the crack of dawn, and a runner is using me to train off? My next thought? "It is too early for a big dick contest.....dude just pass me". However no matter how I altered my pace this runner would not pass - as we rounded the North end of the park the runner stayed a consistent 5' - 7' or so off my ass. Ya'll know about the big dick contest right? I think it's usually a male thing - when you're training on your running route and some other runner comes along, perhaps shadows right on your ass a bit, kind of is like using you to pace off before they make their move to blast your ass....soon you too are picking up the pace equally and before you know - you're racing...you know damn well what I am talking about! You had no intention on competing with them, it's not something you asked for, circumstances just fell into place and you ended up racing in your training run. That's the big dick contest. It's entirely juvenile, immature, is not something to entertain or engage in - however having said all that, I find myself in a big dick contest about 3 times a year. I don't ask for these challenges ya'll - they kind of just "arise" (pardon the pun). Running etiquette? never intentionally shadow, pace, or tail off another runner. Why? You could easily be invading their running groove, their running zone. Your breathing, the sound of your foot strike, just your shadow and presence could be a thorn in their side, get on their nerve. Now if you're coincidentally simply running at a similar pace - that's fine - but shadowing a runner is just not cool - and we as runners know when someone is shadowing us. So this morning some runner is on my jock & sizing me up - literally measuring me - my potential - deciding how they were going to blast me off the course - this is not uncommon to have happen when you're in a new & different running culture - again, it's 6:00 am and today I am the new runner on the scene - so today I was this 6:00 am Superstar's "mark", their prey, and this runner was just sorting out strategy - measuring exactly how they were going to whip my ass and in the process inflate their ego - have the bigger dick (that's how they do ya'll - in my youth I used to do it - that's how I know). I never turned around to look at this runner- I only listened to every sound they made 5 - 7 feet behind me and oh yeah - we were already racing for half-a-mile. I just thought "I'm not waiting for you to make the move pal, whoever you are - we rounded the North loop near 110th St. near Lasker Pool/Skating rink running clockwise and I decided to shift into a major speed gear and blaze up the hill at a sub 6:00 min/mile pace to see if this SOB could hang. When you do this - this is the clear unmistakable declaration of "it's on" I basically pulled out my dick and dug in pedal to the metal and the runner became an increasing fading sound behind me - not sure if they answered my declaration or not - never bothered to take note - I continued my run and then thought about how stupid that just was, especially with my recovering achilles. Never ever engage in a big dick contest ya'll - it means nothing, is purposeless, you can injure yourself in the process - and worse of all - you can lose the contest! Have a great day ya'll.

Altering My Running Surfaces

Sunday I kind of took it easy and did something a little different - of the 5 miles I ran 3 were clocked on the dirt/gravel surface of the 1.58 mile reservoir running path of Central Park. That's what the path looks like on the right - the running path offers some of the best views of the mid-town & upper west side skyline like the example below, it's really spectacular. This is the very first jogging route of Central Park - I decided to run the path for a specific reason as I am rehab'ing my injured achilles. Studies have shown that when you run on a hard surface your Achilles tendon and foot work together to conserve energy by returning stored elastic energy into your next stride. When you run on soft surfaces, however, the re-utilization of stored elastic energy from your achilles tendon is reduced because the softer surface absorbs more of the energy. Biomechanist Liz Bradshaw, Ph.D (Human Movement & Exercise Science)., explains, "This difference in the action of the achilles tendon and calf muscles makes running on soft surfaces less specific to the requirements of road racing." I've beating my legs/feet up on the singular hard surface and that is the problem with running on concrete and asphalt all the time. It's difficult to run on this singular hard surface for long without consequences. Repetitive motion on the same surface is a recipe for eventual injury - you become strong in one way, but weak in all the others — and therefore vulnerable to injury. It pays to mix it up - change surfaces, etc. It's very likely when you're dealing with iliotibial band syndrome, shin splints, stress fractures, etc. likely a result from running on the same surface type - the slight adjustments from the varying surfaces all matter & benefit strengthening your lower body. To develop and maintain a well-rounded fitness, all of those leg-feet-ankle-calf-hip-knee reflexes and musculature need to be constantly stimulated and challenged! Ideally, everyone should run “cross-country.” Your run should be on hard and soft, constantly changing and unstable surfaces - grass, gravel, sand, etc - or in other words, a well balanced diet of running surfaces - so...going forward I am going to mix it up twice a week & clock some miles on dirt, gravel, grass, etc. - and so should you - have a great day!

Running By Central Park's Oldest Tree

Only ran once Saturday - mid-morning 5 miler at about an 8 min/mile pace - left achilles felt stiff, not too painful, but stiff - I over did it Friday night when I was ran 4.5 miles with some speed. Did my usual - ran down Lenox Ave. from 135th St. to Central Park and was greeted by a cool weather park. Wow, was it gorgeous - the first noticeable break / change in weather conditions for months - it actually felt very much like Autumn, complete with a breeze! Tons of runners in the park and everyone seemed to enjoy the weather tremendously - relief! For once we were not reminded how hot or humid or challenging the weather was on top of the running. Most North East runners concur, Autumn, with the cooling temperatures and ever changing scenery makes running best season of year to get out there and enjoy some miles. Saw and said hello to a lot of friends on the run and simply enjoyed Central Park taking particular note to a little fun fact that cropped up in my mind again as I ran by it - I'll share. At the northern tip of The Reservoir is Central Park's oldest tree. The above photo is of an old London planetree which is just east of the Tennis Courts and down the Reservoir jogging track. It is claimed to be the oldest tree in the park. The American sycamore or western planetree is North America's largest native broadleaf tree and is often planted in yards and parks. It's hybridized cousin, the London planetree, adapts very well to urban living. That's Russell Fredericks, Director of Horticulture and tree expert come measuring the tree diameter-at-breast height (DBH) of another old tree - these older trees of the designed Park originally planted in 1880 give or take 10 years. Trees of New York is a great website where if the spirit moves you, you can learn all about the trees in this metropolitan that is New York! I am only -planning on a morning 5 miler today - have a great day!

My Achilles Rehab Regime

Ran last night 4.5 miles in the rain - fantastic - some pain and stiffness in the achilles, got a little concerned when I felt acute heat sensation with a 80% running efforts - slowed down, no need to push it. How did I rehab myself? Well all runners should know the R.I.C.E. method for joint and muscle injuries. The RICE method is very helpful if you use it right away after an injury. Rest. For most injuries, rest the area until the pain decreases. For simple sore muscles, however, gentle stretching will reduce stiffness more quickly. Hold the stretch for 30 to 60 seconds, then rest and repeat five to 10 times. Do this several times a day. Ice. Ice is the most effective treatment for reducing inflammation, pain and swelling of injured muscles, joints and connective tissues—such as tendons, ligaments, and bursas. The cold helps keep blood and fluid from building up in the injured area, reducing pain and swelling. Apply ice as soon as possible after injury, even if you are going straight to the doctor. To speed recovery and ease pain, raise the injured area and apply ice for 20 minutes (10 to 15 minutes in children) every two to three hours while awake. For best results, place crushed ice in a plastic bag and wrap with a moist towel. Use an elastic bandage to hold the pack in place. During the first 48 to 72 hours, or as long as there is any swelling, do not apply heat to an injury. Heat increases blood flow to the affected area, which makes swelling and pain worse. Compress. Between icings, wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage to help control swelling and provide support. Begin wrapping at the farthest point away from the body and wrap toward the heart. For example, to wrap an ankle you would begin at the toes and wrap to the mid-calf. Don't sleep with the wrap on, unless told to do so by a doctor. And don't wrap too tightly! If the wrap begins to cause pain or numbness, or if toes become cool or white, remove the elastic bandage and wrap it more loosely. Elevate. Raising the injured area above your heart will allow gravity to help reduce swelling by draining excess fluid. At night, place a pillow under the area to support and raise it. Beyond this, the 2 things I did that are probably on the hardcore side?.... Kinesio Taping® when I ran while rehabing and even today - I'm taped up....this is based on the science of Kinesiology. The taping method and tape allow the body and muscles to move while assisting rehabilitation. The Kinesio Taping® method involves applying a specialized tape from origin to insertion, or insertion to origin over muscles to decrease pain and inflammation, reduce muscle fatigue and support muscles in movement 24 hours a day. This non-restrictive type of taping allows full range of motion. Kinesio Taping® is part of a complete patient assessment and rehabilitation program. That's what my ankle/achilles/leg looked like on the left from behind - I taped my ankle/achilles/calf (not my knee) once taped. But the big secret? Oxydrene. Q: What is Oxydrene? A: Oxydrene is a proprietary blend of 3 herbs (sedum crenulata, hippophae, and fructus lychii chinensis) clinically proven to accomplish one specific result: increased oxygen saturation in blood and tissue. Q: Why is blood and tissue oxygen saturation so important? A: Impaired or reduced blood and tissue oxygen levels limit your body's ability to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain energy, stamina, and endurance. Therefore, Oxydrene benefits virtually everybody for different reasons. Q: How long will it take for Oxydrene to work? A: You should feel the full power of Oxydrene within 3-4 days. Take the Oxydrene test! Select any exercise (push-ups, sit-ups, running, etc.) and do it until exhaustion. Write down the number of repetitions or elapsed time. After taking Oxydrene for 3 or 4 days, repeat the same activity. You will see a substantial increase in repetitions and/or elapsed time. Increased strength, stamina, and endurance! Q: Will Oxydrene make me nervous or give me "the jitters"? A: Oxydrene is not a central nervous system stimulant. Oxydrene increases blood and tissue oxygen saturation. Therefore, Oxydrene can increase strength, stamina, and endurance without causing nervousness Q: What is Oxydrene? A: Oxydrene is a proprietary blend of 3 herbs (sedum crenulata, hippophae, and fructus lychii chinensis) clinically proven to accomplish one specific result: increased oxygen saturation in blood and tissue.
Q: Why is blood and tissue oxygen saturation so important? A: Impaired or reduced blood and tissue oxygen levels limit your body's ability to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain energy, stamina, and endurance. Therefore, Oxydrene benefits virtually everybody for different reasons.
Q: How long will it take for Oxydrene to work? A: You should feel the full power of Oxydrene within 3-4 days. Take the Oxydrene test! Select any exercise (push-ups, sit-ups, running, etc.) and do it until exhaustion. Write down the number of repetitions or elapsed time. After taking Oxydrene for 3 or 4 days, repeat the same activity. You will see a substantial increase in repetitions and/or elapsed time. Increased strength, stamina, and endurance! Q: Will Oxydrene make me nervous or give me "the jitters"? A: Oxydrene is not a central nervous system stimulant. Oxydrene increases blood and tissue oxygen saturation. Therefore, Oxydrene can increase strength, stamina, and endurance without causing nervousness. I took Oxydrene to enhance oxygen flow through my ligaments/tendons. In sum, I did all I could to create an ideal environment for rapid healing. There you have it - I do some high risk things....while injured....but there is a foundation to it all. I'll be running easy this weekend. I should be 95% on Monday - heading out into Central Park now to clock 6 miles, have a great day everyone.