We got out our crystal ball, gave it a good spit shine, and came up with 10 running trends to watch in 2012. What do you think will be hot in the wide world of running this year?
Click on each trend to read all about it!
5. Bold Shoe and Apparel Colors
6. Crazy Races
9. Fitness Apps
You might not know it with how much coverage there’s been of the 2012 Presidential race, but there will be quite a few other races to watch this summer. The Olympic Games are coming to London this August.
Athletics events will take place at various times throughout the Olympic Games schedule, from August 3 through August 12. As you probably heard, the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials took place in Houston on January 14. Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman will run the Men’s race for the U.S. Team, while Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher earned a starting spot in the Women’s race.
But there are still plenty of qualifying races to watch before the Games start. Many of you probably already have your flight booked to Tracktown USA. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Track and Field will take place from June 21 to July 1 in Eugene, Oregon. There will be television coverage of many events on NBC and its affiliates for those of you who can’t make it to Hayward Field to witness the drama firsthand.
If you’ve never gone to an Olympic Trials event, we’d encourage you to check it out. Our staff who have made the trip in the past always found the events to be exciting, and it’s a real hoot to chat with other fans from across the country who love the sport as much as you do.
We’ll keep an eye on more Olympic stories as summer approaches, but we expect an exciting year of competition ahead. What are you looking forward to in this year’s Olympics?
New Balance MT110, One of Many New Streamlined Trail Shoes
A lot of innovation has been happening in the trail running shoe sector over the past year. Trail shoes are echoing their road counterparts in that they are getting lighter, lower and more nimble.
Not long ago, trail shoes were characterized by stiff midsoles, aggressive outsoles, and uppers with plenty of overlays. The keyword was “protection” from trail debris. But in recent seasons, trail and ultra runners have been demanding speed and better connection with the ground along with adequate protection. We think it makes sense that runners who prefer natural terrain are also attracted to the idea of a more natural running experience.
As every runner knows, lighter weight is an essential component of a faster shoe. Manufacturers are introducing more trail models that are stripped down but still offer the core features your feet need to stay safe on the trail.
Of course, there are several minimal models for the trail runner as well, including the Merrell Trail Glove, Vivobarefoot Neo Trail, and the upcoming New Balance MT/WT00. We think the latest crop of elemental trail shoes strikes a healthy balance, offering grip, rock protection and a little cushioning along with a nimble feel for the ground.
What will be your shoe of choice for the trails in 2012?
We're pretty sure this guy's doing it wrong.
It’s the shortest month of the year, and we’re celebrating with the shortest race we’re featuring all year. Cupid’s Undie Run is just 1.5 miles long, meaning that for a lot of you it’ll be over before you can say “Meb Keflezighi.”
So what’s the big deal? Well the name says it all, people. Keyword: Undie. February 11, 2012 is your chance to run with hundreds of other people in natty nighties, boffo boxers, and too-revealing tighty-whities. Add in a pretty solid chance for brisk weather in most of the cities hosting an event (New York, Washington DC, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Denver and Seattle) and you’ve got a recipe for race-day memories.
All this fanny freezin’ is for a good cause of course, with proceeds benefitting The Children’s Tumor Foundation, an organization dedicated to ending neurofibromatosis through research. Race organizers have raised over $75,000 to date for research into this debilitating genetic disease.
We’re betting this all sounds like a pretty big hoot. But, you say, I don’t have an undergarment that’s ready to see the light of day. First of all, that’s a little nasty. Seriously. Put underwear on your next Target shopping list. But also, think about buying a pair of “custom Cupid’s undies” to clothe your behind and raise a little extra cash for the cause.
So you’ve got the time, you’ve got the skill, you’ve got the undies and you’ve got a bunch of race locations to choose from. It’s not too late to register and run, unless you live near DC. Then it is too late. That race is sold out. But still 5 cities are just waiting for you so register today for this race on February 11, 2012!
Go on a site like www.active.com or www.runningintheusa.com and you’ll find hundreds of races of all kinds happening all over the U.S. in the coming year. While more and more runners join the sport each year, growth in the number of races and in the turnout for many races has outpaced the growth of the sport in general.
There are some fascinating stats published in Running USA’s latest National Runner Survey (http://www.runningusa.org/statistics). Anyone who loves seeing the sport grow will have a lot of fun and get a lot of satisfaction from seeing the most recent statistics. It all adds up to 2012 being a banner year for running races. Here’s what’s happening:
From 2005 to 2010 (the most recent year for which data are available), the number of road race finishers increased by 35%, to 13 million. That’s a much bigger increase than the 9% seen from 2000 to 2005. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the increased interest in racing has continued over the past couple of years, with 2012 set to be a record-setting year in terms of race participation.
So where are all these new racers coming from, you ask? Overwhelmingly, the growth comes from female runners, who represented over 50% of race finishers in 2010 (53%, to be exact). The number of female finishers grew from 3.6 million in 2000 to 6.9 million in 2010. Male finishers went from almost 5 million to just over 6 million.
Again according to the National Runner Survey, the number of participants in half marathons has skyrocketed. Half-marathon finishers rose from 482,000 in 2000 to 1,385,000 in 2010, an increase of almost 200%. In comparison, over the same time frame the number of marathon finishers rose by only 44%.
For starters, the clear message is that if you have your eye on a particular race, make sure to register early. Many of the country’s most popular races are set to sell out early, so you better get your bib number well in advance.
Bigger race turnout also means you’ll have more opportunities to connect with runners in your area and at your skill level. Here’s a good New Year’s Resolution (if you don’t have a few already): make a new friend at the next running event you attend. What better way to feel like a part of the growing run community?
Here at Running Warehouse, we’re all about offering products that give our customers the performance features they need to achieve their best on the road, trail or track. But if you can do all that with a little flair, then why not? That seems to be the thinking of a lot of our manufacturers too, who have stepped up their color combos big time for 2012.
For many years, we’ve been fans of shoes that make a big first impression on your foot. Think Asics Gel Noosa Tri, Brooks Green Silence, Nike Zoom Victory and some of the other lively track spikes that have come out in recent years.
Apparently we were just ahead of the curve, because now every manufacturer is ramping up color across their line. We mentioned this last week with a sneak peek of Asics Fall 2012 shoes, but expect to see a rainbow of colors from New Balance, Nike, Brooks, Mizuno and pretty much every other shoe manufacturer this year as well.
Taste the Rainbow of Shoe Colors
Bright, bold colors can help to keep you safe on the road, so it’s no surprise to see neon greens, yellows, pinks and oranges in the Brooks Nightlife collection and the ViZiPro line from Saucony. But color’s not stopping there, with popping apparel pieces in the Spring lineup for Brooks, Nike, and more.
Look for many saturated colors this spring, along with some fun pastels and some bold Men’s color combos too.
We’ve been toying with the idea of showing off some of the colors, along with some of the latest designs and fabrics, in a Spring 2012 Fashion Show. What do you think? Would a video intro to some of the colors on tap this Spring help you decide whether this season’s color choices are a fave or a flop?
Apparently, some of you out there thought that running 26.2 miles in a row wasn’t enough of a challenge, or at least wasn’t sparking quite enough fun in your life. Races with a little bit of zany (or a lot, in the case many past runnings of the Bay to Breakers) have been going strong for quite some time, but we’re impressed by the sheer volume of crazy races, obstacle courses, mud runs and nude dashes that have been put on in the past few years.
Looks like we’ll have a bumper crop o’ crazy in 2012, as some of the big names add more locations and dates while many other races see a rise in registrations.
Warrior Dash: Adding 14 more race locations than there were in 2011, the Warrior Dash is going strong with its “hellish” obstacle courses. (info)
Spartan Race: With nearly 50 events in North America and the UK this year, Spartan Race promises “pure primitive craziness.” (info)
Urbanathalon: Started in 2006 by the publishers of Men’s Health, this year’s event locations have yet to be announced. (info)
Dark and Dirty Run: Get ready for 6.66 miles of nighttime trail running in rural Pennsylvania. As the organizer says, “We provide the organization, you provide the illumination.” (info)
Urban Iditarod: Want to watch people dressed in crazy costumes bark like dogs and pull shopping carts around for a few miles? Head to Portland, Oregon on February 25. (info)
Holiday Runs: Plenty of good times can be had at fun runs in your area for St. Patty’s, Halloween and Thanksgiving too.
Maybe we’re just a bunch of nevernudes, but we find it a bit hard to wrap our heads around why you want to race naked. That’s a whole lot of unnecessary flippin’ and floppin’. Just sayin’. But don’t let us harsh on your fun if you’re planning to take part in the Bare Buns 5K, Bare Dare 5K, Streak the Cove 5K, or another less well clothed, er, we mean known, naked race happening somewhere in this big ol’ country of ours.
Consider a Coach in 2012
Certainly, coaching has been around for centuries. And probably every one of you has had a coach or two along the way who has inspired you to perform better and try harder. So what’s so special about coaching in 2012?
Well, coaching has been getting a fresh look in recent years, as more runners in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond turn to a personal coach for guidance on topics such as improved running form, race strategy and injury prevention. You can partner with a coach longer-term, or use coaching resources to help you do better with a specific goal.
If you’re looking to get in better shape this year or shave time off your next race, a coach can certainly help. A good coach can get you closer to that new PR, and can provide motivation for more casual runners who want to get deeper in the sport. They’ll help you develop a personal training plan and follow through with regular feedback about your performance.
There are many ways to find a coach. If you’re part of a running club or group, ask around to see if any of the other members have had a personal coach and get their feedback on that coach’s strengths and weaknesses. You can also go online to find a coach. One helpful site is the Road Runner’s Club of America, which offers a Find a Coach service, though there are several other coach locators on the Web as well. The service from RRCA is particularly nice because every coach it lists has completed a certification program
If you’re looking for educational resources to supplement the coaching you receive, be sure to check out our selection of Running DVDs that can help you improve your strength and your race times.
With so many advancements in running apparel technology in recent years, it can be hard to imagine what’s on the horizon next. From what we’ve seen from our manufacturers so far, 2012 is shaping up to be a year of refinements to existing technology, rather than a revolutionary year of product innovations.
Want to see some of the latest in run apparel and technology? Click on the apparel finder on the right-hand side of the Men’s or Women’s homepage, or view apparel collections by brand from the menu on the left of our site.
So you’ve got an iPhone or smartphone. And you’re really trying to kick your addiction to Bejeweled, Words with Friends, or another must-have game. Well you’re in luck – there are a bunch of fitness apps for runners that can help you turn your phone from a time waster to a time chaser.
We think the many app stores and markets will be selling oodles of apps in 2012 to help runners perform a little bit better. Here are just a few of the many worth a look:
We think a lot more people will be downloading these apps in the coming year. Which app keeps you motivated on your runs?