Pretty much everyone who’s followed running trends in recent years knows that minimalism – a movement inspired by barefoot running – has been as hot as an Alabama August. So the trend’s going to continue unabated in 2012, right?
Not so fast. We have no doubt that many die-hard minimalists will continue to keep this segment of the sport alive and well in 2012, and perhaps even a few more converts will learn about minimal principles and integrate minimalism into their running regimen. But a lot of runners who dabbled in minimalism are looking for something in between a minimal shoe and a traditional shoe, something that will give them a little more protection while still keeping them in touch with the asphalt or trail.
New Trend Alert: Elementalism
What we’re really excited about, and what we think will be the hot trend this year, is a new category of running known as elementalism. It has its roots in minimalism, but adds back in some elements of traditional running. The basic idea is that elemental running slots in between the minimal experience where your foot does most of the work and a more traditional approach where your shoe is loaded to the gills with the latest cushioning technologies.
Elemental Shoe Characteristics
- Mid-Tier Stack Height: The stack height of most elemental shoes slots in between a minimal shoe and traditional running shoe models, getting you closer to the ground for better feel while still providing protection and cushion.
- Low Heel-to-Toe Drop: A more level platform is a key characteristic of shoes in this category. The low heel-to-toe drop of between 0 to 8mm encourages a mid-foot strike.
- Sub-10 oz Weight: Men’s elemental shoes universally come in under the 10oz weight that arbitrarily defines a “light” shoe. Most elemental shoes clear this barrier by several ounces.
- Flexible Midsole: Elemental shoes are designed to let your foot do more of what it wants during the natural running gait. Flexibility, particularly in the forefoot, helps the foot transition and improves toe-off.
- Streamlined Upper: Reduced overlays help to reduce weight and allow the foot to move more freely.
Some Current and Upcoming Elemental Models
Will Your Next Shoe Be Elemental?
So, what do you think of this latest trend? Will 2012 really be the year of elementalism? Drop us a comment with your thoughts.
Matt Uncategorized elemental running shoes, elementalism, minimalism, Minimalist Running Shoes
Soleus GPS 1.0 Digital Sport Watch
Soleus is jumping into the GPS market with the GPS 1.0 Digital Sport Watch. With an MSRP of $99, the new Soleus GPS watch targets runners seeking a simple-to-use speed/distance watch to monitor training.
Main Features
- GPS: high-sensitivity receiver
- Distance: current & total in Miles or Km
- Pace/Speed: current & average
- Calories Burned: current & total Kcal burned
- Chrono: 24-hour, 1/100 second resolution
- Data Storage: 100-lap memory
- World Time: 106 cities covering all time zones
- Rechargeable Battery: USB rechargeable lithium-ion
Looking at the list above, it’s clear Soleus created a value-priced GPS watch with desirable core-run features. Additionally, the watch includes: time-of-day, date, alarms, multiple time zones and a backlight. All these features are packaged in a wristwatch that looks to be about the same size as Soleus’ current Ultra Sole or 262 watch models.
While there is no heart rate monitor option nor computer data-transfer capability, runners who want to track their pace/speed and distance will find it in the new GPS 1.0.
The Soleus GPS 1.0 Digital Sport Watch is expected to be available October 2011.
Randy Uncategorized GPS, Soleus, Soleus GPS 1.0, Speed/Distance Monitor, Sport Watch
Lava gel is no longer available at Running Warehouse. For information on the company and where to purchase its products, please visit www.squeezy.com.
Randy Uncategorized Energy Gel, Lava Gel, Lava Salts, Running Nutrition
I set out to do my fourth AR50 on April 9th. The 32nd running of the 2nd largest 50 miler in the nation brought cool weather and crisp, clear skies. I knew my first time running under race director, Julie Fingar, would not disappoint.
My alarm went off at 4:30AM. Knowing we needed to leave the house no later than 4:50 made me realize I’d underestimated how long I really needed to get ready. Hurrying anxiously, I put on my pre-planned racing garb. As the saying goes, don’t wear anything you haven’t trained in…well that went out the window with my new Asics Everysport shorts. I felt pretty confident they wouldn’t cause me trouble. But I never mess with shoes and socks. This time I went for my tried and true Drymax socks and Montrail Rogue Racers. After a little bite of banana, I couldn’t palate much more, I headed out the door for a chilly 30-minute drive to the start.
There was nervous energy in the air between my brother-in-law, Marc, my pacer, Lee, and myself. The thought of “why am I doing this” always enters my head around this time. For some reason I can never fully convince myself that it would be easier to sleep in and be a “normal” person. As we miss a turn, Marc says something about not being disappointed if we miss the start. Both knowing full well that much time and sacrifice goes into training for ultras; it’s not easy with 2 kids and a full-time job. AR has been the biggest key motivator for me since giving birth to my second daughter last year. I can’t afford to miss this race. Read more…
Erik Uncategorized
The RW Team just returned from a few days in Austin, Texas attending The Running Event, an annual trade show open to running specialty retailers from around the country. It features all of the top brands displaying many of their newest products and concepts. Here’s an overview of some of the new products we found of particular interest.
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Joe Uncategorized Asics Nimbus, Brooks Glycerin, Brooks Pure Run, Galen Rupp, John Truax, Mizuno Global Elite Apparel, Mizuno Wave Enigma, Mizuno Wave Rider, Mizuno Wave Universe 2, Mizuno Wave Universe 3, Mizuno Wave Universe 4, Nike Lunar Structure, Nike Structure Triax, Nike Victory, Nike Vomero, Nike Waffle Racer VIII, Reebok Ventilator, Salomon, Salomon Fellcross, Salomon Speedcross 3 ClimaShield, Salomon Spikecross, Salomon XR Crossmax, Salomon XR MIssion, Saucony Hattori, Saucony Kinvara, Saucony Mirage, Saucony ProGrid Cortana, Saucony Triumph, The Running Event, XT Wings Softground
Several months back I received an email out of the blue by a young man named Nick End. Nick introduced himself as a former collegiate runner for Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. He and two classmates had developed a program that could suggest the proper size of shoe to order based on the size of your current shoe. It could also compare the fit of different shoes using internal measurements. I was skeptical. How could you effectively and accurately compare the size and internal dimensions of various shoes?
Shoefitr, the latest fit-help addition to Running Warehouse
Even though I was skeptical, I was very interested in the premise. Key barriers against customers ordering shoes online are not knowing what size to order or how a shoe will fit. If Nick actually had a program that could compare the size and fit of various models and it worked, you could increase customer confidence in ordering while hopefully decreasing the return rate. An added bonus would be the ability over time to compare shoes from past seasons to current available models. How many times have you heard “Remember Shoe X, I loved the fit of that shoe. I wish I could find a shoe that fit like that again.” Over time this would help solve that dilemma.
Read more…
Joe Uncategorized shoefitr
20 years ago, I was part of a team that was pulled together at the last minute to run the 1990 Hood to Coast Relay, a 1000 team, 200 mile journey from Mt Hood to the town of Seaside, Oregon where Lewis and Clark ended their journey. Teams are made up of 12 runners who run in order 1-12 an average of 6 miles each before repeating the order again and then again a third time. All runners average about 18 miles. The five time defending champions in 1990 were “The Killer Bees.” We named ourselves “Black Flag” with the expressed goal of exterminating the Killer Bees.
2010 Black Flag Hood to Coast logo
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Joe Uncategorized Black Flag, Bob Foote, Brett Kimple, Chris Hollis, Dave Frank, Eugene team, Greg Whitely, Harry Green, Hood to Coast Relay, Jeff Atkinson, Joe Rubio, John Dimoff, Ken Ellingboe, Kevin Ostenberg, Kevin Searls, Killer Bees, Marc Oleson, Mike Livingston, Pau Astorino, Rick Brauer, Rob Anex, Ron Faith, Ryan Stoll, Toby Cook, Tom Fuchs, Victor Santamaria
Team Lifeline is a great organization that raises money for Chai Lifeline which is the international children’s health support organization that provides crucial emotional, social, and financial assistance to seriously ill children, their families, and communities.
Running Warehouse is partnering up with Team Lifeline by providing a free pair of running shoes for those that sign up and complete the program by raising the minimum fund needed to earn a free trip to the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon December 5, 2010 or the ING Miami Marathon January 30, 2011. Online coaching is provided to help reach your goals.
Details of the organization and the program can be found here: http://www.teamlifeline.org/
You need to enter “RW10” in the coupon field to identify yourself as a Running Warehouse customer and thus eligible for the free pair of shoes. Additionally, entering this code will grant you a $25 discount off the normal $75 registration fee. The offer is only available to new Team Lifeline Participants and expires July 31, 2010.
Additional questions about the program or this promotion can be directed to info@teamlifeline.org
Joe Uncategorized Chai Lifeline, Team Lifeline
It was time again for the RW crew to head to the annual Asics Gold Account Meeting held this year at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort just outside of Austin, Texas. This annual meeting is held to provide the top Asics running specialty accounts across the nation an opportunity to meet face to face with key people at Asics and to see the upcoming Asics product for future seasons.
Joe and '04 Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist Deena Kastor at the 2010 Asics Gold Account Meeting
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Joe Uncategorized Asics, Asics Dirt Diva, Asics Dirt Dog, Asics Gel Cumulus, Asics Gel DS Sky Speed, Asics Gel DS Trainer 14, Asics Gel DS Trainer 16, Asics Gel Evolution 6, Asics Gel Kayano, Asics Gel Landreth 6, Asics Gel Nimbus, Asics Gel Noosa Tri 6, Asics Gel Sppedstar 5, Asics Gel Tarther, Asics Gel Tarther Diva, Asics GEL-DS Racer 8, Asics GEL-DS Trainer 15, Asics Gold Account Meeting, Asics Hyper Speed 4, Asics Piranha 3, Asics Speedstar 5, Asics Tempo Run Collection, Bernard Lagat, Bob Kennedy, Chris Solinsky, Deena Kastor, Ecsaine, Heel Clutch Collar System, Jim Spivey
For the past 10+ years, my wife and I have attended the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University the first weekend in May. Over the years we have witnessed some outstanding performances. Race such as Meb and Denna setting American Records in the 10k and Shalane Flanagan setting the AR in the women’s 5,000. Additional highlights include Bob Kennedy’s 27:36 and Alan Webb’s 10k debut win, this on top of the great 1500′s, steeples and 5,000 that happen every year. Even though this meet has some excellent distance events, the highlight of the evening are usually the 10,000′s.
Joe Rubio, Joe Vigil, Steve Boaz and Armando Siqueiros following the New American Record in the Men's 10,000 at the 2010 Payton Jordan Invitational
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Joe Uncategorized Alan Webb, Amy Yoder Begley, Asics Aggies, Ben Bruce, Bob Kennedy, Chris Solinsky, Deena, Galen Rupp, Joe Vigil, Jordan Hasay, Lindsay Allen, Mando Siqueiros, McMillan Elite, Meb, OTC, Payton Jordan Invitational, Sergio Reyes, Shalane Flanagan, Steve Boaz