Asics Gel-1170

We have a brand new old time shoe on the wall here at the store. The 1170 is the newest iteration of the 1000 series from Asics. The 1170 has generally been considered the younger, less supportive brother (or sister) of the iconic GT 2000 series. But since everyone is looking for the next less thing, we thought the time had come to bring the 1170 to the big time.

This latest version is in our humble opinion the best ever. The ride is quick and fast, the support is noticeable but not overpowering, and it has the cushioned-yet-low-profile feel that is missing from most of the new light-weight shoes.

Sometimes less is more and in the case of the 1170, this is certainly the case. Everything you need in a durable long-distance trainer, and nothing else. Come check them out and we’re sure you will at least be tempted, if not instantly sold.

Ryders Sunglasses

Well, the sun has finally come out and right on cue, we got in a shipment of Ryders Sunglasses. Ryders is a new brand for us this year. They specialize in lightweight sport glasses, and more specifically, photo-chromatic lenses, which get darker as the sun gets brighter. It only takes half a minute or so and can come in really handy as your long afternoon run or ride turns into an epic evening affair.

Ryder is nice alternative to the more expensive Smith or Oakley glasses you see on superstar athletes and movie stars. They have good clear optics, (no fuzziness or distortion) and the frames are super sturdy.

For those of us not willing to fork out big bucks for glasses your small child will use as a binky, the Ryders range in price from $40 to $90. They are a great deal for some great glasses.

8/3/2011

We Now Carry Powerbar Drink, Gels, and Bars

Now that Powerbar is a major sponsor of the Ironman triathlon and will be the gel and drink on course at all the ull and half Ironman races this year, our customers have been looking for some of their products to test and get acquainted with.

Most athletes will be anxious to try the Perform Sports Drink. The C2MAX dual source energy blend with its 2:1 glucose to fructose ratio is supposed to deliver the sugar to the muscles up to50% faster than standard single carb’ drinks. (Apparently, discerning Scotch drinkers go with single malt, but with sports drinks you are better off going with the blended variety).

Besides the energy drink, we also now carry Powergels and some of the smoothie flavored Powerbars.

At Everyday Athlete we are excited to add Powerbar to our selection of nutrition products from Clif, Gu, and Hammer.

PowerBar Energy Gel — key features:

• Provides more energy to muscles with C2MAX
• Contains 200mg sodium vs. average leading competitors' 50mg sodium.
• No preservatives or artificial flavors
• 100 calories per packet

20 oz. of Ironman PERFORM sports drink mix—key features:

• 30 grams of carbohydrates
• 400 mg of sodium, a key electrolyte lost in sweat
• 150 calories
• Great light taste
• 52 servings per canister

Minimal Training Shoes

Have you sometimes wondered what all the hype’s about regarding barefoot running and low profile shoes? Though there is precious little scientific or clinical information on the benefits and perils of making the switch, many runners are giving it a try if for no other reason than to see what it is they might be missing.

Athletes spend so much time and energy working to get strong quads, calves, and cardiac muscles, it just seems natural to try and strengthen the little muscles that support their arches and ankles. So that is why we now carry a large array of light running shoes. We want our customers will be able to unleash their inner Kenyan. Barefoot “toe shoes” or flat-as-a-pancake slippers clearly are not ready for primetime, however we think most everyone can benefit from spending one or two days a week in lighter shoes. Whether it’s for a fast “tempo-run”, track practice, or a long run, lighter shoes will put a little spring in your step and a smile on your face.

At Everyday Athlete we have plenty of our best selling light shoe the Brooks Launch, as well as the eco friendly Brooks Green Silence. From Nike we have the Free Run 2+ and from Asics we have both the Hyperspeed and the slightly more substantial Skyspeed. Saucony makes a bunch of light shoes, the best of which is the Mirage. Two new additions to our light shoe collection are the K-Swiss Blade Lite and the OVWA from Zoot. The latter two are marketed mainly to triathletes but are great shoes for any runner looking for light, smooth shoes that promote a quick natural stride.

For more of Wade's thoughts on Barefoot running, check out his blog post titled, The Emperor Has No Shoes

Compression Socks, Sleeves, and Tights

After a slow start, Everyday Athlete is beginning to embrace the whole compression craze. What made us cautious were the wild claims from sales reps that their products would improve race times by up to five percent. Though such hyperbole was clearly a fiction, we did notice from our own trials and from first hand accounts from customers that there were some benefits to compression.

Our conclusion, and I think the consensus among the public, is that compression sleeves, socks, and tights, are most helpful as you recover from a hard workout or race. The support for the muscles and the marginal improvement in circulation may help speed up tissue repair. It is kind of like taking an ice bath as a treatment of “micro tears” after hard efforts. Compression is essentially first aid for your muscles.

You will see more and more athletes, both pros and age-groupers, using compression in a competitive setting. I think at best they can only indirectly lead to better performance. The muscle support may stave off cramping for those athletes that know they have some sort of predisposition to the problem. I think the attitude is, “it can’t hurt”, so why not try it. It’s one of those things where the efficacy simply can’t be proved. Would Shalane Flanagan have finished second at the New York Marathon without compression socks? We will never know. Performance is based on too many variables, none of which can be controlled in any scientific way.

So ignore the crazy claims of the various companies, but still give compression a try, especially if you are in a particularly hard phase of your training, or if you are one of those poor souls who routinely cramps up 15 miles into your long runs.

At Everyday Athlete we carry compression socks from Sugoi and Asics, as will as calf sleeves from Sugoi and Zensah, and full compression tights, again from Sugoi and Asics. Come on by and check ‘em out.

Early Release Shoes For 2011

All of our new shoes as of December are just updates of our best shoes from 2010. The two best sellers are the Asics 2000 series and the Brooks Adrenaline. Both arrived November 1^st and we have just about sold out of our first shipment. That’s a good sign.

The new Asics 2160 continues to build on its great reputation as both stable and well cushioned. We sometimes felt that last years’ 2150 was too corrective for a light stability shoe. The 2160 however strikes a better balance between helping the over-pronator from breaking down their shoes to the inside, while also helping the more neutral runner who likes the 2160 fit and appreciates having some extra support for the end of their long runs when their arches get tired and their ankles roll in.

We really like the feedback we have been getting with the Brooks Adrenaline 11. By replacing the Hydroflow cushion pack in the heel with a new-fangled “DNA” gel material, the Adrenaline now has a much more smooth heel/toe transition. It used to feel stable but “flat”. Now it is stable and soft and smooth. Very nice.

Other new shoes include the Brooks Defyance 4. It is a little lighter and softer but still has a snug heel and roomy toe-box. I think the Defyance will remain our main “orthotic shoe”. It has such a nice wide platform and stable base, but does not have the duel density midsole that can often throw off the correction built into your orthotic.

The new Nike Structure Triax is still a steady performer. Believe it or not it is one of the widest shoes we carry. Forget your old experiences with Nike shoes scrunching your little toe; the Triax is wide, soft, stable and cushioned. Definitely worth a try.

I can’t forget the new Asics Kayano 17. Perhaps the shoe with the most dedicated following among runners. Every year they shave off a little weight and this year is no exception. The funky off-centered lacing from a couple years ago is fudging back to the center of the upper. Really though, the eccentric lacing system never made much a difference in this shoe. The Kayano is and will always be about fit. After years of honing the dimensions, and spec’ing the shoe with the best materials available, the designers of the Kayano have made the closest thing we’ll see to a “does everything” shoe. It is uncompromisingly stable, soft, and with an incredible fit. Of course no shoe is good for everyone but the Kayano comes pretty close.

Full Sleeve vs. No Sleeve Wetsuits

My friends at the Speedy Reedy triathlon store tell me they sell 80% to 90% full sleeve wetsuits to their mostly experienced triathlete customers. Here at Everyday Athlete however, we sell about 80% sleeveless suits. Weird. My best explanation is that we sell mostly to runners converting to triathlon and to mostly beginning triathletes who don’t want to spend $600 after just forking over three house payments for their bicycle.

A full suit is of course a little bit warmer and it gives your body a smoother “keel” so you glide faster and farther with each stroke. In the real world however things are a little messier. A sleeveless suit always offers more free arm movement and for swimmers with big shoulders or big…chests, and this is very important. Beginners can feel overwhelmed by the cold, crowds, waves, and black scary depths of open water swimming and the last thing they need is to feel like they have a monkey on their back squeezing their shoulders. Top-of-the line suits can have more stretchy shoulder panels aiding flexibility, but that comes at a steep, steep cost. The basic Blue Seventy full suit is $300, while the top of the line Helix is twice that much!

Also, most triathlets have a sloppy leading edge (they don’t swim like Michael Phelps) so the smooth arm-pit of a full suit will make little difference. Our experience as shown us that beginning swimmers with inefficient strokes and non-olympic shaped bodies generally like a sleeveless suit over a low-end full suit.

I recommend simply trying out a suit before you buy it. Take it to a pool and swim a few laps in a long sleeve suit and if you feel restricted then try a sleeveless. Don’t get a full suit because it is “supposed” to be faster. Try it out and see for yourself.