Latest and Greatest Training Gear

Asics Gel-1170

2011-09-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

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

2011-01-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-04T16:48:00.000-08:00

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

2010-05-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Sport Beans by Jelly Belly

2010-04-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

By popular demand ... SPORT BEANS!

"It's about time" someone said. Natural ingredients; Carb's, Electrolytes, Vitamins, the whole deal. And they actually taste really good.

The package conveniently reseals if you don't eat 'em all which means less waste.

A box of 24 bags is $25, and individual bags go for just $1.25 each. Come check them out.

Pearl izumi Triathlon Shoes

2010-04-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

Everyday Athlete has taken the plunge and is now carrying some bike shoes. We are starting slow with one option from Pearl izumi. Since we already do a lot of triathlon apparel and have started carrying some running shoes from Pearl', we thought they were the natural choice for a simple triathlon bike shoe.

The Tri-Fly III has a simple two strap closure system for simple transitions yet snug adjustable fit. The sole is a stiff nylon/plastic material that is designed to maximize your leg-to-pedal energy transfer.

The Tri-Fly is compatible with all of the popular pedal systems including two-sided mountain bike pedals. For a triathlon novice, this shoe is a great deal at only $125, but has all the features a veteran cyclist needs.

Lance here at the store says that he "has used the Tri-Fly in races from sprints to a full Ironman". Recently he has purchased one of the $250 pair of light weight shoes from Pearl', but the Tri-Fly remains his favorite for day to day riding.

We have lots of sizes for men and women in 1/2 size increments, so stop by sometime and check 'em out.

New Procucts from Clif

2010-03-02T15:12:00.001-08:00

Bloks
In their never ending quest to make us all eat like astronauts, Clif has developed a protein powered Whopper. These "Shot Rocks" are kind of like their Shot Blocks chews but with a hard candy cover that keeps it from melting in your pocket or your hand. These Bloks come in three great flavors, Chocolate; Peanut Butter; and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. All good choices. So far the initial response has been great. Each packet of 9 chews has 4.5g fat, 38g carbs, and 20g protein. The formula seems most appropriate for a between workout snack, but when combined with and energy drink, they would make a fine supliment for epic workouts and post workout recovery.

Our favorite between workout snack is still the Clif Mojo Dipped bars. We have a hard time keeping them in stock because our staff keeps buying us out.
We have a good selection of Clif's other great products including Shot Bloks, Luna bars and and three flavors of Mojo Bars. Come on by and try a couple so you can find which flavors sit best with your system.
Train Hard!
Wade--

Aqua Sphere Swim and the Brooks Launch

2010-01-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

Swim Accessories from Aqua Sphere
We are excited to have the Aqua Sphere Kaiman goggle back in the store. These very popular and great fitting traditional goggles have a flexible lens that wraps nicely around your noggin for a great seal both indoors and out in the open water. Right now we have clear and blue lenses, but will have more choices as the season progresses. The Kaiman retails for $20.

For those of you who feel a little claustrophobic in regular goggles, or can’t seem to find ones that fit, we also have the Vista swim mask. The Vista comes with a huge silicone seal that rests comfortably on your cheeks and forehead. Easy adjustability, great visibility, and a free bottle of anti-fog drops make this mask a favorite for just $35.

A new addition to our swim selection are the Alpha Fins from Aqua Sphere. These fins are the lightest, most buoyant, and most comfortable training fins you will find anywhere. Weather you are working on leg strength with a long kick set, or need a propulsion aid as you practice a particular pulling skill, these fins are awesome. (Coaching hint: when kicking with fins, work hard to keep your stomach tight and body straight. It is easy to let your back arch and the resulting tightness will make your life miserable for days afterward. When kicking with fins, I recommend not using a board and kicking on your back.) The Alpha Fins come in five sizes to fit anyone from a woman’s 5.5 to men’s 13. They retail for $35.

And don’t forget that we have more goggles, caps, swim suits, and pull buoys from TYR; and goggles, thermal caps, and wetsuits from Blue Seventy.

The Brooks Launch
Is it a racing shoe? Is it a training shoe? It seems even the smart folks at Brooks don’t know the answer to that one, so in the catalog they listed it as both. The Launch is the Van Morrison of running shoes; they both transcend categorization. But the fact is people like ‘em.

The Launch reminds us a bit of the old Brooks Burn, but even smoother, softer, lighter, and with Brooks’ new accelerated “toe-spring” last. For the real old-timers like me, there are hints of the iconic Nike Terra TC. A racing flat that is so comfortable, stable, and soft, you can’t help doing most of your long and fast runs in them.

The Launch retails for $90 so stop by and try them out.

Monthly Reviews Comming Soon

2009-12-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

We will regularly update this space with reviews of clothing, shoes, and accessories that you will find on the walls and racks of Everyday Athlete in Kirkland. Stay tuned!