Run Tech In The Valley

Rev3 Adventure Race in Shenandoah River State Park 16 April 11

2011-04-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday, 16 April 11 Team Appalachian Outdoors Adventures (myself, Howard, Kris, and Chris) participated in the Rev3 Adventure Race at the Shenandoah River State Park. This was our second adventure race as a team and we did really well. Fourth out of six four man teams and 16 overall out of 33 teams. Our time was a little over 19 hours.
Last year we raced the Odessey 24 hour race in June at Fincastle Virginia. Only three teams even finished that race. The Rev3 race was fun because it was finishable and you didn't feel beat up when you finished. This was a challenging race not only because of weather (thunderstorms, rain all day, hail, mud, swollen river) but also because of the course itself. The canoe portion had to be cancelled because the river was flooding from all the rain. So, the bike course was extended through Ft Valley about 40 miles and then the orienteering course took place in the Shenandoah River State Park. There was a final mountain bike course that was challenging because of terrain and mud. It was also in the park.

During the race I carried the Osprey Raptor 18 Liter Adventure Pack. This pack was designed for mountain biking and adventure racing and it did great. Light weight but carried everything I needed during the race. It was very comfortable to wear for 19 plus hours. I felt no strain on my shoulders at all.

This is the team after the race!
Rev3 does a family race, a sprint, and the epic, which we did. If you are considering trying an adventure race you can't go wrong with Rev3.
http://www.daddiophoto.com/AdventureRacing/Rev3-Adventure-April-16-2011/16655105_2sRS49#1255610238_QBG8fjm
This video will give you a flavor of all the fun we had.

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Virginia Duathlon and Pearl Izumi Tri Fly III Cycling Shoes

2011-04-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

I recently went down to Surry, Va to participate in the Virginia Duathlon. It was supposed to take place on 27 March but the weather was so bad that it was postponed to 10 April. I am glad it was! The weather on race day was 55 degrees and sunny. Great racing weather.
The course was a fast one, fairly level with some short sharp steep hills that made my legs scream. It took place in the Chippokes State Park, a really beautiful park if you have never been there. The roads were back country roads, the kind of pavement that has a rough finish, not a very smooth ride but you could not beat the scenery! The wind did pick up a bit on the back side of the bike portion - a headwind no less. This was my first race of the season and the first duathlon I have raced in years. I am a stronger runner than cyclist and the bike kept me from being on the platform. I came in 4th in my age division, 55-59.
There were between 300 and 400 participants. My complete results are as follows:
Total time - 2:04:00.70
First 5K - 22:56.95, overall place-40, pace 7:24
Bike - 1:13:38.95, overall place-64, speed 17.9 mph
Second 5K - 25:27.60,overall place-48, pace 8:13
Overall finish place was 50, and gender finish place was 43.
I wore the Pearl Izumi Tri Fly III cycling shoes for the first time and quite liked them. They are extremely light and very stiff. The best power transfer in a shoe I have ever had. I reccomend them highly.
I will be making this duathlon a yearly tradition now. Not only was it a fun race to participate in but the free barbeque at the end of the race was really great.

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Duncan Knob and Teva Hiking Shoes

2011-04-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Today, 7 April the puppy and I took advantage of the great weather and hiked up to one of our most favorite spots, Duncan Knob. The trail is just under five miles, up and back, rocky, and steep with a small rock scramble near the top. Because of the bad weather we have had the last couple of months the trail was muddy with water running down the middle for large parts of the hike.

There were also some large blowdowns across the trail also.

The weather was warm and the puppy was not quite used to the heat but she found the doggy spa on the trail to cool off in.

This is a technical (for me) mountain bike trail also. I have pushed my bike up the trail but rode down it, at night no less!! On this hike I was wearing a new pair of Teva Raith mid cut hiking shoes. They were a little stiff starting off in but after a couple of miles they broke in just fine. These shoes like all Teva shoes are waterproof, so after all that slogging in the mud and water my feet stayed dry.
To get to Duncan Knob you take Rt 675 to Crissman Hollow Road and then to Gap Creek Trail. Follow the blue blazes to the fire pit just below the summit.

Then follow the white blazes up to the rock scramble. Once on top you get this fantastic view of the Shenandoah River and the valley.

In the next picture if you look close you can see Athena staring at a vulture that was sitting on a rock in front of us.

It is hard to see since I took the picture with my camera phone. At one point they were only about 20 feet from each other. Duncan Knob is a very worthwhile hike. Once you get on top you can sit on the rocks, eat lunch, and soak in the sun and scenery.

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Massanutten Trail Campsites

2011-04-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

On friday, 1 Apr, Athena and I went for a six mile hike on the Massanutten Trail. Since I have been out there last year it looks like some work has been done to the trail by a dozer. The trail is wider and more "improved."

There are a couple of popular overnight camping spots on the trail between the trailhead on Rt 675 and Scothorn Gap.

The first one is a large area where you can get in close to four tents by the creek.

It has a makeshift grill/fire pit.

The second one is at the intersection of the Massanutten Trail and Scothorn Gap Trail, about three miles from the trailhead on Rt 675.

It is a smaller site for two tents. It looks like someone was building a leanto on the site also.

It has a smaller firepit.

We had a pleasant hike, it snowed a couple of times on us and then the sun would come out. This is a fun, easy trail to hike, bike, and run.

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Mountain Biking on the Wildflower Trail

2011-03-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, 29 Mar, the puppy and I went mountain biking for the first time together. We went on the Wildflower Trail so I could try out some tires I will be using for the Adventure Race on 16 April. I was a little apprehensive at first about how Athena would interact with the bike on the trail. I was worried she might try and stay too close to the bike and be in the way if I had to make an abrupt manuever (I am still a novice at mountain biking). She did great! As always she would run way ahead of me, stop and wait for me to catch up and then take off again.

Wildflower trail is a really easy trail to go riding on. The only technical aspects of it are some stream crossings and small rock gardens, which I had to get off and walk through, but for experienced riders would pose no problems. It was crisp and cloudy out with some snow still on the ground. The creek was running good and Athena was loving it, laying in the middle of a pool and drinking the cold water.

We only went about 6 miles as this was a trial run for the two of us. I wanted to gauge how well she would hold up going faster than we normally do when running. Again, she did great! The Wildflower Trail is fantastic for running, biking and hiking and is one of my top trails to play on. If you follow the trail all away around back up to the top of the ridge it will take you to Bird Knob.
Pretty soon the Dogwoods and Pink Ladies will be blooming and that is really the time to get on Wildflower Trail.

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Stephen's Trail/Kennedy Peak Loop

2011-03-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

On 14 March, I and my puppy (Athena) ran the Stephen's Trail/Kennedy Peak Loop. We started from the upper RT 675 Trail head - the traditional way to hike up to Kennedy Peak. The weather was perfect, about 71 degrees. I ran in a long sleeve shirt (it was still a little chilly up there) and carried my Nathan X-Treme hydration pack. We ran up to the peak where I dropped off the "Rock of AOA" and then headed down the ridge. Athena had a great time, running twice as far and twice as fast as me, chasing squirrels, bounding over fallen trees and splashing through all the fallen leaves on the ground. According to my watch the run was 8.8 miles and it took us 2 hours and 7 minutes to run. The sign at the lower trailhead says the route is 9.2 miles.
We ran most of the way, fortunately it was mostly downhill. The last mile back up to Edith Gap was steep and we had to walk that part. All in all it was an easy fun run, very doable for the average runner.

Athena at mile 4.8 taking a cooling break

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Nathan X-Treme Hydration Pack

2011-02-23T13:02:00.000-08:00

On President's Day I ran up to Kennedy Peak (about 4.5 miles up and back) wearing a Nathan X-Treme Hydration Pack. I have been wearing a few hydration packs for running and by far this is my favorite one. It has a 3 liter bladder, a zippered main compartment, with an expandable stash pocket and a small zippered pouch.

What I really like about this pack is the lightweight harness with adjustable shoulder straps. They velcro so you can raise or lower the pack higher or lower on your back depending on your preference. Also I really like the cross harness in the front. Instead of shoulder straps that can bind and cut off circulation while running, the Nathan harness crosses in front of your chest leaving your arms and shoulders free to move while running without any binding. Also, this puts the small zippered pouch right in front of you which is easy to get to get cell phone, gels or whatever you may be carrying.
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Kennedy Peak Loop - GSI Telescoping Spoon and Primus Classic Trail Stove

2011-02-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

Saturday, 12 Feb four of us and three dogs hiked the Kennedy Peak Loop - 9.2 miles. This is a fairly easy hike that only has one short steep section. The temperature was in the upper 30s but with a wind blowing it sure felt colder! Once we got to the top of the ridge it was a mile to Kennedy Peak. At the base of Kennedy Peak we stopped to eat lunch. I brought my Primus Classic Trail Stove (compressed gas) my GSI Dualist cook set and a GSI Telescoping Spoon. The Primus is my favorite stove, it is small, lightweight and works all the time. There is no spills, fumes or all the other problems you have with liquid fuel stoves.

The GSI Dualist cookset has always worked well for me. It boils fast and cleans easily but I think I will try out the GSI Kettle cookset or the Minimalist. I used the GSI Telescoping Spoon to stir and eat with. I have used this spoon about four or five times and am not really happy with it. It is too short to stir with easily and the rubber stop on the handle that lets you compact the spoon did not last long. My spoon fell off in my lunch while trying to stir with it.

For lunch I had Trail Foods Ranier Rice. I really like Trail Foods. It has become my favorite dehydrated food for backpacking. The food is always tasty and very filling!

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Trail Run on Bird Knob

2011-02-05T11:10:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 3 Feb, the puppy and I went for a run on the Bird Knob Loop. It was a brisk 29 degrees but once I got started I warmed up pretty good. Of course, Athena was loving it right off the bat! We started the run off of the Wildflower trail and then took the orange blazes up the ridge. That first section of the trail was the worst of the entire run. It was very icy and made the going slower than usual. That first 1/2 mile or so is very steep and there is not much running on that part, just a fast walk (as fast as you can manage). There is a small rock scramble/rock stairs near the top that was especially icy. Once you get on top of the ridge it is cruise control time. The trail is easy going, fun to run, not very technical, just enough to keep you alert. We ran the trail all the way to the fire road on the back side passing the giant ant hills and then back again. Approx 7.5 miles in about two hours. I carried a hydration pack with a 2 litre water bladder and a milkbone for the puppy. Regular running clothing. The trail going down from the ridge to the Wildflower Trail was trecherous due to the ice. I slipped several times going down. There was no running to it! Athena would run ahead, stop and watch me come down checking on my progress and then when I caught up to her she would take off again. Good dog!!
I have said before that I prefer hiking in the winter and I really like trail running in the winter also. Despite some of the cons (ice, deep snow, cold weather) running in crisp air and being able to see everything around you more than makes up for some of winter's handicaps.

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Trail Runners And Hiking On The Massanutten

2011-01-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Howard, myself, Athena, Martha and Lilly went hiking the Bird Knob Loop plus a few extra miles. All total we hiked about 12 miles. The temperature was 35 degrees and I only wore two layers and was quite comfortable. I wore a synthetic North Face long sleeve Impulse Crew t-shirt and a North Face synthetic 1/4 zip jacket. On my head I wore a winter tweed Tilley Hat that has built in earmuffs that work really well. I like this hat because it is warm and the brim helps keep the sun out of my eyes on sunny days. Two must for winter hiking are hiking poles and gaiters. The hiking poles whatever the season really saves your knees, especially going up steep hills and wearing a load. I don't hike without them. Howard did not have any and was wishing he did yesterday. Gaiters not only help keep your lower legs warm but also protect them from the small briar bushes that grow along the trail and reach out and grab you as you are walking along. I wear the Outdoor Designs E-Vent gaiters that are waterproof, warm, breathable, and wicks the sweat away from your legs so you don't get that chill when you stop for lunch!
Along the way, we met some members of the Virginia Happy Trails run club practicing for the Massanutten 100. Yesterday they ran a marathon and the day before a 50K (36 miles).

Members of one of the volunteer aid stations.

There were about 30 of them and most of them seemed to be in their 40's, 50's, and early 60's! Most of the runner's who were wearing hydration systems were using Nathan, which is a very popular hydration system for extreme running. Most were wearing the waist systems but some were wearing the backpack type also. Nearly all the footwear seemed to be Montrails with a sprinkling of Nike and I saw one runner wearing Pearl Izumi shoes.
Light jackets, running tights, caps and beanines rounded out the rest of the ensemble. The lead runner's of the pack had run from the Massanutten Visitor Center on U.S. 211 to Bird Knob (five miles) in 40 minutes! That was after already running for an hour before they got to the visitor's center. What is really amazing is that the first 1/2 mile up to Bird Knob is practically vertical with a small rock scramble near the top. Makes you want to get out there and run!

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Stephen's Trail

2011-01-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, 13 Jan 11 Athena and I hiked part of Stephen's Trail. I left from the trailhead on RT 657. Stephen's Trail will take you all the way Kennedy Peak, a 9,5 mile loop. We only did six miles, three up and three back.
It was a bright sunny day and the temperature was 28 degrees. The trail had a light dusting of snow and no wind. Stephen's Trail is an easy hike with rolling hills that are not steep and the trail is not that rocky either. Winter has become my favorite time of year for hiking. You can see more of the countryside without all the leaves and the air is very clear and crisp. Very invigorating. Plus, I can see Athena running up and down the hills. Alot of fun to watch!

A winter hiking tip - if you are carrying a water bladder in your pack make sure you put the bladder hose inside your jacket so it will not freeze up on you. If you need a drink just unzip a little pull out the hose and drink.

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Race Season Begins

2011-01-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

I have a busy spring all ready ahead for me. I have signed up for the Luray International Triathlon in Aug, the Virginia Duathlon in Mar, and the Revolution 3 Adventure Race in Apr. I will be doing more Tri's this year and I would like to do some trail run races also. There is a trail run race in Mar but I am not sure if I can cram another race in during that time frame. My running this winter has been so-so, my cycling and swimming non-existant. I have been doing 3-5 mile runs, which I need to lengthen and I WILL get back on the bike. I need some mountain biking for the adventure race in Apr and Howard and myself plan on doing a couple of mountain bike rides on the course.
My swim coach, Carol Clark, says she will do what she can to help me get my swim time down which has always been my big weakness. It is difficult to train without a pool to do winter swimming. I need an icebreaker to cut a path in Lake Arrowhead for swimming right now!
Anyway, set a goal and work towards it, whether it is a race, losing weight, or just checking out new hiking trails.

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Wildflower Trail Part 1

2011-01-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, CFM (Cindy from Montana), Athena (my puppy) and I hiked the Wildflower Trail. This trail has some history behind it as Stonewall Jackson sent his army into the Luray Valley using this trail. This is an easy hike, the trail is not rocky or very steep going or coming. There aren't any panoramic scenic views but it is peaceful and quiet walking through the forest. We left about 10 am and spent about four hours hiking covering approx five miles. It was bright, sunny and a little brisk, but after a few hundred feet we were warmed up and CFM was shedding clothes, hats and gloves!
The trail descends into a small gorge with a stream running the length of it. It was flowing pretty good and there was ice hanging off the rocks. You have to cross the stream a couple of times but it is not very wide and easily crossed. Athena as usual was in heaven running up ahead of us and then coming back to check and see if we were still coming. Then she would race up the mountain to chase a squirrel and a few minutes later race back to us panting and wanting a drink of water before she left again on another dog adventure.
We stopped for lunch in a sunny spot laid in the leaves and just enjoyed the scenery and serenity.
It seems as if the trail goes over the mountain into New Market. So next week, I am going to hike the trail as far as I can and see just where it ends up at. Stay tuned for Wildflower Trail Part Deux!

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Luray Triathlon Registration - Expedition Adventure Race

2011-01-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

All you accomplished and budding triathletes. The registration for the Luray Triathlon opens 5 Jan 11. This is a very popular triathlon and fills up quickly. Register early and get a discount on your registration fee.

Also, Revolution 3 is putting on an Adventure race in the Shenandoah Valley. This race goes 16 April 11. There is an Expedition Race, 26 hours, a Sprint, three to five hours, and a Family Adventure race, two to three hours.http://www.rev3adventure.com/

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Hiking Trails in the Valley

2011-01-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

I will be adding another feature to this blog stating with this entry. I will be hiking different trails throughouth the valley and posting conditions, sights, incidents, adventures, etc. Yesterday, 31 Dec 10, New Years Eve my puppy and I hiked up to Kennedy Peak. This hike is a popular one, easy, only four miles round trip and when you get to the top there is an observation tower where you can overlook the entire valley. The lower part of the trail was clear of snow and ice, but the last half mile still had slushy, icy parts. It was a fairly warm day with a little wind and we took our time hiking up to the top. I sat on the tower for a little while but Athena was getting restless and wanted to keep going. We left Kennedy Peak and hiked north on Stephens Trail for about a mile until we got to the junction of Stephens Trail and the Massanutten Trail. I watched Athena chase squirrels for awhile and then we headed back down the trail.

On the way down I met two couples going up to Kennedy Peak enjoying the warm weather and being outdoors. Athena and I hiked approx six miles and spent a very pleasant three hours in the Shenandoah Valley.

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Update on Golite Running Gear

2010-12-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

This is an update to a previous post on the Golite running gear I have been using. I have been running throughout the month of December in mostly 20 degree weather. The Golite Black Mountain Thermal Wind Jacket and Wind Pant have both exceeded my expectations. They are lightweight but warm and do an excellent job of blocking the wind - top and bottom. Both the jacket and the pant wick sweat very well and the only thing I have had to add during particularly windy runs is a wind vest over the jacket. I have been wearing North Face Denali Gloves during my real cold runs and they have kept my hands warm without heating up and collecting lots of perspiration like other gloves I have worn.

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Golite Winter Running Jacket and Pant

2010-11-10T07:10:00.000-08:00

I have been wearing the Golite Black Mountain Thermal Wind Jacket and the Black Mountain Thermal Wind Pant for the last 3-4 chilly mornings. Both are very comfortable to wear and do not restrict my arm or leg movement. I really like the articulated knees in the pant, no binding of the knees while I run. The pant has zippers at the ankles. Both the jacket and the pant are semi-form fitting, not to tight or too loose. I would not recommend wearing the pant in temperatures over 38 degrees. These pants are warm! The jacket you can zip down to let fresh air in but the jacket is still warm. I know that the jacket and the pant will carry me running through the winter with no problem.

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Pearl Izumi SYNCROPACE III running shoes

2010-11-08T12:46:00.000-08:00

I have been road running in Pearl Izumi running shoes for a couple of years now and I am really sold on them. I just got a new pair of the SYNCROPACE III and have put about 50 miles on them and they are great. Very comfortable and light with excellent cushioning. This is a moderate stability shoe. If you like Pearl Izumi athletic wear you won't be disappointed in their shoes. If you are looking for another brand of running shoe consider giving Pearl Izumi a try.

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Hydration Systems

2010-08-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have used a number of different hydration systems while running. I started off with the Fuel Belt system, carrying bottles of water in my hands and now with the trail running I have been doing, wearing a hydration pack. For road running while training for a tri or long distance run the Fuel Belt system works well. However, I really like the Nathan system. I like the bottle holders, they are easy to get the bottle in and out of easily while running (the Fuel Belt bottle retaining system has always proved awkward for me). As far as trail running goes I do not like holding a bottle in my hands, period. I like keeping my hands free and carrying a bottle just makes me feel a little uneven. Currently I am using the Golite Rush hydration pack while running and it works well (I also wear it while mountain biking). I want to try the Osprey Raptor and compare it to the Rush.
I just finished the Luray International Triathlon and will be competing in the tri at Lake Anna on 3 Oct. so there won't be much in the way of blogs for a few weeks.

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24 Hour Odessey Adventure Race Tech Results

2010-07-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Our 24 hour adventure race was 24 Jul and I am now recuperated enough to write about how my gear worked during the race. The heat was brutal and the terrain was just horrendous! Out of 36 teams only three finished. We were not one of the three, however, we came in 14th overall. This was our first adventure race. All in all the gear worked just as it was supposed to. The only thing that failed was my body. I will work on that aspect. The only bike problem I had was two flats and my headset loosened up a little. Considering the terrrain we pushed our bikes up and rode down I thought I would have alot more problems but my GT 29 worked out really well.
The clothing we wore performed just as we wanted it to, the shirts were soaked in sweat constantly but dried quickly. Our tri shorts worked great but next time we will use chamois cream, after 21 hours of riding you still get torn up in the crotch from all the sweat and friction. My Pearl Izumi shoes were a life saver because all the trekking we did through rock and uphill was done in those shoes. My feet never hurt once.
The egg beater pedals were another life saver. I rode down some terrain in this race that made me want to visit a pychiatrist to see if I was all there. I was able to unclip quickly when I needed to and clip in just as quickly. For the next race I will take along a spare battery for my Cygolite Rover ll LED NIMH. The battery only lasted about four hours (maybe) and we still had alot of darkness to ride in on some very difficult terrain. My Petzl Tikka 2 was great! The Osprey Talon 33 pack was just the right size for all the mandatory gear we had to race with and it took some punishment. I was not constantly messing with the pack, adjusting it to my shoulders or moving the gear inside around for a better position on my back, it rode well biking and trekking. My Pearl Izumi bike gloves did not make it through the race. The combination of sweat, terrain, pushing the bike, etc tore them up pretty bad.
Again, with just a few corrections for the next race all my gear worked out well and I will continue to use it.

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Running Shoes - North Face Ultra 104 vs. Golite Comp

2010-07-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

I have been trail running for over a year now and I have only worn two different types of shoes, the North Face Ultra 104 GTX and the Golite Comp. For me the Ultra 104 is the best in all of the varied terrain that I have been running in here in Page County. It has good traction, low to the ground, and good cushioning in the forefoot. Even though the Ultra 104 is Goretex it does not make my feet excessively hot. The Golite Comp is very lightweight and breathes well. It has good traction and adequate cushioning in the forefoot but the biggest complaint I have about the the Comp is that to me it seems higher at the heel and therefore feels unstable on rocky ground.

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Adventure Race Gear Shakedown

2010-07-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last Monday Team Appalachian Outdoors Adventures got together for a night ride gear shakedown in preparation for our adventure race on 24 July. I am going to give some personal comments on some of the gear that I was using that night and how it worked out.
1. Bike pedals - I had been using spds on my mountain bike and was always having difficulty getting out of my pedals quickly when I had too. Consequently, I spent alot of time picking myself up off the ground. One of my teammates, Kris Haynes, who is the manager of The Bike Lane in northern virginia reccommended using egg beaters pedals. I tried them out and I am here to tell you they are the bomb! Easy to get into and easy to get out of when I needed too. Did not spend as much time on the ground as last time. Thanks Kris!
2. Shoes - I am a big Pearl Izumi fan. Before I changed out to egg beater pedals I was wearing a pair of shoes that was made for mountain biking. The first time we went riding and had to do some hike-a-bike I found the shoes were not flexible enough for walking distances, carrying a bike, over rough terrain. Again, my good buddy Kris turned me onto a pair of shoes that are just fantastic. They are the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Enduro ll. These shoes are great! They are stiff enough for good power transfer on the pedals but flexible enough for a hike-a-bike. They worked out wonderfully. Thanks again Kris.
3. Shorts - I will be wearing my De Soto Tri shorts on the adventure race. I wore them monday night and had no problems at all. The padding was enough to protect but not so bulky I could not hike in them. They dried out quickly also.
4. Shirt - I wore the Golite and it met every expectation. After we did a rock scramble to the top of Duncan Knob we took our shirts off and those of us wearing Golite had dry shirts within 20 minutes!
5. Backpack - I wore the Osprey Talon 33 and I will be taking it to the race also. I put all my gear in the pack, about 20 pounds plus a 3 liter water bladder. The pack rode well on my back and worked out well during the hike-a-bike also. It actually helped protect me during a couple of spills I took on the rocks. Osprey has the best warranty in the business so you can't go wrong.
6. Lights - I wore a Petzl Tikka 2 on my helmet and a Cygolite Rover ll on my bike. We finished our ride about 10pm so we rode approx an hour in the dark. Both lights met my expectations. The only problem I encountered was one of my own making. I had the cable too tight on the Cygolite and sometimes the cable would bounce out of the light and it would go off. Once I put some slack in the cable I never had another problem.
The night shakedown ride was very beneficial. It gave me confidence in all my gear under similar race conditions and gave me an opportunity to make some small corrections in gear placement on the bike and myself. I am looking forward to the race on 24 July!

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Running Shorts

2010-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

There has been a controversy for awhile now about running shorts. How complicated could it be? The question is what type are the best? The baggy-around-the-legs type or the tight fitting, lycra, bicycle type shorts? I guess each has it's pros and cons and depends entirely on what is comfortable for the wearer. The arguments that I have seen supporting the tight fitting lycra style are muscle supporting, helps keep pumping the blood through the legs and keeps the legs warmer. The baggy-around-the-legs shorts give more freedom of movement and don't trap the heat in around the legs.
My personal preference is the baggy-around-the-legs shorts. I do wear the tight fitting type when I am racing in triathlons. The reason why I do is because I can swim in them and cycle in them. If I am in a longer race such as a half-ironman or an ironman then I will switch from the cycling shorts to the losser fitting shorts.
The looser fitting shorts do give me more freedom of movement for my stride; the tighter ones, for me just feel constricting. And, unless it is winter out I don't need any more heat trapped against my body!
I have been wearing shorts of both types from The North Face, Golite, and Pearl Izumi. All three companies make excellent shorts, but again, I am drawn to the Golite because they do feel more comfortable and lightweight when I am running.
There. I hope I have cleared that up for you!

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Post Script

2010-07-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

This morning four of us went running in the George Washington National Forest. I was wearing the long sleeve Golite Shirt as it was a little chilly this morning. As we were running down the trail I saw this nasty stump poke itself up out of the ground, grow hands and snatch my foot tripping me. I saw the stump but could not seem to get around it. My wife who was running behind me said she saw me flying through the air about 20 feet before hitting the trail on my shoulder and back sliding off the trail, and down the side of the hill before stopping.
The reason for the above story is to tell you about the durability of the Golite shirt I was wearing. My back and butt are all scratched up, but other than just getting dirty the shirt was none the worse for wear. Like I said in yesterday's post, the pros of Golite far outweigh the extra cost of the clothing.

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Running Shirts

2010-07-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Howard and I have been trail running for about four or five months now. Trail running has greatly improved my core strength as well as strengthing my ankles, knees, and hips. I started off running wearing The North Face Flex Crew short sleeve shirt. It is a great shirt! Wicks well, lightweight, comfortable to wear, as well as looks good on also. But, I am hooked on Golite clothing. I have been wearing the Golite Wildwood short sleeve shirt and I really like it alot. It is very lightweight, I hardly notice it being on. It is just as wicking as the Flex Crew but for me more comfortable wearing. And, it also looks good on just wearing it around. The only drawback for some people may be the fact that the Wildwood has Golite in big letters across the chest.
The Golite is quite a bit more expensive but for me the pros outweigh the cost of the shirt. So far the shirt has been standing up to wear really well even wearing a pack with the shirt, and I can wear it for several days in a row before the odor gets to rank. Like any technical shirt that I have worn in outdoor activities the shirt, if caught by a branch or thorn while running or rubbing up against something tends to pile. For me this is not a drawback as I wear it not for fashion but utility.
You cannot go wrong with either shirt, but the Golite is my personal favorite.

"Thrive Outside"

Introduction

2010-06-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. This blog will be a companion blog to Howard's Adventures in the Valley. I am going to blog about the gear that I personally use for running and cycling here in the Shenandoah Valley, what I like, don't like and why. These are just my personal opinions. I am a triathlete (for a number of years with two ironman races under my belt) and have recently started trail running and now adventure racing. I hope this blog can be helpful to anyone who is looking at gear and equipment for being outdoors.

The first piece of equipment I will talk about is the Tech 40 Traileader Pro watch. I had been using the Freestyle Nomad and the first thing that I noticed about the Traileader was that it is noticeably lighter on the wrist than the Nomad. As with all of these multi-function high tech watches the learning curve is a little steep, for me anyway. It took me about 3 hours to get the watch set up and using it in a basic way. The pictures in the directions do not match the watch face so it is a little confusing.

The Traileader has two menus, a time menu and a trail menu. Once you get the hang of it you can switch back and forth fairly easily. On the time menu you can run through the altitude, barometric pressure, and temperature quickly without having to go into the trail menu. It also has a running distance/running time mode which I really like. No more pedometers! The watch face is large which I like also because I can read it without having to need my reading glasses.

All in all I prefer the Traileader over the Nomad and it is now my Adventure watch.

"Thrive Outside"