Running Styles…which one are you!

I came across and it made it me laugh...

Friday Funny

How not to run a Marathon…

Got this funny Info-Graphic from Pro-Form, how to not run a marathon. How many of these mistake have you made...I know I am guilty of a few!

Friday Funny!

Friday Funny!

I may or may not be guilty of some of these….

Friday Funny!

Stolen…err borrowed from James

PSA; Bears, Beans and Popcorn

I sometimes get emails about upcoming events etc and general newsy things, most of them are spam based but these three I thought may be of interest…

13.1 Marathon® – Los Angeles Invites Karhu Bear to set 5K Pace on Race Day

Because Karhu mean’s ‘bear’ in Finnish, The Karhu 5K, a division of the 13.1 Marathon® – Los Angeles invites racers to come out on January 16^th and try to "Beat the Bear". Any runner who "beats the Karhu bear” during the 5K and crosses the finish line before the bear, will be presented with a ticket good for a FREE pair of Karhu running shoes of their choice from the Top to Top specialty run store.

The Karhu 5K will share the same start and finish as the 13.1 Marathon® – Los Angeles, beginning on the Venice Boardwalk and ending at the historic Windward Circle in Venice for an unforgettable race experience. Amidst ocean views participants will enjoy a Tinseltown themed half marathon and Karhu 5K celebrating the best of Los Angeles.

First-timer friendly and perfect for avid runners, the Karhu 5K will offer a scenic and festive run along a closed course with fully supported aid stations, live entertainment, and medals for all finishers. Participants and spectators are encouraged to wear costumes and enjoy a race “Where the Party Meets the Pavement”.

New this year – racers can look forward a selection of gourmet food truck grub provided at the Finish Line Party by The Sweets Truck,Streets of Thailand, Get Shaved, Dogtown Dogs, and more.

Racers are invited to join the official benefiting charity, Team World Vision to raise funds for clean water projects in Kenya and Malawi while training with local team groups. There is no fundraising minimum and team members will enjoy a Pre-Race Team Dinner, Pep Rally on race morning, and Post-Race Celebration Cookout. For more information on Team World Vision please visit www.worldvision.org

Registration is currently open. Karhu 5K registration is $20 through January 9, 2011. Week of registration will be $25.

To register and for more information on 13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles visit www.131losangeles.com.

Want to run Boston? (my title)

Hi Stuart,

I love your blog - it is so inspiring. (I should point out that  flattery will get you anywhere)

I manage a charity marathon team (from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary) that will participate in this April's Boston Marathon.  There are still a few spots left on our 50-member team.  Would you be willing to mention this opportunity to run the Boston Marathon on your blog?  It’s for a great cause and is a great opportunity to run the Boston Marathon!

Team members will raise funds to bring new hope and a healthier future to people everywhere who face loss of sight, hearing, voice, balance, taste and smell, as well as head and neck cancer.  Team members must commit to raising a minimum of $5,000 for research and patient care at Mass. Eye and Ear.  Fundraising and training support will be offered.  The team coach, Fred Treseler, is recognized as one of the best in the country.

Interested runners can contact me at kristina_sym@meei.harvard.edu or (617) 573-6364.  More information can also be found at:www.MassEyeAndEar.org/TeamEyeAndEar

I appreciate your help!!

Kristina

Hood to Coast…coming to a theater near you

Dear Stuart,

This January 11th, runners and athletes nationwide will make their way to see the world’s largest relay race in movie theaters for a Special, One-Night Only screening. Each year, 12,000 runners make the journey from the top of Oregon's tallest mountain, Mt. Hood, 197 miles to the Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon.

HOOD TO COAST is an inspiring new documentary that follows four teams with various levels of athletic ability on their epic journey to conquer the world’s largest relay race. Some run to test their personal limits, some to overcome personal obstacles, and others leap in blindly looking for a way to shake up a complacent life. As we follow these four teams, we realize that winning isn’t everything in a film that takes a celebratory look at personal motivation and attempting the extraordinary. Tickets are available at FathomEvents.com now!

NCM Fathom and Film for Thought are thrilled to bring this feature length documentary to your local movie theater and show it on the big screen in stunning HD. Immediately following the documentary, movie theater audiences will hear from a distinguished group of expert runners, Olympians and running world giants as they discuss their experience of participating in the Hood to Coast relay and its unique place in the history of American running. Panelists include but are not limited to:
·       Mary Decker Slaney—Olympian and HTC Women’s Course Record Holder
·       Bart Yasso—Editor, Runner’s World Magazine, Author: “My Life On The Run”
·       Kenny Moore—Olympian, HTC Runner, Sports Writer & Author: “Bowerman & the Men of Oregon”
·       Bob Foote—Hood To Coast Founder, former Men of Oregon runner
·       Director Christoph Baaden
·       Characters from the film
*Talent subject to change

In addition, the event will feature LIVE red carpet interviews, reactions to the event and more, as running legends like Bart Yasso and Mary Decker Slaney make their way to the premier.

Seats are limited so don’t miss your chance to see Hood to Cost on 1-11-11 only. Also, check out www.hoodtocoastmovie.com to see the Hood to Coast trailer, additional video content and to learn more about the film and this one-night event.  To download banner ads, a countdown widget, and other sharable content visit HoodtoCoastonthebigscreen.com. To find a list of participating theaters near you and purchase tickets, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

We would love for you to help us spread the word about this great event!  Let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Emily

Normal service is now resumed…

Off the beaten track…ultra cool shirts!

So if you’ve followed my blog for any time you’ll know that the Sunday or Monday post is usually a write up of my gallivanting from the weekend, usually along with some photos or video. This week I thought I would do something a bit different.

There’s a quintessential look that a trail or ultra runner’s shirt has; capped sleeves often with the name of an “outdoor” brand; Patagonia, Montrail, Sportiva or the ever popular Auburn Running Company. Conversely your typical road running has a look, Asics, Nike, Adidas and the like, often matching top and bottom, with some subtle trimming. I am not looking to stereotype anyone, these are just the facts, check out a copy of Runner’s World or UltraRunning and you’ll see.

So there’s a gap here for some out of the box thinking, allow me to introduce you to some folks that are filling it!

First up Atayne. I first heard about Atayne from Paige’s blog. Occupying unique space Atayne’s shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles! There’s a whole bunch of sciency stuff on their website. Eco friendly their mission is “One with People, One with Planet, and One with Performance.” Essentially the end product is an awesome technical shirt that works, they’re a little bit thicker and a little more fitted than you might be used so and they have a raglan sleeve which is also a little unusual. WRC offers several styles in addition to they’re own logo’d version all of which tie in the outdoors, running and recycling, Atayne have a few more available on their website for cyclists and triatheletes.

Second on the docket is Ink-n-Burn.com. They produce a line of tech shirts that appeal to the more outgoing runner someone who doesn’t mind saying LOOK AT ME and also someone who takes their running seriously but doesn’t take themselves too seriously! Their shirts have; from their website “unique slogans and designs are heat transferred (BURNED) directly into the fabric….graphics add no weight, attract no heat and don't wear off before a shirt is retired”. A traditional cut, their technical shirts work and if you want to get you psych on pre race, they offer many in a cotton versions too. With big graphics, smart designs and a technical shirt that does the job…what’s not to like!

Lastly and by no means least is PunkRockRacing. If like me you grew up in the 70’s you’ll remember the punk rock thing, now combine that with endurance sports; running, cycling and triathletes…you see what I mean. A brash start up from Northern CA, these fly in the face of convention with some catchy graphics with a big attitude! Their stated manifesto; The Punk Rock Racing revolution is simple: Like-minded people pushing the envelope against gravity today with the understanding that—win, lose or draw—they will be back tomorrow…They’re currently offering a few tech shirts with more promised in June as well as a line of non sports clothing, hoodies, hats and the like! Again a great tech shirt that does exactly what it’s supposed to!

Now with all of you in mind and ‘cos I am brash enough to ask! I managed to get a freebie from each company, I am going to spare you the join this, follow that hoopla, although if you want to they’re all on FaceBook, Twitter and the like. Nope this is a simple draw. One entry per person, state you name and tell me which one you fancy; I have shirts from Atayne via the good folks at Wilderness Running Company and Ink-n-Burn and a Hoodie from PunkRockRacing; it’s a large and is a bit small for me. I draw out names on Saturday.

So there you have it, three alternatives to take you off the beaten track!

Oh and if you like the shirt in the very first photo that’s a one off from my friend here…sorry!

Weekend Trail; Junior Photog edition

Not from trail running but from a family hike on Saturday and all taken by our 5 year old. On our doorstep Satwiwa is on the western edge of Santa Monica Mountains close to the Boney Mountain State Wilderness and Pt Mugu State Park. Looks like spring is round the corner…

Boney Mountain from just inside Satwiwa Park entrance

 
Boney Mountain up close and personal.

The ‘Ap’ home of the Chumash Indian.

 
Architectural inspection

 
Blue sky over lattice work

 
The horizon calls (my favorite)

 
Our destination; “you’re not there till you touch it”!

 
A trail runners view and our way home

 
Spring color goes macro

 
A new generation of trail runners…

Patently fun!

Not much to report this week to be honest. Marathon training marches on, it’s early days yet but so far so good. Interesting I’ve been running in my new Brooks Addictions and alternating them with my last pair of Asics Kayanos and I think it’s a case of not knowing what was wrong until finding out what was right, the Addictions are light, light, light! By comparison the Kayanos feel like I have thrown away the shoes and I am wearing the boxes! They’ll be a review coming soon.

Here’s something that I found on the interweb thing that should satisfy anyone’s inner and, well, their outer geek too, Braindex takes original patent application drawings and will apply them to all manner of things, mugs, T shirts and the like. While there are a whole bunch of majorly technical stuff there’s some pretty cool stuff if you search by brand;

Adidas running shoe sole pattern T shirt

Nike cycling shorts Mug

New Balance running shoes Mouse Mat

Oh and I am woefully behind on my Google Reader but I am catching up slowly!

Have a great weekend and happy patent hunting!