Category Archives: Running

Skins A400 Compression Calf Tights MX Review

Keep Your Calves Cozy

Skins Compression Calf Tight A400When the compression rage first started to hit endurance sports about two years ago, most athletes turned towards compression for mainly recovery applications.  Slowly, compression has started to make its way into active performance apparel for use during events.  You can hardly go to any athletic event without seeing multiple athletes with compression on – especially the very popular calf compression sleeves.

I must state up-front, that I was very resistant to this idea.  It seemed to me that compression in such a small area would not be that beneficial.  Additionally, I had never thought my calf muscles would really benefit all that much from compression.

I must admit that I was wrong.  I recently had the opportunity to test the Skins A400 Compression Calf Tights MX, and I must admit that I was impressed.  I utilized these compression sleeves on several runs – with my longest being a 13-miler.  Overall, I really liked how “fresh” they kept my legs.  I had always assumed that calf compression sleeves would be for individuals that struggled with cramps in their calves.  This has never happened to me, so I pretty much assumed that I would never use them.  When I was doing the Wildflower Triathlon this year, however, I spoke with another athlete who had these.  I asked him about cramps and he explained to me that the compression sleeves actually helped to keep the blood moving through his legs (i.e. helped return blood to heart), not actually prevent cramps at all.  This was a new thought for me.

The Skins A400 Compression Calf Tights are a great quality pair of sleeves on the market today.  They come in black and white.  I got the white pair, and I must admit that I wish I would have gone with black.  I thought getting white would be better for temperature control, but in my test this wasn’t an issue.  Additionally, the white gets dirty easily, and I think they just look kind of funny compared to the black.

The sizing is very accurate.  Their sizing chart recommended that I get a size S.  The fit is very tight, and they can be a little tricky to get on over your feet.  It should be a obvious, but make sure you don’t try to put them on while you’re wearing your running shoes.

As for the actual effect of compression, I really enjoyed the feeling on my lower leg muscles.  I felt like I didn’t get nearly as fatigued as I have on past runs, my soreness level was much lower the next day, and I just felt like my legs remained fresher overall.  Granted this could be partial mental, but again, if it gives you an edge then it’s worthwhile.

In terms of overall design, the A400s Calf Tights look good on, and have a simple, elegant design.  They have few seams and I didn’t experience any chaffing or irritation while using them.

The Bottom Line ~

If you are looking for a high-quality pair of calf compression sleeves, I don’t think you can go wrong with Skins A400 Compression Calf Tights MX.  Skins is a high-quality company with research and strong design, but you will pay a premium.  The quality is top-notch and the sizing is accurate.  The sleeves are very comfortable and I noticed a real difference in my longer runs.  I would make sure to stay away from the white color.  Overall this a great product, from a great company.

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Garmin Forerunner 405 Review

Knowledge is Power!

It is hard to believe that I have been running with my Garmin Forerunner 405 for over four years now. I had been running seriously for a couple of years and thankfully the city I live in spaces out major blocks at exactly one-mile increments. I wore a watch that had a stopwatch and would run the city blocks and try to figure out my pace as each mile went by. I then purchased a Polar Heart Rate Monitor so I could keep track of my effort. As 2007 was coming to an end, I started to research what sort of running tool I wanted for Christmas. I stumbled on to an article about the new Forerunner 405 which was to be released in January. I was excited to try it out and started making daily phone calls to multiple REI stores to make sure I could get it on the day it was released. In January of 2008 I hurried home after my purchase excited to try it out…unfortunately I had to wait for it to charge before I could enter into the world of instantaneous feedback while running.

The Forerunner 405 was Garmin’s first successful attempt at providing athletes with a GPS watch that didn’t look like a giant piece of equipment attached to the wrist. It’s predecessor, the Forerunner 305, is considerably larger than the 405, and so the more watch-like design for the 405 makes it more appealing. The 405 only has 2 buttons but uses what they call a touch bezel, the silver ring around the face of the watch, to access most of the functions. With a little bit of effort it is easy to get used to the bezel functions to scroll through the menus.

I would encourage you to take the time to become familiar with the watch before you venture out on the trails. There are multiple screens and options that the 405 offers. As you start out, you will need to allow the watch to connect with the satellites. I have rarely ran into problems with the connections. The directions suggest that you attempt to connect outdoors, but I haven’t found that necessary. There have been a few times where I have needed to exit the connection screen, and then go back in for it to access, but a few times is nothing over a four-year period of time.

Once connected to the satellites all you need to do is push the start button and your instant feedback is in the palm of your hand, or at least on your wrist. You will need to decide which screens are most valuable for you and how much information you want on each screen. The user can choose from one to three different sets of information on each screen. I believe that since you bought a GPS watch, you would want the distance traveled. When I run, I typically choose to have the average pace, time elapsed, and distance traveled on my primary screen. On my secondary screens I will choose current speed, current heart rate, average heart rate and many others. There are numerous choices that the user can elect. One of my favorite functions is the virtual pace partner. The user can enter in the pace that they would like to run and the watch will keep track of how much time and distance the user is ahead or behind the elected pace. This is a great feature when trying to beat a P.R.

Having the immediate feedback while out running or cycling is great but it is only half of what Garmin has to offer. When you are finished with your training and head toward your computer, the watch will sync up with your computer using an Ant+ stick. Your entire workout will be downloaded into the Garmin training center. Make sure to set the lap function on your watch. This will help you as you analyze your training session. I set my laps to one mile and can easily analyze my training session. The program also provides you with a map of where you traveled. The map in the training center is somewhat limited but it allows you to open your training session in Google Earth. You can also sync your training center to Garmin’s web-based training center where all the information is available in an even better format with better maps. There is even a player where you can watch yourself, in the form of a pin, move through your training session and compare your speeds, elevation and other information.

I loved the watch so much that I forced my wife and neighbors to try it. A week later my wife had ordered her own and soon thereafter my neighbors had also bought one. My wife loves the interval function the watch offers. She sets her interval to distance or time and the watch will audibly alert her to when she either needs to step it up or enter into her recovery period. The ANT+ and the computer program easily pair up with both my watch and my wife’s, without any issues

I have found that the watch is extremely accurate. I have tested it against the speedometer in my car and a few different bike computers and it has always been right on. The battery is also solid. The watch comes with a plug where you can recharge the battery whenever you need to. The only time I have run out of battery power after a full charge was during my Ironman event when I was out on the road for an extended amount of time (8+ hours).

Although I love the watch, it isn’t perfect. The back-light on my watch has never worked. It seems to only be a glitch with my watch as it has worked on my wife’s and other friends. I attribute this to wanting to be an early adopter and buying one of the first watches off the production line. I am convinced that Garmin would have exchanged it but I didn’t want to give it up for any amount of time. The only other problems I have had is when running when it is wet outside. There are times when the bezel does not react to the touch of wet fingers. Also, if wearing a long-sleeved shirt and it is wet, it has at times activated the bezel and changed the screen. These issues have been rare and can easily be avoided by using the locking function on the bezel.

The Bottom Line ~

The Forerunner 405 is an incredible piece of equipment and continues to be one of my favorite training tools even though it is four years old. I do need to note that the heart rate strap is an add on. You can purchase the watch with or without the heart rate strap. The suggested retail price for the 405 is around $250, but you can easily find the watch for under $200. I paid $350 when it was new and have never regretted my purchase.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
Please help fellow athletes by leaving a comment.

Ryders Swamper Polar-Photo Sunglass Review

Having 4 Eyes Has Never Been So Stylish

Ryder's Swamper SunglassesWith as much time as endurance athletes spend outdoors, investing in a quality pair of sunglasses is key.  But, let’s be honest, you could probably take out a small loan to buy some of the optics available on the market.

I think a simple, high-quality, feature-packed, moderate cost approach is the way to go.  That’s why Ryders Eyewear is such a great option.

Overall Ryders costs less than the super-hyped brands like Smith.  But just because it costs less does not impact the quality.  I’ve found the Ryder’s Swamper Polar-Photo Sunglass to be a great pair of affordable, quality sunglasses for a wide-variety of sports.

I have used the Swampers for several months in my running, cycling, cross-country skiing and mountain biking.  I have to say that I’m quite happy with these glasses.

First they are polarized, which I believe every athlete who’s spending significant time outdoors should have polarized lenses – it just makes the view that much better.  The Swampers are also cool because they are photo-chromatic.  That is basically scientific talk for the fact that the lenses will automatically darken and lighten, depending on the brightness of the light in your environment.  This is a great option, especially if you are training in the late afternoon/evening or early morning. (when most non-sponsored athletes train and recreate)

Now, it’s important to note that the lenses don’t instantly brighten or darken, but gradually do so.  Also, they darken faster than they lighten, so they aren’t a perfect solution for Mountain Biking when you’re going in and out of dark spaces quickly.

The other feature I really like about these glasses is that the nose pads and temple tips are flexible and adjustable.  This is really great because you can really dial in a customized fit for your individual face.  Also, they are made out of hydrophylic material, so they provide some extra grip which comes in handy as your face starts to sweat.

The Bottom Line ~

Ryders Eyewear is a quality, affordable name that you can trust.  I really like the Swampers lenses and have been happy with the optics quality, fit, and durability.  I really love the photochromatic lenses and I also love how affordable these glasses are – about $90.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
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Body Glide Liquified Powder – Skin Glide – Review

That is smooth!

Body Glide Skin Glide

New Packaging and Branding

[Update: I talked with Body Glide today and they notified me that Liquified Powder is now called Skin Glide. Body Glide wanted to bring this product under the same branding umbrella and Skin Glide falls a lot more in line with Body Glide than Liquified Powder. I believe this is a good move. There is something to be said for the name of a product being exactly what it is, such as Liquified Powder, but Skin Glide takes advantage of the powerful Body Glide brand. With the new packaging and name, Body Glide also wanted to make sure people understood that Skin Glide not only aids in protection, but in repair as well.]

I love products that can be used for real life problems. About a month ago I headed to the gym during my lunch break to do an interval running workout. As I started to change in the locker room, I realized that I had forgotten my Drymax Socks. I thought about wearing my dress socks but didn’t want them to get all sweaty, so I decided to go sock-less. I thought it would be a deeper foray into the minimalist movement. Instead , I had deep abrasions on the tops of my feet as the fabric from my shoes tore into my skin. If only I could have remembered Body Glide’s saying, “Stops trouble before it starts,” and more importantly actually used body glide.

Body Glide Liquified Powder

My feet weren’t the only problem that Body Glide could help me with. I had recently increased my cycling by a lot (30 minutes a week to three hours). Saddle sores can be a literal pain in the…I think you get the picture. Thank the heavens that I got my hands on some Body Glide Liquified Powder.

Body Glide’s website states that the liquified powder is a “technically advanced cream that transforms into an evenly disbursed, effective, yet dry & protective skin lubricant.” I have the 1.6 oz. tube which costs around $8. The product also comes in small pouches. The liquified powder comes out as a cream or lotion. The truly amazing thing is that as soon as you start to rub the liquified powder into your skin, it absorbs and goes on dry. The greasy film that lotions leave on your skin is non-existent with the liquified powder. Within a handful of seconds you can barely tell that you have put anything on your skin. The liquified powder is ideal for feet, but not limited to that area.

In a short amount of time Body Glide Liquified Powder is becoming a favorite at my house. After my running without socks incident, I used the liquified powder to reduce anymore damage to the tops of my feet. The combination of the powder and actually wearing socks stopped any more friction to the wounded area and became a non issue within days. I should note that you are supposed to avoid contact with open wounds. I also used the liquified powder in the saddle sore area and any discomfort has diminished. My wife and daughter have tried it on their feet when they wear certain shoes that has caused discomfort in the past. They both say it works great as their toes and heels survive much better through the day.

The Bottom Line ~

Although the liquified powder treats the same ailments as other Body Glide products it is definitely different and actually has a slightly different feel on the skin. Body Glide truly provides comfort and what I love best, is that after you finish a hard training session, you can focus on repairing your muscles, rather than wounds due to chafing.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
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Amphipod RunLite Review

I can be a camel!

Amphipod Hydration BeltWhen I started training for my first marathon and took off for my first long run, I realized it would be beneficial to have some sort of fluid to drink. The following week I carried a bottle of Gatorade and quickly realized how annoying it is to carry something in your hands while slogging through mile after mile. The following week I strategically placed a bottle on my route before venturing out, unfortunately a good citizen was out picking up trash that morning and my drink was gone. The following week I decided to run a loop and stop by my car every three miles, unfortunately I jumped in my car and quit after nine miles of a 15 mile run…it was too tempting to stop, whereas if you are seven miles away from your car, you have no choice but to continue. I finally decided to go to my local running store to see what solution they could provide and they introduced me to the Amphipod RunLite hydration gear. Continue reading →