Category Archives: Training

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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Finis Swimsense Watch Review

It Makes Total Sense!

Finis SwimsenseTechnology is so awesome, especially when it has so seamlessly integrated into something I have been doing for decades. As a high school swimmer I had a certain coach who would sit on the starting block and count every lap I swam to make sure I didn’t cut the workout short; I hated it. Today, I have a watch that counts every lap I swim; I absolutely love it! The Swimsense is a star.

The Swimsense watch is actually called the Swimming Performance Monitor. The Swimsense is designed to track your entire swim workout, providing you all the information you need. Your distance, intervals, strokes, splits , time rested,  total time in pool and more is all at your fingertips.

The watch set-up is quite simple as you enter in your basic information, with the most critical aspects being the distance of the pool you will be swimming in (yards or meters) and which wrist you will be wearing the watch (left or right). As you get into the pool, all you need to do is press the “swim” button to get it ready for your workout, and then press the “start” button as you take off.

The Swimsense uses accelerometers and magnetometers to track your workout. The watch knows whether you are swimming freestyle, butterfly, backstroke or breaststroke. I have tested the watch multiple times and it never fails at identifying the stroke. I have seen some talk about the watch not being able to identify poor stroke technique, but some training buddies have also tested it without fail (and believe me, they have poor technique).

The user can utilize different screens during the workout that will let them know distance, time, stroke count and more. Some swimmers try to take a peek while in stroke but I don’t believe that makes sense as it alters your stroke technique and cadence. I believe it is best to hit the pause button as you finish an interval and look at the information while catching your breath. When paused, the background of the watch screen will go dark and the numbers will go white, making it easy to identify what mode the watch is in. When you finish the workout you press the stop button and then reset. You can review your workout right there on the watch. My favorite part is that the watch will let you know your total time in the pool and how much rest time.

The watch uses a lithium-ion rechargeable battery which Finis states it will last 12+ hours in swim mode. You need to be aware what mode the watch is in because the battery will continue to drain unless in sleep mode. If you leave it in your bag in the wrong mode, you may not have enough power for your next workout.

Finish SwimsenseThe Swimsense will store up to 14 workouts, but when you are done with a workout, you just need to place it in the Swimsense dock, which also charges the watch. When you open up the Swimsense bridge the workouts will download. You will then need to open up an internet browser to access your dashboard, where you will be able to really start analyzing the data. At first glance the web-based dashboard looks dated, but as you work with it and it becomes more familiar you will recognize the valuable information it provides. Along with your personal workout information, you can also compare yourself to averages of all other Swimsense users. Your workout information can also be synched with Training Peaks and other programs.

One of the few problems I had, was the Swimsense loading my workouts onto the wrong day. After a tiny bit of research I found out that to fix the problem I needed to upload the beta version updates. I do like the fact that Finis does update enhancements to the Swimsense. It will be interesting to see if there are legitimate updates to the system before the development of an entirely new watch. It should also be noted that the watch does not utilize GPS, therefore it would be useless in open water swims, but Finis has a different solution for that, which I hope to get my hands on when it warms up at the lake.

The Bottom Line ~

Finis has created an incredible training partner in the Swimsense Performance Monitor. For all those swimmers who have lost count of how many laps they have completed, or ever wanted a rundown of their entire workout, the Swimsense is your answer. It is a great training tool and met all my expectations. The watch costs $199, but with a little bit of research you can find it for cheaper. I think it is worth the price.

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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.

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Honey Stinger Waffle Review

Oh, the goodness!

Honey Stinger WaffleDo you remember the first time you ever tried an energy bar and thought, “that is truly disgusting”? How about trying to consume one at mile 23 of a marathon, or hour 11 of an Ironman…you know it is virtually impossible. Well, there is hope, as Honey Stinger has created quite possibly the most perfect food in the history of mankind, the Honey Stinger Waffle.

The Honey Stinger Waffle was inspired by Lance Armstrong who suggested making an energy food similar to waffles sold throughout Europe. The product is basically two thin waffles with honey in the middle and it is certified organic. The waffle comes individually packed and provides you with 160 calories, 7 fat grams and 21 grams of carbs. It is a great solution to get your energy during your long training rides and competitions.

I want to emphasize how great the Stinger Waffle tastes. It is a delicious treat, and yes, it tastes like a treat. I let my kids try it (big mistake) and now they always ask me for the honey cookie. The Stinger Waffle is a round flat piece of goodness which is great for stuffing into your cycling jersey pockets. Because they are flat, you can easily stuff a six to eight in each pocket and not feel as if you are stuffing your pockets so full it will drag you down. I am not sure you would want to eat that many during a training session, but the goodness may tempt you to.

The honey does a good job of keeping the waffle from completely crumbling apart. I have kept a few loosely in my training bag and they have mostly kept their shape despite being knocked around by my other gear. The waffles broke into a few bite-size pieces, but not into tiny crumbs. The packaging is a little difficult to get into while flying down the road on your bike, but it shouldn’t be too much of an issue with most people.

The Bottom Line ~

Honey Stinger has created an incredible product that stands alone in the nutrition category with no other items like this. The Stinger Waffle provides a great alternative to other energy products on the market, but I would suggest that you combine the waffle with your current nutrition regimen. If you try this product you will love it and it will provide you with an additional and completely different item in your arsenal.

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Finis AquaPulse Review

Oh Yeah…Bone Conduction Technology!

Swimming Heart Rate MonitorI have mentioned before that I grew up a swimmer. My mother had me swimming on the city swim team at the age of four and from then on I have spent a ridiculous amount of time in the water. As a kid you just swam and did what the coach told you, but as I entered into the high school swim team our coaches started to teach us about effort. The key way to tell your effort is to watch your heart rate. I remember my coaches trying to teach us how to find your pulse by placing your fingers to your wrist or neck and watching the clock to try to figure out your beats per minute. Although I was talented enough to swim a sub-minute 100 yards, I could never figure out how to find my pulse. A handful of years ago I found the incredible value of paying attention to your heart rate while running and cycling, thanks to heart rate monitors. When I started doing triathlons, I wished there was a decent option for a heart rate monitor in the pool. Well, in 2011 Finis came out with their solution…the AquaPulse.

The Finis AquaPulse is a small piece of equipment that clips to your goggles and has a wire with a clip that you attach to your earlobe. The earlobe clip uses infrared technology to measure capillary pulses through your skin. I initially thought that he clip would feel awkward as it pinches your ear and you would have the AquaPulse hanging off the side of your head. The clip actually feels quite snug and quickly becomes irrelevant as you can barely tell it is there.

The AquaPulse is designed to audibly alert you what your heart rate is. The equipment does not use an ear bud, but instead uses what they call bone conduction technology. The speaker on the AquaPulse is pinned to the side of your head under your goggle strap and sends the audio waves through the bones near your temple to your ear. While above water it is actually more difficult to hear the audio. When submersed under water you can hear the audio quite clearly. Finis calls this Bone Conduction Technology, I call it pretty cool. There are a handful of settings on the AquaPulse that you can use. Aside from the power and volume, you can choose how often you want to hear your current heart rate. The frequency ranges from 10 seconds up to 5 minutes. The instantaneous heart rate button also is critical.

I think the AquaPulse works quite well but it may take a little bit to work out the nuances as you begin to use it.. The correct placement of the AquaPulse on your head takes a little bit of messing around with and experimenting to make sure you can hear the audio correctly. After three training sessions I was able to figure out what worked best for me, although a training buddy of mine had it working for him almost immediately (I believe it is due to his giant head).

Both my buddy and I were only able to pick up about 60-70 percent of the audio alerts. I tried the AquaPulse on both ears to determine if it would increase or decrease the rate of audio success. I only breathe to the right side but the efficiency seemed to be about the same. Due to the fact that I wasn’t able to pick up all the audio alerts I decided to set the AquaPulse to the 20 second interval. It will alert me about once a lap and if I miss the audio alert, I don’t have to wait too long before I can get the next notice. This is where the instantaneous heart rate button is so critical. If you miss the audio alert, you can reach up and press the button and the AquaPulse will alert you to your current heart rate.

The accuracy of the AquaPulse seems to be spot on. I have tested it with two other brands of heart rate monitors and the difference is negligible. The AquaPulse comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery lasts for an extended amount of time and to charge it, all you need to do is plug it into a standard USB port on your computer.

The drawbacks for the current AquaPulse is the inability to provide you with an average heart rate over time. The AquaPulse will only provide you your current heart rate and then you have to give an educated guess as to what your average was over the duration of the workout. It should also be noted that if you have the AquaPulse set to a shorter interval, it may not have enough information to give you your heart rate and your heart may need to be beating faster for the AquaPulse to pick it up (the documentation states 80 bpm). I didn’t realize this at first and kept pressing the instantaneous heart rate button and continued to get the “searching” audible alert. When I started swimming it started working and all was well.

The unit is completely water proof, in fact the directions instruct you to remove the cap at he end of your workout and rinse with water. As with everything in the swim world, be diligent and rinse all your swim gear with clean water to make sure your equipment lasts longer.

The Bottom Line ~

Finis has provided swimmers with an incredible piece of technology that allows you to get a general idea of what your heart rate is during your training sessions. It isn’t perfect, but hopefully in the future they will be able to sync up he AquaPulse with the Finis Swimsense. The AquaPulse costs around $149 but if you look around you should be able to find it for a little bit cheaper. I believe it is a great tool to have during your training sessions. If the price is a little too high, consider combining funds with some friends and take your turn wearing it on your Tuesday workout. You wont need to wear the AquaPulse during every training session, but it certainly helps to know what your effort is and knowing your heart rate is a great clue as to your fitness level.

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