2 weeks to go until the Gold Coast Marathon and the steaks are high.
Due to work/travel commitments training has taken a back seat over the last 4 weeks. To 'add injury to insult' I slipped chasing Gaz up the Coogee steps during a stair-sprint sess last Sat and have only run once since.
Step hit me above the kneecap and the bruising makes knee reflexion difficult. Will try running tomorrow am.
I feel pretty stupid. It won't stop me running the race,no chance, especially now that Team FiveFingers includes renowned barefoot runner/coach Tsuyoshi from Japan, Elite runner James Kuegler from NZ as well as usual suspects Sal, Scott and myself.
The lack of physical preparation will need to be made up for by attention to form and mental toughness. In layman's terms that translates as.."any way you do it it's gonna hurt". Bring it on :-) Max
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Pics from TNF100
Here are a few images of Team FiveFingers in TNF100. Note the terrain, pretty full on! Both the KSO Treks and the Trek Sport were awesome.
Loving the Fives!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Team FiveFingers Australia complete TNF 100k taking 2nd in 14:22:00!!
It was a clear crisp morning in the Blue Mountains on Saturday, as 600 competitors lined up at the start line of what is widely agreed to be the toughest 100k race in the world, The North Face 100k.
Amongst them were 2 Team FiveFingers, one mixed and one male. The team event is a 2 person relay - 50k each.
It was a fearsome challenge. The terrain included picking our way through treacherous rocky ridges, up and down near sheer inclines, a total of over 3000 stairs and rope ladders hanging off a vertical cliff. The number of casualties was incredible. 393 made it to the end. Injuries ranged from broken ankles and feet to concussion and trauma from falls.
Team FiveFingers (Sally and Jase first 50k, me and Scott the second) ran shoulder to shoulder the whole 100k. 2 running in KSOTrek, 2 in Trek Sport. The Fives were amazing over the incredibly technical terrain. Loose rockfaces, creek crossings, steep wet rocky ridges were all sweet.
Even the night running was awesome.
Scott and I pushed the pace pretty hard, getting from the halfway point to the 89k checkpoint in 4hrs 35min. But the pace and a broken headlight made the last 11k real tough. The sadistic organisers also kept some of the steepest (both up and down) and most treacherous/technical running for the end. We were hoping to break 6hrs but poor visibility, cramp and tired legs saw us take some big hits on the toes as we tried to keep the pace up (but not our feet
)
Scott especially took some huge hits, with a suspected broken small toe and several others very close to. I was luckier but still copped some beauties, one sending me flying off the track and over the edge, narrowly saved by spiky tree branches that I managed to hang onto. It was too dark to see just how big a drop it was. Probably best too.
Coming through the finish line at around 9.30pm was one of the best moments of my life. A great victory for Team FiveFingers and for the simple belief that we are all born to run. We just need to keep our feet on the ground and believe in ourselves and our bodies.
By doing so we start a positive chain reaction that can reach further than any of us can imagine. Our support team, Steve the photographer who filmed us during the event, all out there day and night ensuring we had water, supplies and the warmest and loudest of welcome at every checkpoint. It was amazing, inspiring, and the initial spark that brought all these fantastic people together was obvious to anyone who looked down at their feet.
Loving the Fives!!
BTW, some of the other gear we raced in is worth mentioning because it was just amazing.
Zensah calf compression is the best in the world without a doubt (RW mag in US said so but now it's official
)
X-bionic top and shorts, swiss designed, made in Italy. It sure isn't cheap but we ran in 25 degree heat and then at night in -4 degree cold in shorts and a short sleeve top and it all felt the same.. not hot, not cold, just perfect.
Amongst them were 2 Team FiveFingers, one mixed and one male. The team event is a 2 person relay - 50k each.
It was a fearsome challenge. The terrain included picking our way through treacherous rocky ridges, up and down near sheer inclines, a total of over 3000 stairs and rope ladders hanging off a vertical cliff. The number of casualties was incredible. 393 made it to the end. Injuries ranged from broken ankles and feet to concussion and trauma from falls.
Team FiveFingers (Sally and Jase first 50k, me and Scott the second) ran shoulder to shoulder the whole 100k. 2 running in KSOTrek, 2 in Trek Sport. The Fives were amazing over the incredibly technical terrain. Loose rockfaces, creek crossings, steep wet rocky ridges were all sweet.
Even the night running was awesome.
Scott and I pushed the pace pretty hard, getting from the halfway point to the 89k checkpoint in 4hrs 35min. But the pace and a broken headlight made the last 11k real tough. The sadistic organisers also kept some of the steepest (both up and down) and most treacherous/technical running for the end. We were hoping to break 6hrs but poor visibility, cramp and tired legs saw us take some big hits on the toes as we tried to keep the pace up (but not our feet
)Scott especially took some huge hits, with a suspected broken small toe and several others very close to. I was luckier but still copped some beauties, one sending me flying off the track and over the edge, narrowly saved by spiky tree branches that I managed to hang onto. It was too dark to see just how big a drop it was. Probably best too.
Coming through the finish line at around 9.30pm was one of the best moments of my life. A great victory for Team FiveFingers and for the simple belief that we are all born to run. We just need to keep our feet on the ground and believe in ourselves and our bodies.
By doing so we start a positive chain reaction that can reach further than any of us can imagine. Our support team, Steve the photographer who filmed us during the event, all out there day and night ensuring we had water, supplies and the warmest and loudest of welcome at every checkpoint. It was amazing, inspiring, and the initial spark that brought all these fantastic people together was obvious to anyone who looked down at their feet.
Loving the Fives!!
BTW, some of the other gear we raced in is worth mentioning because it was just amazing.
Zensah calf compression is the best in the world without a doubt (RW mag in US said so but now it's official
)X-bionic top and shorts, swiss designed, made in Italy. It sure isn't cheap but we ran in 25 degree heat and then at night in -4 degree cold in shorts and a short sleeve top and it all felt the same.. not hot, not cold, just perfect.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
TNF100 course pics.. something to look forward to!
Sally ran the entire course 2 weekends ago. 50K Sat, 50K Sun. (chica loca)
Here are some of the pics she took. It's going to be fun by torchlight.. very romantic!
Here are some of the pics she took. It's going to be fun by torchlight.. very romantic!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Team FiveFingers TNF100K Training clip
Only 3 dats to go!!! The Sydney sky today is thick with ash from 'burning off' fires in the Blue Mountains, should make for an interesting race on Sat if it is still going on.
Here is a rough cut of some training. We will be filming during the race and posting the best bits on line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1LOIAqoHQ8
Here is a rough cut of some training. We will be filming during the race and posting the best bits on line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1LOIAqoHQ8
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Fake Vibram FiveFingers - Don't get ripped off!!
WARNING!! Over the past 3 weeks some factory in China has started pumping out fake Vibram FiveFingers. The main styles they are targeting are KSO and Speed. The Bikila, Speed and KSO Trek are going to take them a little longer as the sole mold is different, but it's only a matter of time.
I have seen some of these fakes, they are terrible. The stitching is so bad often you cannot fit your toes in, and the materials are cheap and weak. Subsequently there are some very disappointed ebayers out there.
HOW TO BE SURE??
Only use retailers listed on the official FiveFingers sites:
www.barefootinc.com.au
www.vibramfivefingers.com
Keep it real!
I have seen some of these fakes, they are terrible. The stitching is so bad often you cannot fit your toes in, and the materials are cheap and weak. Subsequently there are some very disappointed ebayers out there.
HOW TO BE SURE??
Only use retailers listed on the official FiveFingers sites:
www.barefootinc.com.au
www.vibramfivefingers.com
Keep it real!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Running in Vibram FiveFingers, KSO Trek & Bikila
We (barefootinc.com.au) will be receiving our first delivery of Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek, Bikila, Speed, and Moc in about 3 weeks.
With the Bikila or Speed for road running and the KSO Trek for the trails, transition to running in minimal footwear is now smoother and more accessible than ever.
Loving the Fives!
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