Category: Gear & gadgets

about gear and gadgets

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Back to the basics…

New Balance 1490

at least when it comes to racing shoes.

I have tried many brands. Started with three pairs from NB after that tried Asics, Mizuno, Inov8, Saucony. And can say that last two brands are good for trail runs but when I’m talking about New Balance’s all the way. I really like that most of NB shoes are light with kind of tight fit on the foot, especially the front part. So, at the moment can say that I did the full circle starting with NB 890, Minimus and 1400 running through couple shoe brands and back to NB 1490 now. Decided to buy again NB when I have run the midnight track marathon with my worn 1400. These are in very bad state but still was able to pull quite a good result. Was delighted. If could do so good in worn shoes that means brand is good for me. Bought 1490 and that proved to be a good move. Got 3:17 and 3:14 in the b2b marathons followed by 12 hours next weekend which I won… I think it is good recommendation? Don’t you think? Read more

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Sensible love…

NB Fresh Foam Bracadale

When comes to running shoes brand I’m very much in love with New Balance. Have tried many different shoe brands – Asics, Iv8, Mizuno, Saucony but still for me NB are the best. Keeping my foot where it suppose to stay, very light shoes as well. Only other brand regularly used by me is Hoka One shoes. Reason is very simple. Great shoes for ultra runs and recovery…
So, what you can get when you will combine love with practicality… You will get NB Fresh Foam Bracadale – 980. Have run just a short run in these yet but looks like it could be a contender for a Hoka substitution. Very light, cushioning big. Haven’t felt any pounding on my legs when run. But that just first impressions. Will see later… Read more

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I’m pacing…

It took me some and training to start running with the same pace whole way through trainings and marathon runs. It’s a simple as you would think. Keeping same pace through 42.2 km distance is quite demanding but doable. Anyway, since before Dublin marathon I wanted to try and pace runners in the race. Wasn’t lucky with Dublin but knew that it will happen for me. I have sent emails to organizators of 2015 marathons in Dublin, Toronto, Liverpool, Prague and Berlin. All emails I have sent at least 8 months before the race day… And you would think that would be enough but not. Got reply straight away from Berlin and Dublin that they have their pacers team sorted out. First positive reply I got was from Toronto. Unfortunatelly, at the time of email arrival we have already decided that taking a week of during stay in Toronto will take too much days from our holiday days ‘budget’. But that was the first yes. Then came Liverpool and reply that they will be putting together team in the beginning of 2015 and that they will give me a shout if I will be included. Still, maybe. And there was a no from Prague. They put me on to the reserve list. And… after asking them again some time that I got reply that I’m in and they just working out a time for me. After couple of email here and back I ended up as 4 hours pacer in Volkswagen Prague Marathon 2015. Nice… I know, that I will be required to wear Adidas gear (hopefully shoes will be ok) cause they are main sponsor for the race… Read more

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Better grip?

So, now I have two pairs of trail shoes. All covered in mud Inov-8 TrailRoc 245 and new pair of, and now suprise again, Saucony Peregrine 4.0. Bought (bought is too big word, got two gift vouchers to Amphibian King, so could afford these) these cause I think I need trail shoes with better grip than Inov-8. Don’t get me wrong TrailRoc 245 are great but I think that sole if quite flat for trail shoes (had couple of slips during the runs)… Read more

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Funny laces – xtenex

After being advice about new type of laces and checking them on the Dublin Marathon Expo I have decided that I will give them a try. If these will work tension on the foot should be same on the whole lace length and you shouldn’t need to do and undo them again. Sounds like a gadget which tends to get money from you but will check these. Already have two pairs of laces on my Mizuno’s and Asics. Will inform you all about the results. Read more

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First time Asics

With my knee still suffering and after loosing one pair of road shoes I have decided that I need new shoes which will have bigger cushioning than my Mizuno’s now…

Again trip was made to Amphibian King shop. This time was it the Ashtown one. Fairly small but still same professional advice. After informing about my knee issue and shoes which I was using in the past I was given choice of Puma’s, Asics Gel DS Racer 10, NB 1600 (was told that in Europe that is a new one but in US version 2 is already on the market) and Brooks. Brooks were really nice but unfortunately biggest size they had was 45 which is about 1/3 size to small. Have tried Puma’s but the problem is the same as with regular Puma’s – very tight place for toes. And having jinxed toes I need to have proper room for these (Puma’s not delivering that)… So, the dilema was between NB and Asics. Must tell that NB were lighter and I trusting the brand but this time NB lost. Both shoes have nice cushioning but NB 1600 are really flat on the top of the sole and it wasn’t giving me enought support in the front. And for that one reason I have choosen the Asics for the first time in my life… Read more