Asics GT 2130

I picked up a pair of the new Asics GT 2130 after the clinic last night and was eager to take them for a spin tonight. I wasn’t that impressed with the changes the company made with the 2120s (they felt clunky and too spacious in the forefoot) but the 2130s felt good. They were comfortable from the get go and the transition at the mid-foot was much more smooth than I expected. I did find toe-box (is that a word) more roomy than necessary but… I could’ve purchased a size smaller had I listened to Seamus. Overall I’d give the shoe a 90% based on performance and comfort.

With the inaugural Cobble Hill 10k this weekend (race #2 in the Island Race Series), tonight’s workout was short and simple, 6x400 slightly faster than 5k pace. Not wanting to overcook my legs I decided to aim for 78s… that was the plan at least.

After a gentle warm-up in bitterly cold conditions (I decided to keep my tights, both shirts and jacket on for the w/o) and a few drills I eased into the first interval, opening the first 200 in a relaxed 35”. As someone with an abundance of front-end speed, I find running a consistent pace in workouts like this difficult. It has probably been years since I’ve run 400s and it showed as it wasn’t until the fifth repeat that I ran an even split.

1:16
1:17
1:16
1:15
1:15
1:14

I’m excited with my decision to run a quick 5k by mid-March but also curious how this will translate and affect my marathon build (Ottawa is 11 weeks after Bazan Bay). Including the 8k two weeks ago, I’ve scheduled 6 races between now and Ottawa and as a result I also plan on keeping the volume down until much later than usual… just a thought.

Training: 52:42 with 6x400 (90”)

Saucony Fastwitch

On my way to work this morning I was trying to think of a good reason, any reason, why my calves might be causing me grief. Last nights abuse with the stick had helped, but they weren't 100%. After a few minutes I started to get that nagging feeling, like seeing a face in a crowd but not being able to place the person. Thankfully, it wasn't long afterwards that it hit me, "when was the last time I bought new shoes?"

Later that morning I phoned my sister and she confirmed what I had suspected, January 17th, the Asics 2120. That was before I started my 12 week build for London! Now granted I did receive some new Adidas on March 9th, but I've used those primarily for shorter/easier runs (not wanting to switch to new shoes when I was having grief with my achilles). Regardless, that is four solid months of marathon training and all my long runs!

I popped down to Frontrunners after my run this evening and grabbed a new pair of 2120, and I'm hoping they'll be the catalyst I need. I also picked up a new pair of racing flats, the Saucony Fastwitch Endurance... the old school version, special ordered (thanks Wuz). Tre was putting me through the gears this evening, but I couldn't help but overhear him tell Jim that I was being "one of those customers". The thing was, I couldn't decide on getting the new Fastwitch 2 in a 9 1/2, (I raced London in the 10) or the older, original version in a 10... that was my choice, that's all they had. In the end I went old school, they felt more like my 2120, the heel cup no where near as squishy in the newer version. Anyhow, I'm going to try them out tomorrow and if everything goes well, I'll be bringing them to Ottawa with me.

Hope everyone has a great long weekend, and all the best goes out to Eric who is racing the Fargo Marathon. He has put in some serious training, and should post an impressive time.

Training: easy 33:07

Asics 2120, They Feel… Different

The title of this entry could easily have been “misperception”, everything was off this evening. My run felt great, almost too good, I traced part of the old 1994 Commonwealth Games route imagining I was in the lead. I felt like I was flying, my shoulders relaxed, feet easily turning over and a crisp cool breeze in my face. It was a gorgeous evening, the moon bright in a cloudless sky, the temperature cool enough to prevent you from overheating and warm enough so that… so that you don’t need a face mask (poor bugger), perhaps an enjoyable 0C? I occasionally had to check myself, easing back so that I had something left for the race on Sunday.

Once home I loaded up my Streets & Trips, curious to see how far I’d gone, I felt like I was clicking over effortlessly at 6:20 mi/pace. This is where I catch up to you; needless to say, I was surprised to map out an 11.1 km route (7:01 mi/pace), not only that the website indicated it was 6C out… go figure?

So. I was mistaken a few days back when I indicated that I’d bought new Asics 2110. Mistaken as I had assumed the company had repackaged the old with a slight variation in colour, who knew? Unbeknownst to me I had bought the new 2120s. What led me to check was that my feet seemed, undersized; they clunked around in oversized shoes. I’ve been a size 10 for years, but these shoes feel different. My right achilles (the good one) has been rubbing on the heel cup and there is a pressure point on the outside of the same foot, down near the 3rd eyelet.

Has anyone else noticed anything?

Training: a comfortable 48:23, AHR 140, MAX 153, 7:01 mi/pace. My achilles didn’t hurt but it was noticeable throughout ½ the run, not painful, just there.