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Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoe Review

Monday, June 29th, 2009

I got a pair of the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoes this past week and took them on the trail Sunday morning to try them out. I had already worn them for a couple of days around town and at the house to break them in; although I’m not sure if I even needed to, they felt snug and cushioned as soon as I put them on, and this was after I had been wearing my road running shoes! A trail running shoe that feels better on my foot than a road running shoe? I didn’t buy it, so I had to test it.

I went on a 6 mile road run before hitting the trails, 5 miles in my road running shoes and then one mile in the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoes to see if this fit and comfort level really did compare on the road. I found that the Progrid Xodus provided the same cushioning, support, and lightweight-ed-ness as my road running shoes but with the biggest difference coming from the Vibram Trek Outsole which is made specifically for the trail. These running shoes are strong enough for the road, but PH balanced just for the trail.

The first thing I liked about these shoes when I put them on was their tight fit. It is very unusual for me to get a perfect fit out of the box (no pun-intended). I have normal width feet but most running shoes still feel too loose to me when I first lace them up. It usually takes me 5 or 6 runs until my running shoes feel snug enough when I lace them up, but not with the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoe. You get the tight upper fit because of the Arch-Lock technology that provides a snug midfoot upon first lacing. Even with this tight fit, I still pulled the laces as tight as I could and tied them off. As soon as I tied my double knot I noticed how tight the knot was. It was like the laces were wedging against each other for an extra tightness, or maybe the bumblebee pattern made it look tight, either way, these shoe laces were not coming loose and I looked “tight” in these bad boys. I’m just glad I was able to run fast enough to avoid being mistakenly cross pollinated with by a bumble bee. I imagine that would hurt.

I also really like how lightweight the shoes are. The Sockliner makes the shoes feel extra lightweight and is breathable with a moisture wicking anti-odor and anti-microbial insolses with rebound properties. I got them pretty wet from water crossings and about 3 gallons of my sweat that rolled down my legs into these shoes. They seemed to dry pretty quickly but I still left them outside to dry out a bit more. It’s been less than 24 hours so I’ve yet to see how well the rebound properties really are. With my amount of sweat, these shoes will need to be able to rebound like Charles Barkely or Dikembe Mutumbo to feel and smell like new again.

With the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoes’ lightweight and comfort I was a little concerned that Saucony skimped on the durability, but I didn’t find this to be the case. The shoe gave a smooth ride on the trail with a good response to the uneven terrain. These are my first Progrid style running shoes but I found that they were able to absorb the impact and dissipate the shock which set my feet up for a great transitions. Speaking of great transitions…

…the picture above is the Vibram Trek Outsole which is why the Saucony Progrid Xodus feels good enough for the roads but are perfect for the trails. The Vibram sole feels like a rubbery/plastic material (it’s a shoescientist term, don’t worry if you don’t understand) that has a lot of teeth for grip but they are far enough apart that you don’t have to carry the trail with you on your run. It’s material and pattern make it a lightwieght sole which does not compromise the grip, traction, or durability. Brilliant! This is why I think Saucony got this shoe right, they focused on the most important part of a trail running shoe, the sole.

You too need to improve you’re most important part, you’re soul, and get our there and trail run. And if you want to get serious about trail running and want a shoe that feels as comfortable as your road running shoes, then this is the shoe for you. Click here for more information on this awesome trail running shoe.

Posted in Shoes, trail running | Comments

Trail Running Ascending and Descending

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Trail Running is like a roller coaster, you go up and down. How’s that for clever? Seriously though, there are a lot of techniques for trail running, but how you run up and down hills determines how you finish the race. You want to view your trail running like mountain biking, changing your gears depending on the grade of incline, maintaining a consistent pace, effort, and rhythm through out. If you need to get in rhythm with the trail and “rhythm is the dancer” then shouldn’t Trail Running really be called Trail Dancing? Very interesting.

Whatever you want to call it, you can still think of the trail as a dancing partner. Run with it, not on it or through it. Like golf being about you as the player against the golf course, trail running is about you versus the trail; and the best way to get the trail to “eat out of your hands” is to seduce her with your dance. Ok, enough with the metaphors, but you just need to know how to switch your gears for the uphills and downhills. Man, that was another metaphor. At least the golf comment was a simile. I took 8th grade English.

When running uphills you want to shorten your stride, turning it into a lower gear. The reason for this is because the amount of consistent effort you need to exert on the uphill gets you less distance than running on the flat. When running on a long hill try to set a cadence at the beginning of the hill that will last you until you reach the top…barely able to breathe. This will give you consistency up the hill. In order to keep moving you need to have light feet running up the hill. This allows you to bounce to the next step without getting bogged down on the incline. Make sure you have good posture and lean forward a bit. If you get tired, pump your arms harder to give more drive to your step, much like a mountain biker when he/she stands up off the seat for extra power on uphills.

After you get to the top of the hill you are going to have to run down it; unless you live at the top of a humongous mountain looking down on everyone else like I do. I do have to run down my driveway sometimes to get the mail and when I do, I make sure I put the center of my body weight over my knees. This helps for balance as well as gives my legs greater ability to slow down my pace if needed. You want to strike on the balls of your feet in order to keep your balance and be able to react to any missteps you may have to take. Obstacles can come at you quickly when you are trail running down hill. You want to relax, look ahead and try to grip and rip without pounding the ground. Pounding the ground not only hurts your joints but its like slamming on the brakes with each step. Run lightly by keeping your feet close together. If you must slow yourself down put your elbows out like you are flying. This will keep you from pumping your arms which increases your speed and will give you more wind resistance, all while giving you more balance on the downhill. It’s like taking your foot off of the gas on the highway instead of hitting the brake pedals…I’m not sure many people know what I’m talking about here.

Life is like a roller coaster, you’re trail running doesn’t have to be the same way. Although you are running up and down hills take it even, Steven. Slow and steady wins the race. At least that’s what my grandfather always told me and I could never beat him no matter how old he got!

Tags:downhill, techniques, uphill
Posted in trail running | Comments

XTERRA Georgia Trail Race Series – Silver Comet 6.2 Mile Trail Race

Friday, June 19th, 2009

It’s time to get off the Atlanta area roads again. On June 28th at 8:30 am, Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC will be hosting the Silver Comet 6.2 Mile Rail/Trail Race, also known as a 10K race distance to you European types. This inaugural race will be a great single and double track off-road running experience. The race will start on the Silver Comet Trail which is a 94 mile old rail trail stretching from Georgia to Alabama named after the old Silver Comet passenger train line. But this is more than an old rail line turned into multipurpose trail, it’s a bridge between Alabama and Georgia, breaking down relationship barriers that have been developed for years stemming from the argument between which state is inbred more. Finally we can agree, both states are thoroughly inbred. The Silver Comet 6.2 Mile Rail/Trail Race will go 3.1 miles down the Silver Comet (path) and at the 3.1 mile mark it will turn into the woods and head back down through the woods for the remaining 3.1 miles (50% Silver Comet Trail ⁄ 50% Paulding Co. SORBA Trails). The terrain is made up of a little bit of everything, rolling hills, climbs, single track, double track, roots, along with some technical sections. Like a buffet; except there is a limit to the amount of trail you can get; and you don’t get to pick which type of terrain you want to run on, so this trail race really isn’t like a buffet, but it is just as filling! The course is beautiful and offers something for every runner truly wishing to ‘ditch the city’. This will be a great trail race if you are thinking about getting into trail running and live in the Atlanta area. Take this opportunity to begin your journey to being an extreme trail runner. Mountain Dew can only take your extremeness levels so far.

If you are a more experienced trail runner then try to win a medal or prize by being the overall top 3 male and female finishers for each race. The last Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC race, XTERRA Georgia Deep South was one Emily Vall who admitted to me that it was her first trail race ever! Well, the first trail race she ever finished, she got lost on her previous attempt. Maybe there’s an elite trail racer in you that you don’t know about. And don’t worry, XTERRA Georgia Trail Race Series events are well marked. They will also be handing out medals to our top 3 male and female finishers in each age group (14&U, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70&U) so you don’t have to be the best to win, just the best among your peers. Being awesome is all relative.

Not planning on finishing in the awarded category? It’s cool, not everyone is, that’s why they are called awards. Walkers are even encouraged to participate; however, you should be able to complete the 6.2 Mi at a 16 minute mile pace or under to receive an official time. This is a trail race for everyone! Come out and experience the fun of an XTERRA Georgia Trail Race! You’ll have a great time and be able to tell all your friends how extreme you are!

Posted in Events, trail running | Comments

Happy National Trails Day! A National Trail Running Day is cooler.

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Oh what a week. National Trails Day and National Running Day all in the same week! It’s like Christmas and Hanukkah in the same week! Wait. That doesn’t make sense. Anyway, happy National Trails Day! Although, you should be celebrating running and trails everyday, but National Trails Day is a good excuse to think about your beloved trails…to run on!

But in case you read this post too late today to plan a celebration for your trails don’t fret, National Trail Running Day is August 22nd! I am going to combine the powers of both of these events to make one ultra (pun-intended) powerful event, NATIONAL TRAIL RUNNING DAY! That’s right, you heard it here first. A great day of celebration for trail running. The Trail Running Industry is coming together, with SeriousRunning.com the leader in trail running information and listings leading the way, to celebrate trail running on August 22nd. That’s it. National Trail Running Day is August 22nd. It’s official. It’s so official it’s like “relationship status” on Facebook official. Yeah, that official. So tell your friends, tell the trails you run on, get your Hallmark cards now, and no matter what else you may hear later, August 22nd is the official National Trail Running Day date. Believe it. I know. That just happened. Call my lawyer if you have any questions. He’s the same guy that represents Dwight Howard and T.I. So yeah, you don’t want to mess with this…unless maybe you’re Kobe Bryant. Then you don’t mind messing with Dwight Howard. But T.I. does ‘whatever he likes.’ Well, sorta.

So what should you do on National Trail Running Day? Well it’s simple. Go trail running. Maybe appreciate the trail you are running on more. Perhaps you can volunteer to help take care of your favorite trail running trails along with friends. Or you can invite friends to join you that have never been on a trail run. Decide to register for a cool trail race. Hand out SeriousRunning.com fliers to people on the street. Wear your SeriousRunning.com T-shirt. All great ways to celebrate! If you are too busy to do anything of these things, then just simple go Trail Running. It doesn’t get any simpler than that!

So celebrate National Trails Day today and go for a trail run. Don’t wear yourself out though, National Trail Running Day is coming soon!

Posted in trail running | Comments

Why Should You go Trail Running?

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Why should you go trail running? Because it’s awesome. There you have it. Or because I do it. Double awesome. Seriously though, as Memorial Day weekend approaches I encourage you to take a day, grab a couple of friends, a camera so you can add pictures to SeriousRunning.com, and whatever else you need and go trail running!

Trail running is a great way to escape your normal life and experience nature. I prefer trail running to road running any day of the week…except the days that attractive people are out running on roads. But when I want to feel my run, realize my run, and experience my run, I head for the trails. I want to be one; with my run.

Trail running is optimal for experiencing the environment because the pace is perfect. You’re not slashing through trees and hopping over rocks like a mountain biker. Also, you’re not taking so much time to traverse the trail that you aren’t able to see and experience everything which can happen when day hiking. Trail running is just right.

I also encourage you to go trail running because it takes very little capital requirements. You don’t need a fancy bike or a top of the line backpack to trail run, you just need your two feet. Well, maybe you should get some trail running shoes to put on those two feet. I know, you only need two feet to go on a day hike too, but that just sounds lame to me. My Mom goes on day hikes. My grandparents used to take a day hike everyday. You’re a little more extreme than that. You are a runner. You run everyday. Tell hiking to take a hike. Zing!

So search for a local trail, take a short drive, and go trail running this Memorial Day weekend. You’ll enjoy it.

Posted in trail running | Comments

XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series – Deep South 15K, Dauset Trails

Monday, May 18th, 2009

It’s time to get Dirty again with Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC’s next event, the 2nd Annual Deep South 15K at the Dauset Trails in Jackson, GA on June 7th. It’s almost like you don’t need SeriousRunning.com to find awesome trails to run because Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC does the work for you by hosting trail races on all the best trails in Georgia and Alabama in their XTERRA Trail Race Series Georgia/Alabama. Notice I said you almost don’t need SeriousRunning.com’s trail run listings.

The Dauset Trail System is a 17 mile system that is a great trail run for all levels of trail runners from beginner to expert. This is a single and double track off-road running experience with beautiful scenery. The race will start in an open field (required for spacing) but will soon lead into the woods. The terrain is made up of a little bit of everything, rolling hills, climbs, single track, double track, roots, gravel and concrete drive along with some technical sections. The trails are well marked and fast with minimal climbing. This is a beautiful course that offers something for every runner. Variety and beauty? I’ve been seeking that my whole life!

Make the Deep South 15K a family weekend trip! The Dauset Nature Center has a lot to offer families of all ages. There are farm animals at the barnyard exhibit, a “wonder room” with alligators, turtles, and snakes, or you can search for wildlife on your own by hiking the animal trail where you will find hawks, owls, raccoons, bison, and bobcats! Like to view your wildlife in a more relaxed setting? Perfect. Sit at the picnic tables overlooking the lake while your children feed the large bream, catfish, turtles, ducks, and Canadian geese from the bridge. You can even bring your own horse and hike the 10 miles of horse trails. Stay the weekend in the campgrounds and have a family fun weekend. Don’t have a family yet? That’s ok, bring your significant other and get married or even re-married at the beautiful chapel. How romantic. You know what’s even more romantic? Running a 15K trail race for your honeymoon. Awe yeah. You dog you.

Bottom line, you don’t want to miss this trail race. I’ve run many of the Dirty Spokes produced XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series Races and each one is superb. The trails are great and the organization is like a well oiled machine. There are always plenty of restrooms, post race food and drink, and quick race results. I like to be able to brag about how fast I ran as soon as possible. Always a good time and a lot of fun trail racers to socialize with post race. Great race director, great racers, and great trails, what else do you want? Sorry, only you can determine whether or not you run a great race.

Go ahead and register online or print off a registration form and send it in the mail. The entry fee is $35 from now until May 27th so you have 9 days to get your significant other to want to re-marry you. If you aren’t that smooth, you can register by June 5th for $40 or on race day for $45. See, it pays to plan ahead. What do you get for this entry fee other than the experience of running one of the best trail runs in Georgia? A Zorrel Dri Balance Race Shirt; but those aren’t guaranteed for late registration so hurry up and register. Want more? Then run fast. Awards are handed out to the top 3 overall male and female finishers plus the top 3 male and female finishers in each age group. Here are the age group categories.

‘Ditch the city’ and run the XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series Deep South 15K. You’ll be glad you did.

Tags:Dirty Spokes, trail race
Posted in Events, trail running | Comments

Learning from the Running Techniques of the Tarahumara Indians

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

After being injured for the first time in 17 years of running I’ve been searching for ways to become a more efficient runner. I am intrigued by the new movement to run barefoot like the human body was made to run, landing more on the middle of the front of the foot than on the heel, where most shoe manufacturers place most of their cushion. It’s a bad economy, it’s time to get back to the basics, why not cut out buying running shoes and start running barefoot? Because that’s just silly. Go purchase some running shoes here. When researching barefoot running I came across the Tarahumara Indians of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Northwest Mexico. These runners have always been about the basics and guess what; they’ve never been in a recession. Stop complaining, give up all of your worldly possessions, and never be in a recession. Just be prepared for a 30% successful birth rate.

The Tarahumara live in a rugged land which is often not able to be travelled by horse or wagon so traveling by foot is the best option. They usually travel at 50-80 miles per day at “race pace” which I would guess is probably faster than your race pace. Pretty much running two marathons a day is their job. What did I tell you? Marathons are recession proof and business is always good for the Tarahumaras. Become one and you’ll no longer have to work at a bar or casino! Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it. The reason the Tarahumaras run about two marathons a day is because their job is to chase animals, often until the animals drop from exhaustion. Humans were built for running long distances on trails. Even Usain Bolt can’t outrun a cheetah or many other animals, but there is no species that can outrun humans over long distances. Plus we’re better looking than any other species. Well, some of us are.

So how do you run like a Tarahumara? Only eat complex carbohydrates, don’t train, and smoke and drink before races. See, you can do that. To be exact, a diet of the Tarahumara consists of about 80% complex carbohydrates, 10% protein, and 10% fat. They primarily use their livestock for manure to grow corn and other plants to eat. Runners should remember that carbohydrates are our friends. I eat tons of carbohydrates because my body needs them from running long distances. After losing 30 pounds, I then began running longer distances and began feeling fatigued. The nutritionist I was dating at the time told me I should add some more carbohydrates to my diet of canned tuna and chicken. Genius! So I ventured out to consuming cans of Spaghetti O’s to get some carbohydrates. The point here is to feed your body what it needs. Don’t worry about each and every thing you put in your body, counting calories and tracking which ones you burn, just give your body the energy it needs to work. Get your energy from a can like me and Popeye!

Also, don’t train, like the the Tarahumara Indians. More specifically, don’t over think your running. The Tarahumara Indians do not teach their children at a young age how to run, they just begin running. Running farther and farther as their life goes on, learning techniques and becoming more efficient every time they run. You don’t need to over think about your technique or efficiency, just run. Focus on that. Simple enough?

Lastly, drink, smoke, and avoid contact with the opposite sex before a race like the Tarahumara Indians. I know, usually the drink leads to your contact with the opposite sex but use your best judgment, or your best judgment at the time, and avoid this contact before a race. The point here is not that you necessarily need to smoke or drink before a race, but that you need to relax before a race. I once had a friend tell me that because a race start was pushed back 15 minutes he became de-hydrated during the race. He was at a perfect hydration level for the normal start time. Does that 15 minutes really matter? Do those two beers you had 48 hours or even 24 hours before the race really affect your running? Does that pack of cigarettes you smoked the day before a race matter? Well, probably, but most likely more so because you already smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for a month prior to the race. The point is, don’t sweat the little things. Just run your best and don’t think about anything else you may have done prior to the race like the Tarahumara Indians do. Just run your best.

Get back to the basics like the Tarahumara Indians. They’ve survived for centuries for a reason, because they run.

Posted in Motivation, trail running, Uncategorized | Comments

Trail Running Shoes Versus Road Running Shoes

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

What’s the difference? They’re both running shoes. My brother wears trail running shoes both on the trails and on the road. That doesn’t make it right though. There are some types of running shoes that are in between the characteristics of a trail running and a road running shoe; they can run both ways. There’s nothing wrong with that. These type of shoes are so enlightened.

If you run 20 miles a week or more, then you need to wear the correct shoe for the terrain you will be running on. Trail Running shoes are built to be more rugged, like your chiseled facial features. For instance, the soles are more rugged to not give way when you step on the roots or rocks. Stepping on a root directly in the middle of your foot can cause serious injury, I’m not a podiatrist but I do use my feet a lot. The toes in trail running shoes are reinforced to give extra protection from hard objects that may stub your toes. Rocks are always getting in the way. This extra protection lends trail running shoes to be generally heavier. However, just like road running shoes you can buy trail running shoes that are built for performance, thus lighter, or you can go for a heavier shoe to control your pronation and give you extra protection. Or you can buy some trail running shoes that are like me: built for speed, but made for comfort. You know it!

Trail Running shoes are also have different traction than road running shoes. There are many different types of terrain and conditions you may encounter on a trail and you will need more traction. Also, the treads on the bottom are built to prevent rocks from getting caught and to whisk mud away so it doesn’t stick to your shoes. Stop giving mud a free ride.

Trail Running shoes are also typically more breathable and water proof. When trail running most of the time you want to run straight through puddles and sometimes have to cross major streams. You don’t want to run in soggy shoe for the rest of the trail so trail running shoes are built to dry quicker than road running shoes. It feels really good to dry out.

Those are some of the major difference between trail running and road running shoes. You can wear road running shoes on the trail, just like you can wear jean shorts to a wedding, but I wouldn’t recommend it; unless it is a wedding for University of Georgia graduate. Then you may be a little overdressed.

Posted in Shoes, trail running | Comments

$25 Dollar Gift Certificates On SeriousRunning.com!

Monday, May 11th, 2009

I would like to give back to you, the user. No, this isn’t a bailout, it’s a gift. From SeriousRunning.com to you. I know, I know, we already give you enough with our thought provoking blogs, over 650 National Trail Run Listings, extensive race listings, running shoe reviews, and running forum; but we still want to do this for you. You are runners. We are runners. Cool. Let’s hang out.

In order for SeriousRunning.com to be the best running information and trail running website we need your feedback. Tell us what you thought about your last trail run, your favorite pair of running shoes, or the races you love to participate in every year! Tell your fellow runners the best way to enjoy the sport. I know, the feeling you get from helping others is gift enough, but we would like to offer you something more.

$25 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com or REI.com!

How do you earn a $25 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com or REI.com? By participating. From now until June 5th, the top four runners who add the most trail running information to seriousrunning.com will win a $25 Gift Certificate to either Amazon.com or REI.com! Here’s how we will determine the winners:

Trail Run Listing: 3 pts

Trail Run Review: 2 pts

Trail Run Photo: 1 pt (max 5 pts per trail)

Running Shoe Review: 1 pt

Are you Serious? We are, so for competition’s sake, I’m going to give you an additional $25 Gift Certificate if you score more overall points than I do, Chris Barber. Remember all those blogs about mental toughness? I wasn’t kidding. Bring it.

In addition, I would like to offer you your very own SeriousRunning.com T-shirt! You’ll be so hip. Registered members are awarded points for their contributions to the running community here at SeriousRunning.com. When you earn 150 total points, you have attained “Serious Runner” status. Aren’t you proud? Well, you’ll get your very own T-shirt that shows it, for free! Want people to start taking you seriously? Then wear a T-shirt that tells them you are serious…about running. You’ll be so hot.

Help us, help you, help others. It’s all about runners helping runners…and free stuff!

Tags:free
Posted in SeriousRunning.com, trail running | Comments

Ruff Buff 7K Trail Run

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

I’ve never run a trail race…naked. Although I am always for trying new things. I truly believe that success is most accurately measured by how many great cocktails stories you have…and how many visitors you have on your running website. Thanks for hanging out. You’re the key to my success. I’m just Running Down a Dream and going wherever it leads.

The Inaugural Ruff Buff 7K Trail Run will be held on May 30th at the Sunny Rest Resort which encompasses part of the Pocono Mountains in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. It is the 3rd race in the 2009 B.A.R.E. Butt Chasers East Coast Race Series and will be as awesome as all of the other races in the series. Go check it out and run for a day of fun, bare or clothed, it’s up to you. It’s always good to have options when it comes to clothing. Bring a friend for a small fee of $15.00 to relax at the resort with you. Entry into the resort will start at 7:00 AM for race-day entries and packet pick-up. If you want to stay after the race there are great deals at Sunny Rest Resort. Make a weekend of this destination event! There is a restaurant, pool & hot tub, tennis courts, showers, and restrooms available on site.

Early entry fee is $25.00 by check or money order by May 22, 2009. Late entry fee of $30.00 after May 22nd and will be accepted online only until midnight, May 28th. After that you can bring cash, check, or money order on race day. You can register online at www.sportsoften.com for a small fee. Do the responsible thing, write a check and put it in the mail right now.

Who knew running naked down a trail would make you more successful?! Frank the Tank and I did. But now you do too!

Tags:naked running, running down a dream
Posted in Events, trail running | Comments

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