Northside: Snohomish Waterproof Hiking Boot

The versatile Snohomish is the boot for any adventure. The suede and mesh waterproof upper is just as ready for a trek through the summer heat as slosh through spring downpours. Its mid cut cuff helps keep you cool/dry/comfortable.

• Rugged natural suede upper features breathable nylon inserts/abrasion resistant toe guard/molded heel stabilizer

• Removable/washable EVA insole ensures cushioning for your feet; padded collar/tongue provide all day comfort

• All weather outdoor ankle high hiker offers waterproof seam sealed construction/moisture wicking lining to keep feet dry; gusseted tongue keeps debris out

• Mid height shaft measures 5 inches from arch; quick lace up closure allows for easy/secure adjustments; heel pull strap makes it easy to get on/off; manufacturer recommends that half sizes should order to the next size up

• Durable multi directional rubber outsole ensures exceptional traction/shock absorption/good abrasion resistance in dry/wet conditions

Injinji Performance Toe Socks

There are so many toe sock benefits for athletes! Whether you’re running, golfing, footballing, hiking, or even “businessing”, Injinji toe socks are there providing the best foundation possible.

Injinji: How to Transition from Running in the Cold to Running in Warm Weather

According to the calendar, it’s *finally* going to be spring soon, which means that if you’re not experiencing a warm up in weather now, you’re about to! And that also means it’s time to refresh ourselves on what it means to run in warm(ish) weather. So how does one transition out of the bundled up, cold weather running we’ve come to love (or hate) over the last few months to running in sunshine and humidity?

Take a peek at these five tips for making the transition easy and safe:

Gear Up (and Be Ready to Lose Some Layers)

Just like it’s important to know which layers to wear at which temperature during the winter months, when it starts to warm up, you should check the chart to see what layers to lose. One way to figure it out is to add about 10-15 degrees to the outside temperature, and dress for comfort in that temperature range. While the weather is still in the 40s-50s, you’ll probably want to start with a long sleeved layer to warm up in, then have a way to carry it while you finish out your run. If you’re still not sure what to wear, try using this tool for calculating the ideal running outfit for your gender, weight and the type of run you’ll be completing.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

This one seems like a no brainer, but it still has to be pointed out. It’s really easy to get dehydrated when the temperature climbs, especially when your body is used to functioning in cooler temperatures. Pack extra water, wear a hydration system, or know where you can refuel if you need it. Don’t underestimate the effects of a few degrees on how much water your body needs.

Slow Your Roll

It’s important to let your body acclimate to warmer temperatures. And the key to that? Slooooow down. Your body has to work harder in higher temperatures, which means you’re going to get tired faster. To avoid harming yourself, slow it down a bit until you’re comfortable with the heat. Don’t like decreasing your pace? Then cut down the miles for a bit, so you don’t push yourself past your limit.

Run a Familiar Route

In case you need help or need a break, it’s a good idea to stick to a route you know like the back of your hand. You’ll know where the best places are to rest, or how to get in touch with someone if you need a ride or (worst case scenario), if you sustain an injury on your run.

Know the Signs of Heat Stroke (and Listen to Your Body)

Transitions can be smooth, and sometimes not so much. It can be exhilarating to run in the warmth after months of cold weather, and sometimes that means you push it just a little too hard. So make sure you know the signs of heat stroke (throbbing headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, lack of sweating despite heat, muscle weakness or cramps, etc.) and listen to your body. If you’re feeling a little weird, slow down, drink some water and take a bit of a break.

This entry was posted On March 19, 2019 By Injinji.

5 Tempo Runs That Build Both Speed and Stamina

You’ll spend time at a comfortably hard pace no matter which option you choose, but it will be worth it when you see the improvements in your pace and endurance.

When you’re new to running, you might hear other runners toss around the term “tempo run” and have no blessed idea what they’re talking about. Even if you’ve been running for awhile now, you might not have incorporated tempo runs into your routine yet. But it’s better late than never to board the tempo train, and we’ve got the full breakdown to help you get started.

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What Exactly Is a Tempo Run?

Tempo runs or tempo workouts are great training tools because you run at an effort that feels strong, and you feel stronger and fitter afterward. The purpose of a tempo workout is to run at a sustained effort to build “speed endurance”—that is, the ability to hold a challenging pace over a longer period of time.

To properly execute tempo workouts, you need to understand your own effort levels. For these workouts, we break out efforts by yellow, orange, and red zones. Tempo effort is best described as comfortably hard: It’s somewhere between the top of your orange zone and bottom of your red zone.

• Yellow Zone: This is the easiest effort level. You can easily hold a conversation without pausing to catch your breath. This zone is used for easy runs, recovery runs, and long runs. Running at this effort allows us to run for a long time, improves our fat-burning enzymes, and isn’t very stressful on the body.

• Orange Zone: This zone indicates a moderately challenging effort level. You’re not running all-out, but you are outside of your comfort zone. You can kind of hold a conversation, but you’re reduced to chopping statements, while reaching for air every few words. This zone is a step up from Yellow and hovers around the lactate threshold (redline), the point at which we shift from using more fat for energy to using more glycogen. We run in this zone during workouts like tempo runs and long intervals to raise the redline, which helps us run faster at easier efforts.

• Red Zone: This zone is very challenging. You know you’re here when you can’t even think about speaking because you’re too busy concentrating on when the workout will end. You are here when you cross your redline, or the effort level that is flat-out hard, well outside your comfort zone. This is the effort in which we run intervals, hill repeats, and any high-intensity workout. Training in this zone will improve fitness and speed and boost your metabolism for hours post-workout.

Ready? Get Your Tempo Runs Here.

10 Marathon Training Tips for First Timers

Whether you’re in the middle of training for your first 26.2 or prepping for your initial crack at the distance, here are some training tips that will help you toward your goal.

When you start a routine with running, it is inevitable that you’ll eventually start looking at races to add to your calendar. You may start with a local 5K (3.1 miles) and get the itch to do more. Over time, a 10K (6.2 miles) might be on your radar. Before you know it, you may be training to do a half marathon (13.1 miles).

If you’re newer to the sport, it may take a year of buildup to get to that point—and that’s an amazing accomplishment! Along the way you will get fitter as a runner, healthier overall, and probably make some friends along the way.

RELATED STORY

Bucket List: 10 Great Marathons for First-Timers

But the more you hang around runners, the more you’ll hear about that coveted distance of 26.2 miles. While you certainly don’t need to do a marathon to consider yourself a true runner, with about a year of preparation and training under your belt, conquering the distance is within reach if that becomes a new goal.

Ready to Start Training?

First, it’s always best to check with your physician before beginning any extensive exercise program like training for a marathon. If you get the green light, consider getting a training plan to guide your journey. Runner’s World offers training plans for every type of runner and distance. Here are five of our most popular plans for first-time marathoners:

• First-Timer Marathon (16 weeks, 12–40 miles per week)

• Beginner Marathon (16 weeks, 16–44 miles per week)

• Break 4:30 Marathon (16 weeks, 23–45 miles per week)

• Break 4:45 Marathon (16 weeks, 23–45 miles per week)

• Break 5:00 Marathon (16 weeks, 23–45 miles per week)\

As you train, remember the human body adapts slowly and therefore responds best to small gradual increases in training stress. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, the circulatory system, the cardiovascular system, and the respiratory system all adapt at different rates to training.

They need a minimum of six weeks to make adaptations to the stresses placed upon them, so proceeding gradually as you get ready for marathon-specific training is very important. Training periods of greater workload, like mileage increases or speedwork, should be followed by periods of reduced workload, often referred to as a “cut back” week, where mileage is reduced and speedwork less intense.

Besides just logging the miles, there are many other factors to educate yourself on too, like hydration and nutrition. Obtaining the proper gear and equipment, like shoes, is really important. Have your current shoes checked out at your local running store by a specialist. Tell them your weekly mileage to date, your goal to run a marathon, the running surfaces you train on, and how often you run so they can prescribe and fit you with the best shoe for you.

Continue Reading to Get Training Tips here.

The struggle of running with wide feet in a narrow world

First off, let me say that this is not about being a larger runner (although I know a little bit about that, too). This is about the wide feet predicament- otherwise known as the journey of trying to find those sweet, sweet 2E running shoes.

EYE OPENER

Many years ago, I could only run a few miles in my running shoes before I would get blisters. If I ever pushed past that, it felt like the lateral (outsides) of my feet were breaking. I had no clue why this would happen, but of course, I didn’t do anything about it because I was stubborn and ignorant.

When I finally needed a new pair of running shoes, for some reason I went to a specialty running store where people actually knew what they were talking about. The employee measured my feet and said I had wide feet. I didn’t know what that meant, nor did I really care.

The employee went to the back of the store and brought over a pair of Asics Gel-Kayanos and pointed out the giant 2E writing on the side of the box. Again, I didn’t care. I slipped them on, laced them up, and… HOLY SHIT. What are these magical slippers?!

It was then and there that I had a revelation. I can only wear wide shoes.

THE STRUGGLE

What’s that? You’ve never heard of a 2E running shoe? Bless your heart! Let me break it down for you. You are most likely buying a shoe that is D (standard running width) because you are normal. I fall under the 2E umbrella which means that I have wide feet. Little do you know that there is a whole (albeit small) world of shoes that are classified as more narrow or wider.

Within that world, every wide-footed runner shares a common feeling. A feeling of confusion. Why are there nine billion options for shoes and like five of them come in wide?
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest running brands.

Nike. If you go to the men’s shoe section of their website, there are 574 options. Filter to show only 2E wide and your options drop to 15. Filter a bit more for running shoes and you are left with three. The company that is the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel only has three options of running shoes that come in 2E wide.

On Adidas’ website, there isn’t even an option to filter shoes for width. You have to search the term “wide” and the results are a complete waste of time. In addition to seeing some shoes so ugly you are going to want to claw your eyes out, the last result is a wide-brim sports visor. If I had a wide head, this is where I would be celebrating.

Even brands that were created solely for running are just as bad. You’ve heard of On. That fancy Swiss shoe where the sole is super weird but also super cool at the same time. It has holes in it and kind of looks like moon shoes. They call it CloudTec. Well, I can’t call it anything because On doesn’t have a single shoe available in wide.

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Northside: Burke II Sandal

The Burke II is one of our most popular sport sandals. Great for time on the trail, around town, or playing in the water.

Trainers and Speed Shoes

Bring more fun to your run

Often we describe running shoes as daily trainers or speed day shoes. Trainers are what we put the majority of our miles in. Race flats and speed shoes are the sports cars you take out for performance. A good trainer / speed shoe pairing is as pleasing as a wine / food pairing. It will bring out experiences in your running that alone you would have never found.

“You don’t have to be an elite or super fast to have fun with race flats.”

While race flats are dialed in for specific distances and surfaces, trainers are generalists. Think of trainers like a paint roller, really good at covering 80% of the job, but when you want to do the detail work, the spots that require precision, you need to pick up a brush aka speed shoe.

Speed shoes add excitement and variety to your workout. They can even provide that extra psychological edge you need to get through a tough workout or race. If you train in heavier less responsive shoes then switch to your light snappy race flats on speed days and BOOM! Instant adrenaline and reduction in perceived effort.

Just about all the major shoe manufacturers have race flats that work well with one of their daily trainers.

START RUNNING >> 8 EXTREMELY USEFUL RUNNING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Are you new runner? Have you decided to start running to improve your fitness? Before lacing up your shoes, check out these 8 extremely useful running tips for beginners from running expert Sascha Wingenfeld.

1. START WITH SHORT RUNNING INTERVALS

Are you super-excited to start your running training? As a new runner, you shouldn’t plan on running the entire distance in one go. “Break it down into intervals and try to keep them short at the beginning. Don’t be ashamed to walk between the intervals so you can recover a little,” recommends Sascha Wingenfeld. After some time, you can start lengthening the running sections and reducing the walking: begin by alternating between 2 minutes of jogging and 2 minutes ofwalking. Increase your running intervals by one minute per workout until you can run the entire distance at a stretch without having to walk.

2. DON’T START OUT RUNNING TOO FAST

Your body has to get used to the new stresses and strains of running. Many beginners start out running too fast and pay the price for this mistake within just a few minutes. Frustration, overexertion, pain or even injuries are just some of the consequences. Therefore, start running at a moderate pace (i.e. where you can easily hold a conversation). “Even when you feel like cutting loose, you should maintain the same pace for the entire distance. Only those who give their body time to gradually get used to the new demands will have long-term success.”

3. YOUR BODY NEEDS TIME TO RECOVER

Your first run went well and you want to head out again right away? Great! 
But you should wait a day before attempting the next workout: your body needs to rest so it can recover from the first running session. “It must adapt to the new demands on the cardiovascular system and prepare your muscles and bones for the next run,” says Sascha. Schedule your training so you run one day and rest the next. This simple training plan can help beginners achieve the greatest training effect and avoid overuse injuries.

4. RUN EASY AND TAKE SHORT STEPS

Running is a technically challenging sport. Many beginners don’t have the proper technique and make jogging harder than it has to be by wasting a lot of energy. Your body develops the coordination necessary to perform the complex sequence of movements with every kilometer or mile that you run. “Try to run relaxed and with good form. Short, easy steps are more effective than long, powerful strides that act as a brake, slowing your forward momentum with every footfall.” 

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Best Running Shoes for Women 2018–2019 - Gear Junkie

March 08, 2018

Best Running Shoes for Women 2018–2019 - Gear Junkie

Read Original Article here

Whether you love road running, trail running, or minimalist sneakers, we’ve found, tested, and reviewed the best running shoes for women.

Finding the right women’s running shoe is a pain. With so many to choose from, it can be hard to narrow them all down. Don’t worry, though – we’ve got you covered.

We spent the past several months researching and testing all manner of running shoes. Testing included intense mountain runs, moderate trail runs, adventurous day hikes, runs along cement and pavement, plenty of treadmill miles, and a few fitness classes. We wore them through rain, snow, mud, and sun on adventures around the world.

We even tossed in some errands around town, because everyone wears their shoes for more than just running.

Below, you’ll find shoes separated into three categories: road running, trail running, and minimalist shoes. Of course, some could fit in more than one category, and this list doesn’t cover every women’s running shoe out there. But these are some of our favorites, and we’ll keep this list updated with new releases.

An all-around workhorse, the Sensation 3 from Chinese brand 361 provides mild stability and is suitable for long runs, sprint work, and leisurely walks. The proprietary midsole construction makes these a solid choice for comfortable all-day wear and means that same comfort level will last throughout the lifetime of the shoe. Weighing in at 8.4 ounces per shoe, they’re neither super light nor heavy. And one of our favorite features is the minimalist tongue. No more upper foot pressure and bulky tongue-induced rubbing.

Northside - The Other Side of Outside

THE OTHER SIDE OF OUTSIDE Does it often seem the outdoors have become the sole purview of thrill seekers, adrenaline junkies and wilderness conquerors? The truth is, the outdoors does not discriminate. It doesn't care how fast you are, how tall, or how fit you might be.

CW-X Names Jorge Lopes Rep of the Year

Left to right: John Wilson, President & COO CW-X, Jorge "The Machine" Lopes, Al St. Jean Director, East CW-X

At the 2016 Running Event in Orlando, Florida. Jorge is honored to win this award for the second year in a row with the help of his excellent retailers.

In the 1992 David Mamet play, Glengarry Glen Ross, the character portrayed by Jack Lemmon was called “The Machine” because during his prime he was always closing.

WSSC has its own machine in the form of Jorge Lopes of Metro and Rural Marketing LLC who repeated his December 2015 performance as Rep of the Year again in 2016. During a jovial ceremony in Orlando during The Running Event, not far from the House of the Mouse, Jorge, John Wilson and Albert St. Jean say cheese.

“Jorge covers sales in the mid-Atlantic states for CW-X, and his territory has a rare balance of specialty running, outdoor and key accounts. He is also a top level masters road racer,” says WSSC’s Al St. Jean.

Metro & Rural Marketing, LLC launches new website