Reviews

Below you can check out reviews of books, films, shoes, apparel, socks, equipment, and retailers. If you're a company with a product you want listed on here, give me a shout and I may test it. If I like it, I may just list it :)

FILM REVIEWS

Unbreakable: The Western States 100 (2011)
"Unbreakable: The Western States 100" tells the story of the 2010 "Super Bowl of Ultrarunning," following four elite ultrarunners in their quest for the coveted cougar trophy. Produced and distributed by Journeyfilm and directed by JB Benna, whose previous work includes "The Runner" and "Ultramarathon Man," "Unbreakable" was released in December, with private showings nationwide, and has captured great interest in the ultrarunning community. Having watched "Unbreakable" three times, I believe this is a very good film--just as good, if not better, than "Running on the Sun." In fact, "Unbreakable" seems to get better with each viewing. The main characters are...read on.

 
BOOK REVIEWS
Eat & Run: My Unlike Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness, by Scott Jurek
Scott Jurek was, in his own words, “a shy kid with high blood pressure.” In school, he was spit on, called Pee-Wee and a target of bullies. Few could have ever imagined this scrawny boy would one day become a world-class endurance athlete and running legend. Over the course of his nearly 20-year career, Jurek has won some of the world’s biggest and toughest ultramarathons, starting with seven consecutive victories at the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile trail race in northern California he dominated from 1999-2005. He’s broken the tape in the mountainous Hardrock 100, twice won the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, and found victory three consecutive years at the...read on.


I'm Here to Win: A World Champion's Advice for Peak Performance, by Chris McCormack
In I'm Here to Win, Chris "Macca" McCormack pulls no punches. This will come as no surprise to those who've followed him for years. Over the course of his very honest, fun and reader-friendly 261-page autobiography, which he co-authored with Tim Vandehey, Macca tells his life story, shares his secrets and in more than a few areas recounts "war" stories. A big part of the book is dedicated to Macca's pursuit of a World Championship at the Hawaii Ironman, where he ultimately broke the tape in 2007 and again in 2010. This is an outstanding book for professional, amateur and aspiring triathletes, age-groupers and endurance athletes in any sport--from ultrarunning and marathoning to cycling and swimming...read on.

An ultrarunning and adventure racing legend, Marshall Ulrich has lived quite a life and shares his story in his long-awaited autobiography. On the surface, Running on Empty is about Marshall's greatest challenge yet--an attempt to set the speed record for running across the US. But it's about so much more. Over 320 pages, Marshall humbly bares his soul and shares the good, the bad and the ugly of his dramatic 3,063-mile, 52-day run across America in the fall of 2008 at the tender age of 57...read on.

Run!: 26.2 Miles of Blisters and Bliss, by Dean Karnazes
There have been greater ultrarunners, but never has an endurance athlete come even remotely close to achieving the fame, image and fortune of Dean Karnazes. It all started in 2005 with the release of a little memoir that Dean, in an awe-shucks kind of way, says he never envisioned as a New York Times Best Seller...read on.

PRODUCT REVIEWS

There are many great products out there, and there are yet other products that could be described as garbage. Here I review what I buy and use with the hope that my experience will help other runners make informed choices about what they purchase and which companies have the best price for that product. If I've provided a link to the product, it's because I recommend it. No link means this product isn't recommended.

~SHOES

Hoka One One Bondi B - Hoka One One Bondi B's are quite simply the best running shoes I've ever worn. They're not only cushy and comfy, but also light and supportive enough to help me glide over rocky trails and cruise up and down big mountains here in Colorado. Are they as soft as reported? Yep. How do they perform on rocky tails? Beautifully. How do they do in trail ultras? I wore them at the 2011 Leadville 100, which has four mountain crossings. I also wear them in races as short as 5Ks. Do they last? Two of my three pairs have over 500 miles on them and they’re still as soft as ever. Where do you get them? I buy my Hokas at Backcountry.com and Boulder Running Company, but they're available through many other specialty retailers. Yeah, they’re pretty pricey, but the ability to run well late in races and feel good is priceless—especially when you’re knocking on age 40 like I am. Best money you’ll ever spend!

Asics DS Trainers
Asics DS Trainers are incredible for speedwork, intervals and races of all distances, including marathons. I've owned a few different models and they're all fantastic when it comes to weight, flexibility, support and cushion. At 6'2" and 167 lbs., it's hard for me to find a lightweight shoe that's going to provide the necessary support over 26.2 miles of hammering it. The Asics DS Trainers bring it for me and I can't imagine racing in any other shoe.

~SOCKS

Thorlo Experia Socks
Probably like you, I've tried many different brands of running socks. And I keep going back to Thorlo because they do such a great job of protecting my feet. That said, my one complaint about Thorlos has always been that they're awfully thick, creating issues when you're in an ultramarathon and your feet are swollen from all the miles. Fairly new to the market, Thorlo Experias are exactly what I've been needing. They're light, full of cushion and support and yet thin (especially on the top).

~IN-SOLES

Sof Sole Fit
As a runner who battled severe plantar fasciitis and was put into custom orthotics, I can say with confidence that Sof Sole Fit inserts, "engineered for the perfect fit," are supportive and, best of all, light and flexible. I've been very happy with the pair of neutral arch inserts I got a few months ago. They give me just the right amount of support I need without adding too much weight, making them perfect for just about all distances. Even better, they fit into all of my shoes, including my Hokas and Salomons. They come in three types: low arch, neutral arch (what I wear) and high arch. Highly recommended, especially for runners who need extra support. I even recommend them as a potential support for runners with plantar fasciitis.

~NUTRITION

It took me a long time to figure out race-day and training nutrition, but I finally did after a lot of trial and error in altitude races like the Leadville Trail 100-Mile. Here's what I use--and it's what I recommend for YOU!

Hammer Perpetuem – I use Perpetuem not only on long training runs, but also in races. Perpetuem, along with Hammer Gels, was my primary fuel at the 2011 Leadville Trail 100-Mile, where I bested my 2010 time by 2 hours, 14 minutes. At the end of the day, NOTHING fuels a long race better than Perpetuem.

Hammer Recoverite – When I am training for big races, like the Leadville Trail 100-Mile, Hammer Recoverite is essential to my recovery. I have a full serving of Recoverite after every workout. I like the strawberry and citrus flavors.

Hammer Gel – During key workouts and “shorter” races like marathons, I take one Hammer Gel every hour with water. At the Leadville Trail 100, I fueled my first 50 miles with Hammer Gels and then switched to Perpetuem. My favorite Hammer gels flavors are vanilla and espresso. No other gel comes close. Period.

Hammer Endurolytes – During key workouts and races, I take 2-3 Hammer Endurolytes every hour to maintain my electrolyte balance and proper hydration. If I am cramping, I often find that a few Endurolytes will do the trick. There are other quality electrolyte capsules out there, but for me Hammer Endurolytes are the best.

You can get Hammer Nutrition products here.

~TRACTION

Kahtoola MicroSpikes - Awesome gripping on ice. You can fly on the trails with these things, and they're durable and easy to slip on, too. I got mine from Backcountry.com. In case you're wondering how rugged these things are, I've worn them bombing it down the icy Barr Trail on Pikes Peak in the winter. Nuff said. Get 'em. You'll never look back.

YakTrax Professionals
YakTrax Professionals are crap unless you're a walker or short-distance jogger. I went through at least 5 or 6 pair before discovering my beloved Kahtoolas. The rubber snaps easily and the wiring often separates from the rubber. If you're a short distance jogger these will be fine; if you do serious distance, get the Kahtoolas.

~APPAREL

Pearl-Izumi Thermal Arm Warmers
I love my Pearl Izumi Thermal Arm Warmers. They're perfect for chilly early morning runs when the temperature is going up fast but you need some extra warmth for those nippy first few miles. Once you're warm, just roll them down to your wrists or stuff them in a pocket. Highly recommended.

Brooks Essential Run Vest
I love my Brooks Essential Run Vest. Though it's a tad too baggy for me, this vest provides me with safety during night-time running, breathes nicely and has plenty of pockets, too.

~RETAILERS

Boulder Running Company
For my in-town shopping I go to Boulder Running Company (or the company listed directly below). At Boulder Runner Company, I can get high-end shoes and socks plus top-quality nutritional products (e.g., Hammer products) and other cool stuff. If you're into gadgets, Boulder Running Company has you covered. My only beef with Boulder Running Company is with apparel. I'd like to see more North Face, Salomon, Patagonia, etc. apparel. I go to the Greenwood Village store and the folks there are nice, friendly and well-informed. If you don't know what kind of shoe you need, they'll look at your gait on their treadmill.

REI
REI stands for Recreational Equipment Incorporated. I haven't yet visited the downtown Denver location; I go to the store near Park Meadows (yeah, I know, the downtown store is much bigger, but who has time for that?). If you're into the outdoors, REI is an exciting place to shop. They sell everything from camping gear and bikes to ski equipment and shoes. They don't have a huge line of trail shoes, but what they do carry is high-quality. They have a nice selection of running socks. Their running apparel is a little thin but, again, very good quality. Where REI really excels is in the extra stuff you need/want--hydration packs, bottles, trail maps, gadgets, headlamps, etc. Huge selections there. For this type of stuff, REI is where I go.

Backcountry.com
Backcountry.com is my go-to online resource for apparel, trail shoes and stuff like trekking poles. The folks at Backcountry.com deliver good service and have some high-quality products made by companies that genuinely care about the environment and what's going to work for you. Best of all, since Backcountry.com ships from Salt Lake City, I get my stuff super-quick (as in 1-2 days after I order). If you're a trail runner or even hiker, I highly recommend Backcountry.com...unless you have a nice mom and pop outdoors place in town.

Roadrunnersports.com
Roadrunnersports.com carries all the mainstream brands you can think of and has a monster selection of road shoes of all kinds. I get a fair number of my road shoes from Road Runner Sports and I'm a member of their "VIP" program, which means I get 10% off my purchases. My one beef with Roadrunnersports.com is that, unlike Backcountry.com, they take their sweet little time shipping out my stuff. That always chaps my ass.

Nationalrunningcenter.com
If you're shopping for value, this is your place. National Running Center works a lot of race expos so you've probably seen them before. They tend to carry previous models of mainstream brands--Nike, Saucony, New Balance, Asics, Adidas, etc. Their apparel is a little sketchy, so be forewarned. I've been known to occasionally order road shoes from National Running Center if the price is right. Their service is decent but, like Road Runner Sports, they can take their time shipping your stuff.
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