Category Archives: Gear + Gadgets

In a couple of weeks, I’m turning another year older.  But, I’m not complaining.  Who cares about more white hair, weaker memory, or signs of tiny wrinkles on the face?  As long as I get the items on my birthday wish list—specifically number one—I will be one happy, old running woman:

1. GARMIN FORERUNNER 310 XT

Introducing, the Garmin for triathletes…

When I chanced upon the Garmin ad in Runner’s World a couple of weeks ago, I wasted no time in doing my research.  I sat in front of my computer, browsed the web for more info, wiped the drool off my face, and positioned the laptop in front of our bedroom door so that when my hubby came home from work, I asked in the most lovable voice ever “Can you get this for me on my birthday?”  He said yes!  (As of presstime, I haven’t decided if I’m truly going to make this purchase. Unfortunately, my conscience tapped my shoulder and asked if I was really going to spend $400 for a running watch.  Shut up, conscience.) 

PROS:
– waterproof up to 50 meters 
– sleeker and slimmer look
– can be mounted on the bike
– four viewing windows
– up to 20-hours battery life
– option for footpod (slimmer design) for indoor workouts
– option for heart rate monitor
– GPS-based

CONS:
– cannot be used as a watch like the 405

PRICE:
– $349.99 
– $399.00 with heart rate monitor

RELEASE: June 2009

Check out this video…

Read these reviews:

Top Ten Reviews
iTech News Net

Part 2 of my birthday wish list tomorrow…

I was fortunate enough to be invited by Gary Mercado of Kikay Exchange to test a new product: the Nike Zoom Sister One+.  These are NOT running shoes, but training shoes (that’s why I didn’t mention them in TBR).  So, I’ve worn them to the gym, yoga, grocery, Coach Rio’s birthday party, mass, kid’s school and any other place that I can take them.  

They remind me of my Nike Lunars but in a narrower, sleeker version.  I think these are my best Nikes ever.  Love love love them.  

Click here for the article on Kikay Exchange.

If there’s one good thing that arose from the ITBS injury it would be this: the freedom to shift from motion-control to neutral shoes. Yeah baby!

The good news came straight out of my doctor’s mouth a couple of weeks ago. It was the same doctor who ordered me, early last year, to use Spenco insoles and, later on, switch to motion-control shoes to correct my overpronating flat-feet.

You know, it’s bad enough to discover that you are a flat-footed runner because you will face issues that those fortunate, biomechanically efficient runners will never have to contend with. But, the worst thing about it is the lack of motion-control shoes locally. (Is it because we flat-footed Filipino runners are a rare breed?)  Mizuno does not sell motion-control shoes, Nike only sells the Nike Zoom Elite 4 for motion-control for women (correct me if I”m wrong), and Asics does not have the Gel Evolution 4 here. Adidas offered the Adistar Control 4 so I made the big purchase. The Adistar Control 4 was what I wore last year, including New Balance 25k and Singapore Half, with my Spenco insoles inside.

So, the doctor did order me to shift to neutral shoes and put a halt to wearing spenco. Woohoo!

The moment I found out, visions of various running shoes in all colors, models, and brands flashed before my eyes. I finally get to wear some of the shoes that have been gathering dust in my closet! And, when it’s time to go shoe shopping again, I get to choose from the wide variety of handsome, fast-looking, neutral shoes displayed on the shelves!  

Oh god, I better get back on the road soon. My feet are itching for some neutrals already…

Guess who has a new hand-me-down roadie…

Uhm, well actually it isn’t mine. It was just entrusted to me by my dearest running buddy, Annie, before she left for Singapore.

Annie loves this bike of hers.  She cleans it every morning and cares for it as if it was her 4th child. Her decision to leave the bike with me truly meant a lot to me as she knew how much I needed cross training to get over this injury. I guess, being best running buddies, she knew that I would take forever to spend so much money on purchasing my own bike.

Last Saturday, exactly one week to the day Annie left for Singapore, I thought of spending the day with her beloved bike. I planned on making casual conversation with the bike and try to get to know it better in hopes that it would make for a good training buddy. Unfortunately, the rain started to pour so my date with the roadie was postponed.

Instead, I headed for the gym for solo time spinning plus strength training.  Gawd, it was so boring.  (Can I just say this one more time?  I hate the gym!)  I took a quick shower and headed out the door dwelling on the mind-numbing workout I just had vs. the fun I would have had if Annie hadn’t left. After all, it was a Saturday morning and Saturday mornings were always LSD days with Annie.  

That’s when it happened. Suddenly, I missed Annie so much. By the time I entered the car, I was crying my eyes out, utterly depressed over the loss of Annie.  I texted her about how much I missed her knowing that I wouldn’t get a reply soon because she’d be busy working.

Ugh. All this drama creeps up on me every now and then—when I drive past San Juanico where we used to meet, when I’m thinking about signing up for a race, when I remember Saturday mornings—but, I’ll be fine. Annie is doing great over there too.  

That Saturday evening, Annie called.  She asked me how the injury was going, her bike, upcoming races, and she went on to tell me that she lived near a track oval (lucky girl) and a huge sports center. She’s been awfully busy so she’s been running through the city at night. We chatted about everything and anything under the sun, just like before, as if she hadn’t left.

As for the bike and I, I have a feeling we’ll get along just as well as Annie and I did…

For the past 30 years of my life, I have known only one way to tie my shoelaces.  My mother passed this knowledge unto me, as her mother had passed it on to her and so on and so forth.

It was very simple, really.  She taught me to tie a ribbon, then to knot the two “bunny ears” once again to avoid them from coming untied in school or the playground.  It was ugly, but it did it’s job well.  

Then, it happened.  In the January 2009 issue of Runner’s World, I came upon an article (Knot Perfect) that woke me up to the awful truth: I had been tying my shoelaces the wrong way for practically my entire life.  That there was a much better and prettier alternative to the double knot. That, in my naivete, I had also taught my son the wrong way to lace up.

However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  The article provided step-by-step instructions for the Reef Knot: the recommended way to lace up using a balanced knot that would hold throughout a run. I realized soon enough that it was not too late to relearn the lacing system and move forward.

I sat down on my stool in the bathroom and tried the knot. It was amazing! Just subtle changes in my old lacing ways created a completely different ribbon, one that was tight and perfect. Better yet, after running 10km that day, it remained secure and strong!

That same day, I showed the article to hubby. And, within the week, I taught my son how to do it. Mom, you’re next!