Running the Colonial 200 Relay - Part 2 - Albemarle County

Much of Leg 2 was run on unpaved road

 

One of the benefits or burdens of being a relay team captain is that you get to make the leg assignments. It's a benefit, because you get to see the whole array of available legs and make the decision on which runners best fit which legs. It's a burden for the same reason. I spent many hours matching up 12 runners with 36 legs.

Leg 2 was the next to longest leg of the entire relay at 8.88 miles over rolling hills. After considerable thought, I decided that I should not ask one of my team members to do something that I was not prepared to do myself. So I put myself down for Leg 2. It was fine for a while, but as I continued to run, I was afraid I had missed a turn. The course was marked by yellow signs telling you where to turn and reassuring you that you were still on the right path. After running what seemed like several miles without seeing a sign, I began to become convinced I was on the wrong road. What to do? No other runners around me. I had not seen our team van. I did not have a cell phone to call anyone. All I could think was that I would end up running needless miles to get back on the course.

About the time I was getting ready to reverse direction and back track, I saw a cyclist approaching. I waved him down and asked if he had seen any runners. He said "no", but to my relief said that a group was ahead to cheer runners on. I cannot tell you how relieved I felt. Sure enough, about another half mile ahead, my team was by the side of the road waiting for me. At that point, I made the turn happy in the knowledge that I was on track. What I did not know was that I had just started along an unpaved portion of the course and that I would be running on loose gravel and concrete for the next several miles. At one point, I rolled my ankle slightly, but recovered; however, not before I cut loose with an "F bomb."

Steve making a turn on Leg 2 in Albemarle County

The approach to Leg 3 was up a good hill, but looking at my Garmin, I knew I was close. I pushed hard and made the hand off to Mike. The distance and the terrain had been more of a challenge than I had imagined. The great thing about a relay, though, is that you know a fresh runner is just over the hill. It's your job to get there!

Steve approaches Leg 3 to hand off to Mike

Mike takes off on Leg 3

Melissa in her trademark tutu waits at
Leg 4 in Earlysville

My Running Shoe Journey to Newtons

If you have ever spent any time around other runners, you will find that the conversation inevitably turns to shoes. After all, they are a major component of the sport and something we all have in common. I have to preface my remarks by disclosing the fact that I have been actively running only since September, 2011. Consequently, I don't have the long perspective that some running bloggers bring to the table. I do, however, have some strong opinions.

Before I began actively running, I was a walker for many years and had decided that Saucony was the best shoe for me. I am one of those rare supinators, so I have to have a neutral shoe. When I started running, I naturally continued to use Saucony's, which are great shoes, but were not as comfortable for my running. I actually was smart and went to a local running store to get fitted with the right shoe. After trying on several types, I decided that the Brooks Ghost 3 gave me the best fit and feel. The Ghost 3 is still one of my favorites and I think I went through three pairs of them. I was not as fond of the Ghost 4's, but, about that time, Brooks introduced its Brooks Pure Project series. The Pure series was Brooks' foray into a minimalist, lightweight shoe. I tried the Pure Flows and loved them. Wonderfully light, while still well-cushioned. I still use them and recommend them to others.

The latest evolution in my running shoe journey are my Newtons. Like so many other runners, I had never heard about Newton running shoes until I began seeing them at races. Newton Running, a Boulder, Colorado-based company, was doing bright colors before it became trendy. I was intrigued by them and did a bit of research. What I found was that they are designed to emphasize a more natural style of running. The shoes employ a lug on the bottom of the shoe that encourages the runner to shift his or her weight to the forefoot. This change in form is less stressful on the knees, which is especially appealing to those of us in our 50's.

Like so many other runners, I was a heel striker with the excessive heel wear on my shoes to prove it. At first, I was put off by the cost of Newtons. At $175 for a pair of Gravities, they are not cheap. Finally, I decided to take the plunge (with the help of a gift card from a buddy of mine). I am not being gratuitous when I say that my Newtons have transformed my running. Although it took a few weeks to adjust to the new running style, I cannot say enough good things. My Gravities are lightweight and comfortable. My legs are more resilient during runs and I am no longer overstriding. In short, I love them and I think they have made me a better runner. I will continue to use my Pure Flows in my shoe rotation, but from now on, Newtons are my "go to" shoes.

The Monument Avenue 10K (above) was my first race in my Newtons and they performed well. I was not expecting a PR, because of the large number of runners, but managed to get one anyway. Although I am not ready to run a full marathon in them, I would not hesitate to use them for a half. Like many aspects of running, the choice of a good running shoe is a very individual decision. I suspect, however, the next time you see me on a run, I'll be in my Newtons!