The North Face Winter Running Gear Review

December 10, 2013 run on the median along Commonwealth Ave. in ankle deep snow.

Introduction

The North Face was kind enough to send these Vagabond Runners some great running gear. We already reviewed the TNF Hyper-Track Guide trail shoe, which we loved. With temperatures dipping into the teens in Boston, we can finally provide a meaningful review of some of this gear. 

We think you might like this stuff.

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Newton MV3 Review: Feel the Need for Speed

Image copyright Vagabondrunning Blog

Introduction

When Newton sent us the Energy NR to review, they were kind enough to also send us the MV3 to review, too. This yellow racing flat with the red Newton logo is definitely eye candy, and we could not have been more excited to try this zero drop racer with Newton-unique specifications.

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Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra Review

If you have not been out trail running during the year, the winter can be a great time to start. For those of us that live in areas of the country or regions of the world where a wonderful, white, ice-y/powder-y substance falls from the sky accumulating in such a way that roads, towpaths, and sidewalks turn into snowy trails, you might want to consider a trail shoe for the winter months.

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The North Face Hyper-Track Guide | In-depth Review

Introduction

Sometime during the late-summer, I got in contact with The North Face about their Winter 2013 line-up of running gear (review forthcoming next week!). As part of a box of goodies that they sent us, I was pleased to find a pair of the TNF Hyper-Track Guide.

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Newton Energy NR Review

Newton Running is a shoe company based on Colorado that produces shoes designed to enhance natural, more efficient running. If you actively follow the running scene on Twitter and / or Facebook, then you are probably familiar with Newton's numerous campaigns and running form clinics that they hold around the country. After hearing about the soon-to-be-released [and now currently available] Newton Energy NR, which would be their most affordable shoe to date, I decided to reach out to Newton to see if Jordan and I could wear test this model. Newton was extremely generous and sent Jordan and I the Newton Energy NR and the MV3 [review forthcoming next week] to review for our blog.

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3 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Running: Part I Running is Not Masochism, or Run Slow

Running is not masochism, but it might seem that way. Running does not come naturally to most people that I know. Even the once-serious college and high school athletes I rub shoulders on a daily basis with don’t like to run. Maybe it’s because running was punishment in practice, or maybe it’s because the determined athlete in them will only stop once vomiting occurs. No matter the contextual reason it really boils down to one simple and unsophisticated truth: running is hard.

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One Year with Coach Caleb

Coach Caleb on the Newton Hills at the 2013 Boston Marathon.

Yesterday, I ran 14.5mi with my 9.3lb backpack on at an easy 8:45 min/mi pace. Three and a half hours later, I ran 2 miles in 13:45, finishing the last 0.75mi at a 6:10 min/mi pace. Not super fast, but not too shabby for legs that were feeling pretty fatigued.

And then I started to think, "There's now way I could have done last year at this time."

12 months ago I started working with Coach Caleb Masland of Team Wicked Bonkproof. I was a different runner 12 months ago. A very different runner.

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SCOTT Race Rocker Giveaway x 2!

We recently reviewed the SCOTT Race Rocker at Believe in the Run. We are happy to announce that we have 2 SCOTT Race Rockers for giveaway! Both of the shoes are unisex size 9.0. Enter below to win! The contest is until August 31st, and we will email the winners within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Are You A Runner With A Busy Schedule? Try the Run-Commute.

The Problem: Waking Up Early All The Time Is Not Fun

Here's the deal: if I don't go for a run in the morning, then I can pretty much guarantee that I will not run that day. After a long day at either work or school and the library, by the time I get home at 7-8pm, I am super hungry and tired. So, I usually run in the morning.

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Resting When Injured Is Not Weakness

 

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
~ Benjamin Franklin

The Story

I ride my bike to work once to twice a week for cross-training miles. It's a nice way to snag an extra 20-40 mpw of training during a busy week, and I've found that my body responds well to increased mileage [that will be the topic of my next blogpost].

This past Monday I got into a rather gnarly bike accident. To make a short story even shorter, this is what happened:

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Salomon Sense Mantra | From the Road to the Trail

Salomon Sense Mantra -- fresh out of the box!

Introduction

If you are remotely familiar with trail running and mountain running, then you undoubtedly have heard of both Salomon’s running-related gear and their elite running team.

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Skechers GORun2 | In-Depth Review

Image from Skechersperformance.com

Introduction

It's about time for Skechers to be recognized as one of the elite running shoe companies.

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New Perspectives on Racing

© Dvmi | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

It's been awhile since I posted a blog entry.
Over the next month or so, I will be posting reviews of the Skechers GORun2, Salomon S-Lab Mantra, New Balance MT1010, Skora Form, SCOTT Racerocker [and giveaway!], a Camelbak vest, and more. Concomitantly, co-blogger Jordan Parro and I will begin a series of weekly or bimonthly posts on training advice for new runners based on our respective experiences.  Keep a look out!

Anyway, my next two races are the Newton 10k (tomorrow) and the Spectacle Island 5k (next Saturday).

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How Running Improved My MCAT Score

Source: http://gwprehealth.wordpress.com/page/4/

Introduction: Running and Life

After thinking about it for a couple of weeks, I have decided to write a series of posts over the next few months describing how running has profoundly affected various aspects of my life.

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Brooks PureFlow 2 | Review

Introduction

The Brooks PureFlow2 says, “Welcome to the future.”

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Nipple Chafing and Running: Let's Talk

Andy Bernard from The Office
Photo obtained from here

This post goes out to all the guys out there that do not want to experience the pain Andy Bernard feels every time he goes for a jog (or walk...).

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Inov-8 Road-X Lite 155 Review

If you haven’t checked out an Inov-8 shoe, you should.

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Merrell Mix Master 2 | In-depth Review

Introduction

After two months running on both trails and in the mountains of New Mexico in the Merrell Road Glove (review here), I realized that I needed something a bit more substantial underfoot for more technical terrain. 

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Lems/LEMing/Stem Primal Origin Review

Lems Shoes, formerly LEMing, (and, also formerly, Stem) is a small Pennsylvania-based company specializing in minimalist lifestyle shoes and name changes.

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