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Category Archives: Running

Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 Shoe Review

August 21, 2019 By in Gear Review, Running Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 Shoe Review

The Nike Pegasus is many people first shoes. (In fact, the Nike Pegasus was my first shoe). With 36 versions, it’s been around for several years. For the last two years, Nike has added a few versions of their Pegasus while still keeping the original Pegasus.

For the 36th version, there is the Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 (also known as the Nike Turbo 2) as well as the Nike Pegasus Trail.

Keep in mind, all of these Nike Pegasus are in the zoom series or zoom family and use zoom air as well. It’s just easier to remove the word Zoom, so the shoe name isn’t longer than the review. (How obnoxious would it be to write The Nike Zoom Pegasus 36 Turbo?)

The updated Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 is the faster and more workout oriented version of the Nike Pegasus 36. It’s lighter and uses the same foam (The Nike ZoomX Foam and React Foam) as the Nike Next%.  All three versions of the Pegasus can be used for daily running and training. Of the three, the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo is could also be used for race day or long distance too.

Nike Zoom Pegasus 2 Shoe review

Quick Stats:

Weight: 7.2 oz (size 9)

Drop: 10 mm

Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 Fit:

The Nike Pegasus Turbo 1 (Nike Pegasus turbo 35), fit almost big. It remains one of the only shoes a women’s size 10 fit well. With the Nike Turbo 2, the fit is similar, and I find myself liking a women’s size ten as well. My usual size in any running shoe is between women’s size 10-11 wide.

For the Nike Turbo 2, the flywire is removed. It makes the shoe a bit wider and less snug through the midfoot. Nike also removed the racing stripe to increase breathability.

The upper has been redesigned to a thin and breathable engineered mesh. Between the brand new engineered mesh upper and removal of the flywire, the Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 weighs almost .3 of an ounce lighter. It also fits and breathes better.

Finally, the heel collar is higher, which Nike claims will irritate the Achilles less. I haven’t had an issue with it. Many of the “Nike Fast Shoes” have almost a fin-like heel. Nike claims the angled heel optimizes initial touchdown and helps to provide a smooth transition from heel to toe.

Nike Zoom Pegasus 2 Shoe review

The Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 Ride:

The  Nike Turbo 2 midsole is similar to the Nike Zoomx Vaporfly (now Next%) without the carbon plate. The Nike Turbo 2 combines both the Zoom X foam followed by the React Foam. With both foams going the full length of the shoe, the energy return is higher, and the Nike Pegasus 2 absorbs impact better than previous versions.

The Nike Turbo 2 is designed to run fast. While the Nike Pegasus 36 might be the everyday trainer, the Nike Turbo 2 is designed for workouts, long runs, and fast runs. Instead of wearing out your Nike Next%, use the Nike Turbo 2 for those hard workouts.

I appreciate that there is plenty of traction on the Turbo 2. It’s much better this year in elements like rain and ice. It’s not perfect, but better. The Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 is also much more durable than last year. Last year, the Pegasus Turbo probably got between 150-250 miles, but this year the zoom cushioning is lasting to about 300 miles.

Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 Review

I’ve run a few workouts and long runs in the shoe. For me, it does fit best as a “fast shoe” and a shoe I know I want to run well. I wouldn’t use it as an easy run or recovery shoe. Last year, it was hard to justify the Nike Pegasus Turbo 1 over the Nike Zoom Fly, but this year the Turbo 2 is a faster, more quality shoe.

Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 Review

Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 Conclusion:

The Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 has been updated well. It’s much more durable than previous versions as well as being more breathable. Of the three Nike “fast shoes” (the Next%, Zoom Fly, and Turbo), I think the Turbo 2 is the best update from Nike Running. Last year I couldn’t justify the $180 price cost, but this year I believe the shoe is worth it.

Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 Review

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Hoka Bondi 6,  Brooks Ghost 12

Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Hoka Rincon, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2

Long Runs: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Mizuno R2, Hoka Cavu 2

Races:  Reebok Run fast Pro

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

Have you tried a new shoe lately?

What is your favorite running shoe?

 

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Big Cottonwood Training Week 12: Altitude and Half Marathons

August 19, 2019 By in Big Cottonwood Marathon, Running, Training Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment
Big Cottonwood Training Week 12: Altitude and Half Marathons

Last week of training was fun. How can it not be when you are traveling? My husband and I decided to take a mini trip out to Colorado. Since we were in town, we thought we would do the Mt. Sneffels Half Marathon. I had no goals other than finish the half marathon and spoiler I did just that.

Monday: Easy 45 minutes
Tuesday: Easy 75 minutes
Wednesday: AM: 4X1 mile with 2 minutes rest (total miles 16)
PM: Easy 6 minutes downhill
Thursday: Rest and travel to Colorado
Friday: 60 minutes shakeout run in Vail
Saturday: Mt. Sneffels Half Marathon (1:33.58) Total Mileage 20
Sunday: Easy 30 minutes

Week 1: Hello Humidity
Week 2: Half Marathons and Workouts 57 mpw
Week 3: Travel and More Travel 53 MPW
Week 4: Training: Beach Runs and Long Runs 52 MPW
Week 5: Training: Workouts and 10ks 46.5 MPW
Week 6: Firecracker 5ks 47 MPW
Week 7: Swim Races and Running for Toilets 56 MPW
Week 8: It’s Very Hot 58 MPW
Week 9: Tetris Runner 56 MPW
Week 10: Long Week and Personal 5ks 54 MPW

Week 11:: Quality Miles

Thoughts:

What a week, my runs, for the most part, went well. My weekly mileage has been good, and I’m happy to get the running distance in. I was bummed I didn’t have the time to swim, but with travel, cross-training didn’t work out.  I’ve mentioned before, but swimming will always be there, and I’m not competing in swimming, so there isn’t a point to make myself miserable to get to the pool.

Workout Wednesday: 4X1 mile

I got to run with my fast friend, Skip. Originally we had planned the track, but it was completely occupied, and there was no way to get on. We decided to head to a local paved path which worked out well, and I had my best workout in a long time.

Since Big Cottonwood Marathon is a downhill race, the race says “a speedy downhill slope,” I opted for 6 miles in the afternoon on the treadmill. I set my treadmill on a decline and run for an hour to get my quads adjusted to that. After running Phoenix and not being prepared appropriately, I asked for training tips for Big Cottonwood. Runnin downhill should have been a no brainer, but I’m glad someone suggested it.

Mt. Sneffels Half Marathon 1:33.58:

I’ll have a full recap this week, but I had no plans for the Mt. Sneffels Half Marathon other than to run smart. I took out the race very easy (for a race), and my first mile was 7:37. I didn’t know how I would feel. Looking back, I probably could have taken it out faster, but I haven’t done a road half marathon at altitude (I raced the trail Copper Mountain 25k last year).

The race itself is mostly on gravel, and it was one of the most beautiful races I’ve ever run. It’s a remarkably beautiful road race, and I would recommend it to anyone. I was able to negative split the race. Around mile 10.5 was the hardest hill I’ve ever climbed. It was a steep 300-foot climb in about a quarter of a mile. I found myself extremely winded for the rest of mile 10 and 11. I’m happy with the race, and afterward, I ran an extra 7 miles to get in 20 miles. I wouldn’t have done that, but that’s marathon training for you. For Big Cottonwood Marathon, all of my 20 milers will be on race day, and I appreciate that (but it does not make it any easier when it’s time to run after the race).

In all, I’m happy with the week of training. It’s hard to believe the Big Cottonwood Marathon is less than a month away.  My goal has always been to get to Salt Lake City and the start line healthy. My marathon training plan has been just to stay healthy and run smart. I’m running enough miles per week to feel prepared without being overcooked when it’s time to run 26.2 miles.

Posts from the Week:

Hiking Cheesequake State Park

Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

Asbury Park Sheehan Classic 5k (20:04)

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

Have you run at altitude?

What is the most beautiful race you’ve run? 

Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

August 14, 2019 By in Gear Review, Running Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment
Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

The Hoka One One Rincon is a brand new shoe from Hoka this year. I’ve been curious about this shoe since it came out in June but needed to prioritize buying trainers (like the Hoka Bondi 6) I knew I could run miles in with no issues.

I knew I would probably like the Hoka Rincon, but also knew I needed to have at least one shoe in my rotation that was tried and true. Anyway, the long story short is it took me a little while to buy a pair.

The Rincon is designed to be a fast shoe from Hoka One One. It’s lighter than most (I believe just the Hoka Cavu 2 is lighter).

Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

Quick Stats:
Weight: 6.3 oz
Drop 5 mm

Fit:

Like most of their shoes now, Hoka uses a single layer of engineered mesh for the upper.  It’s thin and lightweight, plus it breathes well. If you’ve run in the Hoka One One Carbon X, it fits very similar.  The single layer of mesh allows wider feet or someone with bunions to feel more comfortable. I’m usually a women’s size 10-11 wide, and I find the 10.5 to fit well (they aren’t made in wide…yet).

Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

One thing to keep in mind is that there isn’t much structure in the upper of the shoe.  The feet can splay out. Like the newer models of Hoka, there is a pull tab at the heel counter to get it up. There is a lack of plastic in the heel which keeps it from pinching the Achilles. The pull tab allows it to slide up without damaging it.

Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

Ride:

The Hoka One One Rincon has a unique ride to it (even from Hoka). It has as much cushion as the Hoka Clifton, however, weighs about an ounce less. It’s much more responsive than the Clifton and feels like a shoe I want to run fast in (like the Mach and Cavu). The Hoka Rincon uses the early stage Meta-Rocker to allow for quicker turnover. It’s designed for true speed or as a race shoe. (You can read more about Hoka’s technology and “Meta-Rockers” here).

If you’ve never run in Hoka before, this is a great model to start. It’s responsive enough that you won’t feel too disconnected from the ground.  For me, it fits best as a fast-paced, long run shoe, or even a race day shoe. I like more amount of cushion for a daily trainer.

One last thing to add is there is a lack of traction on the bottom of the shoe. I do wish added rubber on the bottom. There is rubber on the outsole in strategic spots but it’s not a shoe that would perform well in rainy/icy conditions.

Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

Hoka Rincon Conclusion:

Sometimes brand new running shoe models miss their mark, but the Hoka Rincon has quickly become one of my favorite Hoka One One models (my favorite for heavy training is the Hoka Bondi and for speed, work is the Hoka Cavu).

If you’re looking to try out the brand Hoka, the Hoka Rincon is a great place to start. If you are familiar with Hoka and looking for a lightweight racer or trainer, the Hoka Rincon would be a great shoe for your rotation.

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Hoka Bondi 6,  Brooks Ghost 12

Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Hoka Rincon

Long Runs: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Mizuno R2, Hoka Cavu 2

Races:  Reebok Run fast Pro

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. This week is all about carbon plate shoes,

Questions for you:

Have you tried a new shoe lately?

What is your favorite running shoe?

Asbury Park Sheehan Classic 5k (20:04)

August 13, 2019 By in Running, Running Reads, Training Tags: , , , , , , 3 Comments
Asbury Park Sheehan Classic 5k (20:04)

The morning of the Sheehan Classic Asbury 5k was chaotic. At 6, I was debating going to the race but decided I would go. I was tired and hadn’t got much sleep, and I’m not someone who functions on little sleep.

Asbury Park is around an hour from me, and I arrived around 7:30. The pickup line was long, so I only had time for about 10 minutes of warmup. Usually, I like to do about 2-3 miles before a 5k, but that wasn’t an option.

When we lined up, I was delighted to find out Governor Murphy was standing right near me. He gave a quick speech, and we were off. Our Governor is a runner, but I never seem to line up at the same races (For those curious, Governor Murphy ran around 28 minutes). I’m still working on trying to get him to come to a south jersey race.

Anyway, the first mile went out fast. The Asbury Park Sheehan Classic (and Belmar 5) races are notoriously competitive and fast. The last time I ran, it was a different course, but I knew the competition wouldn’t be much different.

We went up a small hill, and I hit the first mile in 6:17. I thought I could maybe break 20 minutes. My legs didn’t feel great, but I was moving fast enough; I thought it could be a possibility.

During the second mile; I realized how much my legs don’t have the turnover. My breathing didn’t feel difficult, but my legs just couldn’t move faster. We went up a small hill, and I hit the second mile in 6:26.

During the third mile, I knew it would be close to 20 minutes. I tried to move my legs faster, but they weren’t doing it. When we entered the boardwalk, I saw my watch at 19:20, but I hadn’t quite reached the third mile.

The finish line felt like it wasn’t getting any closer. They told women to stay left and men to stay right. I thought it was unusual for finishing. I crossed in 20:04. I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to break 20 but happy for my effort the day, considering I almost didn’t go.

After crossing, they gave me a number, number 18, which I realized meant 18th female. I didn’t understand why but then they gave the top 50 finishers a cool mug.  In all, I’m happy with my race and performance at the Sheehan Classic Asbury Park 5k. From almost not going to running my fastest 5k in a while, I don’t have any complaints.

Questions for you:

Have you ever gotten a coffee mug at a race?

Have you seen your Governor before? (Let’s say the last Governor wasn’t doing road races LOL)

Big Cottonwood Marathon Week 11: Quality Miles

August 12, 2019 By in Big Cottonwood Marathon, Running, Training Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment
Big Cottonwood Marathon Week 11: Quality Miles

The goal of this week was to get the mileage in. Isn’t it always? In general, my week of marathon training was good.

Anyway-

Monday: Easy 45 minutes
Tuesday: Easy 60 minutes
Wednesday: AM: 4X1 mile averaging 6:40 pace with 2 minutes recovery
PM:  6 Easy downhill miles on the treadmill (elevation drop 750)
Thursday: 3000 Meter swim
Friday: Easy 60 minutes
Saturday: Asbury Park Sheehan Classic 5k: 20:04 Total mileage: 10
Sunday: 17 mile Long Run Averaging 7:59

Week 1: Hello Humidity
Week 2: Half Marathons and Workouts 57 mpw
Week 3: Travel and More Travel 53 MPW
Week 4: Training: Beach Runs and Long Runs 52 MPW
Week 5: Training: Workouts and 10ks 46.5 MPW
Week 6: Firecracker 5ks 47 MPW
Week 7: Swim Races and Running for Toilets 56 MPW
Week 8: It’s Very Hot 58 MPW
Week 9: Tetris Runner 56 MPW
Week 10: Long Week and Personal 5ks 54 MPW

Week 11:

Thoughts:

The week started slow, but I felt strong towards the end. Everything seemed to go off with no significant issues. I had some personal life stuff, but nothing that kept me from running. My weekly mileage remained high, and my peak weeks with 20 miles will come hopefully in the next two weeks.

Swimming:

I was able to get into the pool once last week, which I’m happy about. I’ve been hard on myself because as marathon miles increase, once in the pool seems to be about all I have time for. It’s nice to get some cross-training each week. Due to travel, I don’t think I’ll be able to next week.

Workout Wednesday: 4X1 mile averaging 6:40 with 2 minutes rest in between

My good friend, Skip, and I decided to head to the track on Wednesday. He was much faster, but it was nice to have someone running around with me. It was already 85 degrees when we were running, so it felt tough, but I’m glad we got it done and ten total miles for the day.

In the afternoon, I did six downhill treadmill miles. Since the Big Cottonwood Marathon is downhill, I’ve been trying to get a few downhill miles in each week. Big Cottonwood is known to be a remarkably beautiful road race with a speedy downhill slope. When I ran another downhill marathon, the Mesa-Phx, I wasn’t prepared, and it shredded my quads.

Asbury Park Sheehan Classic 5k: 20:04

This was the race that almost wasn’t. I didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before. At 5:40, I found myself desperately wanting to sleep before the race. I decided since it was a beautiful day I would o anyway. I’m glad I did, and I ran my fastest 5k in a while. My splits were 6:17, 6:26, and 6:35. Of course, I wish I broke 20 minutes again, but I’m happy with my effort for the day.

Long Run 17 miles averaging 7:59 pace:

I knew I wanted to run hard, but I wasn’t sure what my body would allow. I’ve been enjoying running in Philadelphia lately. I did the 8.4-mile loop twice around the Schuylkill River Trail and added on. My last few miles were my fastest with a 7:33 and 7:36 in there.

In all, I’m happy with the week. It’s one of the few that has gone by with no hiccups, which is great because there are only five weeks until the Big Cottonwood Marathon in Utah.

Posts from the Week:

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Review

Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer vs Collagen Latte

Town Square Diner (Matawan)

Shoreline Diner and Vegetarian Enclave (Guilford, CT)

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. This week is all about the Nike Next%, Turbo 2, and Fly. 

Questions for you:

Where is your favorite spot to run?

How much sleep do you get on average? 

 

 

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