Review:Salomon EXO SLAB II M Light Compression Short

The "scientific" jury seems to still be out on the performance and recovery benefits of compression apparel. I recently read a study somewhere that indicated that lighter compression was as effective as tight compression.

I have tried Zoot compression shorts, too restrictive, hot and tight in later stages of a run or race for me when I head into a shuffle stride. I do use Zoot and Zanesh compression calf sleeves for air travel and recovery and find them effective.

I have a pair of light compression Salomon EXO Calf Sleeves which I run most days in including for my St George Marathon and have also extensively used and like the Swiftwick 12" merino wool light compression socks which I reviewed last year. I also have an older pair of 3/4 length light compression Pearl Izumi tights. I have found that the light compression reduces road shock muscle vibration and keeps my goofy stride more aligned, particularly when tired.

I have had my eyes on trying the very hard to find Salomon EXO SLAB II M adventure racing shorts. My idea is to combine them with my Hoka One One Bondi B as my Boston Marathon kit. I put the two together on an up tempo 10 miler yesterday which sealed the deal, negative splitting every mile on the way with  no road shock or hamstring or other muscle tightness during or after. They felt like a regular running short with just the right amount of muscle support in the right places. On a cooler or rainy Boston day they will be invaluable. The thin overall mesh should make them comfortable on warm days.

Front View-Yellow trim is a mesh pocket

Much as with the incredibly well engineered Salomon Advanced Skin Pack I reviewed earlier this year Salomon has solved the dilemma of providing both compression function and comfort. The light compression is where it belongs on the quads and hamstrings as well as lightly around the belly and lower back.  The rest of the short is, well, like a running short complete with brief and does not chafe as most single material compression shorts do. Salomon uses an alphabet soup of marketing terms to describe the technologies in play. It's really impossible from the terms and pictures to fully understand them. While I got the black, the white version makes it easier to describe.
Salomon calls the construction Smart Skin to describe the fact that fabrics are chosen and construction is designed for different functions in different areas of the short. EXO Sensifit is the concept that the whole will better align and support your body to run easier on uneven terrain and hills. Acti Lite means the fabrics wick and dry quickly, they absolutely do.

Front

<< Mesh material around waist. mesh pocket below yellow band. 3 small mesh pockets on back (sadly to shallow for anything other than gel packs)
<<< hips are mesh with imprinted hexagons on inside for support. White areas are all highly breathable thin mesh.
<<<<; inner thighs and rear are built like a regular running short of non mesh stretch material. Non compressive. Includes brief. No chafing.

<<< Same mesh as sides and belly. Hexagons imprinted on outside. Outer hexagons appear to be thinner overlay than inner ones but stretch in both places appears the same. As all the mesh is far lighter and breathable than the more conventional compression shorts which use the thickness of weaving to achieve variable support cooler on hot days.

Note: given the running short middle construction they do not look or feel like one is wearing bike shorts.  I likely will wear regular running shorts over them for Boston.

Rear: Note  Hexagon Support pattern is dfferent on rear

All and all an outstanding piece of gear. Highly recommended for road and trail running, all distances. Retail/MSRP: $100

Update: Running Warehouse has a limited supply at $79.95

Men's Journal May 2011 issue to feature our Tour du Mont Blanc hike

Men's Journal reached out to see if I would help them with an article: Real Guys, Great Adventures, with our Tour du Mont Blanc trek of this past summer selected as one of the adventures. They found me through the this blog's 2005 and 2010  posts about our adventures on the Tour du Mont Blanc. I said sure. Multiple phone conversations, emails, and fact checks later the one page article will be in the May issue of Men's Journal, on newsstands  April 15.

Need info and tips on the Tour? Have your own experiences on the Tour? Feel free to comment here

Climbing past Refuge Bertone- Courmayeur Italy

Long Day Ahead: Val D'Aprette, Switzerland

Col des Fours- Above Ville des Glaciers, France

The Running Debate: Article from SlowTwitch- Shoe Height and Ramp Angle

Excellent article from SlowTwitch  which asks questions beyond the usual barefoot and  minimal orthodoxy vs. not debate.

One of the central tenants here is a discussion of what I have found to be the key benefit of the natural or barefoot running shoes and technique revolution for most of us: a lower ramp angle, heel to toe drop is a good thing as it is a more natural running position and it can more evenly distributes the foot strike impact between fore foot and heel.

Next comes the question of shoe height or cushion to go with that low ramp angle or Ramp Delta as the author Dan Empfield calls it. Once a more natural foot landing is achieved, helped by lower drop, many other factors can come into play including the distance to be covered, the runner's weight and fitness, the course, etc... The race may be between an efficient form with minimal cushioning and the accumulated damage from pounding which eventually shuts down performance.

A quote from the article:

One of these is a shoe I've recently run about a hundred miles in, the Hoka One One Mafate (pictured above). As regards overall height, this is the anti-Newton. Still, this shoe shares in common with Newton a very low ramp delta. I have another Hoka One One on the way to me, the slimmer, lighter Bondi B, pictured below. (I have a sneaking suspicion this might be my triathlon racing flat. We'll see, and I'll report back.)

Hoka One One's designer/owner, Nicolas Mermoud has his own biomechanical rationale: Intramuscular capillaries shut down (says Mermoud) after sustaining a critical mass of pounding-related damage during an event. Therefore, a shoe with increased cushioning lessens the damage, which protects the muscles and lengthens the utility of a muscle during an event.

Is one narrative necessarily wrong? I don't know (they each sound good, don't they?!). I rather think Danny Abshire is right as far as it goes, but, Mermoud's shoe is the new darling of the ultra-runner, because, at a certain point, damage trumps proprioception. Which narrative is operative is probably dependent on runner speed, runner weight, technique, mileage base, and race distance.

I believe there is no wrong narrative but this really about a selection of the appropriate shoes for the particular runner and run at hand. I agree, and have experienced over many miles, that low ramp angle combined with cushion as in the Hokas certainly has its place. I am convinced less "damage" is done per mile with low drop and more cushion. In a race or training situation each runner must balance their fitness, failure point of responsiveness and efficiency gained through proprioception in  lightly cushioned minimal shoes against the benefits of potentially pushing the back that failure point through cushioning.

What do you think? Where do you stand?  Pun intended!

Hoka One One Mafate Trail Running Shoes by the Numbers

My Hoka One One Mafate at End of Tour du Mont Blanc. Ran another 200 miles of roads and trails on them.

I found this video from Hoka One One on You Tube. As the narrator is a little hard to understand  I have tried to summarize some of the statistics he presented. The shoe described is the Hoka One One Mafate, their trail runner.

The new Hoka One One Bondi-B is similar except not as high off the ground, lighter, "firmer", and with a road sole. I have run in both models and find them truly amazing for long runs and recovery. Recently I have been able to run faster tempo in my Bondi-B and will most likely  "absorb" the hills and miles of April's Boston Marathon in them.

Mafate Trail Runner. Here is what Hoka One One claims:

1. 40 mm midsole height. Elsewhere I have seen approximately 4mm heel to forefoot drop so this is a natural foot position shoe.
2. 50% of the sole length is rocker shaped leading to a fluid stride claiming to lessen knee movement 20%. They climb well if differently than conventional shoes. The wide outer sole grips well.
3. 15% lighter than reference trail running shoes at a bit less than 11 oz. 
4. EVA midsole is 50%? softer than reference allowing 20mm of deflection on downhills absorbing 80% of shock. Very true in my experience. Wide outer sole and cradle for foot into midsole allow great stability. They are incredible on downhills.

Bondi-B Road Runner: 

1. 20% lighter than Mafates at 8.8oz. 

See my other posts about Hoka One One on the blog.

Boulder Running Company has both models available for online sales.

Update Review-Correct Toes Spacers for Runners and Others with Foot Problems

Nicole who is running the Boston Marathon in April has had problems with bunions and toe pain for a number of years. She lands her stride far forward on her forefoot.  The folks at Altra Running were kind enough to give me a pair of the Correct Toes spacers which when worn at night and in decently wide every day shoes help return the toes to a more natural alignment and spread, a spread similar to a bare foot which has not been constrained and compressed by shoes, running or otherwise.

Nicole previously provided me an initial review of Correct Toes which is here 
Below her very positive update:

It's been over a month since I began using Correct Toes. I was

hoping to get minor relief for my foot problems, but what I've seen are

much bigger differences than I expected.  As soon as I get home in the

evening, I put them on and don't take them off again until I leave for

work in the morning.  I've gotten so used to them, I forget I have them

on.  The biggest change I've seen is in the flexibility and strength of

my toes.  It used to take quite a bit of effort to do my toe exercises.

Now, I can easily bend my toes, even my badly damaged second toe.  The

swelling in this toe has subsided tremendously and the toe next to it is

no longer atrophied.  I've also had significant improvement in my bunion

pain.  I attribute this to landing and pushing off my foot correctly,

something I was not able to do before I started using Correct Toes.  One

thing I have NOT experienced is a plantar fasciitis flare up in my right

foot.  It's very common for it to flare up this time of year because I'm

running a lot of miles on the track.  I haven't had any symptoms of its

return during this training cycle.

Before I began using Correct Toes, I thought foot surgery was an

inevitability.  While it will always be a possibility in my future, I

don't see it being a necessity anytime soon.  My training is going far

better than I anticipated and it's a great feeling to be able to do my

intervals and tempos without my foot pain holding me back. 

Update Review: Got my Hoka One One Bondi-B up to speed today

Wasn't sure I could run the Hoka Hoka Bondi-B at tempo pace.  I can and they are still on my list for Boston with the New Balance 890.

2 reasons I haven't been able to tempo the Bondi: the weather has been miserable here in NH the last couple of weeks, and it takes about 40 miles to break the forefoot in and get good flex.

Well, they now flex and they fly. I ran 4 x 6 minute tempo/speed intervals in a total 53 minute workout and they felt great. Mostly sub 7 minute pace which for me is what I expect for such intervals in light performance trainers and racers such as my Kinvaras, New Balance 890 or adidas adizero Rockets. Not the snappy responsive feel of these 3 but the incredible shock absorption of the Hokas is a big plus as I think of the hills at Boston. Next big test a longer run (10-13 miles)  at near marathon pace to see if I can hold a 8:15 pace comfortably.

Link here to my other posts about the Bondi-B and Hoka One One

Interesting Statistics about this Blog's Audience-Many of you are Apple "Romantics"

Approximately 23% of this blog's audience use Macs. I use a Mac.The worldwide penetration for Mac OS is around 10%.  Add to that another 6-7% of viewers on iPad and iPhone. What does this say about runners and the content of this blog?

A quote from Steve Jobs at today's introduction of the iPad 2 from Cnet in an article entitled "Apple's Jobs to rivals: You're nerds, we're not"

 "It's in Apple's DNA that technology alone is not enough. It's technology married with liberal arts, humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing. And nowhere is that more true than in these post-PC devices. "


And I thought  runners were nerds. I guess not. 


Another quote from the article:


"Apple, though, believes, and with some justification, that it simply isn't in the gadget business. It sees its competitors precisely as the nerds, the geeks, but not the romantics. It sees them as more prepared to play with their gadgets for the gadgets' sake, rather than to enhance their experience of life somewhere out there. 

Shouldn't our latest running shoes and gear really be about enhancing our experience of life on the trail, in nature and on the road. And yes, maybe some of them will help or make us think we will run faster. I'll keep being a romantic and an optimist. I hope you will to. 
Thank you for reading!

Analysis of my Boston Marathon Shoe Options-Review New Balance 890 & Initial Impressions.

As the Boston Marathon approaches I have been mulling my shoe choices.  I run in neutral shoes and have a short slide without much knee lift. My half marathon times at age 52-53 have been between 1;35 and 1:39. I qualified for Boston at the St. George Marathon with a 3:29 at the St. George Marathon in 2009.

In 2010 I ran St. George in Saucony Kinvaras and found them to have adequate cushioning for the mostly downhill final 13 miles. Most of my shorter 2010 races were run in Nike Zooms, Kinvaras, adizero Rockets, and Newtons. In recent months I have been running in Hoka One One Bondi B and Mafates,  Adidas adizero Rockets, and Saucony Kinvaras,

For the hills of Boston and a planned pace of 8:00-8:10 I need a responsive shoe with adequate heel cushioning. While I have been improving my mid foot stride I will not be able to hold form all the way to the end. I also want a light shoe, less than 10 oz. Below an analysis of my current shoe quiver.

What I am finding is that a low forefoot height is key to a responsive feel but I also need good heel cushion for the later miles when form starts to fall apart. Both the adizero Rockets and my brand new New Balance 890 have about 10 mm of forefoot height. The Kinvaras at 14mm feel high are somewhat unstable, feel high, at speed. They also flex gradually ie not  pronounced at the flex point in the forefoot and are somewhat stiff. The Hokas with a low heel to forefoot  drop at 4mm with incredible cushion and light weight 8.8 oz are so far ( and they do require break in given the high stiff midsole) are somewhat harder to maintain paces below 8:30 per mile. The Kinvaras while adequately cushioned in forefoot and heel but are narrow in upper toe box and forefoot midsole strike platform.

Yesterday at my local running store Runner's Alley in Portsmouth NH I tried a pair of the brand new New Balance 890.

New Balance 890  Source: New Balance

Very light at 9.5 oz the 890's feature  REVlite midsole foam, the white foam in the picture below is 30% lighter than conventional midsole foams according to NB.

The white REVLite extends  to the front of the shoe all the way to the toe box with all REVLite on the inner part of the foot and partial REVLite on the outside of the foot. No motion control features on the inner side. The yellow foam is firmer and extends on the outside of the foot up to just before the flex point in the forefoot. The softer REVLite forward across the whole shoe forward allows a good flex. The thin layer of yellow foam is the outer sole material up front.

Likely REVLite is more or less the same material as the Kinvaras and Hokas but to me it felt more responsive on the run: firmer yet also cushioned. Part of the responsiveness is of course the low forefoot height and it seems a wide forefoot strike platform, and a well designed easy flex at the forefoot flex point. The upper is not over reinforced. The toe box is wide without excess material or stiff overlays. I sized up half a size to 9 for a little extra room as feet swell in the marathon.

My first run in the 890's, a 6.39 mile jaunt around New Castle in blustery weather was excellent. 8:00 pace. I liked the 23mm of heel cushion on the rolling downhills. The forefoot is responsive and flexible. They climb well. My only concern so far is the greater than usual, for me, heel toe ramp of 12 mm. Most of my current shoes are 4-6mm and I do feel something today I have not felt in months, some calf tightness something I never feel in the Hokas.   I will continue to focus on the 890's and Hoka One One Bondi B as potential Boston shoes in the coming weeks.

Hoka One One Bondi B

New Blog by Ed Ayers- Endurance and Sustainability

Just started following a new blog, Endurance and Sustainability written by Ed Ayers, the founding editor of Running Times and at 70 an active competitor in ultras. From the name of the blog: Endurance and Sustainability one can see that Mr. Ayers is taking a deeper look at the importance of endurance, patience, and connection to our natural world and the relevance of "endurance" to the larger problems facing society.

Some excerpts from his latest post Distance Running and ...National Defense

"What we runners and other endurance athletes (bicyclists, hikers, cross-country skiers, mountain climbers, et al.) have going for us is a knowledge of physical and mental discipline that, if shared with more of our underexercised fellow citizens of the world, can do more for our longevity, health, quality of life and, yes -- security -- than a pumped-up military budget ever could or will.  "


 "I don't mean that we all need to be endurance athletes to have that kind of security.  But humans, by nature, need regular aerobic exercise.  By nature, we need lean diets, not loaded up with sugar, salt, fat, and chemicals.  And, by nature, we need to have closer connection, from our feet to our lungs, hearts, and brains, to the natural world with which we co-evolved and on which we are entirely dependent for life."


"There's a strong connection between the endurance and patience of individuals (what we learn as long-distance runners) and the long-run sustainability of our society.  For instance, consider the national debt.  We know that if we sprint, without pacing ourselves, we build up oxygen debt and hit the wall in 2 to 3 minutes max.  If we learn the secrets of efficiency, we can run for hours.  Those facts aren't the policies of a government or the rules of a sport.  They are the laws of nature.  After 3 million years of human evolution, we are suddenly in peril, not from terrorism, but from disconnection with what really keeps us alive.  It's late in the day, but maybe there's still time to re-learn what our ancient, far-wandering hunter-gatherer ancestors long understood."


I have always believed that the connection to the natural world and our neighbors, one foot step at a time, as we run our routes and trails is key to balance in life and understanding of place and environment. Nothing more exhilarating and grounding than landing in a new place and discovering it on the run.


The general disconnect of many in our society with our motorized, air conditioned, indoor, and internet connected lives from endurance and the outdoors is leading to rampant over consumption, debt, obesity, national insecurity, impulsive behavior and greed. According to Ayer these trends are not good for our security and our health: physical, fiscal.  I agree.


While I am some times forced inside to the dreadmill and the noise and clutter of the fitness club it is just not the same as being outside. Rarely do I interact with anyone despite the crowds.  Neither is running the same loop over and over mechanically looking at pace, heart, and stride rate on  gadgets. 


We all need to vary, explore, discover, consider what we see, hear and feel on the run. And not just experienced runners.. Take a stressed out "program following"  newbie runner out for a new route on a trail they might never have tried on their own.  Go without the iPod earbuds. You'll hear what is around you, including the oncoming cell phone yakking SUV drivers. If more lost the ear bud bubble you could even hail and join a runner on your route and find a new training buddy and friend.  Stop and talk to a neighbor  even if it interrupts your workout for a few. Observe what is around you not just the time on the watch and pavement ahead.

Less than 8 weeks to Boston Marathon- Great article on dangers of the long hard run

My friend and training buddy Ed Knapp has posted the second in his series on the pitfalls facing competitors in the run up to the Boston Marathon. Eddie has run 59 marathons, starting after age 40, including 35 Boston qualifiers. Today's article concerns the dangers of long runs and pre testing in the next few weeks. A must read here

Update Review Hoka One One Bondi-B

Have now gotten in 3 runs in the Bondi-B including now 2 tempo runs on the road. I am finding them far more responsive than the Mafates. Road shock is almost completely attenuated yet the feel is still lively. I am able to run at a good cadence of 177-180 strides per minute. Upper is very comfortable. Lacing is easy and secure. The shoe is stiff yet the rocker sole works as intended. I think with further break in, flex will soften the flex a bit.

Not sure I would try a 10K in them but a for sure a half marathon and my plan is to run Boston in them in April. I continue to marvel ( I also have several hundred miles including roads in the original Mafate trail shoe)  that no matter what the workout the next day legs appear fresher with no soreness, apart occasionally in the feet due to the stiffness, than in any other shoe I have run in. This indicates and Karl Meltzer proved this with his 2064 mile in 40 days Pony Express Trail run that Hokas are a great shoe for  both high mileage and recovery runs.

My other posts on Bond-B are here:
First Run Review
Outdoor Retailer Bondi-B article

First Run Review-Hoka One One Bondi-B "Maximalist" Natural Running Shoe

Karl Meltzer of Pony Express Trail run fame and Hoka One One runner announced on his blog   that Wastach Running Center in Salt Lake had the new Bondi-B road runner in stock. I went over today and purchased a pair.  They told me they are selling fast and they will ship if one doesn't live local to Salt Lake.

I had previously posted about the Bondi-B as part of my Outdoor Retailer coverage and have very much enjoyed almost 500 miles in first generation Hoka One One Mafates. I have run trails and roads and hiked in these super light 10.8 oz "maximalist" shoes and find them particularly well suited to long runs on the road and trail. Legs stay fresh no matter what you throw at them.

My first run in the Bondi-B on the Basin Rec. Fieldhouse track in Park City did not disappoint.

Hoka One One Bondi-B Road Running Shoe

Fit and Construction:
Wider, less constrained toe box than Mafates or for that matter most shoes I have recently run in. Less stitching and more welded overlays. While the Mafates sometimes cramped the front side of the foot the Bondis have a far more open construction. They will breathe well and as feet stretch there will be some give. They do fit 1/2 size small. This was true for me and for the person who fitted me at Wasatch.

The outer sole is comprised of orange more durable wear areas in the  heel and forefoot between blown softer EVA of the midsole. Traction should be great on the road. Remains to be seen how they perform on the trails. Karl Meltzer just completed his fastest 100 mile ever in a pair on a relatively (for him) trail course.

Run Feel:
8.8 oz with a near zero forefoot to heel drop of 4mm.  As light as many racing flats with amazing cushioning which doesn't feel mushy. They are not only 20% lighter than Mafates but 10% firmer and in my 4 mile run this made a big difference. Much more responsive with a run feel more like a conventional shoe but with no perceptible shock. While the Mafates were great on long slower runs at speed they felt somewhat boaty. I did not run fast tonight after a long run Saturday and an uphill nordic ski Sunday but Bondi-B sure felt snappy.

Hokas are stiff and use the rocker angle of the sole to get one's stride over the mid foot. I found that this approach requires getting used to at longer distances, for me over 13 miles, as while legs felt great to the end pace seems difficult to maintain.  I think Bondis will be easier to tame as they are lighter and have a bit less cushioning . My next tempo I will crank up and speed and report. My plan is to run Boston in the Bondi-B if I can get them up to speed.

8 Weeks to the Boston Marathon - Common Mistakes on the Road to Boston

My friend Fasteddie Knapp with 58 marathons in 17 years including several Boston Marathons has great advice for runners preparing for Boston. In his first post  he covers the most common mistake in the run up to Boston: overtraining.

First Review: Salomon XT S-Lab Advanced Skin Hydration Pack- A Second Skin it Truly Is

I previously posted about the Salomon XT S-Lab Advanced Skin Pack I saw at Outdoor Retailer.  The pack looked like an incredibly well thought out and engineered solution to hydration and gear carry while running long distances on trail or road. It was designed with help from Kilian Joret one of the best ultra runners in the world. Gear Zone just got them in stock and I purchased one. After my first long run I am extremely pleased with this (pricey) piece of gear.

Today I took it on a 18 mile plus run in Park City, Utah. My route took me from Willow Creek Park to the Park City Rail Trail and then onto the incredible groomed multi use trails in Round Valley. 85% perfectly groomed snow trails, rest roads. See my Park City winter running post for general map details.


My first impressions:


Fit: 
Not just marketing speak when Salomon calls this an Advanced Skin. The chest area is wide open with just 2 elastic straps.  Easy breathing. The shoulder harness curves sharply towards the lower back eliminating all bouncing and side to side movement. Even with the full 1.5 liter bladder the sensation is unlike any pack I have worn. Stable, snug, and without any rubbing, at least over my two light wool layers.

In addition to the 1.5 liter bladder I carried a windbreaker. The 2 zip pockets to the right and left are a bit small and hard to reach

Note front fit. Where's the Pack?  Arms never rubbed or bumped pack. Easy reach pockets (white) in front : I put my phone in one and gels in the other 

Hydration System:
The Source hydration system is very easy to fill and remove. Quick disconnect in middle of lower back. Not a screw or push on valve but an actual mechanical release by button push which seals off the bottom of the bladder.  Pull the bladder in its insulated (back side only) sleeve out. Roll open and fill.

The insulated hose goes under the arm and up towards the mouth. A dirt guard covers the nozzle.  The Source literature says that the insulation serves 2 purposes: keeps water cooler in heat and from freezing in cold but also prevents build up of microbes in the harder to clean hose. In fact if you only use water there is no need to clean the hose or bladder after use.

To get water bite lightly and suck. Again a mechanical valve which opens on bite and closes when released. No leaking during my run. The dirt guard slips over the nozzle and prevents accidental pressing on the valve. Worked like a charm.

Pockets: 
The 2 holster pockets on the front are most useful. I used one for my phone/GPS and the other for my gels. They are large enough for water bottles.  Given their angling towards the middle of the chest I don't think my arms will bump them but have to test. They secure with a pull.  The 2 rear zippered stretch pockets are small and a bit hard to reach on the run. 2 additional zip stretch pockets are supplied. They attach to the top of the front shoulder straps by velcro. I was going to use them for my phone but worried they might come off due to the cords running underneath. If they are secure, a clever touch as one can just rip them off to get at whatever is inside. The pack is also supplied with an emergency blanket and whistle.

Price and Availability: $180. Spring 2011

Shoe du Jour:
North Face Single Track. A fine shoe for snow running and mixed road non technical trails.

Results: 
I was well hydrated and fed during the entire 3:20 run. Never had to fiddle or break stride to get at what I needed. Finished the run strong.

Thanks:
Mountain Trails Foundation  and Rick the groomer and trails master (below in action)  for incredible trails.  Hundreds were enjoying Round Valley on the run, at a walk, on nordic skis, snowshoes, even on mountain bikes on a beautiful sunny day in Park City.

"Sorry but I have to Run" : Newspaper article about my Park City friend Fasteddie Knapp

Eddie is quite the character.

Eddie with famous Triple Trail Challenge Green Jacket

A great runner and one of only 2 people who have completed all 5 Park City Triple Trail Challenges- 18 mile round trip to the top of Park City Jupiter Peak , Park City Half, and the Mid Mountain Trail Marathon all in the space of  less than 8 weeks each summer.

Eddie is working back from  his June 2010 partial compartmental knee replacement using a Conformis knee.  He  completed his 5th Triple Trail Challenge last summer within 3 months of the operation and the St. George Marathon ( his 14th St George) all within 4 months of the knee replacement. It wasn't pretty or fast but he go it done.

Recovering  quite nicely indeed, adding 2 marathons on the bionic knee in 2010 to his tally of previous 56 in less than 18 years starting at age 41.  And best of all his is stride is coming back. Eddie was instrumental  in getting me back into competitive running shape and is a wonderful host with his wife Linda when I am out in Park City for work.

The Park Record newspaper published a major profile about Eddie during Sundance Film Festiva weekl no less.

Have you had a knee replacement or are considering one? Eddie will chime in to this post with his thoughts and comments here and on his blog: http://runskiride.blogspot.com/