Innehållsförteckning för Issue 1 2020 från Runner's World

Phil Crews RW+ Member I recently had a really cool run! It was my first day back from an injury, and I met Des Linden while running along the Seattle waterfront. I watch videos of her win at Boston for motivation. She was super nice! ALSO: On my first day of chemo, I met a guy who has become a great friend. Jim has stage IV lung cancer, but not a week goes by that he doesn’t send me a note to encourage me. And my buddy Joe was only 32 when we lost him to esophageal cancer. He was kind and gracious and inspired me to be a better person. When I’m having a tough run, I think of these two amazing guys and do my best to live…

Sage Canaday, a long-distance runner for Hoka One One and plantbased athlete, eats meat alternatives about once a week. He finds them more accessible on the road than other plant-based foods, like tofu or tempeh. “When I’m traveling and eat out at restaurants, or even fast food, these are always great options for me,” he says. New options, like the Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat, have made this easier for vegetarian runners. You can’t miss the Burger King commercials showing off how people can’t believe the “Impossible Whopper” isn’t made from meat. Even McDonald’s is testing a Beyond Meat burger in Canadian markets, and KFC experimented with vegan fried chicken, which sold out in less than five hours at one Atlanta location. While faux meats are easier than ever to…

Eliud Kipchoge’s VO2 max is estimated to be near 90; sub-threehour marathoners average 65.5; and three-plus-hour marathoners are around 58.7. The average untrained adult lands at about 40. These numbers represent the maximum amount of oxygen a runner can consume in milliliters per kilogram of body weight in one minute (mL/kg/min). Sounds complicated, but simply put, VO2 max is a measurement of how efficiently your body uses oxygen, a key marker of cardio fitness. If you don’t know your own VO2 max measurement, you’re not alone. Ahead of my max test at Custom Performance in New York City, I asked nearly every runner I encountered—elites to recreational—if they knew their VO2 max. Only a handful of the most competitive runners I know had been tested. Even so, they’d all forgotten…

NIKE DIDN’T TELL RODGER KRAM AND WOUTER Hoogkamer much about the prototype shoe at first. “We knew it had a new foam, called Pebax, and they showed us the carbon [fiber] plate,” recalls Kram. The exercise physiologist and longtime director of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Locomotion Lab, and Hoogkamer, then a postdoctoral researcher there, were writing a journal paper, published in March 2017, detailing how an elite runner might break the mythical two-hour marathon barrier. One factor they detailed was shoe design, and the two had been given what would become the ZoomX Vaporfly 4% to test. Explaining how shoe design might help break two hours was tricky, says Kram, because while they had already completed testing on the new shoe, they couldn’t include their non-peerreviewed data in a…

THREE COZY, COMFY HEADBANDS, TESTED There are some perks to the days getting shorter and temperatures dropping. For instance, the opportunity to slip on a cozy headband. We tested nearly a dozen to find the best, and some were comfortably snug, while others used techy fabrics to shield us on chilly runs. The one that best caught our eye, though, was Nathan’s Reflective Headband. Editorial Fellow Gabrielle Hondorp tested it at twilight—in a traffic-free, dimly lit parking garage and back lot—so she could safely run with the headlights of a colleague’s car pointed at her. They found the reflective detail could be seen roughly 328 feet away. (Hondorp’s quibble: The Nathan fit just a little too tightly on her small head.) Here, our test crew offers some first-person impressions of…

FITTIN RACERBACK BRA / $14 This cheap sports bra from Amazon can’t be any good, can it? Despite its nearly 4,000 five-star reviews, we were skeptical. But believe the hype. It’s so freaking soft. And, while comfortably secure on the run, the fit isn’t suffocating. The straps leave plenty of clearance around the pits, so no chafing from swinging arms. One complaint: The pads are funky. They’re thick, weirdly round, and almost styrofoam-esque. But they’re removable, so go ahead and rip 'em out. TRACKSMITH NDO MITTENS /$48 A few years ago, Brooks made a two-in-one glove and mitten that was a godsend for runners foolish enough to venture outside in a polar vortex. It’s been discontinued, but Tracksmith has made the closest thing we’ve found since. The nylon-and-polyester outer mitten…

PRICE: $129 WEIGHT: 10.6 oz (M), 8.7 oz (W) DROP: 3 mm TYPE: Trail TAKE AN IMAGINARY trail run with us through Boulder, Colorado. Although we tested these over miles on Pennsylvania trails, they have us dreaming of the city they’re named for. We’re lacing up before dawn and hitting a twisty trail. The luggy forefoot is noticeable at first, but once we start climbing the shoe feels snappy and smooth; the firm cushioning is offset by a healthy bounce. Summiting Green Mountain, the mesh breathes better than you do at altitude, and clouds above hint at some dicey weather ahead. Bombing down the rocky switchbacks in the final miles, multi-directional lugs bite into the dirt as hard rain quickly turns the trails to mud; the shoe’s water-resistant upper easily…

PRICE: $110 WEIGHT: 8.0 oz (M), 6.0 oz (W) DROP: 0 mm TYPE: Trail WHEN THE FINAL runner crosses the finish line, one of a sweepers’ many jobs begins: gathering plastic cups, GU packets, and wrappers that were tossed over the miles. These underappreciated volunteer trail-keepers give this shoe its name, and fittingly, many of the items they pick up lend to its construction. Wherever it could, Merrell swapped out pieces from the original Bare Access XTR for those made from upcycled plastics and sustainable alternatives. The upper’s TPU, lacing, and heel counter are made from 100-percent recycled material, and roughly a third of the shoe’s remainder uses green substitutes or repurposed composites. Some of the changes are pretty wild. For example, the midsole is made partially from an algae…

PRICE: $159 WEIGHT: 9.5 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W) DROP: 6 mm TYPE: Trail IF YOU STICK to singletrack trails even when they’re socked in with snow, you’ll appreciate the Kaptiva GTX’s Gore-Tex upper, which keeps the white stuff on the ground where it belongs. The material works double-time for both warmth and waterproofing, and is paired with an aggressive lugged outsole for traction in sloppy conditions. This version, like the non-Gore-Tex model, uses a resilient EVA and TPU midsole that comfortably houses two rock plates (one in the heel and the other in the forefoot) and softens hard landings on frozen trails. We found the ride feels firm, which is supported by our lab testing at the RW Test Zone. But it’s that upper that shines bright at this…

AMANDA FURRER TEST EDITOR YOU’RE NOT CHASING ME, I’M RACING YOU PRODUCTS I’M USING RIGHT PRODUCTS I’M USING RIGHT NOW 1 / Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Shorts $60 They’re so light, comfy, and retro. I have four pairs of them. 2 / Triggerpoint Massage Ball $12 I stashed this in my carry-on and a TSA agent asked if I play softball; I’m lucky if I score at beer pong. 3 / Brooks Transcend 6 $160 The first cushioned shoes that didn’t feel like I was slogging while running. WHY I RUN You know flying dreams? That’s what it feels like when I get a good surge. Soaring. ON THE BUCKET LIST THE WORST RUN OF MY LIFE… Back when I was living in Boston, I was running one evening and a…

I think it’s safe to say no one ever embarks on a marathon intending to be negative about it. But as my friend Peter always says, “The marathon is too far and too fickle to be tamed by your intentions.” If you’ve already covered 26.2, then you’ve probably already confronted that moment when it feels like everything is crashing down around you and that voice in your head is saying, “I want to be done.” If you’re about to embark on your first marathon, then be prepared for that moment to come. I went to that dark place around mile 16 of the 2019 Boston Marathon. I’d played it smart during the first half, but after training through the winter in New York City, the weather wasn’t working for me.…

For the past decade, I’ve set a running goal at the start of each year, and each year the goal has been identical: to achieve a personal record (PR) in the marathon. The time I aim for has shifted as I’ve improved—from breaking 4 hours in 2009 to qualifying for Boston in 2010 to breaking 3:15 in 2018—but the sentiment behind the goal hasn’t. I’m a certified PR chaser. Which is why, at the start of 2019, whenever anyone asked me about my year’s running goal, it felt natural to say “breaking 3.” I planned to do it on September 29 at the Berlin Marathon. The training was mapped out for me. The numbers were there, as if it were a formula for success that required just a hard push…

IT’S THE END OF JUNE, and on the dirt paths around Boulder Reservoir, happiness wafts from the surface like heat rising from a Texas highway. But only in one place. The glee follows the wake of five young men, all rail-thin, shirtless, and laughing. They joke and josh throughout their two-mile warmup and subsequent five-mile run around the reservoir. During a set of hill sprints, 22-year-old Drew Hunter heckles Sam Parsons, 25, over his camel-like drinking habits. “What’s your hydration plan for the day?” he asks. “Eat a Nuun tablet?” Sam laughs and responds, “One Nuun tab a day, baby. That’s all you need.” Before their final sprint, a middle-aged man in a run vest and knee-high socks jogs up from the opposite direction. He’s built more like a CrossFitter…

THE MYTH THAT you lose half of your body heat through your head has been long debunked, but it’s true that you can lose up to 10 percent of your heat through a cold noggin. And when you’re headed out to earn miles in subfreezing temperatures, starting with a warm cranium can mean the difference between shivering and finishing toasty warm. Here’s how to shop for your next winter running hat. Choose your hat based on the conditions. You might want more than one if you’re in a northern zone, where brisk springs and autumns bookend frigid winters. A skullcap is a lightweight hat that stretches over your head for a tight fit. It’s packable, stashes into a coat pocket more easily than a fluffy beanie, and can be just…

HOKA ONE ONE EVO SPEED GOAT PRICE: $160 WEIGHT: 9.9 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W) DROP: 4 mm TYPE: Trail HOKA’S BEST TRAIL shoe yet is light, roomy, and springy for running fast over long distances. The EVO designation means the shoe gets a durable, Kevlar-infused upper. That extra techy material comes at a $15 premium, but it’s hydrophobic so it won’t absorb much water on sloppy trails and river crossings. One drawback is the stiffness of the fibers, though a stretchy, almost neoprene panel over the toes provides a little relief. I’m a narrow-footed runner and found the standard Speedgoat snug, but the EVO fit comfortably—even our testers with wider feet loved the fit. But if your feet swell a lot, you may want to go up a half…

PRICE: $130 WEIGHT: 8.8 oz (M), 7.4 oz (W) DROP: 0 mm TYPE: Road THE ORIGINAL ESCALANTE debuted Altra’s first flat-knit upper and then-new EGO midsole compound. In a way, the Escalante challenged what a zero-drop running shoe could be: not necessarily minimal, and with some cushioning and support. Runners loved the shoe’s responsiveness and fast feel. We did too, which is why we awarded it Editors’ Choice back in 2017. The updated model maintains the original’s reputation: lightweight yet soft, with a midsole that provides high rebound so runners can dial it up during speedwork or racing. “I fell in love with this shoe almost immediately,” said a tester who previously ran in the New Balance FuelCell Propel (he gave this Escalante a higher rating). “I’m training in these…

PRICE: $150 WEIGHT: 10.2 oz (M), 8.6 oz (W) DROP: 5 mm TYPE: Road THE GOAL OF the GlideRide, the follow-up to the even heavier, stiffer, and more expensive MetaRide, is to help you run longer by making you more efficient. The company says the stiff forefoot and curved midsole reduce energy lost at the ankle joint. Although the heel-toe offset is just 5mm, it feels like there’s a significant ramp just behind the ball of your foot. Decidedly a trainer (based on its heft alone), the GlideRide isn’t some racing flat you pull out for fast days, but it should be comfortable enough for everyday. We found the shoe polarizing. I can’t run more than a few miles in it without serious ankle pain, and other testers noted that…

PRICE: $130 WEIGHT: 8.4 oz (M), 6.3 oz (W) DROP: 6 mm TYPE: Road THE GORUN MAXROAD 4 delivers a lot of cushioning without any bulk. It starts with the high-rebound Hyper Burst midsole, an EVA-based foam that uses heated CO2 to expand the EVA rather than blown air (like traditional midsoles). The result is a springy, lightweight material that’s responsive underfoot. The midsole shape is similarly unorthodox: Foam pods end in rubber caps and compress individually as your foot rolls over them, boosting cushioning and allowing the rocker-shaped midsole to flex. The upturned heel forces you toward a midfoot landing, putting the majority of your weight beneath your arch as you touch down. The compression knit upper has a sock-like fit, and we found the lofted knit holds heat—good…

This past October, the running world held its collective breath as the world’s most dominant marathoner, Eliud Kipchoge, staged his second attempt at running 26.2 miles in under two hours. After coming so close the first time in 2017—falling just 26 seconds shy on a track in Monza, Italy—Kipchoge broke the elusive barrier by clocking a time of 1:59:40.2 through the Prater, a park in Vienna. While Kipchoge’s time doesn’t count as an official world record for a number of reasons—like multiple sets of rotating pacers—his sub-2 accomplishment should serve as an inspiration to help you attain whatever goals you’ve set for yourself in the new decade. Even those marathoners who lack a team of sport scientists, the ability to log 140-mile training weeks, or access to heralded prototype shoes…

I started running, like many people, to lose weight. I weighed 300 pounds in 2004, then shed 130 pounds and have kept it off since. Yes, the weight loss was life changing, but I didn’t expect that it isn’t even close to my favorite thing about running. That’s been the connections with people I’ve made during my journey. Not long after starting, I decided to run a marathon. I was nervous, but my main memory of the race was how supportive and encouraging the other runners were (especially the really fast ones!). Running led me to volunteer as a cross-country and track coach at a local school. I’ve watched students graduate, attend college, begin careers, marry, and start families. About three years ago I was diagnosed with incurable cancer. I’m…

WOOL Wool is a natural fiber and a staple in winter apparel because it insulates well, thanks to tiny air pockets within the individual fibers. It also wicks moisture, and the crimps in the fibers—which form the air pockets—help it absorb water without feeling wet to the touch, keeping you warm on a cold, rainy run. POLYESTER Polyester is used to make fleece, so think of it as a synthetic wool. Instead of coming from sheep, polyester derives from petroleum, which is heated to a syrupy texture, hardened, and then spun into threads that form fleece. The soft material is lighter than wool and wicks moisture just as well, but won’t stay warm once it gets damp. NYLON Another petroleum-based material, nylon is stretchy, soft, and durable—although it’s not as…

PRICE: $100 WEIGHT: 10.7 oz (M), 8.4 oz (W) DROP: 12 mm TYPE: Road THE SPEED SUTAMINA—JAPANESE for “stamina”—is a lightweight, low-cost trainer with a cushioned platform and propulsive edge. In 2018, to demonstrate the impressive rebound of its new ProFoam midsole, Puma dropped an egg onto a slab of the foam laid on concrete and it actually bounced without breaking. Tests in our shoe lab suggest why the egg test works; measurements show soft cushioning and high energy return, two traits that will treat you well on quick workouts. On a run, the Sutamina has—as its name suggests—a speedy feel (testers said the shoe looked heavy but they raved about its light weight), but its forefoot proved too thin for some. Clydesdales, the injury-prone, and runners with a heavy…

PRICE: $130 WEIGHT: 10.2 oz (M), 8.0 oz (W) DROP: 12 mm TYPE: Road THERE AREN’T MANY shoes with as many loyal fans as the Rider—which is why it has lasted through 22 generations. The shoe is a workhorse during high-mileage days. The ride is, simply, comfortable and unobtrusive. Diehards will notice both the upper and foam are slightly softer than previous versions, but that helps make this an even better long-run and high-mileage shoe. The upper is made with Mizuno’s new Waveknit fabric, which is slightly thicker and warmer than normal mesh, but also more comfortable. The seamless upper cuts down on the number of stitches, reducing the chance for blisters. I completed the New York City Marathon in them and experienced zero hot spots—a first from any of…

PRICE: $160 WEIGHT: 9.1 oz (M), 7.7 oz (W) DROP: 8 mm TYPE: Road THE ZOOM FLY was developed as a more affordable version of the Vaporfly and to be a shoe for every run—races included. The dawn of the Next%, a total revamp of the Vaporfly, also gave us the new Zoom Fly. In some ways, it mimics the $250 racing shoe: there’s a carbon fiber plate embedded in the thick midsole and a water-resistant Vaporweave upper. It’s also its own shoe: it uses Nike’s dense React foam, and has a bootie-like fit. These differences add weight but also make the Zoom Fly 3 durable and comfortable enough for regular use. Predictably, adapting a highly specialized shoe for routine use has its tradeoffs. In the “positives” column, the thick…