Chasing The Trials

Hello everyone my name is Travis Hobbs. I am a former Master's College runner who just never left town. This is my first contribution to the Runners Lane blog. I have recently returned to the staff at Runners Lane after a short away from the local running community.

I am inviting you into my weekly training in preparation for the LA Marathon in March, where I am hoping to dive into the low 2:20's of not a sub 2:20 gaining me an Olympic Trials birth.

I am coming off of a decent base phase where my mileage averaged into the high 90's to low 100's. Now transitioning into my marathon specific training which has brought my mileage and intensity to a whole new level that I have not seen in several years since graduating from college I am looking forward to each run. Just yesterday I went on my longest run yet in my build up reaching the two hour mark and averaging 6:00-6:30 pace on my run. Everything was rolling smoothly through the first hour, and then I realized I had only packed one gel and not two!

Post long run I ate a monster chop salad from Stonefire along with a few breadsticks and a bowl of tortilla soup. I washed it all down with Fluid Recovery mix, and a few liters of water.

I learned that preparations for long runs should be identical to preparing for a race (everything should be laid out the night before) this prevents you from leaving something behind! Training has been a real battle, my training partner Kyle Robinson just got married and has been out of town for the past couple of weeks. Lucky for me, my wife pushes me out the door in the morning to get the run in.

The next two weeks in my training cycle will consist of longer runs and tougher workouts, but I am taking it one run at a time. A preview of what is to come: Ten mile tempo, some fast three minute sections, and another monster long run. Until next time be consistent, and don't forget your gels.

Travis

Are Shoes Created Equal?

Shoes are not created equal. Most running shoe stores will carry the higher end and/or the top of the line shoes that a vendor or shoe company offers. Higher end shoes offer more support and protection for running, walking, tennis, cross training or day-to-day use. Discount shoes stores Los Angeles are more interested at price point and thus, the shoes offered at these places lack certain features that a shoe at a specialty shoe store carry.

Many questions arise about whether all shoes are created equal all though it may be the same brand found at discount stores versus a specialty store.

Many customers ask us, “Why does a shoe look virtually the same or similar but costs less at the other store?” After working a more than a decade combined at discount sporting goods stores and specialty running stores I learned and been trained about the differences in the footwear industry. Shoes at discount stores are more concerned about price point. So, what happens is big companies then go to these top vendors and make-up special shoes just for their stores.
For example, a discount store will ask the vendor to make a shoe look like a particular higher end model that normally costs around $90 but want the shoe to cost, say under $40. Well, the vendor then goes back to their lab and figures ways to make a shoe cheaper but keep the look the same. The shoe then usually gets its better half cut out to keep the price down and labeled a new name and model number. The better half taken out usually compromises the shock absorption and support system which is the most important parts of the shoe.

Ask a lot of questions about the footwear, and if the person that’s helping doesn’t know about the shoes they sell, then that’s a good indication that the shoes don’t have much to them.

Looks can be deceiving, so you may see a New Balance or Nike, etc. at a department store or discount sporting goods store that look similar to a shoe at a specialty store but be completely different from one another. Generally, New Balance and Nike are great shoes, if you know what model you’re getting.

Footwear should also be fitted to you personally and match up the particular needs that you may have. These needs could be an arch support or more shock absorption. This all depends on the goal at hand. If you’re looking for a shoe that fits you well and will help your injuries or aches and pains heal then go to a specialty running store. If you’re looking for a price break then other stores apply, but remember the support and shock absorption in nearly every pair of running shoes is different .
As the saying goes, "you get what you pay for".