The Coffee Runner

iRun Socks

This is a post about socks. Yes, socks. I never paid a lot of attention to my running socks. I have picked up a few pairs of special socks at running stores or race expos over time and they always suited me fine. They have a bit of compression through the arch and are made…

RaceReports

2012 Mid-Year Review

With my 2012 spring racing season in the books, now is a good time for a mid-year review. I declared 2012 to be my personal “Year of the Run.” Instead of picking one or two “big” races to plan my year around, I instead loaded up my schedule with races – quantity over quality, if…

Running-TheBigPicture

Training vs Running

My spring racing season finished up with the Soldier Field 10 Mile a few weeks ago. I have one race on my calendar in late July and then nothing again until September. So I’m no longer training, and now when I go out for a run, I’m just running. It’s a subtle difference but an…

EtCetera

2012 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon

Yesterday my wife Julie finished her first Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco. Considered by many to be the most challenging triathlon in the world, the event features a 1.5-mile swim in the 55 degree water of the San Francisco Bay, followed by an 18-mile bike through the hilly streets of San Francisco, and ending…

TrainingUpdates

Embarcadero Promenade Run to AT&T Park

I’m writing this from San Francisco, where we are on vacation. It’s a gorgeous day here, perfect running weather: temperature in the mid sixties, abundant sunshine, and an easy breeze. After a long flight and exploring the city all day, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and get out for an early evening…

EtCetera

Happy National Running Day!

Did you know today was National Running Day? Honestly, I didn’t until I checked my email this morning and found a few special National Running Day offers in my inbox. When I woke up this morning, my legs were a little fatigued so I was planning on taking today off. But it is an absolutely gorgeous day…

Shoes

Using Multiple Pairs of Running Shoes

If your feet are going to be logging some serious mileage, having the right pair of running shoes is a must. However, good running shoes aren’t cheap, so it makes sense to attempt to get the most mileage out of each pair as possible. One way I do that is to have multiple pairs of…

Gear

USA Track and Field Gear

At the Green Bay Half Marathon Expo a few weeks ago, there was a booth selling official USA Track and Field gear. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the shirt I wanted in my size, but they gave me a coupon for free shipping from their online store (www.usatf.org/store). So I ordered it online and it came…

Resources

Born To Run

There are few “sure things” in running. Marathon or spirit? Treadmill or trail? With music or without? All great, debatable questions. However, I want to recommend one “sure thing” I am certain every runner will enjoy: the book “Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen ” by…

RaceReports

2012 Soldier Field 10 Mile

Saturday I ran the Soldier Field 10 Mile here in Chicago for the first time. This was the 9th annual running of the race and it has become the popular start of the summer running season, with all 18,000 entries sold out this year. As I wrote the other day, Soldier Field is a 5…