Runbell – For The Urban Runner

Kevin Nadolny, currently living in Tokyo, Japan, has come up with the solution for safely running in the of the high traffic of many cities. “During my runs to and from work in the heart of Tokyo, I realised the need to create a safer running environment for both urban runners and pedestrians.”

The Runbell is a one ounce bell that delivers a powerful and pleasant sound for the urban runner and is a stylish running accessory with the quality of fine jewelry. It will make sidewalks and running paths safer for everyone. The runner’s device comes in two sizes, each with two pairs of soft, silicon inserts for adjustability and comfort.

“Runbell is both original and beautiful,” said Nadolny, You’ll be sure to catch the eyes and bring frustration free urban running to everyone and keep asking yourself “Why nobody before came up with that idea?”

Whether you live in Tokyo, New York, or any other city around the world, urban runners face a common problem.  Popular running paths and city sidewalks are congested and can make running frustrating and even dangerous.

Road running has a long and established tradition in Japan.  Racing in Japan is so awesome because no matter the race, a crowd always shows up to cheer you on. However, this popularity in running can also be a challenge.  Whether running on the crowded city sidewalks of Tokyo or the popular running path of the Imperial Palace, you will find others walking, biking, or running with you. Tokyo is full of people of all ages: businessmen, mothers, children, and grandmothers and grandfathers.

Running along city sidewalks is common because you can find a running route suited exactly for where you live and work.  However, pedestrians and bicyclist can become obstacles for runners especially around train station entrances. People reading their smart phone or slowly drifting along can present a similar hazard.  Most runners resort to calling out, “coming through!”.  Yelling is slightly rude and can be tiring during a long run.

Runbell is an elegant solution to this vexing problem of running in crowded areas where runners and pedestrians share the same path.  Runbell is designed by urban runners for urban runners.  Fit Runbell on to your pointer and middle finger and whenever your route is obstructed, simply ping your Runbell.  While the person in your way might be surprised to see a runner instead of a bicylist, they will be ever thankful for the polite precaution.  As a runner, you will find running along city sidewalks so much more enjoyable.

Runbell has been designed with both style and function in mind. By using jewelery quality metals, Runbell looks elegant and will last the harsh envionment of a runner’s hands.  Runbell comes in two sizes: one for him and one for her. The rings of the ladies’ Runbell is slightly smaller than the men’s Runbell.  Otherwise, they are the same.  In each case, the Runbell is slightly oversized so you can either use one of two silicone inserts to adjust the ring size or use gloves during the winter months. The convenient 360 spring allows you to activate the bell no matter which way you push or pull the striker.

Weighing just one ounce (30 grams), Runbell is a light-weight and easy to use solution to a vexing problem.

Runbell will be launching on Kickstarter.com on May 5th. Whether a runner or a pedestrian, sign up for the Runbell newsletter and be the first to hear of their launch and early bird discounts. Sign up now at www.Run-Bell.com

To learn more or support RunBell, please visit: http://bit.ly/Runbell

 

 

Article and pictures provided by Runbell

Barefoot Running Debate

The Denver Post has been printing some interesting articles on barefoot running…stirring the debate about barefooting…pro and con.

It turns out that the biggest opponent of barefoot running is Mark Plaatjes, the owner of the Boulder Running Company. He makes the argument that running barefoot is not for Americans because “98 percent of the U.S. do not grow up barefoot, walking barefoot” and that “If you do not grow up barefoot, it is a really difficult thing to do.”

Granted, Mr. Plaatjes is correct that many if not most Americans did not grow up barefoot…, but making the case that since they did not, they should not, is not the kind of argument one should make without a lot of evidence backing it up. And that evidence is not there.

My experience tells me that you can regain use of your feet, one thoughtful step at a time. For many, the foot has atrophied and become weak from years of wearing shoe casts. Constantly supporting the foot leads to weakness. Strengthening the foot requires patience and care, but the results are so well worth it. Your foot is an amazing and beautiful piece of magical equipment that you’ve inherited from a long line of successful movement. Self-healing and self-nourishing, your feet get stronger with use…the best shoes you’ll ever own.

Michael Sandler of Boulder is the article’s main barefoot running proponent. Sandler says that “When you are barefoot, you are forced to run the way ancient man ran, which is a soft dance,” and I agree. He further points out that even his upper body is getting stronger from barefooting. I understand this too.

One of the other proponents, Ivo Waerlop, suggests that barefoot running allows muscles to strengthen and work in different ways than they are familiar with while in shoes. Runners experience a more natural stride when they are barefoot, he says, and I agree. Further, he points out that when in training shoes, runners are more likely to land on their heel before rocking through to the toes, and that is not a good thing.

They also quote me in the article thus:

“When you take away the feeling of the impact of your feet hitting the ground, you end up putting much more impact into your body than if you felt it and adjusted your stride,” said Barefoot Ted, perhaps the most well-known barefoot running enthusiast. He lives in Washington and has spread the gospel of barefoot running for five years.

“The more padded the shoe has become, the more impact people are putting into their body,” Barefoot Ted said.

No shoes = bigger smiles

Further in the article, it suggests that we (Sandler and me) are on the extreme side of the barefoot spectrum…, but is that exactly true? We are just showing what is possible and suggesting that barefoot and minimal running be included in the dialogue of mainstream’s understanding of running rather than resorting to scare tactics to make people shy away from being barefoot. We are living proof that it can be done…and that it is joyful.

I suggest you give barefooting a try. Start slow and build slow. Be thoughtful, mindful and gentle. The rewards seem very high, and I have been receiving a lot of emails with amazing success reports.

For the original Denver Post article, click here.

Courtesy of Barefoot Ted

10 Essential iPhone Apps for Runners

For people who enjoy running, there’s nothing like lacing up the Nikes, heading out the door and hitting that stride. But every runner hits a wall at one point or another and day after day, run after run can soon become monotonous. Sometimes a little jolt to the routine is welcomed.

Whether you want to try out new routes, strive to be faster, have better endurance or even lose a little weight, runners (and want-to-be runners) can turn to the following 10 iPhone apps for a little more variety in their training regimens:

RunKeeper Pro:
RunKeeper is probably the most well-known of the running apps on this list. This is a feature-rich app that enables GPS tracking, distance, speed monitoring, caloric output and activity history for any number of activities you partake in including sports such as running, cycling, hiking, skiing and swimming. You can also sync all the data to RunKeeper’s website to monitor progress and share publicly. RunKeeper also offers a simplified version of the app for free.

Cost: $9.99

 

 

Ghost Race:
Sometimes, the best motivation is competition and who better to compete with than yourself? Ghost Race enables you to track your times on various routes and compare your performance from day to day. The app’s audio function also keeps you updated on your progress against your ‘Ghost’ in real-time.

Cost: $0.99

 

 

 

Livestrong Calorie Tracker:
Assuming most people who run regularly are also health conscious, the Livestrong Calorie Tracker boasts more than 625,000 foods in its database and is a great app to have to monitor caloric/fat/carbohydrate/protein intake. You can also monitor your progress based on daily caloric goals that you establish and track your weight loss goals.

Cost: $2.99

 

 

Get Running (Couch to 5K)
Targeted more for beginner runners, Get Running provides users with a specific training regimen over the course of nine weeks, with the end goal of being able to run for 30 minutes. Audio prompts guide users through each workout and even provide encouragement along the way.

Cost: $1.99

 

 

 

iRace:
iRace is a comprehensive app for locating road races near you or in any city that you choose to search. The app also enables you to preview the race route (if available) and send “challenges” to contacts, inviting them to run the race with you.

Cost: $0.99

 

 

 

Fitnio:
Fitnio is another GPS-based tracking and monitoring app for walking, running and cycling. The app records your activity and then displays distance, pace, caloric burn and also keeps an ongoing log of all workouts and also syncs with its website. Fitnio also provides an emergency contact option in the event that immediate help is needed during a workout.

Cost: $1.99

 

 

RunCoach:
Run Coach is a good app for both seasoned and novice runners who desire a little more motivation for running success. With a variety of training plans to choose from, a 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, etc., Run Coach provides personalized plans and enables you to track your progress along the way. Running and nutritional tips are also offered for quick reference.

Cost: $0.99

 

 

iMapMyRun:
If you want a GPS-based route tracker and activity log, but don’t want to pay for one, iMapMyRun is a good alternative. Similar to some of the other tracking apps, this also enables you to save your data to the app’s website where you can monitor progress and share publicly, even via Twitter. For more features like iPod integration and photo geo-tagging, there’s a more comprehensive version available called iMapMyRun+ that costs $4.99.

Cost: FREE

 

 

Interval Run:
For runners who like to mix it up with interval training, this app is a good way to integrate a little variety into your workout. With training plans including Tabata, Couch to 5K, Gateway to 8K and a One Hour Program, the recorded voice tells you what to do and when to do it.

Cost: $1.99

 

 

 

UltraTimer:
UltraTimer is a great app to have on hand for use as a precise timer, whether it is for circuit training, sprints or just for general use. The app comes with a couple example training plans, but any desired timing schedule can be inputted and multiple timers can be run simultaneously as well.

Cost: $1.99

 

 

 

Written by Jeana Lee Tahnk – courtousy of mashable.com
Jeana Lee Tahnk is a high-tech PR consultant and writer who focuses on a variety of topics including, technology, social media, family & parenting and health & well-being. She is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, MommyTrack’d and Examiner.com. More information about her writing expertise and professional background can be found on her web site.

CEEPO (Japan) shares Climax new 2012 model

The latest frame from Ceepo looks very fast.

The latest frame from Ceepo is on display here in Kona and it looks … well, the picture says it all.

This aerodynamic wonder features high modulus carbon throughout and has a fully adjustable integrated stem, making it somewhat unique in the super-aero tri frame world.

Only 200 of these frames will be available in 2011 (it’s a 2012 model) – they should be available next April and will come as in a package that will include the frameset, Ceepo’s handlebars and Shimano Di2 components. (The battery even has its own aerodynamic compartment!)

Article offered by ironman.com

 

Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname Japan – A rather poorly organized race

This new addition to the Ironman 70.3 series was very promising with a great location near the city of Nagoya in the Aichi Prefecture – right in between the two Japan major cities(Osaka and Tokyo) and at the proximity of the Centrair International Airport, making it very convenient for International athletes to attend.

Despite the location and what looked liked an interesting racing course, the organizer felt short on many levels and I have to say that, as a fellow racer and fan of Ironman events, I have been very disappointed with the overall organization and planning of this new event. Although I can understand Ironman organizers most likely faced difficulties to deal and negotiate with the local prefecture of Nagoya to get the necessary support to put this even together, I still think a lot of things were done wrong and did not match with the standard of most other Ironman events.

What could have been a great race with a glorious weather ended up being a overall poorly organized event and disappointing tourism experience.

You will find below 10 of the main points I felt should be improved for next year’s event if it wants to reach close to the standard other Ironman events have managed to set around the world.

1) REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Out of 1,100 registration slot, 350 were offered only to athletes who were willing to use/pay premium JTB travel and hotel services. Athletes who were late to register and who wanted to participate were therefore forced to take the JTB agency option and pay a significant extra budget to guarantee their slot to the starting line of the event. They also had to take a flight to Nagoya and use their Hotels.

2) A PRICEY EVENT:
This event was extremely expensive: 40,000 JPY just to register and participate in the race – excluding all the extra cost coming along with train/car transportation, hotels and restaurant around the airport (which are always very expensive as we know…).

3) ENGLISH BRIEFING:
Although the English briefing was mandatory prior to registration, unfortunately, it provided almost no valuable information. It was very vague with not a single presentation material and was wrapped up very quickly to avoid more questions the organizers did not have answers for (Bike course elevation, Run course, Expected weather conditions , Cross winds, Drafting rules… etc.). This briefing could have been okay for experienced triathletes but provided no guidance whatsoever for first timers.

4) WELCOME REGISTRATION PACK:
Despite this pricey registration fee, almost nothing was offered as part of the welcome registration pack beside the usual racing numbers (to put on your bike, helmet and racing belt), a bracelet and some brochures promoting the area.

5) SHUTTLE BUSES FOR ATHLETES:
Buses for athletes were not even provided for free. All athletes with no car or with a family member joining them were obliged to pay an extra 2,000 yen at some stage to get a pass and commute back and forth between the airport and the starting line with the official shuttle bus. Considering the price of the registration and the number of participants (1,100 to 1,200), those buses should have been offered for free at least for athletes. Most other races do.

6) CAR PARKING COST:
For the lucky ones who had a car, they still had to pay a 1,000 yen per day to access the closest parking to the starting area. You would think that athletes would have a dedicated free parking area but no. The only free parking area was located at a good 20 minutes walk from the starting area (T1,T2). The whole thing was very inconvenient and came across as pure money grab.

7) AIRPORT LOCATION & TOLL GATE TO ACCESS THE AIRPORT ISLAND:
As most International  airport, the place was quite outside of the city and far from any touristic area.

As you can see on the map below, the airport is located on an island and the only way to access it is to pass through the freeway/bridge.

* Problem # 1: If you do not have a car or a bike bag to take your bike inside the train, you’re pretty much stuck in the Airport island as it is strictly forbidden to ride or walk over the bridge.

* Problem # 2: For the lucky ones who came by car, the down side was that, every time you crossed the freeway/bridge you were charged 350 Yen at the Toll Gate to cross the bridge. Considering the the starting line was located on one side of the bridge and the finish line on the other side, you can imagine how many trips you had to do and how much extra money you had to spend:

For example, if you were driving a car, this what your agenda looked like:

————————————————————————–

DAY BEFORE THE RACE:

– Cross the bridge to check-in Hotel (around the airport): 350 Yen
– Attend the briefing and registration (in the airport)
– Cross the bridge to check in the bike the night before the race at T1, T2 outside of the island/airport: 350 Yen
– Return to your Hotel in the airport zone: 350 Yen

RACE DAY:

– Get to the race start: Cross the bridge again: 350 Yen
– Park in the athlete parking area and pay another: 1000 Yen for the day
– After the race, since the finish line is on the other side of the bridge (back on the island), you’re forced to pay again another 2,000 yen to get in the Athlete shuttle bus to get back to the T1, T2 area to pick back your gear/bike and car at the end of the race.
– Once you have picked up all your gear and car, you can now go back to your hotel and pay again another 350 Yen passing the bridge toll gate.

Total extra cost in 2 days: 4,750 Yen just go back and forth from the registration area, starting line and finish line. And that’s not including possible trips to the city if you had time to visit any touristic spots in the city before or after the race….

————————————————————————–

8 ) THE RACE:
Swim:
– No large bouey along the swim course which made it really hard for racers to swim in the right direction and know where to aim.
– No mat on the ground from the swim finish to the bike transition area – great to keep your feet all sandy just before putting on your bike shoes
– No showers available at the end of the swim in T1 – which was the best way to keep all the salt in your pants before riding a 90km bike ride and making sure you suffer from some serious chaffing. It’s only the day after the race that I realized some showers were there but you had to step outside of your way to get to them.

Bike:
– Dangerous course with sharp turns
– The first and last 7 kilometers of the course were on very bad, narrow and bumpy road surface
– The only 2 aid stations only offered gels and pet water bottles (no bike bottles). Each time you stopped at the aid station, if you wanted to make sure to get enough water, you had to stop completely, open the pet bottles that were given to you, open your bike bottles and fill them up one by one. Only once that was done, you could start biking again.
– Beside that, the rest of the bike course was challenging but beautiful with pleasant with rolling hills.
– An impressive 1200 volunteers: were spread all along both the bike and run course: At first I was wondering what was the point of having so many runners but, soon, I came to realized that this was probably because there was no time checking mat all along both courses. The only way to make sure that all racers were passing at each loop and turn was to spread 1,200 people along the course – not to actually support us but more to check on us and compensate for the lack of equipment they had for this race.

Run:
Comparatively, the run was well organized with lots of water spots offering cold water, wet sponges to keep cool and protect you from the heat. Great supporters and volunteers.

9) NO MEDALS FOR FINISHERS:
I think that this was the most shocking thing of the entire week-end. No Ironman 70.3 finishers even got himself/herself a medal in commemoration for this event. In all the Ironman events I have had the pleasure to participate until now, NEVER, I have not received a Finisher’s medal. This was truly disappointing.

One question remains…: “But where did all the registration and sponsorship money go”?

10) THE FINISH LINE LOCATION:
The finish line area was very isolated, far from the airport, far from any public transportation and offered no tent or shadow for athletes to rest after the race. Absolutely nothing was available or offered for families of racers (No drinks, food, tables or even chairs). Under a cooking sun and over 30 degrees C temperature, supporting families suffered from the heat just as much as racers. No parasol, no playing area for kids, no shadow, nothing but just concrete. The only tents available were only for race staff.

Water was only offered to racers and spectators were lucky if they had bought their own drinks before hand. Since the airport was too far, a quick coffee break in the cool airport was not even an option as it would have taken too much time for them to return to the finish line and they might have missed the arrival of their friend/family member.

Families with babies trying to find some shadow to hide from the sun while waiting for athletes

Overall, Nagoya Ironman 70.3 was extremely disappointing. Although I can only understand and respect the work involved to coordinate such kind of large event, I still think this event could have been a lot better if properly organized. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will participate next year as I think participating in the Sado Island Astroman would be a much more gratifying experience for both athletes and family supporters. One thing is for sure, if I change my mind and choose to attend again next year, my family will not be back – that’s for sure.

A disappointed participant

Ironman Japan 70.3 Boat Race Centrair Tokoname Triathlon

Bevan Colless Race Report:

I think that is the official name for this race, but for me it can be summed up in three letters – NVG. Not Very Good. My performance, the race organisation, the course, the expense – all Not Very Good. After being a bit scathing of IMUK and Watarase races recently I’m wondering if I’m too harsh/negative on some of these races but I prefer to think I’m a realist. It’s an interesting dilemma – we all want to be ‘positive people/glass half full and all that’ but if something’s not good, why say that it is? Then you’ve got no credibility when you actually rate something highly but you think everything’s great. As I didn’t do so well in IMUK or Japan 70.3 I was wondering if my opinion on races is tainted by my own performance but I probably did my best ever all-round race in Watarse this year and still rate it the worst triathlon I’ve ever done so I hope my opinion has still has got some cred.

This was the first ever ‘official’ half Ironman (70.3if you must) in Japan. We had hoped this race was going to come to Lake Toya near Niseko, but the local cops scuppered that idea. It’s very difficult to get roads to ride bikes on in Japan, as the key to society here is social harmony, and races upset this. This race was in Nagoya – a place I didn’t know much about except they like pork cutlet soaked in miso sauce and the headquarters of Toyota are here – it’s sometimes called “Toyota Town”. The race web site had some graphic of a plane and said the expo was in the airport, so I had visions of some unused airport terminal and a runway we could hammer at 45km/h on. I wasn’t the only one, but unfortunately not so much. The race sold out in about 6 hours to general entries and if you wanted to enter after that you had to book through the JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) but this had to include flights. As we thought we’d be coming from Hokkaido this was no problem for us, but Ness had to go back to Aus for dental work and I had to come back to Tokyo to cover staff shortage at Tokyo Physio, so there was no point flying. When they told me the flights were going to cost 78,000yen ($1,000) I dropped out of the race. They told me the fee we had paid for the entry (40,000 yen each for me and Vanessa – about the most expensive race I’ve ever done was non-refundable). Still no way I was going to pay that for the flights to a “C” race – I was still out.

About 5 days before the race friends started telling me my name was still down on the official start list so I thought maybe I could make a cheeky appearance and travel by train –which I did. When I went to register they had a “cancelled” next to my name but I played the dumb gaijin (foreigner) and they gave me the timing chip and race numbers.
The race-briefing they made such a big deal of attending was a bit of a joke. Whit Raymond ran it, and though I think he’s the best announcer in the business he is not a race organiser and knew nothing about this race. It was as if they grabbed him from the plane and threw him in front of us. ‘I think the swim course is shaped like this and we’re going anti-clockwise not clockwise’ – scrawls on the board. We don’t have any big buoys so we’ve got some sailboats at the turning points to sight/as buoy. ‘The start of the bike is rough I hear be safe’. The question time: “Is the run course two laps or one it’s not clear on the map?”. ‘Umm not sure just follow people, next question’. “Is the bike hilly or windy?”. ‘It might be not really sure’….and on it went until poor ol’ Whit wound it up mid sentence before anyone could ask anymore questions. The whole atmosphere of the meeting was farcical with an underlining ‘isn’t this a bit ridiculous’ in everything he said. The kicker was that there was only one aid station on the bike and they would give you PET bottles of water only, not in a bidon (normal cycling bottle). For 40,000yen entry this pissed me and many other people off, but was typical for triathlons in Japan at least they weren’t serving water in cups on the bike like they sometimes do here. Transport to the start was to cost 2,000yen and the pre-race meal was convenience store style sandwiches – we were wondering where our 40,000yen went to? I thought this race being an official M-Dot race might be a level up on the typical races, but it was becoming apparent it was just the same, just with a triple priced entry fee that was flowing back to WTC, the police and the race organisers.

Swim 32minutes
I started in the second wave of the swim – 5 minutes after the first wave (pros and under 35’s). Not a big fan of the age divided wave starts, nd the faster under 35 Agers got to swim and ride with the slower pros which is an advantage, but there you go. I lined up at the swim start next to Jenson Button who was doing the swim and bike legs with another mate doing the run. He’s a pretty similar level to me so I was disappointed not to race him overall (beat him off the bike and his relay team by a few minutes, but he’s a 37:xx oly distance runner – so it would have been interesting!

I started the swim really well and after 300m was in front of our wave, but due to the race briefing I was navigating to the boat as I thought we had to go around it. Turns out it was only for sighting and was 100m from the buoy so I had to change course and had lead my merry crew of followers down the wrong path too – sorry guys! Navigating was tough with no sighting buoys so just kept heading in the general direction trying to visualise Whit’s rough sketch on the whiteboard that looked like a rectangular lollipop. After the last buoy I thought I had to pass one more buoy (at the T of the lollipop) before heading in, but couldn’t see the buoy and people around me where heading into shore (actually swimming in all directions). After stopping and swimming breaststroke several times to look for the buoy and decide what to do, I decided to head into shore and hope I was not DQ’d by a paddle boarder. I think everyone did the same. Enjoyed swimming in the ocean for a change but aside from that – shitty swim. They landed us about 300m from T1, so there was a looong run to get to the bikes – hate that after a swim – the heart-rate skyrockets.

Bike 2.48
I had a host of mechanical issues recently and got my bike back from the mechanic at the race (my mechanic was the official mechanic at the race). I took it for a ride and it felt so weird I returned it to him telling him it was dangerous. No – I found out – turns out I’d been riding it with a sloppy head set/steering for a long time and he had fixed it. My ‘weird’ was actually normal. He fixed my warped disc that had been rubbing and convinced me to race with it despite me carrying a more friendly road wheel from Tokyo – this was a mistake due to the hilly, tight and rough nature of the course but I didn’t want to let him down. Coach Woody had told me to ride the first 30kms moderate to hard, and then hammer the last 60kms as fast as I possibly could. I was salivating at the prospect a first to have a licence to smash it! Unfortunately from my first pedal stroke I knew my legs were not at their best today. And further evidence to my theory pretty much everyone races their bike leg as fast as they can anyway, they just kid themselves they are holding back. I’m not sure why my biking is inconsistent – some days I bike like a rock star some days like a chump. Today I was a chump.After my pre-race Facebook proclamations and a subsequent slow bike time I’ve since received letters of condolences from Tobjorn Sindballe, Bjorn Anderson and Chris Lieto and they asked me to return my “Uber-Biker-Blow-Up-On-The-Run’ membership card to them – fair enough, will do guys, I’m all talk.

Despite being told it was 3kms – the first and last 12 kilometres were done on the horrible beachfront elevated pathways / esplanades town planners in Japan decided were a good idea some time ago. I’d ridden on these on Tour De Chiba social rides before, but it was a bit embarrassing to have to ride on them in an ‘international’ race. The concrete was about 2metres wide and had many large cracks that had separated. Lots of sharp turns and short rises made this area ‘interesting’. A French pro who had travelled for the race afterwards was telling me how disappointed he was in the race and said “I would not even take my mountain bike to these placez”….but maybe we triathletes are just too precious?
The ride had many very sharp tight turns and over 100metres of climbing – I was very happy I had my bike serviced before this race or I would have been into some barriers for sure. The one (in)famous Aid Station was classic Japan. On the first loop I missed it completely (I never thought you could ‘miss’ an aid station on the bike but I did – went straight by not even knowing it was there…). You had to leave the course completely, go into a parking lot and stop to receive some of the PET water bottles. It was the sort of aid station/lunch spot you get on social rides and cringe worthy for an M-dot race. To make matters worse the ride on the cracked footpaths saw maybe 50% of athletes have water bottles eject; so there was this double whammy of thirsty riders and this crappy aid station. D’oh. I did the whole ride by myself and was bored/frustrated throughout. Legs just weren’t co-operating at all.

Run 1.42
The run course was pretty good, but a few too many U turns. The Japanese love to run you up and down dead ends on run courses to make the most of space. The support from volunteers throughout the race was a highlight. There were 1,200 of them on the course (most without much to do except say “Gambatte” and “Fighto”), but they did so with gusto and it was well received. I’ve always been a fan of wetting myself when hot (It was 32 degrees), so love the hoses and sponges. One trio (I called them the Toyota family) – seeing this was Toyota town…were out with the daughter holding a hose and Mum and Dad a big bucket staggered one after the other on the pathway. I agreed to the hose first then came to Mum and Dad and said yes to the bucket – WHAM – got knocked by a full bucket of water right in the face/body from Mum and as I was reeling from that – WHAM – Dad hit me with the same full bucket of water – “Oh What a Feeling……”…..sorry outdated gag I know. My poor ‘water resistant’ Garmin 305 got a big drop in its screen after that….hmmm. Hopefully it comes good. Anyway struggled through the run without feeling too bad – the half IM is so much easier mentally than the full. Time was a bit shite though – glad it was over as usual and managed to finish pretty strongly out-sprinting a guy in the last km.
Overall the event was NVG and speaking and eavesdropping on the pros that had travelled here to do the race I was pretty embarrassed for Japan. Don’t get me wrong I love Japan and there are so many good things about living here, but in many ways they just don’t understand what international Western standards are and how to meet them. As I mostly live in Niseko – a town that was built on foreigners providing services for international standards that the Japanese couldn’t, it’s something I’m acutely aware of. I really want people to come to Japan for a holiday, and international tourism is probably Japan’s only way out if it’s economic malaise but most of the locals have no idea what foreigners want – a bit like me in my teens and early twenties trying to understand what women want – no idea! Here’s your $150 a night room sir: a smoke stained tiny tatami mat space and for furniture you get a coffee table and a 20 year old TV in the corner. I always thought some animals get more furniture than the humans here….. “But don’t worry for entertainment we have a nice bath at the end of the hall”. It won’t cut it in an international market just like this race won’t either. Fortunately for them’ the race organisers are not aiming at an international market and I’m sure it will sell out just as fast next year….but you won’t see the name Colless on the starter’s list.

Anyway, next weekend I’ve got Murakami Olympic distance, which is a much better event and race – so really looking forward to that – a chance to get some redemption and a decent result on the board too maybe.

Bevan Colless Race Reports

Baring It All: The Barefoot Running Trend

Have you seen the alien shoes spotted on celebrities recently? Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves wear them to work out, actor Channing Tatum runs in them, and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George sports them for beach football.

Just what are these funky, rubber glove toe socks? They’re Vibram FiveFingers—shoes that are meant to mimic the experience of running without shoes, yet protect your feet from dirt and debris. Why would people want to run without their cushy trainers? Running without shoes can strengthen your feet, ankles, and lower legs and improve balance. Some say modern running shoes are to blame for injuries. And one man wrote an immensely popular book that concluded as much.

Vibram started making the five-toed shoes in 2006, but the trend really picked up steam last year, following the publication of Christopher McDougall’s book “Born to Run.”  The book describes how Mexico’s Tarahumara Indians have become some of the greatest long-distance runners in the world despite running barefoot or in sandals fashioned from tire rubber. McDougall chronicles an ultramarathon race in Mexico’s Copper Canyons attended by a group of Americans including “Barefoot Ted” McDonald, who either ran sans shoes or in FiveFingers, in case of sharp rocks. The author argues that we’d be better off without the souped-up shoes marketed to us by giants like Nike and Adidas, which he says have done nothing to prevent injuries. The book made “The New York Times” bestseller list, and now TMZ is photographing celebrities in their very own lizard shoes.

According to CNN, the FiveFingers have become so popular that the company is having a hard time keeping them in stock—and stopping counterfeiters from selling knock-offs online.

Some barefoot devotees simply like the sensation of feeling the surface they’re running on while others swear up and down that ditching traditional running shoes has helped them prevent injuries. While there’s no scientific evidence to support the latter claim, we do know that running barefoot or in barefoot-style shoes like the FiveFingers or Nike Free changes one’s running mechanics. When runners aren’t wearing shoes with built-up soles, they tend to land in the middle or toward the front of their feet rather than on their heel and researchers believe that such midfoot or forefoot striking results in less impact on the body. But as Susan Paul, M.S., exercise physiologist and program director for the Orlando Track Shack Foundation says, “To date, there are no studies indicating that running shoes contribute to injury or, conversely, that barefoot running reduces injury or makes you run faster.”

If you’re thinking about shedding your shoes, consider these guidelines:

1. Barefoot training is not for people who are just starting to run or returning from a long layoff—it’s something to slowly incorporate into an existing running regimen.
2. If you have persistent or serious foot problems, consult your podiatrist first.
3. Ease in slowly. Paul advises starting with a few minutes on a flat, relatively forgiving surface once a week. Grassy fields, smooth roads, and soft trails qualify. Running on sand might be tempting, but barefooting newbies should stick to wet sand at first as the unstable soft stuff puts a lot of torque on your joints and is much harder to run on.
4. Listen to your body. “Barefoot Ken Bob” Saxton, founder of runningbarefoot.org and finisher of more than 70 barefoot marathons, says, “Luckily, your feet are sensitive, which is a good thing. Listen to them and they’ll keep you from doing something stupid.”

Has anyone run barefoot or in minimalist shoes like Vibrams? What did you think? If not, would you ever try it? Why or why not?

by Susan Rinkunas, Runner’s World

Ceepo Katana

Kevin Mackinnon has a first look at the Ceepo Katana

As the official bike of Ironman, we’re seeing more and more Ceepo frames in Ironman transition areas. It didn’t take long for me to realize why after I got on the Katana, a bike that manages to mix comfort and aerodynamics in spectacular fashion.

First things first, though – if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like to be bombarded with questions when you’re moving around a race site, the Katana is definitely not the bike for you. Armed with a Katana frame specced with Shimano’s amazing Di2 gruppo (more on that here on Ironman.com next week), I first found out that this bike was going to garner some attention at Ironman Malaysia last February. Just walking through the lobby of the host hotel turned into a 10-minute venture as athletes stopped to look at the bike and ask me questions.

What initially strikes people when they see the Katana is the down tube, which is razor thin and extremely deep (called a high aspect ratio in technical jargon) – which inevitably leads to comments like the one I’ve heard more than a few times: “you could cut through a steak with that frame.” That high aspect ratio means the bike isn’t legal for UCI races, but unless you’re planning on hitting the Tour de France or any other major stage races next year, that’s probably not going to be a worry.

We all know, though, that looks don’t mean a thing (yeah, right!) – what we all really care about is performance. The bottom line there is simple: the Katana’s performance is equal to its looks. Whether you’re down in the aero position pounding along flat or rolling terrain, or taking on some steeper, more challenging climbs, you’ll be equally as happy with the way the Katana rides. That’s probably because of the 40T high modulus hand laid carbon frame and the full carbon fork that manages to smooth out road shock while also providing outstanding power transfer from the pedals to the drive train. The Ceepo engineers have also managed to balance the frame geometry so that it remains very stable (and comfortable) for long rides down on the drops, but remains responsive enough to be equally at home on more technical rides.

Aerodynamics are enhanced by, of course, that huge down tube (the most aero in the industry, according to the folks at Ceepo), the full aero seat post and the rear brake which is hidden behind the bottom bracket. (One drawback with the Katana is that it, like all bikes with a similarly hidden rear brake, can be a pain when you need to adjust the rear brake.)Suffice it to say, the Katana has been a real hit – both with the people who keep checking it out and with the man who’s had the chance to put it through its paces.

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll expand on our look at the Katana – our test ride has seen the bike take on everything from the rougher roads in New Zealand to the wind-swept Ironman Lanzarote course to some high speed descents and lung-busting climbs in the French Alps.

Article provided by www.ironman.com also available here

For more information on Ceepo Bikes: www.ceepo.com

General Entry Opens: Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship

General Entries are now availalbe for Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship in Laguna Phuket

General registration is now available for the 2010 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, being held at the Laguna Phuket Resort in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010.

With a well-known venue, host and production team, the championship has its roots in the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, one of the most popular destination races on the circuit. Over the years, this race has attracted many of the sport’s top performers including Mark Allen, Paula Newby-Fraser, Craig Alexander and Samantha McGlone, who have routinely listed Laguna Phuket as a favorite race due to its course (already used venue), organization and overall tourism experience.

The Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship will incorporate the Laguna Phuket Triathlon’s trademark swim comprised of two bodies of water including a section in the Andaman Sea, a beach run and a section in a lagoon. The bike course will be challenging and scenic with hilly sections and winding rural roads through rubber plantations and villages. The two-loop flat run, around the spectacular Laguna Phuket Resort, will include road, path and grass golf-course sections.

Entries are open to athletes around the world. There are no qualification requirements to enter the race’s Open Division. Competitors wishing to race for Asia-Pacific Championship titles, age group awards and Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 qualifying slots may easily transfer their entries (free of charge) to the Championship Division by finishing in the top 50 percent of their age-group at any 2010 Ironman 70.3 race worldwide.

Entry is available through the official event website, with Open Division entry limited to 600 athletes/spots. Once Open entries are closed, entries will be available to those winning their age group at any global Ironman 70.3 event. Additionally, competitors finishing insecond to fifth places in their age group at any Ironman 70.3 event worldwide may enter the race as a “wild card” entrant (space permitting).

A Championship Division for relay teams is also available, through qualification at Asia-Pacific Ironman 70.3 events only.

The Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship event will offer a US $60,000 professional prize purse as well as qualifying slots for age group winners and the top 10 professional athletes to the 2011 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3.

Original post provided by http://ironman.com

Ironman Japan hits record entry

Event on Goto Island enjoys record 1,250 entries

Entries to the tenth anniversary Ironman Japan to be held on Goto Island June 13 has been closed by the race organizers. With a record of over 1,250 entries the race registration has closed seven weeks early for the first time in the race’s 10 year history. Race Director Micky Yamamoto is excited about this years race: “We have been working hard to provide a great racing experience for all the athletes and the record entry for this year is very encouraging. We will be making some exciting changes to the race in 2010 which will we believe add to the race experience for all competitors.”

Professional athletes wishing to race in Ironman Japan should contact World Triathlon Corporation as soon as possible to secure entry.

Original post provided by http://ironman.com