Run Your Story

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Review: Run the New Wave

Dave McDonald — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 02:21:11 +0000

I had never given much attention to Mizuno’s offering of running shoes. They seemed to be the safe choice, an everyday shoe with no frills. However, my perspective shifted in 2023 with the introduction of the Wave Rebellion Pro. Its innovative design, featuring an almost non-existent heel, instantly caught my attention. And while I have not been brave enough to step into the Pro I was thrilled to see that the second version of its training counterpart, the Wave Rebellion Flash 2, would take inspiration from the unique design.

The all new Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is Mizuno’s latest addition to the realm of super trainers. Characterized by high stack premium foams, a stabilizing plate, and built-up uppers, super trainers are designed to be training companions of race day super shoes. And while the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 possesses many qualities of it’s big brother, the Wave Rebellion Pro 2, does it put the ‘super’ in super trainer? It has been my mission to find out!

SPECS

SURFACE: Road

CATEGORY: Uptempo/Race Day

FIT: True to Size

WHAT'S NEW

Completely redesigned
Smooth Speed Assist geometry
Top midsole layer of Enerzy Lite +
Stiffer plate in the midsole
G3 rubber outsole

COMPARABLE SHOES

UPPER

The Wave Rebellion Flash 2 boasts a lightweight and breathable engineered mesh upper. The heel counter strikes a balance, offering firm support while remaining lightweight. While I initially encountered some heel slippage during my run, I found that using a runner’s knot helped resolve the issue. For added security, the upper incorporates an internal support strap along the midfoot. Despite the tongue not being fully gusseted, its stability is ensured by a triple lace loop, critical for a shoe intended for uptempo workouts or race day.

MIDSOLE

The midsole of the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 showcases a dual-layered foam construction. Up top lies Mizuno’s pebax-infused foam, Enerzy Lite+, identical to that of the Wave Rebellion Pro 2. Below it rests the Enerzy foam, touted by Mizuno for its enhanced versatility while maintaining a balance of softness and resilience. Nestled between these layers is a glass fiber-infused plate, adding stiffness and stability to the otherwise plush foam. Borrowing from its race day counterpart, the Flash 2 possesses the distinctive Smooth Speed Assist geometry, encouraging a midfoot strike and smooth transitions.

MIDSOLE

OUTSOLE

Rounding out the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is the lightweight and durable (thus far) G3 rubber outsole. While performing adequately in dry conditions, I did encounter some slippage when running on wet surfaces. Although not to the extent of causing a fear of falling, it was nonetheless an annoyance that could ruin a run. A cutout in the center of the outsole showcases the fiber glass plate.

PROS

CONS

IS THIS SHOE FOR YOU?

The Wave Rebellion Flash 2 deserves a look by anyone searching for a premium uptempo shoe or even a race day option for those adverse to a carbon plate. While it may not be ideal for heel strikers, the Smooth Speed Assist design caters well to midfoot strikers. With its durable construction, this shoe is designed to endure numerous workouts or races, making it a reliable choice for many runners.

WRAP UP

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 introduces significant updates, including a complete redesign and the incorporation of Smooth Speed Assist geometry, Enerzy Lite + foam, and a stiffer plate in the midsole. The engineered mesh upper strikes a balance between lightweight breathability and firm support, though some initial heel slippage was experienced. The dual-layered foam construction with a glass fiber-infused plate provides stability and aids in reducing muscle fatigue during workouts and races. While the G3 rubber outsole offers durability, some runners may experience slippage on wet surfaces. The Flash 2 is a compelling option for those seeking a premium uptempo or race day shoe, particularly for midfoot strikers looking for reliable performance and durability.

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is available now for order by Run N Tri Mobile. Aaron and staff provide a premier fitting process that includes proper measurement of the length and width of your feet, arch, and leg axis. A gait analysis is performed to identify pronation or lack thereof and pressure points. In addition, an interview is conducted to determine the best type of shoe for your needs and goals.

So stop by Run N Tri Mobile so they can put you in the latest offering from Mizuno or one of the nine other brands carried in the shop.

Brooks Caldera 7 Review: Ultra Problems Require Ultra Solutions

Dave McDonald — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:49:47 +0000

Have you ever dedicated weeks to training, only to have your race day derailed by unforeseen circumstances? Unfortunately, that’s the scenario I found myself in, struck down by a stomach bug just 36 hours before the start of the Mississippi 50K Trail Run.

Despite pushing myself to the limit, I could only manage to reach the 20K mark. This blog was to be a celebration of both the race and the shoe that got me through it, the Brooks Caldera 7. And though I will not be singing praises of my effort, I can discuss the shoe that helped me reach 20K and all the training miles leading up.

The Brooks Caldera 7 is a high cushioned, ultra distance trail shoe. Described by Brooks as ‘ultra-cushioned for ultra-adventure’ the Caldera 7 is designed to tackle any terrain thrown at it while providing comfort over 10s to 100s of miles in one outing.

Does the Caldera 7 live up to its moniker? After running over roots, rocks, through mud, and wading knee high creeks I believe I’ve found the answer.

SPECS

SURFACE: TRAIL

CATEGORY: CUSHIONED TRAIL

FIT: TRU TO SIZE

WHAT's NEW

Carbon Neutral Certified
Improved Lug Geometry
TPEE Material Upper
Half Ounce Drop in Weight

COMPARABLE SHOES

UPPER

The Caldera 7 features a lightweight TPEE air mesh upper. Made up of 42.1% recyclable materials, the shoe is certified carbon neutral. The ankle collar and heel are highly cushioned providing long term comfort. The upper has a secure fit thanks partially to its fully gusseted tongue. The updated upper drains well and dries quickly.

MIDSOLE

We see Brooks’s supercritical DNA LOFT v3 foam for a second time on the blog this year in the Brooks Caldera 7. The EVA foam with nitrogen injection results in a highly cushioned feel across most terrains. The raised midsole sides helps toenvelops the foot adding stability and security to your runs.

MIDSOLE

OUTSOLE

With improvement in the geometry of the 4mm lugs, the outsole brings excellent traction on smooth to semi technical terrain. The sticky TrailTak Green outsole has a split base, mimicking the hooves of a mountain goat, adding flex to the shoe on uneven terrains.

PROS

One of more comfortable trail shoes I have worn due to the V3 foam and air mesh upper.
After 20K on muddy, wet trails the upper drained well though I initially had doubts.
Over roots, rocks, pinestraw, and slick clay the TrailTak outsole kept me on my feet.
I am prone to rolled ankles and the raised sides of the midsole foam kept me stable and upright.
As shoe prices continue to rise, at $150 you are getting a lot of shoe for the price point.

CONS

Though wider than the previous model, the toe box feels narrow.
There is a lot of shoe underfoot. While it helps with stability and comfort, the shoe becomes ‘blockish’ when picking up the pace.
Currently only 2 colorways available. Brooks is known for offering their road shoes in a variety of colors so it would be nice to see in their trail line as well.

IS THIS SHOE FOR YOU?

The Brooks Caldera 7 is a go-to for anyone looking for a shoe that provides continued comfort on long runs. The specs make it a sufficient choice for an all around trail shoe. Though, those looking to podium on race day, would be better suited to the Brooks Catamount 3. I do a decent amount of hiking during my trail runs and found the Caldera worked well. Possibly could make a versatile thru hike shoe.

WRAP UP

A highly cushioned, durable trail shoe, the Brooks Caldera 7 benefits from an improved lug geometry, TPEE air mesh upper, and DNA Loft V3 midsole. Built for comfort over miles and miles of trails, those looking for a more agile race day shoe may want to look elsewhere in the Brooks lineup. The Caldera works best for easier paced efforts, long days on the trails, and even an occasional hike.

The Brooks Caldera 7 is now available to order by Run N Tri Mobile. Aaron and staff provide a premier fitting process that includes proper measurement of the length and width of your feet, arch, and leg axis. A gait analysis is performed to identify pronation or lack thereof and pressure points. In addition, an interview is conducted to determine the best type of shoe for your needs and goals.

So stop by Run N Tri Mobile so they can put you in the latest trail offering from Brooks or one of the nine other brands carried in the shop.

Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 5 Review: ‘Mobile! Agile! Hos…Versatile!’

Dave McDonald — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 14:46:20 +0000

Coach Boone shouts, ‘What are you?’ The team responds, ‘Mobile, Agile, Hostile!’

Growing up playing football, that scene from Remember the Titans is forever etched in my mind. As I read through the Topo Athletic media regarding their Fli-Lyte 5, the word ‘’versatile’ appeared several times. Though not a direct adjective from the film, I was immediately transported back to the scene. While the Fli-Lyte 5 may not be ‘hostile’, it is primed to be versatile.

The Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 5 is a light weight, moderately cushioned daily trainer. Highlighted for its versatility, Topo Athletic released a shoe they believe can take you from everyday runs to your gym workouts. But does the Fli-Lyte 5 live up to the billing? After 100 miles in them, let’s see how they stack up!

SPECS

Surface: Road

Category: Neutral Daily Trainer

Fit: True to Size

WHat's NEW

Redesigned mesh upper
Reduced weight
ZipFoam midsole
Updated rubber outsole
Improved rocker shape geometry

COMPARABLE SHOES

Altra Escalante 3
Brooks Launch 10
Hoka Solimar
Saucony Kinvara 13 (redesigned for version 14)

UPPER

The breathable mesh upper of the Fli-Lyte 5 has a ‘foot shape’ toe box allowing the toes to splay naturally for increased comfort and stability. Though the tongue is not gusseted, tongue stays are located on each side to keep it in place above the foot.

MIDSOLE

Topo Athletic utilizes its ZipFoam in the Fli-Lyte 5. A proprietary blend of EVA and TPU, the foam is designed to provide both cushion and responsiveness to the shoe while cutting down on overall weight.

The stack height (23mm/20mm) and drop (3mm) remain the same as the previous model. An improved rocker shape geometry for the 5 has been implemented to promote a smooth transition.

OUTSOLE

The outsole is all new for the Fli-Lyte 5. The 2023 version brings more rubber coverage in the heel but also keeps the rubber thin to provide sufficient ground feel. A redesigned rubber configuration in the forefoot and the addition of center lugging brings increased traction for adverse conditions.

PROs

At $125, the Fli-Lyte is one of lower priced shoes offered.
First time I have seen ‘tongue stays’ and they work to perfection.
ZipFoam is responsive and resilient, particularly at uptempo paces.
While the thin rubber could lead to lack of durability, it offers just the right amount of ground feel.
One of the lighter weight daily trainers on the market.
The no fuss upper all but disappears on your foot.

CONS

IS THIS SHOE FOR YOU?

The Fli-Lyte 5 is a great choice for those looking for a lower stack shoe that can take you from a daily run to uptempo sessions. Scared of going full zero drop but want a ‘natural’ running experience, then it is worth checking out. If you loved the Kinvara prior to the 14th iteration this could be the next shoe for you. A versatile shoe, the Fli-Lyte 5 would work well in the gym in addition to the road.

WRAP UP

A lightweight running shoe with an ‘old school’ feel, the Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 5 features substantial updates from the previous model. It does well at a variety of runs but there are better options available for longer efforts. The ‘foot shape’ toe box with a low drop midsole offers a great first experience for anyone wanting to work in some variety to their shoe rotation or transition to zero drop shoes.

The Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 5 is available now at Run N Tri Mobile. Aaron and staff provide a premier fitting process that includes proper measurement of the length and width of your feet, arch, and leg axis. A gait analysis is performed to identify pronation or lack thereof and pressure points. In addition, an interview is conducted to determine the best type of shoe for your needs and goals.

So stop by Run N Tri Mobile so they can put you in the latest light weight offering from Topo Athletic or one of the nine other brands carried in the shop.

Brooks Glycerin 21 Review: A ‘Do it Most’ Shoe

Dave McDonald — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 13:33:53 +0000

They say ‘nothing new on race day’…

I have always subscribed to that theory until I was able to get my feet in the new Brooks Glycerin 21.

My risk paid off as I rounded the warning track of MGM Park to the finish line for a new marathon PR and feet that did not hate me. But does one day of fortune equal a home run for arguably the running community’s most popular shoe brand? Let’s find out!

The Glycerin is Brooks’s premium max cushioned daily trainer.

The new Glycerin 21 comes in 4 offerings: Glycerin 21, Glycerin 21 GTS, Glycerin 21 StealthFit, and Glycerin 21 StealthFit GTS. Brooks’ flat knit upper, Stealthfit, is designed to hug the foot. GTS stands for ‘go to support,’ and is the shoe’s stability version, with guide rails on both sides of the upper. I put just shy of 100 miles in the Glycerin 21 StealthFit.

Specs (Glycerin 21 Stealthfit)

Weight: W 8.3oz M 9.3 oz
Stack Height: 38mm/28mm
Drop: 10 mm
Surface: Road
Category: Neutral Daily Trainer
Fit: True to size
Price: $160

What’s New

Added 2mm foam
Updated ‘StealthFit’ one piece upper
Widened platform
More pronounced rocker
Decoupled outsole
‘RoadTack’ Rubber

Comparable Shoes

Upper

For 2023, the Glycerin 21 StealthFit received an updated flat knit upper. The one piece upper is designed to hug the foot like a sock, adding compression and the ability to move with your foot. The heel counter is flexible with added cushioning around the ankle and achilles. The tongue comes up higher on the foot than a traditional tongue with a loop for putting on the shoe. Brooks utilizes a flat shoe lace in an external lacing system.

MIDSOLE

The Glycerin 21’s midsole is made of Brooks’ proprietary DNA Loft foam, a combination of EVA foam, rubber, and air. The midsole benefits from the injection of nitrogen, resulting in the third version of the foam, DNA Loft V3. This will be the last year of the V3 foam with a new iteration coming the next model year. Aside from the Aurora BL, the Glycerin 21 is currently the only shoe in the Brooks lineup that uses DNA Loft V3 foam. An extra 2mm of stack height adds cushioning to an already well-cushioned shoe. An updated wider platform adds stability to the shoe.

MIDSOLE

OUTSOLE

The ‘RoadTack’ outsole, made of rubber and recycled silica, is new for the Glycerin 21. The introduction of recycled silica has helped reduce the overall weight of the shoe. The outsole is now decoupled allowing the foam to expand more freely below the foot.

PROS

Zone 2 effort runs were effortless in the Glycerin 21. The DNA Loft V3 foam hits that ‘Goldilocks’ combination of softness and firmness. The updated rockered geometry of the shoe provides smooth transitions through each stride.
I was able to get a good lockdown with the stealtfit upper. I found it comfortable throughout my marathon and attributed that to the ability of the knit to expand with my foot as I got further into the race.
The 'RoadTack' outsole is grippy and works well on wet surfaces. After nearly 100 miles, the outsole shows little wear.
This is a durable shoe. I expect most runners to get 500 miles out of the Glycerin 21 before the midsole bottoms out and the outsole wears away.

CONS

An uptempo shoe this is not. I struggled to get good leg turnover in this shoe at tempo and threshold efforts.
The light feel of the StealthFit upper combined with the chunky midsole felt awkward at 10k race pace and faster.
While there is added cushioning, the StealthFit upper does not give much support for the ankles. If you have weaker ankles then I would opt for the more traditional warp knit upper.

is this shoe for you?

The Glycerin 21 is a great choice for anyone looking for a max cushioned daily trainer or easy day, long run shoe that possesses a nice balance of cushioning and firmness in the midsole.

It also makes a great shoe for first time marathoners that plan on spending 4+ hours on their feet or a road ultra marathon. The 10 mm drop and stability provided by the wide base will cater to most runners.

WRAP UP

The Brooks Glycerin 21 is a max cushioned running shoe featuring the latest in DNA Loft technology and ‘RoadTack’ outsole. A ‘do it most’ shoe that struggled at uptempo efforts but excels at daily and easy paces, with the capability to go the distance on race day. The four versions offer a fit for a full array of runner preferences.

The Brooks Glycerin 21 and Glycerin 21 GTS will be available 1/10/24 at Run N Tri Mobile. Aaron and staff provide a premier fitting process that includes proper measurement of the length and width of your feet, arch, and leg axis. A gait analysis is performed to identify pronation or lack thereof and pressure points. In addition, an interview is conducted to determine the best type of shoe for your needs and goals.

So stop by Run N Tri Mobile so they can put you in the latest max cushioned offering from Brooks or one of the nine other brands carried in the shop.

What’s On Your Feet? Breaking Down Your Running Shoes

Dave McDonald — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 20:25:04 +0000

‘Want a strong, solid relationship that is willing to go the distance? Get to know your running shoes.’

– Dean Karnazes, Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss

Let's talk about Running Shoes

We all know what the best part of running is, right? Obviously, it is the shoes. Putting on that reliable pair of running shoes gives you the confidence boost you need to hit your goals on race day or training run. What, though, comprises your ideal pair of running shoes? Let’s break down the common terms used when discussing what’s on your feet.

UPPER

The layer covering the foot and attaching to the midsole is called the “upper” of the shoe. It is typically constructed with knit or mesh materials and synthetic overlays to provide structure.

The upper of a daily trainer or long run shoe will be more plush whereas a race day shoe’s upper tends to be minimal, reducing the overall weight of the shoe.

MIDSOLE

Joining the upper to the outsole is the midsole. The midsole is often made with various cushioning materials to absorb impact and provide a comfortable feel for the runner.

The most prevalent midsole materials are EVA, PEBA, TPU, and PU. In today’s running shoes, midsole construction is at the forefront of innovation.

INSOLE

The foam footbed within the shoe is referred to as the insole. The insole’s primary function is to provide cushioning, comfort, and support to the shoe.

Most running shoe insoles are removable, allowing for the use of a different insole adapted to a runner’s individual foot requirements.

HEEL COUNTER

Supporting the heel and assisting in preventing excessive movement is the heel counter. Heel counters vary in shape and size from a barely there thin material to ultra plush dovetail designs.

TOE BOX

Located in the front of your running shoe is the toe box that provides room for your toes. Popular brands, Altra and Topo, feature a ‘foot shape’ toe box, which allows the toes to fit naturally inside the shoe.

OUTSOLE

The part of your running shoes making contact with the ground is the outsole. It is typically made of rubber or exposed foam. The outsole will have varying tread patterns depending on the application. These patterns are designed to give better traction on various surfaces.

PRONATION/STABILITY

Pronation is the inward rolling of the foot upon impact to the ground.

A stability shoe utilizes different elements to prevent the over pronation of the foot providing a more stable ride. Whereas neutral running shoes allow the foot to move naturally.

STACK HEIGHT

The distance from top of the midsole to the ground defines stack height. Higher stack heights may provide more cushioning but can affect stability, while lower stack heights may offer a more responsive and stable ride.

The past ten years has seen a surge in max stack height shoes, some even being deemed illegal for official races. Low stack height running shoes are still popular today in some middle distance race day shoes and minimalist brands.

DROP

The difference in heel stack height and forefoot stack height is referred to as the drop. The heel-to-toe drop of running shoes varies to suit differing running preferences and styles.

Whether you’re a Strava local legend or just starting out, understanding the intricacies and functionality of your running shoes can enhance your overall running experience. From the cushioning in the midsole to the traction on the outsole, each piece plays a role in providing comfort, stability, and performance.

So now that you understand the makeup of your shoe, what’s next? In the coming year, I will be bringing you shoe reviews and news to best help you make informed decisions on your next purchase.

What is your

go-to shoe?

Which pair of running shoes do you have your eye on for 2024?

Any specific shoes you would like to see covered?

Let me know in the comments below!

Why you should run a Ragnar Trail

Allison Gaillard — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 01:15:14 +0000

Talk about an experience! Talk about being outside your comfort zone! Talk about digging deep and getting through the grind! Talk about a feeling of accomplishment when you cross the final leg!

Running the Ragnar Trail has been on my bucket list for several years and it is still surreal to know that I was able to accomplish this running goal thanks to Team Azalea Trail Maids. I am thankful for friends who had experience with Ragnar Atlanta Trail and were more than happy to help guide my millions of questions. I knew Ragnar Atlanta Trail would be a true test of grit on my part. And I am not going to lie, there were moments when I wanted to quit but I had a team waiting on me and I didn’t want to let them down.

The Setup...

Job well done Ragnar Atlanta Trail! From the Port-a-potties (which were well kept, restocked, & plenty of), to the tent city, it was so well organized. Our teammate Haley and her husband Jonathan had such a cool setup to cook and eat, it was top-notch! They picked a prime spot that was perfect for us to hang out and sleep when we could.

The Food...

While there were food trucks there, our campsite came fully furnished with the BEST team! Haley shopped and meal prepped for us, and Jonathan cooked some of the best camp food I have ever had! I mean it was soooooo good! Haley and Jonathan are avid campers and they have it down to a science.

They did an outstanding job on it all! They timed out the meals perfectly! They made our Ragnar experience one to remember, hands down! I highly encourage that you get you a Haley and a Jonathan on your team (just not ours. Haha!).

The Extra Stuff...

Again, Ragnar Atlanta Trail did a fantastic job with not only our swag bags which contained LMNT samples, protein bars, and more but early mornings there was coffee and hot chocolate. I was a fan of mixing both which made for a delish morning routine. There was plenty of water to refill our water bottles. Ragnar is cupless which is really cool! Every time we turned around there were different drinks for us to try as well. From coffee and hydration drinks to kabocha, we got to try it all. That was a surprise and very much appreciated.

The Loops...

Ok, so this was officially my first-ever trail race. So yay, a PR! There are three different loops: green, yellow, and red, also known in our camp as yellow one and yellow two. The green loop, while it was the shortest route, was still very challenging. The yellow and red loops were similar in length and elevation. The yellow loop was the most technical with plenty of twists, roots, and rocks, I was thankful for the trees that I could hold on to when I lost my footing. The red loop was a mixture of moon rock and the “Sound of Music” valley.

The covered bridge was my absolute favorite thing to run through in the open field. While I am already not the fastest runner and I wasn’t super proud of my times, I was happy that I finished each loop.

The Transition Area...

So, another great thing about Ragnar Trail is that you have this very cool transition area where you get to cheer on your teammate that is coming in and cheer on your teammate that is leaving. As a team you are given a race belt with your number and each time you come into transition, you give that race belt to the next team member that is leaving out on their loop. You also have three cool color-coded slap bracelets, yep, they are true slap bracelets! You wear the color bracelet depending on which loop you are about to run: green, yellow, or red. Then when you come in, the next team member to run that loop will get the bracelet. During the day this area was buzzing with excitement and cheers while late at night and early morning hours it was a little quieter.

Running At Night...

This is where you find your grit. While we had headlamps and lighted vests it was still an eerie experience running at night. I’ve only run once at night on the trails here in Mobile. The trails here in Mobile are not like the trails at Ragnar Atlanta, so let’s just add that fun fact too. The light from the headlamp and vest would reflect on the trail different images meaning that it would be harder to determine what something was in front of you, if it was a root or not.

The Red Loop...

The loop took my mental headspace to a different level. I remember I couldn’t stop crying when I got closer to the transition area. We all know that running is a more mental sport, we get in our own heads.

I had my moment when I was on the red loop when self-doubt made its way in. I was in the headspace of how I wasn’t a runner, I am not supposed to be here, what made me think I could do this?

This was harder for me because I am a community runner, meaning I run with friends, I enjoy crossing the finish line with friends and here I was out here alone until someone passed me and then I was reminded how much I was letting my team down. The tears really started when I saw one of my teammates, Khan, about half a mile from the transition area and she ran me in, and she ran me in with the most encouraging words. And then some of my teammates were there waiting for me and all I could do was embrace them.

With tears and hugs, a moment of accomplishment took over.

The Injuries...

You are on trails, like legit no turning back, rocks and roots everywhere kind of trails.

We had heard all weekend how other teams were getting injured. I had plenty of almost ‘ate-it’ moments out there, it was intense. On one of our teammates’ final loop, she had a bad fall not too far after she got onto the trail. But our teammate powered through, and we had no idea how banged up she really was until we saw her coming into the transition area.

The fact that our teammate kept going in spite of her fall, she was clearly the most determined out of us all!

The Final Finish Line...

It is highly encouraged that as your last runner comes in you meet them at the end of the transition area and you run in together. That is a really cool feeling, it is a pretty special moment!

You know the loops were hard for everyone, you know that you and your teammates had to run at least one loop at night, and you were tired. You are proud of your team and in that moment, you treasure it.

The Medal...

Job well done Ragnar! Job well done! You will just have to experience receiving your own hardware from Ragnar to truly understand!

Atlanta Ragnar Trail...

You will learn what you are made of out there and it is totally worth it!

If you have ever been on the fence about joining a Ragnar Trail Team, just sign up. Go outside your comfort zone, get out of your head, and go for the experience.

Have no expectations but just to be on the trail and finish one mile at a time, one loop at a time. Ragnar does a fantastic job of making sure that your team will finish in time. They are super flexible and understanding. So just focus on the Ragnar experience because that is what it is, a Team Trail experience!

Thank You Atlanta Ragnar Trail for an incredible experience and I cannot wait to go back!

The Big Walk

Allison Gaillard — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 03:13:38 +0000

Birthdays never really “done it” for me, even as a child. I suppose being so close after Christmas nearly a month before, my birthday always seemed rushed and chaotic. It always felt wrong receiving a gift “for being born”, especially as we just got gifts from Santa.

As I grew older and was out on my own, I did not want a big deal made of my birthdays. They come and go as quickly as the people saying “happy birthday” come and go.

Who really wants to get older after you hit twenty-one anyways?

For some odd reason when I was young, I just wanted to be twenty-one. I wasn’t really interested in the legal drinking age aspect of it, I guess I just wanted to have the “freedom” that I thought would come with turning twenty-one. Fun fact, my baseball number all through little league was “21” that’s how badly I wanted to be “grown”. Little did I realize that being grown comes with all kinds of things you never want, haha!

I’ve had birthdays also over the place. I turned 35 in a muddy power substation in Wiley, Texas. Until then all of my adult birthdays had been lame, or very uneventful. My buddy Leonard that I did line work with for many years saw to it that we celebrated.

Last year on my fourth-fifth birthday, I planned to do a 45k run, solo, on a 5k route I made up for myself. That route is now known to many as the TrailYeah 5k route. One lap in the Glen Sebastian trail and one loop around the swamp on the gravel track. A figure eight pattern where my wife and dog would be stationed, in case I needed anything.

I can remember as clearly as if it was yesterday coming out of the woods around mile twenty and Catherine asking me,

Catherine

Steve

Long story made short, I finished my 45k, and it was the first time I had ever run any distance over 13.1 miles. I felt alive, I felt proud, and with Catherine there I felt filled with love and gratitude. Sitting and watching a clown you married run loops around a park all day was probably a more daunting challenge than actually running the 45k. She is a trooper, a champion, and I am forever grateful for her.

Here we are a full year later and I throw out the idea of walking, with a pack on my back, a full 46 miles. I am not a guy that can contain things I’m excited about and I quickly told Catherine my plan. She was in! On board from the first mention of this wild idea.

She had reminded me of how bored I got on my run last year and promptly suggested mentioning it to friends. I smiled, and let out an exuberant “YES!”. How cool would it be for people to pop in and pop out as their schedules allowed! Catherine, you’re brilliant.

We both wear Garmin watches, as many runners, walkers, hikers, cyclists, and swimmers do in our community. Garmin has a “live tracking” feature that allows a selected group of people to see your exact whereabouts and other data like pace, heart rate, and cadence.

I built an event page on Facebook, throwing the idea out and I’ll be dang, people were in! Awe man, I was getting fired up! I was going to spend the day, “freely” roaming around the county an city of Mobile. The little kid in me loves this kind of stuff. I got busy building a route that would accommodate my lofty goal.

The plan was to start in our neighborhood as a family, and end in our neighborhood as a family. We did just that. We walked the first 3.3 miles, I kissed Catherine goodbye, and I was on my way. At mile 7 Bradly met me at Cottage Hill Park. He had come to walk before work. If you know Bradly you know he’s a ball of positivity and energy wrapped in a runners body. Meeting up with him meant I didn’t need a cup of coffee quite yet. He walked about 2 miles with me then went to work…

The next walker up to bat was big Dave. Dave is quite a guy. He has run some miles in his life, including a few trail ultras. Even trained for a race in his cul-de-sac, who does this?!? He’s no stranger to a long day on his feet. Dave caught up with me about mile 10.5 and walked with me until roughly mile 13.3. We talked about so much in that short time frame. I say short because he pushed my pace as we talked we even missed a turn. At the corner of McGregor and Old Shell, we split ways, and he continued his training run. He’s doing the MS50 mile race too.

My next stop was Carpe Diem where I met up with Emily and Crystal. This would also be my first stop for food. Carpe Diem has some lovely muffins and on this day, the apple pie muffin made the cut. That warm muffin and a small americano with 2 shots kept my hands warm while walking with these two ladies warmed my spirit.

As we walked through the campus of Spring Hill College, I mentioned that I just didn’t think I could feel more boojie. My pinky was definitely out! Haha!

Emily is a great friend and running buddy, she is always down to challenge you, push you, and never let you forget that she can run faster than me. We have a very fun back-and-forth competitive spirit. I like to think we push each other and keep each other honest and motivated.

Crystal is a new friend that I met through Catherine. They were in the Battleship 12k training together.

Crystal is, from what I can tell, the female version of me. So I’ll let you think what you want of that. She is super inspirational, she is down for trails all the time, and maybe a touch louder than me. Crystal has a very nice home gym and I enjoy it when we can get together for a workout.

On this day, she would end up walking about 16ish miles with me on 2 separate legs.

As Crystal and I made our way downtown, we were joined by Victor and Amanda. Amanda joined first and was killing it with a 30lb rucksack on.

Amanda is planning to section hike the AT at some point this year and I would love to join her in that adventure. One thing I loved about this walk is putting people together. Amanda and Crystal had never met, and they had a great conversation about all kinds of things.

Victor was out on one of his runs and decided to grace me with his presence. If you know Victor, you know he is always down to ride and support his friends. It was awesome to walk and talk with him for a couple of miles.

Amanda turned off somewhere around Blacklawn and went about her way. Victor hung out all the way down to broad st.

Crystal and I crossed broad and got on the new pedestrian path that basically wraps around the city. We were only alone for about a quarter of a mile when Mary Trufant came running up! Boy oh boy, Mary brought some energy and pushed the pace. We walk and talked about all kinds of fun things along the way.

We had been walking for about 2 miles when we met up with Lee. At this point, Mary asked me if I had eaten yet. I had only consumed the muffin at Mike 13 and was now close to or just over the 20-mile mark. Mary inspected my grab bag of snacks and instructed me to eat now. I just said “yes ma’am” and started filling my pie hole with bars, chips, and whatever else she gave me.

Lee had the reggae music for me. Lee is a good friend and seeing him come out to walk really warmed my soul. He’s an avid trail runner and a member of my Ragnar KY team for this May!

After I had eaten enough for Mary’s liking, I tore off my hoodie and under shirt, it had warmed up pretty nicely. The day was such a pretty Mobile January day. Wispy clouds painted a cobalt blue sky. The cool breeze was absolutely perfect in the warm sunshine.

We walked to the corner of Water St. and Church St. then turned right. We were met by the Zimlich crew. Micheal, Jenni, and Delaney wore their cowbell blaring and cheering like we were coming to the finish line. We hugged, and high 5’d.

Delaney was in her race chair and I knew I was in for it. She started off so gentle and nice, but then started pushing my pace. She giggled and laughed when I called her speed racer and asked her if she thought this was some kind of race. I ran a few feet at a time to keep up with her and realized we had dropped the field… I think that was her plan! We talked about Downton Abbey and chicken names. She gave me a 26.2 Mardi Gras necklace, and on the back wrote +19.8 to commemorate the day! It was such a sweet thing and I’ll have it always.

We took some pictures at the corner of Church and Washington, where we went our separate ways.

Walking up Government getting close to Ann St. I saw Catherine and Sunny again! I knew that Catherine was coming to pick Crystal up and take her home, but I was not expecting her to walk down to meet us.

We crossed the street at Ann and I hugged her happily, then said, let me have the boy. I walked Sunny back to the Starbucks there at Catherine St. he was typical Sunny, happy, alert, sniffing all the pee-mail.

Mile 24ish I finally sat down. In the van, changed my socks and shoes, and got a quick rub down from Catherine while I ate wherever Mary told me to eat. I honestly don’t even remember. It was a quick stop and I was back moving.

Catherine brought me all kinds of stuff, but the cinnamon roll from Reney’s Honey Butter was what I went with. Holy guacamole, y’all go get yourself one of them! They are a Friday-only thing I believe, and well worth the wait!

Walking on this day was such a treat for me. Yes, I was tired, yes it was hard, but yes it was also epic!

I walked a while solo, with Katie Miller popping in for a second to say happy birthday and cheer me along.

A little bit later Bradley rejoined the quest. He came back on where I hoped I’d be solo as it was the absolute most sketchy part of the entire walk. I was glad to have that energy again! A quick pop into McDonald’s for some fries and a coke and we were underway again.

Crossing the interstate on Airport by foot is something I think everyone should do at one point in their life. You take for granted how easy it is to be in a vehicle, and how little you’re paying attention to your surroundings. That being said, we made it over to the bike path at Walk-On’s unscathed.

Crossing Cottage Hill Rd. where I crossed was borderline sketchy but I was solo so I didn’t mind it. I always get more nervous when people are with me while I do sketchy stuff. I know how to do dangerous things safely, but that’s not a skill everyone possesses. Some people get nervous and second-guess things at the wrong time. Just think about all the squirrels you’ve seen that couldn’t make a decision, it typically doesn’t work out too well for them.

I got on my way, on a dirt path right of way that not many people know about when I hear a car horn blowing at me. I stop and turn to see just what in the world is going on, Stephanie Gillis, that’s what’s going on! After a quick photo opp and a hug, she says, “I’ll see ya about 4 pm” I think it was somewhere around 1:30 pm. I had just hit mile 30.

For the next good while I would be solo Steve. Just me and the audiobook “Ultra Marathon Man” by Dean Karnazes. I highly recommend that book. It’s awesome!

I was walking and listening to my book when I got a FaceTime call from my friends Gretchen and Eric from out in Sunny California. Man, that was fun. We talked and laughed and made plans to buy a large piece of property where we could be the founders and governing body. I of course would be the garbage man. A profession I dreamed of when I was a kid.

Walking a long way is hard. It’s not at all fun, I can tell you this from real experience. But when you see a friend waiting up ahead of you, there’s no way in the world to describe that feeling. You forget how far you’ve come, and how far you’ve got to go, and you live in that moment.

I got chills and welled up with happiness when I saw Cristin Waite at the top of Girby Rd. at Knowlwood Dr.

We high 5’d so hard! And went up the road. She had brought her rucksack so we stopped at her car today to grab it. With the 26-pound pack on we took on one of the hilly sections of this walk. The problem with walking from west Mobile to downtown is the walk back to west Mobile is basically all uphill. We were headed to Hillcrest road. It got its name for a reason, it’s hilly all around there.

At the bottom of one of the climbs, we ran into a group of ladies from the run community. I’m going to try and name them all in no particular order, Nell, Maggie, Stephanie, Shea, Erica, Khanh, Adair, and Jean.

What a fantastic group of friends! I was so happy to have them join me. We walked and talked and I’m sorry to say, I don’t remember much of the conversation at this point. I was 38 or 39 miles in and was on autopilot.

We made our way up to Hillcrest, turning right and doing the “Holla at the Dolla” route up to the Carriage Hills subdivision. Who made this route I kept asking myself, only to answer myself with, “you did dummy”!

We had made it almost to Cottage Hill when my good friend Meredith met us for a second with her two sweet Golden’s. I gave them a treat and a bunch of loving, and we were on our way again.

The ladies hadn’t realized that I needed to cross Cottage Hill in a very busy section, in fact, they had a car waiting on them at the CVS on the corner of Sollie and Cottage hill.

We said our goodbyes and took another picture.

Stephanie accompanied me across the busy road and we walked for a while together before being joined by her husband Bill. Bill had parked up on Yorkhaven and ran to us using my route.

I’ll tell you this, if you need someone to keep your mind off the physical pain you’re in, call Bill. He is full of so much useless knowledge and random facts it amazes me. Dad jokes that go on for seemingly hours and never quite get to the punchline.

I was so happy to have the distraction at that time. I was hurting. I was nauseous and on the edge of being sick. Stephanie saved the day with her backpack full of snacks. We walked and enjoyed a beautiful sunset together.

Soon after the sun was setting I noticed yet another figure off in the distance. It was Crystal again! Back for more eh, I asked her. She felt inclined to see me to the finish line.

We made our way up to Yorkhaven, where Bill had stashed the car. We said our goodbyes and Crystal and I headed off in the darkness up that “last hill”.

Coming up to our house I saw my bride and my pup in the yard. Catherine had baked me a carrot cake and had me set up for a refueling pit stop. I couldn’t think about eating, my stomach was in knots and I was still on the verge of losing my cookies.

We set out on the last 2 miles of this thing. The same roads we walk and run weekly took on new life. The hills were hillier, the turns seemed further away than ever. Time was starting to stand still and not make any sense to me.

What makes things worse is a missed turn at mile 11.5 earlier in the day, which made my finish mileage a touch longer. Here we are, in the neighborhood, walking flipping loops to get this watch of mine to hit 46 miles.

Finally, it was over! I had walked 46 miles on my 46th birthday in just a touch over 14 hours!

What I’ll always remember is this, living in the moment, those moments when I’d come out of a solo section and see someone waiting for me was mesmerizing… it was a shock to my system and a huge boost of energy!!! My pace would quicken, and my steps would get lighter. Many asked to tote my bag for me, but they had already lifted my spirits so much, it wasn’t needed.

I learned that day that our community is a supportive and loving body. They will show up and show out at any time any place. I will never ever for as long as I live forget this birthday. It was so much fun.

I can’t wait to plan something for 47, because I know I will have people tag along. Thank you all for the calls, texts, and messages. Thank you for taking time out of your day to track me and send encouragement. Stephen Orso, thank you for knowing just what to say at just the right time! Paul Brouillette, thanks for stopping by for a birthday hug!

I know I am loved. And there is no greater feeling than that. Thank you for reading.

– Steve Taylor, Jr.

RYS Goes to Podfest!

Allison Gaillard — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 03:37:32 +0000

“We want to send you to Podfest 2023!”

– BuzzSprout

Two weeks ago, an email came from our hosting site BuzzSprout about Podfest and that they wanted to send Run Your Story! For us, this was huge news, and we are still on cloud nine trying to process the impact of what BuzzSprout did for us!

When RYS was gearing up to launch in 2022, we only knew we wanted to share your stories and the impact that running or walking has had on our community. What I didn’t expect was to find this as my passion!

Being at Podfest solidified that this is indeed what I am supposed to be doing. Y’all, when I would meet a fellow podcaster or vendor and share what RYS was, the responses were astounding!

I went to Podfest going in with no expectations and coming out with the knowledge that this is bigger than me. I would leave a session either inspired or with confirmation that RYS was something special.

Grey from Gaillard Tech Services who is the editor of the Podcasts and maintains the website was learning just as much as I was in other sessions as we divided and conquered as many as possible.

Podfest has not only confirmed RYS but also inspired so much more. We now know that we have a lot more work ahead of us and we are excited. From community blogs to bonus content, we are stoked! We are working eagerly to expand RYS to make sure we are every platform that we did not even know we should be on. We had no idea that other people from throughout the United States would want to share their run stories with us and we cannot wait to share them with you!! We are also in the works of something big that will be announced soon!!!

And the icing on the cake, on our way home I got another email that I had another Patreon subscriber! I was full-on tears! To know this community believes in Run Your Story is a treasured gift and I hope more than anything, that I make this community of runners and walkers proud.

To my friends who have given me the opportunity to share your Run stories, Thank You!!

And to my friends who I have yet to share your stories with our community, I cannot wait. It truly is an honor to share your Running and Walking stories. Your Stories Matter and every story needs to be heard.

#podfest2023
#podfest
#buzzsprout
#runyourstory
#everystoryneedstobeheard
#runningcommunity

Keith’s Run My Story

Allison Gaillard — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 12:47:41 +0000

Run My Story

by Keith C. Battle Jr.

July 2022 was the worst month of my life. I was in the process of going through a painful divorce, my mental and physical health were deteriorating rapidly, and I even had to begin using a sleeping medication just to get small amounts of sleep. I wasn’t eating or sleeping consistently for weeks, and I felt alone living in an empty house that used to be full. But I’ve been in bad places before, and I knew I didn’t want to go back to those really dark days. So the first thing I did was foster two puppies from the local animal shelter which helped with the liveliness in the house to say the least. I still felt the need to get out of the house at times, so I started walking in my neighborhood regularly.

I found that every time I reached the last hill back to my house my feet were killing me because my running shoes were worn and inadequate.

So, on Aug 30th, my birthday, I decided to treat myself to some new shoes. I walked into the local fitness apparel store and received great service from two very nice women who found me a pair of shoes and socks that made me feel like I was walking on clouds. And then one of the women dropped a bomb, and when I say bomb, I mean the mother of all bombs.

She said quietly and demurely, “you should sign up for our 12K training program.”

Immediately my internal thoughts gravitated to “this poor lady needs glasses or some of the same medicine I take, because I could NEVER complete a 12K, much less a 1K.” I told her “look at me, I don’t think I could do that.” She reassured me that there was a walking component to the 12K training and I could do it. Something about her calmed my internal thoughts, so I signed up.

On August 30th I weighed 340 lbs. I started training shortly after that, and at the 1st meeting I wrote my goal on the sheet passed out to the group: “reduce the effects of Type II Diabetes.”

I was in a bad place mentally, but I knew I wanted to live long enough and be healthy enough to see my granddaughter walk across some kind of stage in the future or pursue whatever dream she desired for herself. How could I do that if diabetes forced me into blindness or become an amputee, which is common for advanced diabetes patients who are morbidly obese?

So I suppressed my nervousness and completed my first walk with my walking coach, Kate. When we finished she told me that my pace was approximately 18 minutes/mile. I asked, “what pace do I need to complete the 12K?” and she replied “16 minutes/mile.” I didn’t think I could shave 2 minutes off of my pace because the 1st day was challenging by itself.

Then came the 1st Saturday of that week…strength training. After a long, challenging walk with Kate, the group proceeded to strength train with Sarah Nell, the strength coach. Everyone commented later that week how quiet I was during the workout, to which I replied “my internal thoughts were VERY loud,” meaning that I was silently looking for ways to quit.

But I persisted because this group was fun and different from the weight loss programs I’ve tried previously. I’ve had a failed lap-band surgery, tried
or shied away from countless diet/exercise programs, and then consigned myself to a lifetime of obesity. But after the 1st week of this program, I noticed that my weight was actually going down.

“Hmm, that’s interesting” I thought. As the weeks progressed, I started to have more and more fun walking with Kate, strength training on Saturdays, and even participating in much-needed yoga sessions.

I purchased a fancy Bluetooth-compatible weight scale because I wanted to make sure the numbers I was reading were accurate. I was actually losing weight at a steady pace week over week. I changed my eating habits to healthier alternatives primarily because they helped me get through the
training without feeling sick.

Then, in about the 4th week of training, I received some traumatic family news that prompted me to stop training.

In retrospect, the mental and physical benefits of the training program would have made that experience much easier to weather, but hindsight is always 20/20. As things settled down for me, I received a text from Allison just checking on me. That felt great because the only people “checking on me” at the time were a few of my closest friends and my healthcare team.

So I visited her shortly after, and she encouraged me to rejoin the training group. I rejoined, nervous that I had lost too much time, but the group welcomed me back, and I started setting personal records as my per/mile pace dropped steadily along with my weight.

By the time the 12K race was just around the corner I had lost 41 lbs, and my fasting blood glucose readings were consistently in the normal range each time I checked at three-day intervals.

Regarding the race, I knew one thing, all I had to do was stick with Kate during the race and I would make it to the finish line. So I overcame tremendous butterflies and began my 1st 12K race on November 13th 2022.

For the first 4.5 miles, I was setting personal records of approximately 15 minutes/mile. And then suddenly I started feeling light-headed, tired, and nervous. I told Kate, who was right by my side, what I was feeling, we slowed the pace a bit, and she said “look…there’s the finish line right there, you can see it.”

When I rounded the corner into Battleship Park towards the finish line, I was on autopilot, my energy completely spent. Suddenly, there were my teammates from the training program who finished before me coming back to encourage me through the finish line.

That was one of the most emotional experiences I’ve ever felt.

I finished the 12K, received a medal, drank copious amounts of water, devoured snacks to recover my energy, and Kate put the medal around my neck, an even deeper emotional experience.

So to recap, through a 10-week program that I began on a whim, my blood glucose readings became completely and consistently normal, I lost 41 lbs by race day and continue losing to this day as I continue my health journey, and I’m a part of a training group/family that, along with my puppies of course, have literally changed my life for the better.

We never know how long we’ll live, I or you could die today, life has its quirks. But I know one thing, I stand a better chance of seeing my two-year-old granddaughter achieve her dreams in the future than I did before beginning the program.

Thank you, Allison, Kate, the strength and yoga team, and my training group, especially those who were there to encourage me across the finish line. My medal resides on a wall in my office now where I can see it, and I’ve cleared space there for many medals to come. That’s my story.

Why Run Your Story?

Allison Gaillard — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 19:50:57 +0000

When the title ‘Run Your Story’ was laid on our hearts, our family knew it was a gift. It was a gift because our family has a history of wanting to know people’s stories. And today seems like another gift to share a story.

12 years ago, the world grew a little darker for our family as we said goodbye to a world changer and our favorite redhead, Jamie Gaillard. Jamie fought the hardest fight of her life against leukemia; and frankly, cancer stinks. Jamie gave our family a beautiful gift, there was nothing more the doctors could do, and she wanted to have one last Christmas with us, and so we did just that. We played cards, we laughed, and we opened presents all in her hospital room. In our eyes, Jamie was going to go home because she was in great spirits. What we didn’t know was that just a few days later she would be in hospice, and not going home with us.

I watched as this amazing and very talented young woman would impact those who came to visit her. Friends would wear sunglasses in her room because “puppy dog tears” were not allowed. Friends would go into her room expecting to lift her spirits, pray over her, and take her burdens, and yet that is what she did for them. It was incredible to watch Jamie take on cancer, treatments, and the breaking news that there was nothing more that could be done.

One of Jamie’s friends shared a beautiful story about Jamie which has led us to here, this very moment. Anytime Jamie met someone, she would say to them “Tell Me A Story” that was her way of getting to know them, to understand them, and find common ground with them. And this is the whole mission of ‘Run Your Story’, to share your run/walk stories, to help our community deepen, to help be a resource for anyone wanting to start their own run/walk journey, and to find common ground

I also would like to think that Jamie would be tickled to see her sister-in-law as a podcaster because Jamie was a television producer. I could only imagine the resources and guidance Jamie would be giving us. When ‘Run Your Story’ came to me, it was more than the title of our podcast and training program, it was a gift. It was a way to honor Jamie’s legacy. It took us a few days for us to really understand that. And now it is something that I will treasure because it is a priceless gift from one of the most beautiful people in the world. Her story is part of our story, and your stories become part of Run Your Story.