Tweet “The Road to Ironman 70.3 California: Running Shoes”

Less than five weeks to go until my first big race of the 2011 season. My training is right on schedule. I logged 16 hours last week and 16 hours the week before and I just wrapped up my biggest swimming week of the season, 17,650 yards! One of the best parts about swimming this season has been my FINIS SwiMP3 player. When I’m wearing this music player during workouts, the yards just fly by. The next thing I know I’ve racked up four or five thousand yards and the workout is over. Check it out the link above for my personal product review.

Ironman 70.3 California Swim Course 1.2 Miles: LINK/MAP.

Back to training. The biggest challenge for many of the triathletes and cyclists here in Spokane right now is riding outside. I haven’t been outside on my Cervelo P2 since late September of 2010. As you can imagine, my trainer is getting a lot of work these days.

Ironman 70.3 California Bike Course 56 Miles: LINK/MAP.

My running fitness is good. Like most of you, my long runs are on the weekends. I train based on time not distance. Because the weather has been somewhat nasty and bone chilling cold as of late, I’ve been bouncing between the treadmill and short recovery runs outside around my neighborhood. I won’t be setting any land speed records in Oceanside on April 2nd but I will finish the race in a respectable time.

Ironman 70.3 California Run Course 13.1 Miles (2 loops): LINK/MAP.

When it comes to running shoes, I’ve been experimenting with different brands over the last few seasons. Last year I ended up getting the same pair of Asics Gel Nimbus 11 over and over again because they felt the most comfortable and were reasonably priced. Not knowing any better, I would train and race in the same pair until it was time to buy a new pair. I’m now learning the importance of rotation and racing flats verses training shoes. I would buy my running shoes at Sports Authority in North Spokane. They would average in price between $89.99 and $99.99 depending on whether or not they were on sale.

Then late last year a buddy of mine started sharing his experience with Brooks running shoes. Since it was the off-season I figured I’d give them a try and see how they felt. He recommended the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11. I have to say, Brooks makes a good running shoe. I’ve been so happy with this particular model I bought a second pair and have started a slow rotation between the two.

Around the same time I bought my Brooks, I ordered a pair of the KSWISS K-Ona S. It was part curiosity and part ‘the look’. I’m a sucker for all things Ironman. Here’s the kicker, I was first introduced to this shoe at the 2009 at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. That’s where my good friend and coach, Roger Thompson and I conducted an interview with Ben Harper. In the video below, Ben does a great job explaining how and why this shoe was designed with the multisport athlete in mind.

I really wanted to buy a pair of the ‘K-Ona S’ during Ironman race week in 2009 but didn’t want to jump on the bandwagon and fork over the money. Now that I’ve saved my pennies and have my very own pair, I have to say, they’re pretty sweet. In my opinion, they’re worth every cent.

The ventilation is amazing and they’re really light yet durable enough to run long distances. I like the fact that water will run right through them. No one likes to be bogged down with heavy wet shoes. I don’t run in them exclusively but I do run in them about once a week. I want to hold back on the wear ‘n tear because I plan on racing in them at the 2011 Ironman 7.03 California in April down in Oceanside, which again is now less than 5 weeks away.

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