2x300, 2x150

Beautiful weather, low-mid 70ºs, clear, west wind.  I did 4 quality sprints, but not quite as fast as I wanted.  

Hoka trainers on

stretches, drills, 2x100m, bands

50m - 6.85

Adidas trainers on

300m - 43.94 (13.35, 14.62, 15.97)

300m - 44.44 (14.57, 14.55, 15.32

150m - 20.23

Hoka trainers on

150m - 20.35

The first 300 I went out too fast, got caught in a gusty headwind at 150m, and rigged in the end.   I was hoping to break 43 in one 300 and 20 in one 150.  Nope.  

I'm fairly fit at 139.5 lbs, but haven't been very ambitious in strength or cross training in the past week.  Definitely not '400m fit' yet.  Even though I'm light, not yet strong.  Believe it or not, don't feel super lean even at my weight.   Need to up my muscle to fat ratio by strength training and do more form work, fast 50s and 150s.  Doing pullups and ab work, but need more squats. 

These Adidas are really weird shoes.  They feel really weird to walk in, kind of asymmetrical.  But, they feel good to sprint in and  feel their responsiveness mostly when really cranking at high effort/speed.  I still think the Rincons are just as fast.  The Adidas Sen 8s are pretty much sold out so I got a second pair.  Still have way too many Clifton 1s.  4 pair in the ugly green ... lol.

Tempo 300s

Beautiful weather in Sewanee early afternoon, low 70's bright sunny and dry, light shifting winds.  Today I tried this tempo set of 3x300 w/3min with my new Adidas Takumi Sen 8s.  It went pretty well.

Hoka trainers on

stretches, drills, 2 x 100m

Adidas trainers on

3 x 300m w/ 3min rest - 48.50, 49.48, 51.53 (avg. 49.84)

This was hard but not as ass kicking as my first set of these last week where I averaged just 51.31.  So, a gain of 1.5 sec in avg speed.  2 yrs ago (Oct '20) I was doing the same workout in a similar time (49.97 avg) but with 2:30 rest.  In ramping up the difficulty, I'll probably look to add a rep and keep the rest at 3m.  By mid Oct '20, I was doing 4x300 w/ 2:30 rest avg 52.48.  If I want to add another rep, I need to slow down on my first one.

Finally, under 140 for the first time in a while:  139.8 lbs after workout.

These Adidas are definitely good for my feet.  My troubled R foot felt better before and after this workout than it has in a while.  I like these shoes so much, I paid full retail for another pair.  

600, 300, 200

I had been avoiding overdistance for a while now, so today was the day for a 600m.  We're in a very warm dry spell, a high of 84º today but cooling down at night to the low-mid 60ºs, low 50ºs by week's end.  

Used the Rincons on the 600, and the Adidas Takumi Sen 8s on the 300 & 200.  Was a bit worried about my foot before the workout but the shoes did great.  The 600 wasn't super hard but the 300 and 200 were.

Hoka trainers on

stretches, drills, 2 x 100

600m - 1:48.44 (71.38, 37.06)

Adidas trainers on

300m - 43.65 (28.00, 15.65)

200m - 27.28 (13.13, 14.15)

It was hard, I was out in the hottest part of the day.  After the 300m, even after a fairly long rest 15+ min, my heart rate was still well into the mid 130s when I launched into the 200m.  The Adidas felt great.  I may try them in an intensive tempo set.   Going to be a long hard fight to get back in shape.  

140.6 lbs after workout.

Saturday did the bike climb in 22 min and did one set of weights, as well as some abs and weights on Sunday.  

This week is my annual blood work.  I get $250 reward in my pay check for meeting specific wellness standards.  I have to get just 3 of 5 within the healthy parameters: BMI, blood pressure, HDL, triglycerides, glucose.  BMI and blood pressure are a given.  I usually can get one or 2 of the others or all 3.   My BP this evening:  107/65 

Adidas Takumi Sen 8 review, 400m, 300m, 100m

76º and sunny in mid afternoon at the Sewanee track with light winds.  Entering a warm dry period with low humidity.  Today, I tried out the Adidas Takumi Sen 8s today.  A low volume higher intensity set today.

Hoka trainers on

stretches, drills, 2 x 100m, bands

Adidas trainers on

100m - 13.48

400m - 60.75 (28.06, 32.69)

300m - 43.74

After warmups, I put on the Adidas and ran a relaxed 100m.  They were exceptionally comfortable.  After a lot of delay, hemming and hawing, I decided to run a hard 400m, close to max effort.  Goal was 28/32, came up just a tad short, with the last 100m pretty slow (17.49) with rigging in the end.  

The shoes felt awesome.  Especially on the turns.  This is a super shoe, a great advance in shoe technology in terms of cushion per weight and responsiveness. Don’t be fooled by appearance, these shoes are feather light despite the big block of heel foam. An astonishing 5.9 oz in my size 7, about 1/3 oz lighter than the Rincons despite having an equal amount of forefoot stack, about 25mm. They feel like slippers, have excellent toe room, good lock down, and super traction, despite the rather smooth appearance of the outsole. They seem maybe slightly more responsive than the Rincons - perhaps due to the embedded ‘energy rods’ in the sole, a little less protective on the lateral side than the Rincons, but where they really shine is when sprinting left turns on the track. This shoe is every bit a sprint trainer, although marketed as a 5k racing flat, (again - since just a very small % of the running community sprint). When I see a shoe like this, I’m tempted to slice off the heel foam, but it’s light enough as is. Definitely a little firmer and more ground feel than the Rincon, not as smooth a transition from footstrike to toe off as the Rincon. It’s definitely fast and far more protective than the minimalist Takumi Sen 7, despite being just a few grams heavier. Amazing shoe. A BIG Thumbs up. They will definitely be in my training rotation.

Getting my weight under control, 140.4 lbs after workout.  

 

first tempo session

Bright sun and 76º, nice in the shade, hot in the sun, but at least low humidity.  Warm and dry the next week.

I wanted to attempt my first tempo set today and I set a modest goal of 3x300m w/ 3min rest at 51.  I completed it but it totally kicked my ass.  Was very hard.  I had to lay on the track for 15 min to recover before I could walk to my car.  

Hoka trainers on

stretches, drills, 2x100m, bands

3 x 300m w/ 3m rest - 49.51, 51.19, 53.23 (avg 51.31)

After my first taste of tempo pain, leads me to the usual thoughts like 'how much longer can I do this?'  'Is it worth it?'  etc....  It's always about the journey.  It never is easy, it will always hurt, but it will become more tolerable, as experience has shown.  Also harder now, being 3 lbs over weight.   But, happy to be training in the Rincons.  The new Adidas Takumi Sen 8s come in tomorrow so will be doing a workout and review of them on Friday.  Still have not yet started overdistance - 600s, 500s.   I'm not feeling the injury anymore when running.  Only feel it slightly when doing an odd stretch or something.  I feel fairly confident I can sprint without reservations.  The foot is still the limiting issue but still tolerable if enough recovery.

142 lbs after workout.   

Next workouts will probably Friday and Monday.   Will be warmer and I'll have to be out in the hottest part of the day due to college sports.  

300s, 200, Adidas Takumi Sen 7 trial

Warm on Friday mid afternoon, low 80's and hazy sun, light shifting winds, heat index 85º so it felt much hotter in the sun.   I got the new Adidas trainers in and wanted to give them a spin.  

The Adidas Takumi Sen 7 are marketed as a 5k racing flat, the lightest trainers I've ever seen at 5.75 oz in my size.  They have a unique inner sleeve that's integrated with the tongue and provide a great lock down without sacrificing toe space.   They are just 0.5 oz heavier than my Nike Maxfly racing spikes.  The outsole has a bunch of small hard rubber 'spikes' that provide super traction.  Closest thing to wearing spikes without wearing spikes.  

I brought my Hoka Rincon 3s for comparison purposes.  These shoes could not feel more different.  Here's the workout, all run pretty hard.

Hoka trainers on

stretches, drills, 2 x 100, bands

Adidas trainers on

300m - 43.56  (13.40, 14.26, 15.90)

Hoka Rincon trainers on 

300m - 43.81 (14.31, 14.38, 15.12)

Adidas trainers on

200m - 27.20 (13.26, 13.94)

I was feeling a bit sluggish for this workout after 3 days of relative inactivity.  I took off too hard on the first 300m for my level of fitness  (27.66 - 200m split) and suffered in the end, really tightening up.   It took me a long time to recover from the first 300m.   The shoes felt comfortable, great traction and a lot of ground feel.   

Switching to the Hokas on the second 300m, I ran much more even splits.  It felt like I was running on air in comparison with the Adidas.  I felt taller, much more spring, smoother transition in the stride.  I felt I could run faster with less effort over a distance of 300m with the Hokas.  The Hokas gave much more 'return' or bounce than the Adidas.  Not surprising since they have 9mm more foam in the forefoot and a slightly wider footprint.  Overall, a much easier 300m than the first.

Conclusion:  The Rincons win overall.  For the type of training I do, the Hokas offer much more protection without sacrificing speed.  I think the Adidas would probably do better in short quality sprints or accelerations from the line or from blocks, distances of 150m and down.  But that type of workout is not one that I do very often.  The Adidas are probably a good substitute for wearing spikes.  

141.5 lbs after workout.  

Well, I did it again.  I bought yet a 3rd pair of new trainers.  I found the Adidas Takumi Sen 8 on sale at Running Warehouse so I bought some .  They were discounted to $111, minus $69 (originally $180), probably an undesirable color.   They have the same forefoot stack height as the Rincons and have some sort of energy return rods in them and may be even lighter than the Rincons or similar.  If I don't like 'em, I'll exchange 'em for another pair of Rincons.   They may be the best of both worlds, we'll see.  Yea, the discounted Sen 8s are kind of an ugly color but so what.  Nothing is uglier than those coral green women's Clifton 1s - of which I have 3 or 4 pair.   

bike n weights, another trainer

 

Was tempted to go to the track but biked on Sat, one set of weights and 2 of abs on Sunday.  Weather has been cooler this weekend and a little rain.  Actually saw the first hint of a tree turning to fall colors.  

Saturdays bike up the mtn was casual, about 25 min.  My ham tested ok tonight, just slightly weaker than the right.  

I saw a real super light trainer in a previous model so I found one new on ebay and bought it.  It's supposedly even lighter than the Rincon.  It's the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 7.  Not as protective as the Rincon, but maybe a good speed work shoe.  Will hopefully have it by Sat.   

Expect to be on the track this weekend.  Maybe will be ready to go 2X a week soon.  

Focused more on music these days, practiced guitar probably 15 hrs this weekend.  Learning a Bach Sonata... Bach always brings me back to music.  

Here's the Adidas Takumi Sens 7.  I've heard it's less than 6 oz, which would make it as light as a racing spike.

New trainer tryout: Hoka Rincon 3 - 400, 300, 200

Very warm and quite hot in the direct sun at the track today.  Temperature peaked about 84º with a heat index of about 90º in mid afternoon, but it felt ok in the shade with a breeze.  

I brought the new Rincons and put them on after a warm up in the some old Cliftons.  Did just 3 quality sprints, fastest of the off season.  

Hoka trainers on

stretches, drills, 2 x 100m, bands

400m - 61.93 (29.70, 32.23)

300m - 44.17

200m - 27.60 (13.43, 14.17)

The shoes felt good.  No toe crushing on the turns, springy like the Clifton 1s, great traction, seemed to be protective of the lateral side of the foot, good lock down on the upper.  Finally, a worthy successor to the Clifton 1s!  I'll know more when I put them through more extensive workouts later in the year.  But I felt fast and was able to maintain a decent tall running position.  I was aiming for 30/33 splits in the 400m so I did well and exceeded them.  Running sub 62 without full effort isn't bad for beginning of Sept.  

Happy to say I feel totally no sign of my injury.  I've been doing really no regular rehab so maybe rest is good.  I'll test the ham strength on the leg curl machine in the next few days in the gym.  Hopefully, I might be ready to start racing in the early indoor season.  Definitely feel healthier than this time last year where I had pubalgia and a sore ham tendon.  

Even though I was 140.6 lbs after workout, I definitely felt 'off season soft'.   Need to start lifting more and doing ab work daily.  The biking has helped I'm sure.