Scott’s Blog

I have always felt one of the beauties of running is the lack of required gear. Feel inspired, step outside, go. Unless we’re running barefoot and naked, which some of us nuts are, we require only simple clothing and shoes. I’ve commented some in previous posts about shoes I’ve raced with, but I’m frequently asked what shoes I wear for training. I’ll comment again on both. Here’s the scoop.

Most of us don’t have the exact same biomechanics side to side, which is also true for me. I am a strong supinater on one side and a neutral pronater on the other. I alternate a bit from a neutral cushion shoe to a mild stability shoe when training on the roads. For optimal performance on the trails I feel it’s important to run with a lower profile shoe without as much consideration to pronation and supination, unless severe, as the foot and ankle are continually adjusting to the varied terrain. (more…)

The award ceremonies are over and most runners are back home following another successful running of an event we’ve come to know as Spartathlon. This year’s event was extra special being the twenty-fifth anniversary. But it was also an emotional one due to the disaster of forest fires that just a few weeks earlier brought enormous devastation to Greece, including the Peloponnese Peninsula where the race runs through. Nearly 500,000 acres were burned and the fires took 65 lives. Although the affect of the fires was felt by the runners and event organizers, the spirit and celebration of the race was alive and well. I’d like to make special note to the German runners who raised 10,000 euro for aid relief as well as point to a link on Daily Frappe with more information and links to numerous ways of helping.

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Congrats to my Brazilian friend Valmir Nunes on his record setting win at Badwater. We met in the 2006 Spartathlon and I saw him the day before this year’s Badwater and we exchanged jerseys and autographs. And challenges. I told him, with much respect, that if he breaks my record, I’ll go to Brazil and break his. I think we’ll be competing head to head again soon (Spartathlon 2007???). Looking forward to the challenge of again racing with this great man.

Nunes is also a Brooks runner and his Brooks Racer STs were his shoe of choice for this race, also the shoe I wore at Spartathlon and for my two Badwater victories.

Congrats again, Nunes! Also to female winner, Lisa Bliss!

Before I write my race report, I have many people I want to publicly thank for their generosity and support. It took the help of many friends, old and new, to get me to that Hardrock Hundred starting line, and ultimately the finish line in 26:08. This race provided plenty of challenges, before and during, but with the great energy of friends and support of so many I was able to perform as I had planned. (more…)