Lake Mohawk 8.2 mile challenge recap

So my legs has been up and down after Boston marathon, mostly down. So again I went in to a race with legs that felt really beige. Lake Mohawk is not an easy race with brutal rolling hills. No spots to rest and just run easy. So it kind of was a stupid idea to do this race.

Got a good warm up in, but a 5K race got the start delayed. And I ended up standing around the start line for 10 minutes just waiting. The first half mile is up hill, pretty step. I decided not to go with the five front runners as they were sprinting up the hill. I knew what was coming as I have done this race before and I figured I will track them down later. I was correct, at mile 2-3 I had cached 3 of them. The hills had eaten them alive. Still two runners to chase down. At mile 4 I cached the next one. I had a good pace and kept good effort over the hills. I manged the hills well and legs responded surprisingly well. The front runners was nowhere to be seen and I ended up running by myself for the last 4 miles. Always hard to pace yourself but I trusted my training and kept a good effort. last mile was brutal, mostly up hill. I knew I was going to finish second and that kept me motivated.



Lake Mohawk is a beautiful a area, very scenic race. The hills and course is absolute brutal, no chance to rest. You would thing the down hills would give you a chance but they are to step.

The race was not very well organized, to much wait at start and after the race. Start and finish area was located on a grass field that became a mud pit. Im not running races to collect dust collecting prices but not have a price for finish second is a shame. Got a medal for age group instead.

Shoe: GoMeb Speed2
Fuel: Ignite Reload gel
Socks: Feetures!

#GOElite

Running Sunglasses Review 2014

The Runningswede has been trying new 2014 sunglasses products together with Team Wicked Bonkproof founder/coach Caleb Masland. The sunglasses in this review has been tested during all kinds of weather conditions and work outs in New Jersey and North Carolina. We started to test the sunglasses back in February so the products has been trough a lot of different weather conditions. Brands featured in this years edition review are:

Julbo, Ryder, Sundog, Tifosi, Nike and XX2i. 

Ryders
http://www.therunningswede.com/2014/05/ryders-running-sunglasses-review.html

Julbo
http://www.therunningswede.com/2014/05/julbo-sunglasses-review-2014.html

Tifosi
http://www.therunningswede.com/2014/05/tifosi-lore-review.html

Nike Vision
http://www.therunningswede.com/2014/05/nike-run-x2.html

Sundog
http://www.therunningswede.com/2014/05/sundog-running-sunglasses-review-2014.html

XX2i
http://www.therunningswede.com/2014/05/xx2i-sunglasses.html


Disclaimer: The Sunglasses was sent to "therunningswede" free of charge for review. Review and thoughts are writers opinion after been testing the product 2014 winter/spring. 

Ryders Running Sunglasses review

The Runningswede has been trying new 2014 sunglasses products together with Team Wicked Bonkproof founder/coach Caleb Masland. The sunglasses in this review has been tested during all kinds of weather conditions and work outs in New Jersey and North Carolina. We started to test the sunglasses back in February so the products has been trough a lot of different weather conditions. Brands featured in upcoming reviews are:
Julbo, Ryder, Sundog, Tifosi, Nike and XX2i. 

Last brand in this years review series: Ryders

Ryders
Ryder has an impressive catalog of Sunglasses, the catalog cover all needs a runner possible can ask for high quality sunglasses to reasonable pricing. We tested Striders and Saber. 

http://ryderseyewear.com/

Ryders

Saber

http://ryderseyewear.com/node/6836

Overall Rating: Average

Fit: Stiff/rigid construction leads to some discomfort around the ears after long-term wear. The shape of the bridge/nosepiece was visible when the glasses were on, leading to a noticeable black spot in my field of vision. The lenses did not touch my face in any way, but the frames rested on my eyebrows, leading to a steady stream of sweat down the lenses after a few miles.

Sun Blockage: These glasses feature photochromic lenses, so they don’t get as dark as the lenses on other glasses. In full sun, they darken a fair amount, but not quite enough for my liking.

Venting/Antifogging: Aside from the noticeable sweat streams, these lenses stayed free of fogging.

Best For: Mixed light conditions on colder days when sweating won’t be as much of an issue. These would be an excellent go-to option for winter runs with partly sunny conditions.

Drawbacks: Rigid frames, not ideal for full-sun.

Stiders

http://ryderseyewear.com/node/6803

The Striders were my choice for Boston marathon, so no doubt about it. I 'm a fan of this product. Very sleek design. Sits really well on your face during run, no bouncing around.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Fit

As I mentioned Striders were my choice for Boston marathon and it passed the test with an A+ on this sunny Monday with 70 degrees weather. Design is great, you get fast feeling and fast look (if that matters) and the sunglasses "disappear" during your run.

Sun Blockage: Striders came with a photocromic lens. The lens respond great to a sunny run and block the sun very well. lens feels a bit to dark on a cloudy day.

Venting/Antifogging: 3 hours of running in Boston during Boston marathon and no problems with fogging. I would say that Stryder fog free Sunglasses. 

Best for

Great products with the right price tag. Striders offers a fast sleek design. That fit well and disappear during your fog free run. Photocromic lens works really well and offer protection from sun and glare. 

Drawbacks: If you have a bigger face, Striders might run on the smaller size. Other then that none!

Sundog Running Sunglasses Review 2014

The Runningswede has been trying new 2014 sunglasses products together with Team Wicked Bonkproof founder/coach Caleb Masland. The sunglasses in this review has been tested during all kinds of weather conditions and work outs in New Jersey and North Carolina. We started to test the sunglasses back in February so the products has been trough a lot of different weather conditions. Brands featured in upcoming reviews are:
Julbo, Ryder, Sundog, Tifosi, Nike and XX2i. 

Sundog

Another new brand for us. Sundog catalog is been impressive nad you can find lot of different styles that will fit you. Sundog are priced form $49.99 to 99.99 depends of you choice of lens. We tried Pace, Bolt and Kick

http://sundogeyewear.com/

Pace

The only one piece lens in the test. 

Overall Rating: Excellent

Fit: Pace with its one piece lens has become to be one of my favorites. The feel Pace tends to disappear during runs which is a really great sign. he pace can run small on a bigger face. Frames and nose tip are adjustable so you will have no problems with your fit..

Sun Blockage: The one piece lens is a great option an a windy day as it block the winds great. The lens itself is very dark which is a great feature on a sunny day. On a cloudy day, I experience the lens being a bit to dark. With the open frame design, nothing is in the way for your vision.

Venting/Antifogging: No problems with fogging as the lens and frame breaths really well. 

Interchangeable Lenses: No 

Best for: Everyday running. Pace was the only one piece lens in the test. Lot of runners and the trend has been geared towards this style lately. Pace is a really good contender in this category. Priced right and the adjustment opportunities make Pace a great option. 

Drawbacks: Can run small on lager faces. 

Bolt

Overall Rating: Excellent (Coach Caleb's favorite) 

Fit: Very flexible and light, these glasses only touch on the nose an ears. These had the best shape for my face, and are the least noticeable when on. Nosepiece and earpieces are rubberized for added comfort.

Sun Blockage: Excellent. The lenses are very dark and provide complete coverage of the field of vision.

Venting/Antifogging: These lenses have multiple vents and are only attached to the frame at the nose. This provides excellent airflow and prevents fogging in all conditions.

Interchangeable Lenses: No (at least, not provided for testing)

Best For: Racing, and everyday use for sunny days.

Drawbacks: None

Kick

Fit: Great lifestyle fit. Its more relaxed but they stay put during easy and faster runs. We have not experienced any slippage during our runs.



Sun Blockage: Very comfortable blockage that works in all kinds of weather conditions.

Venting/Antifogging: Does not fit close to the face as a traditional performance styled eye wear. Frame and lens breaths well. No issues with fogging. 

Interchangeable Lenses: No

Best for: Relaxed runs and on the the podium. Does not have the traditional performance fit, but they do work great and stay put during your run.

Drawbacks: None as we can see, good looking eye wear that can be used for multi-purposes and you look cool!

Julbo Sunglasses Review 2014

Julbo

Julbo is a favorite brand along trail runners. Great looking sunglasses with high quality frames and lenses. 

Their catalog is limited and does not offers as many products as other brands, but you will find something that fits you. Last year we reviewed Dust and had a great success with them. This year we reviewed Pipeline and Ultra!

http://www.julbousa.com/

Julbo Zebra Light Ultra

Overall Rating: Good

Fit: Very large lenses and frames, which have have a tendency to come in contact with the eyebrows and cheeks. Earpieces are very light and flexible. These were the largest lenses of the tested options. The construction has the least amount of rigidity of the tested options, and is very easy to bed and flex.

Sun Blockage: These glasses feature photochromic lenses, so they don’t get as dark as the lenses on other 

glasses. In full sun, they darken a fair amount, but not quite enough for my liking.

Venting/Antifogging: The lenses are heavily vented by virtue of being attached only at the nose piece, and therefore are very resistant to fogging.

Interchangeable Lenses: Single photochromic lens option

Best For: Lower-light days, light rain or light snow conditions, sunny-day runs on trails.

Drawbacks: Not ideal for full-sun due to incomplete darkening of the photochromic lenses.

Pipeline

Definitely the coolest  sunglasses in this review. Pipeline offers  "zebra" lens technology which is a   photochromic lens. It can change from a light transmission rate of 42% to just 7%! Its anti-fog coating, directly integrated via laser, guarantees maximum efficiency and long life.  Pipeline is the most expensive product in this review, $180. 

Overall Rating: Good

Fit: Pipeline looks massive at first but the cut outs of the frame makes them very light weight. Pipeline fits close to your face and stay put during all kinds of test we have been throwing at them. At times strings of sweat interfere with the vision as the lens comes really close to face. 

Sun Blockage: These glasses feature photochromic lens with Zebra technology that works really well, for the weather conditions in NJ. Lens darkens for a comfortable blockage quick and at the same time offers comfortable vision for a cloudy day.

Venting/Antifogging: Pipeline fits very close to the face, so the fogging was something that worried me. By the big cut outs and the lens treatment the Pipeline did not fog up. Condensation has occurred  on humid days.

Interchangeable Lenses: Single photochromic lens option

Best for: Pipline looks really cool and other runners will definitely ask you about them. They sticks out in the crowd!. Pipeline and Julbo really offer high quality products and Pipeline is not exception.  Pipeline runs really close to the face and would be a great option on a trail run, as they offer great protection and the lens works well with the different sunlight you might experience during a trail run. But don't be afraid to use them on the road as well. Julbo is more then trail running! Step price tag but the Pipeline and Julbo is quality!

Drawbacks: The price tag is steep, at $180. The Pipeline might not be the best option an a humid day as we experienced condensation. If you wanna be the coolest runner at the race. Pipeline is the way to go.

Tifosi Lore Review

The Runningswede has been trying new 2014 sunglasses products together with Team Wicked Bonkproof founder/coach Caleb Masland. The sunglasses in this review has been tested during all kinds of weather conditions and work outs in New Jersey and North Carolina. We started to test the sunglasses back in February so the products has been trough a lot of different weather conditions. Brands featured in upcoming reviews are:
Julbo, Ryder, Sundog, Tifosi, Nike and XX2i.

Tifosi
Tifosi are known for having a wide variety of sunglasses in their product catalog. I had mixed results with Tifosi in the past where my lenses had cracked twice. With Tifosi you will find Sunglasses that fit your needs to a reasonable price tag. Lore retails for $69.95   

Lore 
Lore fits on the larger side on my the face. I consider myself as having a normal sized face. The frame is thicker plastic called Grilamid TR-90. The frame we tested was Crystal clear witch makes the eye wear "cool looking" . 

Over All rating: Good
Fit
I never became a friend with Lore. Sure this is a cool looking product but the fit is not there. Several of times I thought I got the fit right by adjusting the nose tip, but the Lore Sunglasses keeps bouncing around. Specially during faster work outs and on hill work outs. 

Sun Blockage:
Tifosi offer a great lens that offers a comfortable blockage again the sun. The lens is wide and block the sun from all angles. Lenses are polarized and comes with a scratch protection. 

Venting/Antifogging:
Lens has not fogged up during runs winter and spring conditions. The lens has a venting system that works as a great feature. The lens has a coating that repels water and sweat.

Interchangeable Lenses: Yes, comes with 3 interchangeable pairs of lenses.

Case: Yes

Best For:
Slower long runs and for runners with a wider face to secure the fit.

Drawbacks
Lore is a good looking product and I wish the fit would have been there, but the bouncing around and non secure fit made the Lore not a  great product for me. Lore also feels a bit heavy compared to other product in this review. Tifosi offers a wide variety of Eye wear that we feel are a better match for runners. 

Nike Run X2

The Runningswede has been trying new 2014 sunglasses products together with Team Wicked Bonkproof founder/coach Caleb Masland. The sunglasses in this review has been tested during all kinds of weather conditions and work outs in New Jersey and North Carolina. We started to test the sunglasses back in February so the products has been trough a lot of different weather conditions. Brands featured in upcoming reviews are:
Julbo, Ryder, Sundog, Tifosi, Nike and XX2i.

Today we are looking at Nike Vision

Nike Vision has been a bit of an under dog on the Running Sunglasses scene. Always been producing high quality and good looking eye wear. Last years Road Machine opened up our eyes for Nike Vision!

http://www.nikevision.com/

Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan with Road Machine, Boston 2013

Nike Vision offers several different models. TheRunningSweden got the opportunity to review Shalanes pick for this years Boston Marathon. Nike Run X2 

Nike Run X2 (Two different sizes, S for small)

Overall Rating: Excellent

Fit: Nike used a good combination of materials on these glasses to provide structure and comfort at the same time. The areas of the glasses that come in contact with the nose and ears are comfortable rubber, while the areas that stay elevated are plastic. The placement and shape of the nose piece keep the frame from touching the eyebrows, which helps with air venting as well as comfort. Run X2 comes in two different sizes, a great way to go for perfect fit. Run X2 S fits smaller.

Shalane picked Run X2 for this years Boston Marathon!

Sun Blockage: Excellent, by virtue of the dark lens option and size of the lenses.

Venting/Antifogging: These lenses don’t fog at all, and the placement of the nose piece provides ample room so that sweat drops were never an issue.

Coach Caleb cruises up first Newton hill at Boston Marathon wearing Run X2s

Interchangeable Lenses: Yes (dark grey, yellow)

Best For: Bright, sunny days. These are a great everyday option.

Drawbacks: Performance vise, nothing we can see. The price tag is on the higher end.

XX2i Sunglasses

The Runningswede has been trying new 2014 sunglasses products together with Team Wicked Bonkproof founder/coach Caleb Masland. The sunglasses in this review has been tested during all kinds of weather conditions and work outs in New Jersey and North Carolina. We started to test the sunglasses back in February so the products has been trough a lot of different weather conditions. Brands featured in upcoming reviews are:
Julbo, Ryder, Sundog, Tifosi, Nike and XX2i.


First out...

XX2i
XX2i is a new brand to us we have tested the models: "France2" and "USA1". XX2i starts at retail prices $54. What really sticks is that the brand really stands behind their products! Lifetime Warranty! No questions asked, you break or scratch them, send them back to be replaced for a nominal shipping and handling fee! The products we tested came with 3 lenses and a case.

USA

Overall Rating: Very Good

Fit: Frames fit close to the face without too much contact (only at the nose bridge and ears). These frames are a bit more stiff than the other options tested, and did feel a bit hard, especially around the nose.

Sun Blockage: Excellent blockage for bright and direct sunlight. The mirrored lenses create a yellowish hue in the field of vision, but the total darkening effect was best with these.

Venting/Antifogging: The lenses feature an air vent at the top that helps prevent fogging. These glasses are not 100% fog-proof, and did tend to get a little cloudy in humid conditions or after sweating for a while.

Interchangeable Lenses: Yes (mirror, brown, clear)

Best For: Runners seeking a smaller lens size and good sun blockage.

Drawbacks: Lens and nose piece shape had a tendency to create a sweat reservoir that would then dry as a blurry spot in the field of vision. Heavy sweaters will need to clean these lenses often.

France2

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Fit: France2 has a slim fast design. They fit close to you face and you barley notice them on your run. Frame is light weight and the nose pads and temple tips is adjustable for a better fit.

Sun Blockage: The blue colored lens offer a comfortable protection in direct sun and bright white sun. I have not experienced any discomfort when running in any weather conditions.

Venting/Antifogging: We have tested them during really cold winter runs and warmer runs and the lenses did fog up during really cold weather runs. 

Interchangeable Lenses: France2 comes with 3 interchangeable lenses. Very easy to change and you will find a lens for all kinds of weather.

Best for: With all features and the warranty of XX2i France2 you can not go wrong. You get a great package and great protection in most kind of weather conditions fast feeling for under $60. 

Drawbacks: Not the best option in cold weather running as lens fogs up.

KRS

I did not review the Skechers GoMeb KRS myself, but Happy feet did a pretty good job to sum it up!
http://happiefeet.blogspot.com/2014/05/skechers-gomeb-krs-review.html

Back to racing, Dora Pedersen 5K

After Boston Marathon, my legs, body and mind has been very tired and feeling beige. I have been trying to pick up speed at times but my body and legs has not responded well. I took one week off after Boston and have been running with an every other day approach after that. I have not been to worried about my legs as I know they will finally respond but I have to admit that motivation takes a turn when legs does not respond.

I had planned for Dora Pedersen 5K and a possible a 2 runner Poconos Marathon relay.

Dora Pedersen 5K was this weekend. Anything under 20min would have been great, I ended up ding 18:31. It was a very humid day so, I Im very satisfied with the time and a third place. First mile was 5:40, I know I need to be around this pace to be able to get times under 18. Hopefully with lot of faster times over the summer I will get there.


I decided to not do the Pocono Marathon relay. Legs are better but I dont feel it would have been a great choice for my legs at this point. Instead I will do Lake Mohawk 8.2 mile run next weekend. I great race in a great spot!

Current shoe rotation:

Skechers GoMeb Speed2
Skechers GoBionic2
Skechers GoRun3

Win Speed2

My friend Runners Ramblings offer you a chance to put yourself in Mebs shoes! Win a pair of Skechers GoMeb Speed2

Check it out here: http://www.runnersramblings.com/

Go Kara! Kara Goucher to Skechers Performance Division

The rumor has been around for a while. Today it was finally announced! Wlcome to Skechers Performance Division Elite Team!
#GoElite #GoLikeNeverBefore



runnersworld.com/elite-runners/kara-goucher-signs-with-skechers?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-RunnersWorld-_-Content-News-_-KaraSignsWithSketchers