Skechers GOmeb Speed 3 Review

I have been wearing Skechers for almost a decade.  When I started hearing about their push into the performance running shoe game, I was very skeptical.  I contacted Skechers to try the GOmeb Speed 3 after seeing reviews about how it is a great shoe.  My thoughts were that a newcomer in the running game is probably going to put out a mediocre shoe at best. 

I got the GOmeb Speed 3 in the mail and had to take them out of the box immediately because my curiosity was killing me.  I slipped them on and was floored.  They fit like a glove.  I have never put on a pair of shoes that felt so comfortable.  My next though was how light the shoe was.  It weighs in at around 8 ounces.  The shoe is very flexible and well put together.  I had to wait a few days to test them out because I wanted to save them for a speed run.

Fast forward to my first test run...  I put on the GOmeb Speed 3’s and headed out for a 5k sprint.  The first thing that I noticed was that it was more of a minimal shoe than I was used to.  It has enough cushioning to get the job done, but I am not sure if it would be enough for me to run a half marathon in.  After the first mile, I started to really think about how the shoe felt.  Even though there wasn’t as much cushioning as I was used to, I found it to be very comfortable and allowed me to focus on my form.  I was able to improve my push-off and ended up setting a new 5k PR.  

The upper material is very airy and looks great.  I got the black and neon yellow shoe, which looks awesome.  The only negative thing I can say is that some of the black paint on the outsole was a little sloppy, but you would only notice that if you were taking a close look.  It is nothing that you would notice out on a run.  The lugs on the bottom of the shoe provide plenty of traction and the outsole flexibility is perfect.

While many of my shoes have a wide toe box and zero heel drop, I found the narrower toe box and 4mm heel drop in the GOmeb Speed 3 was still comfortable and I didn’t notice the difference.

All in all, this is a great shoe and I was utterly surprised with Skechers performance shoe program.  They have really produced a winner in the GOmeb Speed 3.  This is a great shoe at a great price, costing around $120.  If you are looking for a great speed shoe that will help you bring out your best, give the GOmeb Speed 3 a try.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

Update on Noxgear Tracer 360 Review

I wanted to revisit one of the best pieces of running gear out there in my opinion.  I reviewed the Tracer 360 from Noxgear in November (click here for the review) and have been using it on a regular basis, whenever I do a night run. 

It is extremely comfortable and is vital to make sure that traffic sees you when you are out on your night or early morning runs.  I have only had to replace the batteries one time so far and there has been no wear on the unit that I have been able to see. 

This is still a product that I would recommend to anyone who runs when it is dark out.  I have worked out a deal with Noxgear where you can get 20% off plus free shipping if you use the code "RWI20" at checkout.  It is good until June 30, 2015.  Get yours today. 

Also, Noxgear is coming out with a lighted dog harness in May.  I will hopefully be reviewing that as well and think it will be a great product to keep your four legged friend safe as well.

Why should I take energy gels?

I have been using energy gels for cycling even before my running days.  I never truly understood the purpose of taking them other then it would provide me with energy during my exercise.  I ran across a great article from Competitor.com, "What Is the Purpose of Race Nutrition." that talks about the purpose of race nutrition that really puts things in perspective.

Let’s first look what is in the energy gels that many runners use.  Most energy gels are made up of simple sugars like sucrose and glucose.  I use Gu Rocutane which uses maltodextrin.  These are basically just sugars and are some of the worst things you could put in your body.  The thing to keep in mind is that you are trying to use these energy sources to complete races or workouts, not use as a dietary supplement. 

This is my take on nutrition.  I try to non-processed foods as much as possible.  When it comes to training though, I need to provide my body with what it needs to make it through the grueling last few miles of my races.  Everyone has their own opinion and there are many runners who would rather eat healthy snacks during races, but what the article from competitor.com said was that you are trying to supply your body with energy, not eating healthy.  Eating Brussels sprouts and apples won’t provide you with the energy you need even though they are a great, healthy source of carbs.  Your body needs the simple sugars.

You should look for an energy gel that will provide you with about 60 grams of carbs per hour according to the article.  I tend to take one gel (21 grams of carbs each) every 3.5 miles, or about every 30 minutes.  Test out several different types and see what works best.  I find the consistency and the ingredients in the Gu Rocutane work great for me.  It is a little more pricy than some of the other brands though.  You can also find gels with or without caffeine.  I find the caffeine can give you an added boost later in a race. 

One major point I want to make is that you should be practicing your gel consumption during your long runs so your body will be used to digesting while running.  It will make your race more pleasant and could help minimize trips to the dreaded port-o-potty, or behind a bush.  Let me know what your favorite energy gel or supplement is and why.

Note:  I am not a doctor; these are my personal opinions based on research.  Consult a running coach to assess what should be added to your running plans.

CompressionZ Product Review

In the world of compression gear, there is no shortage of companies.  CompressionZ is based out of Sydney, Australia.   Their co-founder, Peter, set out to develop high quality compression gear that would be affordable and effective.  His initial frustration with compression gear is that it is typically very expensive, or does not provide enough compression to make a difference.  CompressionZ takes pride in getting feedback from athletes and customers on what can be improved with their products, which I find extremely refreshing.

I received calf compression sleeves, a compression shirt and compression pants to test out.  You can purchase their products from their website or at Amazon (which I found was cheaper when I did my research). 

The compression long sleeve shirt is great for a base layer or for recovery after your runs.  I found that the shirt was a little itchy at first, but that quickly went away.  I found that there was the right amount of compression and the materials should hold up for quite a while.  The compressionlong sleeve shirt starts at $29.99 at Amazon.

The compression pant is also great for a base layer or for recovery.  These pants were extremely comfortable from the moment I put them on and they too should hold up for quite a while.  The amount of compression was perfect and this is my favorite product that they sent me.  Nothing is better after a race than to throw on a pair of compression pants to help reduce the pain and get you back out on the road sooner.  The compression pants start at $44.95 at Amazon.

The one product that I felt fell a little short were the calf compression sleeves.  Let me say that there is nothing wrong with them and they are a great value for the money.  I felt that compared to some of the really high end calf sleeves (which I have used), the CompressionZ sleeves didn’t have as much compression.  When I asked Peter about it, he said that most people preferred this level of compression, which I can totally understand.  I tend to want a lot more compression than most people.  The CompressionZ calf sleeves start at $19.99 at Amazon, which is far cheaper than many of the competitor’s sleeves. 

CompressionZ provides a great product at a cheaper price point than most of the competition. I feel that the materials and quality of manufacturing are good and you get a great bang for your buck.  Give some CompressionZ gear a try and let me know what you think.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

Preparing for Speed Workouts

I don’t know about you, but speed intervals are my favorite workout of the week.  I get an intense workout and I can feel myself become faster each week.  Speed workouts can be extremely taxing on tendons, ligaments and muscle fiber (1).   I just ran across a great article from Runners World that talks about three drills to reduce injury by getting your body ready for that intense workout.

If you want to get faster, speed intervals will be your best friend.  It is recommended to warm up before each speed session.  I like to run at a very easy pace (about 2-3 minutes slower than my 5k pace) for about .5 to 1 mile.  The article suggested adding three drills in between your warm up and speed workout to increase your range of motion and stride with less effort (1).  These are the drills:

High Knees – this activates your hip flexors and stretches your glutes.  You walk while lifting your knees up toward your chest.  You can also pull your knee close to your chest for an extra stretch.  Be sure to lift up on the ball of your foot as you are performing this drill. (Click here for video)

Butt Kicks – this activates your hamstrings and stretches your quads.  You simply try to kick your butt as you slowly run.  This always makes me think of Liar Liar where Jim Carey kicks his own butt. (Click here for video)

Backward Striders – this activates your glutes and stretches your hip flexors and quads.  Simply run backwards with long strides.  This will help you lengthen your stride, which in turn will allow you to cover more ground. (Click here for video, do backwards)

Each drill should be done in two sets over 10 meters or roughly 30 feet.  This will set you up for a great speed session and help you get stronger.  Making these muscles stronger will also decrease the risk of injury.  Try it out and let me know what you think.

Reference:

(1)    http://www.runnersworld.com/workouts/pre-workout-drills-for-speed

Note:  I am not a doctor; these are my personal opinions based on research.  Consult a running coach to assess what should be added to your running plans.