"Gender Specific Engineering"...Yes, Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars!

New 2009 models keep coming in and the shoe companies keep upgrading to improve, but not drastically change, your favorite shoes. Most of the shoe companies have focussed on gender engineering for years, but routinely have concentrated on the differences in foot structure...the heel, forefoot girth, etc.... "Brooks For Women" was the first company to really focus on engineering specifically to a women's foot type. Now, all the companies focus on this and are starting to take "Gender Specific" engineering to another level by also incorporating the differences in bone structure, biomechanics, gait cycle, etc....

What shoe company biomechanic labs found to be the gender differences between men and women are that the angle velocity and speed of pronation is much higher in women while the transition of the foot strike is much slower with men runners. Also the angle of the foot strike is more severe in women than in men.

Taken this into account, Mizuno has designed all their running shoes to feature "Gender Specific Engineering" to acomodate for these differences. Their top of the line performance models in Stability (Wave Nirvana 5) and Neutral Cushioning (Wave Creation 10), which recently hit stores, take this into account. Early returns at MRC indicate these updates are smoking, when it comes to performing. Below is a brief description of the New 2009 Wave Nirvana 5 and Wave Creation 10.

Mizuno Wave Nirvana 5 (Maximum Stability - Over Pronators) - $140

The Wave Nirvana 5 has been updated to better fit the "Maximum Support" runner. The new triple density wave is designed to flow with the natural movement of the foot, while maintaining strong support. Gender Engineering allows Mizuno to tailor the Nirvana 5 to the different needs of men and women, with the women's version having increased flex grooves and a rounder heel for a more natural ground impact.

Mizuno Wave Creation 10 (Maximum Cushioning - Neutral) - $135

The Wave Creation 10 is Mizuno's most cushioned shoe, designed for the neutral runner looking for maximum comfort. This is the first Mizuno to feature a new and improved Infinity Wave, offering incredible cushioning while minimizing weight. It features all the other technologies runners have come to expect from Mizuno, such as their Gender & SmoothRide Engineering, AP Mid Sole, and loads of VS-1 to absorb shock in the heel and forefoot.

Both shoes are currently available at Maine Running..... So whether your a guy or a gal, you know the shoe companies are working so you can.....Run Happy!

Hope....

I started running in 1972. My family had moved to Oregon and I ran a 1.5 mile cross country race at Joseph Lane Jr High, in Roseburg, OR... I won the race and didn't know what that meant and I didn't know about Steve Prefontaine, but quickly learned.

I played football, basketball, baseball and wondered what the "Running" Thing was all about. By the time I had graduated from High School, I knew running was the one thing I had passion for, worked hard at and it could make things better in life..... Along the way, I became the first member in my family to graduate from college. I've had the privilege of working and running with some of the best in the world... I've won and lost...but have learned in the process...

My father was a plumber (definitely not Joe) and my mother was a hair dresser. Somewhere along the way, they instilled in me that everyone is created with the same opportunity in life, but that hard work and opportunity was earned, not given.... The one thing I always appreciated about running is that it didn't matter what the coach thought, what politics there were...if you got to the finish line first, then your hard work was presented at that moment.

The same is true with any runner looking to win that internal battle within themselves... if you reach the goal you set, you win...no one can take that away from you.

Barack Obama became president yesterday...Hope, equality, dreams, passion and spirit ruled the day....somewhere, my dad is smiling.....Run Happy!

Winter Wonderland

OK.....so it's snowing and tempatures have dropped down to around zero, lately. Think we have it bad (I actually like winter!), I spoke with Kris Hartner at Naperville Running Company, near Chicago and he said tempatures there were "-17 degrees with no wind chill". John Clark, from Skinny Raven Sports in Anchorage said Temps there haven't been above 0 degrees for days and they just had a warm spell at 11 degrees (at least we get sunlight!) and Scott Dvorak, owner of Charlotte Running in NC was whining because he had to run in 17 degree weather one morning. Needless to say, runner's will adapt and run through the elements. Thursday night, with Temps near 0, 15 brave souls showed up at MRC to do their weekly hill workout. Blaine Moore brings his drill and folks just put screws in their shoes, layer up, put a reflective vest on and off they go.

Talk about role reversal, how about Jan Gagnier and Kathy Bowe, just completing the Disney 1/2 Marathon and already back at it, to brave the elements....Let's see, 75 degrees down to sub-zero....that's a conundrum if I've ever seen one.

I, for one, would much rather have 20 degree temps vs. 95 degrees and 90% humidity in July and August. Having spent my college years at the University of Florida, I can attest that you can only take off so many clothes, but here in New England, at least you can put on more layers. Also, there is nothing exciting about having your feet soaked with sweat and having your shoes eaten alive by your bodies salt, etc..... even tech socks don't help in those conditions. That's not to say I didn't enjoy those 60 degree January days, cause I did!

OK..so the Mid Winter Classic is in two weeks and pitchers and catchers report in four...there is hope on the horizon. Usually 800 runners look forward to this classic race, with some using as a litmus test for their winter conditioning or Boston Marathon Training. Even with Winter....runners run and most Run Happy!

Mickey, Minnie & Goofy...!

Have you ever seen that commercial "Want To Get Away"? Well, if you are looking for a great marathon weekend, one of the top events, (if not the top!) is the Walt Disney World Marathon & ½ Marathon. Of course, if you are "Goofy" enough and up to the "Goofy Challenge" you can do both!

Yesterday, the ½ Marathon attracted 17,000 a true litmus test that running is going strong in a down economy. My good friend (yes, 6 degrees of separation does exist) Jon Hughes, who is also owner of Track Shack, one of the best running stores in the U.S., directed his 15th Walt Disney World Marathon with over 45,000 participants in the ½ marathon, Marathon, Goofy Challenge (you have to run both races!) and the Circle of Life 5K.

There is music, Disney characters, and many of the lucky finishers have their names called out as they cross the finish line. Besides runners of all shapes, ages and sizes, there are some pretty impressive costumes. There are runners dressed as Minnie Mouse running under 1:30, Jimminy Cricket, Donald Duck, Tinker Bell, etc…. This isn't any ordinary road race event, this is a world class experience. Jon and his team recognized that you didn't have to have prize money in order to create a "unique" experience for runner's…after all, isn't that really what running in an event is all about? WDW was the first major event to see that elite prize money just didn't make sense…nor would it diminish that "unique" Disney experience runner's have come to expect.

Several Mainer's made the journey, with over 63 finishing both the marathon and ½ marathon. Jon Wilson from Falmouth, finished 7th overall in the 1/2 followed closely by Bobby Winn, Ogunquit (50 years old, I might add) who took 1st masters overall. Looks like those weekly massages with Mike Gaige paid off for Bob!

Several folks in our training group headed down…For the ½ Marathon; Kathy Bowe - 2:30:15, Jan Gagnier, 3:05:03 (how's Melbourne treating you and see you Thursday!), Linda Greer # 3:26:36, Mary Kay Kasper # 2:24:35, Linda Whitten # 5:15:43. Gene Longobardi # 4:35:14 (Goofy Challenge next year, right?), Roger Morse # 6:20:08 and Lois Martin all ran the Marathon for the magical trek through Disney's four major theme parks.

So if you want to spend the fall training for a unique race, this event is one of, if not the best Marathon weekend experiences runner's can have. For more info on the Disney Marathon Go Here, Registration for 2010 opens on January 12, today. After all, isn't that what it's all about! And remember….Run Happy!