Nike LunaRacer+ 2

yey! another item review! :)

Because I like to spoil myself, you will often see gadget or item reviews in my blog. This time I'm going to review the new racing flats released by Nike - the lunarlite racer 2.

Ok so let's start!


I've been running for some months now, and i have been training with my trusty but heavy Nike Airmax 90 Trainers all this time. So far, the longest distance I've ran in those shoes is 5km. I am very happy with that cross trainer shoes that even when my feet hurts i still refuse to buy new ones. However while reading 'round the Internet, i stumbled upon an article that says i have greater risks of having injuries running on wrong shoes. So after a morning run at veteran's i head to the store to buy new ones.

I was suppose to buy a new balance shoes because the Unilab run offered 30% discount to all new balance items. That would mean that i could buy one for around 3k -ish, and save some for socks and other stuff i would have to buy. However by some stroke of fate, i entered the Nike store first.

What happened between lunarlite racer 2 and myself is simply magical. If there's such a thing as love at first run, then that's exactly how i would describe my racer 2 experience. The first glance at this shoe and i already knew that i wanted it. It featured the shocking pink color in the net but what i saw in the store styles the livestrong color of yellow and black. It was perfect. I fitted it and it was perfect. I was jumping around the store.. running around the store and it was perfect. I was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. I wanted it. I just found my perfect shoes.



The following morning I took the shoes for a test run. It was very light and cool on my feet. I think its one of the lightest shoe on the market right now. I ran 3km.. my feet are still fine. 5km passed... my feet are barely aching. Now on 7km.. i dont feel tired at all. 10km.. ok i should stop now, before i hurt myself from the sudden increase in milleage. The cool thing is i actually didn't feel tired at all, my feet was cool and my heels felt no pain from the run - to think that was my first 10km run. hehehe They're weren't kidding when they said that this shoes would make you feel like you could run forever. :)

The surprising thing in this story is not the fact that i was able to finish the distance, but how fast i was able to finish it. This is the data from micoach:



being the "Snail Runner" that i am, it was quite a surprise that i was able to finish at 1:11:45 on my first 10k run. I was AMAZED!

Here's what i could say about it:

Stability - same as the previous lunarlite models, lunaracer2 featured the same high-tech foam that Nike is so proud of. I found the lunaracer 2 to be very stable and comfortable on the heel with a 5k-10k run.
Cushion - This shoes also provides great cushion and though i've only tested it on a 10k run i feel like it would also do well on high millage runs.
Comfort - because of its soft interior, my feet didn't feel like it was trapped in a crowded MRT on rush hour. It was able to breathe quite well which i think allowed my feet to not get tired as quickly.
Weight: women's 157 g/5.6 oz, men's 187 g/6.5 oz
Price: P5600

I'm sure you've guess by now what my rating is.

Its 5 Paws for this shoes. Im truly inlove with it :)

RUN for Wellness

The Unilab Run for Wellness was scheduled 2 weeks after my Century Tuna Run. Same venue, same route and i ran the same distance of 3km. So basically this was just a repeat of my Century Tuna Run, it was a chance for me to maybe correct my mistakes.

My Race Adjustments:

1. I didn't overeat before leaving the house for the race.

2. I arrived early w/c gave me enough time to do the stretches

3. I aready know the route so i know what to expect

4. I left my towel and bottle in the car

5. I rested well before the race

the result: I ran a bit faster than my first 3k Run :)

(Official Time) - 25:53
(Chip Time) - 23:26

If only my official time is the same with my chip time, I would have been in the upper bracket of the rankings. But since I was in the middle of the pack there was a noticeable 3 min delay. However I'm very happy with this run, and i did obviously improved a lot. :)

*after crossing the finish line still breathing hard from my adrenalin rush, someone tapped me at the back and said, "how was your run?". When i turned it was Coach Rio, beaming in his friendly smile and I politely answered, "It was great coach.." :)

Here are some photos from the RUN.


buying water before the race to hydrate


with my office friends before the run


My Photovendo Shot



having my picture taken with coach rio at the finish line :)
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Just like the Century Tuna, i consider this one to be a well planned running event. The results were released a day after the run. The photovendo and runpix were also released the same week.

My Rating: Just like the century tuna this race is awesome! specially since i got a really good photovendo shot hahaha!

I'm giving this race 5 Paws

MiCoach Pacer

Because every runner is different and every heart is unique.

I did not finished my C25k, because before i finished the 9 weeks i got this nifty device as a pre birthday gift. True enough as the Ad say's this device caters more specifically with your personalized running needs.

First let's off with the parts:

image courtesy of stuff.tv

The package comes with a heart rate monitor and strap, a stride sensor and the micoach pacer, a USB connector and an audio connector. It also have an included one piece earphone, in case you don't already have one.

Getting Started:
First you'd need to register an account in the micoach website: http://www.micoach.com/


..then plug the device to your computer via USB - charge it for 2 hours. The website is very user friendly, and contains clear instructions on how to set up and use the micoach pacer.

You will choose a training plan to fit your specific needs; whether you just want to relax, get fit or improve your time for a full marathon.



After choosing your Training Plan micoach will then ask you to take an assessment workout. This will gauge your current fitness level and automatically calibrate your heart rate zones.

After the assessment workout, you may review your performace like the one we have below. Drag the little marker to check you stats for the specific time.



You may review your training plan and adjust it accordingly by clicking on Manage > schedule. Then just drag the workouts around

Then you're all done, just head out and enjoy the run and your training program. :)

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Item Review
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PROS:

- Its very easy to use, the website is user friendly and the instructions are clearly layed out.

- the battery for the pacer is rechargeable via USB, and since i got it 2 months ago i haven't purposely charged it yet except for its initial charge.

- it involves different easy to follow training plans

- it can be used with any kinds of shoes

- it's easy to calibrate both the heart rate and stride sensor

- you could move around your schedule depending on your availability

- battery for the stride sensor and heart rate monitor is replaceable.

- it can be used with any type of mp3 player

- it caters to a wide array of languages

CONS:

- it has lots of pieces which could easily be misplaced so i got a pouch specifically for micoach.

** there's news that micoach will very soon incorporate the ability to make your custom workout from scratch. :)

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Sennheiser MX85 Sport II

ITEM REVIEW

I bought the Sennheiser MX85 sport II as a reward for finishing the Century Tuna Race. Safe to say, I'm happy with this earphone.

The design is a little weird and takes a bit of getting use to. It features a little extension that fits right in the folds of your ear. Its very comfy round the edges, but it could also make your ear hurt if worn incorrectly. It includes ear adapters of different sizes so you could adjust accordingly.

The earphone is sweat proof and water proof. Perfect for sports and in my case running.

Bass is decent and not too overpowering. If you're looking for the BUM BUM BUM feeling in your ear then this might not be the one for you.

The earphones however is a bit pricey. It costs $60 from apple store. Other than id say that its a very good buy.

Note on the sweat proof feature: so far it hadn't corroded yet, considering that my sweat is very acidic. What i noticed though is the slight discoloration of the chord because i wear it on my inner shirt. Other than that, its still in tip top shape. :)

my rating: 4 paws

The Race to be Fit

My first race is the Century Tuna Superbods Run.

I finished the four weeks of my C25k program which would then say that i am now capable of running for 5 mins in a slow controlled pace. I thought it would be enough, i would run for 5 min walk 3 mins (or til i catch my breath again).

So there i was, in the middle of the two thousand -ish or so 3km runner's, anxiously waiting for the gunstart. Alas! we heard the signal that the race had begun and I dashed away. I was sprinting like mad to keep up with my friend's pace that i could already hear my heart pounding through my throat. It was beating so loud and so fast that before i even reached the 1km mark, i already felt like I was going to faint.

"So much for my training", i said to myself, as i chugged down half of the contents of my water bottle. My head was pounding, and the veins in my forehead felt like overstretched rubber tubes ready to explode any minute - and this was only the 1km mark.

I walked for the next 300m or so before i started running again. I was holding my bottle on the left and my towel on the right and my arms are already getting numb from all these. I ran slow.. very slow this time. til i reached the 2km mark. After reaching that, I walked again.

I was very tired at this point, and I kept asking myself why i even bothered to join. My calf was cramping and i could feel it rising up to my thighs. Suddenly i heard the marshal yelling "1KM nalang!!! PUSH!! 1KM NALANG!" and in that moment i started running again. Halfway into the curve, I walked. Everyone was passing me at this point but heck, who cares? I'm near finishing this race. I WILL FINISH THIS RACE. My eyeballs ready to pop out of its socket, i got a glimpse of the finish line... and i sprinted away.

I finished. yey! and though it was only a 3km run (a run that most people would call "dog walker's category") I was very proud of myself and i considered it a great accomplishment. :)

Official Time: 00:26:13
Chip Time: 00:25:39


My Photovendo Shot (while feeling that my eyeballs are about to drop hehe)



My Race Mistakes

- i sprinted way too soon instead of keeping the slow pace as i practiced
- i was carrying way too much
- i didn't stretch enough before running
- i wasn't breathing enough
- i kept telling myself its hard
- i was clutching my hand too tight

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RACE REVIEW
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PROS:
- There were food after the race
a hefty amount of food and drinks was provided to all runners finishing the race
- The high-tech chip timer allowed fast release of the race results
- The finishing arch allowed runners to see their official time right then and there
- There were so many giveaways
- A lot of activities after the race
- friendly marshals
- water stations are strategically placed
- photovendo and runpix

CONS:
- There were so many people that it takes a while to reach the starting line
- It takes soo long to get the freebies due to the very long line

All in all i give this race 5 paws - It was really really good. :)

C25k - couch to 5k

Im testing out the new iphone app to blog so "bear" with me hehe..

This is the c25k program i followed which was actually great for beginners like me who doesn't have a background in running. The program encouraged me to let go of the speed and focus on the time first to build my endurance and cardio. I hope it will do good for you too. :)

The C25k Training Program

The Beginning...

I have been an asthmatic all my life and frankly speaking the only sports I've ever participated are those in the comfort of my wii console. I love to eat, (the luxury of not gaining weight much) and when stressed i eat double of what i normally can. I love desserts, chocolates and ice cream and cakes and everything in between. So there, i guess you could safely say that though i am not fat i am definitely not fit. I used to go to the gym quite often before but with the new induced stress of my work and the change of lifestyle i embraced as i got older, i started to lunge deeper and deeper into the couch potato syndrome.

My lifestyle was sluggish and in the hopes of getting fit and having my waist a bit trimmer, i enrolled to the gym and started doing cardio workouts. The poison of choice was taebo, then turbo jam then pilates.

After a while, i noticed that my friends in the office were turning a hype about running a race sponsored by one of our local presidential candidates. I wasn't interested, mainly because i am barely surviving the taebo, to let alone put myself into an excruciating run. I passed on the challenge because i just plainly thought i can't. A month later, my office friends were having a mumble again about joining the condura half mary which of course i didn't join, because well, i am not yet capable to run 3k so how on earth will i be able to run a 21k? Another race passed but i continue to do my gym workouts.

During those months i also heard about the continuous ads airing on TV about the century tuna superbods run. I thought to myself, "maybe i could do this..." (and maybe i could have my picture taken with derek as well hehehe) so i told my dad that i wanted to join the race, and he told me I'm not in the condition to run. However being the hard headed girl that i am, i went against his advice and registered anyway.

I downloaded an iphone application called c25k - couch to 5k. It's a 9 week program designed to help me train from being a couch potato to running 5k races. I said, "hey this could be cool" and tried it in my next gym workout.

I was barely running on the 1st week, walking 1 min running 1 min but it was ok. It went on like that for couple of days and gradually increased as time went by. I was doing great, slow but great. I couldn't run fast, my heart was buzzing like a humming bird whenever i try to step up the pace, so i decided to just stick to my walking program. Only problem is... i only have 4 weeks to go before the century tuna Run.

How did i do on my 1st 3k race? find out on my next blog. :)