Marathon: You Can Do It

Five years ago the USA Track and Field banned Spira Running shoe.

Benefits of Wearing Spira Running Shoe

The controversial shoe has a spring technology that is placed in the soles of the shoe. Spira’s patented WaveSpring technology reduces impact force on a runner’s body, which leads to an efficient recovery and less overall stress - signifying that the WaveSpring technology may be the most significant technical advancement achieved in the footwear industry in recent years. Spira’s shoes - and its WaveSpring technology - violates rule 143.3 (a) of the USA Track and Field which specifically bans springs in shoes for competition.

Do the Spira Shoe Boost Elite Runners Performance

“The shoes were super,” Said Anzhelika Averkova of the Ukraine after winning the 2007 Detroit Marathon.

Although most marathons have ignored the ban,  organisers of Boston Marathon have banned it. If I remember correctly one marathon runner at Beijing Olympic Marathon was wearing the banned shoe, I just can’t remember the name of the runner?

Hey - if you’re not aiming for a world record explore the Spira website, watch the video, read the reviews, and decide for yourself whether the technology’s worth taking a flyer on

Tags: Running shoes, Trainers, Training

Before you buy a running shoe make sure you know the shape of your feet. Many running injuries suffered by runners are caused by wearing the wrong running shoes.

Shoe manufacturers design running shoes to fit different types of feet.

The most common feet shapes are

Feet Shape one

Feet Shape Two

Feet Shape three

Feet Shape Four 

To know the shape of your feet step on a piece of paper and then trace round your feet using a pencil.

Next time you go to buy your running shoe remember to tell your running shoe seller the shape of your feet so that he can recommend the right running shoe.

Happy Buying!

Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple Inc, the makers of the Ipod, the music device that many runners cannot live without.

While many business executive wear suits, Jobs usually wears a black long-sleeved mock turtleneck made by St. Croix, Levis 501 blue jeans, and New Balance 992 sneakers.

Steve Jobs has led a dramatic life, a college drop out, he started a business at 20, at 30 he was sacked from the company he founded and in 1996 the prodical son returned back to to the company he founded.

Finding Your Love

In 2002 Steve Jobs spoke at graduation ceremony at Stanford University and reflected on what kept him going during challenging times “I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going is that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love.” He continued to stress the importance of “finding something you love” and “following your own inner voice.”

When you are doing what you love you will never give up! This applies to relationship, business and running.

Tags: New Balance, Running Shoe, Sneakers, Trainers

After I wrote a post about the risk and benefit of running with worn out trainers, a reader alerted me to the inspiring story of Abebe Bikila who ran bare footed at 1960 Summer Olympics Marathon. The incredible thing about this barefooted Ethiopian runner was he also won the gold.

According to Bikila’s bio on wikipedia, Adidas, the shoe sponsor at the 1960 Summer Olympics, had few shoes left when Bikila went to try out shoes and he ended up with a pair that didn’t fit comfortably, so he couldn’t use them. A couple of hours before the race the decision was taken by Abebe to run barefoot, the way he’d trained for the race.

At the start of the race the Australian Ron Clarke made a comment to Bikila about running barefoot. I didn’t find what Clarke actually said but I guese he said something like “Mate, are you nuts!”

Bikila won in a then record time of 2:15:16.2, becoming the first African to win an Olympic gold medal. He finished 26 seconds ahead of Rhadi Ben Abdesselam of Morocco.

After the race, when Bikila was asked why he had run barefoot, he replied, “I wanted the world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism.”

Abebe Bikila’s Soles After the Olympic Marathon (1960) picture courtesy of www.runningbarefoot.org

Have an Inspiring Week

Tags: , Ethiopian Runners, Marathon, Olympics, Running Shoe

One way you can develop strong legs is to run with your worn out trainers. Worn out  trainers will make you feel pain  on the feet but  the pain will increase your pain tolerance.

Most runners discard their running shoes as soon as they feel they are worn out. When I started feeling pain on my feet during my Sunday morning 21K run I knew my Adidas Trainers were getting worn out. I had run on them  for 5 months, during that period I wore them to run last year’s Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.

Benefit of Running on Worn Out Trainers

Instead of buying a new pair of trainers I decided to keep running in them to find out whether running in pain will make me stronger. My idea was based on weight training principle, the way to build bigger and stronger muscles is to subject your muscles to more pain. Body builders build bigger and stronger muscles by lifting heavier weights. Once they get used to the pain of lifting a certain weight level they move up to a heavier weight.

Dangers of Running On Worn Out Trainers

Before you try running on worn out trainers be aware of the dangers. A worn out trainer can increase the risk of injury. Road running is an impact sport, your joints knees, ankles and hips are under great stress. A good running shoe helps to reduce the impact of tarmac on your joints.

The Safest Way to Run On your Worn Out Trainers 

1. Cut down on the mileage 

I couldnt stand the pain of running 21K on worn out trainers so I cut my run to 10K. The more you are on the road the higher the risk of suffering an injury.

2. Slow your pace.

Running at a slower pace will also reduce the risk of suffering an injury. Although the pain in your feet will automatically kill your pace.

3. Avoid Rocky Roads

A rocky road will cause you an injury even when wearing a good trainer. Avoid the rocks and run on smooth tarmac.

Safe Running 

Tags: , Running Shoe, Training