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(1/5) Nike Pegasus 36 Trail - Have always wanted to try a trail shoe, but was pretty sure I didn't need one that could handle the technical trails in places like Colorado.  Focus on was on a hybrid shoe (road and trail), with potentially a GTX/Goretex liner.  My concern with GTX is heat.  

Shoes of the Year (in no order): Vaporfly Next %  - My favorite racing shoe.  Saving for marathon distances as my 4% works for shorter races.  Doesn't cause forefoot fatigue like the 4% at longer distances. 1080 v9  - My favorite long run shoe.  Nice cushioning, though not as much bounce as newer foams. Hoka Carbon X  - Surprise long run shoe.  Plate doesn't bounce like Vaporfly, but the shoe has lots of cushion. New Balance Rebel  - Enjoy this shoe as an alternative to the Razor 3.  Not sure why, but it works well as an all-around choice.   This is the complete list of shoes that were purchased/tried in 2019.  I have enough shoes in rotation at this point I am really going to try to avoid buying shoes in the spring of 2020 until I retire some.  Currently targeting 200-300 miles to retire shoes.  Lower miles for eva shoes, but making some exceptions for 1080v9, for example.  Colors: Blue - recommend, Yell...

Currently Recommended for Different Uses, If I had to Pick One Today for Each Use (Dec 2019): Races - Vaporfly Next%, Vaporfly 4% (blue) Tempo, Interval - Vaporfly 4% (orange), Carbon X Hills - Razor 3, New Balance Rebel Easy, Long - New Balance Propel, Solomon Sonic RA 2 All Around - Reebok Forever Energy, New Balance Rebel Cold  weather/rain - Nike Odyssey Shield Other Shoes: New Balance Propel  - So just got this shoe as an alternative to the 1080v10, since it was only $60.  I can get it now for $50.  This is a good long shoe.  The only downside was the high heel collar.  It felt awkward walking, but didn't notice it after I got running. Topo Zephyr  - Still testing this shoe.  Initial run was bad.  But every reviewer has indicated the need for break-in.  Will give in 30 miles.  Initially, very firm.  Adidas Solar Glide  - So, I got this shoe for $35. I had sworn off Boost shoes, but it was so cheap, a...

So, to put to thoughts all that happened leading up to Chicago and during the marathon. Left at 6:30am for the flight.  No real issues.  Saw another Strider at the airport and we synched up on plans for the marathon and what we did or didn't know.  I had planned (so I thought) for most things, including rain (not in the forecast, but just in case) and some level of wind/cold (thought start would be in the 37 to 40 degree range).  Packed racing gear into a separate bag that would be with me.  We ended up not checking in anything. After arriving in Chicago, to the CTA to downtown (saved some money).  Had to drag the bags .7 miles to the hotel in light rain.  We stayed at the Loews.  They had a room ready (we arrived at 10am), so that was handy.  I asked for a late checkout (2pm), which they gave me.  That was appreciated, and removed some of the pressure off of getting back quickly from the marathon. Lunch was a Chicago hotdog and Po...

Finished last "long" run today.  Beginning final days of taper before the marathon.  Last few weeks of training have been high intensity, but not high mileage.  Approx. 41 miles per week with avg paces in the 8:20 min/mile range.  Long runs have been been fast finishes, with an 18 mile run at 8:08 min/mile pace. Current race attire/equipment are as planned: New Balance Ice shirt (not singlet) Zensah arm warmers (current temp projection is 40 degrees at start) -- not sure if I will use a disposable sock as an alternative disposable gloves Reebok shorts (5 inches) Julbi sunglasses injinji socks (trail if colder) Vaporfly Next % Naked Running Belt 2 containers for 6 BCAA and 6 salt capsules 5 Huma and 5 Spring gels placed into 2 containers (150 ML hydropac soft flasks) -- removed Carb Boom gel from rotation due to issues today and last week (assuming this is causing the problems) 1 Clif Chew Blocks (6) ??? Cell phone (iphone SE) Forerunner 935 Stryd Wi...

Currently Recommended for Different Uses, If I had to Pick One Today for Each Use (Sept. 2019): Races - Vaporfly Next% Tempo, Interval - Vaporfly 4%, Carbon X Hills - Razor 3, New Balance Rebel Easy, Long - New Balance 1080 v9 All Around - New Balance Beacon, New Balance Rebel Other Shoes: Adidas Prime Parley  - Will use on treadmill. Reebok Sweet Road 2  - On hold for use after RA 2. Reebok Floatride Forever Energy  - Will rotate them in after Beacon. Reebok Floatride Run Fast  - Ran in them recently, and they really feel like a racing flat.  I don't get as much feedback from them at paces above 9 min/mile. That said, as I increased my pace (i.e., faster), the shoes started responding better.   Salomon Sonic RA 2  - Surprisingly nice shoe.  It is a bit long.  Will have to test to see if can be a long run shoe.  Picked up on ebay for $48, what a deal.  Starting rotating this shoe in as I start decreasing the ...

This is an update to my post in April.  For the Coastal Delaware Marathon, I used Spring gels every 3 miles with a Clif Bloc chew as an alternate.  What I noticed recently is that these gels provide significantly less carbs than the Huma gels (17g vs. 21g) and less sodium (60mg vs 250mg).  This might explain some of issues that I saw in the race (bonking around mile 20 and cramping at mile 24).  I am targeting 60g of carbs and 750mg of  electrolytes an hour.  To get there, I am now planning on using/executing the following:  taking a gel, electrolyte capsule and BCAA capsule 15 minutes before start of run (to pre-load energy processing prior to the run) taking a gel every 20 minutes  rotating through carb boom!, huma, and spring gel every hour (one of each, and 1-2 will be caffine) adding 1-2 salt capsules from gu every hour (140mg per capsule) adding a BCAA capsule from gu every hour (will have to see if this helps in long runs) I hav...