Shoe Review & This Weeks Race Report

SHOE REVIEW

So I purchased a pair of Inov-8 Bare X-Lite 150's about a week and a half ago and start running in them about a week ago.  Before trying Inov-8 I had been running in a pair of Brooks Pure Connect that I purchase last October, so I got about seven months out of the Brooks and I am still running in them while I get more acquainted with my new Inov-8.

The Inov-8 Bare X-Lite 150 are more minimal than the Brooks Pure Connect and have taken some time to get use to.  Until my last run I was about to walk away from them but I have had a change of heart.  I went for an easy 8 mile run yesterday which was the day after my first race of the year so my legs were a bit tight.  The first thing I noticed and still notice about the X-Lite 150's is the absence of cushion.  This is a true bare foot running shoe.  I have posted a picture so that you don't begin to confuse this shoe with a toe shoe.  The X-Lite 150 looks like a traditional running shoe with a wide toe box and a 0mm drop between the heel and toe.  The first couple of times out I experience the same calf soreness that I experience when I moved from traditional running shoes to the Brooks Pure Connect because the Inov-8 Bare X-Lite 150 are flatter and have less cushion. 

When I stepped out the door yesterday I didn't have high expectations but after a few miles my legs felt pretty fresh.  As I became more accustomed to running in them I felt my speed picking up which was confirmed by looking at my GPS watch.  So after about 50 miles in the Inov-8 Bare X-Lite 150 I am giving this shoe a thumbs up.  The next test will be to see how long they last.  I am not sure if I can get seven months or more out of these shoes or not.  Time will tell.

THIS WEEKS RACE REPORT

I have my first multisport race of the year under my belt and know what areas I need to keep working on.  The Flower City Duathlon was held this past Saturday and consisted of a 5K run / 20 mile bike / 5K run.  I expected to do well and the run and crush the bike.  It turns out that I did well on the run and did a little better on the bike but not as well as I would have like to have done.  I ran my first 5K at a 6:50 pace, finished the bike with an average speed of 20.5mph and improved my second 5K with a pace of 6:40.  I am very happy with the run pace but expected to be closer to 21mph on the bike.  My take away from the race is keep working hard on my run but start adding more hill workout to my bike training.  I really got bogged down on the climbs more than I expected to.  That is one of the reasons I like these early season short races.  I get a good feel for what is working well and what needs some improvement.

My biggest concern coming into the race was not how I was going to perform but the temperature outside.  When I got into my car on Saturday morning the temperature was 27 degrees.  At the start of the race it was about 30 degrees.  By the time I got through the first run I was warmed up and felt great during the bike portion of the race.  My feet did a little cold but I expected much worse.  I finished the race in 1:43, 26 overall out of about 300 participants and 8 in my age group. 

That is it for me.  Please be safe and train smart.  I had heard and seen to many story's about cyclists being run over by cars this year.