Hoka One One

My first impression of the Hoka One One shoes was 'how does anyone run in those moon boots?'. Looking at the shoe they seem cumbersome and bulky, nothing could be further from actuality. I have now been using the Hoka Stinson Evo shoe for two months. 

The women's Stinson Evo

The first big test I had for the shoes was after I ran a 100km race in another pair of shoes and my feet were trashed. I wanted to complete a 100 mile week and my feet were in pain laying in bed. Once I laced up the Hokas and started running, I couldn't feel a single blister or the swelling that was in my feet. I even had a cacti needle wedged into one toe and it didn't phase me in the 40 miles I ran in 4 days. I had another friend who could barely walk around on a broken toe but he could run in his pair of Hokas. Extreme testing but positive results.

This book should have a chapter on using Hokas!

As far as fit, it fits me true to size. It has a very roomy toe box but I haven't experienced any front slippage. I did have to use the top eyelet to lace the shoe and that is one fault I found with the Hoka. It came pre laced with the quick laces however, it was not to the top eyelet. In order to prevent heel movement I needed to lace it up to there for my narrow foot. The laces were not adjustable and I had to cut them off. Hoka did supply a pair of standard laces. Laced to the top my feet are very stable inside of the shoe.

Looking at the shoe it appears to have your foot very elevated and this is another illusion. The heel is not raised and the shoe does not cause instability while running. For the amount of cushioning you feel with this shoe it is amazing how much trail feel you also have. If you were a princess you could feel the pea but it wouldn't bother you at all. Hoka provides two choices for insoles for those that are particular. I am not but I do know people who have done modifications for hammer toes and other ailments and are very satisfied. 

For how big the shoe appears it is remarkably light. If you want to know the specifics check out the website but I can attest that they are feather light. This is something you appreciate the further into a run you go. 

Prior to wearing the Stinson Evo I was unable to run downhill as fast as one of my training partners. He was wearing Hokas. Once I got myself a pair, he no longer could gap me on a descent. These shoes promise that is time to fly, and they deliver descending. The traction on loose gravel and dirt is fantastic and you don't feel disconnected from the trail but you don't feel like the trail is hammering itself into your legs. 

At the beginning of a recent run we crossed a river up to mid-thigh. Needless to say, my shoes were drenched. I was amazed at how light they still felt and how quickly they dried out. No rubbing problems when wet and great drainage.

I haven't taken flight in my Hoka Stinson Evos yet, but they have taken me to the top of the world. I will be using these shoes in my quest to be a Leadwoman this summer. Dorothy had her red slippers to take her home, I'll have my Hokas!

Making Friends

We haven't been here in Leadville even a week yet. Still, on our morning and afternoon walks we have managed to meet quite a few people and already are feeling a sense of community. Today Tana made a special connection and I know she is going to want to visit her new friend daily. Our circle of friends just expanded, they sure are foxy here in Leadville:)

Mental Loop

My plan starting January 1st was to get some bike fitness. After a fall pretty much off the bike and a December of very little exercise at all my first ride of the year was not spectacular. I figured at the end of a three month period I could turn that around drastically. Today was the day to see if I had been successful. I chose a route to ride that in the past has chewed me up and barfed me out (yes, spit me out is mild compared to what this loop has done to me).

Right from the start today, I had to stay true to my commitment that I would do this route no matter how long it took. A couple of blocks from my house I noticed that there was a strange wobble in my rear wheel. Upon inspection, my rear tire had a weak spot and had popped out. I turned around, went home and put on a new tire. Grateful that it happened early and not in the middle of the ride, but also wondering if it was a sign to pull the plug. So many times during the ride there were options to change my route, take a short cut or turn around but I stayed the course. What didn't stay the course was the wind, it managed to change just in time to always be a headwind. I was out breaking wind by myself (from both ends:)) I had plenty of time to think while I was out there as it was a long day in the saddle. A good day for clearing my mind and a day that showed I have gained the bike fitness I was seeking.

I have a habit of running the same reel over and over in my head. One benefit of this is I have an outstanding memory but some things I would rather not remember. Lately, my mind has been playing a movie that I would rather not watch. Nothing clears my mind better than being out in nature, and today I was working so hard to get through the ride that on my mental route I was able to reset the mental loop.

One and Done

Last night was the premier of the 2010 edition of the Race Across the Sky movie. It was a great way to relive an amazing day. Much like any great event in my life, the images that are stored in my brain through my own camera lens were much more spectacular.When I got married someone made a video (yup, I got married a long time ago) of the event. They told me that it was to record the day so that I could watch it and relive it whenever I wanted. I have never watched the video. I recorded the day in my head down to every detail but all from my perspective. I didn't want to see what the guests and others saw, it was my wedding and I wanted to remember it as the bride looking out. Weird maybe, but last night I was reminded there is nothing quite the same as seeing something like the Powerline climb at mile 80 from ones own perspective. So, while many were enjoying the movie on the screen at face value, I had another movie running at the same time. My movie came with a little bit of muscle memory and feelings of fatigue. In the film there were shots of the massive crowding of the first climb up St Kevins. From the camera angle above it looked crowded but to get a true feeling of how it was one had to be in the masses, attempting to stay upright while getting jostled around going uphill with no room to maneuver. The one criticism I have for the movie makers, is that they omitted the most talked about part of the race. Just like any good party it is not complete without the food and drink portion and we had five star service on the Columbine climb. Hey, at 12,000 + feet PBR and Hotdogs are 5 star! So, just to prove I was not hallucinating when I was in oxygen debt here is the photographic evidence.

 Seems this guy had other plans for his raceday fuel

For the price of the entry fee we could also have a mountain top picnic

Line for hot dogs and beer

Prepping for our arrival, what service!



From this racers point of view, these guys provided much needed comic relief. They even offered to get a veggie dog ready for my trip back down when I informed them as much as I appreciated their offer, I did not eat meat.

Did the movie make me want to throw my name in the hat for next year? No. You see, I had the perfect day this year and I loved every minute of it from the training to the racing. The Race Across the Sky and I will forever remain in the honeymoon phase and whenever I want to do it again, I will replay the day in my head and glow from the fond memories. Just like that wedding day I had years ago, I am ONE AND DONE!

Local Knowledge

The fact that I was in Leadville one whole week before the gun went off for the start of my race gave me a huge advantage. I was able to surround myself with locals who gave me all sorts of insider tips for racing in Leadville and surrounding mountains. The week before my actual race I spent some quality time with a local racing legend named Smokey. You see, Smokey was clearly a celebrity in Leadville due to his amazing racing speed and longevity. Smokey raced over and over again in the legends burro races and you guessed it, he smoked the field. Even when Smokey wasn't at the front of the pack, he still got the most cheers from the crowd. I had a few moments to pick his brain and get his secret formula for successfully crossing the line in Leadville.

Smokey Sharing Wisdom

The most valuable tips that I got from Smokey, in no particular order are:

1) Always, no matter what, move forward. You have already seen what is behind you and going backwards just adds distance.

2) Being last ass over the pass is not a bad thing, better than being the ass that didn't get over the pass. Don't worry about your position in the long line of asses, just refer to #1.

3) If you are going to stop dead in your tracks you will lose all momentum and will require someone to give you a good tug or whipping to get you going. A merciless crew is key, and a big whip!

4) Once you are in sight of the finish line, it is important you let everyone know you are coming and BRAY loudly and often.

5) Sometimes, you just need to take a nature break, amazing how much faster you can move once the load is lightened.

6) The lighter your pack, the faster you can move (Pierce, I am sharing that tip with you for next year!).

7) Crowd support makes all the difference in the world. Make sure you are feeling the love.

The short in town burro races were referred to as the celebrity races, I think that Smokey was really the only 'celebrity' in attendance. At the same time the open race was taking place. It was a 22 mile race with a burro carrying a 35 pound pack and went up over 13,000ft. There was only one woman in the open class race and she won. (By the way, they didn't get to ride their burros they had to pull, push and coerce them along to the finish line) She annihilated the field is more accurate. I waited over 20 minutes for the first man to finish after her and then gave up waiting!

Starting Line for Celebrity Races

I didn't only get insider knowledge on racing, I also observed some of the local eating habits. I was particularly fascinated by one culinary treat that seemed to be the favorite. I wanted to know the nutritional value that it offered. I asked one of the many foodies in line waiting for this delicacy what it was and other details. He replied 'who cares what its made of, it tastes great!'. I honestly should have gotten a clue from looking at him that he didn't have a fine dining palate or that he was particular about what he put in his mouth.

Local Delicacies

The proprietor of this establishment informed me that they weren't actual Monkey Testes but were meatballs made out of pork. All I know is that even if they would have made me go sub 9 for a big buckle, there is no way I was eating those! Not once during the actual Leadville Trail 100 did I think, 'If I had just eaten some Monkey Balls!'. I think those Leadville locals weren't completely forthcoming in all of their local knowledge and might have been trying to throw us out of towners off the true secrets with this 'local delicacy'. I sure the heck didn't see Smokey standing in line to get him some Monkey Balls:)

Building Equity

On the weekend I made the final deposits into my fitness account. From now until race day all I can do is sit back and hope that the value grows. It is going to be difficult to be a smart investor and avoid the panic that leads to cashing out too early. I can not be tempted to check the growth constantly, I will have to have faith that the fitness I accumulated exists. I hope that the risks I have taken will yield great dividends, and that I will be able to remain in the black for most of the Leadville 100. If my withdrawls do send me into the red, I hope the overdraft penalty isn't too harsh and I can recover.  Mostly I hope that when I have to dig deep, I find I  invested in a bull market and I come home with a nice shiny silver buckle.

Watertower Climb

About 9000 feet lower than I need to be!

Roadside Angels

A few days ago I got a flat tire while I was riding. Actually, I have been getting lots of flat tires lately. I was wondering if I was getting more than usual since they seem to be occurring so frequently. I realized that they are probably happening no more than regularly, I am just riding more miles and therefore, the flats are closer together in time. Well, that is what I have convinced myself is happening. Being that I fancy myself a handy mechanic, I quickly removed the thorn that deflated me and put in a new inner tube. I was pumping it up when the valve stem broke off. No worries, I have a patch kit. Can I just tell you, a patch kit is of no use if the glue is dried up! Now I was stranded on the side of the road wondering what Macgyver would do? Just then the roadside angels appeared in a truck with a bike rack on the back. They had a floor pump but didn't have road tire tubes with them. As they tried to assist this damsel in distress we got to chatting. I told them I was training for Leadville. They actually knew what this was, so when we couldn't fix the tire on the spot, I got in the truck with them and they took me to their place of employment. When we got there, I knew for sure that I had been rescued by road angels because they took me to heaven!

Heaven -aka the Ellsworth warehouse!

www.ellsworthbikes.com

While I was getting a tour of the warehouse a nice guy fixed my tire for me. I am pretty sure they had to mop the floor after I left, I was salivating profusely over all the beautiful bikes. I had the privilege of seeing the new carbon fiber road and triathlon bikes, I even got to touch them! All I can say is AMAZING! If I was a regular girl, this would be the equivalent to being in the Tiffany's warehouse. Everywhere I looked I saw bling! Ellsworth has amazing bikes but they also have amazing people working there who care about cyclists. To me, on this day, they were truly heaven sent!