2012 - Gear In Review

This post highlights some of my favorite Brooks gear that I've been racing in this year (you'll probably notice I'm wearing the exact same outfit in every picture of me racing - the only thing that changes is my choice of shoes) -

The Launch - my all time favorite shoe.  My plan is buy up a few extra pairs before the year's end because they are unfortunately phasing it out.  It has been replaced by the sweet Brooks Pure line (see Pure Grit below).  But, I will be sad.  I've turned countless people on to this shoe.  It's the perfect blend of cushion and lightweight.  It's been my everyday trainer and long distance racer for years (did every road marathon and went 64 1/2 miles in 10 hours wearing these).  In my humble opinion, this is hands down the best running shoe ever.  There, I said it.

Fast, fast, fast.   At a scant 6.4 oz. the T7 is a smokin' racing flat.  For years I raced in the original Brooks Ghost and then the Launch which were both very light trainers so they worked well for me.  But, with the discount available, I couldn't resist the neon and treated myself to a pair of T7's.  My longest single race in them has been a 6 1/2 miler, but I did rock these for all three legs of the Bourbon Chase totalling 18+ miles and never wished for anything more.  Lacing them up just makes you feel faster.  You'll look faster anyway.

If you look closely at the pic of me running at Otter Creek last December, you'll notice that I've got Inov-8 X-Talons on my feet.  They are a very minimal trail runner that I had used up through 50k and loved them.  So, the Pure Grit had big shoes to fill (can you say that about shoes?).   The second I got approved for the ID program, I ordered up these svelt trail runners.  My feet thanked me right away.  They are the absolute perfect blend of cush and minimalist feel.  The have a soft and fairly protective, confidence-building feel while, at the same time, coming in under 9 oz.  These are my new favorite trail shoes.  I've run a leg-destroying 50K w/ 14,000 feet of elevation gain (yes gain) and they were perfect.  I may venture up to the Cascadia for my 286 mile trek across the Sheltowee Trace Trail this summer, but these trail runners are the perfect tool for any one-utra-trail-run that I can throw at them. 

While not exactly my kit (couldn't find a pic of the blue shorts), this is the Distance singlet and Infiniti III shorts that I have done almost all of my racing in.  The singlet was a little brighter than I anticipated, but that is my only gripe about either garment.  The cut of the singlet is great with the high'ish neckline and racer-type back with plenty of room at the under arm.  The Infiniti shorts also fit and feel perfect.  The hip pockets hold gels or 1/2 sleeves of blocks and the cut is exactly what the distance runner needs to run - well, infinitly.