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©2009 UNDER ARMOUR® Performance.

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UA RUNNING FOOTWEAR INNOVATION

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UA ILLUSION //STABILITY

Some athletes run to train. Some athletes train to run.

But make no mistake – ALL ATHLETES RUN. Athletes endure every mile To Be Better. On the road or on the field, it’s about outlasting everyone else. The mission begins on the ground with Under Armour’s latest innovation: UA RUNNING FOOTWEAR.

I N T R O D U C I N G UA R U N N I N G F O O T W E A R UA REVENANT // STABILITY

UA APPARITION // NEUTRAL

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I love Boston, and am lucky enough to be there for at least five to six weekends a year. My first venture into Beantown in 2009 was the last weekend in January for the Reebok Boston Indoor meet. Two races stuck in my mind-the women's 5,000 meters, where Shalane Flanagan went to the tape to set an American record. In the pole vault, Steve Hooker set his personal best on the men's side and Jenn Stuczynski set an American record for the women's pole vault. The crowd was totally into the meet, and SRO! For me, though, the races of the night were the miles, with Lindsay Gallo winning her first mile in years and Nick Willis running a very fast mile.

ON THE COVER… Rob Myers, two time U.S. indoor champion at 1,500 meters, wins the 2009 indoor title over Alan Webb. Photo by PhotoRun.net.

A month later, the US championships were held. You have a great facility, some great competitions, and a knowledgable crowd, but the difference in the RBIG and the USIndoor champs is palatable. For our sport to prosper, we need to ask the hard questions, and see what works and what does not.

In the men's 1,500 meters, Rob Myers, the little engine that could, willed his way once again, with superior tactics, to another US championships. This guy works his butt off. For work ethic, I have to admit Rob Myers and Leonel Manzano are two of my favorites. I would never bet against those guys in a close, tight race.

In this issue, we have interviews with Allyson Felix and Jeremy Wariner, both runners who have dedicated their lives to being the best that they can be. We have a feature on Drake Relays, celebrating its 100th year. We have reviews of the best training shoes and best track spikes, and on top of that, we have, from your requests, two photo galleries, celebrating the Nike Indoor and the Reebok Boston Indoor!

And remember, you can find us on twitter at runblogrun, and sign up for our blog too! If you have any comments, email me at larry.eder@gmail.com! Have a great track season!

Larry Eder Publisher, Athletes Only runblogrun@gmail.com twitter:runblogrun www.atf-athlete.com 608.239.3785

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5 2009 SPRING SHOE REVIEW 15 100 YEARS OF THE DRAKE RELAYS 18 CAMERA ATHLETICA 20 INTERVIEW WITH ALLYSON FELIX 22 INTERVIEW WITH JEREMY WARINER 24 TRACK SPIKE FOR SPRING

Volume 14, Number 1 Spring 2009 shootingstarmediabiz@gmail.com Group Publisher Larry Eder 608.239.3785 larry.eder@gmail.com Group Editor Christine Johnson Editor Larry Eder 608.239.3785 larry.eder@gmail.com Proofreading Marg Sumner RedInkEditorial.com Design/Layout Two Fish Design Writers James Dunaway Larry Eder Cregg Weinmann Photographers Victah Sailer (PhotoRun) Lisa Coniglio (PhotoRun) Kirby Lee Printer/Prep W. D. Hoard & Sons Fort Atkinson, WI Ad Sales Peter Koch Weser 310.836.2642 pvadmag@yahoo.com National Sales Peter Koch-Weser pkwadvmag@yahoo.com Special Projects Adam Johnson-Eder 608.957.2159 atflistings@gmail.com Proud Member of The Running Network, LLC.

Athletes Only is produced, published and owned by Shooting Star Media, Inc., PO Box 67, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0067; 920.568.8142 phone; 920.563.7298 fax; Christine Johnson, President; Larry Eder, Vice President. Publisher assumes no liability for matter printed. Publisher assumes no responsiblity or liability for content of paid advertising and reserves the right to reject paid advertising. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Publisher.

Copyright © 2009 by Shooting Star Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the Publisher. Athletes Only is not related to or endorsed by any other entity or corporation with a similar name and is solely owned by Shooting Star Media, Inc. Publisher recommends, as with all fitness and health issues, you consult with your physician before instit u t i n g a n y changes in your fitness program.

AO • SPRING 2009 • www.atf-athlete.com

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Shoe Review 2009 SPRING

SHOE REVIEWS: Neutral

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Motion Stabilizing

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Performance

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Two trends are in the forefront this season: gender and money. A few seasons back, some brands attempted to market to men and women separately—even with different names for the same shoes—with lessthan-successful results. This season, the shoes carry the same names and attempt to provide the same kind of running experience for runners of each gender. More than one-third of the shoes in our Review have been modified to account for differences between male and female runners. Men generally weigh more than women and have more muscle mass, which means they can more easily flex running shoes. They also land a little harder than women do. Designers adjusted their shoes to accommodate these very real differences. For men, the landing area is a bit larger and firmer, while the women’s models are, in comparison, softer and more flexible.

The second trend has been a noticeable jump in prices. This may have been some time in coming, as the world economy is shifting. Workers everywhere expect higher wages, the costs of resources and transportation have increased, and the bottom line is the bottom line—running shoes are not what they used to be. While they’re not rocket science, running shoes are technical, and technology, research, and delivery have very real costs associated with them.

Both trends coincide with the continued push to make running shoes better able to handle the idiosyncrasies of the human foot and, by extension, make your daily run more beneficial.

AO • SPRING 2009 • www.atf-athlete.com

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Welcome to the Running Network’s 2009 Spring Shoe Review!

If you’ve been a longtime reader of our Reviews, you may notice that the review is now part of each Running Network magazine partner’s regular pages. We have done that, quite frankly, in response to the challenging economic times. Our focus is the weartesting and review of running footwear and providing that information to you, the running consumer, in a timely fashion. We publish two large reviews a year (in the spring and fall), and additional shoe features in the May, July, September, and November issues. In addition, we are excited to provide you with an expanded version of this Review—with reviews on an additional 10 shoes— online at www.runningnetwork.com in April 2009.

Please remember that our reviews are only the starting point on your personal journey to find the best running shoe for you. We urge you to visit your local running store for more help. If you don’t know where to find one, visit our website and we’ll help you locate your local running store.

Happy (and Healthy) Running and Walking!

Running Network LLC Partners

W ELCOME American Track & Field www.american-trackandfield.com Athletes Only www.atf-athlete.com Athletics (Canada) www.otfa.ca Austin Runner www.austinrunner.com California Track & Running News www.caltrack.com Club Running www.rrca.org/clubrunning Coaching Athletics Quarterly www.coachingathleticsq.com Colorado Runner www.coloradorunnermag.com Get Active! www.getactivemagazine.com Greater Long Island Running Club’s Footnotes www.glirc.org Latinos Corriendo www.latinoscorriendo.com Michigan Runner www.michiganrunner.net

Larry Eder President, Running Network LLC

Missouri Runner & Triathlete www.morunandtri.com

Award Winners BEST SHOE Neutral

SP

RIN G 200

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BEST SHOE Performance SP

RIN G 200

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BEST SHOE Motion Stabilizing

SP

RIN G 200

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BEST VALUE SPRING 2009

BEST NEW SHOE SPRING 2009

BEST RENOVATION SPRING 2009

Saucony Triumph 6 Best Shoe—Neutral Zoot Ultra TT 2.0 Best Shoe—Performance adidas adiStar Salvation Best Shoe—Motion Stabilizing ASICS GEL–1140 Best Value

Reviewer: Cregg Weinmann Project Coordinator/Editor: Christine Johnson Designer: Kristen Cerer Proofreader: Marg Sumner, Red Ink Editorial Services Shoe Photography: Daniel Saldaña, Cregg Weinmann Advertising Sales: Running Network LLC, Larry Eder, President, 920.563.5551, ext. 112, larry.eder@gmail.com Publisher: Larry Eder, 608.239.3785 Website: www.runningnetwork.com For a Media Kit, please visit our website.

This 2009 Spring Shoe Review is produced independently by Running Network LLC for its partner publications. All shoes reviewed were tested by experienced, competitive runners who were matched to the biomechanical purpose of each shoe model.

Copyright © 2009 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of Running Network LLC.

K-Swiss Run One miSOUL Tech Best New Shoe Diadora Mythos 280 GB Best Renovation

Running Network LLC and its partner publications suggest that, as with all fitness activities, you meet with a healthcare professional before beginning or changing your fitness regimen.

New York Runner www.nyrrc.org Running Journal & Racing South www.running.net RunMinnesota www.runmdra.org RunOhio www.runohio.com Track & Field News www.trackandfieldnews.com USATF’s Fast Forward www.usatf.org USATF/New England’s Exchange Zone www.usatfne.org The Winged Foot www.nyac.org The Winged M www.themac.com Youth Runner www.youthrunner.com

ii | Running Network 2009 Spring Shoe Review

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AO AO••SUMMER SPRING 2009 2008••www.atf-athlete.com www.atf-athlete.com

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N EUTRAL adidas Supernova Glide—$100 The Supernova Glide is as good as the best neutral shoes in the adidas line. The name is new (it was previously the Supernova Cushion), but the other changes seem cosmetic until closer inspection. The changes, though slight, do improve the shoe. The upper features better breathability and reduced weight, thanks to a change in the mesh that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. The GeoFit memory foam ankle collar still provides a cozy fit around the ankle. The midsole sports slight changes to the molding and retains the ForMotion cassette, so the ride is still the same. Subtle changes in the outersole’s appearance improve its flexibility, and adidas has kept the carbon heel-and-blown rubber combination that has worked well for the Supernova series. If the adidas fit and the neutral Supernova shoes have been your cup of tea, drink up.

“Fits great, very comfortable, and wraps around the foot nicely. They felt light weight and felt great while running. The cushioning was very noticeable—almost bouncy, but protective. The shoes are very comfortable, but I think a little overpriced.”

Sizes: Men 6.5–13 (whole & half sizes), 14–20 (whole sizes only); Women 5–12 • Weight: Men 12.6 oz. (size 11); Women 10.2 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, adiPRENE+ Strobel board (heel) • For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

Diadora Mythos 280 GB—$100 The Mythos series displays the best Diadora Running offers, and the 280 GB is a nod to Olympic Marathon champion Gelindo Bordin, longtime brand icon and one of its key developers. The Mythos 280 improves the ride by adjusting its Axeler technology. The threadlike titanium wire is unchanged, but Axeler WI5 adds angled thermoplastic elements to absorb shock by flexing and then springing back to shape, providing an energetic toe-off. The upper is open airmesh with synthetic leather overlays to support the foot, and accommodate a range of foot shapes. Reliable Elaston foam means that the midsole is well cushioned and durable. The shank is vented, providing support and breathability.The outersole is Duratech 5000 and Flexoft (carbon rubber heel, blown rubber forefoot) because it works. New cushioning technology, fine-tuned fit, cushioned ride, and flexibility have earned the the Mythos 280 GB our Best Renovation award.

“The fit allows good heel fit and support with a good amount of toe room. I was impressed with the cushioning and forefoot flexibility, though they were heavier than other Diadora shoes I have tried.”

BEST RENOVATION SPRING 2009

Sizes: Men 6–13.5; Women 5.5–10 • Weight: Men 13.8 oz. (size 11); Women 11.1 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

New Balance 1063—$125 The 1063 stays true to the mission of its predecessors: providing great cushioning for low-arched, neutral feet. The upper has been upgraded for a bit more support, with a full rand, redesigned and repositioned overlays in the saddle and the toe, and a little softer mesh to go with the same smooth interior. The midsole sports a new configuration of DTS (Dynamic Transition System): a crash pad that improves the lateral release on touchdown and better smooths the foot’s transition through the footstrike. The forefoot cushioning has been enhanced with a little more Abzorb SBS, but, almost magically, the weight has been reduced (by almost 3% in the men’s shoe), which means less work for runners, and a little faster time on the watch.

“The shoes felt supportive and fit quite well. Excellent cushion, especially for long training runs. The support and cushion were better than expected, and this is a good step forward for NB.” Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15 (B,D,2E,4E); Women 7–11,12 (B,D) • Weight: Men 13.2 oz. (size 11); Women 11.0 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, Abzorb Strobel board • For: low- to medium-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Reebok Premier Ultra KFS VI—$120 If there were an award for best aesthetic improvement, the Premier Ultra KFS VI would certainly be in the running. Reebok has raised the bar to a new height, gaining ground in both fit and performance. The upper has received improvements to fit, support, and comfort. The KFS inserts have been repositioned nearer the instep, which opens the stretch mesh across the metatarsals, and the overlays have been enhanced from the midfoot to the heel to better secure the shoe to the foot. The midsole is still responsive, but a little better cushioned than version 5, thanks to minor tweaks to the DMX Shear and the shank.

The outersole features new flex grooves for better flexibility, and a noticeably more energetic toe-off. Runners looking for high mileage performance will do well to slip their neutral mid-arched feet into the Premier Ultra KFS VI. “Good fit, snug on the heel, and comfy toe box. Bit of a lift (roll up) at the tip of the toe box, which fosters a natural toe push-off. Definitely durable. After 100+ miles, no noticeable wear and tear—shoes still feel like new.”

Sizes: Men 6.5–13,14; Women 5–12 • Weight: Men 14.0 oz. (size 11); Women 11.2 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, DMX Foam Strobel board • For: medium to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Saucony Triumph 6—$125 The Triumph epitomizes the Saucony commitment to producing quality running shoes. The sixth edition, like other updated shoes in this review, requires close inspection to see the changes. The upper is much the same, but the tongue is better padded (though a good deal thinner), and the overlays have been trimmed back or repositioned to provide more open space across the metatarsal area, making the shoe bunion-friendly. The midsole appears largely untouched, though the shank reveals a bit more of the thermoplastic than the Triumph 5 did. The ride is responsive, with cushioning befitting the Triumph legacy. As with many of the shoes in this review, the Triumph 6 will cost a little more, but it’s worth it. The overall feel, craftsmanship, and ride were responsible for the Triumph 6 earning our Best Neutral Shoe award.

“The shoe felt light as I ran, probably from the comfortable fit through the arch. I liked the supportive stable feeling, and the good measure of cushioning. There are tiny differences [but] the shoe is very close to the last few versions I have used.”

Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 5–12 • Weight: Men 12.7 oz. (size 11); Women 10.4 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, HRC Strobel board • For: low- to medium–high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

BEST SHOE Neutral

SP

RIN G 200

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iii | Running Network 2009 Spring Shoe Review

AO AO••SUMMER SPRING 2009 2008••www.atf-athlete.com www.atf-athlete.com

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Introducing miSOUL Tech interchangeable sole system for customized performance.

TM

Run One - miSOUL Tech

Select the miSOUL Tech Cushion 1.0 insert with superior EVA chassis for arch support and Si-18 gel in the forefoot and heel for cushioning and shock absorption to get you through another long run.

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Or slip in the miSOUL Tech Light 1.0 insert with Superfoam™ cushioning in the forefoot and heel for innovative high-energy return and a spring propulsion plate for extra push off on race day.

AO • FALL/WINTER 2008 • www.atf-athlete.com

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速

3X Ironman Champion CHRIS LIETO

See miSOUL Tech in action at KSWISS.COM

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N EUTRAL /M OTION S TABILIZING Under Armour UA Apparition—$110 Under Armour is new to running footwear, but its development team is not. The UA Apparition, flying a bit under the radar, is actually the best shoe in its new line. The upper utilizes FootSleeve technology, which is similar to the gusseted tongue construction or monosock used in other running shoes. Like all such construction, whether it fits you is largely dependent on the shape and volume of your foot, so it really requires a try-on to tell if it works. The midsole is a combination of EVA and rubbery inserts—ArmourBound, ArmourLastic, and Cartilage—which make for quite a comfortable ride. The flat sole, which keeps the foot in contact with the ground during transition, and good flexibility permit the foot to move naturally. The carbon rubber outersole is unremarkable, except in its durability and good traction.

“This shoe fit very well. The more that I wore the shoe, the better it fit, but it had a lengthy break-in period. The cushion felt about right; it felt stiff at first, but broke in with running. Fairly comfortable shoe, I was pleased with its overall feeling.”

Sizes: Men 8–13,14,15; Women 6–11,12 • Weight: Men 13.9 oz. (size 11); Women 11.6 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

adidas adiStar Salvation—$140

BEST SHOE Motion Stabilizing

SP

RIN G 200

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A new name for the old adiStar Control isn’t all that’s new about this shoe. The last (new about a year ago) has been dialed in to maximize the fit for as many runners as possible—a little to either side of a medium arch. The strength of the Salvation is that it fits well and has outstanding cushioning and stability. The upper switches to EVA in the tongue for better protection, a different open mesh, and repositioned overlays that reduce the weight. The midsole features a minor extension of the ProModerator support and a full-length adiPrene Strobel board for seamless cushioning. Small reductions here and there add up to almost half an ounce shaved off the weight of the shoe. The cushy ride and reliable stability earned the adiStar Salvation our Best Motion Stabilizing Shoe award.

“It fits very well. I feel that it gives very good arch support and toes have enough room. Very good cushion—almost like slippers underfoot. Foot felt stable and secure with no rolling. Pleased with the overall capabilities of the shoe.”

Sizes: Men 6.5–13,14,15; Women 5–12 • Weight: Men 13.3 oz. (size 11); Women 10.8 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, adiPRENE+ Strobel board (heel) • For: medium- to high-arched feet with moderate overpronation

ASICS GEL–1140—$85

BEST VALUE SPRING 2009

The GEL-1140 has a lengthy heritage in the ASICS line. Runners looking for effective stability on a budget have always responded to this model. The 1100 series has been the beneficiary of a generous trickle-down of ASICS’ experience and technology.

The upper is little changed from the 1130, even using what appears to be the same mesh, with the expected minor tweaks to the overlays. The tailoring has been adjusted for a better heel fit and more room in the toebox. The midsole is time-proven SpEVA (ASICS’ preferred foam prior to its introduction of Solyte), and this configuration gives the 1140 a stable, well-cushioned ride. The outersole is classic ASICS fare: AHAR (carbon rubber) heel with a blown rubber forefoot. The combination of the fit, stability, ride, and—most of all—price earned the GEL-1140 our Best Value award.

“From the first time I tried the shoes on they fit my foot perfectly. I felt like my foot was supported and cushioned. It's like running on a gel pack. It seems to help my pushoff. My foot feels well balanced and secure in the shoes while I’m running.”

Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15,16,17 (D), 7–13,14,15,16,17 (2E,4E); Women 5–12 (B,D) • Weight: Men 12.8 oz. (size 11); Women 10.5 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: slip-lasted • For: low- to medium–high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9—$105 Over time, the Adrenaline series has been very consistent; the overall visual impression is one of gradual change. But it also retains the familiar, and that’s a strength of the Adrenaline—it fits and works for its audience. The Adrenaline GTS 9 is “one of the boys,” but with a few tricks up its sleeve. The upper is the same Element mesh, with slightly larger holes to better handle moisture from the foot. The midsole, added this season, is BioMogo, which does a great job of cushioning and, when you’re done with the shoe, it doesn’t last forever in a landfill. The ride is very stable with enough cushioning to keep runners coming back. The HPR carbon heel and blown rubber forefoot are effective and familiar—a known commodity. Runners who swear by the shoe will be pleased, and those looking for stability, fit, and cushioning, have another option to try.

“These shoes fit very well. I didn’t have any break-in period, right out of the box [they] fit. I like that. There were several pluses in these shoes: they were comfortable, durable, and stable. A good training shoe, not too heavy, not too light.”

Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12,13 • Weight: Men 12.5 oz. (size 11); Women 10.5 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: combination Strobel lasted, Texon board (heel), S257 Strobel board (forefoot) • For: medium- to high-arched feet with moderate overpronation

Etonic Jepara 3 SC—$110 The strength of the original Jepara was its combination of cushioning and effective stability. The Jepara 3 has outdistanced the earlier versions by tackling their weakness: weight. The upper is a uniform open mesh, with stretch mesh and HF-welds across the metatarsal region to provide a forgiving, yet supportive fit, and a much plusher feel. The midsole features redesigned flex grooves for better forefoot flexibility, an adjusted second density of foam for better stability, TPR inserts only in key impact areas, and a redesigned shank—all of which save weight while providing better stability and support. The effectiveness of the polyurethane innersole and EVA Strobel board combine to enhance the ride, just as they have in other Etonic shoes. The total weight saving is almost 1.4 ounces, testament to the role judicious use of materials plays in a quality running shoe.

“On the first few runs, I thought [it] was relatively stiff, but after a little break-in [it] fits well and is comfortable. The foot feels slightly controlled, but it does produce a comfortable footstrike. Compares well with the major brands I have tried.”

Sizes: Men 8–14; Women 6–12 • Weight: Men 13.4 oz. (size 11); Women 11.0 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with moderate overpronation

iv | Running Network 2009 Spring Shoe Review

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AO • SPRING 2009 • www.atf-athlete.com

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M OTION S TABILIZING Karhu Strong Fulcrum Ride—$140 Karhu’s shoes over the past few seasons were appreciated for their low profile and responsive feeling. The Strong Fulcrum Ride features Karhu’s Fulcrum technology (think “mini teeter-totter”) to improve responsiveness by pivoting the foot forward after touchdown. Shortening the time on the heel also reduces overpronation. The upper is a well-supported airmesh, but with few overlays and a bunion-friendly open forefoot. The interior is plush and accommodating. The multi-part midsole features an effective heel crash pad and a stable configuration of the Fulcrum element with a flexible forefoot. The polyurethane memory foam innersole adds an extra measure of comfort. The durable, full-length carbon rubber outersole provided excellent traction.

“Great, low-profile fit, one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve ever put on. The cushion is very comfortable, but still bouncy. Strong lateral control, great on the ankles. Have really enjoyed these shoes on runs of 10 miles or shorter.”

Sizes: Men 8–13,14; Women 6–11 • Weight: Men 12.6 oz. (size 11); Women 10.5 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted • For: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

K-Swiss Run One miSOUL Tech—$125 K-Swiss demonstrates its commitment to running with its new miSOUL (Modular Interchangeable Sole Technology), a midsole structure designed to accommodate different snap-in innersoles. The Run One comes with two options: a Cushion innersole with resilient rubbery inserts and a Light configuration. By changing them depending on your workout, they don’t get compressed as quickly as the traditional innersole. (You can also purchase replacements.) The combination-lasted design adds stability, along with the dual density midsole and shank supports of the miSOUL components. The upper is open airmesh with cooling perforations through the toecap and the perimeter of the heel, and rubbery thermoplastic overlays give a snug but forgiving midfoot fit. The outersole is traditional carbon rubber in the heel, blown rubber in the forefoot. The combination of the familiar and the innovative earned the K-Swiss Run One our Best New Shoe award.

“Quite comfortable, nestles my foot nicely, no signs of blistering or hot spots. I preferred the feel of the Light insole, it enveloped my heel much more snugly. I liked this shoe and the idea of two insoles.”

Sizes: Men 7–13,14 (D); Women 6–11,12 (D) • Weight: Men 13.2 oz./14.0 oz. (size 11, with each insole); Women 11.1 oz./11.9 oz. (size 8, with each insole) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel combination lasted, Superfoam (forefoot) and thermoplastic (heel) Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

BEST NEW SHOE SPRING 2009

Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 12—$100 Gender specificity, championed by the Structure Triax+ in the Nike line, is evident in this version, which is precisely tuned for men and women. This version features the unchanged midsole chassis that worked well for the Structure Triax 11: Phylon, an articulated second density with TPU, and a decoupled crash pad that curbs overpronation while allowing the foot to effectively transition. As a shoe that’s largely on target, the upper features only minor changes. The mesh has a better feel to it (smaller holes feel less coarse) and the overlays have been replaced with HF-welds wherever possible to reduce seams. The outersole is almost the same, with a slightly thicker Duralon layer in the forefoot providing extra protection. Devotees will find the Structure Triax+ 12 to their liking, and runners looking for a stable, supportive shoe with a roomy forefoot would be advised to give it consideration.

“The first few miles had a soft footfall and I wondered how many miles the cushion will hold up—it hasn’t quit yet. The shoes performed well, and overall I think they are as solid as the other shoes I’ve tried in the category.”

Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15 (D,wide,narrow,4E); Women 5–12 (B,wide,narrow,4E widths) • Weight: Men 13.3 oz. (size 11); Women 11.4 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with moderate overpronation

Pearl Izumi SyncroPace III—$115 The evolution of Pearl Izumi’s SyncroFrame shoes has taken a stable technology and adapted the ride to increase the comfort, finally dialing in the combination of stability and cushion. The ride has been softened with a combination of Skydex and foam.

The major change is in the outersole, which has been segmented into pods to improve transition and flexibility. The cushioned feel up front is achieved by a new Skydex bag in the forefoot (effectively used in last season’s award-winning Streak), combined with a better midsole foam. The strength of the SyncroPace continues to be the stability of the SyncroFrame. A dual density innersole feels soft on top, but has a supportive, dense layer underfoot. The seamless upper offers a snug fit with a plush interior, a fan favorite. Several testers have a newfound respect for the shoes, which is testament to sound design.

“I love the fit of these shoes! They are comfortable the moment you put them on. The cushioning is the first thing you notice. They ride a little firmer than they feel, but I didn’t develop any problems/injuries elsewhere in my leg, hips, etc. I was impressed with it as an excellent, light shoe with a surprisingly long-term cushioning feel.”

Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 5–11,12 • Weight: Men 14.2 oz. (size 11); Women 11.9 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with moderate overpronation

Under Armour UA Revenant—$120 After several years of development, Under Armour rolls out its running shoe line. The experienced development team guaranteed that every detail of the technology and function of the shoes was attended to. The upper is open airmesh with a close-fitting, gusseted tongue that Under Armour calls “FootSleeve,” tying its shoes to its compression apparel. The midsole employs ArmourGuide, a cradle that offers stability and support. A rubbery material called Cartilage is designed to improve the cushioning between the cradle and the EVA. The EVA formulations in heel and forefoot—Armourlastic and ArmourBound—contribute to the responsive ride. The articulated heel curbs overpronation by lateral release, stabilizing and smoothing the transition. Relying only on the strength of its own technologies, Under Armour has done a very good job right out of the gate.

“Good fit, no blisters, lots of toe room. The tongue could be a bit longer; it just kind of hits into the top of my ankle. I like the bouncy feel, not too squishy. Great stability, my foot was nice and straight, staying right on top of the shoe.”

Sizes: Men 8–13,14,15; Women 6–11,12 • Weight: Men 13.8 oz. (size 11); Women 11.2 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with moderate overpronation v | Running Network 2009 Spring Shoe Review

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ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 14—$110 ASICS has refined the three key areas of the GEL-DS Trainer: upper, midsole, and outersole. The upper is still open mesh with Biomorphic Fit inserts, but by adjusting the asymmetrical lacing to restore the familiar sizing and support, the upper fits better. The overlays sport new tailoring that gives a better fit through the heel and midfoot. The midsole features a shorter medial second density, which may be partly responsible for the slightly softer feel. ASICS reports that the midsole is a millimeter thinner and the outersole is 2 millimeters thicker, making the forefoot a little more responsive. That extra millimeter has been added to the blown rubber in the forefoot, improving the ride and helping to cradle an insert of high-traction rubber called Wet-Grip that has been added to the forefoot. Fans of the shoe will like the adjustments—it’s still stable, responsive, and light.

“I really like the snugness of these shoes; they fit around my feet very well. Great feel, lighter than average, good cushioning. The flexy region [Biomorphic Fit inserts] of the uppers is fabulous.”

Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15; Women 5–12 • Weight: Men 11.4 oz. (size 11); Women 9.1 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: slip-lasted • For: low- to medium–high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation, for faster-paced runs

NEUTRAL

Mizuno Waverider 12—$100 The Waverider alternates between being a performance shoe and a midweight training shoe. Version 12 has slimmed down to a Performance weight (under 340 grams). A quick glance at the upper reveals a more open mesh, with overlays that are a bit more substantial and supportive. Trying them on reveals a snugger fit and a softer step-in feel, thanks to the addition of the Ortholite innersole. The midsole is noticeably thinner. The ride is more responsive, which is good for lighter runners and shorter runs, but on longer runs, testers noted that it seemed a bit less cushioned than earlier Waveriders. In a development new to Mizuno, the shoes have been designed for gender differences, with the women’s version featuring more flex grooves to accommodate less body mass to flex the shoe, while the men’s version has a broader flare in the sole for a better landing area.

“I like the lower cut on the back, many shoes are too high on the Achilles tendon. Need more support and cushioning, though they did fine for mid-length runs. Light compared to what I normally run in—hardly know I’m wearing them.”

Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15,16 (D,2E); Women 6–12 (AA,B) • Weight: Men 11.9 oz. (size 11); Women 9.4 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted • For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics, for mid-mileage runs

NEUTRAL

Nike Zoom Start+—$88 The Start was conceived as a shoe for those who want to begin running. No matter what level you are, all runners need good shoes and the Start is a good shoe. The aim was to begin with the Vomaro and create a little sibling. The upper is airmesh in front and closed mesh from the midfoot to the heel. Then Nike minimized the overlays and threw on some Flywire for “tech” appeal. The midsole is Cushlon (thinned a bit to reduce price and weight, and improve flexibility), with a Zoom bag in the heel, and gender-specific design reflected in varied flex grooves and crash pads. The outersole is the Waffle design of the Bowerman shoes, Nike’s best multi-surface traction. The ride is well cushioned and responsive, which is the hallmark of the Cushlon foam.

The price tag is perhaps the best surprise—the value here is outstanding.

“I liked the way these shoes feel from the first time they went on my feet. The cushioning and flexibility in the forefoot make them very comfortable to run in. Overall, I am very impressed with this shoe. Comfortable, light, and stable.”

Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15; Women 5–12 • Weight: Men 11.8 oz. (size 11); Women 10.0 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

STABILITY

Puma Complete Concinnity III—$95 With its unique look, the original Concinnity charted a new design direction for Puma. The Concinnity III makes a few wellconsidered changes. The upper is an open airmesh with a well-finished interior. A traditional lacing system replaces the asymmetrical lacing of the I and II, giving this version a secure, but roomy fit. A deeper throat and a reshaped toe also help. The midsole is reconfigured with a smaller second density, a slightly more flexible forefoot, and a lower profile feel. While the cushioning is good for a lightweight runner, some of our testers found that it was not substantial enough for longer runs or heavier runners. The outersole features EverTrack carbon rubber throughout, with blown rubber in the lateral forefoot for durable cushioning. Overall, the improvements succeed in providing a solid stability alternative in the Performance category.

“I really liked the snug fit. The comfort and bounce were great for short fast runs, but would not recommend them for anything long.”

Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15,16; Women 5.5–11.5 • Weight: Men 11.9 oz. (size 11); Women 9.5 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, full-length EVA Strobel board • For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation, for faster-paced runs

NEUTRAL

BEST SHOE Performance SP

RIN G 200

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Zoot Ultra TT 2.0—$135 Zoot’s Ultra footwear line is geared to triathletes. The 2.0 offers better cushioning while shaving weight from a very light shoe.

The upper has more open mesh, an exposed neoprene insert for a snug-but-forgiving fit, and a DryLex moisture-wicking lining combined with antimicrobial silver nanotechnology. The midsole offers a more generous layer of Z-BOUND, and an extended shank for better stability. Thermoplastic overlays and large holes in the tongue and heel improve the grip and help you get the shoe on fast. The outersole has been upgraded to a tougher carbon rubber in the high-wear areas and combined with blown rubber and TPU to lighten it and improve the ride. All these features meet the needs of triathletes, while providing all runners with low profile, efficient performance. The upgraded materials, design, and performance earned the Ultra TT 2.0 our Best Performance Shoe award.

“Fit like a second skin, very minimal. Great light weight. I like it when shoe companies understand that a shoe doesn’t have to be beefy to be good at what it does.”

Sizes: Men 8–12,13,14; Women 6–10,11 • Weight: Men 9.9 oz. (size 11); Women 7.7 oz. (size 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted • For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics, for faster-paced runs vi | Running Network 2009 Spring Shoe Review

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brought to you by ASICS®

The great relay carnivals of April and May are uniquely American. There’s nothing like them anywhere else in the world.

And perhaps the most uniquely American of all is…

Drake.

Lolo Jones

Proud presenting sponsor of the Drake Relays

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The great athletes who compete here every year–world and American record holders, Olympic champions, world champions, and national champions–are only part of what makes these Relays so special. Equally important are the thousands of high school and college runners, jumpers, and throwers who provide four days of exciting, nearly nonstop action.

That first Relays, run in a blizzard, attracted only 82 athletes, mostly from nearby colleges, and a few hundred shivering spectators. High school teams joined the action in 1911, and the same year saw the fledgling meet’s first world record, 1 minute, 31-3/5 seconds for the 880-yard relay, by a University of Illinois quartet.

The setting is perfect: an attractive university campus in a friendly, medium-sized Midwestern city smack in the center of the nation’s grain belt. The jewel-box of a stadium puts fans into seats just a few feet away from the athletes–even closer than many indoor meets.

In the 1920s, Olympic champions and world record holders began to make regular appearances: Californian Charley Paddock, 1920 Olympic 100-meter champion and the first “World’s Fastest Human”; 1924 Olympians DeHart Hubbard, who won the 1924 Relays long jump and went on to win the event in Paris that summer and become the first African-American gold medalist, and Illinoisan Harold Osborn, 1924 gold medalist in the decathlon and the high jump; Clarence “Bud” Houser, Olympic shot put champion in 1924 and 1928.

But perhaps most of all, it’s the Drake fans, the enthusiastic hometown crowds that have produced Saturday sellouts for decades, sometimes with three generations–parents, grandparents, and sons or daughters–sitting together, often in the same seats, year after year.

The athletes who compete here love the knowledgeable Drake crowds, their closeness, and their enthusiasm. And the athletes respond with great performances.

First-time visitors can’t believe how compact the stadium is, how handy everything is. There’s no need to bring sandwiches. Just outside the stands there’s a huge food court offering hot dogs and hamburgers, cotton candy and popcorn, and lots of other food choices, including two Iowa specialties: pork sandwiches and jumbo turkey legs. And if you like the discus, hammer, and javelin, you can stroll half a block away from your seat in the stadium and get a closer look at the throwers than you can at any other major meet.

Since then, hundreds of great athletes have won Drake Relays watches and gone on to win well over 100 Olympic medals, including Jesse Owens, Al Oerter, Wilma Rudolph, Bob Hayes, Bruce Jenner, Carl Lewis, and Michael Johnson, who among them have won 29 gold medals.

ASICS is proud that some of the most outstanding athletes in Drake Relays history have performed in ASICS gear. Among them are sub-3:50 milers Steve Scott and Jim Spivey, high jumpers Amy Acuff and Dwight Stones, and most recently, Des Moines native Lolo Jones, currently ranked No. 1 in the world by Track & Field News in the women’s 100meter hurdles.

For the winners, whether they’re a world-leading distance medley team or a girls’ high school foursome with pigtails and braces, there’s another unique Drake tradition: they get to take a victory lap, carrying blue-and-white Drake flags and exchanging high-fives with the spectators as they circle the track.

Scott and Spivey were two of the best American middle distance runners of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s; both had long and successful careers at distances from 800 meters to 5000 meters.

The Relays have come a long way since 1910, when Major John L. Griffith decided that Philadelphia’s Penn Relays, the only other major relay carnival, was too far away for Midwestern college athletes. (For many, the train trip took more than 24 hours, each way.) With Des Moines almost in the center of the Midwest, what better place than Drake for a meet?

Steve Scott first came to Des Moines in 1979 and, wearing his “Sub-Four” singlet, promptly produced Drake’s first sub-four-minute mile, a 3:55.26 meet record that stood until 2007.

Scott also won the Drake 800 in 1980, the mile again in 1981, and the 5000 meters in 1982. Perhaps the hard-running Californian’s most remarkable achievement was his total of 136 sub-four-minute miles, more than any other runner in history.

Jesse Owens

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Jim Spivey, a high school star in Illinois, won his first Drake Relays watch as anchor of Indiana University’s winning distance medley relay teams of 1981 and 1982. Although perhaps most famous as a miler (his best was 3:49.80 in 1986), Spivey’s record at Drake included three victories in the 5000 meters (1984, 1993, and 1996) and a 1985 win at 800 meters.

Perhaps Spivey’s greatest Drake moment came in that 1996 5000-meters race, at age 36. He started off slowly and at 3000 meters he was half a lap behind the leader. But feeling strong, he picked up the pace. “There was a real strong wind in the homestretch,” he recalls, “and I figured the only way I could win was to surge down the backstretch where the wind would help me and then stay close behind another runner on the homestretch to break the wind and save energy.”

When he made his first surge, with five laps to go, people in the stands along the backstretch began to nudge their neighbors and say, “Hey, that’s Jim Spivey. Go, Jim!” and lap by lap the cheers grew with each surge. With one lap to go, Spivey had moved into second, perhaps 30 yards behind the leader. As he came into the backstretch and surged again, the packed stands stood up and screamed encouragement. The margin grew smaller and smaller, and Spivey sprinted down the homestretch, passed the leader, and won.

Says Spivey of the Drake fans, ”They’re the most knowledgeable and loyal fans of any Relays crowd in America.”

Successful high jumpers have long careers, few longer than ASICS stars Dwight Stones and Amy Acuff. Stones sandwiched his two victories at Drake, in 1973 and 1975, between the two Olympic bronze medals he won in 1972 and 1976. During his career, he raised the world record three times–7-6 ½ in 1973, 7-7 and 7-7 ¼ in 1976–and won an amazing 19 national championships indoors and out from 1984 to 1984. These days, Stones works in television, equally adept as a host, a play-by-play announcer, or an incisive expert commentator/analyst.

A slender blonde from Corpus Christi, Texas, Amy Acuff’s equally long and distinguished career includes Drake Invitational high jump victories in 2001, 2004, and 2007, and she holds the meet record at 6 feet, 4 inches, set in 2007. Nationally ranked since 1993, when she was 17, Acuff has been the No. 1 or No. 2 U.S. high jumper for 12 of the last 14 years, and in March of this year, at age 33, she won her eleventh national championship at the USATF indoors with a 6-4 clearance.

Jim Spivey Lolo Jones

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ASICS’ newest star is 100-meter hurdler Lolo Jones, the perfect person to represent the future of the Relays, and indeed the future of the sport of track and field. At 26, Lolo has already won four straight Drake hurdles titles (2005–2009) and is ranked No. 1 in the world by Track & Field News.

Although she is currently most famous for clipping the ninth hurdle in the 2008 Olympic final in Beijing (she was two meters ahead and on her way to the gold medal and possibly a world record), her behavior after that race brought her worldwide admiration and popularity for her graciousness and sportsmanship in adversity.

Born in Des Moines and a graduate of the city’s Roosevelt High School, Jones has never forgotten where she’s from. “I love to compete at the Relays,” she says. “It gives the fans who have supported me throughout my career another opportunity to see me race.”

A year ago, she returned to Roosevelt High and gave $3,000 to help the track team and ASICS joined her effort by donating a new pair of track shoes to each team member. And last July, she gave her $4,000 Olympic Trials prize money to a family left homeless by the flood in Cedar Rapids–a gift which ASICS was also happy to match.

ASICS is proud to salute 100 years of the Drake Relays and athletes like Steve Scott, Jim Spivey, Amy Acuff, Dwight Stones, and Lolo Jones, who have made Drake truly America’s Athletic Classic!

Writer/Editor: James Dunaway; Design/Layout: Alex Larsen; Proofreader: Christine Johnson; Photos Courtesy of PhotoRun.net; Special Collections at Cowles Library, Drake University. © 2009 by Shooting Star Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of Shooting Star Media, Inc.

Steve Scott

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CAMERA ATHLETICA All Photos by PhotoRun

Boston Indoor Games 2009: (clockwise from top) Jenn Stuczynski; Shalane Flanagan; Lindsay Gallo

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CAMERA ATHLETICA All Photos by PhotoRun

Boston Indoor Games 2009: (clockwise from top) Jenn Stuczynski; Nick Willis, Chris Lukesic; Shalane Flanagan (R) and Tirunesh Dibaba (L)

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This interview took place in Santa Monica in mid March 2009. Special thanks to Lyn Famiglietti, adidas communications, Spencer Nel, adidas global Sports marketing. Special thanks to Allyson Felix, who has always been not only a wonderful athlete to watch compete, but a compelling interview.

Interview with Allyson Felix

by Larry Eder

Allyson Felix has been a fixture in our sport since her freshman year of high school. She has appeared on the covers of California Track & Running News, Athletes Only and American Track & Field. She has also graced many a cover of Track & Field News as well.

Allyson has also always listened to her own drummer. She went pro as a freshman in college, completed her education on time, and has been a professional athlete since the age of eighteen.

Her major sponsor is adidas, her coach is Bob Kersee, and her agent is Renaldo Nehemiah.

Felix is an athlete of some complexity. She is a veteran 100 meter runner. Yet, at this time, she is a one of the top two 200 meter runners in the world. However, her best event may be in front of her: the 400 meters. Besides that, she is one of the ablest 4 x100 meter and 4 x 400 meter relay runners on the planet, period.

I am fascinated about the thought and planning that goes into a footwear company picking up various athletes. I am always concerned about athletes going pro from high school. For Allyson, it has been a natural progression. adidas picked Allyson Felix, and they have definitely received their moneys' worth. Not only does she continue to shine on the world stage, Felix is an athlete who is well respected by her competitors and competitive sponsors. To be respected by one's competition, the people who spend time with you, day in, day out, is the highest complement in this sport.

Allyson Felix will be joining many of the world's top athletes in competing this coming Saturday, May 16, in Carson at the adidas Track Classic RBR: Allyson, what shoes do you train in?

Allyson: I run in the adi-zero and the super nova most days.

RBR: You have been a professional athlete since you finished high school, any thoughts on that life?

Allyson: It has been good.

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Allyson Felix at the U.S. Olympic Trials, 2008. Photo: Victah Sailor, PhotoRun.net

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RBR: To be a professional athlete requires spending enough time in the discipline and setting priorities--are you still enjoying what you are doing?

Allyson: Yes, I enjoy it still ( smiles). It is important to enjoy what I do. I put extreme emphasis on education as I have dreams of being a teacher.

RBR: Last year was an Olympic year. How did you recharge after last season?

Allyson: I took time off, more than ever before, to rejuvenate.

I have different interests. I love watching other athletes. I am a big sports fan. I love watching other sports, and how athletes competes. I like the atmosphere of other sports too.

RBR: What are your goals for 2009?

Allyson: The 200 meters at the Worlds ( Berlin, 2009, August 2009) and to some 400 meters.

RBR: What are your racing plans?

Allyson: Mt. SAC, Penn, Doha, adidas Track Classic, Reebok, plus a few others...

RBR: How do you feel about the relays, the 4 x 100 meters and the 4 x 400 meters?

Allyson: I like the relays, but that is up to the coaching staff.

RBR: Tell us about your racing event plans for 2009?

Allyson: I will race a few 100 meter races to work on speed.

The rational is that those races will help my 200 meters come along. I will also race some 400 meter races.

RBR Tell us about your feelings over the 400 meters?

Allyson: I have a love/hate relationship with the 400 meters (laughing). I have a 400 meter base. It is kind of, whatever, not a huge focus. If they need me though, I will do my thing ( run the 4 x 400 meter relay).

RBR: adidas, your sponsor, supports the Golden West, you ran that in high school, correct?

Allyson: I had great experiences at the Golden West! I had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed high school, the traveling, my high school friends, I had that time to enjoy...

RBR: Where do you see your career going? Will you compete through 2012? Or Longer?

Allyson: I definitely want to do another Olympics. I have a lot to accomplish yet. It is not over for me. It just goes back to the reason why you run. From a religious standpoint, I want to use the gift that God has given me. There is the bigger picture...

RBR: Today, you are working out with Veronica Campbell Brown, your main competition in the world over 200 meters. how do you do that?

Allyson: I like Veronica. The great thing about athletics is that we leave it on the track. There is nothing personal. It is fine.

RBR: What did you learn from the Olympic year?

Allyson: The main thing that I learnt from the Olympic year, is that there are so many demands. I would definitely cut back on the travel in the future.

RBR: Where will you focus your racing in the future?

Allyson: I will always run the 200 meters. I do not mind the 400 meters.

RBR: What about the 400 meter hurdles?

Allyson: (Laughing), Coach Kersee loves the 400 meter hurdles!

RBR: How do your workouts go with Coach Kersee?

Allyson: (Smiles). We warm up alone, then we get with him.

He can be pretty demanding, but we are doing what we need to do. We do our weights on our own. He holds long strategy talks. He yells sometimes, but all is good.

RBR: What are key elements for the young sprinter to understand?

Allyson: For the young sprinter, going fast in the 100 meters and 200 meters are fun. But, you have to pace yourself.

RBR: Any thoughts on the Jamaica VS. U.S. duel meets?

Allyson: I think it is good for the sport, but I want to know how it will play out.

RBR: Have you met Doug Logan, the new CEO at USATF? Allyson: Yes, I have met him, and do not have any issues (with him).

RBR: Any comments on the Project 30 announcements, on how Logan and crew want to change our sport?

Allyson: Nothing that blaring on Project 30. The trials was interesting positives and negatives---glad it took place and liked that Project 30 is getting some feedback. My only concern, is how the schedule will be set up, as it will be a shorter period of time. From a fan standpoint, the atmosphere was great. I had family members come up and they enjoyed the trials.

RBR: What events did you do when you first started in athletics?

Allyson: Hurdles, sprints, long jump, yeah....

RBR: Did you try to hurdle?

Allyson: Going that fast and trying to clear the hurdle--the idea of falling does not excite me!

RBR: Where do you stand on relay camps, relay teams, making our US teams better at the relays?

Allyson: I just came out and ran. I do see the benefit of longer preparations before competition. The hard part, is people across America. There are 165 athletes in the relay program, but, really, 20 athletes are going to select themselves.

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RBR: Tell us about your training group at UCLA, anything change this year?

Allyson: We have a group of twelve at UCLA. We added Natasha Hastings and Rodney Martin to the group.

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This interview took place in Santa Monica in mid March 2009. Special thanks to Lyn Famiglietti, adidas US communications, Spencer Nel, adidas global and Jeremy Wariner, for his patience and honesty.

Interview with Jeremy Wariner

by Larry Eder

This is the first of several interviews you will be able to read over the next week, courtesy of adidas. In the middle of March, I had the luck to spend several days in Santa Monica, with the adidas team, checking out new product, and speaking to adidas' Icon athletes.

We start with Jeremy Wariner. In 2004, Wariner won the NCAA 400 meters, Olympic Trials and Olympic 400 meters plus anchored the 4 x 400 meters for two gold medals. In 2005, Wariner won the Helsinki 400 meters and ran the 4 x400 meters-both gold medals. Same story in Osaka, as Wariner won the open 400 meters and ran on the 4 x 400 meter relay.

2008 was a different story. A change in coaches, and a real competitor in LaShawn Merritt, who gave Wariner some real races. At the Olympic Trials, Wariner took second. In Beijing, Wariner ran a brilliant semi final, but the energy was just not there in the final and LaShawn Merritt took the 400 meters.

Spring 2009 gives us a bit more contemplative Jeremy Wariner. He knows he has to train hard, improve his race and run his own race. In that way, perhaps the defeats in 2008 were good for Jeremy in the long run....

RBR: So Jeremy, What is difference for you now in your career than where you were five years ago?

Wariner: It is a lot harder. I travel around the world now. In college, I just traveled around the states-three or four hours, versus eight and nine hours. Now I deal with Jet lag. My body has adjusted. The difference is atmosphere. In Europe, it is amazing, with 40-50,000 people in the stands. In the states, we just do not see that here.

RBR: What can we do in the U.S. to make the sport better?

Wariner: Let people understand that we run not just every four years, but we run every year. We train for the world champs, compete all year around and around the world. I guess that the Diamond League is a good thing, and (perhaps) it

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Jeremy Wariner at the U.S. Olympic Trials, 2008. Photo: Victah Sailor, PhotoRun.net

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can help that.. as we compete around the world.

RBR: What do you think of the proposed Diamond League?

Wariner: The Diamond League, briefly, I know is twelve meets in US, Europe and Aaia. I see it benefiting USA track & field over time. The Diamond League is going to fun. It will help fans understand track & field, and in international competition, there will be more of us (adidas athletes ), than the normal one or two at adidas track classic, Prefontaine or in Europe or Africa.

RBR: Any definite plans for the summer?

Wariner: As of right now, Stockholm. I like going there. I always run good there. My first year, I missed the diamond running 44.8 ( one has to break the meet record to win the diamond ring), then 44.6, then 44.06. 44.00 got the diamond. Last year I ran 43.5, I must have been nuts (laughing) for running that fast!

RBR: Tell us about the rivalry between you and LaShawn Merritt?

Wariner: It is good for the sport. At the same time, it helped get me motivated more. Last year, I was real dissapointed. I would have loved to have won. I am using that as motivation this year. LaShawn is a great athlete. He has great speed for a quarter miler. He is learning more about the race. We all have to learn how to run the race, and LaShawn has done that. It is going to be good, friendly competition. We are are friends, but, on the track, it is all about business. We see each other all of the time. We do want have confrontation--we are a little old for that. Off the track, we all just have fun. When it is about business, we both compete to win. Off the track, we want to have fun and we talk about things besides track.

Wariner: I might be one of the few who enjoy running the 200 meters, the 400 meters and the relay. I love running on the relay. You take the four best guys in the world and you try and get the world record!

RBR: Okay, to keep the tradition Jeremy, you know I have to ask you this one: When will we see you run the 800 meters?

You can run 49 seconds in your sleep!

Wariner: (Looks at me, smiles, but uses the body language to make sure that this writer realizes his foray in 800 meters will be preceded, more than likely, by a cold day in Hell): I still do not see myself running the 800 meters. I used to always see that on trackshark or TFN.com, it used to get to me, but I just don't read the stuff anymore.

RBR: What do you need to work on to get better?

Wariner: I need to work on everything. I need to get better. I would kind of relax a bit, and it kind of hurt me. By the time I got to Paris last year, I kept running race. I realized how it changed. I think about relaxation. I wanted to get faster and it was hurting my last 200 meters. I was not using my strength part of the race. I was not racing the right way for me.

RBR: Rumors are afloat about the adidas meet moving to Sacramento, and combining with the Golden West, what do you think of that?

Wariner: The Golden West is a great meet! If high school runners ever get a chance to be invited, they should go! It is a great meet, with a fast track and it is, in my mind, the best track in the nation!

I

RBR: What else do you talk about?

Wariner: We talk about other sports. I like Baylor in basketball. But Coach Ford cheers for Georgetown.

RBR: Do you still work out with the Baylor team?

Wariner: I do not work out with the Baylor team. I still talk to some of the young ones, but I do not train with them. I will hang out with them at the MJ meet, where I am running the 200 meters.

RBR: Any ideas about your outdoor schedule for 09?

Wariner; I wil run a 200 meters at Baylor, a 200 Meters at UTA, then off for Texas Relays. Then the 200 meters a MJ, the 400 meters at Drake, then Osaka for the 400 meters. Pretty much like my 2007 schedule. I am considering Hengelo, and I might run at Reebok, then the 200 meters at the Trials.

(Editors note: Wariner, as 2005,2007 WC at 400 meters, gets a automatic into the Berlin 400 meters.)

RBR: Which distance do you enjoy the most?

Boulder, CO. Weekly in June, July & August (4 day camps).

Boys only or Girls only. Limit five vaulters/camp. $795.

Pat Manson, 819 Sunlight Way, Superior, CO 80027.

303/403-9111. Fax: 303-499-1528.

E-mail: patmanson@msn.com. www.patmanson.com

AO • SPRING 2009 • www.atf-athlete.com

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Track Spikes for Spring

by Cregg Weinmann

T

rack & field competition is approaching and, depending on your event, there are many choices available this season. The following write-ups describe what we think are the best offerings from each shoe company, followed by the “nuts and bolts” on the rest of the shoes we previewed from each company’s line. This is a sampling of what we have seen, but there are even more choices available—especially in the event-specific shoes, though it may be a bit tough to find a dealer that carries the full lines.

Mizuno Tokyo 5

$95

The Tokyo has anchored Mizuno’s sprint line-up for more than a decade. Version 5 has improved the materials and design of the midsoleoutersole-spike plate combination that has served the shoe well, and it continues to provide both the power and traction required for sprint performance. The upper veers from the previous mesh and strapped overlays to a primarily synthetic leather upper, with a mesh-and-foam tongue for comfort. The foot is secured via webbing loops that thread through eyelets and attach via hook-andlook tape to cinch the midfoot effectively. The fit offers the same adjustability with improved security to keep the foot lined up for rapid transfer from the start to the finish line.

Nike Zoom Mawler

NEW Sizes: unisex 4–13,14,15 Weight: 8.3 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 10) Spikes: 7, permanent Upper: mesh, synthetic shroud Innersole: CM-EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on synthetic surfaces

UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13 Weight: 7.4 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on synthetic surfaces

Reebok Kuai SmoothFit Sprint $110 The Kuai SmoothFit Sprint combines the spike plate that was introduced last season with the upper construction Reebok calls SmoothFit. The upper is a seamless, welded fabric (a perforated synthetic with a ventilating mesh insert over and behind the toes) with a soft sueded interior.

The full-length Pebax spike plate and CM-EVA midsole offer a combination of cushioning, flexibility, and structure to the sprinting foot.

The aggressive 8-spike plate provides excellent traction, and the aesthetics are aggressively eye-catching.

UPDATED Sizes: unisex 4–12,13,14,15 Weight: 6.7 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9) Spikes: 8, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on synthetic surfaces

$150

The Mawler returns Nike’s sprint focus to power. A new spike plate—fulllength articulated Pebax with a second 3/4-length carbon fiber plate underneath—maximizes flexion. The midsole is a thin layer of Phylon for just enough cushioning while maintaining a low profile. The upper is a shroud-covered, stretchy mesh monosock that offers a supportive, skin-tight fit. It’s not easy to get into, but very secure once it’s on. The goldtone plate and sleek, low-profile design make a statement even standing still.

Saucony Crescent 2 Sprint $65 The second round of the Crescent Sprint adds some new touches to the successful design of the original. The effective, proven midsole and spike plate with a sharkskin heel are unchanged—a testament to good design. The upper adopts a smooth, synthetic, shroud-like overlay across the toes and over 3/4 of the medial side, and is aimed at reducing drag to gain fractions of a second. The interior is nicely finished with a sueded microfiber providing a smooth feel, which is especially important if you wear them without socks. Its ability to manage a variety of track surfaces at a reasonable price makes it well worth checking out.

UPDATED Sizes: men’s 7–13,14; women’s 5–12 Weight: 6.7 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: TPU heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on synthetic surfaces

THE REST OF THE SHOES WE PREVIEWED adidas adiZero Avanti $110 NEW Sizes: unisex 4–12,13,14,15 Weight: 5.7 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CMEVA Outersole: TPU heel, Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 800–10,000 meters on synthetic surfaces

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ASICS Hyper LD $60 UPDATED Sizes: 6–13,14,15 Weight: 7.0 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 11) Spikes: 5, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–5000 meters, steeplechase, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces

ASICS Hyper SP $60 UPDATED Sizes: 4–13,14,15 Weight: 7.4 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 11) Spikes: 5, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on all surfaces

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Track Spikes ASICS Hyper MD

$60

ASICS’ Hyper series is among the most durable multi-surface shoes available.

This update features the cushioning and traction that make new athletes competitive and work well for both training and competition. The midfoot has a supportive thermoplastic shank, and the midsole wedge provides the middle distance platform that makes these shoes so versatile. Minor changes to the upper freshen the look without affecting performance, and the price tag maintains the value.

UPDATED Sizes: unisex 1–13,14,15 Weight: 7.7 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 5, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 400–1500 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces

adidas adiZero Cadence

(continued)

Puma Complete TFX Miler $60 Puma has introduced a new entrypriced series called TFX. Based on a modified version of its allround plate, the TFX offers sprint, middle distance, and distance models.

The TFX Miler is the middle distance offering, which features the 6spike, 3/4-length spike plate combined with a healthy midsole wedge for support and cushioning. The upper features asymmetrical lacing and fairly minimal overlays to provide a secure fit while keeping the shoe light. The interior has a velour tongue, archband, and heel for comfort. Available in men’s and women’s versions, this is a well-executed, versatile shoe. Combined with its modest price, the value is even better.

NEW Sizes: men 4.5–12,3,14; women 5.5–11,12 Weight: 6.8 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 400–1500 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces

Brooks Z3 $85

$100

The adiZero Cadence is a high-quality, long-distance competition shoe adjusted for the lightningfast tracks on which championship meets are often held. These tracks are fast because they have minimal cushioning in their layers of synthetic rubber, rendering them more similar to a road surface than you might imagine. The Cadence begins with the profile of a road racing shoe, and adapts it to the track. Beginning with an ultralight upper (an adiZero strength), then adding a responsive layer of cushioning, and finishing with a grippy DS outersole with 6 spike wells to ensure traction, the Cadence solves many of the performance shortfalls of other distance spikes. It’s also wellsuited to the multiple rounds necessary at large championships held on less-than-forgiving surfaces.

The Z series has shown gradual and subtle improvement with each update. Round 3 maintains the effectiveness of the midsole and outersole/Pebax spike plate pairing. The upper receives the attention: overlays at the heel, toe, and where the spike plate rolls up laterally are the only synthetic leather used. The midfoot and eyestays benefit from weight-saving HF-welds without sacrificing support. The mesh is a more closely woven microfiber that has a smooth, supportive feel, and the interior offers soft, sueded microfiber to improve comfort.

NEW Sizes: men 6.5–13,14,15; women 5–12 Weight: 5.9 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: TPU/Polyester Recommended for: 800–10,000 meters on synthetic surfaces

UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13,14,15 Weight: 5.9 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9) Spikes: 5, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: TPU heel, Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 800–10,000 meters on synthetic surfaces

THE REST OF THE SHOES WE PREVIEWED continued Brooks Twitch S $60 UPDATED Sizes: men 5–13,14, 15; women 6-12 Weight: 6.2 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on all surfaces Brooks Surge MD $60 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13,14,15; 6-12

Weight: 5.9 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 400–1500 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces Brooks Nerve LD $60 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13,14,15 Weight: 5.9 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended

for: 800–5000 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces Brooks F3 $85 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13,14,15 Weight: 7.9 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9) Spikes: 8, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: 3/4–length Pebax sprint plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on synthetic surfaces

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Track Spikes VS Athletics Youth Alpha Multi $35

VS Athletics footwear provides economical value and performance.

The Youth Alpha Multi is suitable for distances, hurdles, jumps, or even sprints, and is available beginning with youth size 13, making it small enough for the younger age-group athletes. The upper is breathable mesh with wellsupported synthetic leather overlays. The thermoplastic spike plate and rubber outersole easily handle all track surfaces except asphalt, and are durable enough to see more than one season.

CARRY-OVER Sizes: Y13; unisex 1–6 Weight: 4.9 oz. (w/ spikes, size 2.5) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–3000 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces except asphalt

(continued)

New Balance Jav 1010

$95

Over the last five seasons, New Balance’s track & field line has progressed from just a few spikes to a complete line. The quality of its specialty shoes has improved to a high level, thanks to hard work and some development “magic.” The Jav 1010 is representative of the quality of the New Balance specialty shoes—eventspecific models designed for the rigors of the field events.

The upper is synthetic suede and leather with a padded mesh tongue and a plush interior. The midfoot is secured by a well-placed hook-and-loop strap, while a friction-resistant layer and toecap provide the additional durability required by the javelin throw. The Abzorb midsole provides a measure of cushioning without bottoming out, and the full-length spike plate has good rigidity and traction to allow maximum effort in competition.

UPDATED Sizes: unisex 6–13,14,15,16 (D,2E) Weight: 11.6 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 9.5) Spikes: 11, replaceable Upper: mesh tongue, synthetic vamp Innersole: CM-Abzorb Midsole: full-length CM-Abzorb Outersole: full-length thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: javelin throw on synthetic surfaces

THE REST OF THE SHOES WE PREVIEWED continued Mizuno Osaka 4 $95 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13 Weight: 7.2 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 5, replaceable; 1, permanent Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–10,000 meters on synthetic surfaces

11) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CMEVA Outersole: TPU heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on all surfaces New Balance 1006 $85 UPDATED Sizes: Men 4–13,14 (D); Women 5.5–10,11 (B) Weight: 5.5 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9.5) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CMEVA Outersole: full-length Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 800–10,000 meters on synthetic surfaces

Mizuno Geo Silencer 2 $110 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13 Weight: 7.1 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 6, replaceable; 2, permanent Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: fulllength CM-EVA Outersole: full-length, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 400–1500 meters, and hurdles on synthetic surfaces Mizuno Tempo LD $60 UPDATED Sizes: 7–13; 6-11 Weight: 7.4 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: TPU heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–5000 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces Mizuno Tempo S $60 UPDATED Sizes: 7–13; 6-11 Weight: 7.9 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size

26

New Balance LDS 606 $65 UPDATED Sizes: Men 4–13,14 (D, 2E); Women 5.5–10,11 (B) Weight: 6.3 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9.5) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: fulllength sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–3200 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces New Balance SPS 606 $65 UPDATED Sizes: Men 4–13,14 (D); Women 5.5–10,11 (B) Weight: 7.0 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9.5) Spikes: 8, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on synthetic surfaces

New Balance HJ 1010 $85 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 4–13,14,15 (D) Weight: 11.3 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9.5) Spikes: 11, replaceable Upper: mesh tongue, synthetic vamp Innersole: CM-Abzorb Midsole: fulllength CM-Abzorb Outersole: full-length rubber-covered thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: high jump on synthetic surfaces New Balance Rot 1010 $85 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 6–13,14,15,16 (D,2E) Weight: 14.6 oz. (men’s size 9.5) Upper: mesh tongue, synthetic vamp Innersole: CMAbzorb Midsole: full-length CM-Abzorb Outersole: carbon rubber Recommended for: shot, discus, or hammer throw on concrete surfaces Nike Zoom Mamba $110 NEW Sizes: unisex 4–13,14,15 Weight: 4.5 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 10) Spikes: 5, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: CM-EVA Midsole: fulllength CM-EVA Outersole: full-length Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 1500–10,000 meters and steeplechase on synthetic surfaces Puma Complete TFX Distance $60 NEW Sizes: Men 4.5–12,13,14; Women 5.5–11,12 Weight: 7.0 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays

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Track Spikes THE REST OF THE SHOES WE PREVIEWED continued Puma Complete TFX Distance (continued) Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–5000 meters, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces Puma Complete TFX Sprint $60 NEW Sizes: Men 4.5–12,13,14; Women 5.5–11,12 Weight: 6.3 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters on all surfaces

Reebok Bislett Glide $80 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 6.5–12,13,14,15 Weight: 12.0 oz. (men’s size 9) Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: fulllength sheet EVA Outersole: textured carbon rubber Recommended for: glide shot put technique on concrete surfaces Reebok Bislett High Jump $100 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 6.5–13,14 Weight: 11.3 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 11, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: rubber-covered thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: high jump on synthetic surfaces

1/3 RN Ad

Reebok Bislett Spin $80 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 6.5–12,13,14,15 Weight: 12.3 oz. (men’s size 9) Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: fulllength sheet EVA Outersole: smooth carbon rubber Recommended for: shot put, discus, and hammer throw on concrete surfaces Reebok Bislett LJ/PV $100 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 6.5–13,14 Weight: 9.5 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA, negative heel Outersole: sharkskin heel, 3/4-length Pebax spike plate Recommended for: long jump, pole vault

Reebok Kuai Smoothfit Distance $110 UPDATED Sizes: unisex 4–12,13,14,15 Weight: 6.3 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 800–10,000 meters on synthetic surfaces

Reebok Bislett Javelin $100 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 6.5–13,14 Weight: 11.2 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 11, replaceable Upper: mid-high top, mesh/synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: full-length thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: javelin throw on synthetic surfaces

(continued)

Reebok Bislett Triple Jump $100 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 6.5–13,14 Weight: 9.8 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: sharkskin heel, 3/4-length Pebax spike plate Recommended for: triple jump

2009 SKY JUMPERS POLE VAULTING CAMPS June 14-17 ~ Centerville HS, Dayton, OH June 29 - July 2 ~ UWSP, Stevens Point, WI July 10-11 ~ Salt Lake City, UT July 12-15 ~ Kutztown Univ. Kutztown, PA July 20-23 ~ SJVSC, Atascadero, CA December 27-30 ~ SJVSC, Atascadero, CA February 13-14, 2010 ~ Maine S. HS, Park Ridge, IL Check out our highly acclaimed book: Illustrated History of the Pole Vault at www.skyjumpers.com

Saucony Velocity 3 Distance $60 UPDATED Sizes: 7–13,14; 5–12 Weight: 6.7 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 11) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: rubber heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–5000 meters, steeplechase, jumps, and hurdles on all surfaces

DIRECTED BY JAN JOHNSON

NATIONAL SAFETY CHAIRMAN FORMER WORLD RECORD HOLDER OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST M.S. BIOMECHANICS

VS Athletics Throws Shoe $40 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 6–12,13,14,15 Weight: 10.2 oz. (men’s size 11) Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: full-length carbon rubber Recommended for: shot, discus, and hammer on concrete surfaces VS Athletics Celerator Spike $40 CARRY-OVER Sizes: unisex 5–12,13,14 Weight: 7.8 oz. (w/ spikes, men’s size 11) Spikes: 7, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: sharkskin heel, thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 800–3200 meters, jumps and hurdles on all surfacesL

CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for the Running Network LLC. A competitive runner for the past 44 years, he also has coached runners at all levels for almost 30 years. He can be reached via e-mail at shuz2run@lightspeed.net.

Copyright © 2009 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of the Running Network LLC. Reprinted here with permission.

AO • SPRING 2009 • www.atf-athlete.com

National Pole Vault Certifiation Program On line pole vault education and testing for coaches and athletes

s s s s

.ATIONAL (3 2ULES 0OLE 6AULT %NERGY %QUATION 0OLE 6AULT 3AFETY "ASIC 3KILLS AND 0ROGRESSIONS

Pole Vault Safety Certification Board

www.pvscb.com

Sky Jumpers Vertical Sports Club 6505 Santa Cruz, Atascadero CA 93422 PHONE: 1-888-279-7502 www.skyjumpers.com Email: janjohnson18@charter.net

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For an Under Armour dealer near you, go to:

WWW.UNDERARMOUR.COM

UA REVENANT // STABILITY

UA APPARITION // NEUTRAL

WWW.UNDERARMOUR.COM Nike Indoor Nationals 2009: (above) Chelsea Oswald

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CAMERA ATHLETICA All Photos by PhotoRun

Nike Indoor Nationals 2009: (top to bottom) Conor McCullough; Lucas Verzbicas

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CAMERA ATHLETICA All Photos by PhotoRun

Nike Indoor Nationals 2009: (left to right) Hasay Jordan; Lucas Verzbicas

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