What Makes a Good Gift for a Runner?
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
Every year as the holidays approach, friends or colleges say, “You’re a runner; I’m buying a gift for a friend who’s a runner, What would be a good gift for a runner?” Trying to figure out the best gift for a runner is not as easy as it would seem. Runners are like everyday people, there isn’t going to be one gift that will work for every runner. I mean really, what do us runners need, a pair of shoes, shorts, socks, maybe some winter hats and gloves? Not very exciting, everything I just mentioned requires knowing the runner’s sizes. You can take the chance that you know the runners size, but be careful you don’t want your gift to go unused if it doesn’t fit. I have received some nice running cloths as gifts over the years, but usually they were from my wife, who knows my sizes.
I’ve always enjoyed running books or DVDs as gifts. It’s nice to be inspired by what others have accomplished or just to learn something new about the sport. What’s nice about books and DVDs as gifts is you don’t have to know sizes and they are usually priced in the reasonable dollar range. If your running friend doesn’t have the Daniels’ Running Formula, I’d highly recommend it. This book is the gold standard of training books. Jack Daniels the author does an exceptional job of putting the technical jargon in to everyday terms. There’s plenty in the book for every runner.
Electronics that are used by runners can be an appropriate gift. One big advantage is that one size fits all. Electronic gadgets run from GPS devices that do a solid job of measuring distance and pace, running watches, and mp3 type music players. These can be exciting gifts to receive. The big draw back is price. Unless it’s a close relative or you have a lot of cash, electronics can be really expensive. Their price ranges from $70 for a running watch to $400 dollars for the GPS devices.
Of course since you are on the Shoe Odometer website I would be remised not to mention that the Shoe Odometer at $40 does make a darn good running gift. It doesn’t require that you know your running friend’s sizes and it doesn’t break the bank. We’ve received significant positive feedback from customers that purchased Shoe Odometers as gifts. You’ll stand out in your gift giving to your running friend, because the Shoe Odometer is unique and new to many runners. They’ll be one of the first to have one and will be the talk of their running group.
The bottom line is that buying a gift for a runner really isn’t as complicated as it seems. We are like anyone and love the fact that you cared enough to know we are runners and we appreciate any running gift that you took the time to find.
Links
http://www.gifts-for-runners.com/ruac.html
11-30-09
Just a little update - I guess people really do like their Shoe Odometers. Sales for Christmas Gifts have increased ten fold. Things have been going so great that we are assembling a significant order just to keep up. It appears people are buying the Shoe Odometer as a gift because it’s priced right for all walkers and runners and it’s just plain better than what’s traditionally out there. Thank you!
Running Conversations
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
I’ve been running with my friend Fred for over ten years now. We start out weekday mornings at 5:15. That’s forty-five minutes earlier than I’d have to get up if I was running on my own, but most mornings it really is worth it.
Why is it worth it? Well mostly it’s because we’re friends. There’s no pretension, there’s no reservation, we just are. We’re who we are and we don’t have to put on a show or watch what we say. If anyone was to listen to our conversations I’m sure they’d wonder if we weren’t suffering from some undiagnosed psychological disorder. Our conversations don’t have to have a theme and usually they don’t even fall in the same thread. Near nothing is off limits. It’s kind of funny really, he may be talking about work and I’ll follow with something about my daughter. We really do listen to each other, it’s just that we’re running so we don’t have to follow the conventional polite conversation etiquette. Our conversations are easy and free flowing even if our running isn’t always that easy.
I find that when running with other runners there is a similar flow to the conversation. Maybe not as easy as with Fred, but it’s easier than regular conversations. I find myself sharing things about myself that I would never think of doing at work or in a social situation. Things just have a way of flowing out during runs. I’ve ran marathons with people that I didn’t know from Adam, but by the end of the race, I felt like I was a friend.
Even running with runners of mixed generations there’s still that easy flow. I’m in my late 40’s and I sometimes run with kids as young as 15. Sure, I don’t talk about my adult worries and they don’t talk about their puberty issues, but there always seems to be something to talk about. I doubt it would be the same in any other situation.
Maybe there’s something about the camaraderie of sharing the same activity, maybe it’s that you aren’t face to face with the other person, but running side by side that makes it easier? Not sure I have a true answer, but for me it’s one of the best things about running.
When do I replace my running shoes?
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
The experts say that you should replace your running shoes every 300 to 500 miles. But there are so many factors that go into the proper time to replace your shoes. That is why the Shoe Odometer team developed the Shoe Odometer Calculator. We factored in the main components of shoe wear into this Calculator: weight of the user and the type of past wear on old shoes. There are other factors such as type of shoe (trainer, light weight trainer, racing flat, motion control, ……). We did did not include all factors into the calculator to keep the calculator user friendly. The Calculator is a good starting point. Once you start using your Shoe Odometer you can adjust your Shoe Odometer to your own personal number. Our goal was to make life and running easier.If you are like me, when you are thinking of buying something it’s hard to listen to the person trying to make the sale. So instead trying to convince you that having the proper “shoe ride” is important to keeping you running injury free, I’ve included several links below. Good reading and know the the Shoe Odometer is the easiest way on the planet to monitor your shoe wear.
Runner’s World: Your Tread Life
Once you purchase shoes with the right fit, you then need to maintain them and replace them when they’re worn out. The average life of most running shoes is 350-500 miles, but if you’re a heavier or taller runner, or if your gait isn’t smooth, you may need new shoes sooner. Even you light-footed types should know that shoe materials deteriorate fairly quickly; after just 100 miles, a running shoe loses some of its shock-absorption.
After a wet run, many runners throw their shoes next to a heater or put them in direct sunlight to dry. Bad move. Over time, this will cause your shoes to shrink. Nor should you stash your running shoes in an unheated garage or on the outside porch in cold weather. Cold temperatures make the midsoles harder and less cushiony. It’s best to store your running shoes in the house away from the heat after removing insoles or orthotics.
A tip: If you run every day, invest in multiple pairs of running shoes so you always have a dry pair. And pay attention to the condition of your shoes, especially the midsole, the section between the outer tread and the “upper” that your foot fits into. If the midsole is compressed, brittle or feels unusually hard, it’s probably worn out. If so, don’t use the shoes for running. Gardening maybe, but not running.
Run the Planet: Why Do We Need To Replace Our Shoes So Often?
Even with all the new technology and research in running shoes, why do the experts still recommend that we replace our shoes every five hundred miles? It seems to me that as the price of shoes increase, their life span should increase as well - Everlasting Shoes
Dear Shoes: There are two reasons why the experts recommend that you replace your running shoes every five hundred miles: (1) The Earth is mostly very hard and (2) your body is mostly very soft. Were it not for these two properties, a runners need to replace their running shoes would be of minimal importance. Imagine a world where the streets were paved with diamonds, our running shoes were constructed of high gauge iron, and our bodies were made of reinforced steel. Ignoring, for a moment, the numerous ill effects on the universe within such a world, we would find that your desires for an ever lasting shoe would be more plausible.
When you consider the physical interaction between your malleable body and the Earths solid hardness, it is not difficult to imagine why your rubber sole shoes wear down approaching the five hundred mile mark of repeated pounding. With each crushing stomp of pronation your soft, rubber-shoe sole makes a sub-atomic physical bond with the road (literally becoming “one” with the planet). This interaction is called friction and it is the adversary of runners world-wide.
It is friction that we curse when suffering from Chrondromalacia Patella, it is friction we despise when the first symptom of a stress fracture is found in a callus formation on the outer edge of our tibias. Friction is the enemy, and the source of all our woes.
As friction is our adversary, so too is gravity: that downward sucking force that cements us to our planets surface despite all efforts to remain airborne through the efforts of running. Future Lunar or Martian marathoners will laugh at us Earth-bound runners as they traverse their lightened loads across the “magnificent desolation” of their worlds. We are cursed to live upon the third planet from our star, and remain subjected to the 32 meters/second acceleration that bonds us to our own spinning globe.
With each mile that you run, your running shoes wear down in a way closely related to your bio-mechanics. Those who over-pronate tend to have the inner soles of their shoes “scraped away”, while under-pronators have the outer soles depleted. Flat footed “neutral” runners find that their soles wear down over the middle arch and “ball” of the foot. In every case, it is the constant pounding friction that demands such replacement. The “five hundred mile” limit is more of a guideline than it is a strict rule. With some poorly constructed shoes, the limit will be closer to two hundred miles.
Failure to replace older, worn-out shoes will lead to a running injury. Remember that the Earth is unlikely to yield to the pounding force you place upon it with each run and your body’s mechanical motion is likewise unlikely to change. Thus if you are running with a shoe that is unable to compensate for your form, weight and persistence, it will be your body that succumbs to the uncorrected stress. The results could be painful and nasty.
Many runners chose to purchase an extra pair of shoes, which they “alternate” in use, to prolong the need to purchase new shoes with increased frequency. I typically purchase two to three pairs each year, spaced out every four months
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) – — Julie Beverly runs about 20 miles a week. While her workouts are helping to tone her body, they’re also wearing down the soles of her sneakers. “The shoes are starting to bow on the sides because they’re so old,” says Beverly. “Actually, they’re making the back of my ankle hurt.”
Beverly isn’t alone in complaining of foot, heel or leg pain. Atlanta, Georgia, podiatrist Perry Julien says, “We estimate that 20 percent of the people that come into our office with an injury are there because of their shoes. Either they’re worn out or they’re just incorrect for their foot type.”
Running shoes don’t last forever, the doctor says. He recommends that athletes keep track of their mileage and replace their workout shoes every 250 to 500 miles. For someone who runs 20 miles a week, that could mean new shoes as often as every three months, but probably about every six months for sure.
Dr. Julien also recommends that people mark their shoes with the date of purchase to keep precise track of the age. “A date or knowing how much you run on it is better than looking at them,” he says.
“Often times when a shoe wears down, it wears down in the mid-sole, and you can’t see that wear,” he says, “but then you lose the support and the cushioning.”
Julien tells his patients to buy their running shoes from a store with experienced sales personnel. They can help determine the right style of shoe for your foot.
Why the Shoe Odometer works so well for walking.
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
- Because the SO is worn on your shoe it actually measures each step, not your hip movements. This assures accurate step count on every workout. No getting back from a long walk to realize you didn’t have your pedometer properly placed on your waist so your results are off.
- The SO is designed to withstand extreme impact forces - up to five times the body weight of any user so it’s one tough little device.
- It’s laced on your shoes so it doesn’t fall off at the most inconvenient times (using the restroom). You always know where it is - it’s on your shoe.
- Walking in the rain is no problem - the SO is water proof
- No messing with batteries every few months - the SO’s battery lasts 6 to 10 years. There’s nothing on the market that uses less power - you don’t have to feel bad about throwing old batteries away
- The stride rate feature tells you if your striding fast enough - compare one workout to the next
- You don’t have to have the perfect pedometer waist - most pedometers don’t work well with users that have ronder waists
- The SO is fun!
Stride Rate - Why It’s Important
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
When designing and developing the Shoe Odometer I felt strongly that a stride rate feature needed to be included. As a coach every year I had runners that needed to improve their form. Some common issues were over-striding and bounding. We did form drills and striders to try to work on form, but rarely did it translate into significant improvements. I’d heard Dr. Jack Daniels (worlds greatest running coach, titled by Runner’s World) speak several times on the importance of having a stride rate of 180 strides per minute. When striding at 180 strides per minute you don’t over-stride or have excessive bounding.
I thought this feature would primarily be used by coaches, but I’m finding that many runners from beginners to advanced use it every day. Just the act of tracking stride rate makes you improve. Personally, I’ve improved my stride rate from 165 to a strong 178.
The following are some great links that describe the importance of stride rate.
Running Times
http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=8732
Active.com
http://www.active.com/story.cfm?STORY_ID=12114&CATEGORY=running&CHECKSSO=0
Runner’s World
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267–11604-0,00.html
LetsRun.com
Shoe Odometer Sighting
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
When I first started selling the Shoe Odometer a newspaper reporter asked, “When will you know the Shoe Odometer is successful?” My response was “When I go to race and see someone wearing one.” Well I’m the guy at races looking down at runner’s shoes for a Shoe Odometer sighting. It’s a little odd, but my heart jumps a little at the thought of seeing one on a random person. Of course I’ve sighted them on runners that I know and that still gives me a little jolt. But alas, I’ve not sighted one on a random person. My wife (bride of 25 years) had her first sighting at a race this weekend. When taking off race chips at a race she was volunteering, a runner was wearing a Shoe Odometer. She was very excited to see a Shoe Odometer and almost accosted the woman. Unfortunately, she had to continue on with her volunteer duties and couldn’t find the woman after to explain her reaction.
I will diligently continue my quest for a random person with a Shoe Odometer. Currently almost all states in the nation are represented.
If you sight one I’d love to hear about it.
Why Make the Shoe Odometer in the USA?
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
When I started developing the Shoe Odometer there was a few things that were important to me or I wouldn’t continue with the project. One of those “non-negotiables” was that it needed to be Made in the USA. I had to be proud of the project and it just wouldn’t sit right if it was made in China. I was told by others that this wasn’t the best business move, but so far I couldn’t be happier with my decision. It is very comforting to know that if I have a concern with production or engineering all I have to do is drive to the sight and talk to someone in person. Currently all parts are bought from suppliers in the USA. The electronics: PCB board, processors, and sensors are all assembled and built in Madison, WI. The enclosure is made and final assembly is conducted in Woodville, WI. I’m a small company, but I get fantastic service from companies right here in Wisconsin. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.
Proving the Shoe Odometer’s Toughness
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
How the Shoe Odometer got started?
By Rick Cleary | Comment?
I originally designed the Shoe Odometer so that it would eliminate the annoying problem of knowing when new shoes were needed. The journey turned out to be so much more.
The idea got in my head and I just couldn’t get it out. I knew there had to be a better way. So tried and tested everything on the market that met the standards of being: affordable, durable, accurate, easy to use, automatic, and waterproof. Just like start of any idea or invention I couldn’t find anything on the market. I found there was a significant need for this type of device and not just for tracking shoe wear. People wanted an accurate, consistent, and affordable way to measure their walking and running.
I’m a running coach and not an engineer so I needed to hire competent people to help me. I was very fortunate to find a consultant and an engineering firm that shared my vision and believed in the idea. Who would have known that essentially we were creating a mini computer with a micro processor and hours of programing. I have to admit looking back this was an exciting process. There were hours of work, but everything was an adventurous learning process. The first meeting with the engineers was like, “I really wish they would speak English!” By the end it was a very fulfilling, I not only understood, but I was directing the team.
It took over a year, but we finally made something that meet all the requirements that we set out to achieve. The big breakthrough came when Tim (engineering consultant) found a motion sensor that used next to no power at all. That was huge, because now we essentially had a lifetime battery, solving the problem of how to make a product that didn’t require a battery that needed to be changed frequently.
Then there was the testing. Testing consisted of making prototypes and putting them on all different types of runners and walkers. Of course I tested it a ton too. There were several months where I ran and walked every day with a hand counter in one had and a prototype on each foot. When we got it to the point where I could go out on an eight mile run and my hand count and prototypes consistently read within five steps, I knew we had something. Just imagine that’s 10,850 steps.
Durability and longevity testing came next. That consisted of attaching the Shoe Odometer to a machine that simulated the stresses of running and leaving it on for days around the clock. This was one of the easiest steps in the process. Prefect results first time through.
Then came figuring out the enclosure. I was very naive and didn’t realize the difficulties in designing an enclosure that could be injection molded the way we needed it. It had to be crazy strong to protect the electronics. This was a hard time for me. Each change was very expensive and there wasn’t a readily available solution. In the end I’m very pleased with the enclosure we came up.
Now, the biggest and hardest problem so far, how to get people to find out about the Shoe Odometer. For me it was all about “build it and they will come.” Marketing and PR continue to be a significant roadblock. The expense is immense. Where to spend the dollars? What’s the best value for the dollars? These are ongoing problems that I continue to struggle with. I know there are no easy answers, but steadily with a lot of effort, it’s all working itself out. In the end I’m still a believer, if you build something that makes people’s lives a little easier and if there is any chance that it motivates people to get out there and get after it, HOW COOL IS THAT!
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