Shoe Whore

Shoe trials, 2012 Mount Marathon, Seward, AKUnlike cycling, the equipment end of the running game is kind of boring. Manufacturers do their best to convince us we "need" certain gear to be effective while engaging in foot travel but, really, it's a pretty Spartan activity. The one piece of gear we can't do without, however, is foot wear. The barefoot running movement notwithstanding, shoes provide runners an opportunity to geek out.

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Knoya-Wolverine Ridge Traverse

Looking east toward Long Lake from the Wolverine ridgelineWith the high ridges of the front range above Anchorage finally free of most of this winter's ample snow dump, I've been eye-balling the maps for some good ridge running. I found out this past weekend that although the terrain looks cruiser from town, the ridge lines can be quite technical. On top of that, the Chugach is not known for it's alpine rock quality. Shit, people say the Tetons are chossy. You have no idea!

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Spring Ritual

S-Couloir, North Face Ptarmigan PeakLast night I participated in fun Anchorage spring time ritual for a small group of local die hard skiers. After a partner texted me the other day that late evening conditions were prime on the S-Couloir on Ptarmigan Peak, I waited for a weather window to have a go. In spite of the weather gurus predicting nothing but rain for the next 10 days, yesterday cleared perfectly in the afternoon and at 7pm, I made a call and secured a mountain bike for the approach.

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Robert Spurr Memorial Hill Climb

One of the season's big mountain running events, the Robert Spurr Memorial Bird Ridge race took place last Sunday with 280 competitors filling out the fields. This is the second biggest event of it's type in Alaska, eclipsed only by Mount Marathon Fourth of July weekend.

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Barefoot Efficiency

I've written extensively on barefoot and minimalist running in the past. This trend in the running culture is no secret at this point. We continue to learn that this style of running is not for everyone and, even for those who make the transition from heel striking successfully, the journey is not without risk. But for many others, the switch is a sort of re-birth in enthusiasm for the activity.

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