The Running Lab in Novena Square was crowded when I went in. Many were already in their running attire and all too many cameras were seen, flashing their shutters with style. It wasn’t just a normal day for Running Lab and all the people in it. It was a day where Luke McKenzie, a three time Ironman Champion, came to run with runners and triathletes because just so conveniently, he was in Singapore during that time. A nice turn-up of 74 athletes came and the run was broken down into three groups to accommodate the various running speeds; not leaving anyone out. A brief introduction of Luke and Steve was done. Steve Locke is in-charge of -Swiss and he’s a triathlete as well.

Here’s another installment on the TT Series of interviews initiated after telling you about TriathlonTeam.org. This time its with two-time British National Triathlon Champion and Beijing Olympian Will Clarke! Please be sure to check out Will-Clarke.com another great Pro Triathlete Website worth following. Now, let’s get down to business:

This interview is the second in the TriathlonTeam.org Interview Series which I have dubbed the TT Series for short!

Aleksander was super quick to respond and is generally just a great guy to talk to! I hope you enjoy it and please also visit Pulsslag.com for Aleksander’s musings!

Here is my pretty recent interview with the legendary XTerra Triathlete Conrad Stoltz. His responses were so excellent and eloquent that I decided to just publish the whole lot word for word! (This was an e-interview since I live in QUITE the different time zone!)

Make sure you check out Conrad’s Blog at http://www.conradstoltz.com/. He’s an excellent writer and I’m sure no one will contest that he’s worth listening to! Anyway, lets get down to it:

For many people, running isn’t just a sport but a way of life. Runners are their own community and through the social networking sites listed below, they can do everything from getting tips and resources, to networking, to finding a love connection with other runners.

Here’s a list of the top 10 mistakes I made as a brand new triathlete. I hope that you will learn a little from these yourself and also share some of your priceless mistakes, because lets face it, they’re hilarious when you think back on them!

Let’s face it. Everyone gets injured from time to time. Even with the best technology and whatsnot, ultimately, your body is still the one controlling your every movement. The fancy gadgets are just forms of aids that minimize the impact or the probability of the inevitable pains. Training with a coach, trying to run with a nice form, stretching before-and-after trainings, somehow, somewhere along that line, you tend to get cramps, hamstring pulls, etc. Human err everyday, you can never escape injuries no matter how good you are.

It was a Thursday and the Sun was shining brightly on my Optic Nerve shades. I arrived in Core Concepts office which was located in Parkway Parade. The office emitted a soothing music the minute the glass door was pushed open and it had cool colours and matching furniture. Immediately, I felt comfortable because the feeling was inevitable. The receptionist asked me to fill up a form and I on the couch while waiting for Chye Tuan, a physiotherapist. I was meeting him at 1430 for my sports massage. Chye Tuan is tall and athletic built (later on, I learnt that he is a basketball player) and his smile greeted me when our eyes met. I was led to a room and then my massage session began.

Forefoot Cushion: 8/10
Rearfoot Cushion: 9/10
Stability: 9/10
Responsiveness: 7.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10

Comments:

For the amount of cushioning it has, this lightweight distance trainer is really light. The cantilever technology at the heel which curves inwards towards the middle of the heel allows a stable landing for the foot as only the edge of the heel touches the ground.

This also reduces the impact at the center of the heel like a trampoline since the middle heel portion of the shoe does not touch the ground.

Mesh at the front allows the foot to breath easily and overall cushioning is very comfortable with the OrthoLite comfort foam insoles. Longest run clocked is 12km so far but I feel it will be comfortable enough up to marathon distance for most runners.

The forefoot feels a bit roomy for me as I prefer a tighter fit and shoe makes a pronounce landing sound, likely due to the air pocket at the heel from the cantiliever system even though I don’t land heavy while running.

Recommendedfor:

Runners with neutral to slightly overpronated foot type. For 10K to marathon distance. Otherwise, the Avia Bolt probably offers a faster ride for those racing <10k.

SUUNTO’s new Training Effect technology is set to revolutionize the market of Training Aids and Heart Rate Monitors. With all the world looking to technology for more innovative training methods and that competitive edge, it was very interesting to listen to Suunto’s take on training with a heart rate monitor.