Crocs... Crocs are amazing. They get a bad rap but if I had my way they’re the only shoes I’d ever wear. I lost my pair moving apartments in NYC and haven’t replaced them because the acceptable occasions to wear Crocs in a fashion conscious city like New York are few and far between. But they’re amazing.
To jump into the Crocs conversation - they first started as my post backpacking shoe, only to be worn around the campsite. Fast forward to today - I wear them after any long / hard run and am actually wearing them at work right now. Bonus points - they can also serve as running shoes. A few years ago at the Steamtown Marathon - there was someone who ran the entire thing in his blue crocs. I asked him during the race why he wore them and he said "they are the most comfortable shoes to wear"
Yo, if you had asked me even a couple months ago I would have said crocs are dumb. but then my friend got me a pair for Xmas and I am now a believer. I spent about an hour the other day buying croc charms for them. They are both fun and comfortable. Full endorsement
I started trying out low HR training this week too! It's very slow (2-3 minutes slower than what I was doing before) but I'm hoping in a few months I will be able to go fast and long with the same low HR. My watch is a little weird so I want to get a chest strap.
Thought about the strap, hoping to avoid it. This is so weird, but I'm willing to go for it. Good luck to you. It's a tough road, at least it was for me this week
I've never found a good post-run recovery footwear but after every marathon I've run, I have slipped into some pretty cheap moccasin style slippers. I tend to do it during the winter too, but I think it's more "not my running shoes and warm" than anything else. Good luck with the Birks, I swore off them in the early 90s after my high arches started to give me problems.
The irony of my footwear situation at the moment is that I have a closet full of sweet Italian dress shoes and I spend most of my day in cheap sliders.
What I like best about Strava (I also reluctantly signed up) is that I can track mileage and mile splits, plus the route (and reflect on the trail/path, etc. afterward) all in one app/place, instead of piecing together information from a trail map and pedometer app. For that, and the other data (which I don't use), I think it is useful and convenient.
Birks are super comfy and while I never saw the Dead live, I am also a veteran of many a jam band show, but I am not sure about a post run show. That leather can really soak up smell and moisture. I actually like, for a post run or post hike, the very ugly but comfortable Crocs (or an old pair of running shoes that have too many miles on them, but are still viable to wear) because they clean easy and let your feet breath a little.
That's what Strava looks like to me. A very useful application if you know what you want from it. I'm intentionally holding off in getting too into it because we haven't started heavy training yet. Curious to find out. That's an excellent point Re: Birks. I don't know, maybe Crocs are in my future?
Don't know what you are looking for in a post workout slipper, but I have a pair of Olukai Nohai Mesh shoes that I wear everywhere now. They convert easily into slipper mode (just step on the back), and are comfortable when wearing barefoot.
They run very big - I didn't believe the comments, and ordered my normal size online, and then went into REI to exchange them for a full size smaller. I'd recommend trying them on in person if you can to get the right size. The mesh material does make them stretchy, but it still makes a difference to get the right fit.
I actually haven't worn them in the summer yet - I got mine in September, and they have basically been the only shoe I've worn since then. But I live in California, so it hasn't gotten that cold by your standards :)
I vaguely remember trying some on in the Before Times and running into this issue. The REI guy was so exasperated with me trying on so many pairs looking for a right fit that I just kind of slinked out in shame.
I've got the Hoka Recovery Sandals and they are super comfy, and I feel like genuinely make my legs and feet feel better after a long run. But they look goofy as hell, so I'd stick with the Birks if you're going anywhere social outside the house.
Today was the day I learned that post-run footwear was a thing lol. Is that highly recommended? I just keep my shoes on until I'm inside at home. Also, it's unfair how good your hair looks in that photo. When is the new spin-off hair care blog, Hair + Beard Probably, dropping?
I like a little post-run pampering as part of recovery. Like: hey feet, you did good, let's get you into something more comfortable. Does it have prescriptive value? No idea, but it makes me feel good. To quote Zevon: His hair was, perfect.
So glad you brought up measurement of heart rate. Guessing you are using wrist-based HR, which I use, too. I don't trust it. While training last spring and summer to improve my mile time, my average HR was typically in the 130s during my toughest workouts (e.g. 4x1200 at VO2max pace; 3 min jog between), max HR in the 160s (never higher except on time trial days, and on those days it was highest during my super slow warmups, perhaps due to fear of the suffering that was to come). Temperature was typically in the high 60s, humidity in the 90s, and these workouts would wipe me out. Whereas in the winter, my average HR on easy runs was often in the 150s or 160s, max HR sometimes in the 180s. So I think it must not be measured accurately. I'd be curious if your coach agrees, and if so, how he goes about analyzing it.
I am exactly the same way. I go out for a brisk run in the cold and my HR looks like I've been doing intervals for 2 hours. I go out in the summer for intervals, and it looks like I can't get going. Pretty sure this is about biology as much as anything, but I'm very curious to find out what Avery can glean from those zones.
There is absolutely a sweet spot in easy pace running - the valley in a U-shaped curve of effort v. pace. The way I think about it, this is why it is hard for some people to speed up to the easy pace of faster friends, and why it is hard for the faster friends to slow down to the easy pace of others.
Next, I imagine you were running on the bike path or elsewhere in Somerville, and I don't appreciate you talking about her this way! One man's trash is another person's proof of community, or life, or something like that.
Also, birkenstocks are my post-run (summer) sandal of choice, as they're quite comfy and I think they look significantly less nerdy than some of the sandals that were created for the specific purpose of post-run recovery. You do have to sign a clause when you purchase that says that not only will you wear them for the next 40 years, but you also have to tell everyone you meet when you bought them.
Haha, scenic Medford by the Mystic. I would never trash the path, Stef. Come on now. I've heard about the U curve and haven't really absorbed it yet. But that makes a ton of intuitive sense. I love that. Hi I'm Paul. Oh these? Had em since 21.
I started paying more attention to my heart rate sometime last year and found it difficult to make sense of the variations. As a newer runner I was trying different paces and on line training programs. My eureka moment came on a sweaty run when I tightens my Garmin watch and saw my heart rate drop to a range that made much more sense for how I was running. Since then I got a chest strap that seems much more accurate. I’m still experimenting with paces and HR, but at least now I’m not driving myself crazy with bad data!
Crocs... Crocs are amazing. They get a bad rap but if I had my way they’re the only shoes I’d ever wear. I lost my pair moving apartments in NYC and haven’t replaced them because the acceptable occasions to wear Crocs in a fashion conscious city like New York are few and far between. But they’re amazing.
To jump into the Crocs conversation - they first started as my post backpacking shoe, only to be worn around the campsite. Fast forward to today - I wear them after any long / hard run and am actually wearing them at work right now. Bonus points - they can also serve as running shoes. A few years ago at the Steamtown Marathon - there was someone who ran the entire thing in his blue crocs. I asked him during the race why he wore them and he said "they are the most comfortable shoes to wear"
I had no idea Crocs were useful? This is legit mind-blowing.
Yo, if you had asked me even a couple months ago I would have said crocs are dumb. but then my friend got me a pair for Xmas and I am now a believer. I spent about an hour the other day buying croc charms for them. They are both fun and comfortable. Full endorsement
Well now I'm out
I have such a blind spots on Crocs, I will reconsider this stance!
"plodding along a joyless path with cars whizzing by and garbage in the bushes"...you should pitch this as a Boston tourism tagline
Channeled your energy here, wrote itself.
I started trying out low HR training this week too! It's very slow (2-3 minutes slower than what I was doing before) but I'm hoping in a few months I will be able to go fast and long with the same low HR. My watch is a little weird so I want to get a chest strap.
Thought about the strap, hoping to avoid it. This is so weird, but I'm willing to go for it. Good luck to you. It's a tough road, at least it was for me this week
I've never found a good post-run recovery footwear but after every marathon I've run, I have slipped into some pretty cheap moccasin style slippers. I tend to do it during the winter too, but I think it's more "not my running shoes and warm" than anything else. Good luck with the Birks, I swore off them in the early 90s after my high arches started to give me problems.
The irony of my footwear situation at the moment is that I have a closet full of sweet Italian dress shoes and I spend most of my day in cheap sliders.
I feel that way about my leather jacket.
What I like best about Strava (I also reluctantly signed up) is that I can track mileage and mile splits, plus the route (and reflect on the trail/path, etc. afterward) all in one app/place, instead of piecing together information from a trail map and pedometer app. For that, and the other data (which I don't use), I think it is useful and convenient.
Birks are super comfy and while I never saw the Dead live, I am also a veteran of many a jam band show, but I am not sure about a post run show. That leather can really soak up smell and moisture. I actually like, for a post run or post hike, the very ugly but comfortable Crocs (or an old pair of running shoes that have too many miles on them, but are still viable to wear) because they clean easy and let your feet breath a little.
That's what Strava looks like to me. A very useful application if you know what you want from it. I'm intentionally holding off in getting too into it because we haven't started heavy training yet. Curious to find out. That's an excellent point Re: Birks. I don't know, maybe Crocs are in my future?
based on all the other comments, i would say yes!
Don't know what you are looking for in a post workout slipper, but I have a pair of Olukai Nohai Mesh shoes that I wear everywhere now. They convert easily into slipper mode (just step on the back), and are comfortable when wearing barefoot.
Oh that's a good one. I've seen those around and thought they looked interesting as a summery kind of thing. How's the fit?
They run very big - I didn't believe the comments, and ordered my normal size online, and then went into REI to exchange them for a full size smaller. I'd recommend trying them on in person if you can to get the right size. The mesh material does make them stretchy, but it still makes a difference to get the right fit.
I actually haven't worn them in the summer yet - I got mine in September, and they have basically been the only shoe I've worn since then. But I live in California, so it hasn't gotten that cold by your standards :)
I vaguely remember trying some on in the Before Times and running into this issue. The REI guy was so exasperated with me trying on so many pairs looking for a right fit that I just kind of slinked out in shame.
I've got the Hoka Recovery Sandals and they are super comfy, and I feel like genuinely make my legs and feet feel better after a long run. But they look goofy as hell, so I'd stick with the Birks if you're going anywhere social outside the house.
I don't mind wearing recovery socks pulled up to my knee while wearing shorts out of the house, but I draw the line at goofy sandals for some reason.
I gotta be honest, I'm a compression/recovery knee sock kind of gal. I'm old enough that function over fashion is my motto.
I'm going for a middle path between form and function, a certain useful aesthetic if you will. I can't believe this is making me consider Crocs
If this had a gif function I’d be posting that one of Homer Simpson disappearing into the bushes. Come on, PFlanns, it’s hasn’t come to this!!
Today was the day I learned that post-run footwear was a thing lol. Is that highly recommended? I just keep my shoes on until I'm inside at home. Also, it's unfair how good your hair looks in that photo. When is the new spin-off hair care blog, Hair + Beard Probably, dropping?
I like a little post-run pampering as part of recovery. Like: hey feet, you did good, let's get you into something more comfortable. Does it have prescriptive value? No idea, but it makes me feel good. To quote Zevon: His hair was, perfect.
sounds like you beat your winter blues!
getting there hoon.
So glad you brought up measurement of heart rate. Guessing you are using wrist-based HR, which I use, too. I don't trust it. While training last spring and summer to improve my mile time, my average HR was typically in the 130s during my toughest workouts (e.g. 4x1200 at VO2max pace; 3 min jog between), max HR in the 160s (never higher except on time trial days, and on those days it was highest during my super slow warmups, perhaps due to fear of the suffering that was to come). Temperature was typically in the high 60s, humidity in the 90s, and these workouts would wipe me out. Whereas in the winter, my average HR on easy runs was often in the 150s or 160s, max HR sometimes in the 180s. So I think it must not be measured accurately. I'd be curious if your coach agrees, and if so, how he goes about analyzing it.
I am exactly the same way. I go out for a brisk run in the cold and my HR looks like I've been doing intervals for 2 hours. I go out in the summer for intervals, and it looks like I can't get going. Pretty sure this is about biology as much as anything, but I'm very curious to find out what Avery can glean from those zones.
There is absolutely a sweet spot in easy pace running - the valley in a U-shaped curve of effort v. pace. The way I think about it, this is why it is hard for some people to speed up to the easy pace of faster friends, and why it is hard for the faster friends to slow down to the easy pace of others.
Next, I imagine you were running on the bike path or elsewhere in Somerville, and I don't appreciate you talking about her this way! One man's trash is another person's proof of community, or life, or something like that.
Also, birkenstocks are my post-run (summer) sandal of choice, as they're quite comfy and I think they look significantly less nerdy than some of the sandals that were created for the specific purpose of post-run recovery. You do have to sign a clause when you purchase that says that not only will you wear them for the next 40 years, but you also have to tell everyone you meet when you bought them.
Haha, scenic Medford by the Mystic. I would never trash the path, Stef. Come on now. I've heard about the U curve and haven't really absorbed it yet. But that makes a ton of intuitive sense. I love that. Hi I'm Paul. Oh these? Had em since 21.
I started paying more attention to my heart rate sometime last year and found it difficult to make sense of the variations. As a newer runner I was trying different paces and on line training programs. My eureka moment came on a sweaty run when I tightens my Garmin watch and saw my heart rate drop to a range that made much more sense for how I was running. Since then I got a chest strap that seems much more accurate. I’m still experimenting with paces and HR, but at least now I’m not driving myself crazy with bad data!
It's so wonky. That's one of the reasons why I never delved into this too hard before. I trust Avery to make sense of it, because I sure don't.