Trail running. Lots of trail running.

On July 30 I am running the Grand Island Trail Marathon just off the coast of Munising, Michigan, in Lake Superior. For most of the past 6 months, this race has been my primary season target. I have raced a trail half marathon and a collection of shorter trail races, but nothing like this. That said, race reports I have read say that it is challenging, but forgiving to a beginning trail distance athlete. Actually, it is made of of a pretty long stretch of rolling fire roads, two beach stretches, just a few technical singletrack trail spots, and some softly rolling ridgeline trails. In other words, it's going to be more challenging than a flat road marathon in many ways, but doable.

Brooks Pure Project: My Running Shoe Fantasy Realized

UPDATE: I have added a new, wear tested review of the Pure Connect with some serious revelations.  In other words, it just didn't work out.  Please see the link HERE.

***CLICK HERE to read my all new detailed post about the Pure Connect and the Pure Project Line...in hand pics and review!***

As most of my readers (all 8,000+ of you according to my stat trackers!) know, I have been working on a project to reduce my stride length, wear shoes that interfere less and less with my natural stride (which incidentally was always sort of mid-foot), and run safely and efficiently using a "barefoot" gait.  This change has been overwhelmingly positive for me, along with my decision to commit more fully to a plant-based diet and cut the clutter from our lives.  These changes have resulted in a runner that enjoys running more, enjoys running longer, and enjoys running faster.  In other words, I'm still working on it, but early results signal that I am better able to cope with my training and life in general after these positive changes in technique, diet, and lifestyle. Read about my "less is more" odyssey HERE.