14 day test total stats (Lost 4 lbs. and an inch off of the waist.) I was big to begin with by my own standards.
19.6 miles running total. Minimum of 25 miles walking
Overall condition of the shoe is excellent. The shoe has flexed a bit to account for the tightness around the toe. I could say that the shoe is a true size 13 but if a person has a wide foot it won't work for them. It will be too tight. The upper stretched some but not to a point where it was obvious. I could wear the shoe as a causal kick if I liked and I could continue to work out in it without a problem. This is very good.
My rating for the shoe after my two week test would be a 9 out of 10. I dock myself a point simply based on the fit. This shoe has excellent cushioning is very lightweight because of the EVA/MD sole. The material did not get dirty easily and when the outsole got dirty from walking and running outside, a hot towel cleaned off the grime quickly. The materials are very good and I will keep them the same because it will allow people to take the shoe and be as rough as they want without getting too beat up like an all mesh and synthetic running shoe.
I think this shoe will create a springboard for ARCH to grow. Great testing. I have confirmed order amounts for the shoe and I am working on two new colorways that are more compatible with what women would wear in a men's shoe. (if that makes sense) My current colorway is too bold, I need something understated.
Stay posted and I will continue to write results and extend the test to 21 days.
stay motivated
Day 13 C097 Testing Treadmill. Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 1:14pm
Best song to work out to on the treadmill: OutKast, Liberation. The song is 8:36 long and the beat is just right to jog to. Today's workout was on Workout 1 Weight loss: 300 calories burned, 30 minutes, 2 miles, top speed 5. Great workout.
Shoe notes: The shoe is finally broken in to my liking. I think most people will be happy with the shoe straight out of the box since I am wearing a size I originally thought was too small. I now realize that the shoe needed to stretch some and it has. It still is a bit small so I am going to have to make up my mind to make half sizes or whole sizes. Of course this means more money but with the performance of this shoe, I think it's important to get it right. The shoe feels incredible and the foam insert has molded to my foot and I no longer feel the pressure on the toe that I felt earlier. The material has stretched so let me contradict myself, they do run small but after a 15 miles it is less prominent. The material has held up wonderfully, so if I wanted to wear it as a casual shoe it would look great. I had to tie into the top eyelets today because the shoe has begun to stretch a bit. Tying it up to the top did not create any problems over the instep or at the ankle. Many running shoes don't feel good when laced to the last eyelet.
Overall the workout was excellent. I did have the calf muscles get tight at about 23:00 minutes and I moved to a heel strike to take the pressure off until the cool down. I hope you all are getting active.
Until tomorrow, stay motivated.
Day 12 C097 Father's Day Testing. Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 11:41am
Treadmill Training. 1067 distance or basically 1 mile. I didn't check my calories today, because I'm about to ruin whatever I ran off this morning. Was a little tough getting started so I fluctuated between 6 and 4 on the speed today. I finished in 13:00 but I consider that 12:00 because my road time is a lot less when I run a mile. I'm starting to think the treadmill mile is a lot longer. Music today was great: The Roots Channel on Pandora and the illest song played today was Jurassic 5's Canto and ATCQ's Date Rape finished off my cool down.
I considered changing the materials but my manufacturer told me to leave it alone. I agreed and the only thing I did was play around with colorways. The shoe looks wonderful still and I will post pictures at the end of the test. The only part of the shoe showing wear is the right shoe at the toe and you all who have been reading know why this is. It is the sizing. WHile the shoe no longer feels tight the toe has an impression because it is half a size to small. This could be a problem but I doubt it. I won't list official sizing until the shipment comes in.
That's it for today. I hope everyone has a good day.
Stay motivated
Day 11 097 Testing Treadmill. Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 11:53am
1.6 miles, 250 calories burned using Fitness Test setting 3 Speed and Incline workout. 30 minutes total at a 5% grade incline. Decided to use the incline so my last 9 days of testing on the shoe will include Road Work outside and prior to running outside I did not account for the hills. So I'll train the legs for a couple of days to perform better and increase the mileage.
Once again the same comments in regard to cushioning, excellent. As the shoe breaks in more and more the comfort and fit to my foot is improving. One caveat, changing from treadmill to outside did create more strain in my ankles but this was not due to the shoes. It was due to my preparation. I had been working out inside the house for so long I forgot to account for the terrain in my Road Work.
Shoe notes: I have to add a shoe string insert to the tongue. I thought making the tongue level to the last eyelet would prevent the tongue from sliding. but alas all shoes have this problem so I will add the shoe string slot. Most people don't use it, but it's best to be prepared for everything. I found that once again inside the house the shoe does not overheat or feel warm. My socks are not full of sweat so my earlier observation in regard to material was wrong. The materials will definitely stay the same. I like that the suede still looks new after 11 days and over 20 miles. This is good especially for those who will wear the shoe for style instead of performance.
Overall another excellent wear test. I'm getting more and more excited. I will be sending out the debenture agreements next week. As most of you know my father in law passed so the family is preparing for his funeral. I may change the name of the shoe to the C097. In memory of his life. I think that's a pretty cool gesture.
Until next time, stay motivated.
Day 10 097 Testing Road Work. Friday, June 18, 2010 at 9:43am
I began my jog at around 6:50 this morning. The temperature was already 85 degrees and humid. After testing the shoe on the road yesterday, I felt pretty comfortable about how the shoe would perform on the second day of running on the concrete. What I didn't account for was that I had not cut my toenails and the shoe is still snug although the fit is better. The material has not stretched much, but I have a small amount of room. However after my run, well I'll get to that later in performance notes.
I ran 1.53 miles according to Google. Once again, my strategy with this shoe is too capture the novice runner. The newby who is making a committment to fitness and health. As I said in an earlier note this is important because of the materials I chose. The heat this morning made me realize that the shoe is designed as an introduction shoe. The cushioning is still excellent even with the insert compression that has taken place after running and walking for 10 days. For heavier people the ride is stable but bouncy. But in running in 95 degree plus heat, after the run once you cool down your foot is not hot but your sock is wet. This means that a lot of the moisture is not escaping through the mesh material at the heel and over the toe. I am thinking about changing more of the material to mesh, but I really don't want to lose the strength and sturdiness of the shoe that beginning runners desire. While I am being brutally honest in this evaluation, it is not a note that should worry a new runner. These are things that I am considering to make the shoe better. I expect those who run in the summer as beginning runners will opt for cushion and toughness in their shoes.
On the run this morning after about a quarter mile my legs stretched out and I used a forefoot strike uphill and heel to toe to reenergize my legs for the small hills. I am realizing that of all of the shoes I have run in this shoe actually makes me want to run which is a positive. The outsole has scuffed a bit which means that it is gripping a little better. The square grooves on the outsole are fraying a little in certain areas where my weight is the most but overall, there is little wear and tear on the shoe after three miles on rough concrete.
Overall another strong test that is a positive for a new shoe designer. I have four more days until I take pictures of the shoe and post them after their first 14 days. I hope your exercising is going well.
Stay motivated
Day 9 097 Testing Road Test. Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 9:13am
Up until this point I have been primarily running on the treadmill. Your body forgets what it's like to run on the road. I ran 1.2 miles today. I ran the mile pretty quickly probably about 9 minutes (I'm a ball player not a runner) so I still need to get in another mile on the treadmill to make up for yesterday. I just felt that I needed to put this note up immediately after the run. As usual I started out with a little stiffness before but once I warmed up and began full strides the shoe cushioning felt good. I had a little bounce and I found that if I stayed on my toes instead of using heel to foot, because my legs felt tired, I was actually able to push off better and keep up my speed.
The shoe does not grip the concrete and because of the grooves it flexes at the appropriate time but I had to get used to the curbs and cracks. I felt the shoe flex a couple of times and my ankles seemed to move but they never rolled which is good. People who are beginning runners or advanced I think will appreciate the flexibility of the shoe and the stability due to the width of the outsole.
Overall it was a very good first road test and I look forward to tomorrows road run.
Until later, Stay motivated.
Day 8 Testing of the 097. Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 9:52pm
Today was lawn day. I had to get out in that 95 degree heat and chop and edge. That was my workout for today so I don't have anything to write in regard to the shoe. I just have to push myself tomorrow and knock out 3 miles on the treadmill.
I do have one note, the family went to Barnes and Noble today. I bought The Towering World of Jimmy Choo to read once I finish reading Swoosh. We walked around for about an hour and once again the shoes felt great. Afterwards I chopped it up with one of my peers, designer and founder of www.neimaj.com Jamien Sills. We bounced some ideas around and while he is in the process of conquering his market, we both feel very good about our current projects.
I took the insole out of the shoe today to check out the compression and while I thought I was heel striking in my miles, I am actually still a forefoot striker. Most of my compression in the insole was on the inside forefoot or the ball of the forefoot. The toe print in the shoe is more visible now, but I repeat that is due to the 1/2 size difference. I will need to either make a size 13.5 or 14 in this shoe. I am hoping that the 10th or 11th day of the test will yield some stretching in the toe area, but if it doesn't that just means that I have a well constructed shoe with good materials. Not a bad thing at all.
Until tomorrow, stay motivated.
Oh please take the time to vote on the shoe that you think I should make. Check out the mock drawings.
Day 7 097 Testing. Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 2:17pm
I'm almost at the halfway point of the test and the shoes are holding up very well. Total miles for the first week running close to ten miles and walking about 5 miles ( I am not counting miscellaneous although my Wii workout should be considered 1 - 2 miles). Not bad for the first week but more testing would have been better obviously. I ended the first week with my Wii workout using the sports pack that came with the game. I actually get a lot of work in with boxing and tennis. I played a tennis match and won 3 -0 but that is just my warm up. I'm a pro at plus 2000 on tennis. Boxing is where I was once again able to put the shoe into lateral and movement and quick steps. I ended the boxing day with a record of 5-5. My wrists got a bit tired and I was not popping those jabs out and I started losing. But the shoes once again cushioned well and helped me get my Ali bounce on (which is hard considering when you bounce the controllers pick up on the movement and will throw a punch putting you in danger of a combo.)
After completing my 30 minutes (30 minutes of exercise is always recommended, because you don't start to burn fat until about 15-20 minutes in, depending on the workout intensity,) I did my fit test and wouldn't you know that after boxing for 20+ the game gave me all boxing tests in my fit tests. But I was ready. I earned my very first 20 on my Wii fit age. This means that my Balance, Speed and Accuracy were on point! If you don't know 20 is the lowest you can go. I feel good.
I will get back to the treadmill tomorrow to make sure I am on pace for a minimum of 20 miles running on the shoe in 14 days. I may have to go two a days for about three days. I'm motivated though by a number of factors: Obviously the shoe, my health and for all of the people out there considering starting their own fitness routines. If you have started a routine post your daily results under my notes. Until tomorrow, stay motivated.
Day 6 097 Running shoe test. Monday, June 14, 2010 at 6:10pm
Took a break to allow the body to heal and rest for a day so Day 6 should really be Day 5, but I did wear the shoes to the Children's Museum and hung out with the fam for a few hours. I guess I could consider that another walking and standing test. The shoes continue to be a pleasant welcome when walking. I actually found that when my feet began to feel tired, I could walk heel to toe and my legs would feel less strain. The increased height at the heel almost acts like a catapult in a sense as it moves the foot forward. I really like that.
Today's test was on the treadmill once again. Final stats 2.1 miles, 30 minutes, 299.6 calories. I was on the Pandora Roku Station rocking to Roots and heard some RJD2, a track called 1976. I instantly felt like e-mailing Bobbito. I guess I know for a fact that he probably plays this at some of his gigs. Another group of note were the Solliloquists of Sound. They were alright, I wasn't going to run out to Spin City but they were pretty good and worth a listen.
The performance of the shoe was slightly different because what I did was lace the shoes up to the last two eyelets for a tighter fit. I think now that the shoes are breaking in and the suede is actually becoming like a second skin, I wanted to see if the shoes would get too warm or increase friction. The shoes did not overheat or increase friction. I did feel a bit of warmth the last ten minutes because I went strictly to a forefoot strike until the cool down the last two minutes. I am starting to get a bit of a toe impression in the shoe but that is due to sizing. On a scale of 1 to 10 the shoes are a strong 9 right now. I am not saying that just for kicks, but because it is true. They feel great. Small note, Newton (a great running shoe company) recommends bare foot or shoes that simulate barefoot running. I understand this but my design for the shoe is not for those who are already runners but for people who are beginning to run again and need the cushion and support I have put into the shoe. I tend to believe that increased technology air, zig, propulsion, etc. is more for those who are already familiar with correct running form and consistently run 15-20 miles per week. The 097 may be the best thing for regular people looking to get into running with a shoe that will help them to get the most out of their legs.
I have colorway choices to make and I have to begin raising the capital to get the shoes made which is always difficult. But I have access to a couple of good sources right now. The ARCH of the future is coming into view and the pinnacle will allow me to observe all of the difficulties in a new light. Until tomorrow, CB.
Day 4 Testing of the 097. Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 5:02pm
As I said this morning, I did not run in the shoe today. I guess today was a test day for all of the people who work and have to stand up all day or walk all day. I went to a video store that is in the process of closing and you know like I do that a video store is like a vacuum; what seems like ten minutes turns out to be 3 hours. I walked into the video store at 1:50 and the testing began. FYI I worked for Apple a year ago and outside of being in the Navy and working on the flight deck, it is the only job I've held where I stood up for 12 hours. Working at the Apple store as a Specialist required that we walk back and forth helping customers to learn how to use the various Mac products. While you typically didn't think about being on your feet that long when you were with a customer, once the customers were gone and slowed down, you realized you'd been standing up for four hours at a time. I say all of this to preface today's testing of the 097.
I entered the black hole at 1:50. I'm writing this message at 4:46. I got in the house about 20 minutes ago from the video store. (BTW I bought District B13, dopest action movie I've seen in a while. D13 the follow up to B13, can't wait to watch it. I bought Apocalypto, that was for the wife. I think she has a thing for Jaguar Paw and really tanned, fit Aztecs/Mayans who kill each other...odd. I bought Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and Oshii's The Sky Crawlers for my son. He has pretty eclectic taste and Blue's Big Musical for my daughter.) I'm dragging this post on huh? Well now you get where I'm going with the words about this part of the testing. I stood up walking around the video store for 3 hours. As a person who has held two distinctly different jobs, well 3 considering I teach and I walk all day there as well, the shoe works well as a cushioned ride for people who nurse, deliver packages, teach, train or do a lot of standing.
I tend to walk on my toes a lot which was more pronounced due to the half size in the shoe. I actually felt a bit of pressure after the first hour. When I began to feel the pressure I rocked back on my heels. I will repeat this again, the heel cushioning is the best I have ever felt in any athletic shoe I have owned. I did own a pair of Rockport boots that were very good, but they were heavy. By rocking back onto my heels, it almost seem to push the blood to the front of my feet and then back like a wave. I guess this would be called a return of energy. My legs adjusted and I walked around the store looking at New Releases before returning to the 5 for 25 floor racks. This minor adjustment made the shoes feel better immediately. After 3 hours of standing, I realized I had been standing up for a long time, but my feet didn't feel bad. I strike this testing up as a success. As a matter of fact, this is the first time where I did not walk in the door and take my shoe off because of foot fatigue. I'm taking them off now and I'm ending today's message. Check back tomorrow, I think I will finally road test the shoes on concrete.
Day 3 Testing of 097 Running shoe. Friday, June 11, 2010 at 11:01am
Alright I will repeat again the shoes run a half size small, but incredibly today it didn't bother me at all. Contrary to the obvious trend of mesh and synthetic materials on running shoes, the suede material is a lot more malleable than I thought. It is stretching and shaping to my foot. Which has improved the performance of the shoe. The cushioning from heel to forefoot is very good and the midsole and insole combine for a ride that is very good and controlled. My theory in regard to using displacement of air is right on point. The channels in the the shoe and the deep channel at the heel and middle of the shoe, when depressed (the weight of the runner landing creates pressure obviously) removed the air under the shoe. Unlike an encapsuled air sole which is limited to the amount of psi in the airbag, displacement of air in the channels utilizes the air your body creates naturally to enhance cushioning. The harder you run, the more cushioning. Technology wise the investment was well worth it, especially in copying a shoe I really like.
Today's workout was all treadmill: Training program 2. 300 Calories 2+ miles, 30 minutes varied speeds. Music choice today was on Pandora through Roku, The Roots Channel. Surprisingly the music associated with The Roots consisted of Murs, Bob Marley, OutKast and a group called the Visioneers. (I have to peep out the Visioneers, they did an instrumental of the Pharcyde's Runnin; one of the dopest Hip-Hop songs ever.)
The workout went well. The achilles of the shoe where I had a little discomfort on the first wear, the discomfort is completely gone. My toes and feet are actually anchored in the shoe pretty well, this may be due to sizing, but I like the idea that my feet don't slide inside of the shoe. In my Vick's my foot was all over the place which may have more to do with the lycra sockliner.
Overall Day 3 went very well. I typically don't run on the weekend because that is hustle hard time, but I will probably go back to my one mile program to stay consistent and get the 20+ miles in for the two weeks of testing. Keep checking back to read more and let me know if you would consider pre-ordering a pair of the 097. I will be posting colorways very soon.
Day 2 Testing of the 097. Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 1:12pm
Last night I got a late night run in to see how the shoes would dry out for today. Typically when running and working out I thinks it's good to have two pair of shoes so the midsole won't break down too fast. With my weight I'm hard on shoes. The shoes dried out pretty quickly. This is good. The suede gray material on the shoe will have to be changed to a grey mesh. The leather shifts but does not break in easily and runners will want the shoe to be wearable out of the box. I jumped on the treadmill and got the mile in. Once again the half a size difference was obvious. I felt a little knee pain, but this may have been to my lack of stretching longing enough. I jumped off switched to an orthapedic insert by Dr. _____ to see if this would make a difference. Most runners have inserts to give their shoes a custom fit. Oddly enough my inserts that came with the shoe felt much better and increased cushioning. So I switched them back. Increased my speed today to 7 and ran comfortably for one lap until I got winded and dropped down to 5. Good jog and the shoes are breaking in well despite the high end suede. The blue suede leather along the bottom of the shoe will remain because it makes the shoe sturdy for heavier people. Too much mesh will make the average person go through the shoes too quickly. The material at the achilles is no longer irritating after one day which is also good. No changes there. Once again my heel strikes felt great as well as my forefoot. I leaned forward a bit and the wide base of the outsole countered and almost kept my balance for me by forcing me back to my forefoot.
After my mile, I jumped on the Wii. Played a 5 set match of tennis, if you are interested my pro score is 2010. Won the match 3 sets to 2. While playing I keep my abs tight and step across to a lunge when using my backhand. I also do toe raises when serving which uses stomach muscles almost like a yoga position. After tennis I did my fit test, serving accuracy (squats), golf (shoulders and trunk twists) and return volleys/tennis (squats). These exercises are chosen randomly by the game. My fit test score was a 22. 21 is the lowest possible. The shoes performed very well laterally which leads me to think that the outsole could be cut down lower and utilized as a tennis shoe or if I can find a way to make the outsole contact surface better it could be used as a hoop shoe. Good day of testing and the shoe does not feel too bad although it is a little tight.
Day 1 Additional Test on the 097 Running Shoe. Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 9:31pm
Day 1 Addition: Hit the treadmill to continue the break in for the 097. Initial discomfort due to the half a size. Cut the toenails and tried it without ankle socks. Didn't like the feel of the material on my ankles. Put the ankle socks back on and took off for a 12 minute jog. Heel cushioning is superb. I run heel to toe when I move slower. Once the speed increased I moved to the forefoot strike, felt some knee strain. Adjusted my gait. The shoe moved very well. Should get better as the material begins to flex.
19.6 miles running total. Minimum of 25 miles walking
Overall condition of the shoe is excellent. The shoe has flexed a bit to account for the tightness around the toe. I could say that the shoe is a true size 13 but if a person has a wide foot it won't work for them. It will be too tight. The upper stretched some but not to a point where it was obvious. I could wear the shoe as a causal kick if I liked and I could continue to work out in it without a problem. This is very good.
My rating for the shoe after my two week test would be a 9 out of 10. I dock myself a point simply based on the fit. This shoe has excellent cushioning is very lightweight because of the EVA/MD sole. The material did not get dirty easily and when the outsole got dirty from walking and running outside, a hot towel cleaned off the grime quickly. The materials are very good and I will keep them the same because it will allow people to take the shoe and be as rough as they want without getting too beat up like an all mesh and synthetic running shoe.
I think this shoe will create a springboard for ARCH to grow. Great testing. I have confirmed order amounts for the shoe and I am working on two new colorways that are more compatible with what women would wear in a men's shoe. (if that makes sense) My current colorway is too bold, I need something understated.
Stay posted and I will continue to write results and extend the test to 21 days.
stay motivated
Day 13 C097 Testing Treadmill. Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 1:14pm
Best song to work out to on the treadmill: OutKast, Liberation. The song is 8:36 long and the beat is just right to jog to. Today's workout was on Workout 1 Weight loss: 300 calories burned, 30 minutes, 2 miles, top speed 5. Great workout.
Shoe notes: The shoe is finally broken in to my liking. I think most people will be happy with the shoe straight out of the box since I am wearing a size I originally thought was too small. I now realize that the shoe needed to stretch some and it has. It still is a bit small so I am going to have to make up my mind to make half sizes or whole sizes. Of course this means more money but with the performance of this shoe, I think it's important to get it right. The shoe feels incredible and the foam insert has molded to my foot and I no longer feel the pressure on the toe that I felt earlier. The material has stretched so let me contradict myself, they do run small but after a 15 miles it is less prominent. The material has held up wonderfully, so if I wanted to wear it as a casual shoe it would look great. I had to tie into the top eyelets today because the shoe has begun to stretch a bit. Tying it up to the top did not create any problems over the instep or at the ankle. Many running shoes don't feel good when laced to the last eyelet.
Overall the workout was excellent. I did have the calf muscles get tight at about 23:00 minutes and I moved to a heel strike to take the pressure off until the cool down. I hope you all are getting active.
Until tomorrow, stay motivated.
Day 12 C097 Father's Day Testing. Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 11:41am
Treadmill Training. 1067 distance or basically 1 mile. I didn't check my calories today, because I'm about to ruin whatever I ran off this morning. Was a little tough getting started so I fluctuated between 6 and 4 on the speed today. I finished in 13:00 but I consider that 12:00 because my road time is a lot less when I run a mile. I'm starting to think the treadmill mile is a lot longer. Music today was great: The Roots Channel on Pandora and the illest song played today was Jurassic 5's Canto and ATCQ's Date Rape finished off my cool down.
I considered changing the materials but my manufacturer told me to leave it alone. I agreed and the only thing I did was play around with colorways. The shoe looks wonderful still and I will post pictures at the end of the test. The only part of the shoe showing wear is the right shoe at the toe and you all who have been reading know why this is. It is the sizing. WHile the shoe no longer feels tight the toe has an impression because it is half a size to small. This could be a problem but I doubt it. I won't list official sizing until the shipment comes in.
That's it for today. I hope everyone has a good day.
Stay motivated
Day 11 097 Testing Treadmill. Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 11:53am
1.6 miles, 250 calories burned using Fitness Test setting 3 Speed and Incline workout. 30 minutes total at a 5% grade incline. Decided to use the incline so my last 9 days of testing on the shoe will include Road Work outside and prior to running outside I did not account for the hills. So I'll train the legs for a couple of days to perform better and increase the mileage.
Once again the same comments in regard to cushioning, excellent. As the shoe breaks in more and more the comfort and fit to my foot is improving. One caveat, changing from treadmill to outside did create more strain in my ankles but this was not due to the shoes. It was due to my preparation. I had been working out inside the house for so long I forgot to account for the terrain in my Road Work.
Shoe notes: I have to add a shoe string insert to the tongue. I thought making the tongue level to the last eyelet would prevent the tongue from sliding. but alas all shoes have this problem so I will add the shoe string slot. Most people don't use it, but it's best to be prepared for everything. I found that once again inside the house the shoe does not overheat or feel warm. My socks are not full of sweat so my earlier observation in regard to material was wrong. The materials will definitely stay the same. I like that the suede still looks new after 11 days and over 20 miles. This is good especially for those who will wear the shoe for style instead of performance.
Overall another excellent wear test. I'm getting more and more excited. I will be sending out the debenture agreements next week. As most of you know my father in law passed so the family is preparing for his funeral. I may change the name of the shoe to the C097. In memory of his life. I think that's a pretty cool gesture.
Until next time, stay motivated.
Day 10 097 Testing Road Work. Friday, June 18, 2010 at 9:43am
I began my jog at around 6:50 this morning. The temperature was already 85 degrees and humid. After testing the shoe on the road yesterday, I felt pretty comfortable about how the shoe would perform on the second day of running on the concrete. What I didn't account for was that I had not cut my toenails and the shoe is still snug although the fit is better. The material has not stretched much, but I have a small amount of room. However after my run, well I'll get to that later in performance notes.
I ran 1.53 miles according to Google. Once again, my strategy with this shoe is too capture the novice runner. The newby who is making a committment to fitness and health. As I said in an earlier note this is important because of the materials I chose. The heat this morning made me realize that the shoe is designed as an introduction shoe. The cushioning is still excellent even with the insert compression that has taken place after running and walking for 10 days. For heavier people the ride is stable but bouncy. But in running in 95 degree plus heat, after the run once you cool down your foot is not hot but your sock is wet. This means that a lot of the moisture is not escaping through the mesh material at the heel and over the toe. I am thinking about changing more of the material to mesh, but I really don't want to lose the strength and sturdiness of the shoe that beginning runners desire. While I am being brutally honest in this evaluation, it is not a note that should worry a new runner. These are things that I am considering to make the shoe better. I expect those who run in the summer as beginning runners will opt for cushion and toughness in their shoes.
On the run this morning after about a quarter mile my legs stretched out and I used a forefoot strike uphill and heel to toe to reenergize my legs for the small hills. I am realizing that of all of the shoes I have run in this shoe actually makes me want to run which is a positive. The outsole has scuffed a bit which means that it is gripping a little better. The square grooves on the outsole are fraying a little in certain areas where my weight is the most but overall, there is little wear and tear on the shoe after three miles on rough concrete.
Overall another strong test that is a positive for a new shoe designer. I have four more days until I take pictures of the shoe and post them after their first 14 days. I hope your exercising is going well.
Stay motivated
Day 9 097 Testing Road Test. Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 9:13am
Up until this point I have been primarily running on the treadmill. Your body forgets what it's like to run on the road. I ran 1.2 miles today. I ran the mile pretty quickly probably about 9 minutes (I'm a ball player not a runner) so I still need to get in another mile on the treadmill to make up for yesterday. I just felt that I needed to put this note up immediately after the run. As usual I started out with a little stiffness before but once I warmed up and began full strides the shoe cushioning felt good. I had a little bounce and I found that if I stayed on my toes instead of using heel to foot, because my legs felt tired, I was actually able to push off better and keep up my speed.
The shoe does not grip the concrete and because of the grooves it flexes at the appropriate time but I had to get used to the curbs and cracks. I felt the shoe flex a couple of times and my ankles seemed to move but they never rolled which is good. People who are beginning runners or advanced I think will appreciate the flexibility of the shoe and the stability due to the width of the outsole.
Overall it was a very good first road test and I look forward to tomorrows road run.
Until later, Stay motivated.
Day 8 Testing of the 097. Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 9:52pm
Today was lawn day. I had to get out in that 95 degree heat and chop and edge. That was my workout for today so I don't have anything to write in regard to the shoe. I just have to push myself tomorrow and knock out 3 miles on the treadmill.
I do have one note, the family went to Barnes and Noble today. I bought The Towering World of Jimmy Choo to read once I finish reading Swoosh. We walked around for about an hour and once again the shoes felt great. Afterwards I chopped it up with one of my peers, designer and founder of www.neimaj.com Jamien Sills. We bounced some ideas around and while he is in the process of conquering his market, we both feel very good about our current projects.
I took the insole out of the shoe today to check out the compression and while I thought I was heel striking in my miles, I am actually still a forefoot striker. Most of my compression in the insole was on the inside forefoot or the ball of the forefoot. The toe print in the shoe is more visible now, but I repeat that is due to the 1/2 size difference. I will need to either make a size 13.5 or 14 in this shoe. I am hoping that the 10th or 11th day of the test will yield some stretching in the toe area, but if it doesn't that just means that I have a well constructed shoe with good materials. Not a bad thing at all.
Until tomorrow, stay motivated.
Oh please take the time to vote on the shoe that you think I should make. Check out the mock drawings.
Day 7 097 Testing. Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 2:17pm
I'm almost at the halfway point of the test and the shoes are holding up very well. Total miles for the first week running close to ten miles and walking about 5 miles ( I am not counting miscellaneous although my Wii workout should be considered 1 - 2 miles). Not bad for the first week but more testing would have been better obviously. I ended the first week with my Wii workout using the sports pack that came with the game. I actually get a lot of work in with boxing and tennis. I played a tennis match and won 3 -0 but that is just my warm up. I'm a pro at plus 2000 on tennis. Boxing is where I was once again able to put the shoe into lateral and movement and quick steps. I ended the boxing day with a record of 5-5. My wrists got a bit tired and I was not popping those jabs out and I started losing. But the shoes once again cushioned well and helped me get my Ali bounce on (which is hard considering when you bounce the controllers pick up on the movement and will throw a punch putting you in danger of a combo.)
After completing my 30 minutes (30 minutes of exercise is always recommended, because you don't start to burn fat until about 15-20 minutes in, depending on the workout intensity,) I did my fit test and wouldn't you know that after boxing for 20+ the game gave me all boxing tests in my fit tests. But I was ready. I earned my very first 20 on my Wii fit age. This means that my Balance, Speed and Accuracy were on point! If you don't know 20 is the lowest you can go. I feel good.
I will get back to the treadmill tomorrow to make sure I am on pace for a minimum of 20 miles running on the shoe in 14 days. I may have to go two a days for about three days. I'm motivated though by a number of factors: Obviously the shoe, my health and for all of the people out there considering starting their own fitness routines. If you have started a routine post your daily results under my notes. Until tomorrow, stay motivated.
Day 6 097 Running shoe test. Monday, June 14, 2010 at 6:10pm
Took a break to allow the body to heal and rest for a day so Day 6 should really be Day 5, but I did wear the shoes to the Children's Museum and hung out with the fam for a few hours. I guess I could consider that another walking and standing test. The shoes continue to be a pleasant welcome when walking. I actually found that when my feet began to feel tired, I could walk heel to toe and my legs would feel less strain. The increased height at the heel almost acts like a catapult in a sense as it moves the foot forward. I really like that.
Today's test was on the treadmill once again. Final stats 2.1 miles, 30 minutes, 299.6 calories. I was on the Pandora Roku Station rocking to Roots and heard some RJD2, a track called 1976. I instantly felt like e-mailing Bobbito. I guess I know for a fact that he probably plays this at some of his gigs. Another group of note were the Solliloquists of Sound. They were alright, I wasn't going to run out to Spin City but they were pretty good and worth a listen.
The performance of the shoe was slightly different because what I did was lace the shoes up to the last two eyelets for a tighter fit. I think now that the shoes are breaking in and the suede is actually becoming like a second skin, I wanted to see if the shoes would get too warm or increase friction. The shoes did not overheat or increase friction. I did feel a bit of warmth the last ten minutes because I went strictly to a forefoot strike until the cool down the last two minutes. I am starting to get a bit of a toe impression in the shoe but that is due to sizing. On a scale of 1 to 10 the shoes are a strong 9 right now. I am not saying that just for kicks, but because it is true. They feel great. Small note, Newton (a great running shoe company) recommends bare foot or shoes that simulate barefoot running. I understand this but my design for the shoe is not for those who are already runners but for people who are beginning to run again and need the cushion and support I have put into the shoe. I tend to believe that increased technology air, zig, propulsion, etc. is more for those who are already familiar with correct running form and consistently run 15-20 miles per week. The 097 may be the best thing for regular people looking to get into running with a shoe that will help them to get the most out of their legs.
I have colorway choices to make and I have to begin raising the capital to get the shoes made which is always difficult. But I have access to a couple of good sources right now. The ARCH of the future is coming into view and the pinnacle will allow me to observe all of the difficulties in a new light. Until tomorrow, CB.
Day 4 Testing of the 097. Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 5:02pm
As I said this morning, I did not run in the shoe today. I guess today was a test day for all of the people who work and have to stand up all day or walk all day. I went to a video store that is in the process of closing and you know like I do that a video store is like a vacuum; what seems like ten minutes turns out to be 3 hours. I walked into the video store at 1:50 and the testing began. FYI I worked for Apple a year ago and outside of being in the Navy and working on the flight deck, it is the only job I've held where I stood up for 12 hours. Working at the Apple store as a Specialist required that we walk back and forth helping customers to learn how to use the various Mac products. While you typically didn't think about being on your feet that long when you were with a customer, once the customers were gone and slowed down, you realized you'd been standing up for four hours at a time. I say all of this to preface today's testing of the 097.
I entered the black hole at 1:50. I'm writing this message at 4:46. I got in the house about 20 minutes ago from the video store. (BTW I bought District B13, dopest action movie I've seen in a while. D13 the follow up to B13, can't wait to watch it. I bought Apocalypto, that was for the wife. I think she has a thing for Jaguar Paw and really tanned, fit Aztecs/Mayans who kill each other...odd. I bought Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and Oshii's The Sky Crawlers for my son. He has pretty eclectic taste and Blue's Big Musical for my daughter.) I'm dragging this post on huh? Well now you get where I'm going with the words about this part of the testing. I stood up walking around the video store for 3 hours. As a person who has held two distinctly different jobs, well 3 considering I teach and I walk all day there as well, the shoe works well as a cushioned ride for people who nurse, deliver packages, teach, train or do a lot of standing.
I tend to walk on my toes a lot which was more pronounced due to the half size in the shoe. I actually felt a bit of pressure after the first hour. When I began to feel the pressure I rocked back on my heels. I will repeat this again, the heel cushioning is the best I have ever felt in any athletic shoe I have owned. I did own a pair of Rockport boots that were very good, but they were heavy. By rocking back onto my heels, it almost seem to push the blood to the front of my feet and then back like a wave. I guess this would be called a return of energy. My legs adjusted and I walked around the store looking at New Releases before returning to the 5 for 25 floor racks. This minor adjustment made the shoes feel better immediately. After 3 hours of standing, I realized I had been standing up for a long time, but my feet didn't feel bad. I strike this testing up as a success. As a matter of fact, this is the first time where I did not walk in the door and take my shoe off because of foot fatigue. I'm taking them off now and I'm ending today's message. Check back tomorrow, I think I will finally road test the shoes on concrete.
Day 3 Testing of 097 Running shoe. Friday, June 11, 2010 at 11:01am
Alright I will repeat again the shoes run a half size small, but incredibly today it didn't bother me at all. Contrary to the obvious trend of mesh and synthetic materials on running shoes, the suede material is a lot more malleable than I thought. It is stretching and shaping to my foot. Which has improved the performance of the shoe. The cushioning from heel to forefoot is very good and the midsole and insole combine for a ride that is very good and controlled. My theory in regard to using displacement of air is right on point. The channels in the the shoe and the deep channel at the heel and middle of the shoe, when depressed (the weight of the runner landing creates pressure obviously) removed the air under the shoe. Unlike an encapsuled air sole which is limited to the amount of psi in the airbag, displacement of air in the channels utilizes the air your body creates naturally to enhance cushioning. The harder you run, the more cushioning. Technology wise the investment was well worth it, especially in copying a shoe I really like.
Today's workout was all treadmill: Training program 2. 300 Calories 2+ miles, 30 minutes varied speeds. Music choice today was on Pandora through Roku, The Roots Channel. Surprisingly the music associated with The Roots consisted of Murs, Bob Marley, OutKast and a group called the Visioneers. (I have to peep out the Visioneers, they did an instrumental of the Pharcyde's Runnin; one of the dopest Hip-Hop songs ever.)
The workout went well. The achilles of the shoe where I had a little discomfort on the first wear, the discomfort is completely gone. My toes and feet are actually anchored in the shoe pretty well, this may be due to sizing, but I like the idea that my feet don't slide inside of the shoe. In my Vick's my foot was all over the place which may have more to do with the lycra sockliner.
Overall Day 3 went very well. I typically don't run on the weekend because that is hustle hard time, but I will probably go back to my one mile program to stay consistent and get the 20+ miles in for the two weeks of testing. Keep checking back to read more and let me know if you would consider pre-ordering a pair of the 097. I will be posting colorways very soon.
Day 2 Testing of the 097. Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 1:12pm
Last night I got a late night run in to see how the shoes would dry out for today. Typically when running and working out I thinks it's good to have two pair of shoes so the midsole won't break down too fast. With my weight I'm hard on shoes. The shoes dried out pretty quickly. This is good. The suede gray material on the shoe will have to be changed to a grey mesh. The leather shifts but does not break in easily and runners will want the shoe to be wearable out of the box. I jumped on the treadmill and got the mile in. Once again the half a size difference was obvious. I felt a little knee pain, but this may have been to my lack of stretching longing enough. I jumped off switched to an orthapedic insert by Dr. _____ to see if this would make a difference. Most runners have inserts to give their shoes a custom fit. Oddly enough my inserts that came with the shoe felt much better and increased cushioning. So I switched them back. Increased my speed today to 7 and ran comfortably for one lap until I got winded and dropped down to 5. Good jog and the shoes are breaking in well despite the high end suede. The blue suede leather along the bottom of the shoe will remain because it makes the shoe sturdy for heavier people. Too much mesh will make the average person go through the shoes too quickly. The material at the achilles is no longer irritating after one day which is also good. No changes there. Once again my heel strikes felt great as well as my forefoot. I leaned forward a bit and the wide base of the outsole countered and almost kept my balance for me by forcing me back to my forefoot.
After my mile, I jumped on the Wii. Played a 5 set match of tennis, if you are interested my pro score is 2010. Won the match 3 sets to 2. While playing I keep my abs tight and step across to a lunge when using my backhand. I also do toe raises when serving which uses stomach muscles almost like a yoga position. After tennis I did my fit test, serving accuracy (squats), golf (shoulders and trunk twists) and return volleys/tennis (squats). These exercises are chosen randomly by the game. My fit test score was a 22. 21 is the lowest possible. The shoes performed very well laterally which leads me to think that the outsole could be cut down lower and utilized as a tennis shoe or if I can find a way to make the outsole contact surface better it could be used as a hoop shoe. Good day of testing and the shoe does not feel too bad although it is a little tight.
Day 1 Additional Test on the 097 Running Shoe. Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 9:31pm
Day 1 Addition: Hit the treadmill to continue the break in for the 097. Initial discomfort due to the half a size. Cut the toenails and tried it without ankle socks. Didn't like the feel of the material on my ankles. Put the ankle socks back on and took off for a 12 minute jog. Heel cushioning is superb. I run heel to toe when I move slower. Once the speed increased I moved to the forefoot strike, felt some knee strain. Adjusted my gait. The shoe moved very well. Should get better as the material begins to flex.
The CG097 Testing Notes: I have been testing the shoes for over 1 month and the shoes now have over 100 miles on them. I am 6-2. At the beginning of testing my weight was 235. My weight is now 228lbs. The shoe still feels very good and I think I have accomplished the goal of creating a sturdy lightweight daily jogger. Read the notes for more detail.
Day 14 C097 Testing All Wii, cross training. Thursday at 11:28am
Total time on Wii Sports, and Wii Resort 1 hour 25 minutes. Two tennis matches that went to all 5 matches (Worked out trunk twists, squats, lunges and toe raises). Boxing 8 matches (shoulders, biceps, triceps (push ups between matches, sit-ups at the end of each match, stomach and lunges). Fit test age 27 all tennis drills which sucked but gave me more opportunity to repeat the excercises above. After the fit test I put in Wii Resort and did the 3 point contest in basketball. Toe raises, half squats, arms.
Realized that this outsole could possibly be utilized in a hoops shoe and it would perform okay. I would have to add a heel counter and possibly a strap over the midfoot to lock the foot in place, but the shoe has great bounce and the width at the heel could possibly prevent ankle roll. It would have to be a bit stiffer to really work at it's peak but it could work.
Day 14 C097 Testing All Wii, cross training. Thursday at 11:28am
Total time on Wii Sports, and Wii Resort 1 hour 25 minutes. Two tennis matches that went to all 5 matches (Worked out trunk twists, squats, lunges and toe raises). Boxing 8 matches (shoulders, biceps, triceps (push ups between matches, sit-ups at the end of each match, stomach and lunges). Fit test age 27 all tennis drills which sucked but gave me more opportunity to repeat the excercises above. After the fit test I put in Wii Resort and did the 3 point contest in basketball. Toe raises, half squats, arms.
Realized that this outsole could possibly be utilized in a hoops shoe and it would perform okay. I would have to add a heel counter and possibly a strap over the midfoot to lock the foot in place, but the shoe has great bounce and the width at the heel could possibly prevent ankle roll. It would have to be a bit stiffer to really work at it's peak but it could work.
CG097 Treadmill Running Short Video (Training Tips)
The CG097 Sport was created to provide a shoe to athletes who want to work to increase their stamina, health and fitness. Whether walking or running it is important that you consult with your physician before beginning any workout routine.
Training Tips for Treadmill running:
1. Begin slowly at 1-2 speed for walking and warm up.
2. After walking 1 lap or 250 distance on the treadmill begin to jog.
3. Increase the speed to a comfortable pace between 3-4.5 to avoid leaning and being uncomfortable.
4. At any point there are several things you can do to stop the treadmill: Pull the round red safety tab, press stop or decrease the speed.
5. Run a comfortable distance maintaing proper form. Attempt to stay on the balls of the foot, but not at the expense of your comfort, build up to this style.
6. Stay hydrated and cool down by walking one lap after.
ARCH CEO is certified by the NFHS Association
The CG097 Sport was created to provide a shoe to athletes who want to work to increase their stamina, health and fitness. Whether walking or running it is important that you consult with your physician before beginning any workout routine.
Training Tips for Treadmill running:
1. Begin slowly at 1-2 speed for walking and warm up.
2. After walking 1 lap or 250 distance on the treadmill begin to jog.
3. Increase the speed to a comfortable pace between 3-4.5 to avoid leaning and being uncomfortable.
4. At any point there are several things you can do to stop the treadmill: Pull the round red safety tab, press stop or decrease the speed.
5. Run a comfortable distance maintaing proper form. Attempt to stay on the balls of the foot, but not at the expense of your comfort, build up to this style.
6. Stay hydrated and cool down by walking one lap after.
ARCH CEO is certified by the NFHS Association
CG097 TESTING NOTES FROM JULY 2010