Trail Shoes Galore: A review of the Asics Trabuco and the Asics 2140 Trail edition

A little background: I LOVE running shoes. Some women may have a closet full of Jimmy Choos or maybe some Cole Haans. Not me. I have at least 20 pairs of running shoes. Everything from Nikes, New Balance, and Asics to Saucony and even some Brooks. For a short time I even had a pair of Mizuno trail shoes, but last year when I signed up for the Blood, Sweat, and Beers Run and began doing trail running in earnest, I headed over to the crack house fleet feet and looked at two pairs—the Asics 2140 and the Asics Trabuco.

Asics 2140 Trail Edition: Built on the same foot last as the standard Asics 2140, the trail edition has some modifications to it that make it an excellent choice for light trail running. It has a tighter weave to the mesh than the standard 2140—this of course disallows rocks, dirt, debris from getting into the shoe so easily. This isn’t to say that stuff DOESN’T get into the shoe Many times I emptied my shoes on the trail, but in comparison with a regular running shoe, the issue of, “Crap there is a rock/stick/dirt/sand in my shoe” was significantly decreased. This shoe is light (300 grams), has great responsiveness and fits my feet like a, er, glove. As I have narrow feet, I was able to tighten the laces adequately to fit my feet. The shoe is designed for both road running and trail running and you can really feel the design works perfectly as you move from Road to Trail. Personally, I could hardly tell the difference moving from trail to road or road to trail. The only problem I had with the shoe was “hotspots” on the bottom of my feet after running more than 10 trail miles. These became a serious issue. The shoe midsole is so responsive (read “thin”) that I could literally feel the heat from the trail seeping into the bottom of my feet. If you run trails where it isn’t too warm, this may not be an issue. For me in the Sierras and central valley in the middle of summer, it was a problem that led me to purchase the…


Asics Trabuco: Touted as the “Real Trail Runner” shoe. When put next to the 2140 trail edition, it looks like a Chevy Suburban next to a SmartCar. But the size is deceiving as it is ONLY 30 grams heavier (330 grams) than the 2140 trail edition. The Trabuco has a toe guard around the front of the shoe—so one doesn’t bruise the front of toes while tripping over rocks. Its heel is significantly thicker than the 2140 trail shoe and that is a plus in my book. The Trabuco also is a lot wider in the toebox than the 2140. This is great if your feet swell a lot or if you have average-to-wide feet or if you tend to wear thicker socks. If you have very narrow feet, this might be a deterrent since the tougher outer structure of the Trabuco makes cinching down on the laces more difficult. I do have very narrow feet (I usually wear Nike or New balance Narrow) and it took a while for me to get used to the feeling of my feet moving around in the shoe. The Trabuco also has a much tighter weave for the upper, so theoretically, LESS stuff should get into it than into the 2140 Trail and I did find this to be true for me. .For more technical or longer runs on trail, the Trabuco is definitely your choice (unless you don’t want the extra 30 grams of weight or if your feet are very very narrow.) It also took me time to get used to the way they felt on my feet—like big bricks. They lacked responsiveness—no midfoot bending, etc so I couldn’t really feel the trail under me and that was unusual. However, this was sometimes a plus in my book because of the “hot spots” issue I had with the 2140 trail. Personally, I would rather give up a bit of responsiveness than feel like my feet were on fire. BUT I seemed to trip and fall more with the Trabuco because of the lack of feeling—or maybe I was just clumsier. I am not sure.

So which is better? I use both shoes but for very different runs. The 2140 trail I use for trail runs where I may also need to run on roads or asphalt OR if my trail run is shorter than about 10 miles. Non-technical runs are also best done with the 2140 trail. For runs longer than 10 miles on the trail, very technical trails, or if it is very HOT outside, I switch to the Trabuco. I have to use thicker socks with the Trabuco for my narrower feet and I tend to be more careful about my foot placement as I have fallen down several times with the Trabuco (never with the 2140 trail shoes). My basic rule is, if I have to carry my Nathan Intensity Water pack, (i.e it is very hot outside, the run is long or too technical for me to carry my water in a bottle on my waist) then I need to wear my Trabucos.

The "killer" and other monstrosities--Good News & Bad News Edition

• Bad News: PT confirmed course of action given by MD sports doc--3-6 months off to allow hip and knee to heal fully.
  
  
• Good News: PT took one look at my face and said, "But I can tell you won't do it for awhile and I don't blame you. I'm the same way. Let's try to get your hip strengthened in the meantime"
  
  
• Bad News: Wednesday night speed workout was really a monsterous "killer" hill workout. 6X400 straight up a hill while dodging cars in 90 degree heat.
  
  
• Good News: I completed the run, that honestly I thought was very unlikely at the outset of the workout.
  
  
• Bad News: I am falling behind on my training plan for my next Half Ironman in September.
  
  
• Good News: Everyone I know is also falling behind in their training plan. Ok this isn't necessarily good news--but it is good to know that i'm not the only one.
  
  
• Bad News: I've missed all the thursday trail running races. Boo!
  
  
  
• Good News: I get to trail run on Sunday in Auburn with Tim T. and Mo B.!
  
  
• Bad News: I have so many things going on in life, yet I can't think of a lot to post on my blog.
  
  
• Good News: I don't get paid for blogging.

Next Up: Review of Asics Trabuco and Asics 2140 Trail shoes.

Run like the wind to be free again

Sunday's RUN ROCKED! I had such a good time.

Got to the start point at Cavitt Middle School around 7:15 for the 7:30 start. It was amazing how many people I saw there that I remembered from last year. I talked to "big D" from Trailmomma's blog. She is a wonderfully sweet lady who (last year) always yelled encouraging words to me as she sprinted past.

I also spoke with a few others who I knew from trail running last year, along with a couple of my wednesday track workout comrades that are also doing trail running.

After a quick peptalk by Mo Bartley and Tim Tweitmeyer, we were off for a 5 mile jaunt through trees, over hills and next to folsom lake. The view from the trail was breathtaking! I took a couple of pictures but they really didn't turn out well.

I got a lot of, "You go girl" from Mo which made me laugh as I was leaned over at a 45 degree angle trying to power walk up a steep hill. Mo is awesome.

I managed 1:04 total time for a 5 mile run. I believe actually running time was about 55 minutes. Today my glutes, hammies and quads have that nice, post run ache --not pain-- but I know I worked out yesterday!
Tomorrow is run and bike and wednesday I will hit the pool again and try to get some yardage before work. EEkkk. The 4:20 a.m. swims commence!

Tommorow is another day

I approached todays ride witha bit of trepedation due to it being the first ride since the auburn tri three weeks ago. Gusty winds and 90+ degree weather further raised my anxiety. I took off with a friend and I am SO GLAD THAT I RODE MY BIKE!

I only managed a short 18 miles but I was so happy to get on my bike and ride in the sunshine. Riding buddy and I stopped at Folsom Bike and had a cool beverage. As we sat and chatted about riding bras, cycling computers, and our garmins. It was just so great to get out even for just an hour or so.

Tomorrow I start my long runs with the trail running class, coached by Uber Studs Tim Tweitmeyer and Mo Bartley. Tomorrow's run is just 5 miles but considering my lungs I think it will be a great run for me.

Run details on monday recap!

Tuesday Twenty-ish

• I could get used to not doing anything ever. Since my illness, I’ve allowed myself to indulge in food and drink –drink is usually wine, but the 85+ degree weather the past few days truly creates a need for margaritas. Ice cold margaritas. I thought about trying the “Skinny Girl” margarita (no margarita mix, just soda water and the juice of 2 limes—only 100 calories) but honestly, that just doesn’t sound good. I’ve become a glutton. How do I know? I had a body fat test.
  
• Percent bodyfat I was in high school (caliper test) –18 %
  
• Percent body fat I thought I was – 24%
  
• Percent bodyfat the electrical impedence machine measured me on June 6 –29.5%
  
• Current BMI –25
  
• Height – 5’2”
  
• Weight – 112
  
• That makes me approx 33 lbs of fat.
  
• Husband’s response to my newly elevated percent bodyfat: “Stop eating so much crap.” Uh, no shit Sherlock. Obviously, dietary changes are not my forte.
  
• Took RugRat#2 to see Bodies Revealed. She insisted on going and had been begging me to take her.
  
• RR#2 fainted within 4 minutes of us entering the first gallery.
  
• When she recovered she tried to go outside, took 5 steps and fainted again. I caught her in my beefy (and fatty) arms.
  
• I wheeled her out in a wheelchair.
  
• Bought her a milkshake and then she insisted that we go back and finish the tour.
  
• I agreed but only after convincing her to allow me to push her in the wheelchair through the exhibit.
  
• She did fine the rest of the time—had no problem looking at dissected lungs, smoker’s lungs, penis cancer, even embryos and fetuses (feti?). But the full bodies posing on the bike or holding a baseball bat were too much.
  
• I have mixed feelings about visiting bodies revealed. On one hand, it is totally interesting and a view of humans that nobody ever gets. But despite Chinese Governmental insistence that these people died and had no relatives and donated their bodies to “science”, I never shook the feeling that I was visiting something akin to Dr. Mengele’s house of horrors.
  
• One of my two dogs is getting very sick and old. She has kidney failure and there isn’t much the vet can do for her. She is still HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY ninety percent of the time but she is having more and more days where she doesn’t do a lot of fetching, begging or running.
  
• I’ve decided that my next run is going to be a 5k called “Alzheimer’s Run” on July 24. I would like to do around 23 minutes for the 5k but we’ll see.
  
  
  
• A quote from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby keeps going round and round in my head. Jean Girard saying to Ricky (after breaking his arm), “Your injury is one of Ignorance and Pride”.
  

Good Times at Diva Night-- Friday Five

Pic shows the fun I had a Diva night a few weeks ago. Even though they plied me with LOTS of red wine, I did NOT BUY ANYTHING at Diva Night. That's a first. I usually plunk down a good $200 on necessities (isn't everything a necessity when you are a little toasted?) like Hammer Gel and 4 pairs of biking shorts.

I had a DNF (or was it a DNS?) for my wednesday night run group.Obviously this illness is taking longer to shake than I anticipated.I dragged my carcass through the 2 mile warm up, did one slow (12+ min/mile) track lap and then walked back to my car. I didn't even get to the actual "workout" this week. My lungs are still pretty congested so I am taking time off until next Monday or Tuesday and I'll re-assess then.

Three people are pressuring me to try for an IM in 2011--IM Arizona to be exact. My dream is IM St. George (because I've always wanted to visit Utah's Arches National Park) but I don't know if I am ready to undergo the rigours of an IM schedule. Granted I wouldn't even have to start training until--well-- like a year from now, but the challenge sounds intriguing. "Karen, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" Yeah, that has a nice ring to it.

Because of illness, our 10 year anniversary was a bust. Boo. But we're trying to reschedule a nice night out on the town or in San Francisco at our fav restaurant, Millenium. Yea!

I've eaten McDonald's twice this week and I feel like a bloated, overstuffed pig. I need a good vegan raw food cleanse. Or maybe I should just stop eating crap.