There has been a lot of hype about compression gear over the last few years and it really seems to have taken off in both the running and the triathlon communities.  As far as I can remember, CWX was the pioneer with this technology with companies like Zoot, Skins and 2XU following suit.  I was […]

Salomon XT Wings 2 S-Lab
Fellow RF’er Harper Forbes has recently posted a review of these shoes, but I just wanted to take the opportunity to echo many of his sentiments about this awesome new shoe in the Salomon 2010 line-up.
Like many adventure racers, I’ve been loyal to the Salomon brand as my first choice in […]

We all know the importance of being properly fitted on the bike. Lots of articles talk about that, but unfortunately many more talk about the bike “performance” itself. Particularly in triathlon, in which sport the marketing talks wash out our brains with the aerodynamic aspect of the bike , using scientific data from wind tunnel session supposed to ”prove” us that we are […]

So why review the Mizuno Nirvana 6 and the Elixir 5 at the same time? The answer is simple; they both nicely complement each other. One can be used for your regular training runs (racing too of course), and the other for racing or speedier workouts.
If you […]

In the spring of 2010, I was in my local Milton Running Free store looking to grab another pair of my usual trail runners in the Salomon XT Wings.  I’ve been wearing Salomon’s since I noticed their high profile in adventure racing about 8 years ago - the days of the flashy blue and yellow […]

Last July I had a chance to run with some friends the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney Provincial Park.  The trail is about 100 km and fairly remote. We decided we’d run the trail in one push rather than the 2 to 4 days that is normally required. To do this, we would have to […]

OK I know, what does Running Free know about coffee mugs and what do coffee mugs have to do with running? Well…I run and…well… I drink coffee. So when our favourite reusable water container company, Klean Kanteen, came out with a double walled, stainless steel coffee mug, I had to try it. They didn’t disappoint. […]

Well let’s face it many runners like to have a light shoe for some faster speed sessions or for those who require a bit more shoe, as a race day shoe.
I’ve had the opportunity to wear the Mizuno Wave Precision 10 for a little over a month now and really like them a lot. As […]

I’ve tried various models made by Mizuno and I’ve been really impressed. The overall sock like feel and light weight shoe make long runs feel effortless! After testing out the Mizuno Wave Elixir 5 at an astounding 7.7 oz for women and 9.4 oz for men  it became one of my favorite models yet!
The Wave […]

I have the flattest feet on the team.
Don’t even challenge that… Just trust me.
About a year ago though, taking up some foot strengthening exercises, while switching to a mid-foot strike with a higher cadence has allowed me to reduce the amount of support required from my shoe, and I’ve found a nice level of […]

As the summer months approach I’ve been spending a lot of time in the trails. After training in the Wave Rider 12’s for my spring marathon season i was hooked to the brand. After searching trying on various trail shoes i tried out the Wave Ascend 4 and instantly fell in love with the shoe! […]

I first must begin this review with an apology to Arnold at Mizuno who graciously provided a test pair of the Mushas asking only that I write a fair and honest review about them. That was the beginning of April and I had planned to race both the Markham Legacy and Sporting Life races to […]

I was so excited to hear that Running Free was going to be carrying these shoes as I had read so many good things about them and was dying to give them a try.  Luckily for me, my awesome husband had paid attention to all my obsessing and bought me a pair of the Newton […]

Ever wonder how some people can put in really big mileage weeks that also include some really brutal speedwork sessions and never seem to get sick. I used to wonder this all the time but now I’m one of those athletes. How you ask??
Well, one reason is simply progression of my subsequent training regimens. But […]

Everyone needs a little tenderness sometimes, and runners are no exception to this. Especially on those long runs, during those long training weeks and most importantly the day after a particularly hard training session when the tootsies are a little extra tender. The latter was my main reason for getting a pair as the cushioning […]

Looking for a lighter shoe for speedwork days or maybe a light race day shoe that will give more cushioning and support than a racing flat? Well look no further as Mizuno has the Elixir 5 waiting at Running Free for you to buy right now.
As a race day shoe it has just the right amount […]

Throughout my years of training, I’ve searched for a lightweight running shoe that could be used for tempo run’s or even intervals without using track spikes or my racing flats. After using Mizuno’s Wave Rider 13 i was hooked! At a weight of 8.6 oz the shoe is a flexible and lightweight trainer for runners […]

After a punishing race last weekend called Hell Of The North, I was really looking forward to a smaller yet still challenging race called Paris to Ancaster.  For most competitors, this is a must do race each season as it’s very challenging and is a great amount of fun. 
The race itself (now in it’s 17th […]

This is one of my favorite Spinervals DVDs.  This is a compilation of various segments from a number of other DVDs.  The title is right as Coach Troy will have you saying “Have Mercy” after almost 2 hours of sweating and moving.   Coach Troy is fairly motivating and somewhat humorous at times.  […]

This is the 6th time I have purchased this shoe which shows how much  I like it.  It is a fairly inexpensive shoe that has a lot of the technology that is used in much more expensive shoes.  The fit is amazing for me with a snug heal and midfoot and a fairly roomy toebox that […]