Training Log Archive: hughmac4

Happy Easter. Didn't go as far as I wanted: Easter. :) But the new shoes worked out pretty well -- really have a fast feel and great rock plate. More on that later this evening. Off to hughmac3's for Easter Dinner!

Beautiful day, 54F and super sunny.

Feeling crap from JKoczak's birthday fun last evening, but got out for a few laps in my new shoes:



Review: New Balance MT101 v1 (Initial Impressions)

From the New Balance website:

PRODUCT DETAILS For the serious trail runner, the more challenging the terrain, the better. Now there’s a shoe tough enough to keep up. The New Balance 101 trail running shoe for men is low-profile, ultra-lightweight and made for the trail. With ROCK STOP for added forefoot protection, no-sew mesh overlays, interlocking Sure-Laces to help keep out debris and an ACTEVA LITE midsole for premium comfort, it’s ready for your longest-mileage trail runs. 10 mm drop: due to variances created during the development and manufacturing processes, all references to 10 mm drop are approximate EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate) foam collar helps reduce moisture absorption No-sew material application Synthetic/mesh upper

Bought for $60 on Running Warehouse, size US 10 2E <-- sweet!

These are a re-release of a very popular shoe from 2010 time frame.

Taking them out of the box, they seemed VERY stiff and hard compared to most of my other shoes. Kind of in the Inov-8 MudClaw 'cleat-like' class. I was worried that they would be too stiff, particularly for road. Interestingly they don't seem to have much in the way of bumpers ... we'll see how they handle instep rocks.

There are a lot of separate materials inside (overlapping layers, built-in footbed, etc), which also makes me worry, but I didn't feel any of them with the shoes on my feet.

They have a 7.5oz claimed weight, and were 218g (7.7oz) + 228g (8oz) weighed, so pretty true to advertised, but oddly large difference between the two shoes, which makes me worry about quality control.

Putting them on, I noticed the 'Sure-Laces'. The laces are rippled, so they really grip each other nicely. Excellent touch.

They felt much better than expected on pavement. Did a few miles on grass and they felt pretty good, possibly a bit 'thin' for ultras ... tomorrow's long will tell. They are at least a solid mid-distance trail/road hybrid. I wasn't expecting them to be good on the road at all, but these will likely be my go-to on/off combo shoes if they pan out for distance.

If they do, at that price I'll be ordering more!

C • Sort of . . . 2

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Walk with hughmac3 & gals to the woods.

Some hills. SOOOO nice out there, like 71F and sun.

Nice day.