From today’s New York Times, Gina Kolata stumbled upon the discovery that athletes may spend less effort on a workout than they would at night. She asks, “Are athletes more efficient in the morning?”
“A small group of researchers has studied the question of exercise performance and time of day, even doing studies of heart rates. And not only are performances better in the late afternoon and early evening, but, contrary to what exercise physiologists would predict, heart rates are also higher for the same effort.”
It’s been a few years since I ran, due to my feet having problems with pronation. At my podiatrist’s recommendation I ditched my standard running shoe, Saucony Stabils, for a pair with slightly less support. But the pair of Sauconys I went with also had less motion control. The shoes gave me problems instantly. My feet lost circulation upon starting out for a run, other foot problems then developed, and so did pain develop elsewhere in my body. I stopped running.
Those old running shoes never got the full wear and tear they were supposed to get, and therefore it was two years before I could justify replacing them (running shoes require replacement roughly every six months, twice a year, even when they’re used infrequently). I wasn’t sure I would start running again, but once I handed over the plastic at the store for a new pair of Saucony ProGrid Stabil CS, I suddenly had the urge to run. I got home with my new shoes just as dusk was setting in, but that didn’t stop me from heading to Central Park for a run around the Harlem Meer. It felt great, even though I ran for just a portion and walked the rest of the loop. I’ve kept it up for a few weeks now.
Though I have orthotics I should use instead of the standard inserts, I’ve left in the original support—the shoes are offering the support I need. Every runner has unique requirements when it comes to a shoe. The Stabil has technology to make it appropriate for runners who pronate, or whose feet angle in. The biggest features are packed into the midsole of the shoe. The C S Zone, a special material that is built into the sole of the shoe under the arch of the foot, is added support that controls the foot against pronation, while keeping the foot flexible. More added support is provided through the Arch-Lock, or strapping that extends from the sole to the lace eyelets. Other features alternate cushioning and support where appropriate.
At some point I’ll have to start using my orthotics, but I like the inserts’ sock liner that offers moisture wicking and rebound properties to support most runners. The ProGrid has been around for several years, but Saucony continues to update it with the latest technology to support any running regime.
It’s been a few years since I ran, due to my feet having problems with pronation. At my podiatrist’s recommendation I ditched my standard running shoe,