by Roman Urbina, Race Director of La Ruta Ultra Run. The Tarahumara have this wonderful expression that I learned to appreciate after recently spending several days with them, the first time in Costa Rica last November and the second occasion recently in Mexico. Both times centered on 100-kilometer running events, each one incredibly difficult and…
Author: NickP
Nicholas Pang is the co-founder of the Natural Running Center (NRC) and Wear Tested Gear Review (https://weartested.org).
Nick has published dozens of e-Book for the Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad. He has also co-authored two books in print for Oracle Press (“Oracle 9i Mobile”, 2002) and McGraw-Hill/OsborneMedia (“Mobile Macromedia Flash MX”, 2003).
While not tinkering with the latest Internet technologies for Silicon Valley start-ups in real estate, retail, and local government, Nick is busy fine tuning his running form and training hard for the National Senior Games and World Masters Athletics Championships. Nick is also a member of the USA Track & Field organization.
VIVOBAREFOOT ONE Shoe Review
by Nick Pang. The VB ONE is VIVOBAREFOOT’s ultimate on-road or in-gym barefoot performance shoe. The uppers feature a lightweight and breathable hex mesh with V Web lamination for stitch-less lateral support. It is also lined with a soft-fit performance lining containing environmentally friendly Aegis to provide active moisture management, anti-stink, and a pure barefoot…
Skechers GObionic Trail Running Shoe Review
by Nick Pang, NRC shoe review editor. Building on the success and experience with the original GObionic road running shoe, Skechers has created another blockbuster with the launch of its GObionic Trail running shoe. I have worn my original GObionic road shoe for a lot of my trail running mileage but small debris keep getting lodged…
Under Armour’s Toxic Six: New “Natural Collection” of Minimalist Running Shoes
NRC Shoe Editor Nick Pang reports: Under Armour continue its move into natural running motion with the launch of its “natural collection” of minimalist running shoes: Toxic Six. The collection offers the athlete an extension of the foot to deliver a superior, natural, protective ride. The ultra-flexible, anatomical Micro G midsole helps your foot move naturally. A glove-like…
Altra Zero Drop The ONE
Altra Zero Drop The ONE is a fast, light, and slightly cushioned do-it-all performance shoe that launched recently. But it is also one of the most anticipated shoe on my 2013 list as I wanted to see something between the Altra Instinct 1.5 and Altra Adam. –Nick Pang, NRC shoe editor From Altra’s literature, “From…
Merrell’s M-Connect Series of Running Shoes for Those Transitioning to Minimalism
by Nick Pang. Merrell recently launched its new M-Connect series of running shoes. It is a complete collection featuring running, training, and hiking shoes in addition to apparel. They have everything for the beginning transitioning runner to the advanced minimalist runner. This is Merrell’s biggest introduction to date and is a complete solution addressing the…
Natural Running Center’s Library
Our virtual library at the Natural Running Center is a breeze to use. Plus, there’s no late fees or someone shushing you to keep quiet. Our filing system is quite simple. Articles are divided into the following categories: 1.) General Information 2.) Sports Medicine Journal and Academic Research 3.) Science of Running 4.) Reading on…
Top 10 Most-Anticipated Minimalist Trail Running Shoes of 2013
by Nick Pang. Just like the minimalist road running shoes of 2013, these trail shoes will be lower to the ground at 6mm or less, lightweight, moderate cushioning, and some protection. Footwear manufacturers like Merrell, New Balance, and Inov-8 are coming out with shoes for the full minimal shoes spectrum – from the beginner to the…
“Summits of My Life” – Ultrarunner Kílian Jornet Burgada’s Four-Year Project
Kílian Jornet Burgada is a Spanish ski mountaineer, ultrarunner, mountain biker and duathlete. With that said, the 2011 Western State 100 winner is considered the world’s fastest billy goat, possessed of an uncanny ability to fly over steep, treacherous, foot-slipping terrain. Only 23 years old, his natural running talent is totally off the charts, and…
Merrell’s Spring 2012 Barefoot Collection
The Natural Running Center’s shoe review editor is Nicholas Pang, who is also the founder and editorial mastermind of Minimalist Running Shoes, a popular blog where many runners and walkers first become aware of new models, brands, and footwear availability. Nick has both his ears and feet to the ground when it comes to minimalism…
Ask the Experts: Should I Be Concerned That I Pronate When I Run?
I have been to three different shoe stores here in the Bay Area, and each store person took a look at my current running shoes (I wear them during the day) and said that “I pronate.” One youngish guy (he had the look of an emaciated, long-distance college runner) wanted to sell me some “anti-pronation”,…
Barefoot Persistence Hunting on the Sea Floor
Man first emerged from the depths of sea as a fish with fins-turned-shortened limbs that over hundreds of millions of years evolved into legs. From these humble ancestral origins emerged bipedalism, and in the blink of a cosmic eye, humans have gone from Stone Age hunters and gatherers to rulers of the planet. So it’s…
Putting on FiveFingers In Just 10 Seconds!
Many ardent fans of Vibram FiveFingers bellyache about how long it takes to slip on the barefoot shoes. But leave it to professional sword-swallower and ultrarunner Roderick Russell to tell you how to get VFFs on your eager feet in under 10 seconds. Hey, that’s about one second per toe, or just over a shade…
Nike’s Ode To Barefoot Running… in 2006!
This memorable Nike television commercial, which aired in 2006, was a witty, ironic homage to “Chariots of Fire.” It heralded the early beginning of the barefoot running trend, albeit in well-padded shoes called the Frees. This was three years before Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run became a national bestseller– and which really became the Big…