the pencil runs

I like my Asics GT-2110. It fits great, but it is a pretty pricey shoe. I put down $140 for my current pair.

While browsing in the local sports shop, I discovered a possible match for me: the Asics Jr. GT-2110 for kids. I saw a pair at World of Sports and it was retailing for $89! And they have my size! To compare the adult and the kid version, I put one on each side and walked around a bit.

The kids' one did not feel as comfortable but I suspect that it had nothing to do with the quality of cushioning (as the salesman said) but with the inferior sockliner. These are the specs of both shoes:

Asics Jr. GT-2110

Features
GEL® Cushioning Systems
AHAR® Solid Rubber Outsole with Stitched Toe Cap
DuoMax® Medial Post
Full Length SpEVA® Midsole

Benefits
Provides maximum rearfoot and forefoot shock attenuation
Extended toe cap helps enhance durability
Provides stability and shores the midfoot
Enhanced midsole durability and cushioning

Asics GT-2110

Features
Impact Guidance System (I.G.S.®)
DuoMax®
SpEVA® Midsole Material
Space Trusstic System™

Benefits
ASICS® design philosophy that uses linked componentry to encourage optimal gait while allowing for natural foot movement from heel strike to toe-off
Ensures that the shoe maintains proper support for the foot during the critical transition from heel strike to toe-off
Provides superior shock attenuation along with a cushioned ride and enhanced durability
An advanced system that creates a pocket between the Trusstic System® device and the midsole, allowing for greater midsole deformation and more efficient foot function

It is hard to understand what these specs really mean. The way I understand it though, you get as good a cushioning with the Jr shoe as with the adult shoe, but you don't get any of the fancy high-tech stuff like IGS, PHP, Space Trusstic System, etc. The Jr. shoe also comes with an extra-large toe box (which looks horrendous and is completely unnecessary for me). I think they think that teenagers bang their toes into things a lot.

Anyway, I'm going to file away this thought until I need it.

(note: for those interested in the Jr. shoe, I wear a size 5 or 5.5 in adult and the size 6 in kids was almost too large for me.)

Remember the botanic loop? If you sign up for a free account at www.motionbased.com, it gives you the option of exporting it out to Google maps, which gives this:



Google gives the furthest distance by far!

The loss of reception at MacRitchie becomes even more apparent when I overlaid it onto Google Earth.



Did you see me swimming through the reservoir at one point? :)

The map on top is drawn from an electronic map, while the breadcrumb trail below is generated by the Garmin Forerunner. Using MapEdit, I get a total distance of 7.7km. With the Garmin Forerunner, I get 7.35km. I'm not sure why the graph registers 7.6km instead (see graph below). I assumed it was the "resting distance", but I've noticed a discrepancy even in cases without it.

The Garmin also gives me my pace and the elevation of the route. Check out the pace on the upslope!



The four spikes are where I stopped at traffic lights. The Garmin Forerunner was set to autopause at a walking pace (you can configure your walking pace under profile), and autolap at 1km. There is a distance alarm at 5km.

The Garmin works great as long as you can get a signal. If you run under the trees and lose signal, the Forerunner recalculates your distance and average pace when you get back under a clear sky with the assumption that you ran in a straight line.

For example, you can see the stright lines where I lost reception in the breadcrumb of the 5km boardwalk route at MacRitchie (see route below). For some reason I lost reception on the way there but not on the way back.



Garmin registered 4.49km for that run (4.9km on graph). What's up? The resting distance on that run was 0km too. Hmmm.

The Garmin connects with the computer via the serial port. Although that is a old-fashioned way of connecting, if you're running out of free USB ports like me, it may be a good thing.

Obviously I haven't figured out the Forerunner yet and there are still some things I'm confused about. But I still think it is spiffy that I can wear something on my arm that speaks to satellites in the sky.