Hello there, runners!

We are well into October, and the Dec. 6 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon is sprinting towards us at a fast and crazy pace! I have decided, at the advisement of the Zappos Running Team, that I just do the half. The thought that I should run this powerfully and next year do the full. I agreed, and now I have my mind set on completing the Half at a good time and still have enough energy to have a beer and listen to some rock and roll afterward!

This week I am at the goal of 7 miles. I'm not moving along at the pace that I really wanted; I've been flat-lined at 5 miles, and I am going to break it!

Brooks, Asics, New Balance and Saucony have all helped me along with some gear, and it is much appreciated. The only thing I had to run in before this was a plaid moo-moo and wooden clogs I fashioned out of a tree in the forest near my house. (Picture that.....yes...yes....frightening, I know.)

But this week, I came across the finest piece of running gear known to man. (at least this man)

Behold:

Playlists for Brett's Running This Week:
-Robert Palmer-Sneaking Sally Through the Alley (obsessed with this album)
-JEM-Finally Woken
-Old Crow Medicine Show-Tennessee Pusher

Sign up here for the Half or the Full Marathon!

Often times, when a person attempts to find the perfect shoe, he finds himself either staring at a wall full of endless sneakers that all seem to look alike, or he pages from link to link on the web, all the while unable to figure out what is what. At long last, once a shoe has been chosen, he feels his toe box to make sure he can wiggle, and he stands up to see if his heel slides too much. Yet rarely does a buyer think about the part of the shoe that is the most important: the midsole.

While it does not seem to do too much, being in the middle and all, the midsole performs several critical functions that allow for an injury-free run. First, the midsole absorbs almost three times the force of your body weight at impact, thus making your foot strike much less hurtful than it could be. Second, it provides you with a rebound effect, with the shoe pushing off the ground in response to the impact, thus helping to propel you forward into the next stride. Next, the midsole actually helps to provide additional stability if you suffer from over-pronation. And finally, it disallows your foot from feeling most sharp or blunt objects, such as rocks, shells, or sticks, you encounter while running. Overall, it plays a pretty major role in the success and enjoyment in running, so giving it some attention is a good idea.

Generally, the midsole represents the most durable part of the shoe, as the front and side portions will often wear sooner. Being thicker and more pronounced, the midsole has the cushioning and stability to weather the stress each mile puts on the shoe, thus it does not show its age as rapidly. Yet do not be fooled into believing it performs no great function by its tough exterior and steadfast resistance. It may not be the most exciting consideration, and it may not look too cool, but it will give you the correct production if you take the time to learn about what it can do. Best of luck!

I've been a runner for a long time and although I love running, I know I'm a "bad runner." Why, you ask? Because when I buy a pair of running shoes, I tend to break them in until they're comfortable and then I run in them until there's more foot than shoe, because they have so many holes in them. Now, that might be frugal, but it's certainly not healthy - at least not for my precious feet. Lately though, I've been trying to force myself to be careful with my running shoes and replace them much more often. Surprisingly though, it's not just me that doesn't switch out running shoes, a lot of my friends who are runners don't either. So, if you're a "bad runner" like me and my friends, when is the best time to replace your running shoes?

First of all, keep an eye on the soles of your running shoes. If they're looking worn down and particularly if they're lopsided (one side of the sole worn down much more than the other), they need to be replaced. Running in shoes with uneven soles can cause you to run awkwardly and can actually cause injuries if you're not careful.

The second thing is to make sure you keep a careful count of how much mileage you run. Some runners can get away with replacing shoes every six months if they're only running a couple of times a week. For those who run more often or run further distances, you may have to replace your running shoes as often as every six to eight weeks. The rule of thumb is usually about 500 to 700 miles is a good distance to replace your shoes. So, if you're running four or five times a week, 10 miles at a time, you're going to need new shoes after only two and a half to three months - and even sooner if you're training for a marathon.

Plus, honestly, if you wear the same running shoes all the time, you're also likely to have some stinky problems. So, it's probably best to have two or three pairs and rotate them. That way they get time to dry out after a run, and it'll take a bit longer to wear out one pair of shoes.

If you're like me, love running and music pretty much equally, then the ING Philadelphia Distance Run will really rock your running shoes (and speaking of which, I'm coveting these rocking running shoes for race day). The ING Philadelphia Distance Run will be on September 21st this year, and at every mile of the half marathon course there'll be a local Philadelphia band just groovin' away to put you in the mood for winning. Bands this year include The Art of Self Defense, Fooling April, The Dogz and Last Perfect Thing. With sounds from blues to funk, from rock and roll to acoustics, there really is a music mood for everyone. There's even something for the kids as The Dogz are a group of 13 and 14 year olds who got together to celebrate the run and play some tunes - can't beat that, eh?

The race itself too is a doozy. It's pretty much the best half marathon race in the US, and because it runs through historic parts of Philadelphia, it's also a pretty race to run. It starts near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, runs past City Hall and Independence Hall, up Benjamin Franklin Parkway and through Fairmount Park and along the river. Runnning this race, you'll feel like you're in a movie too - opening credits, the mist lifts off the water, and coming through the haze towards the camera, looking like a winner is..........you. The support from the community is awesome too, as tons of folks turn out to cheer you on.

The ING Philadelphia Distance Run starts this year at 7:45am on race day. There'll be individual medals given in all divisions, and also team medals as a lot of runners run in teams. There's a really cool children's runs too. Starting at 9:45 am, there's a 1 mile race, a half mile and a quarter mile, from kids ages 3 to 12 years old. It's worth coming just to see the kiddies' race. There's nothing cooler than a 3 year old being egged on by Mom and Dad.

This year is the first year ING is the main sponsor of the Philadelphia Distance Run and, as it's my favorite bank, I'm happy they're giving their support to the race. ING also runs a program called Run for Something Better, which encourages school kids all over the US to run and get fit, so they're definitely serious about their running. This year is the 31st year of the race and over 15,000 people are expected to sign up for it. Sign up deadline is September 14th and starts at $55 per person, up to $65 for later registrants.

So, think about it. Rock and roll, elite runners, great food at the end of the course, a movie-like atmosphere, historical buildings and the history of the nation breathing down your neck. It's not known as one of the countries most prestitious distance races for nothing ya know.