Absolutely in love with this toy. Such an ingenuous and helpful piece of gear. Well done. Not more to say really…

Since I had a go with the Feline Superlight
 I’m keen to know more about Dynafit’s running goods. This time I got the chance to take their latest model for a ride – the Pantera! Dynafit needs no introduction. Check my previous examination of the Feline to find out more about the Austrian outdoor brand.

As you clearly see in the photographs, the heavy protected model is made for the longer distances. There is not much symptom of minimalism with this shoe- for a reason. The hip phrasing “Ultra Trail” is the key word in the official explanation on their website. Generally that is not somewhat that really gets me fired up. I want the shoe to be light and simple. Examining the shoe closer I like the quality of the making and the general appearance and finish.

Just straight away you sense the pad and the cosiness. Yet the energetic is not lost. Something that keeps on striking me while running with the Pantera. The sensation is a bit sluggish caused by the protection but still you feel the urge to move reckless. An active stride is reinforced. Not normal for a heavy shoe like this.

Additional motivating piece is the “special sole construction of two continuous EVA units – Duo-Motion “. It is pretty noticeable the first time you take this shoe on a proper off-road track. The sensitivity for the ground is there but the reply from the sole scheme isn’t. The control could certainly be improved. While having an aggressive sole it lacks the grip, particularly when it’s getting rock-strewn and misty. It seems that the spikes have the appropriate length but they are too close together. While I stumble on some uphill’s I have to say that the downhill part was way better. Great traction and control here. Kinda bizarre.

Lets have a quick scan through the features:

• Bursting 8 mm (height difference between the midsole heel / forefoot)

A bit much for my likes. However it feels good and makes up for a mighty stride.

• Ballsistic bumper protects your toes room to impacts on rocky trails and increases the longevity of the shoe

I cannot justice the durability but the rest is decent. I had some severe impacts while running downhill. The shoe always responded flawlessly.

• Fitted shape, Forefoot from bi-elastic mesh material adapts when the feet swell during the run, good maintenance of the midfoot inextensible by integration into the lacing system

While I haven’t run this shoe in an Ultra distance event it is still on of the key features to me. The mesh material feels just great and makes it fun to run that shoe.

• Vibram ® outsole compound mapping from a stepped rubber compound with Claw profile for maximum performance in mixed terrain

As said above. While the material is great, the actual design of the sole is not properly thought out.

Triathlon kinda sucks.

Well, it’s not the actual sport that sucks. To me some of the competitors are just a bunch of weirdos. Taking the love for this beautiful sports to extends I personally can not relate to. Still there are so many distinctive races our there that I love to do. I love swiming in open water, I love riding my bike and I do love running.

Triathlon made me a runner and a fan of the outdoors. Triathlon certainly changed my life and my perspective towards it.

When I heard about the idea of a retro triathlon incorporated in the Ingolstadt triathlon I was hooked and loved the idea. So did Steffen and Hannes. We strapped the whole weekend into a birthday present for our friend Fabse and drove down to Bavaria for some all out racing the oldskool way. With beautiful facial hair and speedos!

After wading thru old running and bike gear we were more than prepared to sport the neon 80s Lycra and the plain and gracious steel frames.

The concept of plain oldskool battling is just great. Unfortunately not to many people took it to the extend we did. There have to be more people out there that lack the hunger for the sport and not the profilic touch! Get at it lovers!

It was a very positive surprise. I find a plane envelope in my post box. No sign of any familiar name on it. I rush to open it.

You might recall my post about the incredible IT’S THE LIMIT fanzine. Dom just did it again.

Again in grace. Again in such an candid and catching way. Again unadorned motivation. Again so much certainty. Again pure offline stoke!

Order it NOW. More than worth it!

Thanks a ton Dom!

With a unspoken promise to myself I left Zegama last year (You might be interested in my post about the Zegama-Aizkorri Mendi Maratoia 2013). I left it with added demand and admiration to the most distinctive and vast competition I ever took part in. I guaranteed myself to come back stronger. To perform better. I wanted to give the energy back to this community and to those trails. I will more than evidently never go for the win or the Top50 in this race. But that does not really matter. I fell in love with this place and the vibe it forms. I just wanted to give something back with a solid all-out show. I failed the 2nd time. Zegama got me again. What a course, what a race.

Credits: 42195.es

This event starts well before the sound of the gun. In the consequences of last year’s race Florian Reichert and I decided to run it again this year. Both of us were stoked and felt the need to come here again. The absurd excitement that surrounds the race around the Aizkorri national park just got bigger and bigger each day. Social media went wild the week before. Fresh pictures arrived day by day and transported the hype around the interweb. With the impatience to link in, we boarded the plane in Frankfurt joining Eirik and Stevie on the way to Bilbao to meet up with Mauri from Argentina. And when a Spanish speaking German professor tells you the incorrect direction based on a Norwegian sat nav, you know that you are on the way to experience something one of its kind.

Credits: Fotoiosu Photography

Sunshine is not something that comes across very often in this part of the world. The days before the race were perfect anyway. The weather forecast wasn’t. We had great fun hanging around the town and joining the INOV8 mob for some funky jogging and eating around our domicile. Superb vibe. Again. Only in Zegama.

Credits: Fotoiosu Photography

And as the weather forecast predicted, it rained. It downpoured a lot when I woke up to get breakfast on race morning. We warmed up in the rain gear and there was no sign of the mountains as they were covered in big grey chunky clouds. You never know what you get here. Once more. Only in Zegama.

Then we lined up. And this vibe just gets you straight away. Meeting so many old faces and getting to know new people. It felt a bit like coming home. The sociability of the locals is just incredible and exactly the reason why I wanted to deliver. The church bells rang and the countdown was on. Off we went.

Credits: Fotoiosu Photography

And straight from the start is was a tough one for me. I never really got the rhythm. I wanted to start easy but the easy pace felt way to easy. To easy for this race. To easy for the outcome I was aiming for. The heavy ground was tough to run and grip wasn’t really on my side. When I crashed the first time I did not really bother. After the 10th time slamming down in the deep and frosty muck I lost a good bit of self believe. I got even more alert but couldn’t avoid additional harsh crashes during the rock sections and on the downhills. Running technical downhill is something I can do. I liked it while running this race last year. Not so this time. I was totally out of pace and power.

Credits: myself

When German Salomon girl Romy joined me on my sophisticated trek just before the legendary Sancti Spiritu climb I was pretty pleased for some companionship. The two of us had a awful day and we fought the route together. Like last year, all the climbs were incredible. The spectators are out of this world. Even in the back of the field it is an incredible emotion to go up the Aizkorri (Video Evidence) and feel the power and craziness. With the weighty mist and the sinful light behind the clouds it shaped a thrilling atmosphere. Jointly we fought through the breeze along with showers and lastly reached the market square. Way too late.

So I think I have go back once again with a another promise. With the promise to run this race better. After two awful performances it won’t be hard to run it better. Still the vibe and the ambiance left me with pleasure and happiness. Having made the journey down here was worth it. There is no other race like this. There is no similar vibe. Zegama in fact is Zegama. Until next year.

Gear
Shoes: Brooks Cascadia 9
Shirt: Brooks Infiniti SS
Shorts: Brooks Sherpa VI 5″ 
Sleeves: Brooks
Head: Buff Euskadi Design
Hydration: Inov8 Tace Ultra 0.25
Watch: Garmin Fenix