I think I need to line out the pending season a bit. What do I have scheduled other then this Swim and Run thingy up there in Sweden?

♣ Rome Marathon 23.03.2014 Yes. A marathon. On a street. On a cemented lane in a city. How conservative. How tedious. I’m exceedingly looking forward to struggle it out with a bunch of my best dudes on that trip to the Tiber.

♣ Hammer Trail Bornholm 03.05.2014 Yes. Meeting the noble lads up there in Denmark for some hammer trail jogging around the Island. Glad to get the chance to run this unique 50k race.

♣ Zegama Aizkorri Mendi Maratoia 25.05.2014 Yes. Again. This race deep down in the magic Basque county. If you read this blog frequently I do not have to write anything. I’m just stoked to go there again.

♣ Triathlon 78 Ingolstadt 01.06.2014 Yes. My 1st Swim-Bike-Run competition since approximately 5 years. For a reason. This will be a friendly Bromance battle with the boys. Goal is to finish fast and tick all the boxes when it comes to the oldskool equipment and body hair. Expect the unexpected. 

♣ Engadin Swimrun 12.07.2014 Yes. I do miss some upper-body muscles. To look decent throughout the summer season I need to opt this swimming thing again. Fabse and I will be hitting Swiss beaches and mountain trails to get into shape for the biggie in the north.

♣ ÖTILLÖ 01.09.2014 Yes. I already wrote about this one. Nothing to add. Just pure stoke! 

♣ GFNY Italia 21.09.2014 Yes. And so YES! Finally in Europe. Ultimately in Terracina, Bella Italia. This one is a must. Cannot wait to get on the infamous Gran Fondo organized by my good friend Uli! 

♣ Pentland Skyline 12.10.2014 Yes. This contest is on my list for a quite a while. The hills around Edinburgh are just made for running. The “Skyline” features one of the finest routes around that area and is a picture-perfect reason to go up to Scotland for some hiking and friend visits.

I did not include the infrequent local competition. There will be more to follow. Again another season to look forward to. Some great journeys are lined up and some great goals are on the horizon and make training even more fun.

At this point Richard Askwith’s “Feet in the Clouds” must be a household name and a long representative in every good (running) book collection. But there is a new addition to your “Fell Running” segment in the book shelter – “It’s a hill, get over it!”

I received a press copy of this hardcover a few days ago and just finished it. Straight from the start of this piece I was addicted, hooked and captivated. Fell running and it’s humble exquisiteness is just thrilling. Steve Chilton, fell runner himself, comes up with a well worked out piece about a very distinct and British part of the sport of running.

The long-lasting tradition of a sport that builds his own charisma and shows people the spectacular spaces the British Isles have to offer is all covered and presented in a very direct and revealing fashion. Having raced in the feels and hills myself I can relate to so many written tails. Working Class heros were formed and World Champs where revealed. All by competing up and down the hills. If you never experienced these races yourself you will definitely get more than a notion by reading through this book.

Chilton just begins straight at the start of this sport. He covers the rich history, talks about the renowned races and presents the unique challengers and challenges that are on offer when you talk about “Fell Running”. You might have never heard of names like Sarah Rowell, Jeff Norman or Rob Jebb? This book shows you what it is all about, why this hype is lasting for so long and how many great athletes started their career in this genuine and untainted sport.

Some shocker of a performance. I just cannot listen to my body. Would I have listened he would have told me to stay on the sofa. Way to tired and without any power I jogged home a shocking routine. Just felt like trash. Rest up and onto the next one.

Influential, scientifical power
My mental violence will shower
Afu Ra

Monday: PM Run 9,1k
Tuesday: PM Run 8,1k / PM Run 12,7k
Wednesday: PM Run 8k
Thursday: AM Weights / PM Run 9,8k
Friday: PM Run 6,8k
Saturday: AM Run 25k / PM Weights
Sunday: AM Weights
Total: Run 79,5k

Tune of the week: There can only be one – Peter Gabriel’s Biko. Madiba, may you rest in peace.

Monday: AM Run 7,8k
Tuesday: AM Run 6,7k / PM Run 15,1k
Wednesday: PM Run 7,4k
Thursday: AM Weights / PM Run 12,9k
Friday: AM Swim 2k / PM Run 8k
Saturday: AM Run 21,7k / PM MTB 27,4k
Sunday: PM NS 17,2k
Total: Run 79,6k

Getting back to the grind. Putting down some facts – past week in figures.

Tune of the week: Marteria – Kids

OK. So you have the choice. There is only one running shoe you are allowed to take to a lonely island. Lets say this isle has a gorgeous 400 meter state-of-the-art track. Consider a wonderful and never-ending set of trails alongside the coastline and up to a rough and rock-strewn mountain. Think about a boulevard for some intervals or tempo runs. Meditate about a sandy and traffic free backroad with Rooney Mara handing you your desired drink just about when you need it. Think about a fine steep hill for some sprints and think about a bar with a scenic ocean view and free drinks every day precisely where you finish your workout.

Well, which running shoe would you take? There is a pretty good chance that the T7 Racer joins me on that remote island far away from any cruel weather and unexciting daily training routes.

I can not remember a pair of shoes that I have worn more often then this model from Brooks. No matter what’s on the training agenda. The T7 ticks the box for me. Blending out the spikes, this shoe is the lightest representative of the Brooks crew. And that does not mean there is not such a thing as cushion and support. With this shoe you keep everything minimal and quality. Every aspect is well thought out and just when you put this one on your feet you know what I’m chatting about. I know that this shoe is considered a racing flat and it is well worth it to race it. But besides this clear focus there is much more.

For a minimal shoe of this style the arch support is pretty much dreamlike. Being a neutral shoe this is a feature that is not found regularly in this “weight class”. As the shoe is pretty tight I’d recommend to take it at least half a size bigger then you would typically buy a road flat. It seems that the advantageously position of rubber and the asymmetrical arch saddle give this shoe a exceptional vibe. There is not too much and not too less material at the right place. Pretty impressive.

The heart of this shoe are the HydroFlow fluid parts in the front and in the back of the sole. I think there is not much need on the back of the sole as people who are able to use this shoe the way it should be used do not need much support in the back. Nevertheless it’s not a big deal as the lightweight material doesn’t necessarily increase the overall weight. I do also like the soft touch of the sole. Not usual for flats the cushion allows you to run all sorts of workouts. From track to road to trails the sole responds nice and direct. Going of the roads the sole could be a bit tricky in wet off-road conditions.

As always in such a review I’d ask people who have no experience with light shoes to take it easy with this one. Saying that, the Brooks T7 can be a great introduction to the world of minimal running. For every other runner this is a daily workhorse as well as a great shoe for your new PB. And if the look does not motivate you to run fast, well, then you better stay away from the T7 as well as from that isolated island I was talking about earlier on.

Tune of the day: Veto – Spit it out