Great Outdoor Blog

Since beginning my career in outdoor retail back in July of 2010, the barefoot/minimalist shoe market has blown up. There were some days where it seemed like all I did was fit people for Vibram FiveFingers. For many customers the door to running was being opened in a new, more natural way. I was both fascinated and skeptical.

I got back to running regularly in 2009. The credit goes to catharsis over fitness, albeit just slightly. I was in the worst work situation of my life and was going through what might best be described as a one-third life crisis. I was falling apart and not sure of much except this: I loved being in the woods and running made me feel like I was going somewhere at a time when I felt stuck. So I became a trail-runner — a very passionate one.

Many changes followed, including leaving a 12 year career and becoming Paddlesports Manager at Great Outdoor Provision Co. Now my trail-running has become a significant way to speak from experience with customers about what they should consider when it comes to footwear.

The recent return to natural running forms and experiences is a good one. While a lot of folks around me were jumping into the minimal experience with both feet (pun intended) I hung out on the sidelines. I was already a middle/forward foot striker and I was perfectly content with my Brooks Cascadias. What I was missing out on was the feel-response experience. I patiently held off, reading and processing the new and growing conversation about minimal shoes. By this time professors of biomechanics were weighing in on the discussion. That’s when I came across the Brooks PureProject.

The Brooks attitude toward minimal running mirrored my own. Instead of following the crowd and the hype, Brooks was patiently and thoughtfully considering what would be best for a runner’s body. Philosophically that meant a lot to me. Finally, this March I got my first pair of minimal shoes. The Brooks PureGrits. Just when I thought my run experience couldn’t get any better, it did.

The lightness of the shoe, paired with its soft 4mm midsole offset is like having nothing on. Yet the duo of BioMogo and Brooks DNA allow your foot to hug every root and rock without discomfort. The cushiony ride along with the Ideal Heal allows for an explosive kick with each step. Then the Toe Flex design allows for good push without stressing the toes. I have chronic metatarsal dislocation in my right foot, and this has alleviated it significantly.

Light, comfortable, and explosive. These are my top three adjectives for this shoe. I feel more nimble and confident moving through varied terrain and over rocks, roots, and the occasional fallen tree. I also have a greater sense of contact with the trail. These shoes bite and launch which translates into greater run-efficiency. If you’re a trail runner looking for a minimal shoes that doesn’t sacrifice on comfort and packs in a load of technical benefits, the PureGrits are the shoe for you.

My favorite way to start the day is to get in a trail run. For this southern boy the best thing on the menu is Grits…PureGrits.

By Zach Roberts, Trusty’s Paddlesports Manager in Greensboro and contributing editor of www.thetriadadventuregroup.wordpress.com

Great Outdoor Provision Co. is excited to return as a sponsor of the River Bound Race Series, a joint production of N.C. Outward Bound School and U.S. National Whitewater Center. The four-race series takes place on the 400 acres/14 mile trails at the Whitewater Center as a fundraiser for the N.C. Outward Bound Scholarships.

For more information, please visit the official race site at www.riverboundrace.com.

>> Click here to register

Dates and Events:

• March 10th (5K)
• May 19nd (10k)
• July 21th (15k)
• September 22th (Half Marathon)

Sign up for all 4 races and save!

Back From The Edge: Diane Van Deren’s Spirited Life and Adventures

Tuesday, October 4, 2011
7 PM @ KINGS
14 West Martin St • Raleigh, NC 27601

General Admission tickets are FREE but in order to accommodate guests we ask that you register for the event online

Reserved Seating $8
VIP reception at 6pm $20 (includes reserved seating)

Ultrarunner Diane Van Deren spent ten years racked by epilepsy, but radical brain surgery gifted her with a seizure-free life and a super-human endurance that has driven her to win grueling events like the 2009 Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 430 mile foot race across a frozen wilderness.

In 2010 she turned to mountaineering and climbed South America’s tallest peak, Aconcagua. On this expedition, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester wired her up and monitored her movements to see what sets her apart form other athletes. Medical science is intrigued by Diane Van Deren: a survivor, a peak performer and a wife and mother of three. Her inspirational story will intrigue you and drive you to strive for your personal best.

We are excited to support the 2nd annual Mountains-to-Sea Trail 12-Mile Challenge.

April 9, 2011 @ 8:00am
Early Packet Pick-up at Bull City Running:
April 8 @ 4-6:30pm

Race Day Packet Pick-up at Start: 6:15-7:45am

>> INFO & Registration

2010 River Bound Race Series

The 2010 River Bound Race Series is a signature trail running race series featuring some of the most scenic and challenging trails in the entire Southeastern United States.

This race series raised money for North Carolina Outward Bound

The River Bound Race Series is a joint production of the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWCandNorth Carolina Outward Bound (NCOB).

Half Marathoners enter the 1st single track section

Trusty snuggles up to the USNCW Subaru Outback

Matt C. from Lynchburg, VA. takes 2nd Place in his Vibram Five Fingers

Lat P. wins the 1/2 Marathon in his Brooks Cascadia Trail Shoes

Back surgery in Feb - 1/2 Marathon in Sept wearing his Vibram Five Fingers

Starting line at Grayson Highlands for the BRR

What do a micro-biologist, EMT, and a Mule have in common?  Rank body odor for starters!  This weekend Trusty is embedded within a team of 12 runners who will hoof it 208 miles in the 2010 Blue Ridge Relay.  The BRR208, one of the longest running relay races in the United States, starts at Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia and winds its way through North Carloina’s mountains to the finish in downtown Asheville on Saturday morning. Brooks Running is among the sponsors for Trusty who is clad in the Brooks Cascadia running shoes.  Follow the action via twitter.com/TrustyGOPC

The Umstead Coalition is pleased to finally bring a drinking fountain to the Turkey Creek multi-use trail within William B. Umstead State Park. It is located close to the neighborhood gate at Reedy Creek and Trenton Roads. This super deluxe model is freeze resistant, allows for 3 drinking heights (adult, child, and very short) as well as a spigot to fill up your water bottles. It took over 3 years and a lot of complications and twists and turns – but it’s finally installed!

The Umstead Coalition is extremely grateful to the inspiration and fund-raising for this fountain by Carolyn Huettel with the Carolina Godiva Track Club. Other organizations that pitched in included: NC Road Runners Club, NC Ultra Running Association, City of Oaks Marathon, Cary Plumbing, and Great Outdoor Provision Co.

April 10, 2010 @ 8:00am – Registration now open!

1st annual Mountains-to-Sea Trail 12-Mile Challenge at Falls Lack presented by Bull City Running and Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

• Complete Race Information
• Course Map
• Course Description
• Course Elevation Chart
• Register Online

The race will follow the beautiful Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) as it winds through the woods along the Falls Lake. The MST, part of the NC State Park system, stretches 1000-miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smokies to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. More than 500 miles of the official trail are now complete, and with temporary connectors on back roads people can now hike across the state. The 12-mile trail race will finish on the dam at the site of the festival where runners will be cheered on by spectators and can enjoy the festivities.

Race proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail who, with the help of dedicated volunteers, build and maintain the MST trail throughout the state as well as advocate and educate the importance of maintaining and securing our natural resources.

>> Also note, there is a Falls Lake Workday – Sun, April 11

Osprey’s new Hydraulics™ packs are in our shops! An innovative suspension and ergonomic backpanel provide superb bike riding comfort and great stability while trail running. Bike-specific pocketing along with a proprietary LidLock™ system keeps your gear organized.

Raptor 10

Mountain Biking. An ideal size for everyday riding, the Raptor 10 offers streamlined organization with enough room for extra food and layers. Lower side compression straps keep the load close to your back and a stretch woven front pocket stashes extra gear. $89

3-liter HydraForm™ Reservoir Included

Colors available: Silt Gray, Spruce Green, Sand Gold

Raptor 14

The Raptor 14 is a great long haul pack for an all day adventure on your favorite single track. Stretch woven side pockets with InsideOut™ compression provide versatile gear carry options, while a large zippered front pocket with dedicated compartments for bike tools keeps essentials handy. $99

3-liter HydraForm™ Reservoir Included

Colors available: Silt Gray, Spruce Green, Sand Gold

Manta 20

Day Hiking, Adventure Racing. Fast and light endeavors are perfect for the Manta 20. Incorporating a streamlined design along with all the key features of its larger siblings, this pack is perfect for light and fast hikes, adventure racing and full day trans-alpine mountain bike rides. $129

3-liter HydraForm™ Reservoir Included

Colors available: Madcap Red, Storm Gray, Liquid Blue

From The Brooks Blog:

The Cascadia 5 for Men and Women is now officially available. Special thanks to Brooks-sponsored ultra runner  Scott Jurek for his insight into the design process and insider’s view on this award-winning trail shoe’s updates.

What is your role in the design process at Brooks?
I work closely with the Brooks footwear design team on all steps of the design process from planning, reviewing sketches and early shoe samples, wear testing, and relaying feedback from the field (i.e. retailers and customers). The footwear team is very interested in new ideas and receptive in designing shoes that provide optimum function and performance. I feel fortunate to be a part of this team process

How is designing a trail shoe different from designing a road shoe?

In designing a trail shoe it is important to take into account all the surfaces and environments that a trail user encounters. In addition, the biomechanics that the foot and ankle encounter running on these surfaces is critical so that the trail shoe provides normal movement and function while assuring stability and performance in a varied trail environment.

Trails offer more obstacles and uneven surfaces than roads. How does the Cascadia 5 help keep a runner stable while staying flexible and light?
The low profile design of the midsole and outsole, base of support through footprint surface area, and the independently stabilizing Pivot Posts in the Cascadia 5 create a very stable trail shoe. The spacing in the one-piece outsole lug design, minimized outsole thickness, flexible Ballistic Rock Shield, and light BioMoGo midsole all contribute to a flexible and light ride.

W’s Cascadia 5 – $100

What updates do you think people will notice the most in the Cascadia 5?

Cascadia 5 users can expect the same ride and feel in previous versions of the Cascadia, as we kept the same award winning midsole and outsole. The Cascadia 5 update story is in the upper where we improved the midfoot wrap to create a better connection between the foot and the midsole-outsole complex. This will make for greater stability and a feeling that the shoe is a part of the foot. Cascadia 5 users will notice greater stability where it matters most: downhills and technical trail sections.

Are there any features people won’t notice at first but you’d like to call out?

A lot of runners ask about waterproof uppers, and an often missed feature of the Cascadia 5 is its ability to drain water and dry quickly. Because trail users often encounter above-ankle deep water (creek crossings) or water enters above the collar (because of puddles), waterproof shoes are not a solution to the problem. It is inevitable that trail shoes will get water inside them.  And if you are in a hot dry environment, moisture from sweat and heat retention are the issues. It’s not a matter IF the feet will get wet, it’s WHEN. We designed the Cascadia 5 upper with hydrophobic microfibers and meshes that allow optimal water escape, maximum breathability, and quick dry time.

Most importantly, the Cascadia 5 is not only performance driven, it is making strides towards being “lighter” on the earth. The HPR green rubber outsole and BioMoGo midsole are key components that are “lighter” on the earth during production and post consumer. I feel it is important that our gear we use to enjoy the trail is produced with the least impact so we and our future generations can enjoy it as much as we do. I am excited that Brooks is taking strides towards this goal.

What makes you Run Happy, Scott?

Running a ribbon of single track trail on a ridgeline as the sun is rising or setting…Happy Trails!

M’s Cascadia 5 – $100

Also in stock: Brooks Adrenaline ASR 6