Running Gear Review - Safety Vest - Noxgear Tracer360

Today's Review:

Noxgear Tracer360 Illuminated Safety Vest

Noxgear Tracer360 is probably one of the coolest pieces of safety equipment I currently own.  I saw it originally on Kickstarter, and supported the project there because I thought it was a cool idea.  From there, when I originally got it, I started wearing it for my night runs.  I was so impressed with it, that I then ended up ordering one for each member of my Ragnar Relay Las Vegas team for 2013 (see notes about this being Ragnar Compatible later).  Anyone who has run a multi-day relay race has probably had to have some kind of nighttime running gear to include something like a headlamp, tail light, and reflective vest.  Well, Tracer360 covers at least two of these relatively well.  It has reflective parts to cover the reflective vest, and it is definitely visible from behind for a tail light.

Another great thing about the Tracer360, more the company Noxgear, is their customer service and their passion for their product.  As I said, I was a kickstarter supporter of their launch.  After that, I got in touch with the owners, +Simon Curran  and +Tom Walters , and asked if they would be willing to be sponsors for our team for Las Vegas.  By sponsors, I just asked if they could give me a team discount when I bought 12 Tracer360 for my Ragnar team.  They were more than happy to work with me, and they also made some special modifications to the original Tracer360 so that it would be Ragnar Compatible:

NOTE: Ragnar Compatible:  The Tracer360 meets almost all of the Ragnar Safety Rules for a reflective vest.  The ONLY thing missing is reflective material over the shoulders.  The Tracer360 has fiber optic cable over the shoulders, but the Ragnar staff was very specific that it must be REFLECTIVE.  Simon and Tom came up with a fix for that, the Ragnar Ready Tracer360 that had additional reflective pieces that rode on the shoulder to meet the Ragnar Safety Rules.

Manufacturer Facts:

• 360 Degree Dynamic Illumination
• 3M Reflective / Hi-Vix Sport Elastic Belt
• Quick-Clip Buckle & Dual-Adjustment
• Lightweight (6.5 oz.)
• All-Season, Rain-Proof design
• Full Color Spectrum
• Battery Status Notification & Always Bright LEDs

My Take on the Gear:

This is one of the most comfortable, easiest to use, and coolest safety vests I have ever seen or used.  The sport belt sits right under chest level, and has adjustments to hold the two fiber optic cables in place over the shoulders.  The device has a low-profile electrical pack that the safety belt is attached to that sits in the middle of your back.  It is cushioned, and so light weight that you hardly remember it is there.  It has the on-off button on it, near the bottom where most people should be able to reach it.  The two fiber optic cables run from the top of the pack piece, up over the shoulders, to the safety belt in the front, then down under the arms/along your side, and back to the bottom of the back piece.  They are light-weight, and as long as you adjust them to sit snugly on your shoulders, they won't be a problem.

I have been running in a Tracer360 almost every workout since I got them (it is dark here in the Northwest in the evenings, and I don't get to go for a run until after work, around 5:30-6:00 PM, and going on a 4-7 mile run, it gets dark before I get back).  I can't imagine going back to anything else.  It is near impossible for drivers NOT to see me.  There are a good selection of light modes to use from solid colors (in most colors of the rainbow), to slow pulsing between multiple colors, to flashing between multiple colors.  My Ragnar Ready Tracer360 (I have two now, one Kickstarter and one Ragnar Ready) even has a White and Orange Ragnar mode where it flashes between white and orange colors.  Simon did that special, just for us.  What did I say?  These guys rock.  Wearing the Tracer360, it is so light (figuratively and literally) that you almost forget you are wearing it (other than it is flashing, blinking, pulsing, and tough to forget when it is dark out).  It is light-weight, comfy, and I have gotten MANY compliments and comments on it.  

When we wore the Tracer360 at the Las Vegas Ragnar, we could always spot our runner in the long line of runners at night.  They were the ones that stuck out and were visible from over a half mile away.  As we were driving the support van, we passed runners that had tail lights you could barely see to ones that were almost dead.  The Tracer360 won't ever do that to you.  When you turn the Tracer360 on or off, it will pulse Green to let you know the battery is still good.  Or, it will pulse red to let you know the battery needs to be changed.  One thing it WON'T do to you though, is if you are out on a run and the battery starts to give out, it won't just diminish in brightness and leave you stranded.  It will switch to an energy saving red pulse.  This does TWO things.  It lets you know that your battery needs to be changed when you are done with the run, and it DOESN'T leave you stranded without your illuminated vest.  I have had mine start pulsing red only 5-10 minutes into an hour-long run, and it never  gave out on me.  This is an AWESOME benefit for any of you running a team relay.  If the batteries get weak, you will still be able to finish the leg you are on.

Summary:

So, I can't say anything bad about these.  They definitely have the wow factor (you become like a walking disco party, or for you kids out there, a walking rave party), the comfort factor (so lightweight, and fits comfortably enough, you won't even think about  the feel, just how cool you look), and the safety factor (believe me, you can't miss someone in this vest when it is dark out).  The company is run by a couple of amazing guys, and their product is really great.  If you ever bump into me at a race, you can bet I will be wearing mine for my night gear.  These run true-to-size at least for the men's sizes, and for the women, if in doubt, order one size larger.  It is easier to deal with extra fiber optic cable than deal with not having enough.  Hope you can pick one up and try it, and if you are ever driving through my area and see a strobing light running along the road, no it is NOT aliens, it is just me out rocking my awesome Tracer360!

Running Gear Review - Heart Rate Monitor - Rhythm by Scosche

So, this will be my first gear review.  Currently, I will only be able to review the gear I have.  Maybe in the future, I can branch out and try new and different gear to review and the like, but we shall see.

Today's Review:

Scosche Rhythm Heart Rate Monitor

Scosche Rhythm is a non-chest strap heart rate monitor.  I will start with the quick stats and details on it per the manufacturer's website.  It is their slightly older model (they now have the Rhythm + which is their newer version of this as far as I can tell).  Currently the Rhythm comes in black with yellow or pink body.  I purchased mine at a Best Buy where it was selling for right around $79.99 (the same as it sells for on their website).  The strap has Velcro on both ends to adjust on either side so you can correctly position it on the upper forearm.  Unlike your standard chest strap heart rate monitor that works on electrical diodes touching the skin, the Rhythm works by shining a small light onto the skin and measuring the light absorption.  The literature that comes with and can be found online states that this is only at most 3% off the chest strap accuracy.  The Rhythm connects via Bluetooth to a number of Apple and Android phones.  Per the user manual iPhone 5, 4S, 4, and 3GS, iPad 3rd and 2nd gen, iPad iPod Touch 5th, 4th, and 3rd gen, all requiring iOS 5.1 or higher.  It doesn't really specify which Androids it is usable with, but I am currently using a Samsung Galaxy S4 and it has no issues.

Some of the quick facts from the user manual that some will find important:

• Size: 2.17"W x 1.92"H x .58" D
• Weight: 1 - 1.1 oz. depending on armband
• Charging Time: 2 Hours
• Battery Type / Life: Lithium Ion / 6 Hours

My Take on the Gear:

Now, onto the more interesting things, my actual testing of it so far.  First, I have been testing it, using the Scosche Rhythm app that was designed to work with the unit.  There are a number of other apps that the monitor is supposed to work with (Digifit, iBiker, iPower, RunDouble C25K, iSpinner, iCardio, iRunner, iSmoothRun, Spinning), but I don't use any of those.  I usually use MapMyRun.  I was not able to get MapMyRun to recognize the heart rate monitor though, so was required to use the Scosche Rhythm app.

The upsides to the app:

• You can play and control your music through it (I still use a different app to do that, but more for reasons of getting this app and many others to recognize my specific playlists, an issue for another time)
• You can select the type of activity AND the heart rate level you want to achieve during the activity so it gives you a visual guide to whether you are in the zone or not (as well as you can select to have audio prompts)
• You can add custom activities and setup the heart rate levels for the zones for that activity
• Does a pretty passable job keeping and allowing you to track heart rate data.
• The Stop, Pause/Resume buttons on the app are larger and easier to hit when working out than many other apps I have seen.

The downsides to the app:

• The GPS tracking is off by QUITE a bit.  A route I have run three times now, I have driven before, and I have mapped on both Google Maps and Map My Run came out a mile SHORTER on the Scosche app vs. the Map My Run map and the Route Creator.
• The music playing portion only recognizes limited playlists.  I created a couple of playlists using Amazon MP3, and they are not recognized.
• In spite of the website and documents saying that workouts can be shared with a number of other apps, the ONE I wanted to share it with is the ONE that it is currently having (known) issues with.
• I have not been able to find a way to export the workouts as a GPX or anything to manually transfer to another app.

Now this really ISN'T a review of the app, but since you will also have to decide whether you want to use the app if you get the heart rate monitor, I wanted to give at least a few points on it.

Now onto the heart rate monitor itself.  The pros would be:

• No Chest Strap!  You don't have to have something wrapped around your chest, hopefully staying in place.  It is an armband that wraps around the upper forearm, and the unit sits on top or inside of the arm.  If you are used to running with an MP3 player on your bicep or something like that, it isn't too much of an adjustment.  If you are used to wearing an MP3 player on the wrist, you could probably figure out a way to combine the two.
• Relatively small size and comfortable.  The unit is not very big and site just below the inner side of the elbow.  The times I have run with it, it has always been comfortable and never gotten in the way.
• Ability to control your music volume.  There is a plus and minus button on the unit that will increase and decrease the volume without having to do it on your phone.  This is particularly nice as a lot of smart phones' volume buttons are a bit difficult to get to in an armband.
• Ability to stop and start the workout.  The center button is supposed to allow you to start and stop your workouts without touching the phone.  It is also supposed to allow you to change the music, but I believe that is only when using the associated app for music as well.
• Strap is highly adjustable.  Since both ends of the strap have Velcro, you can put the unit on your arm where you want it, and then adjust from BOTH sides to keep it where you want it.  This is instead of trying to figure out where to start it so it is where you need it to be when you are done pulling a single strap.

The only con I have come across so far is the inability to sync this heart rate monitor with a variety of apps.  I have used +MapMyFitness  MapMyRun for a long time, and would really like to be able to sync it up with that.  It seems that a big effort to make it compatible with Apple has been done, but not much to make it compatible with Android.  If I could change one thing about it, that would be it.  Make it better compatible with Android and Android apps.

Other than that, it has been a great heart rate monitor.  Small, light-weight, and simple to use.  You turn it on, wait for your chosen app to sync with it, and then go.  If you need to adjust your volume up or down, pause or restart your workout, both are fairly simple tasks with this.  Oh, if you have a relatively LOW resting heart rate, you might have to do some jumping up and down to get the monitor to actually properly start registering your heart rate, but once you start working out it will be fine.

Summary

My overall review?  This is a decent heart rate monitor for the money.  It doesn't require a watch or something like that with it.  It doesn't require a chest strap or anything with it.  The straps are comfortable, and it fit snuggly without being too tight.  My only issues are issues with compatibility both with apps and the online portal.  If you have an app you like that is on the list of partner apps, I would definitely recommend this monitor.  It has been great.  If you don't I would definitely think twice about buying this.  I might recommend looking at their Rhythm + as it is supposed to work better with a wider range of apps.  If you don't want to bump up to the Rhythm + and you are okay with the Scosche Rhythm app issues, this is definitely worth the cost.

#MegsMiles - Running to Remember, Running to Support

Some of you might have heard about this, some might not.  There was a runner killed on Monday of this last week, January 13th, 2014.  Her name was Meg Cross Menzies.  If you want to read a bit more, you can find the facebook event page here: #MegsMiles

What I find really interesting about the running community as a whole is this.  In a lot of cases, a tragedy like this would have affected the people that knew her, friends and family, and they would have been LESS likely to go out and do whatever she was doing when this happened.  But not the running community.  Word spread from one runner to another, from people who knew her, to people who had never met her or even heard of her before this tragedy (that would include me).  In spite of that, in spite of never having met her, people still committed to run in memory of her, in support of her family.  That is what is so awesome and amazing about the running community.  They pull together for each other, to support each other and to lift each other up.  To see what I mean, just got to the event page, and click on the hash-tagged #megsmiles where you will find hundreds and hundreds of people who ran in memory and support of Meg.

I just want to say a big thank you, and tip my hat to the whole running community, for this true sense of community and caring.  You are some of the nicest, friendliest, most supportive people I have met in all my years, and I am glad to be a continued part of the community.  Some of us choose to do short races like 5k and 10k, others choose to do a bit longer like half and full marathons.  Some of you crazies out there even step up to ultra-marathons.  Some participate in team relays like the Ragnar Relay and Hood to Coast, others do triathlons and add a couple of other sports in there.  We all seem to do a slightly different mix of things, but we can all understand each other and our passion for running, and we can all support each other, and help each other make it another step, another mile, push for a PR, or just finish.  I am glad to be a part of this, and look forward to many more years of running.  Thank you all.

What's In a Name

So, just a quick post tonight as it is late, and I took both dogs running today.  I am a bit sore and could use some ibuprofen and a good night's sleep.  It's a good sore, but running with a Weimeraner/Vizsla mix dog is asking for a quick run.  He would have gone faster if I let him.

Anyway, back to the name of the blog.  Where did it come from?  Well, anyone who knows me currently knows that I am not exactly what people think of when they think "runner."  I have a few extra pounds on me (umm, about 65 lbs. more than when I came out of Basic Training 10+ years ago), and I am definitely not a skinny, svelte running type.  But, I still run.  I actually tend to surprise some people with my ability to move, even sprint at times (I think the people I flew by at the Holiday Half Marathon in the last 400 meters were quite surprised to see someone my size fly by as fast as I did).  I won't ever be the runner I was in high school (imagine 120 lbs., skinny, and able to run a sub 5 minute mile). I have too many injuries that are going to keep me from doing that, but that won't keep me from running.  I still love it.  I enjoy getting out and just running.  I enjoy taking part in team relays.  I love what I do.  That being said, I still take people by surprise because they aren't usually expecting what I can do.  The best example of this was back in 2006 when I deployed to Afghanistan.  I was not quite as big as I am now (I think I was around 190 at the time), but still bigger than I wanted to be.  We were in Camp Shelby, Mississippi doing physical training as a company.  We happened to be doing wind sprints, and I came up against my company commander, a much more slender guy who seemed to think he was rather fast. . . . until I blew by him at a high rate of speed.  His comment and nickname has kind of stuck in the back of my head ever since.  As I flew by him, and we got to the end, he quipped "Doughboy can run!"

So, thanks to Captain Fernandez (I am sure probably Major or higher by now), I will ever have that image in my head.  I hope to not always LOOK like the Pillsbury doughboy, but the nickname is always a reminder that I have more I can do, farther I can go, and harder I can try to improve myself.  I know he didn't mean it as a mean statement, but even if he did, it is the ability to  take a statement like that, turn it around and use it as a source of motivation.  Are you a "Chubby" or "slow-poke" or "wimpy?"  Is there something people whisper about you behind your back?  If there is, take that, make it your own, and turn it into the motivation to go out and prove them wrong, to get better, to go farther.  For me, it gets me out pounding pavement, finding a trail to run, finding a race to run, finding a team to join. 

The moral: People will say mean things, intentionally or unintentionally.  The best things to do with those statements are 1) be honest with yourself (I AM a bit of a Dough boy, not proud of it, but it's the truth), and 2) use it to motivate you to improve yourself (I don't ALWAYS want to be a Dough boy, so what do I do about it to change that. . . ).

Well, so much for a quick post.  I hope that, if you have read this far, and you come back here every-so-often, that my blogs about running and motivation, or whatever strikes my fancy at the time, can always help encourage you to reach new heights, to always continue trying.  It isn't about being skinny, being the best, being fast.  It is about always striving to be better than you currently are.  It is always pushing to find something more you can do to improve.  Get out there and run!

In the beginning. . . .

So, where to start, for beginnings are very tenuous times, or so I am told.  I guess the very beginning.  When I was in junior high, I loved to run.  I continued to run up through high school and even into college.  Then life set in, I got a job, lots of sitting at desks, slowing getting out of shape.  Then, I joined the Army and again started to do a lot of running (and marching, and hiking, and other things).  Then I commissioned as an officer and did a lot less running.  Then I got back into the civilian world and got a job in technology and did a LOT less running, and a lot more sitting.  Then, I had a little bundle of joy arrive, my little darling daughter, and at first I did not start running again,  but eventually, I committed to get into shape for her, so that some day I would be there for all the special events.  So, it is because of her that I have again embarked upon this wondrous journey of running.  I continue so I can keep getting in better shape, but also for the joy and the love of running, for the fun of the competitions and races, and because sometimes, just being all alone with your music, your thoughts, and the trail is as close as we can get to Nirvana in our day to day lives.  So, that is where it all begins. . . .