Category: Advanced running

ADIDAS ADIZERO PRIME X 2.0 STRUNG REVIEW

You might be wondering where the picture of the shoe is. Well, I do not have
the rights to show it. Screw adidas though, that is their loss of free
promotion. I will say this however, they have made one incredible running shoe.

I came across it when I was searching for a comfortable shoe to run longer
distances in. I have a number of different pairs, but none of them were
particularly holding up well for those slightly longer distances, greater than
15k or runs over the 1hr 20min mark.

Let me start by outlining my pace and performance averages over the last
month. This will be useful for you understand my current ability, what
distances I use the shoe for, and whether it might be the shoe for you.

Ok, so June 2024 was lower than average. I clocked up 115km with my longest
distance been 18km, an average heart rate of 150bpm, pace at 5.53km and a
moving time of 1hr 46min. For some people out there, this is a slow run. I
wanted this however, as I need to get some miles into those long legs of mine
to help me run quicker over shorter distances. The Adizero prime x 2 strung was
the perfect shoe for this, but it can also move quicker when you need it to,
especially for taller, slower runners like me who’s fastest 1k is 4.50km.

Who is the Shoe for (in my opinion):

So, the above information provides you with some light data into the type of
runner I am, and why I found it useful. Perhaps, you are a smaller runner but fast over flat surfaces, or maybe you are a heavier runner. This shoe is perfect for taller to heavier runners looking to break personal bests in the region of
50min for a 10k or 25mins for a 5k. It will bring you all the way up to half
marathon level. It will suit a pace average of between 4 to 5.50k. I found it
difficult to run slower than this in the shoe. It just feels bouncy, and you cannot
help but move your feet quicker.

Shoe specifications:

So, this is a blog post, and it is difficult to give technical details in a
clear written format. For those people who are more particular about
specifications and need the details, I would recommend some YouTube posts by
EDDBUD or KOFUZI. They have slightly different opinions to me on the shoe
itself, and they are at different running capabilities also. However, their
insight and review of shoe specifications are far more advanced than I can do
right now.

Only thing I will say is this, it has a 50mm stack height with an energy
foam layer to reduce weight. This gives it more spring in the fore and
midfoot…. Yes, cool, right?

What surface is it best on?

I live in Ireland as you may know from my other posts. You can read them in
various sections throughout my site – I say various, because I have not got
around to organising the posts just yet.

Ireland is full of all types of terrain and some very unpredictable weather.
Having tested the shoes in all matters, I believe it to run best on smooth and
flatter surfaces. It has run perfectly fine in wet weather and the sole has
held up perfectly, providing sufficient grip to keep me upright and on pace. It
does not perform well on more gravel or Stoney surfaces, so smoother roads or
parks are best. I tend to avoid wet grass when running in general. I find
the ankle support on the shoe to be quite low, so for beginner runners keep
this in mind and try to be careful. Once or twice when the road became slightly
uneven, I did have one or two “oh oh” moments where I slightly rolled
on to my left ankle. Going around turns and corners can feel slightly clumsy
due to the stack height most likely. It feels like I am on platform shoes at
times in these situations. For me, the shoe operates best when on a smooth
 and straight surface, so a road race or a run in a long stretch of park is perfect.

Comfortable?

I cannot even describe how comfortable the shoe is. I have tried to stop
using it so much to give my other ones a turn. It really does feel good over a
number of different paces and distance. It can do easy runs, fast runs and even
long-distance runs (which is why I bought it). 18k to half marathon is perfect
for this shoe and you feel good in it, even towards the last few kilometres. In
other shoes I really struggled towards the 18k mark. Joints started getting
sore and stiff, and I really needed a shoe that could absorb that extra force
my knees and ankles were under. The shoe is perfect for this, and it really
does run like a dream.

I have also run faster 10ks and my current personal best was
obtained using this shoe. It is perfect for race day in fact. I have a pair of
Nike streak fly next percent which are also good over shorter distances for
speed. However, I would not make a comparison between these shoes. Would I
classify the Adidas Adizero prime x strung 2 as a speed shoe? Probably not, as
its slightly heavier than its previous counterpart’s but its right up there.

Cost?

It is expensive! Its right up there at the super shoe prices of €300 in
fact. Look at running shoe outlets or even online where you might find it
slightly cheaper. It comes in a few colours, but this does not change the cost.
For me, they are worth the price and as I wrote in earlier blogs, you cannot
put a price on the right shoes for your feet. I am in training for a sub 50 min
10k. During my program I must run, 14, 16 and 18k long runs. They are slow-paced runs, about 5:15 to 5.50k pace. This shoe is perfect for that, especially if
you are a tall build like me.

Summary

If you are an intermediate runner who is building their way up to half
marathon training for longer distances, and looking for a versatile shoe that
can also give you some speed over 5 and 10k races, this is the perfect shoe. If
you are a beginner starting off, then I would look at the Asics, Brooks or
Hokas for a little bit more ankle support and a shoe better suited for running
slowly. I am not an advanced runner yet at marathon distances, or sub 40min
10ks. Maybe you are? If so, I would love to hear your opinion, so feel free to
leave it in the comments.

I am hoping to run my sub 50m 10k in the next few months, and this will be
my go-to shoe. It is a game changer for me during my running journey so far. It is a bit on the costly side, but having this in my locker gives me great versatility.

 

 

Morning run motivation

I am glad you are here!

If you are reading this you are in search of motivation to start running in the morning time, or you are already a runner who has experienced the endorphin thrills of lacing your shoes and hitting dusty trails. You are afraid of losing motivation or have a busy schedule upcoming and want to be able to navigate around this and find time to do your hobby.

Here are some tips to either get motivated or stay motivated:

  1. You first need to find what your purpose for running is. Whether that is trying to lose weight, or you want to meet new friends by joining a running club. You want to impress someone, or you have done sports in the past and want to find your youthful fitness again. Whatever your purpose is you need to find it and zone in on it. I find this to be the key motivation driver that works for me. As I wrote in the about me section, I played a lot of sports when I was younger but then stopped doing anything for a few years. I was on holidays and noticed my energy levels were low, I was heavier than I usually was, and I just did not feel comfortable with how I looked, and most importantly how I felt.

I do not want anybody to try and start feeling unnecessarily uncomfortable about themselves, but I would encourage you to zone in on something you want to change.

You obviously want to become fitter or stay fit. Running is incredibly good for releasing endorphins and making you naturally feel better. The runners high is real. Get addicted to it, start by just running once or twice a week but for about 6-8 weeks consistently. Believe me you will love it, and the feel-good factor with the added weight loss (if you need that) will be a natural motivator. Getting started is the hardest part, so find your purpose, over dramatize the emotion of the purpose in your head and get your shoes on!

2. Now that you have found your purpose you need to very clearly plan when you are going to run. I started with a couch to 5k app which designed my running plan for the week based on my chosen three-day input. It would notify me the morning of my run as soon as I woke, and it would remind you later in the day if you for whatever reason forgot. You do not need reminding though if you plan your week efficiently.

Write down your schedule, whether that is picking kids up, working, travelling, visiting friends or alone time to read a book. Write it down and find your two to three slots where you are going to do your run. Of course, things happen where you might need to change the time, but if you are a beginner I would really encourage you to know the precise time and day you are going to embark on your sweaty adventure to the park. You should also know where you are going to run and lay out your clothes the evening before. Try to understand what the weather will be like in advance so that it is not a shock to you when you open the curtains in the morning.

3. Ok, so you have your purpose, you created your plan for the week, now you need some positive affirmations. You cannot have the mindset the night before that it is a massive drag that you need to run in the morning, or that you would much rather go out with friends and sleep in. You should look forward to the run, and if you do not ever have that feeling then maybe consider moving the run to a different time of the day that suits you better. Either way, the same methods of motivation apply.

You should go to bed early to make sure you get enough sleep the night before and try to look forward to the next day. Look forward to going out to exercise while everyone is sleeping. Enjoy the endorphin rush you will receive after the run, and it will help you to stay motivated for the rest of the day also. Set your alarm, and when you wake up drink a glass of water. You are going to do your run now! you have your clothes ready, you don’t care that the weather is bad, your bad, your worse than the weather and the weather should fear you… ok, maybe time to calm it down a bit but you understand my point hopefully.

Use the stress and anger to your advantage if you need to and remember your purpose. That person you want to impress could be there to watch, that tummy fat wants to be burnt off, the summer beach is calling or later that day you have a nice cheat meal planned as its the weekend. Whatever it is, you need to earn it. Get up, drink your water, make your bed, put your big boy/girl pants on, and do your run.

Today is going to be a good day!

4. The points I made in number three above are best equipped for a beginner, but they can be used for more experienced runners with a race coming up, or a personal best time you want to beat. However, it is hard to find that rage in you all the time, and you should not need to after a while either. Running is a lifestyle and if you try, it can become a way of life. It can be something you just do naturally without even thinking too much about it. At the start its hard so it is important to plan ahead, find your purpose and get motivated, but after a while of doing it, you just put your shoes on when you like and take to the roads without much thought behind it.

You can use it as a time to get some personal space, listen to a podcast or some music. It gets easier the more you do it, and you start to take in what is around you. The nature, the sounds, it can become very peaceful. Not at the start though… you just concentrate on breathing and making it home safely!

Putting jokes aside, running should become a lifestyle where you do not need to be motivated to do it. You just do it. It becomes a part of your day, like going to work, or grocery shopping. You build your routine, and even if you are a bit tired or had a long day, you still find time to lace up your shoes and get some fresh air. I have even incorporated it into my business trips. I bring my shoes with me as it is an effective way to distress after a long day or flight.

At the end of the day, the key step here is number one. What is it that you want to achieve from running and why are you doing it? Once you know this, and you trigger it, motivation is easy. Whether that be in the morning, afternoon, or night, you were born to run and to move. You were given legs, be thankful and use them!

Running can reduce belly fat

Well, kind of is the correct answer…

Running will help you to lose weight if that is your goal, but it will also take some extra work and diet commitments to burn away fat from those more stubborn areas. This is my personal experience at least.

As you may already know, when your body loses weight, it does not just lose it in one place.

When I lose weight, I usually lose it first on my face, shoulders, and legs. Unfortunately, my belly remains, and I find that the only way to lose it is with a good diet. Even still, it comes and goes, and I have far from any kind of six-pack. Each week I run a minimum of Thirty kilometres. Each morning, I include some sit-ups, press-ups, and gentle weightlifting, but still the slight belly can remain.

I am sorry if you clicked here looking for a magic formula, but I do not have one. Not yet at least. I do love a good plan however and I am going to share with you the research I have carried out to set things right. Just for transparency, that is not me in the picture. In fact, my belly is slightly stubborn but its more psychological of feeling full and bloated. A slight belly yes, but nothing drastic. It just looked slightly out of place when the rest of me had a runner’s slim build. Nevertheless, I want it gone.

Here is the plan that I have already started- you might try it also!

  1. Diet – Firstly – I had to evaluate where I was going wrong. Like I said, I run Thirty kilometres a week on a monthly average, and my VO2 max levels just went to an excellent forty-nine, so I am confident with my fitness levels. It must be my diet. Too many calories or just the wrong type of food. I have committed to a healthy breakfast that contains the following:
  • 50g of dried oats
  • 60g of Greek yogurt
  • one spoon of chia seeds
  • one spoon of coconut flakes
  • Two spoons of protein powder
  • One cup of plant protein milk (oat milk is also fine)

This is a good solid breakfast, and it will contain about seven hundred calories. You might wish to adjust your measurements depending on your body type or weight goals. I recommend downloading a calorie tracker to help you with this. My fitness pal is the one I currently use, but there are others out there.

Lunchtime

I recommend getting some more protein in here mixed with healthy fats and carbs. Here is one idea:

  • Three eggs (scrambled is my preferred choice)
  • half an avocado and some tomatoes
  • 1 Slice of seeded bread

Dinner

  • 100g of brown rice
  • Half a head of broccoli and why not throw in some green beans for good measure.
  • I would mix up the protein part depending on what you had during the day, and try not to eat the same everyday. I would go for lean meat like 100g of Turkey breast or chicken. Salmon is good and you could even go for some vegetarian options like tofu or haloumi cheese. I usually put some soy sauce on the rice just to give it some flavour, but you could choose to add some spice to the rice also.

I will add more recipes throughout my blogging journey, but variations of the above have served me well. Mixed with my running program and morning exercise it has helped to eat away at that stubborn belly. Alcohol consumption I am afraid to say was a big cause of the problem. To shake away that belly, you will need to cut that down to a minimum. I still like a glass of wine or a beer on a Saturday night mind you – I just need to be careful not to overdo it.

For the snackers out there, try not to overdo it. Stick to a rice cake after lunch, and a couple of squares of dark chocolate in the evening. Put some fruit on the breakfast in the morning, and try to get some fruit after your dinner also.

I also incorporate a little cheat night where we choose a meal of our choice mixed with some after dinner goodness. Saturday is my preferred choice in front of a nice movie. The key is not to go completely food crazy, and keep a good healthy diet for the rest of the day and week.

2. Strength Training – Now that we have the diet sorted, the next item is the strength training. I must be transparent here, this for me is the most difficult. I have time to run, work, play, and even blog, but I find it hard to commit to regular strength training. I have also found it hard to find something that really works for me. Usually, the plans I came across promise a lot, but I wanted instant results and I was not bothered spending extra money going to the gym and getting a personal trainer. There are many youtubers with lofty ideas and training plans. They start by saying its super easy and you can do it at home, but then proceed to walk into their personal gym with a selection of different weights and machines.

I want something that strengthens the important leg muscles for running but also incorporates some arm and shoulder exercises, (so I can keep the upper body nicely toned). As with everything a good balance is key. The runna app has some nice exercise recommendations, but it is more suited to leg training only and does not incorporate enough upper body exercises.

Core body workouts for me work best. When focusing on upper body, do not just do weights. Mix it with Planks, press-ups, sit-ups, and weights. Try to be consistent and do not expect instant results. Also, remember it will only work if you keep your cardio levels up with plenty of running, and your diet in check.

Here is my plan that I started (you will need a set of dumbbells- but these do not take up too much space and are reasonably cheap to buy):

Morning 5 days a week:

Ten dumbbell curls from a standing position. One in each arm and remember to keep your back straight. There are many YouTube videos that will show you how to do it properly, I advise you to watch them first before trying it yourself.

Once you have done your ten, without stopping, go straight into overhead lifts. It is simple, do one curve, then lift the weight over your head. You will feel the strain up through your upper arm and shoulder. Do not do it too fast and be careful.

After 10 more curls, you can do a seated bicep curl. Do one arm at a time and do it slowly. The idea is to feel the strain on the bicep. It is hard to describe how to do it, but there are hundreds of YouTube videos that will show you.

Next, I like to do a forty second plank. Then go straight into sit-up position and do fifteen sit-ups. Once you do the fifteen sit-ups go straight into backwards sit-ups. It is the same, except the opposite way around. Instead of lifting your back to your knees, you keep your shoulders on the mat and lift your knees to your stomach and then straighten your legs again.

Then do some mountain climbs, I usually do forty-four as (I have a thing for even numbers). I recommend you YouTube what they are!

The key with this is to do it safely but one after the other. It should take 10-15 minutes and try to do it five days a week at a minimum. It is not going to be enough to have you toned to the max like some youtubers and influencers, but it will be a start and with consistency, mixed with diet and running you should start to tone up in time.

If you want to take it to the next level (like I intend to) – get yourself a push up board. You can buy them everywhere and I will do a full set on each board position. It is like two handles that you can move around in various positions. Do a rep of five on each one and this should cater for your back, shoulders, arms, and biceps. I will do these three/four times a week just to get a little bit more out of my workout.

For the legs, I try to incorporate at least two or three days of a leg focused workout. Try to fit it in when you have a spare ten minutes and I usually do the following:

  • One minute of squats with no weight.
  • One minute of squats holding the dumbbells you used for the arm workout. If you have time, try to do it in one session.
  • Then do one minute of lunges alternating between both legs.

You might be wondering what has this got to do with belly fat. Well, its all connected, and I find a balanced workout will help to keep everything in its even state.

  • 3. Consistency

This is the most important, but consistency of all three over an extended period will be the key. For me, running is easy to stay consistent with, but the diet and strength training, is not so easy. I will write regular posts on this to provide an update, and any tips or equipment I pick up along the way. For now, I encourage you to just start somewhere. Do something every day at the same time if possible. Whether that is simple sit-ups or push ups. Then try to add a little bit extra. Do not jump into joining a gym if you are not disciplined enough to go all the time. Do not do crash diets that are unsustainable, and you might be able to do it for a month and then go back to your old ways again. Find something that fits into your lifestyle and becomes a part of your lifestyle.

To conclude this article and for those who are unconvinced running will reduce belly fat. I will say this, yes it will, but it depends on what stage of belly fat you have to lose. If you are over weight and need to lose weight, yes it will burn that belly fat. If you are already reasonably slim but wish to tone that belly, then it will take slightly more work like I mentioned above. I fall into this category. I’m six foot two, slim build but have an awkward bit of belly fat (at times) that is noticeable when I take my top off. Quiet frankly, I would like it to bugger off, and it can be quiet frustrating when you do an 18km run regularly and still have to put in extra efforts just to keep toned and looking good. Balance is the key however, and I intend to continue my running whilst incorporating the strength training with improved diet.

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