So look forward to the 1st June - we’ll come up with more updates as we approach the June 1, 2012. We look forward to a great new partnership with Endurance Sport.

I tested a new pair of running shoes on today’s great trail run, namely a pair of Vivobarefoot Neo Breatho Trail, which must be characterized as some serious minimalist shoes.

The Vivobarefoot Neo Breatho Trail has 0 mm drop, and the outsole is 2.5 mm thick with 4.5 mm rubber lugs.

The shoes have a removable 3 mm insole, so overall, the outsole only protect the feet, but allows your feet to move naturally without any support so you can feel the ground. The shoes also maximize proprioception, so you run more naturally.

The outer sole  also has a really good grip for running on trails and especially wet / muddy trail. The grip is improved with the multidirectional rubber track, which overall means that you don’t slip.

The lacing is designed so the foot is maintained in the shoe, but as something special and actually very similar to several of the INOV 8 shoes, there’s plenty of space for the toes in these shoes. It means that you can move your toes naturally and get a better landing and feel of the ground when you are running.

My opinion about these running shoes after testing them is that these shoes are actually quite good!

I increased my stride frequency to around 180 steps/min., which is also an effective frequency. This is done by lifting the legs faster, due to the better feel of the ground. Furthermore, I landed more on the forefoot and midfoot and it felt great. It felt really good and I didn’t get any soreness in my calfs or legs during and after the run.

So it was a really good trail run and I can recommend the Vivobarefoot Neo Breatho Trail, but it requires that you listen to your body and feet as you run. However, there is no question that these shoes contribute to a more natural and effective stride and running style with a higher step frequency.

I had wonderful training run today, where I ran for 1 hour and 3o min. at 80% of HRmax with the last 10 min. at 90% of HRmax. It was a great and tough tempo run where I for the first time this year had crept into both shorts and short sleeves showing my extremely pale legs and arms.

It was great being out in the heat and running at high speed in today’s tempo run, but I had forgotten or repressed that with warmth, spring and summer, also comes insects.

I must admit that I’m running pretty much with my mouth open and I must say that I didn’t get home feeling hungry after today’s workout! There’s nothing more stimulating than when you are in high speed, with your mouth open wide, and you are being “assaulted” by a swarm of insects that have strayed into your mouth and throat. And as a little extra bonus you can be sure that after your run you can be categorized as partially sighted after for one and a half hour having looked intensly into the eyes of some insects, funnily I looked them into their eyes while they were on my retinal…

I think it’s about time to bring my sunglasses when I’m out running:-)

It was now otherwise a great trail run in company with many other runners today. The running terrain has now become like flypaper for insects as well as runners.

I love the spring, summer and warmth…

The goal is to fight for a good ranking in the Marathon Des Sables 2013, and I have set a benchmark for myself to get in the top 50. But I’m looking to run as good and hard as I can. This will ultimately require lots of speed work and hill training and a backpack optimized to the utmost, so it will be an exciting and challenging training.

On the way to the Marathon Des Sables in 2013, I have a closer goal to run the Zugspitz Ultra Trail 100 km in late June in the Austrian and German mountains, so there will be ample opportunity to draw experiences from the mountains. It is also a race where you need to bring some mandatory equipment, so you get a bit of sense for running with weight again.

The second goal before the Marathon Des Sables 2013 is to run the brand new Northwest Ultra 100 km in august, which is in very hilly terrain with 1800 meters of heightmeters. At the same time it’s a qualification race for the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc.

Both races are to gain even more  experience and as part of the training towards the main goal for the next year, the Marathon Des Sables 2013.

I have upgraded my core workouts very much, which is central to building strength and become a stronger runner. Especially, exercises to strengthen the abdominal, back and knees are in focus in order to avoid injuries. Also, I am doing more tough hill training in my training.

I only run on trails and off road and in terrain with varying steepness of hills, with among other workouts with hill sprints up and especially down hills, and it has really been great to get some pace and tough hills into the training program again.

I can feel a massive improvement in my maximum performance and strength already, so there is no doubt that the training is on track. I am excited about to update the blog regularly about my training.

Another update, that I am looking forward to, is that ULTRARUN will be present with a stand at the Copenhagen Marathon Expo on 17th-19th May at Oesterbro Stadium. We are together with Petzl that has some cool headlamps, and furthermore there will be a chance to try the Trigger Point The Grid Foam rollers. We are of course also present with Compressport R2 tubes and Forquad and also SaltStick electrolyte capsules.

We look forward to seeing many runner on the day, and you are most welcome to stop by for a chat about the various products.

BEET IT Stamina Shots contain 96% organic beetroot juice and 4% lemon juice with natural nitrates and nutrients. The bottle contain 7 cl of concentrated beetroot juice, so it is a small and handy shot, which should be consumed 1-3 hours before training or races for the best effect. BEET IT has a documented effect on oxygen usage so as to improve endurance, and then it also tastes great.

The University of Exeter has published some recent research that supports the use of beetroot juice in training showing that you can train up to 16% longer using beetroot juice before training.

I read a review once of the BEET IT Stamina Shot, which seemed practical for sports, but I have known about the positive effect of beetroot juice for a while.

I read about an extreme runner, Richard Weremiuk, who used the product during some extreme races with positive effect and found it quite interesting.

BEET IT Stamina Shot increases stamina and the beetroot juice also has the positive effect that it lowers blood pressure. Several elite athletes use beetroot juice to increase their performance ability with natural beetroot juice.

Read more about the various research on the use of beetroot juice on the BEET IT website.

Buy the BEET IT Stamina Shot in the shop.

From what most have told from this year’s race, it has been an extraordinarily tough race this year due to very bad weather and sandstorm and heat, so it’s amazing to see how the runners have worked their way through desert.

I wish our runners congratulations on their race finish of this year’s 246.5 km long Marathon Des Sables.

Race results:

No 80 - Bent Stouggaard (DK), 31h - 44m - 54s

No 129 - Soeren Kruse Lilleoere (DK), 34h – 30m - 20s

No 331 - Jyri Manninen (FIN), 42h – 26m - 55s

No 451 - Peder Jensen (DK), 46h - 25m - 25s

No. 482 – Joergen Leschly Thorsted (DK), 47h – 24m - 26s

No. 534 - Rikard Hallgren (SWE), 49h - 49m - 50s

Kitt Andersen, unfortunately, had to abandon the race during the 3. stage due to an injury in her foot.

Now is the day for the very last stage of the race on today’s 6th stage of 15,5 km in distance. Traditionally, the pace will be high on the last stage, so I would imagine that it will be the same today and this year.

There is no doubt that today will be a day of celebration when the runners cross the finish line for the last time in this year’s race and can be redeemed in the joy it is to complete this incredible adventure and race.

Then the runners can await a bus ride to the hotel, where they can have a nice bath, a cold coke and some great food for the first time in a week :-)