A pretty nasty storm was going on just to the north of us, luckily it stayed there until I was walking up the steps after I finished my run. So we got to walk the dogs, talk with a neighbor, and putz around the house a bit, before it came in.

Planned Workout Description: I planned on an easy 4-5 miles, but with the weather coming in I wasn’t sure if it would be outside or on the treadmill.

• Day: Monday
• Time of Day: 10:54a
• Course: Pepin 5.0 Miler
• Distance: 5.01
• Time of Run: 45:51
• Pace: 9:10
• Rating: 2.0
• Running Streak Day #: 3
• Weather: Cloudy, 63*F, Humidity 92%, Wind 9 mph SSW

Variables that impacted the run: Right hip and quad were a bit tight to start and the right foot felt a bit off

Comments: I wanted to try the Duo’s out on a bigger hill to get a better feel for how they are going down and up them. Since the rain was holding off, I decided to go down to Pepin, which means going down Philbrick and coming back up it.

This is my running shoe test course for a reason, but today, I wasn’t going to push the pace, it was more about just doing the run and getting in the miles, while answering some more questions about the Duo.

I started out comfortably and when I started down the hill, I played around with various ways to land at different paces in the Duo’s to see what felt best. Honestly, I never really found a comfortable downhill stride. Hmmmmm

Okay, not a big deal, so I just cruise along at around a 9:00 minute pace down to the end of the tar on Pepin and wasn’t hurrying at all and then back out. When I got back to the hill, I thought that I maintained a pretty good effort and pace – unfortunately, the wonderful GPS graph showed a much different story.

Once I got over the crest, I did pick up the pace a little and then the last mile, I pushed enough to make me breath a little harder. Nothing stoopid or anything, but enough to see how the Duo’s do at faster paces.

It was a good run, but was interesting were the things I learned about the Duo’s and how they are going to work for me going forward.

• Shoes Worn: Altra Duo (12.02) – The amount of firmness that I feel when running in the Duo’s is about the same as when I first started running in the Pearl Izumi N2 v1 Roads. It is close to being harsh, but not quite, because they also feel smooth on the heel-to-toe transitions.

It took almost 50 miles before the N2’s broke in and then another 25-30 miles after that before I grew to love the fit and feel. This might be the way that I have to deal with the Duo’s – be patient with them, because from the looks of things they are a shoe that should last a good long time. However, the firmness is something that needs to relax a bit for me to really enjoy running in them.

I did learn that I will not be running any races in the Duo if my first two runs are any indicator of things. While I can run faster in the Duo’s, I really have to focus and push myself to run faster in them. There is none of the I want to run fast feel at this point in them, like I feel in the Zoom Fly, 1400 or even the Impulse.

The other thing that was pretty much confirmed coming back up Philbbrick Hill is that the Duo is going to be a slow climber compared to other shoes I have. It just doesn’t compliment my climbing style.

How did this run move me towards my goal(s)? It showed me how the Duo’s are most likely going to fit into my running shoe rotation – easy, slower runs where I am not attempting to do more than get miles on the legs. After they break in I have a feeling that they might see a few long runs too.

Cardio (walking, elliptical, bike, mowing, etc.) Total: 3.66

Weight: 160

Non Running Comments: It turned into a lazy, rainy afternoon, where I got to read and relax, which was rather nice.