Merrell All Out Rush and All Out Fuse Review and Giveaway!

A few months ago, the folks at Merrell were nice enough to send me two pairs of shoes to test, the All Out Rush and the All Out Fuse. 

Giveaway!
Merrell has generously given me two pairs to give away to you, dear readers. 

If you'd like a pair, leave a comment below on which shoes you'd like to win and why. You may also Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway for another chance to win. Let me know you did so in your comment and be sure to mention @MerrellOutside in your Tweet or Facebook post.

Using RandomPicker, I'll choose two winners by the end of the day Thursday, September 25.

THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN! Congratulations to Elizabeth Cleary and Shelly Cable! Send your contact info and I'll have Merrell send you the pair of your choice!

Thank you, Merrell. I have really enjoyed running in both pairs of these shoes. Below is my review.




The All Out Fuse
I basically live in the minimalist-leaning All Out Fuse. 

They are very lightweight (just 13 oz - that's for the pair). They fit like a glove and they're what I want to run in on all my short to mid-length runs on pavement or dirt trails.

When I have worn them on rocky trails, they aren't so minimalist that this is a deal-breaker. I simply wouldn't choose them for exceedingly rocky trails like the Massanuttens or the Appalachian Trail in Maryland or Pennsylvania.

These shoes are fantastically responsive and light. They have surprisingly good toe protection and a tread that really grips. The more I run in these shoes, the more I fall in love with them.

Merrell All Out Fuse

Another bonus: I get frequent compliments on the All Out Fuse when I wear them with casual clothing.

The All Out Rush
These babies are noticeably more rugged than the All Out Fuse. This is the shoe for my rockier runs. 

The All Out Rush performed equally well on the super-technical, rock-laden Appalachian Trail and the hard-packed jeep roads and soft dirt trails of the Vermont 100 miler. They loved the trails of Rock Creek Park in DC as well as the George Washington National Forest in West Virginia. I can take these shoes anywhere and know I'll be running happy.

Merrell All Out Rush after a trail run in West Virginia

Once I had them on my feet I mostly forgot I had them on. That's the true test that a shoe is working well for me. They simply performed solidly.

The feel of the slightly low cut around the ankle took a little bit of getting accustomed to at first, but in the end I really liked that feature. Anytime I can find another couple of degrees of freedom, I'm excited about that!

They're lightweight and nimble at just over 14 oz for the pair. They run a little wide, I think; I have a narrow foot and noticed that the toe box puckers a little when I tie them. The rigid sole provides more than ample protection while still allowing me to feel connected to the trail beneath me.

The traction is top notch. Though I have not yet had the chance to run in wintry conditions, they handled everything else Spring and Summer threw at me with aplomb; grass, mud, dirt, big rocks, sharp rocks, wet rocks, gravel.

Merrell All Out Rush at the Vermont 100 Miler 

These were both excellent shoes for trail running and I've already bought a second pair of the All Out Rush. I plan to buy another pair of the All Out Fuse after a few more miles, too. 

Don't forget to leave a comment to be eligible to win a pair for yourself!

Salomon Sense Mantra Shoe Review

Salomon Sense Mantras

Awhile ago, some kind folks sent me a pair of Salomon Sense Mantras to try out. After six months of running and walking in them it's time to tell you my opinions. The shoes were provided free to me.

My first run: There was a sensation of my heels not being secure, almost like slipping, though that wasn't actually happening. It took a few runs before I forgot about it, and then I loved the feel of the Sense Mantras.

These are not "minimalist" shoes, but they have all the best qualities of them.

They are lightweight, weighing just 9.2 ounces and have a 6 mm heel to toe drop.

Running in the Salomon Sense Mantras allowed me to feel close to the ground and connected with the terrain, a must in my book.

Incredibly, despite their light weight, they also manage to feel sturdy. I felt stable and confident running on technical trails and pavement alike. 

They handled trails with aplomb. They did well on hard-packed dirt and clay, sandy trails and muddy slop. With the exception of heavy leaf cover (I have yet to find a shoe that excels in these conditions) they performed admirably.*

The toe box provided plenty of room for my feet and I never had any trouble with my toenails hitting the front of these shoes. 

I am less of a fan of the "Quicklace" system. Perhaps because I have somewhat narrow feet, I find it hard to get the fit exactly right every time. I also didn't love tucking the end into the little flap because I had to squeeze it under the lace I had just gotten to the desired tautness. 

On the other hand, once locked in place you don't have to worry about re-tying or re-tightening these laces.

Finally, these are a good looking pair of shoes! While that's low on my list of desirable shoe qualities, I love running shoes that look good (and not too bright or flashy) with a pair of jeans.

Would I buy these again? Absolutely, I would put these in my regular running shoe rotation. They have been a pleasure to run in. 

My well worn pair of Sense Mantras

*Right about the time I received the Salmon Sense Mantras I noticed the ball of my right foot was intermittently tender. As I began testing these shoes, I continued to rotate in three other pairs of shoes regularly. The Salomon Sense Mantra can't be to blame for my foot tenderness, but for this reason I am not rating them on rocky trails, as I cannot reliably say whether they felt "protective" enough for me on that type of terrain. I kept thinking this mild pain would go away so I could rate the shoes on this aspect, thus my delay in posting this review.

Eat and Run: Scott Jurek

Fun Run participants just before the run. Note Jeff Reed representing the VHTRC in the blue shirt!
(Photo from Pacers Facebook page)

Since my earliest forays into ultrarunning, I've admired Scott Jurek. He was the real deal -- winning Western States 100 Miler year after year (7 times in a row!). He was a class act who stayed at the finish line of every race to cheer for every last finisher.

When I heard he was in town to promote his book Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness, I jumped at the chance to see him in person. On a warm Friday evening, I donned my brand new red running dress and took my life into my hands the Metro over to Arlington to do a Fun Run with him.

We gathered in the back courtyard of The Nature Conservancy. What an incredible, stunning wildflower garden they have, hidden in plain sight! They even have orchard mason bees. *swoon*

Talking with Scott in the wildflower garden before the run.
(Photo from Pacers Facebook page)

I got the nerve up to approach him before the run and get a photo. Good thing I did, because he was swamped afterward and it was hot and muggy. I would have looked a sight in a post-run photo.

He asked what ultras I had run, and I mentioned Bull Run Run 50 Miler. He had run Bull Run Run in 1999, shortly before he went on to win his first Western States. "That's the VHTRC race," he said, smiling. I was pretty thrilled that he knew our little club by name!

Me and Scott Jurek. He's an amazing ultrarunner and gracious, too.

The run itself was anticlimactic. I didn't try to jockey for position at the front. We ran a section of the paved Custis bike path (sadly, no singletrack trail), ending at Pacers in Clarendon. Pacers had a nice spread for us: fruit, veggies, hummus and some baked goodies. Scott hung around outside and chatted.

Michael Wardian and Scott making plans to run the next day.
Somehow, they forgot to invite me.

We gathered inside the store and Scott spoke about his upcoming race in South Africa for charity, what he eats, how he trains and how he became a runner as a result of cross-training for Nordic skiing in high school.

One thing he said that resonated with me: To run an ultra you've got to be "hungry."  

It's so true. You may possess the training, fitness and ability to run 100 miles but you may not even make it 50K if you aren't focused on your goal. There are always excuses to DNF, and unless finishing truly matters to you, you're likely to succumb to those excuses.

Eat & Run - two thumbs up!

He also mentioned that he was looking forward to one day retiring from racing, and perhaps running the VHTRC Massanutten 100 Miler. How exciting it would be to have him toe the line!

I bought my book, tried on two pairs of running shoes and went for short test runs outside, browsed every item in Pacers (including the mens section) and got through Chapters 1 - 3 while waiting for the line for Scott to sign it. It was worth it.

And now, I can't put the book down. I'm captivated by his life story, his training, his races and his advice on running. His writing style is open and honest and right away, you feel like you know him. There are also a lot of great suggestions on how to become a better runner.

Though I'm not a vegan or vegetarian, I don't find his references to how he came to be a Vegan trite or sanctimonious. As someone who enjoys good food and cooking, I'm finding it interesting.

At the end of each chapter he includes a tasty-sounding recipe, and I'm looking forward to trying a fair number of them. I'll report back on my results!

Zensah Capri Tights Review

And now, for something new. A running gear review!

Zensah capris during a run in the city

I was recently asked by Zensah to test and review their 3/4 High Compression Capri Tights. As a huge fan of their calf sleeves, I was ecstatic to give these a try. Zensah sent a pair in my size, gratis, and I got busy running.

FIT. First, and most important, is whether a piece of clothing fits my body. Everyone's physique is different, and what works for one person may not work for others.

These capris go on pretty easily, no prolonged wrestling needed. The waist is high enough to cover my derriere and a good bit of my stomach (a very good thing).

front view

back view

FUNCTION. I've worn other compression capri tights that tended to creep down during a run. I feel the need to tug them up in back frequently. I was pleased that I had no such trouble with the Zensah capris, even on my longest runs. They fit well the entire time, even after one rather impressive Superman-style dive on the trail. I only made two minor adjustments during a 5 1/2 hour run, and not as a result of them creeping down.

The compression itself I would rate as satisfactory. The capris provided adequate support without feeling super tight. I've worn full tights that provided greater compression, but the trade-off is that it takes ten minutes to get them on or off.  I'm a size 6 and I chose the small/medium in the Zensah capris; if I wanted more compression benefits I would try to squeeze into the next size smaller. I kind of liked having the best of both worlds with these.

I also liked the pocket in the back. It compressed whatever I put in there and though there's no zipper, everything stayed in. Even better? My keys didn't bounce around, hit me or jingle!

I really liked the functional pocket

FEEL. My favorite thing about these capris was the way they felt. Wearing them, I didn't  worry about the potential effects of having circulation in my sensitive areas cut off. The waist sits high enough to give plenty of room in the crotch. Of course if you wanted compression/support there, you can simply pull them up so the crotch fits more snugly.

The capris are medium-weight and cozy. For my first test run in them, I hopped on the treadmill. After 10 minutes I was fighting the urge to rip off my shirt or head outside to finish my run. These capris are warm! 

On my next few runs, I braved the cold and they felt great. I loved them for running outside in chilly weather. My thighs never got cold despite 30 degree temperatures. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to try them in colder weather since Real Winter failed to show up this year. They're probably a little too warm for a run if the temperature exceeds 50 degrees, unless you balance it out by running in short-sleeved shirt.

Additionally, they're really comfortable. On days where I got dressed to run and ended up putzing around the house for hours instead, these tights were comfortable enough that I wore them all day.

LOOK. The fabric has a ribbed pattern, unlike the Spandex style you might be used to wearing. It has a cotton-y feel versus smooth and silky. Zensah's capri design isn't unattractive, it's just different than what I've worn in the past and it took some getting used to. I'm glad I had the opportunity to test these, because I'm not sure I'd have chosen them solely for the way they looked on me. The running gear I end up wearing over and over isn't always what looked the most flattering in the store mirror. Which is unfortunate, because all too often the cute outfits I've chosen end up being useful only on very short runs, or to change into for the post-run party.

I'm including some self-portraits so you can see for yourself. Full disclosure: If you drink even slightly less beer than I do you might find them considerably more flattering on you!

 

   Zensah is not responsible for my beer drinking habit

Zensah is also not responsible for your loss of eyesight from looking at this photo

OVERALL. These have become my go-to gear this winter since I started wearing them. They perform well, fit comfortably and keep my legs warm. If I need full leg compression I just add my Zensah calf sleeves.

Would I recommend them to others?  Definitely. Of course, it's always a plus if you can try them on at your local running store to ensure you get the right size and fit for your body. Plus, that's where I always stumble on a cute outfit that's perfect for changing into just for the post-run party.

Cute running outfit, better suited to post-run posing