貢 - to pay tribute to one's emperor

貢茶 (Gong Cha) - Tea used as a tribute to one's emperor??

Alishan Mile green tea with pearl:

I don't taste anything good enough for the emperor...."Japanese Carp" is better

"Japanese carp" Cafe......can't find any fish there

 Where the fishes?

Only found  a large cup of milk powdered green tea with lots of black pearls:

Koi Cafe

Video: Boston Marathon 2011 Slow Motion near finish

Boston Marathon Men 2011 Men's Winner Slow Motion - World Fastest Time:

 Boston Marathon Men 2011 Men's 3rd and 4th Slow Motion : Gebremariam and Hall

 Boston Marathon 2011 Women's Winner Slow Motion:

 Who is heel striking?

Video: Barefoot Running Style.

A brief video developed by Dr. Mark Cucuzzella on the science and the art of barefoot running and what we are trying to teach- a Barefoot Running Style. For more information see Two Rivers Treads Center for
Natural Running and Walking Site www.trtreads.org

Blue Mountain too high!!!!

@Mad Jack

A minimalist shoes patent which got Nike Free sued

The Reebok Realflex is being marketed as "Natural movement. Perfected"

When I saw Birthdayshoes.com mentioned about the upcoming Reebok Realflex, something came out of my memory.........

4 years ago in 2007 when the term "minimalist shoes" was never heard off, Nike was sued by Reebok over its Free series which was first launched in 2004. Apparantly, Reebok got a grant of their patent for flexible shoe with segmented soles in 2007.

I did recorded this event 4 years ago HERE @"Nike Got Sued by ReeBok"

This was an innovative and interesting idea to design shoes which are "minimalist" and flexible enough to be collapsible into smaller size and to be dispensed for sale from a vending machine.

This idea was never implemented.

Interestingly, after doing a quick search, I actually found 3 similar patents filed by Reebok over the past 4 years:

1) 2007, Patent 7168190 Collapsible Shoe

2) 2009, Patent 7637035 Collapsible Shoe

3) 2010, Patent 20100095554 Collapsible Shoe

In the end, the 2 early pioneers of minimalist shoes did not continue to drive the minimalist shoes market but have to do marketing catchup now....shoes without cushioning is still not in their belief and too high a risk to their high tech cushioned shoes.

The latest launched by Nike:

Free Run+ 2

Finally, trying the new released rubber.......

One day at Vivocity RSH:

 Trying the Merrell Trail Glove On the Spot:

My shoes size is US12 so I tried a size 12 is too big...tried another 11 is still too big...shop closing so did try another one...I think size 10 will be just nice...Just walking around the shoes with a oversized shoes...the feel is the forefoot is wide enough for the toes to splay freely but the arch area felt tight when the laces are on...kind of weird for "barefoot" shoes...anyway, not going to comment further unless I can run with it.

Felt tempting to get one as it is definitely much better looking and cheaper than the 5fingers treksports (The equivalent to this).....

so still thinking thinking

15 Beautiful wallpaper to inspire your day

Thanks to one of the reader who visited this blog. She have created her own Inspiration wallpapers to share with others.
You can find the rest HERE

ASICS Launches 33 : Trying hard at something they do not believe in

at The ASICS Blog | ASICS Launches 33 By ASICS, A Minimal, Lightweight Footwear Collection

The GEL-Blur33 is a lightweight every day running shoe that provides cushioning through Rearfoot GEL® and a Solyte® Midsole

The Rush33 is a low mileage running shoe that has an EVA Midsole:

They started with this "ASICS introduces a lightweight, minimalist running shoe collection that encourages natural foot movement in its new 33 by ASICS™ collection"

Looking from left to right, up and down...nothing minimalist there.

Can see from the way these shoes are designed and the way they have described, they are still not into it and trying to convince the market that they are following the market demand for minimalist shoes.

Recommended for neutral runners who does not have the budget to own cumulus or nimbus.......

Defying the new trend: Hoka OneOne

Hoka OneOne: Interesting Brand name...Interesting concept...looking at the shoes above...minimalist runners probably will go WAWAWA!!! Oversized Midsole...thicker is better is here.....interesting look at the technology page...

Apparently....ultramarathon champion, the famous speedgoat Karl Meltzer used it for this to run the Pony Express Trail (2064 miles) in 18 days 2h and 27min last year and for his other ultra wins.

Zero Drop Footwear: Altra Running

In a heel strike, shock and ground reaction force are transferred from the heel to the knee joint, then to the hip joint, spine and finally to the neck. The knee joint absorbs most of the shock. Research has found that the heel cushion of a shoe cannot absorb accumulated shock for long time in a heel strike. Therefore, the knee joint and other joints are at higher risk of sport injury in shod running.

Another interesting brand promoting shoes for minimalism running......2 interesting models for Mens and Womens

The Adam (for men)

& The Eve (the ladies)

Learn how to run through their LTR Initiative website

Brooks PureProject: Another player trying minimalism

Coming This Oct 2011

Official website

Is this true minimalist or just another marketing campaign? We will wait and see till the actual products are out....

Meanwhile, Here is an interesting article on Brooks' Marketing on this PureProject at runlogger

You never know what you get in your next poke

 

Uncle Rojak