31st January 2012

Are there any advantages to running barefoot?

Running barefoot, you’d have to be crazy right? Not necessarily. An increasing number of runners, sports physicians, biologists and podiatrists are promoting the benefits of barefoot running.

So what exactly are the advantages of running barefoot – without any cushioned, comfortable and arch-supporting trainers?

The contemporary fashion for running barefoot dates back to the ancient tribes of Mexico. In his book “Born to Run”, Christopher McDougall tells a story of his time spent with the Tarahumara tribe of Mexico, who run barefoot extremely long distances whilst maintaining a fast pace and never pick up the injuries many runners are afflicted with in the developed world.

Those in support of barefoot running believe that running ‘naturally’, without any cushioned and supportive shoes, encourages runners to land on the most padded part of the foot, which is at the front on the ball of the foot.

Running with shoes, barefoot runner advocators assert, can cause ‘sloppiness’ in the way that we are more inclined to strike the ground with the heel.

According to a study published in the ‘Nature’ a scientific journal last year, Daniel Lieberman, an evolutionary biology professor at Harvard University had researched how our ancient ancestors had managed to sustain running and hunting for millions of years barefoot.

Lieberman studied runners from both Kenya and the UK who had either always worn shoes but had recently abandoned their shoes, compared to those who had never worn shoes.

The analysis proved that the barefoot runners had a springier step, used their calf muscles more efficiently and were inclined to run with a ‘fore-foot strike’, and by doing so caused less impact or collision forces” to the foot. This compared to the shoed runners who tended to have a ‘rear-foot strike’, which causes a greater impact to the feet and legs.

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30th September 2011

UK Bike Competition – Win a Trion:Z Raleigh SP Road Bike – Worth £1,999.99

A very special one off road bike has been produced to celebrate the support given by Trion:Z to the British Cycling Team, Team Raleigh.

The Trion:Z and Raleigh branded SP Race Road Bike received 5 * reviews by Bikerradar. It looks the business with its White Carbon Frame and weighs in at only 8.18 kg.

Performance is not in doubt here, with Shimano Ultegra Transmission. This is one road bike that will turn heads!

And you stand a chance to win it! Valued at £1999.99, this has to be the best UK bike competition around right now.

The UK bike competition comes with easy entry. Either go to the Trion:Z website or to the Trion:Z Facebook page where you can enter once you have liked Trion:Z.

The winner will be drawn at random on 16^th October 2011. No purchase necessary and the competition is free to enter for over 16 year olds.

You can see this awesome UK bike competition prize right now at the Cycle Show, NEC until 2^nd October at Stand CSC10.

They will also be selling their award winning product range of Dual Loop and Active Wristbands, Necklaces and Body Supports all at exclusive Cycle Show prices.

 

20th September 2011

Where does our marathon race money actually go?

With the average marathon entry fee in the U.S now costing $85 and even a comparatively low attended 5 kilometre road race in Britain costing £8 to enter, you might be asking where does our marathon race money actually go?

Participating in running races can be an expensive affair, and one that is increasing, leaving many a disgruntled runner bemused about where their money goes and what it is used for.

Trion:Z explores what exactly your hard-earned cash, just to literally be subjected to pain and hardship, is used for, and whether you are actually getting your money’s worth.

According to Sean Ryan, race director for the Green Bay Marathon, runners are more than getting their money’s worth when they participate in marathons, and that, “variable costs for shirts and goodies are dwarfed by fixed costs.”

If, for example, you pay $75 to participate in a marathon in the US (a price that is similar for marathon runners in the UK) $4.95 will go on advertising, just over £11 will go towards the food and drinks supplied during and after the race.

Almost $7 on course expenses, such as signs along the route, porta-toilets and timing devices, almost $15 will go towards the participant expenses, including T-shorts, medals and prize money, almost $7.50 will go towards the cost of security, such as the police monitoring the area, as well as the rent for the office space and telephone lines, etc.

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24th June 2011

London Paris bike ride 2011

The ride of a lifetime – The London Paris Bike Ride 2011.

If you are wanting a sporting adventure this summer but unsure of how to achieve it, then why not participate in the London Paris Bike Ride this July and embark on the cycling challenge of a lifetime?

The ride takes place between 20 July – 24 July 2011 and takes cyclists through the most scenic of roads and trials from two of Europe’s most captivating cities.

Participators will cycle 284 miles to arrive in France’s capital just in time for the final of the Tour de France 2011, and by doing so, will help raise money for Christian Aid’s team Poverty.

Entry’s for what promises to be a truly remarkable and memorable cycle ride costs £99 and entrants must reach a minimum sponsorship of £1,100.

All participants will receive a Christian Aid t-shirt, a cyclist sponsorship pack that includes a USB stick which contains training and fundraising advice, personalized support from the Events Fundraising Team, a cheerleading pack for friends and family and a celebratory reception.

The money generated through the London Paris bike ride 2011 will help to build the lives and increase the standard of living for those living in poverty.

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15th March 2011

An interview with Mark Hines

Mark Hines is an Exercise and Human Physiologist, an author of nutrition and a lecturer of exercise physiology at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine, not to mention an ultra-endurance adventure racer.

Taking some time out of his busy and multi-faceted schedule, Mark talked to Trio Z about nutrition, a paleolithic diet and coming second in the ‘toughest and coldest race’ on Earth…

When and why did you become interested in extreme racing?

In 2005 I watched Ben Fogle’s televised attempt at the Marathon des Sables: 150-miles in 7 days across the Moroccan Sahara, and reportedly the toughest footrace in the world.  By that time I had been visiting friends in Cairo for years, and had become accustomed to spending hours walking in the Sahara.  I liked the idea of the race being the toughest, and as I was already physically active I thought it would be good to have a focus for a change.  I believed I could walk the distance without much training, and so if I could improve myself to be able to run some of it then that would be great.

It wasn’t until breakfast, the morning after finishing that race, that people were discussing even harder races.  Since then I’ve competed in the jungle marathon, run across the alps and am one of only two people to have completed the 430-mile Yukon Arctic Ultra twice.

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