Attitude Adjustment Long Distance Pacing ASICS GELNOOSA TRI 11
FLEET FOOTED TRI SPECIALIST
Joanna Brown “I don’t think running off the bike ever feels awesome. It took me a long time to accept that and I became a better runner off the bike once I did. Instead of worrying about how heavy your legs feel, focus on your technique when you begin the run. Keep your cadence up, lean forward, engage your core and drive with your glutes.”
As a member of the University of Guelph’s juggernaut cross country and track program, Joanna Brown is no stranger to fast running. It’s nice to know that someone with her talent still feels the struggle off the bike. Forgetting about the pain and discomfort while focusing on technique is an excellent way to maintain focus and get yourself moving out of T2. Paula Newby-fraser “You can’t bank time.”
The eight-time Ironman world champion uses that phrase whenever she is trying to dissuade an athlete from powering through the bike and starting the run completely drained of energy. While athletes like Sweetland and Brown don’t have the luxury of “pacing” their way through a race – they have to stay as close to the front as possible throughout – longer distance races require that you gauge your effort accordingly to ensure that you get the most out of the day.
What Newby-fraser is referring to in her “bank time” comment is that gaining 10 or 15 (or even 30) minutes on the bike doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up seeing a faster time at the end of the race. Your best performance sometimes requires giving up a bit of time on the bike so you can start the run with more energy. Lance Armstrong put it perfectly during his short triathlon run a few years ago: “You ride for show, you run for dough.”– You’d be hard pressed to complete a triathlon without spotting the Asics Gel-noosa Tri running shoe out on the run course a few times. A favourite among triathletes of all distances, the Gel-noosa has had several updates since its debut, but the Tri 11 is easily our favourite so far.
The updated Gel-noosa Tri is the lightest model yet. At just 9.4 oz. (compared to the Gel-noosa 10’s 9.9 oz.), it’s cushioned and supportive enough for long runs such as the marathon, but light enough to not weigh you down in a sprint. It’s a shoe that you can rely on for your long training runs, but, thanks to a few special features, you can race in it as well.
One of the best features of the Gel-noosa Tri is the specially-engineered technical mesh upper for comfortable, sockless wear. The seamless mesh extends around the upper (not just the toe), providing lots of air flow to your feet. For triathletes looking for a quick T2, Asics has thought of every last detail including features like optional elastic laces and heel and tongue grips to help get the shoe on.
As one of Asics’ top of the line shoes, the Gel-noosa Tri 11 includes some of the company’s best technology, including the Propulsion Trusstic system on the sole. This technology mirrors the functions of the foot’s ligaments and helps it transform from its flexible state to a “powerful, rigid lever” that propels you forward smoothly and safely. In general, the sole seems lighter than previous models as the goal with this 11th version was to shed some weight for faster running over all triathlon distances.
The Gel-noosa Tri 11 will suit triathletes with an average arch height and who are neutral or slightly over-pronating runners. The shoe helps your foot feel well supported from the heel strike all the way through to the toe off with the brand’s special Gel Cushioning System.
One aspect consistent with all Gel-noosa Tri models is their unique graphics in great colours. With “swim,” “bike” and “run” printed discretely over the upper, the shoe is truly made for triathletes and, thanks to the glow-in-the-dark streaks, you’ll be visible as you run down the finish chute of your full-distance race this year.–