Turkey Trot runners dash down Souris parade route

(Click on image to enlarge & read)

For the 4th year running, Alex will be there with bells on (quite literally)!

Photos from the 2004 Turkey Trot

Photos from the 2005 Turkey Trot

Photos from the 2006 Turkey Trot

T'was The Month Before Christmas Run

A 5K and 10K around a 2.5K looped course at UPEI.


It was cloudy and snowy and cold and -6 degrees.

The 2.5km loop course around the UPEI and Confederation Trail.

He ran the whole race with Sean MacNeill. The first 2 laps in under 23 minutes, the wind mostly in your face.

He finish in 45:24 and came in 12th out of 38 runners.

Scott Clark for top male and Pat Ellis for top female in the 10km.

I met Pat Ellis went I was 2, she is an audiologist.

Stephen Bagole and Ellen Sherren for top male and female in the 5km.

The run for fundraise to PEI Roadrunners Club.

There was people from Stanley's Summerside running group running in first 10km race.

Official Result: 12th out of 38
10K in 45 minutes, 24 seconds

T'was the Month Before Christmas 2006

More Photos

I got a presents from Cheryl and Scott maybe early birthday present.

Cheryl give me a shirt because she thought
of me when she saw it.

Scott give me a NYC Marathon poster and Spongebob Cap says "Bikini Bottom Track Club". Scott bring me the Boston Marathon poster every year.

Thank You Cheryl and Scott!



Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Recycle Run

"Out and back course on Montague Confederation Trail"


It was sunny and cloudy and windy and 2 degrees.

The out and back course on Confederation Trail.

The 5km and 10km runners bring the runner shoes and T-shirt to send to people of poor country.

He finish in 44:55 and came in 11th.

The McCosham Brothers won both races, Mark won the 5km and Leo won the 10km.

Official Result: 11th out of 30
10K in 44 minutes, 55 seconds

Recycle Run 2006
Recycle Run 2005

Recycling running shoes & t-shirts for

FAME - Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism

More Photos

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Detour: Heather Doiron, Past & Present

I am often amazed at Alex's great luck. In school, he had some great teachers, willing to work with him (and me!) and some really great Teacher Assistants working 1:1 with him in most of his classes for most of his school life.

In the summer months, he attended swimming lessons, actually "Red Cross Swimming Camp", which involved 2 weeks of half day swimming lessons (at the beach, not in a pool) as well as other fitness and nature activities. Again, he had 1:1 staff, provided by the Red Cross, and their reports made it obvious that they enjoyed the challenge and the kid. The staff all knew his name and they were always happy to see him return every year.

As well, every summer during his elementary school years he was involved with The Education Coalition. For a couple of years, Ben was involved in this program as well. The program was dissolved in 2006 (due to a lack of funding I believe) and taken over by The PEI Council of the Disabled (who recognized the obvious need & success of the program), renamed The Summer Tutoring Program.

"The Summer Tutoring Program is a Province-wide service first offered by the Council in 2006. The program is for children with disabilities who would otherwise lose school and literacy skills over the Summer months. The program had been offered for 19 years by an organization called the "Education Coalition" [which has now been dissolved]. The program is structured to meet the individual needs of each student.

A number of Instructional Assistants are hired across the province and each are assigned a number of children to work with. In the weeks before the end of school each child's teacher or resource specialist supplies the Instructional Assistant with an individualized program to implement over the Summer months.

The program is generally delivered in each child's home. However, in circumstances where the home cannot be used, an alternative setting in the child's community is found. The goal of the program is to help children and youth maintain their skills and prevent regression of those skills when they are not in school during the Summer months."

Most of the tutors come out of the Education program at UPEI, students on their way to being teachers. Again, Alex had the most wonderful luck with the tutors he was assigned every year. The program was devised by me, with help from his SLP, Teachers Aide and teacher. Each tutor he had brought their interests into his program as well. The emphasis was primarily on communication. For most of his elementary years, text (typing) was his primary method of communicating but speech, which had only just started midway through grade 1, was encouraged and formally worked on as well. Because of my own (extreme) discomfort level with having people in my house, most of his assigned hours happened out in the community. Here's how I have described this in the past -

"The idea was to take him out to cool places and to do cool things and give him all the more reason to type about where he'd been and what he'd done. So... since by then I had 4 kids and didn't have the luxury of giving Alex my undivided attention and taking him cool places (many of which would be my idea of hell mind you...) I could have this young energetic person keen to take him places, all I had to do was pay gas and expenses. As well, I knew Alex would make a difference in these kid's lives. I probably told them, like I used to tell every teacher "you're really lucky to have Alex in your class...... you don't understand what I'm telling you right now, and may even think I'm nuts, but by the time your time with him is done, you'll understand"
--and they did."

Along with all the various skills he learned & practiced doing all these different things, they would return home where he would write up a report, diary form, of what he had done, where he had gone, the weather, the best and worst parts etc. Looking back of the reports filed by these tutors, they were all very good, some of them were truly exceptional.

Most we've never seen since, some we have - one turned out to be the daughter of Gary & Carol Craswell (race directors of the Wally Rodd), and then there's Heather Doiron. Although we've only seen Heather a handful of times since she worked with Alex (I think she was his very first tutor), we've followed her career and one can't help but run into one of her many siblings around here. Alex & Heather loved working with each other, Alex still has a great love of music as well as some demonstrated talent, and I can't help but think that Alex helped Heather in her chosen teaching field.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=79039&sc=100

Finding the right note
A teacher from P.E.I. has been using music to make it easier
for her students in Japan to learn history

12/11/07
SALLY COLE
The Guardian

When Heather Doiron started teaching in Japan 11 years ago, she faced some challenges.

"How do you get first- and second-year university students with limited English to study American history? How do you get them to come to class?

"And how do you connect with them emotionally?" asks Doiron, who conducts her classes in English at Aichi Shukutoku University in Nagoya.

After examining these issues, Doiron, who is a classically trained vocalist from P.E.I., came up with the idea of adding a musical element to her classes.

"Many chapters of American history have been turned into songs. For instance, when we came to the section on slavery we listened to Amazing Grace and learned the story behind it," says Doiron.

The popular hymn is about its author, John Newton, a slave trader who converted to Christianity after surviving a terrible storm.

After listening to the story, the students' attention was piqued.

"They loved the class. So we started exploring the passion and the feelings behind songs to get them to study history," she says.

The next song was The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down by Robbie Robertson.

"It's about the horrors of the American Civil War.

"The lyrics tell of Virgil Cain watching as the Union Army General George Stoneman destroys the railroad where he makes a living, and then witnessing the fall of Richmond, Virginia.

"Virgil relates and mourns the loss of his brother in the lyrics, 'He was just 18, proud and brave/But a Yankee laid him in his grave," says Doiron who puts countless hours into preparation for her classes.

Her passion for teaching is appreciated by her students.

"Heather's classes have encouraged me to become interested in many topics. Now I know that I can learn history from music, movies, novels and not just from a textbook," says first-year student Mika Masui in an online interview.

It's a passion that has followed Doiron throughout her life.

Doiron, who has studied classical music and jazz since she was 14, always wanted to be a teacher.

In 1996, after graduating from UPEI with a bachelor of education, the North Rustico native moved to Japan to teach high school and university.

She also took her love for music with her, playing in clubs and recording CDs.

Her creativity in music has helped her teaching career.

"As a teacher, whether you're helping someone cross the road or plant a garden there's part of you in there. You're creating something.

"So being able to draw on your experiences is important," says Doiron who returned home to P.E.I. this past summer.

"As a teacher, I try new approaches and hope that they're going to work with my students. I like to plant the seed, do the watering and see what will happen," she says.

At a glance

* Who: Heather Doiron.

* Influences: Nina Simone, Sheila Jordan, Diana Krall, John Coltrane, Bach.

* Teachers: Pamela Campbell, Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton.

* CDs: After Midnight, Heather Doiron & Co.

* Getting in touch: www.heatherdoironjazz.com , www.musicpei.com

Think Again! Help Us Build A Wall Against Hate

(click on images to enlarge)

Thank You Bev 8 for your initiative, your invitation,
and your bricklaying.

Thank You to everyone who contributed.

Please click here to view more Walls against Hate.

Click here to order the T-Shirt (or hoodie etc.)

Islanders on the Run - Last Weekend in Athens, Greece

As reported earlier, Father Gerard Chaisson was training for the Athens Marathon.

2,224 (Place) 2651(Bib) CHAISSON GERARD Male (45-49) 1992 (Male Division Place) 4:35:31 (Finish Time) 4:34:04 (Chip Time)

There was also another Islander in the race:
1,235 (Place) 4460(Bib) BARTLETT ANDREW Male (35-39) 1137(Male Division Place) 4:00:38(Finish Time) 3:59:10(Chip Time)

3407 Total Runners Full Results

Congratulations !
Athens Marathon

http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=42256.html

Race records fall in Athens Marathon

Sunday 4 November 2007

Athens, Greece - In ideal weather conditions (cloudy in the first stages and light raining at the last Kms) around 4750 runners today ran the 25th edition of the Athens Classic Marathon from the village of Marathon to Athens' 1896 Olympic Marble Stadium.

On the notoriously tough course, Kenya's Benjamin Korir Kiprotich clocked 2:14:40 setting a race record, dominating the men's race ahead of a group of Kenyans, while Russia's Svetlana Ponomarenko verified the pre-race forecast by winning the women's race in 2:33:19, which also smashing the women's race record.

The jubilee edition of the Athens Classic Marathon saw a huge increase in runners compared to last year when there was a total of slightly over 5000 athletes. Adding all races this year the figure was up to 7950. Among them were 4750 marathon runners. Abel Anton, Spain's marathon World Champion from Athens 1997 and Seville 1999, took the opportunity to take part in the 10km race.

Men's Race

The beginning of the mens race brought few surprises, as a group of about ten runners took the lead and gradually broke away from the rest of the field with veteran Italian Migidio Bourifa attempting to create a consistent pace for the leaders.

From the very early stages Bourifa was accompanied by Kenyans Kiptanui Kimutai, Frederick Cerono, Cheruyiot Kipkurui, David Kimutai Kosgei, Benjamin Korir Kiprotich, Michael Cimpchir and Henry Tarus, the winner of the race last year, and the Japanese runner Kazunari Yoshitomi.

Just before the middle of the race at the 20th kilometre point, where the race starts going uphill, the Kenyans decided to change the situation. Accelerating they attacked and Bourifa who was unable to follow them as was Japanese runner who also gave ground to the Kenyan pack. Halfway was passed in 68:07.

As usually the downhill stages of the race decided the winners. The first attempt was made by Kiprotich who tried to overtake the others during the 30th kilometre, but Henry Tarus, Michael Chimpchir, David Kimutai Kosgei and Hosea Kiptanui Kimutai, never fell back enough for him to feel at anytime secure in the lead.

Kiprotich, who was third in Brecia this year (2:10:43 PB), made another, this time decisive move at around 35km and this time kept the margin he garnered until the finishing line, winning in 2:14:40, a race record in the 1896 Panathinaiko Stadium.

Hosea Kiptanui Kimutai who had tried to counter-attack when the winner made his move, finished second with 2:15:03, while defending champion Henry Tarus placed third in 2:15:57. Michael Cimpchir followed with 2:16:52, while Kosgei Kimutai was fifth, 2:17:12.

"I had tried to get away earlier. But then I decided to relax a bit more and let the others catch me again. I was sure that I would win the race," said the 29-year-old Kiprotich. "I will now prepare for a big spring marathon. And it is my aim to run a time between 2:07 and 2:08."

Women's Race

Russia's Viktoryia Zuyeva attempted to take the lead from the beginning of the race, with Ethiopia's Zinash Alemu, third in Athens Marathon last year, Kenya's Sisay Measo, the winner of the race in 2005, and the pre-race favourite, Russian compatriot Svetlana Ponomarenko also in contention.

But with just 5km gone, Ponomarenko was already starting to show that the early challenge was of no concern to her, as she began to break away and ran home for what was an easy win. The 37-year-old Russian who last year won marathons in Dallas, USA and Frankfurt, Germany, ran unchallenged almost all the race and won with a new race record of 2:33.19.

"The weather was fine for me. I would now like to qualify for Beijing next year," said Ponomarenko.

Japanese Chihiro Tanaka was second with 2:41:01, though she was under some pressure from Greece's Magdalene Gazea who achieved the third place and the national title with a personal best of 2:41:31. With this time Gazea now has the standard for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Greek National Championships

A 35-year-old runner, Georgios Karavidas was the surprise winner of the national championships, leaving behind all the favourites. Karavidas clocked a personal best of 2:23:51 to claim his first ever national title and took 10th place overall. Dimitrios Theodorakakos won the silver medal and Lambros Zaragas the bronze.

In the women's race behind Magdalene Gazea, Magdalene Karimali took second place and Georgia Ambatzidou was third.

Michalis Nikitaridis and Jörg Wenig for the IAAF

RESULTS

MEN
1. Benjamin Korir Kiprotich 2:14:40
2. Husea Kiptanui Kimutai 2:15:03
3. Henry Tarus KEN 2:15:57
4. Michael Chempchir 2:16:52
5. David Kimutai Kosgai KEN 2:17:12
6. Frederick Cerono KEN 2:17:47
7. Kazunari Yoshitomi JPN 2:19:14
8. Willie Chruyiot Kipkurui KEN 2:19:29
9. Mathew Serem Kipchogei KEN 2:19:45
10. Georgios Karavidas GRE 2:23:51
11. Dimitrios Theodorikakos GRE 2:24:18
13. Labros Zaragas GRE 2:31:07
14. Ioannis Hamodrakas GRE 2:32:46

WOMEN
1. Svetlana Ponomarenko RUS 2:33:19
2. Chihiro Tanaka JPN 2:41:01
3. Magdalene Gazea GRE 2:41:31
4. Magdalene Karimali GRE 2:46:14
5. Sisai Arsenti Measo 2:46:43
6. Georgia Ambatzidou GRE 2:49:58
7. Viktoryia Zuyeva RUS 2:53:38
8. Chepkoro Chemareg Losiatak KEN 2:54.21
9. Æinash Alemu ETH 2:54:53
10. Êonstantina Stefanopoulou GRE 3:01:22

Islanders on the Run - Last Weekend in Moncton and New York City

Legs for Literacy Marathon

Despite post-tropical storm Noel, The Legs for Literacy Marathon, Half-Marathon, 5&10K runs went on.

Full Marathon:

6(Place)Leo McCosham - 3/47(Division Place)M4049
3:09:39(Gun Time)3:09:38*(Chip Time)4:31(Pace)

7(Place)Mark McCoshom - 4/47(Division Place)M4049
3:11:48(Gun Time)3:11:47*(Chip Time)4:34(Pace)

32(Place) Sean McCormick - 10/21(Division Place)M3039
3:35:29(Gun Time)3:35:27(Chip Time)5:08(Pace)

46(Place) Lora Kemp - 2/7(Division Place)F3039
3:44:37(Gun Time)3:44:31*(Chip Time)5:21(Pace)

54(Place) Paul Johnston - 22/47(Division Place)M4049
3:49:05(Gun Time)3:49:00(Chip Time)5:28(Pace)

58(Place) Nancy Morris - 3/16(Division Place)F4049
3:50:23(Gun Time)3:50:10*(Chip Time)5:29(Pace)

64(Place) John Van Ekris - 25/47(Division Place)M4049
3:53:26(Gun Time)3:53:18(Chip Time)5:34(Pace)

68(Place) Dave Beaton - 27/47(Division Place)M4049
3:54:50(Gun Time)3:54:39(Chip Time)5:36(Pace)

78(Place) Loretta Van Ekris - 5/16(Division Place)F4049
4:05:10(Gun Time)4:05:02(Chip Time)5:51(Pace)

111(Place) Debby Hughes - 10/16(Division Place)F4049
4:34:17(Gun Time)4:34:01(Chip Time)6:32(Pace)

114(Place) Joan Watson - 12/16(Division Place)F4049
4:34:46(Gun Time)4:34:35(Chip Time)6:33(Pace)

* Boston Marathon Qualifier

144 Total Runners Full Results

Half-Marathon

98(Place) Chris Doiron - 11/17(Division Place)M2029 - 1:52:36(Gun Time)
1:52:00(Chip Time)5:20(Pace)
99(Place) Dianne Pye - 7/79(Division Place)F4049 - 1:52:38(Gun Time)
1:52:20(Chip Time)5:21(Pace)
100(Place) Elaine Burkholder - 4/20(Division Place)F5059 - 1:52:38(Gun Time)
1:52:20(Chip Time)5:21(Pace)
198(Place) Eric Deveau - 44/58(Division Place)M4049 - 2:05:50(Gun Time)
2:05:13(Chip Time)5:58(Pace)
273(Place) Carolyn Knox - 44/79(Division Place)F4049 - 2:16:19(Gun Time)
2:15:48(Chip Time)6:28(Pace)

389 Total Runners Full Results

10K

93(Place) Shallyn Murray - 14/28(Division Place)F2029 - 1:01:34(Gun Time)
1:01:24(Chip Time)6:09(Pace)
144(Place) Arlene Edgecombe - 11/22(Division Place)F5059 - 1:09:31(Gun Time)
1:09:08(Chip Time)6:55(Pace)

187 Total Runners Full Results

Congratulations All!

Leo McCosham has reported some sad news

"On Sunday morning just before the start of the marathon fellow roadrunner and
roadrunner executive Paul Baglole collapsed on the school floor .Paul was there to
support his fellow roadrunners.Paul is at the Moncton hospital,hopefully he will be
back running with the club soon."

Paul, our thoughts and best wishes are with you, hope you're back on your feet soon.

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/115997
Legs for Literacy hits streets this weekend
Marathon event reaches goal of more than 1,000 runners

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/sports/article/116992
LEGS RACE GAINS SPEED

http://riverviewthisweek.canadaeast.com/sports/article/116332
Runners will be spotted in Riverview this weekend

The ING New York City Marathon

537(Place) 496(Gender Place) 84(Age Place) Scott Clark - 2:55:47 (Official Time)
6:42(Pace/Mile)
18294(Place) 4167(Gender Place) 811(Age Place) Kimberley Bailey - 4:21:05 (Official Time)
9:57 (Pace/Mile)

38554 Total Runners Full Results

Congratulations Scott & Kim! This is the Marathon Alex hopes to run someday. Alex was
very unhappy when our power was knocked out by post-tropical storm Noel at 8:15am
Sunday, afraid it might not be back on time for him to watch the NYC Marathon
coverage on TV at 4pm. All turned out well when we got our power back at 2:30pm.

The Run Before the Storm - Atlantic Vet College 5K at Brackley Beach

"A beautiful out and back course from the Brackley Beach parking lot towards Robinson's Island."

It was cloudy and 4 degrees and no wind.

The calm before the storm. Hurricane Noel is coming to Atlantic Canada tonight.

The out and back course on Gulf Shore Parkway.

Lots of dogs and lots of vet college students.

He came in 7th out of 59 runners include walkers and time of 20:22.

Lawrence Brown came first and Marcos came second they both from vet college.

Athena Doyle came the first female with PB of 21:10.

Ryan McCarron ran his first 5km in 18:59.

Late tonight Hurricane Noel is arriving with 50mm of rain and wind up to 120km/h but Legs for Literacy Marathon in Moncton NB tomorrow is still on and lots of island runners plan to go. I hope they have a safe run.

Official Result: 7th out of 59
5K in 20 minutes, 22 seconds
AVC Run 2006

Brackley Beach
(click to enlarge)










Photo 1: Looking Northwest - Photo 2: Looking Northeast

Warnings

Queens County P.E.I.
11:02 AM ADT Saturday 3 November 2007
Wind warning for Queens County P.E.I. continued

Southeasterly winds gusting up to 90 km/h tonight and southwesterly winds gusting to 120 km/h early Sunday.

Dangerous post-tropical storm Noel will approach Nova Scotia today and track across the Bay of Fundy tonight then cross just west of the island early Sunday morning as it heads into the Gulf of St Lawrence thereafter. The main threat with this storm will be potentially damaging winds..Heavy rain and pounding ocean waves.

Gusty easterly winds up to 90 km/h will develop this evening. Winds will become southwest with gusts as high as 120 km/h Sunday morning. These winds could lead to downed trees and power lines leading to power interuptions and cause damage to roofing and cladding material on some homes.

Rainfall amounts of up to 50 millimetres are expected over the province. The rain will quickly taper off Sunday morning. Rainfall may cause localized flooding in prone areas..Especially where leaf litter clogs storm drains.

5-metre waves are expected over the gulf waters..Erosion of some beaches is likely. High water levels along the Northumberland strait are expected tonight.

Rainfall warning for Queens County P.E.I. continued

Rainfall amounts of up to 50 millimetres expected tonight.

Dangerous post-tropical storm Noel will approach Nova Scotia today and track across the Bay of Fundy tonight then cross just west of the island early Sunday morning as it heads into the Gulf of St Lawrence thereafter. The main threat with this storm will be potentially damaging winds..Heavy rain and pounding ocean waves.

Gusty easterly winds up to 90 km/h will develop this evening. Winds will become southwest with gusts as high as 120 km/h Sunday morning. These winds could lead to downed trees and power lines leading to power interuptions and cause damage to roofing and cladding material on some homes.

Rainfall amounts of up to 50 millimetres are expected over the province. The rain will quickly taper off Sunday morning. Rainfall may cause localized flooding in prone areas..Especially where leaf litter clogs storm drains.

5-metre waves are expected over the gulf waters..Erosion of some beaches is likely. High water levels along the Northumberland strait are expected tonight.

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

The World's Best Shoe - Runner's World Crowns Asics Gel-Nimbus 9

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-400--12278-0,00.html
THE WORLD'S BEST SHOE

Runner's World Crowns Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 "The World's Best Shoe!"

PUBLISHED 11/02/2007

New York, NY (November 2, 2007): The global editors of Runner's World magazine, the worldwide authority on running information, awarded their third annual International Editor's Choice Award for the 2007 "Shoe of the Year" to Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 during a special awards celebration Friday night at Remi in New York City.

The award was presented following the conclusion of the Runner's World International Shoe Summit, the annual three-day conference featuring the editors of all 10 editions of Runner's World and eleven of the world's leading running shoe manufacturers, who presented their upcoming 2008 product lines.

"Runner's World International Shoe Summit and Editor's Choice Award are a one-of-a-kind opportunity for shoe manufacturers to reach the global running community via a trusted source," said David Willey, editor-in-chief of Runner's World. "Runner's World congratulates Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 for a great update on an already quality shoe."

This year's International Editor's Choice recipient jumped out at editors from the start of the nomination process. The more segmented midsole coupled with added gel in the heel gives this shoe a super-cushioned, yet still stable ride. A Runner's World online survey among the 10 editions
proved that readers agreed; the shoe was the top vote-winner.

The Runner's World International Editor's Choice Award for "Shoe of the Year" is presented annually in collaboration with the International Shoe Summit, part of Runner's World's global initiative to find, test and designate the best shoes in the world for its readers in the eleven countries where it currently publishes: Australia/ New Zealand, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands/ Belgium, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2005, the Asics 2120 won the inaugural Runner's World International "Shoe of the Year" and in 2006 the Nike Air Pegasus 2006 won.


Also winning awards were New Balance, which was the choice among the international editors panel for International Best Update of 2007, as well as Saucony, which captured International Best Innovation award for their development and use of new shoe technologies.

Introduced for this first time, the International Best Update of 2007 is awarded to the shoe which has had standout improvement and revision. Tests for this year's winner, New Balance 1223, showed that the shoe is lighter and more flexible than its predecessor, but still offers plenty of support, even for bigger runners.

Saucony was honored with International Best Innovation award, recognizing its noteworthy Flexion plate. Instead of being a stability device, the Flexion plate is a propulsion device that smoothes out heel-to-toe transitions allowing people to run more efficiently.

All running shoes reviewed by Runner's World, both domestically and globally, are put through rigorous tests by editors and hundreds of independent wear-testers. Additionally, shoes are assessed by mechanical testing at the unique Runner's World Shoe Lab at Michigan State University in conjunction with the MSU Department of Sports Medicine. Runner's World is the only publication in the world that independently tests running shoes this way.

In conjunction with the international shoe testing initiative, Runner's World's widely-recognized and respected "Editor's Choice Award Seal of Approval Program" reflects global collaboration. It allows runners around the world to recognize Runner's World universal International Editor's Choice seal as a way to help select the most appropriate shoes for their level and needs.

Representatives from manufacturers Adidas, Brooks, Fila, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Reebok and Saucony were among those presenting before editors from the nine international Runner's World editions at this year's Shoe Summit.

http://www.runtex.com/web/1-869.asp

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 9 New and Improved Running Shoe
Men's & Women's New Asics Gel-Nimbus 9
by Asics Staff, 4/24/2007

GEL-Nimbus® 9 $120 (US)

What’s New?

Since its inception, each new version of the GEL-Nimbus® series has remained consistent with the original concept of providing superior platform cushioning and comfort. Then along came the GEL-Nimbus® VI, and with this update a concentration on perfecting upper fit. The result converted so many runners that the series has subsequently become the industry standard in the cushioning category. For the GEL-Nimbus® 9, upper comfort will remain an important factor in the overall design. However, this shoe will represent a re-focus on platform comfort and overall ride.

Probably the most noteworthy addition to the platform of the GEL-Nimbus® 9 is the newly engineered heel unit, which features an interpretation of the discreet heel tooling of the GEL-Kinsei®. This set-up allows each section of the rear-foot to move in a relatively independent manner, creating a greater level of shear deformation and thus, enhanced shock attenuation. The silicon gel units themselves echo the GEL-Kinsei® as well, with a higher (harder) durometer on the lateral crash pad, which will provide enhanced stability for underpronators.* Also noteworthy is the support added to the waist of the midsole, with a Space TrussticTM unit that is more rigid than in past models, creating improved midfoot support and aiding the transition from foot-flat to propulsion.

The changes to the upper are subtle but will noticeably enhance fit and comfort. For instance, the collar length has been shortened slightly, and a new Personal Heel Fit® (PHF) set-up places two layers of memory foam on the medial collar where past versions had only one. The result is an improved geometry that secures the shoe snugly and comfortably around the heel. In addition, a new one-piece tongue/vamp construction eliminates the need for excessive overlays at the bottom of the eye-stay. Working in concert with the Biomorphic Fit System, this new upper set-up ensures a roomy forefoot that nevertheless secures the foot comfortably on top of the midsole.

*Worth noting is the fact that the density of the silicon gel unit can be manufactured exactly to the durometer specified, unlike standard EVA and other midsole materials, that have a ‘factor of +/- 4 degrees of hardness that is typically deemed acceptable for production.

In A Nutshell

The GEL-Nimbus® 9 is ASICS’ top of the line cushioning shoe, featuring a new ‘discreet’ rear-foot design, enhanced midfoot support, and improved upper construction that provides exceptional fit. The broad, supportive platform is suitable for a range of runners from under-pronators to moderate over-pronators.

New Features

1. Discreet Heel image w/ shear deformation set-up
2. Expanded Rearfoot GEL® cushioning w/ dual density gel unit
3. Two-channel Forefoot Twist GEL® Cushioning System
4. Three piece midsole construction
5. Improved trusstic geometry w/ Gender specific
6. New heel collar geometry
7. 2 layer PHF® construction
8. One-piece tongue/vamp construction

Carry-Over Features

1. Rearfoot GEL® Cushioning System including ‘Twist’ GEL (centered directly under fat pad.)
2. Forefoot GEL® Cushioning System including ‘Twist’ GEL (centered directly under 1st Met Head)
3. Biomorphic Fit System
4. Solyte® Midsole material
5. Solyte® 45 lasting