ZombieRunner Blog

The other morning I did something I haven’t done in a long time. My schedule doesn’t allow it very well. I have a zombie work ethic – about 3 am is often the time I go to sleep, so there’s no extra time in the morning before business hours. Anyway, I got up before I had to go to the Zombie store and went for a RUN. It was even raining. The way to motivate yourself to run in the rain is to have some cool new gear to try out. I figured California rain was the perfect test for the Golite Bookcliffs wind jacket. It’s not a water proof piece, but it has wind/water resistance in the front and is totally breathable (great when it’s pretty warm out) in the back. The back is actually the same material as the Golite baselayers. But the best thing about this jacket is that it looks great. It doesn’t ride up and fits really nicely at the waist.

The run was about 45 minutes, out by Gunn High School, waved to many dog walkers and only one or two other runners. I also tested some shoes we are considering: the Brooks Racer ST 4. If you had told me a couple years ago that I could run in racing flats, I would have said no way. But now with the theories of barefoot running and mid/forefoot strike, running footwear has taken on a whole different dimension for me. This shoe is a stability racer, so it still has a heel and some dense material to provide support. The forefoot is very flat and the upper is super light. The design is snazzy – shiney black and gold laces – which I’m sure makes you run faster. Probably the part I liked most is the lack of plastic overlays. The open toebox design means there’s nothing nasty to pinch my feet. Still, I wonder if this shoe would work for people who need a little more width. I wear standard width women’s shoes and the Racer ST was ok for me, but it’s actually a unisex shoe.

By the time my run was over, I had figured out how to run in those shoes and was very comfortable. I loved the jacket. It didn’t swish loudly like some other ones I’ve tried. No chafing either. I didn’t feel tired at all, and best of all, I had the whole day ahead of me. The morning run also helps with maintaining body temperature through the rest of the day. Something about getting your circulation going. So, yes, provided I can get to bed before 2 am, the morning is my favorite time to run.

Gillian

If you put the Raptor side-by-side with La Sportiva’s Wildcat, you’ll see a lot of similarities. They’re built on the same framework – the outsole looks the same, same support system, same shaped upper. But there are some noticeable differences that will make all the difference to trail runners. One is the cushioning. If you thought the Wildcat was plush, (maybe too plush?) the raptor changes things by taking out the 2.4mm layer of LaSpEVA. Without the cush, the shoe has a low-to-the-ground, more aggressive feel to it. It also seemed like the heel-to-forefoot ratio changed, but that could be my imagination. The firm feeling compares favorably to the Crosslite, which is a super firm racing shoe.

The other difference in the Raptor is the TPU lacing harness. If the Wildcat felt a little wide in the midfoot, the Raptor snugs up nicely, “wrapping” your foot through the mid. This should add a bit more of that huggy feeling that’s apparent in the Crosslite and the Fireblade. Another cool thing is the type of rubber used on the outsole. It’s a stickier compound so it will work great on a course like, oh, let’s say the Ohlone 50K or even the Western States 100 Miler. Think slippery, rocky downhills that you can now cruise down with total confidence. Like the Wildcat, the Raptor has nice support from the heel cup through the arch and, as I’ve seen with all Sportiva trail shoes, the ankle collar is nicely done, causing no rubbing, slipping or ankle bruising.

Finally, the Raptor just looks cool. It’s clearly a La Sportiva shoe with its black and yellow, the logo blazing across the side. I’d put it right in between the Crosslite and Wildcat in its performance and cushioning ratings.

Gillian