Review of the Altra Escalante Racer

Shoe: Altra Escalante Racer

Reviewer:  Gary Manley, experienced runner, England Athletics Qualified Coach, Obsessed with running.

Date: April 2024

Summary: A lightweight, low stack racer with a wide forefoot. I personally love this as a training shoe and have run miles and miles getting through quite a few pairs. 

In a Nutshell:

• For runners who want zero drop, low stack and lightweight trainers than can be a traditional racing shoe or a daily trainer (at least for me coming from barefoot shoes). 
• But it is very low stack with good ground feel which some people might not like. If you are coming from barefoot these will give you a hint of cushioning to be able to push harder. If you are used to "normal" shoes then you might struggle. 

Upper:

Fit:

• Semi-form fitting: Generally, the upper offers a snug but comfortable wide fit, conforming to your foot without feeling restrictive. It's a good middle ground between a super-racing tight fit and a relaxed everyday trainer fit.
• True to size: The Escalante Racer fits true to size. I have wide feet and love the fit of the 8.5 in this trainer. In all other running shoe brands I am a 9.5 for the width, so for me anyone who says this show isn't wide enough is a real outlier.

 

Materials:

• Breathable mesh: The upper is primarily made of a thin, breathable mesh that allows for good ventilation and keeps your feet cool during runs. Note it does not keep your feet warm in the winter or dry in the rain, I mean you can't have it both ways but good to know for winter training. 
• Seamless construction: The use of minimal seams helps reduce irritation and potential hotspots, especially during long runs. I have worn this shoe racing 5k and 10k and on 13 miles long runs and have had no issues with comfort. 
  

  
  

Lockdown:

• Strategic overlays: Minimal overlays are strategically placed in the midfoot and heel area to provide lockdown and support without adding unnecessary bulk.
• Lace closure system: The standard lace closure system allows you to adjust the fit for a personalized feel.

Midsole:

The Altra Escalante Racer's midsole is designed to deliver a balance of responsiveness and cushioning for faster-paced runs. Here's a closer look at its key features:

• Altra EGO™ midsole foam: This is the core material of the midsole, known for being lightweight and responsive. It provides a good amount of energy return, propelling you forward with each stride. Compared to the standard Altra EGO™ found in some of their other shoes, the Escalante Racer's version is reported to be a touch firmer for a more performance-oriented feel.
• Lower stack height: The Escalante Racer boasts a lower stack height compared to some other Altra shoes. This lower stack height allows for a closer to the ground feel, which some runners prefer for better responsiveness and proprioception (awareness of your body's position).
• InnerFlex™ technology: These are strategically placed grooves that flex naturally with your foot during the gait cycle. This allows for a more natural and efficient foot strike, particularly beneficial for midfoot or forefoot strikers.
• Zero Drop Platform: A core feature of Altra shoes, the Escalante Racer maintains a zero-drop platform. This means the heel and forefoot are at the same height, promoting a more natural foot strike for some runners and a more balanced feel throughout the run. I love the ride of this trainer.

• Responsiveness over cushioning: While the Altra EGO™ foam offers some cushioning, the focus of the midsole is on responsiveness and a propulsive feel.
• Suitable for experienced runners: The lower stack height and firmer midsole might be more suited for experienced runners with good form who can handle a less cushioned shoe or those coming from a barefoot shoe background. Those who prioritize maximum cushioning might be better suited for a different Altra model.

Overall, the Altra Escalante Racer's midsole prioritizes a lightweight, responsive feel for faster runs. It achieves this with a lower stack height, a firmer version of Altra's EGO™ foam, and features that promote a natural foot strike.

Outsole:

The outsole of the Altra Escalante Racer is designed to be lightweight, flexible, and offer sufficient traction for road running. Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics:

• Material: It uses a strategic placement of rubber compounds for durability and flexibility. The forefoot uses a more flexible rubber compound to allow for natural toe-off and a smooth transition during your stride. 
• Traction: The outsole features a low-profile lug pattern. These lugs provide good grip on dry pavement and light rain. However, they may not be ideal for very loose surfaces like gravel or wet trails but they do grip better than the Altra Vanish Carbon or Tempos. 
• Durability: Generally, the outsole is considered durable enough for high mileage road running and in my experience they do last. I am a high mileage runner and these are some of the better lasting Altra's. 
• Flexibility: As mentioned earlier, the forefoot section of the outsole is designed to be flexible for a natural toe-off and efficient running form. This flexibility allows your foot to bend and move naturally during your gait cycle.

Here are some additional things to consider about the outsole:

• Not for off-road running: The low-profile lug pattern is not suitable for aggressive off-road running or very loose surfaces. That being said I have used them to good effect on my local parkruns summer route where a third of the route is on grass. 
• Balance of flexibility and durability: While the forefoot prioritizes flexibility, the outsole should offer enough durability for most road running needs. 

Overall, the outsole of the Altra Escalante Racer prioritizes a balance between flexibility for a natural running feel and durability for road running. If you need a shoe with super aggressive traction for off-road adventures, this outsole might not be the best choice. However, for most road runners seeking a lightweight, responsive shoe with a natural feel, the Escalante Racer's outsole should deliver a good experience.

Performance:

• This shoe is meant to be like a traditional racing flat. Having come from barefoot shoes I find this is great a a daily training shoe. It is great for building my foot strength and more durable than carbon racers but protects the feet more than traditional barefoot shoes. 
• I find this shoe works at all paces and have used it from 7 minute kilometre training runs through 18 minute parkruns. 

Overall:

• I do find one of my feet starts slapping the ground when I am wearing these and am tired. That being said this is probably the most comfortable shoe I have. It is durable, great for hot weather and suitable for fast and slow running. 

Additional Considerations:

• The new version of this shoe is supposed to come out later this year. So there could be good deals on these or the new version might be a big step up. 

Tags:

altra Escalante racer, altras, zero drop, running shoes, lightweight shoes, breathable shoes, responsive shoes, road racing shoes, forefoot strike, midfoot strike, natural running shoes, escalante racer review, altra review, running shoe review, best running shoes, comfortable running shoes

Having 24 hour ECG

I will do a video on this, probably tomorrow, but for now I wanted to get something out there. This morning I was fitted with a 24 hour ECG. I use the word fitted but that is generous really. Basically 3 pads were stuck to my chest and a little device to record the activity was attached to them and now I have to keep it on me for the next 24 hours.

 

So why am I having this? 

Well back in February I was scheduled in for some minor surgery, nothing related to running or carnivore and just one of those things. You’ll be seen in the morning they told me…. well come 3:30 I was finally seen having not eaten since 3pm the day before (due to running at 7 with my club and IF) and not having drunk since 6am (as instructed).

They wheeled me into the room to perform the general and put the cannula in (though the first one didn't take), no meds yet and I started to feel light headed and dizzy. As a runner my resting pulse is pretty low, around 50-55ish, but it started to drop, 45, 40, 35, 30… and then for 5 seconds it was so low the machine read it as 0 and I blacked out, had a seizure and ripped the cannula out.

I came to with a jolt, sitting upright and with no clue what had happened. My temperature then plummeted and I felt freezing. They covered me with some magical warm blankets and something like a leaf blower that pumped hot air over me, that felt lovely. I regained my bearings and felt fine but they decided the op needed to be scrapped and now I need to be referred to cardiology. On the plus side I was in the right place for this to happen! I ended up on Oxygen and requiring 2 doses of atropine to get me back to a good place.

Could just be low electrolytes and dehydration so when the op gets rescheduled maybe I will be first on the list? I have had a standard ECG and an Echo but belt and braces they wanted this as well.

So what am I doing and why running?

Annoyingly as I am still getting over the infection I am not able to do as much activity as I would like. I ran home from the hospital and did some strength training and will run back to the hospital with it attached tomorrow. Other than that I will do some walking, Why the running? Well it might not be linked but I have history for getting low blood pressure after races that are half marathon distance or longer. In 2017 I once spent 2 hours in the medical tent, nothing wrong but my blood pressure was low.

What now?

Now I wait and see if they see anything in the results. I also have a blood test to check my kidney function tomorrow and a catch up with the surgeon next week. Despite all this I try and continue with mental and physical training and try to think of myself as one of the healthiest people I know. When it comes to lifestyle and the choices we can make to be healthy that is true, just need to catch a break with everything else.

Running Comeback Week 1 Day 1

 

running, carnivore, diet, return, Campylobacter, fitness, parkrun, PB, 

Every setback is a chance for a comeback - Campylobacter

Campylobacter infection, fun times. Feels like ages ago now but it was just 3 weeks. I started to come down with having to tun to the toilet, I felt hot and cold at the same time and a little sick and weak. I had actually just beaten 2 guys that I normally battle with at parkrun and felt a sub 17 was close. Sadly the diarrhoea just kept coming and coming until I have to go to the doctors. 

Over the last few weeks I have been sat at home, in lovely running conditions, as the people I was beating have been breaking the times I want to break. And with my fitness down the drain, my weight increasing, the summer coming, a holiday coming and an op coming I am looking to next week now before I can get anything like back to where I want to be. Anyway, I have ended up having numerous blood and stool tests and finally it was found that I had a nasty Campylobacter infection. 

As I say it started out with be getting worse and worse diarrhoea and generally feeling naff. It peaked with me going to the loo over 20 times a day, for a week, and feeling so run down, so much so that we can to call in support to take my daughter to school as I couldn't manage the 1km walk. After the week of 20+ times a day I had a week of around 10-12 times a day and then another 4-5 days of 4-5 times a day and so far a few normal days. 

I did slip from being completely carnivore as I couldn't bare meat by itself. I have been ok with pork belly but not burgers, instead I have been cooking some mince in tomato passata and putting some cheese on top. So heavily meat based but until I am back to full strength and fancying full carnivore I am going to stick with this. 

I am hopefully in the final stage of recovery now and I have managed to do a few short runs, that being said I am still very fatigued and my bloodwork suggests my kidneys are still far from right. Hopefully that will rectify itself over the next few weeks. 

So with all that being said, every setback is a chance for a comeback. Life will be getting in the way over the coming months and then my local parkrun moves to the slower summer route.... So I am setting up sights on next winter and how I can best prepare for that? I have a few things I want to take to target this, and ideally smashing my goals next winter by being aggressive but without compromising my core values.  

1. Use ActionCam to record my return to fitness as a series - This will keep me accountable

2. Different speed sessions

3. Consistent and better strength training including Plyometrics 

4. Back to the mental training - Confident mind etc.

5. Stricter feeding window - start with 6 hours to get weight under control.

6. Do challenge parkruns- slightly dehydrated, too many clothes - overheated, post intervals on the way down, long run Friday.

7. Consistently / Vlogging Blogging again

P2 This morning, again in 17:30 ish

Still waiting for the official time to come through but I was somewhere around 17:30, which would be my joint 5th/6th fastest time ever. No excuses really for being nearly 20 seconds down on last week, that being said if I had I did have some good reasons for a slower time: 

1) I did not sleep well the last 3 nights, last night was especially bad and I had been awake since 3am. 

2) I had a slightly dodgy gut last night, might be the cause of the bad sleep. I think I shouldn't have taken the magnesium that I did. 

3) I did run hard up a 1km hill, one that is very steep, on Monday, maybe I hadn't fully recovered. 

4) Whilst I didn't think it was too bad the forecast was for 20 mile  per hour wind with gusts up to 40. 

Whilst I felt good I do think the above all came into play, that being said I think this was a good run and look forward to seeing the Run Britain rankings as. 

1) I paced myself well and flew along the 2km again. 

2) I beat someone who usually is close to me by 30 seconds. 

3) I beat someone who I have never finished in front of before, last week he was inside my PB. 

So overall it was a good run, with a decent time but not quite what I was hoping for. Had my breakfast and wondering when to tackle that steep hill again... Maybe this afternoon? 

 Ah there we go, 17:29. Decent enough, surprising number of PBs, though it was pacer day so will be "interesting" to see how Run Britain ranks it on Monday.

Altra Vanish Carbon

Shoe: Altra Vanish Carbon

Reviewer: Gary Manley, experienced runner, England Athletics Qualified Coach, Obsessed with running.

Date: April 2024

Summary: A quick shoe but arguably not a super shoe.

In a Nutshell: 

• It is great for runners who want a quick shoe that is zero drop. 
• The Vanish Carbon offers a partial carbon plate and super foam but probably not up to the level of some brands.
• It is quick but there are concerns around comfort and durability. 

Upper:

• It's built on Altra's Slim Fit last, which means it's narrower than some of their other shoes known for a wider toe box. However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's narrow overall, in fact I can still fit in the 8 1/2. 
• The upper uses a thin, breathable mesh that conforms to your foot.
• There are minimal overlays or padding, keeping the shoe lightweight.
• While not ideal for the absolute widest feet, I did find the Vanish Carbon surprisingly accommodating due to the thin, flexible mesh.
• The tongue can be fiddly to get in place and is very thin, I have however raced my half marathon PB in this shoe and it was fine. I have also had a slight issue with the fabric at the tip of the toes, it seems to have a chance of folding down and rubbing against your toes. I have had 3 pairs of these (.thanks vinted.) in 8.5 and had that issue in 2 of them, the size 9's I haven't had any problems with. 

                                            

Midsole:

• Stack Height: The Vanish Carbon has a 33mm stack height in both the heel and forefoot, which falls into the category of a high cushioned shoe.
• Cushioning: It uses Altra's EGO PRO foam, known for being lightweight and responsive, providing a good balance between shock absorption and a propulsive feel. I hear others talk about their super shoes and although this is comfortable I don't feel a massive pop from it.
• Embedded within the midsole is a Carbitex carbon fibre plate. This plate helps with propulsion and energy return during toe-off, aiming to improve running efficiency. As I said I don't feel as much as others have reported but my feet are too fat to try other plated shoes so I don't have a comparison to make and do still love this shoe. 
• A core feature of Altra shoes, the Vanish Carbon maintains a zero-drop platform, meaning the heel and forefoot are at the same height. This promotes a more natural foot strike for some runners.

                                          

Outsole:

• Material: It uses a rubber outsole with a strategic lug pattern.
• Traction: The lugs are low-profile but strategically placed to provide good grip on dry pavement and light rain. However, they might not be ideal for very loose surfaces like gravel or wet trails. It is great for roads however it can be a little slippery in the wet. 
• Durability: The rubber compound is generally considered durable enough for high mileage road running. However, it does wear, especially in the heel and I am mostly a forefoot striker. 
• Flexibility: The forefoot of the outsole is designed to be flexible for a natural toe-off and a smooth transition during your stride and I haven't found the shoe to inhibit my normal running pattern. 

                                               

Performance:

• This shoe is best for races and speed work. I have set PBs at all distances from 1k through half marathon in this shoe. 
• It is actually a show that works well at slower paces but should probably be kept for race day. On the plus side you don't have to change between the warm up and the race. 

Value:

• Often on sale for around £100 and now the Altra Vanish Carbon 2 has been released there could be some good deals. 
• If you want a zero drop, high performance shoe this is great. Also consider the Vanish Tempo, which I might actually prefer, even if it is maybe sightly slower. 

Overall:

Overall this is a great shoe, especially for those that have wide feet and want to race hard. I have tried racing in the Altra Escalante racers (I had set my previous 5k PB in them) but honestly there is no going back. The shoe is fairly firm and I have raced a lot of miles in them but don't expect them to have the durability of a daily shoe and conserve them for race day, or once past it, speed sessions.

As I mentioned above the Altra Vanish Carbon 2 has come out and initial reports are promising that it is more like a traditional super shoe and maybe it will be quicker. 

I do love that I can buy pretty much any Altra shoe in 8.5 / 9 and sometimes 9.5 and they fit great and feel great. I have never had that with another brand, I have tried Topo and they have too much of an arch for me and with non zero drop I get injured and with proper barefoot I can't run as fast. 

                                                

The Latest Running News

Here are some of the latest developments in the world of running from the past week:

1. Runner Knocked Down by 2013 Boston Bombs Has Died

   • A runner who was injured during the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon bombings has passed away¹.

2. Jack Scott Wins the Montane Spine Race 2024

   • Jack Scott emerged victorious in the challenging Montane Spine Race, showcasing incredible endurance and determination¹.

3. Evans Chebet Aims for a Third Win at Boston Marathon

   • Elite runner Evans Chebet is eyeing a remarkable third victory at the prestigious Boston Marathon¹.

4. Female Participation in Ultrarunning Falls to 30%

   • Despite the growing popularity of ultrarunning, female participation remains at 30%, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity¹.

5. 2024 Boston Marathon Women’s Field Announced

   • The lineup for the 2024 Boston Marathon features talented female athletes from around the world, ready to compete in this iconic race¹.

6. Women’s Glucose Levels Affected More by Exercise

   • Recent research suggests that women’s glucose levels respond differently to exercise compared to men, emphasizing the importance of personalized training approaches¹.

7. Oscar Pistorius Released from Prison

   • Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympic athlete convicted of killing his girlfriend, has been released from prison¹.

Remember, running news is constantly evolving, so stay tuned for more updates! 🏃‍♀️🌟

For further reading, you can explore Runner’s World or other reliable sources¹.

Time for a Proper Update

I have been a but lax on this channel because, well, I guess it hasn't really generated as much interest as I hoped it would. Shock horror there isn't much of a cross over in the Venn diagram when the 2 major subjects are Carnivore and Runner. 

So what have I been doing since my last update in December? 

I set a 10k PB in January of 37:06, now that may seem good or bad (comparison is the thief of joy) but I was relatively happy with it. The conditions on the day were awful and I ran basically solo to a 6th place finish. 

I went on an amazing streak at parkrun and am working my way back to where I was after a medical incident, not related to carnivore, detailed me for a few weeks and I have since struggled to recreate the same form as I was in. 

But if you had told me last November, when I hadn't broken 18 for 10 months, that I would be down to 17:08 and consistently running under my then PB of 17:50 I would have been thrilled. Even just this week I ran 17:35 and wasn't completely happy yet it is 7th best ever time on that course.