Spring is finally here, so I wanted to showcase some of my favorite running gear for the season. Now, not all of this is brand new or top of the line, but rather things that I find useful, durable and valuable for running during the spring months. The Fresh Brew Run Club is based in Michigan where the weather can be unpredictable, so it is important to wear the right gear.

Spring Running Shoes

Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3

Nike Pegasus Trail 3 Gore-Tex

Nike Pegasus Turbo Shield

Spring Running Apparel

Nike Spark Socks

Nike Tights

Nike Run Division Shorts

New Balance Long-sleeve Shirt

Nike Golf Dri-Fit Swoosh Front Cap

Asics Waterproof Jacket

Is the Nike Alphafly 2 good for average runners?

The Nike Alphafly 2 is Nike’s premier, flagship running shoe, chock full of the latest running shoe technology. You’ve seen the best runners in the world wear this shoe, but is it good for the average runner too? In my review, I took to the park paths to review the Nike Alphafly 2 at varying “slower” speeds. Check out the video below:

Key Features of the Nike Alphafly 2

The Nike Alphafly 2 has some incredible technology. This is a super shoe, which essentially means it is an ultralightweight shoe with a carbon fiber plate in the midsole. The Alphafly 2 features extremely bouncy and light ZoomX foam on the midsole with the carbon fiber plate inside. This plate is to provide energy return to your stride and propel you forward. There are also Air Zoom pods to help propel you forward. The upper is made of Nike’s Atomknit material, which is so thin that you can see right through it. There is minimal padding around the heel and the upper fits like a sock around your foot.

If that sounds like a lot, it is. But is it too much for the average 4-hour marathon runner? Let’s find out.

Pros

This is an awesome shoe.

• Weight: As soon as I put it on, I noticed how lightweight this shoe is. The ZoomX foam and Atomknit upper make for an extremely light shoe.
• Propulsion: Wearing these shoes feels like you have springs or are being propelled forward. Its no wonder some runners have voiced opposition to these types of shoes; they really do make you faster. The shoe returns energy to your stride and gave me the feeling of running downhill, even at slower speeds (like 9 minutes/mile).
• Looks: This shoe stands out. This shoe looks like a Ferrari and each colorway has bold colors that will certainly make you stand out on the course. In fact, they are so flashy that I was initially concerned that they are too cool for a 4-hour marathoner myself. Like, trying too hard much? But honestly, after putting these on, they look so flashy that I can’t resist. After all, look good, feel good, and run good, right?
• Performance: Let me be clear, these will make you a faster runner, no matter what pace you are running. And that’s what really matters. In fact, I think the improvement to performance might be greater for an average runner vs. an elite runner. Shaving off 4% of your time during a 4-hour marathon really adds up! I tried a few different speeds in my video, and they all felt pretty good. I did notice an urge to run faster at each of those speeds. This shoe is like a current pulling you out to the sea of faster paces, which I think is great.

Cons

• Price: This shoe retails for $275, which is wildly expensive. Fortunately, you can get this on StockX for far cheaper. Still, it’s a big chunk of change to drop on a pair of shoes. If you’re shoe shopping for your first big race, maybe consider something a little more “down to earth” like the Nike Pegasus instead.
• Durability: I am a heel striker, and as I noted in the video, I saw some slight wear and tear on the heel area after one run. These are racing shoes, so you probably aren’t going to get as many miles out of these as your typical running shoes (although I have seen some runners get a TON of miles in Alphaflys and Vaporflys). The thin upper is durable enough to perform well during normal marathon conditions, but you could be one rough surface from tearing them.

Final Thoughts

This is a super shoe, meaning it will 100% improve your performance, no matter what pace you plan on running. It’s fun, light and will turn some heads out on the course. If you can stomach the price, this shoe is a great racing shoe with enough cushioning to keep your feet happy for a full 26.2 and beyond.

Be sure to subscribe to The Fresh Brew Run Club on YouTube for more shoe reviews, weekly vlogs and other running-related videos. Finally, check out some previous shoe reviews on this page.

The Official Fresh Brew Run Club Nespresso pod ratings

Welcome to my Nespresso pod ratings. I love Nespresso pods. I love running. I love drinking Nespresso before I go for a run. So this post is my ongoing rankings of Nespresso pods as I attempt to try all the Vertuo pods. I am starting this journey in January 2023, and will continue to add to update this list as I add more pods. Be sure to check out my running vlog for my video reactions as I try each one. I also do running shoe reviews, so check that out as well!

My ratings. Click the links to shop for each flavor.

• Intenso: this is one of Nespresso’s strongest brews. Just pure, strong coffee. Perfect for waking me up and getting me out on the run. My rating: A
• Odacio: Bold flavor, great taste. Something I will definitely enjoy before a long run. Rating: A-
• Stormio: Not as intense as the Intenso, but a nice solid coffee. My rating: B
• Melozio: A pretty mild coffee. Tastes fine, but doesn’t have that punch I prefer before runs. Rating: B
• Caramel Cookie: This was not very good. It felt dry and the flavor was just off. My rating: D

More to come!

Be sure to subscribe to The Fresh Brew Run Club on YouTube, a channel dedicated to talking about running and coffee from the perspective of the average runner and coffee drinker.

I picked up the GoPro HERO9, and here’s my review after a few runs.

In order to kick my YouTube video quality up a notch (have you subscribed yet?), I picked up a new camera; here’s my GoPro HERO9 review. I plan on using this to capture video before, during and after my runs, and here’s my review:

Why I got the GoPro HERO9

In my previous videos, I was using my iPhone to capture footage during the run. While the iPhone is an incredible camera with many different uses, I found I was spending a lot of time setting things up; connecting the phone to the tripod, opening the camera, switching to video and repeating the process for every shot. This is no big deal when I’m just casually running, but now that I’m training for a 5K, I don’t want to spend half of my run standing around setting up shots.

The phone camera setup also means I had to run with a backpack, which is kind of bulky, especially on hotter runs.

And finally, I just don’t want to run with my phone. It’s bulky, oddly shaped and running is an escape from the stresses that my cellular device delivers.

Pros

Here are the pros I found running with the HERO9.

• Lightweight – As I mentioned earlier, I don’t want to run with a bulky phone. Thankfully, the GoPro is pretty lightweight and easy to carry in my hand on a run. The cube-ish shape is perfect for holding
• Fits in a tripod – I was able to get an attachment that connects the GoPro to my original tripod, which works perfectly for my shots. In fact, adding the tripod actually made it easier to carry during a run in my hand.
• Most importantly, the footage looks fantastic. Even when running, the image stabilization worked brilliantly and the footage was crisp. I haven’t played with all the settings yet, but I am excited to try all the different options, such as timelapse, slow-motion and 5K. My TV isn’t even 5K!

Cons

Here are the cons I found with the HERO9

• Price – At $500 retail, this is a PRICEY piece of equipment. Thankfully, GoPro is offering a ton of deals to bring down the price. I ended up paying $350, which included an extra battery and a 64GB memory card. I actually put the camera in my cart and left it for a day or so, and the deal magically got better. Part of that deal includes signing up for GoPro’s subscription service for a year, but I will probably cancel before it renews.
• Lock screen shenanigans – On my first run, I did not have the lock screen on, and I ended up accidentally mashing the touch screen with my palm, messing up my settings. I lost some footage because I ended up taking a photo or recording in timelapse instead of normal video. There is a screen lock setting, but I found it difficult to actually unlock on the run. Yes, that’s probably the point, but it isn’t super convenient if you are looking to use multiple settings on one run. I’d love to see a physical toggle switch like the iPhone’s ringer toggle.
• Micro SD – I am not a huge fan of the Micro SD memory card. I understand this is probably a space-saving measure, as a normal-sized SD card would take up more space and weight, but I truly expect to lose the tiny Micro SD card at some point. Or an ant to carry it off one day.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved the GoPro HERO9 for this review. The footage is awesome, it’s easy to take with me on a run and it’s super convenient. If you have the budget, I would recommend the HERO9. Don’t forget to check out the FBRC YouTube channel!

Have any questions? Drop a comment!