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The 2021 Fresh Brew Awards

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Welcome to the 2021 Fresh Brew Awards, where I give my favorite (and least favorite) things in the running universe in 2021. It’s been an eventful year, so why not hand out some illustrious awards to close out another year around the sun? Below is my video, but the full awards show is written out below. Enjoy!

Running YouTuber of the Year

The 2021 Fresh Brew YouTuber of the year is Stephen Gnoza and his “Serious Runner” series. Part of the reason I started making videos was because I was frustrated with the deadpan self-importance of much of the running video content I found. Stephen’s satirical videos take some of that overly serious content to task, with classics such as “A Serious Runner Does an Easy Run” and “A Serious Runner Posts on Instagram” among others.

Running Podcast of the Year

The 2021 Fresh Brew Podcast of the year award goes to the Six Minute Mile Podcast. Mostly known as an informative and entertaining email newsletter, the podcast version also strikes that balance. With interesting and fun conversations, this pod was my favorite in 2021.

Worst Intersection of the Year

If you’ve followed my content, you know I am in constant disdain over the lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in the Metro Detroit area. This city was built for cars, and cyclists, walkers, and runners are clearly an afterthought. So this award goes to the worst of the worst intersection. Congratulations to 6th and Main Steet in Royal Oak for taking the award this year. Main Street is a busy thoroughfare and this intersection is quite challenging t cross. Instead of a traditional pedestrian crossing, stop sign or stop light, there’s a tiny “yield to pedestrians” sign in the middle of the road that approximately every car ignores. It’s dangerous, hard to cross, and the winner for the worst intersection of the year.

Most Runner-Friendly City

This year’s runner-friendly city (based on my own personal observations) is Ferndale, MI. As I mentioned earlier, Metro Detroit isn’t the friendliest area for runners, but at least Ferndale is trying. From dedicated bike lanes, to real pedestrian crossings, to drivers who actually pay attention to us peons running in the streets, Ferndale is putting in more effort than most cities. Of course there’s work to be done (like making it less of a dangerous journey to cross Woodward), but congrats to Ferndale.

Running Route of the Year

The Fresh Brew Running Route of the Year goes to the Riverwalk in Detroit. I made a video about this, which you should watch, but a few highlights are the fact that you don’t have to deal with cars, the scenery of the city and the river, and the accessible bathrooms. Congratulations, Riverwalk.

Running Tech of the Year

The winner for Running Tech of the Year goes to the Whoop Strap. This wearable fitness tracker measures strain, recovery and sleep, and a myriad of data points in between. For runners specifically, I most like the fact that it will help you gauge whether you are fatigued or just unmotivated about getting out of bed and running in 33-degree weather. It can also help you track different things that impact your workouts and recovery. For example, if I don’t wear blue-light-blocking glasses at night, my sleep is much worse. If you’re serious about your training, I highly recommend this product.

Second Place Finish of the Year

The winner for the Fresh Brew Second Place Finish of the year goes to me, for my second-place finish at the Volkslaufe 10K in July this past year. It’s my awards show after all, right? Congrats to me. Check out my vlog here.

Volkslaufe Trophy

Coffee Shop of the Year

This is the Fresh BREW Run Club after all, so the award for the 2021 Coffee Shop of the Year goes to Desert Oasis in Royal Oak, MI. The winner of this category not only has to have great coffee (they do), but also excellent vibes inside the shop (they also do). It’s a great place to grab a fresh brew, sit down by the window and do your thing on a laptop or read a book. Congrats, Desert Oasis.

Brew of the Year (Coffee)

The 2021 Fresh Brew Coffee Brew of the year goes to Nespresso’s Intenso coffee. I am a big fan of Nespresso, and in my opinion, this is their best work. It’s bold, pairs well with a little splash of creamer and will give you that caffeine boost needed to power through a long run. Congratulations, Intenso.

Nespresso Intenso coffee
Via Nespresso

Brew of the Year (Beer)

For after your run, the 2021 Beer Brew of the Year goes to the Mr. Blue Sky Raspberry from Griffin Claw. This Wheat Ale is a spin on their popular original Mr. Blue Sky, but this time with a raspberry twist. Perfect for a hot summer day in the backyard, or on a patio somewhere. Buy it here.

Runner of the Year

The Fresh Brew Run Club Runner of the Year award for 2021 goes to Craig Engles. The FBRC is all about having fun, good vibes, and cracking some jokes, and Craig embodies this mentality. Funny, honest and quite fast, it was great seeing Craig get some national exposure to people outside of the running world (such as his appearance on Pardon My Take). The kind of runner you want to crack a fresh brew with.

Craig Engels on Pardon My Take podcast
Via Pardon My Take on YouTube

Shoe of the Year

If I learned anything from making videos this year, it’s that people care the most about my shoe reviews. So that’s why I saved this category for last in The 2021 Fresh Brew Awards. The 2021 Fresh Brew Run Club Shoe of the Year goes to the Nike ZoomX Invincible. I’ve made a bunch of videos about this shoe, so check those out for my full thoughts, but overall, I loved running in this shoe. From the massive foam cushioning, to the rocking motion when you run to the durability, this shoe has been with me for a majority of my runs this season. I dare say it has surpassed the Nike Pegasus Turbo as my all-time favorite shoe. Here’s to you, Invincible!

Thanks for reading the 2021 Fresh Brew Awards! If you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube channel, be sure to do that for more running-related content. Happy trails!

NEW VIDEO: YakTrax Run Review

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My review of the YakTrax Run Review is live on YouTube.

In the latest episode of the Fresh Brew Run Club, I did a review of the YakTrax Run, a slip-on attachment to running shoes. And just like Michigan weather clockwork, a snow squall struck the day after they came in the mail. So I took them out for a spin and gave my thoughts. Thanks for watching!

First Impressions

It took a little bit for me to figure out how to get on the YakTrax Run, but after some elbow grease, I managed to slip the YakTrax over my shoes. I will note, I attached these to the Nike React Miler, which is a little wider than the average running shoe. But after loosening up the rubber, they snapped right in place. I would recommend putting the YakTrax on the floor, then positioning your foot over it to attach.

The product has metal spikes in the front part of the shoe, and what I would describe as metal chains on the heel area. The trax (I’m not sure what to call this product, so let’s call it trax), are attached to the shoe by pulling over the toe and heel, then securing it over the upper with a velcro strap.

On the Run

For my review, I went for a four-mile run just hours after about 1-2 inches of snow fell. It was in the morning, so it was pretty powdery and few sidewalks were shoveled. Since I haven’t run in the snow since, well, ever, I took it easy, so I didn’t slip and fall right out of the gate.

The YakTrax held up great. The increased traction was immediately noticeable, but I wasn’t able to really feel them on my shoes. Going from snow to sidewalk wasn’t too big of an issue either. However, when I ran on more packed down snow, I did slip a little when planting my feet. The spikes weren’t exactly long enough to get a great grip. I don’t think this is too big of an issue, as a bigger spike would probably make running in more powdery snow much more difficult.

Final Verdict

Overall, I really liked the YakTrax Run, based on my one run review. They fit great on the shoe, offered increased traction, and didn’t feel too noticeable while running. If you’re looking to keep your training going in wintry conditions, I would recommend the YakTrax Run. Check them out here.

NEW VIDEO – Shopping for Running Essentials

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In today’s episode, I hit up the local REI went shopping for some of my favorite running essentials. (NOTE: I was not paid to mention any of these products, nor did I receive them for free!)

Shop my favorite essentials:

Isopure Protien Power

Blender Bottle

Body Glide

Nuun Electrolyte Tablets

Gu Chocolate Outrage

Stroop Waffles

Nike React Miler – 200 Mile Review

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200 miles later, the Nike React Miler remains a rock-solid everyday trainer.

Nike React Miler review
Processed with VSCO with a5 preset

Earlier this year, I reviewed the Nike React Miler after one run. After 35 runs and 202 miles, here’s my thoughts on this shoe.

I used this shoe for my easy runs and recovery runs, to take advantage of the stability and cushion when speed was not the main goal.

Pros of the Nike React Miler

Comfort is the name of the game. This was a great fit for my runs when I needed something to protect my sore feet from the pavement. There’s a lot of material between the road and your feet, and the upper locks in nicely around your foot to provide lots of stability.

This is a also a very durable shoe. Like I mentioned in my initial review, this shoe is built like a tank, with tons of cushion and a very durable upper. After runs on concrete, dirt, asphalt and grass, the upper shows almost no signs of wear.

Nike React Miler review
Nike React Miler

The outsole held up very nicely as well. Since I used this shoe on my slower runs, my heelstrike was magnified, and I have begun to wear down the heel and forefoot rubber. However, I don’t feel like the shoe is comprimised at this point, and has a lot of life left. I only noticed a few areas where the react foam had creased, which is a big contrast to other Nikes that tend to crease and eventually crumble at those stress points.

Initial signs of wear from my heelstrike

Cons of the Nike React Miler

In order to remain durable, the shoe is pretty heavy. If you’re looking for a trainer to set a PR or run speed workouts, maybe look for something with a little less mass. The materials on the upper are also not super breathable, which can result in some sweaty feet on hot days.

It’s not the lightest shoe in the world.

Verdict

I’m a huge fan of this shoe. It didn’t recive the typical Nike marketing push, but I found the Miler to be a rock-solid shoe for tackling long, easy and recovery runs. It’s a little on the heavier side, which might actually be an advantage if you rotate in a faster shoe for faster runs. Almost like baseball players taking practice swings with a donut weight on their bat before swinging the lighter, weight-free bat in the game.

Nike React Miler review

The durability of the shoe makes it agreat investment. I have no doubt that I will be able to get 400+ miles out of the shoe before I need to retire it. It’s just a solid shoe. And since it’s has been out for a while now, you can find some fantastic deals.

Overall, if you’re looking for a comfortable, stable shoe and you’re not concerned as much about speed, I highly recommend the Nike React Miler.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Review

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Nike Pegasus Turbo on foot

Here’s why Nike Pegasus Turbo is my favorite shoe of all time; a review.

I love the Nike Pegasus Turbo. This isn’t so much a shoe review, but an ode to a model that is being phased out of existence. I’ve run over 1,200 miles in various colorways of this shoe, set my half marathon PR, run the streets of Madison Heights, London and Paris in a pair of these sneakers.

The Nike Pegasus 35 Turbo was released on July 19, 2018. It was marketed as the “advanced” version of the ubiquitous Nike Pegasus. I actually switched to the Pegasus 35 that year and ran my half marathon PR. I didn’t initially buy the Pegasus Turbo to run in, I just mostly liked the way they looked, especially the “hot punch” colorway. However, I couldn’t just let this comfortable of a shoe be relegated to trips to Kroger, so I started running in them, and haven’t looked back since. Even the shoe came out over two years ago, I still wanted to share my Nike Pegasus Turbo review.

The looks

Deion Sanders once famously stated, “If you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you play good.” If there has ever been a shoe that’s lived up to that quote, it is the Pegasus Turbo. The most distinct feature is the bold racing stripe down the middle, which is not something you normally see on a running shoe, and reminiscent of the original Nike Miler track spike. The over-sized Nike Swoosh on both sides stands out, and even the little flare on the heel can turn heads.

Nike went all out with the colorways on this shoe, from the original “hot punch” to all kinds of unique colorways not commonly associated with trainers.

Nike Pegasus Turbo

The feel

These are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever run in. They are a very light shoe, but also maintain enough support to be an everyday trainer. The cushion on this shoe, thanks to the ZoomX foam feels incredible. It is one of the smoothest shoes I’ve ever run in. I am also a big fan of the amount of padding on the tongue and around the heel. While many shoes are opting for thinner material in these areas (like the Pegasus Turbo 2), the padding adds a level of comfort that makes up for the increased weight it adds.

This shoe is the perfect mix of something supportive enough to be an everyday shoe, but also light enough to be something worthy of race day. In a world of increasingly specialized shoes for different distances and events, this shoe is a rare Swiss Army Knife.

Nike Pegasus Turbo

The durability?

If there’s one downside to this shoe, it is the durability. While I can easily get 400+ miles on the regular Pegasus, the Turbo starts to break down around the 300 mile mark. The most noticeable area is the outsole, which tends to wear down quickly, depending on where you strike your foot. I’m a heel striker (currently working on changing that), so I wore down the heel area first. And once you burn through the outsole rubber, the ZoomX foam gets chewed up pretty fast. Otherwise, the seams, laces insole and upper held together very well.

300 miles worth of wear.

The Pegasus Turbo 2

A year after the original Pegasus arrived, the Pegasus 2 was released. I was immediately disappointed to see the racing stripe removed in favor of a simpler design. I was further disappointed to find that the Peg 2 was basically a lighter, stripped down version of the original. The outsole and midsole remained the same, but the upper was replaced with a thinner material, removing all of the heel padding. The tongue was also replaced with a near paper-thin iteration. I found the new version to have less support and I’m not a big fan of the thin tongue. While I appreciate the effort to lighten the shoe, but I feel like it lost the comfort of the original. I still use my Pegasus Turbo 2, but mostly for speed work on the track.

The future

It turns out the Turbo 2 would be the last of the Turbo models. Nike has no plans to release a third version of the shoe, but the chatter is the new Nike Tempo Next% is a Turbo-ish replacement. While the shoe has not released in the United States, the reviews elsewhere have been generally positive.

Until that replacement comes, I plan on continuing to re-up on the original Turbo, thanks to the secondary market. While I have also enjoyed the Nike Miler, I have yet to find a shoe with the flexibility of the Turbo. My Nike Pegasus Turbo review may be two years too late, but the shoe still holds a special place on my feet in 2020.

Nike Pegasus Turbo

Have you run in the Pegasus Turbo before? Leave your review in the comments!

Nike React Miler First Run Review

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From the shoebox to my feet, here’s my Nike Miler first run review

UPDATE: Here’s my review of the shoe after 200 miles.

Summer is a time for lemonade, hot dogs and long runs, and the Nike React Miler seems to be a versatile option to get you from point A to point B (or point A to point A, if you run out and back). This first run review is based on one run of six miles, at just over 8:00/mile pace, on the sidewalk in a suburban and downtown area.

Nike React Miler in the Black/Laser Crimson/Oil colorway
Nike React Miler Black/Laser Crimson/Oil

When the Nike React Miler first came out, I was slightly skeptical. It didn’t appear to get Nike’s typical massive marketing push or fanfare. However, this model has the opportunity to become a hidden gem, suitable for a lot of people.

Nike React Miler Review – First Impression

My first run in these shoes was a six-mile run at 8:00/mile pace. After lacing them up, it was apparent that this is a chonk of a sneaker. The React foam, the thick outsole and the strong upper material all work together to make this a heavy trainer. Throughout the run, it was obvious that this shoe leans more into the “stability” category, especially when compared to a Pegasus. It’s firm and you can really feel the React foam protecting your feet from the ground. I’m sure it will get a little more flexible as I break it in.

Nike React Miler Top View

The Good

This shoe is very comfortable, but firm at the same time. I’ve run in cushioned shoes in the past, and it was obvious that many of them sacrifice a lot of stability in the name of comfort. However, this shoe felt well-cushioned without sacrificing necessary firmness.

I also like the tongue, which is a nice mix of Nike’s newer, thinner tongue design and a padded tongue. It didn’t slide around or rub on my ankle too much.

Even though I only ran in these once, I get the sense that this shoe will last a long time. The outsole is thicker and the materials appear to be durable enough to go 400+ miles.

Since the Nike React Miler has been out for a few months, it is starting to go on sale, so investing in a durable shoe below $100 is a great opportunity to finish your summer running strong.

Nike React Miler Back View

The Bad

If you are looking to set a PR on the track, qualify for the Boston Marathon or outrun a grizzly bear, these are probably a little too heavy for the task, especially compared to a Pegasus or Alphafly NEXT%. Bring the bear spray.

I also care about aesthetics, and this isn’t exactly the prettiest shoe in the world. It looks kind of bulky, and the color options aren’t exactly inspiring.

Finally, the shoe’s apparent durability might also mean your feet get pretty warm during a long run in the heat. It doesn’t have the greatest breathability, so maybe leave the wool socks at home.

The Final Brew

After one run, the Nike React Miler felt great. I also didn’t get that new shoe leg tiredness commonly associated with the first few outings. I fully expect this shoe to be a great addition to my rotation, specifically for long runs. It isn’t the fastest shoe on the market, nor will it win a beauty contest, but it will definitely keep your feet feeling good for miles and miles. My Nike React Miler review awards this shoe with a Seal of Freshness.

The Nike React Miler

Have you tried the Nike React Miler? Have a question? Drop a comment below.

A Fresh Brew, For You

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The Fresh Brew Run Club is a blog for the everyday runner.

We get up way too early. We put on short shorts, and head out to dodge cars, bikes, pedestrians and local cats in the blistering heat, cold and rain. And we do it all for extremely strange reasons, like crossing a line painted on the cement before a giant clock strikes a certain number, or to earn a piece of cheap metal attached to a ribbon with a bank’s logo on it. Or maybe we just want to get out of the house for an hour or so. Does that sound like you? If so, welcome to the Fresh Brew Run Club. Congratulations, you’re a member. Don’t expect your information packet in the mail anytime soon.

Photo of my wife and me after the 2018 Grand Rapids Half Marathon.
Nothing more comforting than a cozy aluminum foil blanket on a brisk fall morning.

Running writing is weird though

Don’t get me wrong, there’s tons of great running-related work out there. But for every Running with the Buffaloes by Chris Lear, there are hundreds of tasteless “race day” recipes, useless fad workout ideas, reviews of gimmicky running “tools” like organic multi-directional space foam rollers, and flat out narcissistic running influencers bragging about their splits or how perfectly their outfit matches in a perfectly framed and edited photo on Instagram. Oh, you ran 10 miles and didn’t break into a disgusting sweat? Must be nice. It is incredible seeing people take something simple and turn it into a complicated, exclusive hobby for snobs.

That’s why I want to start writing again. Well for one, I miss writing. But I mostly want to bring a little fun to the running blogosphere. I’m not the fastest runner in the world; my fastest mile was in 10th grade (5:09, second place in the slow heat of the Anchor Bay Classic, thank you very much). But I’ve come to re-enjoy the sport over the past five years, and I have some thoughts.

I want to hit on the elements I enjoy, the random things that make me laugh in the middle of a long run and the stuff I like to use. Maybe bring up a few timeless debates, like running in the cold vs. the heat. Or the time that I thought it was a good idea to eat at an Italian fast-food chain the night before the state XC meet. I’ll also review some products I use and show some of my favorite places to run. Maybe interview a couple sled dogs. Who knows.

So what’s with the name?

Fresh Brew Run Club? What’s up with that? Before every run, I do two things: apply a thick layer of Body Glide and drink a cup of coffee. I never liked coffee, but I picked up the habit after a few years of working in the corporate world. It’s not so much the caffeine, but the idea of a liquid comfort blanket that I enjoy. I used to down a glass of C4 EXXXXXPLOSIVE LIQUID RAGE FUEL pre-workout before every run, but I don’t think artificially giving myself a heart murmur is a healthy way to start the morning. So I brew a cup of coffee.

For me, that first cup of coffee is as much a part of my running routine as tying my shoes or dodging a Jeep driver that thinks stop signs are optional. So that’s the name. Do I envision printing a limited run of t-shirts and giving them as Christmas gifts to my family? You bet. A brand is born. Happy trails!

If you have any topic ideas, questions about running or general commentary on proper sidewalk width, comment below. Operators are standing by.