Moxy Workshop in Boulder, CO, last weekend ...

Imagine yourself in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, possibly in all of North America, Boulder, Colorado.  That’s where I was this last weekend, January 17 and 18, 2014. The backdrop of the Rockie Mountains, and the beauty of the city, made it the perfect backdrop for our event.

The event?  The first ever Moxy Monitor Workshop.  Athletic trainers who call this cycling Mecca home, invited us to Boulder to hold this very special event.  They brought us into Boulder  to see how Moxy could help them with assessments and training guidance for themselves and their athletes.

Cycling wasn’t the only sport represented.   There were athletic trainers from swimming, triathlon, climbing, and even a sports nutrition expert.  And we had representation from the United States Olympic Committee.   We also didn’t pull just from the Boulder area.  Attendees came from British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec in Canada, as wells as Kansas, Minnesota, California in the US, and last, but certainly not least, Beijing, China.

The workshop started with a session where all participants (and new Moxy owners)  got a chance to fire up the Moxy, pair it with the display device of their choice, and perform some demonstration techniques.  The workshop included a Moxy for each participant, which made it very easy for all attending to gain a quick understand of how to use the device.

Juerg Feldman, physiology expert and Moxy enthusiast, guided participants through a series of demonstrations and examples of the device.  It was an engaging classroom session.

The finishing touch was my favorite part of the workshop, and seemed to really keep the engagement of all of our participants.  On day 2 we went to Fascat Coaching, in Boulder, and did a live demonstration on a cycling trainer.  When we asked for a volunteer, we actually got three participants, each with three Moxy devices place on them, to participate in the ride. 

The cycling session, guided by Mr. Feldman, lasted for about an hour.  The other attendees jumped in to help with taking a variety of metrics on each athlete, and in the end , all were satisfied that they understood how the Moxy will really help them coach and train their athletes  Our final afternoon together was a great success.

I personally want to thank all the attendees for taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in this momentous event in the early life of the Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor – without them we could not have pulled it off. 

 

Stu Giere

Owner and President, Fortiori Design LLC

 

 

The Product Is Launched! (Garmin Forerunner, Ironman GPS, CycleOps, O-synce, Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor Shopping Cart, NIRS)

Really?  Yes - this is for real. 

Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor is now available for sale.  The web site has been updated this week with a shopping cart, and orders are being taken now!

This is an exciting step for any company.  Doesn't matter what you are into - this is the beginning of something that you know you created, and you and your team can be proud that you were a part of it.


As always, thanks for reading my Blog!  I really appreciate the followers and the feedback that I have gotten since beginning this process.

Devices that pair with Moxy:

When you check out the updated web site, you will find that Moxy now has some pretty nice devices that it connects with, allowing athletes to have direct feedback on their SmO2 (muscle oxygen). 

The list includes many devices that display speed and cadence (S&C) directly on the wristwatch or bike computer.  We use and Ant+ protocol to display the data.  Coming soon - Ant+ that is directly developed for SmO2.

A few examples include several Garmin Edge, Forerunner, and the FR60 and FR70.  Also the Ironman Global Trainer GPS HRM and Watch, CycleOps, and two devices from o-synce.

Check out the web site and let me know what you think of the shopping cart...  And!  Thanks for reading my blog!

Stu

ACSM, Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor

Hello Everyone, and thanks for reading my blog!

ACSM
We are at the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) conference in Indianapolis.  If you are reading this on Thursday, we are exhibiting for one more day, so please stop by our booth. www.acsm.org

It has been a great show for us, with lots of quality contacts.  We are showing off the results of our new protocol, MyPAHD - My Physiologic Assessment of Homeostasis Disruption.  It shows how an athlete, on a bike trainer, steps through increasing Wattages on a power meter (20 watt increase every three minutes) until the SmO2 (Moxy) numbers start to fall - thus the Disruption of Homeostatis.  Pretty cool stuff, and people like it.  And if the athlete can, over time, push out that disruption point - progress is being made, and we are measuring it.

I have to say this has been a great experience.  Although living on gatorade and power bar samples all day left me a bit short on energy.

Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor
Don't forget to check out the forum posts at www.moxymonitor.com.  We are seeing the activity really pick up on the site, mostly due to the help of Juerg Feldman, Andri Feldman, and our testing team.  They are working with two protocols, and posting data back to us from US, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Italy. 

Thanks to all who read the blog.
Let me know if you attended ACSM!
Also let me know if you need information on ANYTHING that I blog about!

Stu

Ant+, Fact Canada, EUK, Start Up Funding, Returning to Blogging

I can't help but apologize for taking a hiatus from blogging.  It's time for a come-back - this is it.

Let's talk about Moxy - this will read like a newsletter, but it's not one, it's a blog.

Design Status:  We have a working version of what we call Moxy3 - the latest prototype, and it's Ant+ compatible.  That means that our data (SmO2) WILL be displayed on a the users current wristwatch gps device.  That is HUGE to the development of the product.  On top of that, I just got notified that the developers of the Ant+ protocol have started what they call a TWG, Technical Working Group, to help develop a protocol specific to SmO2 for the Moxy device.  This is great news for this technology!

It's who you know:  If you continue to view the forum on our web site www.moxymonitor.com you will see that Juerg Feldman of EUK and FaCT Canada is writing a lot of entries, doing a lot of testing, and really challenging our brains regarding how to best use the SmO2 that Moxy is giving us.  He has a whole host of competent trainers from all over the world working on some basic protocols that are proving once and for all that this technology really delivers.

Funding: There is still a lot of activity on the funding side of things.  We are offering ownership to potential investors, so send them our way of you know someone that would be interested.

This is the tough part - getting a new business off the ground.  We believe in what we are doing, and that's what really counts.  We have a great team, and there's no substitute for that.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with my break from blogging, and please, please, please send me a comment or question (or two).  Let's talk about it!

Thanks for reading my blog!
Stu

Half Marathon Training, Heart Rate Variability,

Hello Everyone, and thanks for reading my Blog!

It's been quite a while since I blogged, which runs counter to the idea of having a blog in the first place.  There are so many things going on, so that's not the reason I haven't posted in a while. 

Half Marathon Training
When it comes to running (or anything, for that matter), it is important to set goals.  I know that there are quite a few runners that don't focus on racing, improvement, etc., but just do it to enjoy their time in the outdoors and to stay healthy.  And to those types, I salute you and promise some day to join you.  But for now ... I think I will just keep trying to get to a level I am comfortable with.  This years goal has always been to compete in the Green Lake Road Race (Minnesota thing).  That's a 12 mile loop around a busy recreational lake in my area.  To meet that goal (including the word "compete", meaning to "be competitive") I decided to take on one or two Half Marathons this year prior to the Green Lake race.  I have been preparing by 1) no change to the idea of Tempo Runs and Intervals, and 2) big changes to the Endurance runs.  So far I am up to 9 miles on my once-a-week endurance outing.  So far, what I have noticed is that running 4 or 5 miles is not as much of a challenge as it once was - proving, at least for myself, that these endurace runs really are a good method for improvement.  Wish me luck - I hit my first Half on March 24th.

Heart Rate Variability
Have you heard of this???  The heart rate varies more when the body is relaxed or not under stress, and varies less when under stress (like from extreme exercise).  Check out some of the comments in the blog on this topic at www.moxymonitor.com.

I PROMISE to keep you updated on my exploits to complete a Half.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Stu

Oxidative Capacity, Physiological Adaptations

Hello Everyone, and thanks for reading my blog!

A lot has been going on, and I'm sure I will touch on a few of those minor items, but today I would like to focus on what it means to get "better" as a runner.

I just completed my first 5k of the new year, and my speed is at least holding up, despite some weather affects, and of course the large clothing I have to wear for running in this Wintery weather. 

To start with, I would like to offer the following blog post from our folks at www.MoxyMonitor.com :

http://my.moxymonitor.com/blog/bid/258422/The-Role-of-Physiological-Adaptation-in-Endurance-Performance

As I continue to train, and put on a lot of miles (at least I think I am) some of the gains are coming.  But I am finding that I can run and run and run, and not get better very quickly.  I am looking forward to maintaining a good pace for this season, and I have already started out a minute faster than I started last season.  Now the challenge is to find an actual "program" to do it with.  Based on all the information I am reading, there are at least 3 modes of training that I need to include every week: Pace or Tempo Runs, Interval Training, and Long Slow Runs (for Endurance).

Looks like its about time for me to get a plan together and hit the road hard with it. 

I also am trying to push up my "long" runs, so I can squeeze in a Half or two this season. 

Hope everyone is having a great Winter.

Thanks for reading my blog!
Stu

Runner's World Holiday Challenge, Winter Running Gear, Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor

Hello Everyone, and thanks for reading my blog!

First of all, I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  2013 is going to be a great year.  And as I look back on 2012, I have made progress in a lot of areas that I know I can be proud of.


Runner's World Holiday Challenge

I stuck with it.   It appears that this CAN be done.  Although running every day, with out a day off, is not something the experts would recommend.  I think my body and mind have taken some instictive actions to deal with a lack of full recovery days - the best example being those many days where I just ran one mile, then called it quits.  My body seemed to want to stop as soon as possible on some days, and on other days (like yesterday) it seemed to just want to keep going beyond my running goal.   And the total miles aren't really that high compared to most runner's standards: I hit a total of 112 miles since Thanksgiving, and 80 miles in December alone.  Now what?  Time to set some new goals and get moving!

Winter Running Gear

Update on spikes or cleats for running:  I blogged awhile back about starting to use the type that have spikes on the heel and ball of the foot.  They worked great, except for the fact that they kept rotating around to the top of my feet.  Not all the way, but enough for me to notice it while running.  So finally I bought some Yak Trax (the Yaktrax Pro to be exact).  Like the spikes, they work great on packed snow and ice.  So far nothing seems to work well on ice with snow on top if it - it's just slippery and unsafe for any type of traction aided running.  The snow forms a slippery mat between your shoe and the ice, and is almost a sinch to cause a slip.  Back the the Yaktrax Pro - these have a strap across the top if the foot in the ball area, and seem to stay in place quite well.  Really enjoyed my runs this week with the Yaktrax Pro.

Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor

Great progress over the last 12 months on Moxy.  We started the year buried in some tough issues, which we dug ourselves out of.  Then we produced a nice Moxy 1 prototype that worked when wired up to a PC.  We got some great data off of those first 5 prototypes, and learned that the next device, the Moxy 2, had to be wireless and display data on a wrist watch.  Moxy 2 was available in August.  It was very effective, and accompanied us on our debut at Interbike in Las Vegas in September.  Now we are just embarking on the next redesign (Moxy 3) that will be able to connect with many wrist worn GPS devices that our target customers already own.    Feel free to check out our site: www.moxymonitor.com



Thanks to all of you for reading my blog, and have a Happy New Year!

Stu

2000 Page Views, Gaining Weight on Whey Protein, Winter Running Update (and the tale of two friends)

Hello everyone!  Thanks for reading my blog!


2000 Page Views
As of sometime yesterday, my tiny little blog eclipsed 2000 page views since its inception last spring.  I am not a high traffic blog, so I am grateful for the followers that I do have.  Sometimes this stuff can seem a little random, but as an active runner, and somewhat new to this stuff, I am constantly running into new issues or areas of interest - and then I pass them on here.

Gaining weight on Whey Protien
I have been "running my butt off"  like the Runner's World Challenge to run every day between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, and for some reason (???) I have been continually gaining weight.  I step on the scale and see a little nudge upward every month, and I have to say it is disheartening, puzzling, and simply not good for a guys knees. 

This week I did some research on a supplement that I have been taking, and which I thought to be pretty common among folks who train a lot and want to recover quickly - Whey Protein.  So I did some thinking, and some research, and came to the conclusion that my weight gain issues may be related to Calories - and the fact that I am putting too many calories in my body, even though I am doing my daily runs.

So I checked the labeling.  My Whey Protein has about 115 Calories per scoop, and I take between a half and a whole scoop per shake, milk has about 90 Calories per Cup, and I am sure I do two cups per shake, then there's my little secret (that makes it actually taste good) Carnation Instant Breakfast (now called "Breakfast Essentials") which contains about 130 Calories per serving, plus lots of sugar. 

So, my estimate is that the shake is a) probably pretty healthy with the exception of all that yummy sugar, and b) adding between 300 and 400 Calories to my diet that I am not taking back out someplace else!  My real world analogy to this is going to McDonalds for what they call a "meal".  The food alone constitutes adequate nutrition (OK - maybe more Calories than you need) with protien, carbs, etc. - but then you ADD a large Coke, and way overshoot on Calories!  That's how I am thinking about the Protein Shakes. 

If it turns out that taking out the shakes helps, I will certainly let you know.  And for today, it looks like I am stuck getting all my nutrition from foods (sarcasm!).  Not a crisis, just a shopping challenge.

Winter Running Update (the tale of two friends)
Interesting coincidence in my last post.  I had two good friends of mine reply to the same question about dealing with slippery conditions during winter running, and the idea of putting Yak Tracks on your feet to help with running.  I won't go into the details here because that isn't what matters.  What really matters at the two of my friends, Carmen and Joy, both replied to my question ... and they don't know each other and have never met .... and Carmen is experienced with the first stages of becoming a Triathlete ... and Joy is planner her first Triathlon in the coming season!  Now I just need to play "matchmaker" with these two.  Below is a link to Joy's blog.  It's a great journal of of the trials of preparing for a first tri.  Good luck Joy!

http://joyschmitzjourney.blogspot.com/2012/12/she-learns-why-people-love-to-run.html?spref=fb


Hey everyone - thanks for reading my blog!
Stu

Runner's World Challenge, Cold Weather Running, Investor Development

Hi everyone, and thanks for reading my blog.

A few items for today...

Runner's World Challenge - Run at least one mile every day from Thanksgiving until New Years Day.  Well - so far its going quite well, but I'm from Minnesota so I can't count on making it work every day.  I'm wondering if my insticts are going to send me to a treadmill or the track at the Y when the first snow storm hits.  Best of luck to all that are joining me in the challenge!

Cold Weather Running
I have done lots of research this month into winter running gear.  Most of it is just common sense.  Nobody, though, wants to tell  when it's just too cold to run.  The closest I found was the warnings about Athsma sufferers having trouble with cold air (I am one, and haven't noticed it yet).  I'm fully outfitted now that I bought a really light Under Armor running jacket.  I am just putting long sleave layers of poly pro on first, then the jacket, compression shorts, running pants, hat gloves, etc.   Also have taken to using a lightweight fleece vest under the jacket and over the shirts.  I have not over dressed yet since the cold weather started, but I have had to pull off the hat and gloves a few times.

Question - What are you planning to do for footwear stability on slick icy roads?  Yack Trax?  Trail Shoes?  Not run?

Investor Development
Our company, www.moxymonitor.com ,  is getting ready to launch a product.  So, now there is a need for capital.  We've gotten ourselves involved with a few outfits that are considered "Angel Networks", and things are progressing nicely.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Stu

Winter Running, Runner's World Challenge, What are you thankful for?

Hello again everyone, and thanks for reading my blog.

Winter Running
Winter Running, for me, is a totally new challenge.  My son (14) and I ran a 5k yesterday, and I may have underestimated the unpredictable Minnesota Fall weather.  At 6am it was 48 degrees and completely calm, and at race time it seemed to still be nice enough for shorts and t-shirt running.  As we took off, the wind came up and the temp fell at least 5 degrees during the race alone.  Things went fine, but I was very cold when I finished.  Maybe the weather also played a positive role, in that my son and I both put up a Personal Best in the race.

Forward to today.  I took off for a run around the lake I live on, with the temperature in the mid-twenties, but the wind chill sitting down at 5 degrees F.  Thank goodness for the under armor (not a product placement) running pants I bought a few weeks ago.  With a hat, gloves, three shirts, and my long pants, I think I was set up just about right.  However, I don't know if I would want it any windier, or colder for such a run. 





Runner's World Challenge
Just heard (via facebook) yesterday about this challenge.  And for me, I always need something to keep me going - some kind of a challenge.  http://www.runnersworld.com/cold-weather-running/2012-holiday-running-streak?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-RunnersWorld-_-Content-News-_-RunStreak

Their challenge: to run at least one mile every day from Thanksgiving to New Years Day.  What a cool idea!  And, based on today's run, I may have to squeeze in some Tread Mill time once in a while.  Good luck to all of you who decide to take the challege!!!


What are you thankful for?
I am sure that we all have something to be thankful for, even if it sometimes takes us a few minutes to ponder the question before answering.  For example, I am thankful that it's only one more week until this Movember thing ends and I can shave off this facial hair (although it does come in handy for winter running, and it doesn't slow you down a bit!).  If you haven't heard about this, check out www.movember.com .  It's all for a good cause.

I am also thankful for running.  This great past time has only come back into my life about a year and a half ago.  I am nothing short of stunned at the number of opportunities to race just in our little area of the state.  There's a race about every other weekend from the end of March to Thanksgiving Day.  Pretty amazing season, and a lot of very hard working people to make it all come together.  Add to that the fact that most all of these races are for some good cause, some charity that is worthy of our dollars.  Nice work everyone!

But most of all, I would say that none of those things even come close the how thankful I am for the love and support of family and friends.  Thanksgiving is a day where we all get together and have a great time eating, chatting, napping, watching football, and making darn sure that the next generation knows and appreciates their extended family.

Thanks again for reading my blog!

Stu

Minimalist Running Shoes, Triathlete Carmen

Minimalist Running Shoes
First of all, an update on my "minimalist" running shoe transition.  Be sure to not under estimate this one.  You could be in for a tough time if you don't prepare yourself for the impact of this transition.  Overall, I am very happy that I made the change.  I ran 4.6 miles during a lunch break today (beautiful sunny fall MN day!!!).  No problems, and really made good time for such a long (to me) run.

Some problems I have encountered during the transition include:

• Sore feet and ankles
• Needed a new cadence (used metronome and head phones at 180 beats per minute)
• Both calf muscles pulled in subsequent hill intervals, with accompanying tightness in achilles.
• Tightness in my hips - which I think is related to the transition
• Some soreness in the low back, which has since gone away.

As I said, I think it's been a good move.  I am still interested in continuing with form improvements, and would like any suggestions you can send my way.  Has anyone heard of POSE?

Triathlete Carmen
Met a person at a recent business conference and she turned me on to the novice side of doing Triathlons.  Thanks to Carmen for her enthusiasm and her great writing skills.  She gave me lots to think about regarding training the three sports, how to do "bricks", and how to practice transitions in prep for race day.

As a runner myself, I really like this prespective the Carmen passed on to me in a recent email:

Hi Stu - My Tri work is going pretty well.  I'm not as intense in my training as some people seem to be, but the races in July and August really pushed me to a new level.  I now finish a hill without realizing what I just did!  I was hoping to get in longer bike rides this fall, but found I was more interested in swimming - go figure. I'd have to say, it really is doing all 3 three on a regular basis that has increased my fitness level and enjoyment.  I can get tired of running 4-5 times a week, but not so much if I'm only going out 2 times with a swim and bike or two in between.  Everything seems to stay more fresh.

I may post on this topic again, as Carmen also went on to give me lots of advice on how to keep developing and improving toward my own first Triathlon. 

Thanks again to all of you for reading my blog, and a special thanks to Carmen for being such an inspiration to all of us. 

Stu

Moxy Monitor Blog, SmO2, Training Zones, Minimalist Shoes, Yoga

Hello Everyone - and thanks for reading my blog.

In this post I am taking a bit of a short cut because I wanted to leverage some content provided by our company's blog (www.moxymonitor.com ) that many of you may not get exposed to on a regular basis.  This one hits on training zones, and, as a runner myself, this is something I am starting to struggle with a lot.  I am trying to make the transition from a "novice" to an "intermediate" runner, and to do that I have to learn to work smarter. 

I ran a 5k today, and while I am still maintaining good times, or at least not losing ground, I keep thinking that I should be getting better faster based on the time I am spending running. 

Check this out, and let me know what you think:

http://my.moxymonitor.com/blog/bid/232431/Implementing-the-80-20-Ratio-to-Maximize-Endurance-Performance

Don't forget about my Yoga question from last week.  I am still waiting to hear from You!  Also, the transition to "minimalist" shoes is going well (and I'm reading the book "Born to Run" to keep me motivated). 

Thanks for reading my blog...

Stu

Minimalist Running Shoes, Brooks PureConnect, GOgroove AudioACTIVE Headset, Cross Training with Yoga, Bikram Yoga

Hi Everyone - and thanks for reading my blog!

I am going to give a few updates on things I have recently purchased and am actually using.  Also, a few questions about Yoga - please send me your thougths.


Breaking in my new shoes - Brooks Pure Connect

In my last blog I mentioned that I had bought a pair of Brooks Pure Connect shoes (Minimalist Running Shoes).  Well, they came in the mail late last week.  I have been trying to follow some on-line wisdom for breaking them (and me) in. 

Most of the warnings about making the change to a Minimalist shoe are related to the BIG change from heel striking to mid-foot landing.  I have found this to be quite true. 

The first day I ran only about 10 minutes, and tried to keep my pace easy.  They felt really odd to me, but when I started to concentrate on why - it was just the fact that my foot was landing underneath me, not in front of me, and I was mostly landing mid-foot.  They make you feel a bit like a ballerina. 

The second day I upped it from 1 mile to 2 miles, and the third day I did three miles.  I have a 5K this Saturday, so I want to stick with that distance.  Today's 3-miler was also an interval run, so I really got to hit the throttle and see how things work.  The prancing feeling was amplified, but it wasn't anything that I couldn't deal with.  I don't see any affect on my speed or effort, and may be seeing it actually a bit easier. 

One recommendation that I found very valuable - the foot massage.  I have been working the arches of my feet about three times a day.  Easy to do - anytime you are sitting around (maybe not during a meal ...).  So far the massages have been helping with any pain or stiffness.



New Blue Tooth Head Phones:  GOgroove AudioACTIVE Wireless Headset

Got my new Blue Tooth wireless headphones today.  So far they have been working quite well with my MotoACTV GPS Wristwatch and MP3 Player.  Had a little trouble to start with, mostly getting them to sync, and now I seem to have to sync them everytime I use them.  Very comfortable and easy to use with the MotoACTV.   I had a pair of Motorola SD10-HD Blue Tooth headphones, but they stopped working.  I think the battery is shot/defective/not working at all. Took these new GOgrooves for a run the last three days in a row, and NO PROBLEMS.





Yoga Anyone? As a Cross Training Activity?

I keep seeing articles on-line and in magazines about the benefits of Yoga as a Cross-Training idea.  Please send me your thoughts.  I have a local Yoga studio that I have never tried.

Have any of my readers given it a try?

Is it true that Yoga is good for a runner's breathing? 

Is Yoga a good way to improve and strengthen the core?

Do any of you know the difference between Yoga and Bikram Yoga? 


As always - thanks to everyone for reading my Blog!

Stu

Barefoot Running, Minimalist Shoes, Interbike 2012, Ant+ Alliance Symposium

Hello Everyone, and thanks for reading my blog!!!

A new direction in shoes...
This week I took the "plunge" and ordered a pair of running shoes that are classified as "minimalist", which means that I will be trying to switch my running mechanics from traditional, heel-lifted,  running shoes, to something with a flat heel, minimal padding, but that also provide protection for the foot that going barefoot obviously won't accomplish (glass, rocks, etc.).  I chose a Brooks product because I have a pair of Brooks running shoes and like them, and because I found a nice article in Running Times  (http://runningtimes.com/Channel.aspx?CategoryID=355) that told me what I wanted to hear about the shoes.  I chose the Brooks PureConnect shoe ($90) and expect to see it arriving at my door in the next few days.



I must say I'm a little nervous about the switch because I have had some difficulty with pain in my arches in the past.

Why am I willing to give this a shot?  First of all - I have to admit that I have had a great season with my traditional running shoes this year.  My improvements this Summer season have been very statisfying for me.  So, it's not this season's performance that drives me to try minimalist shoes.  I have to go back to last Fall when I first started using my traditional running shoes.  I had spent the entire Summer of 2011 running in some basic cross-trainer shoes (wasn't sure yet that this running thing was for me).  Once I got hooked, there were some suggestions made that "you better get some decent shoes so you don't hurt yourself".  So I made the move.

Since switching to traditional running shoes, I have had a variety of aches and pains, injuries, and set backs that made me think that my running mechanics may be the cause.  The most severe of which was a terrible case of Runner's Knee (sometimes also referred to as Jumper's Knee) this last Spring when I got back on the open road with my training. 

What finally pushed me to try minimalist shoes was a discussion I had with a gentleman from Australia that visited our booth at Interbike 2012 in Las Vegas last week.  Dominic Bricomb, an Osteo, suggested that moving to a barefoot or minimalist motion would reduce the shock and impact affects of "heal striking" on my knees.  That was it, I was sold.

Then today I read the following post, and being an engineer, I really liked the technical explanation.  Take a look.  It comes from a blog that I hadn't heard of until this week - "The Science of Sport".   Here's there blog post on minimalist shoes: http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/03/running-shoes-part-iii.html.

 I will keep you posted as I attempt to transition slowly and safely to my new running mechanics.

I should also give "honorable mention" to my good friend Herbie for running a 5K with me this Summer in a cheap pair of flat canvas high top tennies to show me that minimalist doesn't always mean that we give in to the big shoe companies and their marketing campaigns.  I, of course, didn't pass that same test...


 Ant+ Alliance Symposium
Welcome back to Roger (my partner in www.moxymonitor.com ).  He just got back from Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, where he attended a great symposium on Ant+.  Lots of highlights are forthcoming, but according to Roger, the networking was great, and a keynote speech by Ray Maker (www.dcrainmaker.com ) was worth the trip.



If you don't know what Ant+ is - it's a wireless protocol used widely (and growing) by the fitness community to connect devices (like the Moxy Monitor of course) to the user interface (wristwatch display, GPS watch, bike computer, etc.).  We have been looking at a variety of options for Moxy, like BlueTooth, BlueTooth Low Energy, and of course Ant+.  No final decisions yet (stay tuned).


Thanks for reading my Blog!!!

Stu

Interbike 2012, 2012 Ant+ Alliance Symposium,

Hi Everyone!  Thanks for reading my blog.

Interbike 2012
Just wanted to review the goings-on from Interbike 2012, held this last week in Las Vegas, NV.  We had several planned meetings at the show - people who have been interested in using the device, seeing a demonstration, meeting us, etc.  No name dropping here, with one exception - we got a visit from Ray Maker (www.dcrainmaker.com ), a very influencial blogger on technology for athletes.  Check out his most recent posts from Interbike 2012.  He peddled the on our bike, used Moxy, and took one with him for his own testing.  Really looking forward to his blog on this topic.

All three of the owners of Moxy (Fortiori Design LLC) were on hand, myself, Roger Schmitz (Owner/Chief Engineer) and Larry Flessland (Electrical Engineer).  The booth was set up to give real demonstrations of the Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor.  There was an exercise bike, several Moxy sensors and wrist worn monitors, and computers available to graph and print each participant's SmO2 profile taken throughout their bike interval workout. 

A quick note on Interbike - located in the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas - my partner and I estimated some 5000ish bikes were in the building, not to mention a number of indoor exercise items, scooters, helmet cams, safety lights, helmets, clothing, street-worthy eliptical bikes, sunglasses, nutrition, GPS's, etc., etc., etc.....   But the most shocking/interesting/puzzling trend from the show????  Electric Bicycles!!!!  I don't quite understand why you'd want electric motor assist on a bicycle, but apparently it makes sense to some portion of the population. 

Our visitors had to make their way to the lower level to visit us, where the first time exhibitors were huddled-up waiting for someone to walk through their aisle and catch their attention.   In a way this was quite a positive thing for Moxy.  Our visitors had to go out of their way to find us.  Not one or two of them, but well over a dozen people interested in what Moxy is, and what it can do for them came to see us.  These were "quality" contacts interested in getting their hands on a Moxy prototype as soon as possible.  And they were from all over the world.

Larry, Stu, Roger at Interbike 2012 Booth

 

Overall - a great experience for the Moxy team.  This was our first show where we had Moxy out their for demonstrations - and we learned a lot from the experience. 



2012 Ant+ Alliance Symposium
Moxy will be represented at this meeting as well.  This is a "by invitation only" Ant+ technical symposium.  Ant+ is a wireless protocol being used in some of today's exercise devices.  It's really catching on and we need to have a keen understanding of where it's going and how adopting will possibly help with the adoption and use of our device, the Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor.

I would like to conclude with a special thanks to the Moxy team for pulling together everything that made the Interbike (and now the Ant+ Symposium as well) a success for Moxy.  You guys did a great job of pulling together everything it took - from a bike to business cards - that made this a success.  Roger Schmitz and Larry Flessland brought everything, set it up, tore it down, and hauled it all back home.  And we got some great support from our marketing team at Synecore (www.synecoretech.com ) with business cards, signage, logos, printouts, shirts, etc.  Nice Job Everyone!

That's it for now.  Thanks for reading my blog!!!

Stu

Bit by a Dog, Moxy Sensor Update, Tyler Stewart Quote, Interbike 2012

Hi Everyone!  Thanks for reading my blog!

Bit by a Dog
Yes, it is true.  Last week I had the amazing experience (poor choice of words) of getting my first dog bite as a runner.  It's a bit coincidental because I was just reading an article in Runner's World magazine about two brothers who were brutally attacked (October 2012, page 82).  The story starts out with a picture of a pit bull, and a pair of running shoes and socks covered in blood.  They are carrying the physical and psychologic scars of the attack years later.

My experience wasn't that bad, at least it didn't turn out with any piercing bites or scars.  But when a dog comes at you, circles around from the side or behind you, don't turn your back.  Trust me on that one.  Makes me think about getting some pepper spray...




Moxy Sensor Status
We are having great success with the Moxy sensor.  Even though its just a prototype, it's working very well.  The sensor is now wireless, and the data is displayed real-time onto a wrist watch type device. 

However, as is the nature of prototypes, there are some issues with sweat.  We've even put a temporary fix in place - the ziplock bag.  It continues to perform well, and is really catching on with our Developers group.  Check it out on the Forum page at www.moxymonitor.com .




Tyler Stewart Quote
Professional Triathlete Tyler Stewart recently posted on her blog the following quote, so I wanted to share it with all of you:

"People often ask me what drives me to keep racing. I compete as a way of keeping myself sharp. While I think a lot of people race to compete against others, I race more to compete against myself. Each race I do I learn something — whether it’s a weakness, a fear or a strength I didn’t know I had, what I learn in each race gives me a better understanding of who I am and helps me to become a better person off the race course."
You can read Tyler Stewart's blog at http://www.strengthperformance.com/profile/TylerStewart .


Interbike 2012
The entire MoxyMonitor Team - me, Roger and Larry - are heading to the Interbike 2012 show in Las Vegas this week.  Wish us luck as we go down to the desert to show off our Moxy Monitor.  We will be using an exercise bike, and will take readings on visitors to our booth.  The link to the conference is at www.interbike.com .

As always - Thanks for reading my Blog!!!

Stu

Interbike 2012, Moxy Treadmill Validation, Neural Adaptation

Hello Everyone, and thanks for reading my blog!

Interbike 2012
We are preparing for a trip to Las Vegas where we are attending the 2012 Interbike Conference www.interbike.com .  There will be a stationary bike right in our booth so interested athletes and trainers can give the Moxy monitor a try.  They will be able to perform a brief exercise ride, then take a copy of their Moxy graph with them.  The show is next week, and I will be there participating with the Moxy team on Thursday and Friday, September 20 and 21. 


Treadmill Validation (informal)
Though it's not "officially" a validation study, there is something to be learned from Larry's work on a treadmill.  My experiences with Moxy so far have all been "athlete" paced, so the athlete becomes a variable in the output of the device - which is good, but for the purposes of validating the Moxy SmO2 data, we need some data that isolates the two.  Below is an exerpt from the Moxy Developer Forum at www.moxymonitor.com as posted by Larry, one of our engineers, and an avid runner.  Check out the graph!!!

Here are the results from some interval training I was doing on the treadmill. My normal running pace is a 10 minute mile (6mph). So I set the treadmill to 4mph for the resting and 7mph for the working interval. Each interval is 2 minutes long for a total of 30 minutes. The recovery interval starts at 30 minutes and is 2mph.

The sensor is placed on the upper thigh of the left leg over vastus lateralis muscle.
You can see the SmO2 drop to around 30 during each working interval and come back to around 50 for each resting interval. When starting with the resting interval at time 0.00 minutes you can see the SmO2 dropped lower (mid 30’s) than the other resting intervals. Maybe I wasn’t warmed up yet. The ending recovery then went above 70.

Neural Adaptation
I learned something very interesting this week.  A friend of mine, an avid recumbant bike rider, purchased a "street strider" www.streetstrider.com .  On his first outing (and this is a guy who does 20+ miles a day on his recumbant) he was totally spent, pooped out, with only 2 miles on the bike.  Within about 2 weeks, he's finding it is still a tough workout, but he's already able to get in 6 miles without stopping.  His question; how could I have improved that much in such a short time?  The answer: Neural Adaptation.  Simply put, your body adapts to the environment, the muscles learn how to coordinate the movements, and the effort decreases.  He's certainly getting into better shape, but that can't explain that much improvement.   One example I like is how the body changes the stride, while walking, to adapt to up hills, down hills, and flats.  We may not notice it, but we do adapt.


Thanks again for reading my blog.  Hope the information is helpful. 

Don't forget to say a prayer, pause for a moment, or simply remember all the brave souls and innocent victims who perished 11 years ago in NYC, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. 

Stu

LeAnn; Pairing Moxy and Pace Data; HIIT High Intensity Interval Training

Hello Everyone!  And thanks for reading my blog...

Shout-out to LeAnn!
First of all, a big thanks to one of my readers and good friend LeAnn.  She mentioned to me that this Blog has been something of an inspiration and a source of information for her as she continues on her journey of weight loss and fitness.  She is especially interested in the HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) that I have written about, and is also being written about on the www.moxymonitor.com web site.  I am very proud of her achievement, and of her commitment to change how she lives her life and inspire us all to do the same.  Keep it up LeAnn!



Moxy Data Paired with GPS Pace Data
A nice graph (below) showing my first pairing of Moxy SmO2 Data (www.moxymonitor.com) and my running pace from my Motoactv (www.motoactv.com/).  Thanks to Roger (my business partner) for pulling the two sets of data together to make this work.


Things to note on the graph:
1) The "speed" data is in minutes per mile, so lower numbers represent a faster pace.
2) The Moxy SmO2 data is in percent oxygenation, and is related to the 2nd (right) vertical axis, and lower numbers are associated with greater effort (or "work") on my part. 
3) I took one water break at about 14 minutes, and one walking break at about 20 minutes.
4) The course was more "trail" than "road" - so for a good portion of the race I was in grass, dirt, mud, which all increase the amount of "work" I was doing to maintain speed.
6) Milestones: 14 minutes, water break; 20 minutes, walking break; 24 minutes, race is over, and I finally get into a true recover mode with SmO2 over 80% (AHHHH).

Observations:
The Moxy data represented in the early minutes of the race represents a pace that I have never taken before in a 5k race, and was quite challenging for me.  I was able to maintain a really fast pace for the first 2 minutes, then maintain a steady 7 minutes per mile for another 5-6 minutes.  At that point my Anaerobic energy had been pretty much spent, and I have to continue the race at 50% or higher and use aerobic metabolism the rest of the way.  The only exception is the last minute (just before the 24 minute mark) where I "kick" and give all I have left - again it's fairly obvious that I am pushed back into the anaerobic metabolism range (sub 50%).

A direct correlation between speed and SmO2 is evident, but remember also that I was changing elevation, so the "work" I was doing isn't always well represented by speed - in fact the Moxy SmO2 data better represents the "work" I was doing. Therefore, when speed decreases (line on graph goes up), and my SmO2 goes down (line on graph goes down), it is likely due to a hill climb. The opposite is also true when going down hills.

 

 

That's it for this blog post.  Thanks again to everyone who reads, likes, forwards, or replys to this blog.  Let's keep this conversation going!

Stu

Selene Yeager Article Quotes Allison Westfahl of Moxy Development Team

Hello Everyone!  Thanks for reading my blog!

It's nice when the blog seems to write itself (meaning the inspiration comes to me and I can just put something of value out to all of you quickly). 

As you know, Moxy has a Development Team staffed with exercise experts from all over the country.  One such expert is Allison Westfahl, and exercise physiologist from Boulder, CO, and someone I have talked about in previous posts. 

The article appears on bicycling.com and it describes something I have been very interested in for myself lately, core training.  Allison is quoted in the article, and she makes an interesting point - that her core exercises, if utilized at the end of a workout, can really help in clearing lacate from the athlete's system (and don't we all want that?).

Enjoy the article, it's short and to the point.   It's written by Selene Yeager.

http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/hard-core-strength-workout#.UDQHA5W_kgw.facebook

And, of course, thanks again for reading my blog.  I recently made a connection through my blog from someone in Perth, Australia!

Stu

8 Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

8 Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Just a quick blog post to direct you to the Moxymonitor.com web site blog.  The article is about the benefits of HIIT, which is a great application for the Moxy Monitor.  Please follow the link to check it out, and thanks for reading my blog.

Stu

http://my.moxymonitor.com/blog