Gear Hub: Uplevel Your Strides + Stats with Two Standout Running Picks for Spring
Spring running in Colorado comes with the joys of sunshine, crisp mornings and the rebirth of nature after a snowy winter. With that comes a wave of motivation and inspiration to pursue your running goals for the approaching season. One not-so-wonderful thing that comes with spring running is the variety of weather and conditions — mud, sometimes ice, slush and uneven terrain.
Photos by Laura Mills
The Shoes
The HOKA Clifton 9 GTX are the perfect shoes to transition you from winter to spring and on toward summer! The Clifton 9 is one of their best-selling styles. They feature a neutral level of stability and a balanced level of cushion. The traction pods on the sole add extra grip while keeping a low profile, allowing you to easily combat muddy puddles and sandy road shoulders without added bulk. This updated version features a GORE-TEX Invisible Fit making it HOKA’s first-ever weatherproof road shoe! The 360-degree reflectivity keeps you visible for those early-morning long runs.
My first pair of HOKAs were the Challenger 7s; I ran my first 15k and half marathon in them. They’re retired now but still extremely comfortable and my go-to dog walking shoe. The biggest difference I’ve found between the Challenger 7 and the Clifton 9 GTX is the insole; the Clifton 9 seems to be a bit stiffer! Not a bad quality, but not quite as cushy as the Challenger 7. The Clifton 9 GTX has been my go-to shoe this winter, add a pair of microspikes and you’ve got some killer tech no matter the ice and snow!
If you’re a road runner looking for a waterproof option that doesn’t make your feet sweat — check out the Clifton 9 GTX!
The Watch
With so much outdoor tech out there in the world, it can be hard to decide which GPS smart watch is right for your needs. The COROS Pace 3 is a great choice for the running-focused athlete who likes to dabble in other sports. This watch is available in two different band options, silicone and nylon; I went with silicone. My first impression of the watch was that it was attractive, low profile, comfortable and easy to use. I’ve been using the watch since November and feel like I have a very solid grasp on the pros and cons and waited to formulate on this review until I had tried out all the features.
The battery life is incredible! When consistently used in activity mode the watch lasts for over 38 hours, when being used for sleep tracking and general use it lasts for over two weeks! I was really impressed by this. I’ve loved being able to easily track my sleep, heart rate, elevation gain and distance.
In the COROS app you are able to customize your activity screen to your preferred stats. In almost every activity I choose to track distance, time, elevation gain, time of day and heart rate. The Pace 3 allows you to track cadence, body temperature, lap distance and time, along with a wide variety of other metrics. Each activity has the ability to customize the watch face to truly personalize your stats depending on your fitness goals. In the COROS app you are able to track your training stats, select and follow customizable training plans and follow a recommend training load. All these are extremely beneficial when training for large objectives and looking to develop your stamina while staying mindful of progressing too quickly.
The Pace 3 is incredibly durable, the silicone band has never flexed too much or even slightly stretched out. I am a clumsy and often bumping into things, my watch included. In almost six months of wear, I have never seen a scratch, ding or dent on the watch — something I haven’t been able to say about previous watches I’ve used.
When it comes to cons for the watch, my biggest complaint would be that there not being an uphill ski activity option. When touring uphill I use the XC Ski activity and then when posting to Strava, I change my activity to Backcountry Ski in the Strava app. I also find when recreating in the winter when wearing bulkier jackets, sometimes the watch pauses itself without me realizing and then inaccurately tracks my stats.
As someone who recreates and exercises regularly, but not at a professional level, this watch has everything I need and more. Running-focused athletes, no matter their level, would see the value in this watch. I feel like with where I’m at, some of the features surpass my needs but I like knowing I have the option to use them if I feel so inclined.
Overall, I am really impressed with the COROS Pace 3 and recommend it to anyone who considers themselves a regular runner. If the Pace 3 isn’t the right watch for you, COROS has a wide variety of styles available and the quality of their products is top tier!
Whether you’re a serious runner or someone who just adds it in to their weekly workouts, we hope this recommendation duo can steer you in the direction of success. Happy training!