warning... boring stuff... seriously

Be careful what you wish for. Since June was born, we've used the Diaper Genie for our diaper disposal needs. It has some drawbacks; it requires expensive inserts that get hung up occasionally, and its design is a little less slick than the Diaper Champ. Oh, how I cursed the Diaper Genie, and how I lusted for the Champ. Well, when the last Genie insert ran out, we put the Diaper Champ into the game. Dear God that thing smells. It's barely better at controlling odors than a trash bag hung on a door handle. After three days of use, we're going back to the Diaper Genie. We'll use the Diaper Champ for a newborn, but once they reach a certain age and odoriferousness, it'll be put aside.

It takes a certain level of nerd to get excited about Consumer Reports, but I'm raising the bar; I'm ecstatic about their oatmeal reviews in the November 2008 issue. They rated steel cut oats best (takes a tad too long for me to prepare regularly), followed by old-fashioned (my daily standard), then quick, and Quaker Original Instant rounded out the top four. The flavored, instant varieties didn't score as well. Their conclusion:

The longest cooking oatmeals tasted best, and you can leave out salt and sugar to keep them especially healthful. If you're hooked on flavored instant oatmeal, consider Market Pantry from Target, the best-tasting flavored instant by a narrow margin and just 17 cents per serving. For a flavored instant that's especially low in sodium and high in fiber, consider Kashi.

On a strange note, today while I was running around the Al Beuhler Trail, I passed a female runner wearing socks, a leather Merrell Moc (or something similar) on her left foot, and a flip-flop on her right. She just smiled and acted as if nothing was amiss. Must be some sort of sophisticated training protocol... or maybe she's just nuts.

Combining my already established theme of today's post, running and mundane things I like, here are a few of my favorite running related items:

Jogging Stroller: BOB SUS Deluxe. At $350, it's not cheap, but if you do a lot of road or groomed-trail running, it's well worth it. And if you keep your eyes on Craig's List, I'm sure you can get a used one at a deep discount. It literally folds up in ten seconds and fits easily into a trunk. It's not especially bulky and has totally replaced our regular stroller. If you're running on bumpier trails most of the time, e.g., Duke Forest, the Baby Jogger Performance might be a better bet with its 20" wheels, but it's strictly a jogging stroller and requires removing the wheels to fit into most vehicles.

Running socks: If you like a thin sock, I swear by Wrightsox's Coolmesh Double-Layer variety. I've worn them for years, and I've had very few problems with blisters, and none stemming from the sock itself. No matter what your preference, I highly recommend avoiding cotton socks altogether; wool and synthetics are superior for wicking, drying, and blister prevention.

Trail shoes: I love my Montrail Streaks. They're lightweight, comfortable, and provide ample bruise protection from sharp rocks. The other day, I found some for $52 on Amazon.

Clothes: The performance shirts I've found at Target and TJ Maxx are as good as any. I don't, however, experiment with shorts. Brooks Revelation Pacers are comfortable, don't ride up, are well constructed, and are relatively cheap (about $25).

Where to buy shoes: Assuming you've already been properly fit for shoes, I highly recommend RoadRunnerSports.com. If you go through a lot of shoes, their VIP club is hard to beat. For $40 a year, you get 10% off (you can usually find a coupon for even more savings), free shipping, a free pair for every five pairs your family orders in a 12 month period, and most importantly to me, you can run in the shoes for up to 60 days and return them if you're not satisfied. I can't tell you how many times a shoe felt good in the store or on a short run but then caused problems at longer distances. They sell casual shoes as well, which also count towards your five pairs get one free offer.

If you're still awake, congratulations.

And finally, best of luck to my buddy Rob. He's competing this weekend in the Beach 2 Battleship iron distance triathlon in Wilmington, NC. Iron distance events are old hat for him, but he's been training especially hard for this one. I'm sure he'll have a great race.