Gear Review: Swiftwick Sock Review by Timothy Pitt

Date: Thursday, November 29, 2012

Gear Review: Swiftwick Sock Review by Timothy Pitt

Product: Aspire Twelve Details: Made from synthetic olefin materials for compression heaven

Technology Information: The Aspire Twelve is made with many of Swiftwick’s signature technologies to include: seamless toe, olefin footbed, built in arch support, and their signature double welt compression cuff to make sure it stays up on the leg forever.

Pricing: $34.99 for a pair of the Twelve (full calf height) from www.swiftwick.com or locally at Fleet Feet Sports Huntsville

Impressions: These socks are by far my favorite to wear for ANY road race, from 5k’s to marathons and every distance in between. These socks provide a competitive edge just short of super powers. Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the benefits of compression are scientifically indisputable ! Compression increases blood flow, which helps during a race and improves recovery afterwards. I love it when I get asked about these socks at races!! The typical question is, “do you like them?” And my typical response is, “YES!! They keep the meat on the bones!!” It sounds silly, but that compression is comforting and I definitely feel like they reduce the chance of incurring a muscle injury or strain. I have tried other brands of compression socks, but these are the only ones that never slide down my calves.

Suggestion: I have shared my passion for these socks with many other runners. My suggestion to them when they get their first pair of Aspire Twelves is to learn the easiest way to get them on!! Max King has an awesome demonstration video on youtube!! Just follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gloLOcfqTmg

Summary: Swiftwick builds the best full calf length compression sock on the market. Do your lower legs a favor and buy a pair to try out. After you run or race feel free to keep the sock on after to speed up the recovery process or put on a clean pair later.

Tim started running in the  spring of 2006 to get fit and healthy and since then has run every distance from 5km to 50km.  He is heavily involved with Fleet Feet Racing and in the promotion of running in his hometown of Arab, Alabama where he holds the distinction of being the fastest man in Arab.  His team biography can be found here.

Weekend Results

With the time quickly approaching until Rocket City Marathon and the Thanksgiving Holiday, there was just a speckling of short distance races in the valley, starting with the 19th annual Turkey Trot 5km.  The field was dominated by the area youth with 10 of the top 12 runners bring 19 and under.  Eric Charette was the top runner from the team with a 17:12 and Tim Vinson was the overall men's master winner.  James Falcon and Dink Taylor volunteered at the race.

Official Results

5 Eric Charette - 36 M - 17:12.2
14 Tim Vinson - 48 M - 18:49.8
27 Timothy Pitt - 33 M - 19:51.3

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In Guntersville at the Skinny Turkey 5k/10k, Tim Pitt was the overall winner of the 5km with an 18:47.  Dana Overton was the women's winner in the 10km race.

Top Seeds Rocket City Marathon

Top Male Seeds for the 2013 Rocket City Marathon

Full List

11 - GEORGE HEESCHEN, 25
16 - ERIC CHARETTE, 37
18 - TIM VINSON, 48 (pacing)
20 - BRAD SCHROEDER, 28
23 - ERIK DEBOLT, 30 (pacing)
43 - ERIC PATTERSON, 40 (pacing)
51 - ROBERT YOUNGREN, 38
60 - MARTY CLARKE, 50
63 - TIMOTHY PITT, 33
89 - RICK MAEHLMANN, 36 (pacing)
173 - RANDY MCFARLAND, 51
179 - DAVID RAWLINGS, 41 (pacing)
181 - BLAKE THOMPSON, 31 (pacing)
221 - ROBERT WHITAKER, 54
261 - JAMES FALCON, 41 (pacing)

Top Female Seeds for the 2013 Rocket City Marathon

12 - KATIE MAEHLMANN, 35F (pacing)
14 - KATHY YOUNGREN, 38F
55 - CHRISTY SCOTT, 39F (pacing)
95 - DANA OVERTON, 38F (pacing)

Weekend Results

Dizzy Fifties

DeWayne Satterfield and Rob Youngren (PR) lead the Fleet Feet Racing Team men at Dizzy 50's, taking the overall wins in the 50 mile and 40 mile races.  In the 50k distance, Erik Debolt (4:11:10) and Tim Pitt (PR - 4:20:45) were also podium finishers at 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The Fleet Feet ultra girls ran together for the entire 50k race and in the end, it was declared a 3-way tie for the win.  Christy Scott, Dana Overton and Kathy Youngren all ran sub 5:15.

Official Results

50 Mile Race
1 - 8:03:24 DeWayne Satterfield 48

40 Mile Race
1 - 5:55:04 Rob Youngren 38
3 - 6:48:12 Eric Patterson 40

50K Race
2 - 4:11:10 Erik DeBolt 29
3 - 4:20:45 Timothy Pitt 33
8 - 5:14:54 Christy Scott 39
9 - 5:14:56 Dana Overton 33
10 - 5:14:57 Kathy Youngren 38
19 - 5:40:32 Randy McFarland 51
26 - 6:06:56 Eric Fritz 45

Christy, Kathy and Dana

Eric Fritz and Eric Patterson

DeWayne Satterfield and Tim Pitt

Rob Youngren

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Jingle Bell

On Sunday at the Jingle Bell 5k, Brandon York crushed the field, running an outstanding 15:03, while Candace Jacobs was the overall female winner.  The rest of the finishers was unknown at the time of publication.

Brandon York, photo courtesy We Run Huntsville

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Magic City Half Marathon

In Birmingham at the Magic City Half Marathon, Eric Charette lead from the start en route to the overall win with a time of 1:19:52.

Official Results

Eric Charette photo courtesy of David Christy Photography

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Krispy Kreme Race


David Rawlings was 3rd overall in the Krispy Kreme 4-miler non challenge event (not choosing to eat all 12 donuts before returning back to the start.)

Official Results

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Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon

Last weekend at the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, Dana Overton posted a speedy 3:24:34 which placed her 27th overall and 3rd female.

Official Results

27 Dana Overton 37 F 3:24:34

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Pensacola Marathon

In his substitute marathon after New York was cancelled, Jim Clemens was the 2nd overall finisher and top men's master, running a stellar 2:51:33 last weekend.

Official Results

2 Jim Clemens - 2:51:33

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The Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville had a great weekend of racing starting at the Huntsville Half Marathon on Saturday.  The team placed 7 of the top 10 men with Brad Schroeder (1:15:44) and George Heeschen (1:16:28) taking 2nd and 3rd overall on the podium.  Tim Vinson was top men's master and set a state age record by 1 second.

Men's Results

2 - Brad Schroeder M28 - 1:15:44
3 - George Heeschen M25 - 1:16:28
6 - Tim Vinson M48 - 1:19:16
7 - Eric Charette M36 - 1:19:17
8 - Robert Youngren M38 - 1:20:48
9 - Erik Debolt M29 - 1:21:27
10 - Gregory Reynolds M30 - 1:22:52
11 - Timothy Pitt M33 - 1:23:36 (personal best)
14 - Rick Maehlmann M36 - 1:26:56 (personal best)
16 - Dink Taylor M47 - 1:27:33
21 - Robert Whitaker M54 - 1:30:19
22 - Randy McFarland M51 - 1:30:44
24 - James Falcon M41 - 1:31:06
43 - David Rawlings M41 - 1:36:37

Photo by Gregg Gelmis, We Run Huntsville

Photo by Gregg Gelmis, We Run Huntsville

On the women's side, Kathy Youngren lead the way once again, this weekend running 1:29:11 and finishing 2nd overall in a near personal best.

Women's Results

2 - Kathy Youngren F38 -1:29:11
4 - Katie Maehlmann F35 - 1:31:17
6 - Jillian Koch F24 - 1:32:48

Photo by Gregg Gelmis, We Run Huntsville

Photo by Gregg Gelmis, We Run Huntsville

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In California at the Santa Barbara Marathon, Christy Scott ran 3:41:04 and finished 29th in her age group.

Official Results

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In Tennessee, Eric Patterson was part of an ultra team that ran the Ragnar Tennessee relay that took first place overall (196.3 miles) tie with another ultra team in just under 24 hours.

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Last weekend in Birmingham, the team also had two runners who competed in the competitive Vulcan 10km. Brandon York was 8th overall in a personal best 31:10 and Tim Vinson ran 36:20.

Official Results

Weekend Results

This was a bridge weekend for the racing team between the ultra competitive Spooktacular 5km and the Huntsville Half marathon and was filled with just a few races, but topped by some great performances.

In Athens at the Sherri Adams Pink Ribbon 5k Run, Kathy Youngren had her best 5km ever, lowering her personal record to 18:38 and finishing 2nd overall.  Coming off of the last two weekends where Kathy ran low 19's, she broke 19 and her PR in grand fashion.  Rob Youngren was 3rd overall, just a step behind Kathy having paced along with her.

Official Results

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On Saturday morning in Huntsville, Eric Charette (17:04) and Eric Fritz (19:41) finished 2nd and 4th overall at the Liz Waggett Memorial 5km.  The course was not certified and ran just short.

Official Results

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In Huntsville just a block away and two hours later, Eric Charette finished 2nd overall at the Hawk 5km, a benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project in Huntsville.  The course was not certified and ran long.

Official Results

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In Madison at the Attack of the Lions 5k for Legacy Elementary, Erik Debolt was the overall winner with a time of 17:21.  This race has been directed for a number of years by team member Caitlin Morris.

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At the Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Marathon, Blake Thompson ran 3:39:50 finishing 300th overall.

Official Results

Weekend Results

At the 2012 Spooktacular 5km, the Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville had a stellar morning despite windy conditions.  Loosely dubbed by many as the "Huntsville City Championships", the team placed 6 of the top 10 and captured 13 of the top 25 spots.  Sweeping the podium for men were Brandon York, Andrew Hodges and George Heeschen with the women taking the top two spots with Candace Jacobs and Kathy Youngren.  Tim Vinson was the men's master's winner.  There were 5 people who set personal bests including Rob Youngren, Tim Pitt, Rick Maehlmann, David Rawlings and Katie Maehlmann.

5km Official Results 

1 Brandon York, 27 M 15:45 5:05
2 Andrew Hodges, 29 M 6:18 5:15
3 George Heeschen, 25 M 16:28 5:18
4 Robert Youngren, 38 M 16:41 5:23 (PR)
6 Eric Charette, 36 M 17:21 5:35
9 Gregory Reynolds, 30 M 17:42 5:42
11 Tim Vinson, 48 M 17:47 5:44
13 Timothy Pitt, 33 M 17:59 5:48 (PR)
15 Marty Clarke, 50 M 18:02 5:49
18 Rick Maehlmann, 36 M 18:17 5:53 (PR)
20 Robert Whitaker, 53 M 18:31 5:58
22 Eric Patterson, 40 M 18:34 5:59
24 Candace Jacobs, 32 F 18:41 6:01
28 David Rawlings, 41 M 18:49 6:04 (PR)
31 Kathy Youngren, 38 F 19:01 6:08
35 Katie Maehlmann, 35 F 19:33 6:18 (PR)
47 James Falcon, 41 M 20:21 6:33
52 Dana Overton, 37 F 20:40 6:40
58 Eric Fritz, 45 M 20:55 6:44
73 Christy Scott, 39 F 22:00 7:05

Photo by We Run Huntsville

Photo by We Run Huntsville

Photo by We Run Huntsville

Photo by We Run Huntsville

Photo by We Run Huntsville

Photo by We Run Huntsville

Photo by We Run Huntsville

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Eric Charette captured the Monster Mile with a time of 5:18.

1 Mile Official Results


Photo by We Run Huntsville