Review Powerbeats 2 Wireless

I am a runner and really enjoy being out in the morning before anyone is up and able to get some miles in before work. I enjoy running while listening to music or books on tape. I was using the Jaybird Bluebuds X headset, but decided I wanted something that would stay in my ears a little better so I got the Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless.

I loved the design and I loved the fact that they had an over the ear clip that helped them stay in my ear and still allowed me to use the phone controls and talk on the phone while running.

What I have decided that I don’t like is the fact that the bluetooth radio on them is really weak. If I have my phone on my right arm or in my spandex fanny peck depending on how I turn my head my music will cut in and out. It’s really distracting and kind of a pain. I have had the headphones replaced once already and while Apple support was great and immediately issued an RMA and sent me a replacement set of headphones I am still unhappy that the issue is still there. Not sure why there is such a weak radio in this headset as I didn’t have this issue with my Jaybirds.

That being said I still like how they stay in my ears better than the Jaybirds so to combat the problem I have had to move my arm holster to my left arm. This seems to have solved the issue and haven’t noticed the music cutting out once since I did this.

So overall impression is they have a good feel the controls work well, you just have to be wary of where the Bluetooth Source is and that it might cut out on you.

When to replace your running shoes

This past weekend I participated in the Rundisney “Rebel Challenge” this was a 10k and a half in the same weekend. I had done this last year during the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend. I wasn’t too worried about it until 2 weeks before I managed to hurt my foot and I was basically incapacitated and couldn’t walk. I wasn’t sure if I would be doing anything this past weekend because of the pain I was in. After 2 weeks of RICE I was able to run the races. The time wasn’t important, what was important to me was that I completed the races and got my bling. At the end of the day that is mostly why I run the races. However during the races something else interesting happened, I got a huge blister on the foot that wasn’t hurt. I didn’t think anything of it, until I started reading about when to replace your shoes. I had worn this same pair of shoes for two other Half Marathons and several 10Ks, when I looked at my Nike App I realized I was somewhere in the realm of 350 miles. Those were just the miles that had gotten recorded when the watch was actually working, so it’s possible I was closer to 400 or so miles in these shoes.

As part of my rehab I have been walking a couple of miles a day to get my feet back to the point I can run again, I have done several miles with my old shoes and then several with a new pair. The new pair has made a huge difference in not irritating my foot injury or the blister that I managed to get. So at this point I have a feeling that I should have replaced this pair of shoes sooner and not ignored the nagging pain and injuries I was experiencing before.

Lesson learned, listen to your body more and don’t discount when your feet hurt.