Ethan Caldwell

I have spent the last three months testing aero helmets for time trials across multiple wind tunnel sessions and outdoor time trials. The difference a proper TT helmet makes is substantial. I am talking about saving 2 to 4 minutes in an Olympic distance triathlon and potentially 4+ minutes in a full Ironman. The best … Read more

There is nothing quite like the sting of numb fingers three miles into a winter run. I have been there, jogging through my neighborhood at 6 AM with hands so cold they stopped responding to my brain’s signals. Finding the best running gloves for cold weather became my mission after one particularly miserable 10-miler where … Read more

Running in triple-digit heat taught me a lesson I won’t forget. After bonking hard at mile 18 of a summer marathon, I realized my old cotton trucker hat was trapping heat like a sauna. That experience sent me on a three-month quest to find the best running hats for hot weather that actually keep you … Read more

There is nothing quite like the sting of chafing to ruin a perfectly good run. I learned this the hard way during my first half marathon in Malibu when my inner thighs started burning at mile eight. That painful experience sent me on a mission to find the best anti chafing balms for runners that … Read more

Running on a treadmill should be simple. You hop on, set your pace, and log your miles. But if you have ever compared your watch data to the treadmill display, you know the frustration. I have seen discrepancies of 15% or more between what my GPS watch records and what the treadmill claims. That is … Read more

I learned the hard way that the wrong pair of running socks can ruin a race. During my first half-marathon at Malibu, I developed three blisters before mile 8. The pain stayed with me for weeks. That experience taught me why finding the best running socks for blisters matters more than most runners realize. Blisters … Read more

Running with high arches can feel like a constant battle against your own feet. I learned this the hard way during my first marathon training block when my plantar fascia started screaming at mile 8 of every long run. High arches, also called pes cavus, affect roughly 20% of runners and create a unique set … Read more

After 15 years of marathon training and countless long runs along California’s coast, I’ve learned one truth the hard way: dehydration doesn’t send a warning text. It hits you at mile 18 when the aid station feels miles away. I’ve tried handheld bottles that cramp my grip, bulky vests that trap heat, and cheap belts … Read more

That sharp, stabbing pain in your heel when you take your first steps in the morning. Every runner who has battled plantar fasciitis knows this feeling all too well. I have been there myself after ramping up my training for a half-Ironman, and I can tell you that finding the right insoles can mean the … Read more

When I started training for my first marathon three years ago, I made the mistake of thinking I could just grab water at aid stations. That changed on my first 18-mile long run when I found myself parched at mile 12 with no water source in sight. A proper hydration vest isn’t just a nice-to-have … Read more