South City staffer, Dan was first introduced to Big River in 2007 while attending Winter Distance Camp as a part of Kirkwood High School’s running cross country and track training. Throughout college, he quickly discovered a love for trail running and officially joined the Big River staff in July of 2016.
Dan loves that Big River not only provides a selection of high quality products to the St. Louis area, but also serves as a community hub for health and wellness. “Whether it’s participating in a training team, group run, or any of the other community events we participate in, I’m always impressed by the quality of involvement from our customers and community,” says Dan.
Dan’s love of trail running has led him to discover beautiful parts of the area. He recommends the Chubb Trail, especially the section along the Meramec River at West Tyson County Park. Experience a low traffic and well-maintained trail for a jaunt through prairies and alongside steep ridges with impressive views of the River valley.
Dan has even doubled his trail runs as scouting expeditions for mushroom hunting! “I discover likely places to find morels, chanterelles, or other edible mushrooms,” says Dan. Yet another reason to access the St. Louis area’s abundant parks and trails!
Dan’s Favorite Gear:
Road Shoe- New Balance 860v7– Plenty of stability and firm, responsive cushioning. It’s relatively lightweight for a stability shoe, and the wider toe box provides plenty of wiggle room.
Trail Shoe- Altra Lone Peak 3.0– The zero-drop design and a wide foot-shaped toe box makes for a comfortable fit. There’s also just enough of cushion and tread to handle technical trails. Dan’s pair of Lone Peak’s are usually waiting in the trunk of his car and also a bit muddy.
Apparel- 2XU Compression Socks. Not only an enormous aid in Dan’s performance, these socks are also so comfortable that Dan sometimes sleeps in them. They have also worked wonders on his shin splints and have helped improve recovery after heavier workouts.
Can’t Go on a Run Without – Garmin Forerunner 235. A necessity for keeping track of his pace. Dan reports his watch has allowed him to dial in to his workouts while also helping him keep track of training schedules.
Nutrition- Hammer Recoverite. Along with compression socks and foam rolling, Recoverite helps to keep Dan from getting bogged down in recovery. After a long run, the difference in how his muscles feel with and without Recoverite is significant enough that he always have a package close at hand.
