So I've been a little quiet recently as I just finished my 4th semester of DPT school and some finals from hell. This review has been long overdue. Let's get this underway.
Adidas has been on my radar recently with their fantastic updates with Boost. Additionally, I have always been fascinated with Japanese racing flats particularly from Asics, Adidas and Nike. I've known about the Takumi Sen for a bit, but finally after a difficult midterm I decided to pull the plug on a pair of the 2nd version. I am very glad I did. Although this is not the lightest racing flat I have used, it has become my favorite (yes, even beating the amazing Wave Universe 4). This is such a masterfully built shoe that thoroughly showcases the Japanese attention to detail and craftsmanship. It is clear that every aspect has been thoroughly looked into and addressed in terms of performance, fit, feel and more. I love this shoe. Here's why.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Adidas Takumi Sen 2 Review
Friday, November 7, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Klein Energy Bites Recipe
Being a graduate student, I don't have a ton of funds on my hands. In fact they are pretty limited. Hence why I race so much, because that allows me to (hopefully) win training shoes with a $20-30 investment. Additionally I am a big fan of doing and creating things yourself. If I could make my own training shoes, I would. Which is why I hope to do some side work developing shoes for a running company on the side of being a Doctor of Physical Therapy in the future.
One of the ways I do things on my own is creating my own energy bars. I started with Kleinbars (RECIPE) a few years ago in college because Clif Bars were too expensive and I wanted to be able to have a similar product. It took a good amount of time and tweaking (most of the original batches tasted like sh*t because I put way too much cocoa powder in the recipe. Lesson finally learned) but they eventually turned into a really good product.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Fluid Recovery Review
I always been interested in the many aspects of performance, recovery being a major one. When I began running in college, I religiously took some kind of carbohydrate and protein in a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio (based on what I was seeing in the research world at the time) after ever single run. That quickly evolved to having chocolate milk after ever run because that is what I had heard was "Nature's Natural Recovery Drink." Putting aside the fact that natural is a horribly misused word and that the chocolate must be added to cow's milk (which some people may also argue is not natural for us to drink), I love chocolate milk and it has been a staple of my diet and recovery for many years now. I dabbled a bit in the more commonly known recovery drinks like Endurox R4 (which never mixed well) and First Endurance Ultragen (left a weird taste in my mouth) but didn't really feel a difference from using chocolate milk.
Fast forward a few years to the late winter of 2013 when I saw at Foot Traffic (the local Portland running store I work at part time when I am home) we were caring a new product from Fluid. Our customers had good things to say, so I finally bought some Fluid Recovery to test out. I honestly went in with the mind that it wouldn't do anything, but was very quickly proven wrong.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Saucony Kinvara 5 Review
Rarely do I buy more than two pairs of a certain shoe in a row. This comes from being fairly picky and being curious about new stuff on the market. The first shoe that I went past 2 pairs in a row of was the Saucony Kinvara 1. Right as the minimalist wave was hitting the market, I was looking for a low drop that still could handle the 80 mile weeks of intense training I was doing at the time as a sophomore on a competitive college team. I distinctly remember trying on the original Kinvara and thinking it felt like I was running in shoe boxes. I still gave them a shot because I was desperate to find a 4mm drop cushioned shoe that fit my foot well. A few runs later I was hooked. I went through almost a year of only training in this shoe. For only getting 200-250 miles a pair, I went through a great deal of Kinvaras before transitioning to the Altra Instinct after that track season. To this day I have not worn the same model for anywhere near that long. Needless to say when I begin to have trouble running hard +100 mile weeks in the Altra Instinct/Provision/ Torin/Instinct 1.5, I came back to the Kinvara 4. It was disappointing because either the toe-box wasn't shaped the same or my feet had been spoiled by Altras. I still had some awesome and blazing fast runs that reminded me of the shoe bliss of the Kinvara 1, but I ended up blowing through the upper of the 4th version at 170 miles. The shoe also felt dead at 120 miles, so I sadly retired them and got myself to move on....
Friday, June 20, 2014
Asics Gel-Hyperspeed 6 Review
Long ago when I began my jump into minimal shoes, one of the those was the Asics Gel-Hyperspeed 5. It was a pretty awesome shoe with a 6mm drop, responsive cushioning and weighing around 7 ounces. It was great but the drainage holes in the forefoot drove me crazy as they would pick up almost every small rock I came upon. I put them through their paces and then moved on to the original Kinvara which I stayed in for a long time. I didn't give much thought to the hyperspeed other than hearing that it was being discountinued a few years ago. I was more a fan of the Asics Piranha, so it didn't bother me too much.
Not long ago photos began emerging of Ryan Hall in a new shoe. Talk of the Asics Gel-Hyperspeed 6 began to show up and then boom. There it was. The successor to the very popular Asics Gel-Hyperspeed 5. And that is the shoe that's on deck today for a review.
Sole: The biggest thing you will notice with the sole is how soft it feels. The Hyperspeed 6 definitely does NOT have a firm ride. It's fairly soft and cushioned for a racing flat while being a little closer to the ground than a lightweight trainer. Maybe you'll thing it's firm if you're coming from the Asics Nimbus or a Hoka shoe, but I am not.
The other major change I noticed is that the sole is much narrower than the Hyperspeed 5. While the 5 felt like a stable (not supportive. No medial posting at all) and well balanced shoe, the Hyperspeed 6 feels narrow underfoot and unstable. Granted I am a bit of a pronator, but I spend a great deal of time in shoes like the Altra Instinct, Mizuno Wave Universe 4, Kinvara 5 (as of yesterday) and more and those shoes feel much more stable underfoot due to slightly wider bases. It's also probably due to the huge cut out in the medial arch, which just like my experience with the Nike Zoom Streak XC/LT series makes the shoe even more unstable combined with a narrow last. The upper isn't too narrow (more on that in a bit), but the sole certainly feels like that.
Asics has also taken away those extremely irritating holes in the Hyperspeed 5 for a full ground contact outsole in the Hyperspeed 6. There is one drain hole in the midfoot, but I haven't had any rocks get stuck in it like the last version. I guess that holes in the Hyperspeed 5 wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't gotten so many rocks stuck in them. That's what made it frusterating and was the only thing I didn't like about it. The Hyperspeed 6 takes care of that issue with a full ground contact forefoot along with deeper flex grooves that also make the shoe very flexible.
Typical of Asics's shoes, the midfoot is slightly cut out, separating the forefoot and heel. Luckily because this was done so minimally the Hyerspeed 6 practically has a full ground contact outsole and I do not feel that separation that I normally hate in shoes. Mostly because it's really not there. The only bit that is there is from the separation between the forefoot and heel high abrasion rubber areas. Which are fairly durable (see durability).
Upper/Fit: I have to put this out there. I hate the insoles. They just plain suck. Sorry Asics, but I had to say it. After putting about 10 miles in the shoe during my first test run (2 mile warm up, 6 mile tempo, 2 mile cooldown), the insole started slipping around when I put the shoe on, took the shoe off and when I didn't have the shoe absolutely locked on to my foot. I dealt with this issue and it hasn't bothered me too much during the run (it has a bit and contributes a bit to the unstable feel), but I am now going to try running without the insoles. They are pissing me off that much. The plus is that the inside of the shoe only has a few major stitch points that with a pair of socks shouldn't be too much of an issue, but I'll have to try this out and report back. I've put about 75 miles in this pair and I think the shoe is broken in enough for me to try insole free running. Although this will require socks.
The upper has decent room for a racing flat but initially is a bit narrow in the forefoot. The upper is fairly stiff and initially does not flex well with the foot. My pinky toe felt especially pinched by that last and furtherest forward stripe of the Asics logo. Eventually it broke in after about 20 miles, but keep in mind at first it may feel narrow. And not just racing flat narrow. Racing flats should have a narrow form fitting grip on your foot that keeps you locked down but not pinched. I would never call myself locked in with this shoe because of a little more spacious heel and no extra last eyelet (for laces) to use a runner's loop lacing technique to lock in my heel. I had to really tie the laces tight to keep my heel from slipping out of the shoe. That combined with a bit of a stiff upper intially made me want to hate this shoe. I gave it a try over using by skipping the first few eyeltes which gave me a bit more wiggle room and then I tried running without socks. That also helped.... kinda.
You can run sockless in this shoe if you get used to it. I had some chaffing on the top of my foot and the sides felt a bit rough because I don't think the upper was designed with sockless running in mind. However with few seams it turned out ok and my feet eventually got used to them. Now that I'm throwing the insole out I'll go back to socks. After testing them out walking around my apartment without the insoles and with socks (while writing this review) they seem to be ok. Again, I'll report back later.
Responsiveness: This is not the most responsive racing flat out there. I'd actually call it one of the least responsive of all the ones I've worn. What this shoe does have is a lot of cushioning for being so light as I mentioned earlier. For that reason I would use this shoe for the half to full marathon distance or tempo runs/long runs. It does not have the get up and go required for 5k/10k racing like the Mizuno Wave Universe 4 or 5, the Asics Blazingfast, the Asics Piranha, the Saucony Type A5 (have not tried the A6 yet), the Brooks T7 racer (very versatile) or the Asics Hagio (just listing the ones I've run in or tried). However, what this shoe has over all of those shoes listed (except the T7 racer) is that the cushioining is more than sufficient for long runs or the marathon. There is quite a bit there. There's almost no pop that I usually get from racing flats, but they will protect your feet.
However, I do love this shoe for longer tempo runs. It's one of my favorites because of the cushioning. Since I live in an area where I can't take two pairs of shoes with me and leave one behind while I do a workout without fear of having them stolen (I currently live in Pomona, CA), this shoe provides some cush for the warm up and cooldown.
Heel-Toe Drop/Ramp: The heel drop is listed at 6mm but feels more like 4-5mm (not that 1-2mm makes a difference). There's a little protection there but not too much.
Durability: What's amazing to me is that this shoe actually has decent durability for a racing flat. After over 60 miles in the Hyperspeed 6, there is almost no wear on the heel. In fact, most wear is in the forefoot but is actually not that bad. It's a bit chewed up but I can see myself easily getting at least 150 miles out of this racing flat if not more. Generally for a 5 ounce shoe I expect more like 100, but it seems to be holding up well. There are absolutely no fraying, ripping or major wear of the upper. Other than being a little dirty the Asics Hyperspeed 6 is holding up very well for a racing flat. I'm really impressed with this aspect of the shoe. That combined with the fact this shoe is only $85 dollars really makes the Hyperspeed 6 a really good deal.
Weight: At 5.6 ounces, this shoe is pretty dang light for how much cushioning it has. I'd expect it to be at least in the 6-7 ounce range, but Asics really stepped up their game. This weight reduction also might be due to how much Asics narrowed the sole, which does again make the shoe feel a bit unstable. It does not feel clunky in any way shape or form.
Thoughts as a SPT (Student Physical Therapist): Other than the non-anatomical toe-box, I would say the narrow sole could be a problem (and this is just me being nitpicking), but it really depends on the person. Again the narrow sole lends itself to an unstable ride, however someone with a rigid high arch is not going to have any issues with a shoe like this. Others like myself may. I tend to prefer shoes with a wider base, but that's more personal preference based on my own mechanics. Everyone will respond differently.
Final Thoughts: So overall the Hyperspeed 6 will do very well for you if you want a well priced, very lightweight shoe that has enough cushioining to handle the half or full marathon distance and will last you a long time. For those people who like training in mininalist shoes this might be a good option if you want more cushioining but don't want to sacrifice weight. It was an interesting experience to try this shoe out and I will continue to use it for tempo runs and shorter recovery runs where I want a lightweight shoe. The Hyperspeed 6 would not be my first choice for a 5k or 10k, but definitely for a half marathon. The upper has ended up fitting ok, but I would still like to see an additional eyelet in the shoe to lock in my foot a bit better in the next generation.
I have very much enjoyed breaking in this shoe and using it on longer tempo runs. It has certainly saved me legs while remaining lightweight and at the same time was well worth the money for how durable it is. I'm very curious to see where Asics goes with the Hyperspeed 7, because with a few tweaks this could be an absolutely amazing shoe.
Not long ago photos began emerging of Ryan Hall in a new shoe. Talk of the Asics Gel-Hyperspeed 6 began to show up and then boom. There it was. The successor to the very popular Asics Gel-Hyperspeed 5. And that is the shoe that's on deck today for a review.
Without further ado, let's talk about Asics's premier racing flat: the Gel-Hyperspeed 6.
The other major change I noticed is that the sole is much narrower than the Hyperspeed 5. While the 5 felt like a stable (not supportive. No medial posting at all) and well balanced shoe, the Hyperspeed 6 feels narrow underfoot and unstable. Granted I am a bit of a pronator, but I spend a great deal of time in shoes like the Altra Instinct, Mizuno Wave Universe 4, Kinvara 5 (as of yesterday) and more and those shoes feel much more stable underfoot due to slightly wider bases. It's also probably due to the huge cut out in the medial arch, which just like my experience with the Nike Zoom Streak XC/LT series makes the shoe even more unstable combined with a narrow last. The upper isn't too narrow (more on that in a bit), but the sole certainly feels like that.
Asics has also taken away those extremely irritating holes in the Hyperspeed 5 for a full ground contact outsole in the Hyperspeed 6. There is one drain hole in the midfoot, but I haven't had any rocks get stuck in it like the last version. I guess that holes in the Hyperspeed 5 wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't gotten so many rocks stuck in them. That's what made it frusterating and was the only thing I didn't like about it. The Hyperspeed 6 takes care of that issue with a full ground contact forefoot along with deeper flex grooves that also make the shoe very flexible.
Typical of Asics's shoes, the midfoot is slightly cut out, separating the forefoot and heel. Luckily because this was done so minimally the Hyerspeed 6 practically has a full ground contact outsole and I do not feel that separation that I normally hate in shoes. Mostly because it's really not there. The only bit that is there is from the separation between the forefoot and heel high abrasion rubber areas. Which are fairly durable (see durability).
Upper/Fit: I have to put this out there. I hate the insoles. They just plain suck. Sorry Asics, but I had to say it. After putting about 10 miles in the shoe during my first test run (2 mile warm up, 6 mile tempo, 2 mile cooldown), the insole started slipping around when I put the shoe on, took the shoe off and when I didn't have the shoe absolutely locked on to my foot. I dealt with this issue and it hasn't bothered me too much during the run (it has a bit and contributes a bit to the unstable feel), but I am now going to try running without the insoles. They are pissing me off that much. The plus is that the inside of the shoe only has a few major stitch points that with a pair of socks shouldn't be too much of an issue, but I'll have to try this out and report back. I've put about 75 miles in this pair and I think the shoe is broken in enough for me to try insole free running. Although this will require socks.
The upper has decent room for a racing flat but initially is a bit narrow in the forefoot. The upper is fairly stiff and initially does not flex well with the foot. My pinky toe felt especially pinched by that last and furtherest forward stripe of the Asics logo. Eventually it broke in after about 20 miles, but keep in mind at first it may feel narrow. And not just racing flat narrow. Racing flats should have a narrow form fitting grip on your foot that keeps you locked down but not pinched. I would never call myself locked in with this shoe because of a little more spacious heel and no extra last eyelet (for laces) to use a runner's loop lacing technique to lock in my heel. I had to really tie the laces tight to keep my heel from slipping out of the shoe. That combined with a bit of a stiff upper intially made me want to hate this shoe. I gave it a try over using by skipping the first few eyeltes which gave me a bit more wiggle room and then I tried running without socks. That also helped.... kinda.
You can run sockless in this shoe if you get used to it. I had some chaffing on the top of my foot and the sides felt a bit rough because I don't think the upper was designed with sockless running in mind. However with few seams it turned out ok and my feet eventually got used to them. Now that I'm throwing the insole out I'll go back to socks. After testing them out walking around my apartment without the insoles and with socks (while writing this review) they seem to be ok. Again, I'll report back later.
Responsiveness: This is not the most responsive racing flat out there. I'd actually call it one of the least responsive of all the ones I've worn. What this shoe does have is a lot of cushioning for being so light as I mentioned earlier. For that reason I would use this shoe for the half to full marathon distance or tempo runs/long runs. It does not have the get up and go required for 5k/10k racing like the Mizuno Wave Universe 4 or 5, the Asics Blazingfast, the Asics Piranha, the Saucony Type A5 (have not tried the A6 yet), the Brooks T7 racer (very versatile) or the Asics Hagio (just listing the ones I've run in or tried). However, what this shoe has over all of those shoes listed (except the T7 racer) is that the cushioining is more than sufficient for long runs or the marathon. There is quite a bit there. There's almost no pop that I usually get from racing flats, but they will protect your feet.
However, I do love this shoe for longer tempo runs. It's one of my favorites because of the cushioning. Since I live in an area where I can't take two pairs of shoes with me and leave one behind while I do a workout without fear of having them stolen (I currently live in Pomona, CA), this shoe provides some cush for the warm up and cooldown.
Heel-Toe Drop/Ramp: The heel drop is listed at 6mm but feels more like 4-5mm (not that 1-2mm makes a difference). There's a little protection there but not too much.
Durability: What's amazing to me is that this shoe actually has decent durability for a racing flat. After over 60 miles in the Hyperspeed 6, there is almost no wear on the heel. In fact, most wear is in the forefoot but is actually not that bad. It's a bit chewed up but I can see myself easily getting at least 150 miles out of this racing flat if not more. Generally for a 5 ounce shoe I expect more like 100, but it seems to be holding up well. There are absolutely no fraying, ripping or major wear of the upper. Other than being a little dirty the Asics Hyperspeed 6 is holding up very well for a racing flat. I'm really impressed with this aspect of the shoe. That combined with the fact this shoe is only $85 dollars really makes the Hyperspeed 6 a really good deal.
Weight: At 5.6 ounces, this shoe is pretty dang light for how much cushioning it has. I'd expect it to be at least in the 6-7 ounce range, but Asics really stepped up their game. This weight reduction also might be due to how much Asics narrowed the sole, which does again make the shoe feel a bit unstable. It does not feel clunky in any way shape or form.
Thoughts as a SPT (Student Physical Therapist): Other than the non-anatomical toe-box, I would say the narrow sole could be a problem (and this is just me being nitpicking), but it really depends on the person. Again the narrow sole lends itself to an unstable ride, however someone with a rigid high arch is not going to have any issues with a shoe like this. Others like myself may. I tend to prefer shoes with a wider base, but that's more personal preference based on my own mechanics. Everyone will respond differently.
Final Thoughts: So overall the Hyperspeed 6 will do very well for you if you want a well priced, very lightweight shoe that has enough cushioining to handle the half or full marathon distance and will last you a long time. For those people who like training in mininalist shoes this might be a good option if you want more cushioining but don't want to sacrifice weight. It was an interesting experience to try this shoe out and I will continue to use it for tempo runs and shorter recovery runs where I want a lightweight shoe. The Hyperspeed 6 would not be my first choice for a 5k or 10k, but definitely for a half marathon. The upper has ended up fitting ok, but I would still like to see an additional eyelet in the shoe to lock in my foot a bit better in the next generation.
I have very much enjoyed breaking in this shoe and using it on longer tempo runs. It has certainly saved me legs while remaining lightweight and at the same time was well worth the money for how durable it is. I'm very curious to see where Asics goes with the Hyperspeed 7, because with a few tweaks this could be an absolutely amazing shoe.
Thanks for reading and don't forget to Tack On!
These shoes were a personal purchase and I put at least 100 miles on every pair of shoes before I review them (except racing flats which I put in at least 75 miles).
As always, my views are my own.
As always, my views are my own.
-Matt Klein, SPT
*Images obtained from the Asics America website. Go down to your local running specialty retailer to check them out!
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Altra Instinct 2.0 Review
Today we have the second full version of a shoe that introduced me to zero drop running. Back 3ish years ago, I jumped from the original Kinvara into the original Altra Instinct at the end of my sophomore year of college. The following summer was filled with 90-105 mile weeks on lots of hills which eventually lead to my best track season (junior year). Despite the ride being a bit firm, I was in love with that shoe. I went through more pairs and ran in it for longer than any other (the original kinvara is the only shoe that comes close). Then I developed some achilles issues because I wasn't addressing restricted range of motion (ROM) in my ankles and had to move away (retrospectively I just needed to hammer eccentric heel drops, assess whether the restriction was coming from my gastrocnemius or my soleus muscles and stretch). I was finally fully turned off when I tried the Altra Instinct 1.5 which I did not like. The upper felt totally different (and not in a good way) and had horrible durability. I then fully moved on. Now Altra has released the complete 2nd version of the Altra Instinct and I have to say that I REALLY like this shoe. It reminds me so much of my love of the original. Without further ado, we have the Altra Instinct 2.0 on deck for today.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Brooks PureCadence 3 Review
Welcome to graduate school, where your summer break is one week long. How am I spending the last two days of that break (other than running 41 miles in those two days)? Writing a shoe review on a personal favorite of mine.
Today we have the Brooks PureCadence 3 on deck.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Altra Repetition Review
Apparently Saturday is now Shoe Review Day. Today we have the Altra Repetition on deck.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Saucony Fastwitch 6 Review
Shoe review time!! Time for a brand I have not reviewed and a shoe I've wanted to try for a while.
We have the Saucony Fastwitch 6 on deck today.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Kleinbars: The Secret Recipe REVEALED!
Alright. I'm going to reveal a secret today.
Many of you are aware of the energy bars that I make. I call them "Kleinbars", because that is the level of creativity I am capable of in regards to naming things.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Mizuno Wave Sayonara Review
Once upon a time I was a die-hard minimalist runner and refused to train in anything with a heel-toe drop of more than about 5mm. The Mizuno Wave Sayonara was the shoe that pushed me to being open to different shoes regardless of heel-toe drop. I liked it so much I picked up a pair after trying them on and did a very hard Fartlek workout in them on my first run. So much for breaking the shoes in.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Mizuno Wave Universe 5 Review
Finally time for a non-Brooks shoe review. I love the Wave Universe series so much. I really do. And I will start it off by saying that the Universe 5 is my favorite racing shoe of all time (thus far).
On deck we have the Mizuno Wave Universe 5. This is Mizuno's 5k/10k racing flat that comes in at an amazing 2.8 ounces. This shoe has a 2mm drop according to Running Warehouse (feels flat to me) and a none-removable insole.
As of now the Wave Universe series has retaken the "lightest racing flat" award back from the New Balance RC5000. The series is named as such because they are supposed to be the "Lightest Racing Shoes in the Universe" (obviously ignoring any alien races who also happen to run that have created an even lighter shoe that we are not aware of).
I have a great deal of history with this series. I have worn the Wave Universe 3, 4 and 5 and have loved each one. The Wave Universe 3 and Saucony Type A4 were my introductions to minimalist running as I trained in both of them for some time (and loved both of them). I have raced in all three Universes extensively and have done many workouts in the 3s and 4s. The 5s I have saved for racing due to a couple reasons I will get into.
So yeah. A 2.8 racing flat. It feels like there is nothing on your feet. Almost. The sole is surprisingly cushioned ("cushioned" being an extremely relative term) for how little there is there. And they are responsive. REALLY responsive. The first time I raced in these I set my 5k road PR in 14:45. That was of course a week before I my peak race at the BAC 5k last summer, which I kinda bombed because I went out too hard with the Kenyans and Ethiopians. That and I hadn't fully recovered from my PR race (also I'm an idiot, got excited and did too many hard workouts during my peak week).
These shoes feel really good. They disappear off your feet and you totally forget about everything down there except how much pop you're getting flying down the road (or track if that's what you're into). And they feel at or close to zero drop in terms of the heel-toe drop. So be prepared that if you are not used to running in very low drop shoes, these will wreck your calves. The Wave Universe 3 and 4 had some drop (4-6mm) to give you some (not much) achilles protection. These have next to none. It's like running in a track spike. The U4ic midsole is very responsive and this is the closest thing I've felt to a track spike for the road.
Mizuno did put some strategically placed material (called G3 Sole) to give some traction and bite the road (see the picture above). Which it totally does. I have never had to worry about traction in these as they grip the road very well. The Wave Universe 3 and 4 had decent traction, but this new sole is awesome for the most part. I do have one problem.
And that problem? Outsole durability. Yeah..... It's not good. I have 5 races in them with about 20 miles total and the wear is significant. Yes I get it. The shoe weighs 2.8 ounces and there is barely anything there. But for $125 I would hope for some kind of durability. Which I guess is in the upper. I'm surprised that with how little upper there is that it has absolutely no rips, tears or any signs of wear compared to the sole. They seem to be going strong so far despite the outsole wear. I guess you're paying for the light weight and super responsiveness. So that's why I keep them for race day only. But that's really the only problem I have with them and I'm pretty hard on shoes.
So that is the Mizuno Wave Universe 5. This is my all time favorite racing shoe. Not the best durability, but it is a FAST shoe. I still cannot believe how much relative protection it has for how little shoe is there.
If nothing else, go try them on. This shoe is for anyone who wants to run insanely fast over the 5k (maybe 10k). I would not try them over 10k unless you are a seasoned minimalist runner. If you are a minimalist runner, you will especially like this shoe. I started racing in them when I was training in the 6oz Brooks Puredrift. At 2.8 ounces, there are only a handful of shoes that you could train in where you wouldn't notice the weight step down on race day.
Give them a shot and go fly down the road.
Thanks for reading!
As always, my opinions are my own*.
Tack On!!
-Matt Klein, SPT
*Shoes were provided free of charge from the Foot Traffic Mizuno Rep Ben Evans. Because I was bothering him for a free pair. Thank you Ben!
*Images obtained from the Mizuno Running website. Go down to your local retailer to check them out!
On deck we have the Mizuno Wave Universe 5. This is Mizuno's 5k/10k racing flat that comes in at an amazing 2.8 ounces. This shoe has a 2mm drop according to Running Warehouse (feels flat to me) and a none-removable insole.
As of now the Wave Universe series has retaken the "lightest racing flat" award back from the New Balance RC5000. The series is named as such because they are supposed to be the "Lightest Racing Shoes in the Universe" (obviously ignoring any alien races who also happen to run that have created an even lighter shoe that we are not aware of).
I have a great deal of history with this series. I have worn the Wave Universe 3, 4 and 5 and have loved each one. The Wave Universe 3 and Saucony Type A4 were my introductions to minimalist running as I trained in both of them for some time (and loved both of them). I have raced in all three Universes extensively and have done many workouts in the 3s and 4s. The 5s I have saved for racing due to a couple reasons I will get into.
So yeah. A 2.8 racing flat. It feels like there is nothing on your feet. Almost. The sole is surprisingly cushioned ("cushioned" being an extremely relative term) for how little there is there. And they are responsive. REALLY responsive. The first time I raced in these I set my 5k road PR in 14:45. That was of course a week before I my peak race at the BAC 5k last summer, which I kinda bombed because I went out too hard with the Kenyans and Ethiopians. That and I hadn't fully recovered from my PR race (also I'm an idiot, got excited and did too many hard workouts during my peak week).
See how flat that heel drop is??
And the upper? A minimalist's dream. The toebox is non-constricting, fairly wide for a racing shoe (like all the Wave Universes) and the upper is barely there. In racing conditions I was very nervous about this, but found that when I tied the laces down tight, I had very little to worry about. Would I like a little more structured upper? Yes. I like the midfoot to have some lock down. But I cannot complain as there is no heel counter and thus nothing to irritate my calcaneus. Also it's 2.8 ounces. I don't think they have much more to take out before the shoe falls apart after one race. So yeah. I'll shut up about that.
On a side note, I have not raced sockless in these yet, but wearing them around the house without socks has caused no ill effects. I'll go hammer out another race soon in the Universe 5 as my achilles is getting used to being in low drop shoes again. I'll see where I'm at next Saturday and report back with the sockless details.
Mizuno did put some strategically placed material (called G3 Sole) to give some traction and bite the road (see the picture above). Which it totally does. I have never had to worry about traction in these as they grip the road very well. The Wave Universe 3 and 4 had decent traction, but this new sole is awesome for the most part. I do have one problem.
And that problem? Outsole durability. Yeah..... It's not good. I have 5 races in them with about 20 miles total and the wear is significant. Yes I get it. The shoe weighs 2.8 ounces and there is barely anything there. But for $125 I would hope for some kind of durability. Which I guess is in the upper. I'm surprised that with how little upper there is that it has absolutely no rips, tears or any signs of wear compared to the sole. They seem to be going strong so far despite the outsole wear. I guess you're paying for the light weight and super responsiveness. So that's why I keep them for race day only. But that's really the only problem I have with them and I'm pretty hard on shoes.
So that is the Mizuno Wave Universe 5. This is my all time favorite racing shoe. Not the best durability, but it is a FAST shoe. I still cannot believe how much relative protection it has for how little shoe is there.
If nothing else, go try them on. This shoe is for anyone who wants to run insanely fast over the 5k (maybe 10k). I would not try them over 10k unless you are a seasoned minimalist runner. If you are a minimalist runner, you will especially like this shoe. I started racing in them when I was training in the 6oz Brooks Puredrift. At 2.8 ounces, there are only a handful of shoes that you could train in where you wouldn't notice the weight step down on race day.
Give them a shot and go fly down the road.
Thanks for reading!
As always, my opinions are my own*.
Tack On!!
-Matt Klein, SPT
*Shoes were provided free of charge from the Foot Traffic Mizuno Rep Ben Evans. Because I was bothering him for a free pair. Thank you Ben!
*Images obtained from the Mizuno Running website. Go down to your local retailer to check them out!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Brooks Ghost 6 Review
I can't focus right now... so I'm going to write another shoe review!
This time we have the Brooks Ghost 6 on deck!
This is Brook's flagship neutral trainer. It weighs in at 10.7 ounces and has about an 11-12mm drop.
The Brooks Ghost series has won numerous awards for the last +4 years. The Ghost has won the Jogger's World "editors choice" award 4 separate times. You'll see a ton of people wearing this shoe not just for running, but for walking and casual wear. Brooks knows their stuff and people really like their shoes, regardless of their activity of choice (or lack thereof).
So what do I think of the shoe? I've got a little over 150 miles on them. They are really soft. I know Brooks DNA (their cushioning system made of a non-Newtonian fluid) is supposed to be soft, but this is "my feet are being absorbed by the shoe" soft. These are cushioned trainers. To be honest, the Brooks Glycerin 11 is the firm neutral shoe and the ghost is the cushioned one. Even though they are marketed as the opposite. I've run into this having tested both shoes and gotten similar customer responses (working at Foot Traffic in Portland, OR). The Glycerin is more stable and protective, but the Ghost is softer.
So do I understand why the general public seems to love this shoe? Yes. It's soft to the point that you start hallucinating and a ghost whispers in your ear, "Your form doesn't matter. Ignore it and slam your feet into the ground." Hence why it's called the Brooks Ghost.....
Not really.
However......
I do have some major issues with this shoe. I will start out by saying that I have regulated the Ghost 6 to non-running duties and it is permanently benched. And I pushed it +50 miles more than I wanted to.
My first issue is the major toe spring. I personally feel like it's excessive and annoying. But that's me. I like a shoe that is responsive and doesn't have or has little toe spring. That is not the Brooks Ghost 6. Running long distances in this shoe made my plantar fascia feel like it was being uncomfortably stretched. Constantly. I also experienced a large amount of friction and blisters at the end of my toes, even though the shoe fits a bit long on me. Or is supposed to. I have a little over half a thumb width between the end of my foot and the end of the shoe (the optimal amount). However, that doesn't take into account that toe spring. I'm sure it feels great if you like that. The shoe rolls you right along without much effort. I don't like it. I like putting my effort in, but instead feel like I'm fighting the Ghost in regards to who gets to do the work.
Did I mention the Ghost was soft? Oh wait yes I did. A million times. Most of that softness is in the heel. This is a great protective shoe for heel strikers. That combined with the excessive toe spring gives it a very smooth ride. However, this shoe is not responsive and your foot will just sink into it. I have tried to do workouts in this shoe, but for me it just doesn't respond well. Trying to get up on your forefoot/midfoot is a little awkward, mostly thanks to the toe spring. The Brooks Ghost 6 is a normal run, recovery run and long run shoe. Not a fast shoe. In fact it feels a little slow. I personally call it the "my feet are messed up and I don't want to feel them" shoe. Or just the cheaper Hoka shoe made by Brooks.
It's so soft that I get an odd fatigue that is the fatigue same fatigue you get from running on sand for too long. I have heard of this fatigue from people who wear mushy shoes or Hokas. I just get extremely tired in the hips and upper thigh areas. Not glutes though. If I come back from a hard run and my glutes are sore, I know I'm using the right muscles. With these shoes I just get an odd soreness that makes running more than 5-6 miles in this shoe uncomfortable for me. I also felt this when I was running in the Altra Torins. Like I mentioned, I like firm shoes. These are not firm. I've done +20 miles in the Brooks Racer ST5 and the Brooks Adrenaline and don't feel this at all. In fact I don't feel anything except that I'm flying over the ground. Fast. The Brooks Ghost? It feels like a Ghost is holding onto my legs and telling me to slow down. Again with the hallucinations. On a serious note I think it comes from this extreme cushioning causing all your smaller stabilizing muscles to have to work harder to keep your limbs straight through the gait cycle from footstrike to the propulsion/toe-off phase. That's fine for short distance, but long distance? I think that could cause problems. On the opposite end of the spectrum? Long term running in too little/barefoot? Stress fractures/injuries. Each end of the spectrum, from barefoot to super cushioning has it's own issues. Find what works for you and don't follow fads until they've been proven to work. Also remember that every person is different.
The fit of the shoe in the forefoot and toes is not something I am a fan of. It has a great midfoot, but from there it struggles. The heel is pretty lose, so make sure you lace lock this shoe. The forefoot looks like it starts well, but then turns into this bullet shape that squeezes all my toes. That combined with the toe spring? Uncomfortable. If I leave my feet in long enough they get used to it, but I don't have that problem with any of the other shoes I'm using right now. The Brooks Racer ST5, the T7 Racer and the Brooks Adrenaline 14 don't cause me any issues, especially in the forefoot. The Brooks Ghost 6? Uncomfortable and narrow in the toes. Again, I can handle this for a while, especially as a casual shoe, but long term I am concerned (hence the benching).
And lastly? The durability of the outsole is terrible. The midsole is fine and stays soft for a long time. The outsole after 75 miles had a ton of wear on the rubber nubs. Particularly in the forefoot and heel. 150 miles? The nubs are destroyed. I'm starting to see the midsole. When I run I can't feel it, but again I start thinking about that upper thigh fatigue thing. Friends of mine have worn this shoe down almost past the midsole and they didn't notice any issues due to the shoe being so cushioned. So maybe I just need to suck it up and wear them completely down the midsole.
So overall a good shoe, but it's just not for me. It's a good "my body is destroyed" soft shoe or a Brooks Hoka. I think I would hate Hokas based on my body's response to these, but that's just me. I really like shoes that are firmer, have little to no toe spring and are responsive. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14 (current trainer), the Saucony Fastwitch 6, the Brooks Racer ST5 (my current tempo/longer race shoe) are are responsive and on the firmer side. I really like the new Mizuno line for those same reasons. The Wave Sayonara (which I have worn. Review on the way), the Rider 17 and Inspire 10 are all awesome. Plus they have great toebox width and shapes. So check those out too if you're like me.
Again though, everyone is different. If you have a medium width foot, like a really soft ride and are a heavy heel striker, check these out. I know plenty of people that love this shoe, swear by them and wear them everywhere. I personally am looking forward to the Brooks Ghost 7. Why? Because Brooks is switching it to a DNA-BioMogo midsole mix (instead of the separate DNA) like the Ravenna 5. From the short time I tried the Ravenna 5, that combination is much more responsive, but still protective. So stay tuned. Plus that toebox looks better too.
Thanks for reading!
These were a personal purchase and as always, my thoughts are my own.
Tack On!
-Matt Klein, SPT
*Images obtained directly from the Brooks Running website. Head over to your local running specialty store to check them out!
This time we have the Brooks Ghost 6 on deck!
This is Brook's flagship neutral trainer. It weighs in at 10.7 ounces and has about an 11-12mm drop.
The Brooks Ghost series has won numerous awards for the last +4 years. The Ghost has won the Jogger's World "editors choice" award 4 separate times. You'll see a ton of people wearing this shoe not just for running, but for walking and casual wear. Brooks knows their stuff and people really like their shoes, regardless of their activity of choice (or lack thereof).
So do I understand why the general public seems to love this shoe? Yes. It's soft to the point that you start hallucinating and a ghost whispers in your ear, "Your form doesn't matter. Ignore it and slam your feet into the ground." Hence why it's called the Brooks Ghost.....
Not really.
I do have some major issues with this shoe. I will start out by saying that I have regulated the Ghost 6 to non-running duties and it is permanently benched. And I pushed it +50 miles more than I wanted to.
My first issue is the major toe spring. I personally feel like it's excessive and annoying. But that's me. I like a shoe that is responsive and doesn't have or has little toe spring. That is not the Brooks Ghost 6. Running long distances in this shoe made my plantar fascia feel like it was being uncomfortably stretched. Constantly. I also experienced a large amount of friction and blisters at the end of my toes, even though the shoe fits a bit long on me. Or is supposed to. I have a little over half a thumb width between the end of my foot and the end of the shoe (the optimal amount). However, that doesn't take into account that toe spring. I'm sure it feels great if you like that. The shoe rolls you right along without much effort. I don't like it. I like putting my effort in, but instead feel like I'm fighting the Ghost in regards to who gets to do the work.
Did I mention the Ghost was soft? Oh wait yes I did. A million times. Most of that softness is in the heel. This is a great protective shoe for heel strikers. That combined with the excessive toe spring gives it a very smooth ride. However, this shoe is not responsive and your foot will just sink into it. I have tried to do workouts in this shoe, but for me it just doesn't respond well. Trying to get up on your forefoot/midfoot is a little awkward, mostly thanks to the toe spring. The Brooks Ghost 6 is a normal run, recovery run and long run shoe. Not a fast shoe. In fact it feels a little slow. I personally call it the "my feet are messed up and I don't want to feel them" shoe. Or just the cheaper Hoka shoe made by Brooks.
It's so soft that I get an odd fatigue that is the fatigue same fatigue you get from running on sand for too long. I have heard of this fatigue from people who wear mushy shoes or Hokas. I just get extremely tired in the hips and upper thigh areas. Not glutes though. If I come back from a hard run and my glutes are sore, I know I'm using the right muscles. With these shoes I just get an odd soreness that makes running more than 5-6 miles in this shoe uncomfortable for me. I also felt this when I was running in the Altra Torins. Like I mentioned, I like firm shoes. These are not firm. I've done +20 miles in the Brooks Racer ST5 and the Brooks Adrenaline and don't feel this at all. In fact I don't feel anything except that I'm flying over the ground. Fast. The Brooks Ghost? It feels like a Ghost is holding onto my legs and telling me to slow down. Again with the hallucinations. On a serious note I think it comes from this extreme cushioning causing all your smaller stabilizing muscles to have to work harder to keep your limbs straight through the gait cycle from footstrike to the propulsion/toe-off phase. That's fine for short distance, but long distance? I think that could cause problems. On the opposite end of the spectrum? Long term running in too little/barefoot? Stress fractures/injuries. Each end of the spectrum, from barefoot to super cushioning has it's own issues. Find what works for you and don't follow fads until they've been proven to work. Also remember that every person is different.
Stepping off soap box now....
And lastly? The durability of the outsole is terrible. The midsole is fine and stays soft for a long time. The outsole after 75 miles had a ton of wear on the rubber nubs. Particularly in the forefoot and heel. 150 miles? The nubs are destroyed. I'm starting to see the midsole. When I run I can't feel it, but again I start thinking about that upper thigh fatigue thing. Friends of mine have worn this shoe down almost past the midsole and they didn't notice any issues due to the shoe being so cushioned. So maybe I just need to suck it up and wear them completely down the midsole.
So overall a good shoe, but it's just not for me. It's a good "my body is destroyed" soft shoe or a Brooks Hoka. I think I would hate Hokas based on my body's response to these, but that's just me. I really like shoes that are firmer, have little to no toe spring and are responsive. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14 (current trainer), the Saucony Fastwitch 6, the Brooks Racer ST5 (my current tempo/longer race shoe) are are responsive and on the firmer side. I really like the new Mizuno line for those same reasons. The Wave Sayonara (which I have worn. Review on the way), the Rider 17 and Inspire 10 are all awesome. Plus they have great toebox width and shapes. So check those out too if you're like me.
Again though, everyone is different. If you have a medium width foot, like a really soft ride and are a heavy heel striker, check these out. I know plenty of people that love this shoe, swear by them and wear them everywhere. I personally am looking forward to the Brooks Ghost 7. Why? Because Brooks is switching it to a DNA-BioMogo midsole mix (instead of the separate DNA) like the Ravenna 5. From the short time I tried the Ravenna 5, that combination is much more responsive, but still protective. So stay tuned. Plus that toebox looks better too.
Thanks for reading!
These were a personal purchase and as always, my thoughts are my own.
Tack On!
-Matt Klein, SPT
*Images obtained directly from the Brooks Running website. Head over to your local running specialty store to check them out!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Brooks Racer ST5 Review
Shoe Review TIME!!!
Today I am reviewing the Brooks Racer ST5. This is Brook's supportive racing shoe. It comes in at 8.6 ounces and has a 12mm drop. It is a personal favorite of mine. Read on to find out why.
Do I think they could be improved? Yes. I think Brooks could bring the weight down by reducing that heel drop a bit. I think 8-10mm would be great. That would probably bring the shoe down to around 8 ounces (I think). Then it could compete better with the Adidas Adios Boost, Saucony Fastwitch, Asics DS Racer and the Nike Lunarspeed Lite+. All of which are lighter. But lighter does not mean better. Of those shoes, the Racer ST5 fits the best (with the exception of the Fastwitch 6, which is also very comfortable after a few runs), is the most protective and the most durable based on the wear I've seen from those who race/train in those shoes.
I think people will shy away from this shoe because of the weight and support. But please don't let that deter you! The Racer ST5 may look like it has more "junk in the trunk", but it will not hold you back at all. Trust me. The phrase "more cushin' for the pushin'" applies here. Except it's talking about running speed... not sex. And the "cushin'" is firmer. Like it being due to muscle rather than fat..... because strong glutes are important for running fast and injury free..... alright I'll stop now (this is not a good way to end a review but I'm going to anyway).
Today I am reviewing the Brooks Racer ST5. This is Brook's supportive racing shoe. It comes in at 8.6 ounces and has a 12mm drop. It is a personal favorite of mine. Read on to find out why.
Imagine the Brooks Launch, but more responsive, supportive, and lighter. And the Launch is an awesome shoe (review on the way). The ST5 is just more of a racer. Not to say you couldn't race in the Launch. It's a similar weight (just a bit lighter), but it is quick. REALLY quick. It always throws me off a bit how fast I can run in an almost 9 ounce shoe. And with that quickness comes a much firmer sole as well. Whereas the Launch is much softer and not nearly as responsive. However, the firmness of the Racer ST5 does not deter from the shoe being protective. It's like a track spike with a 12mm drop and some support via a medial post, called a "Diagonal Roll Bar" or DRB (see the fourth picture). That coupled with the DRB Accel (see the fifth picture. It's that black crossing plastic thing in the midfoot) provides a ride that is stable and launches you forward. Brooks should have called this shoe the "Brooks Launch Racer ST." Or not because the name is too long.
The shoe fits very well. Think of a the typical racing flat feel where your foot is held down well, but there is good room in the forefoot/toes (no compression). They are very comfortable (yes I would sleep in them) and the Racer ST5s disappear off your feet. I might say the heel is a tad wide, so make sure you do the special lace lock/bunny ears lacing technique (whatever you want to call it. If you don't know what this is, I'll do a post about it. Or head down to your local run specialty store and ask!).
Color wise I chose red... because I saw Ryan Vail wearing that color on a Flotrack video. That's really why I chose it. I fully admit that. If you can wait until February 1st, 2014, Brooks has an awesome new colorway coming out in a crazy blue and nightlife (neon yellow) color.
Crazy right?
Unlike almost every racing flat out there, the Brooks Racer ST5 is EXTREMELY durable. You will get as many miles out of these as typical trainers (if not more because right now I think my Brooks Ghost 6 is going to last 200 miles at max before the sole is totally destroyed). I have +150 miles on this shoe and there is almost ZERO wear. The shoe feels like it did when I first got my paws on it (except it's molded to my foot a bit). I detect almost no midsole breakdown and I check all this every single time I wear them because it blows me away every single time. You could definitely use these as lightweight trainers. They have enough protection to do that. The only reason I don't is that I like being able to step down from a heavier trainer so that my racing shoes feel lighter on race day.
The durability is incredible. I really don't know what to say other than "wow." That might be the trade off for having a little more weight in the shoe. I don't know. I seriously wish more shoes were like this and this is a RACING FLAT. Flat being a generous term with the 8.6 ounces and +12mm heel drop. But I have nothing to complain about because this shoe has taken me through my fastest tempo runs and an incredible 71 minute half marathon that I prepared very little for (it was also my first one. And no I didn't taper. Why? I'm an idiot that's why).
See that red part of the midsole? That's the DRB. Never feels intrusive.
Some people may worry about the shoe's weight being heavy for a flat at 8.6 ounces, but the shoe is VERY fast and feels much lighter. The weight never gets in the way and as mentioned I can run really fast in this shoe. I have even run very quick 5ks in them but do prefer the T7s or Mach Spikeless for that distance (if you're into Brooks). They have quite a bit of pop to them, but not in a jarring way. I think that helps make them such a responsive and fast shoe. I use them for all my workouts and longer races (including the 71 minute half marathon I mentioned earlier).
And yes, the shoe has a fairly high heel drop for a racing shoe at 12mm (although it actually feels a bit higher). Once I get going though, it is not noticeable at all. This shoe is so smooth and fast you will completely forget about what's going on at your feet. I thought I was going to have a terrible workout the other day being a little sick and not getting enough sleep. Yet I flew through a 4.2 mile tempo run in about 21:30 on a route that was NOT flat. Yes. That's 5:07 pace per mile while sick. I know it's not just the shoes, but they help.
Dang, I almost ran my sophomore year college 5k PR in these will doing a tempo run...
I think this shoe works best racing longer distances. This is the shoe I used during my (first) half marathon and I do not regret that decision. Yes my quads were busted up because I got tired and was heel striking pretty hard. But my feet were completely fine. I'm pretty sure I would have destroyed myself if I'd chosen the Brooks T7. I even ended up running pretty quick, averaging ~5:25 pace for 13.1 miles! I eventually would like to move to the T7 for half marathons, but right now my body is not ready for them racing that distance.
So yeah. You could say I kinda love these shoes. They have carried me through some awesome times. Who knew a year ago that my racing and workout shoe would have support, a 12mm drop and weigh 8.6 ounces? I was training in shoes that were much lighter and had much lower heel drops than that!
Do I think they could be improved? Yes. I think Brooks could bring the weight down by reducing that heel drop a bit. I think 8-10mm would be great. That would probably bring the shoe down to around 8 ounces (I think). Then it could compete better with the Adidas Adios Boost, Saucony Fastwitch, Asics DS Racer and the Nike Lunarspeed Lite+. All of which are lighter. But lighter does not mean better. Of those shoes, the Racer ST5 fits the best (with the exception of the Fastwitch 6, which is also very comfortable after a few runs), is the most protective and the most durable based on the wear I've seen from those who race/train in those shoes.
I think people will shy away from this shoe because of the weight and support. But please don't let that deter you! The Racer ST5 may look like it has more "junk in the trunk", but it will not hold you back at all. Trust me. The phrase "more cushin' for the pushin'" applies here. Except it's talking about running speed... not sex. And the "cushin'" is firmer. Like it being due to muscle rather than fat..... because strong glutes are important for running fast and injury free..... alright I'll stop now (this is not a good way to end a review but I'm going to anyway).
I really cannot say enough good things about the Brooks Racer ST5. As I said they are a personal favorite. If nothing else take a look and try them on. They are well worth your time.
Thanks for reading!
These shoes were a personal purchase and as always, my thoughts are my own!
Tack On!!
-Matt Klein, SPT
2/8/14 UPDATE: I am now using these and the Brooks Purecadence 1s as my training shoes and am doing all workouts in the Brooks T7. Heading back down the minimal rabbit hole again...
*Pictures obtained from the Brooks Running website. Go over there and check them out or head over to your local running specialty store!
Thanks for reading!
These shoes were a personal purchase and as always, my thoughts are my own!
Tack On!!
-Matt Klein, SPT
2/8/14 UPDATE: I am now using these and the Brooks Purecadence 1s as my training shoes and am doing all workouts in the Brooks T7. Heading back down the minimal rabbit hole again...
*Pictures obtained from the Brooks Running website. Go over there and check them out or head over to your local running specialty store!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The Shoes I've Worn
I just posted my first shoe review about 2 hours ago and I started thinking about all the different shoes I've worn over the last few years. I really started thinking about shoes my freshman year of college at University of Puget Sound. Before that they were pretty much a mystery to me. I barely remember what I was wearing my senior year of high school when I started competing. Before that I have no idea.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Why Hips Don't Lie: Thoughts On Knee/IT Band Pain
Being an obsessed runner who loves running as much as possible, you can imagine how many people ask me if I'm worried about my knees. Knees knees knees. That's all people think about.