Physical Therapists Using Clinical Analysis To Discuss The Art And Science Behind Running and The Stuff We Put On Our Feet

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Mizuno Wave Sky 5 Multiple Tester Review | 2021

Mizuno Wave Sky 5 Multiple Tester Review

By Matt Klein, David Salas, Nathan Brown, and Bach Pham

In today's footwear world, companies are moving on a "2 Year Cycle" for shoe design. That means the first year they redo the shoe, particularly the sole while the second year is usually just an upper update. The amount of change that will occur after each 2 year cycle depends on a number of factors, including the market, customer feedback and who has a hand in development. This can be a good or bad thing depending on what current market trends on and what the customer preference is for that type of model. The Mizuno Wave Sky 5 has been Mizuno's premium cushioned neutral training for several years and debuts the start of a new cycle. The upper and sole have been completely redone with an ENERZY CORE to go along with the MIZUNO ENERZY midsole. The upper moves away from Waveknit to a woven mesh, sitting far snugger but more secure on the foot. This change is likely to delight fans of softer cushioning, while those looking for a snug fit may have a new shoe to try. 

Specifications (per Mizuno USA)
Weight: 10.9 oz / 309 g (men's size 9) 9.1 oz / 258 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: Not Provided
Drop: 8 mm
Classification: Premium Cushioned Daily Trainer


RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY

Matt: The Mizuno Wave Sky 5 returns as a complete redesign of Mizuno's premium neutral cushioned trainer. A new MIZUNO ENERZY CORE sits along with MIZUNO ENERZY, creating a soft ride in the heel and midfoot. A new upper creates a snug fit, particularly in the forefoot that will do well for those with narrow feet. The outsole is quite durable, however contributes to a stiff ride. Overall the Mizuno Wave Sky 5 is a snug fitting, highly cushioned daily trainer that will do well for those who have narrow feet and want a softer neutral ride.

David: The Mizuno Wave Sky 5 is highly cushioned neutral training shoe. The Wave Sky 5 features the new Mizuno Enerzy Core midsole complemented with full length Mizuno Enerzy. The result is a very plush platform throughout. The upper is much more dialed in and secure than previous models as well. One thing pretty unique to this shoe is how aggressive the traction is for such a cushioned shoe. Those that like a max cushion shoe that can do a little bit of off-roading might like this option. 



FIT (LENGTH / WIDTH / COMFORT)

Matt: The fit of this version was noticeably more snug, particularly in the forefoot. The upper does stretch as you spend a few more minutes in the shoe, but the snugness up front is apparent. The heel and midfoot fit more normal width and are easy to lock down just with the laces. Security is not a problem and I did not have to lace lock the shoe. However, those with narrow feet or who prefer a snug fit are going to prefer this upper. This is a shift from previous versions as the Sky series has usually fit on the more normal to wider side (except for some tapering in the toe box). There is a a thick heel counter in the rearfoot, which is offset by the amount of cushioning in the heel counter. Those sensitive to these should be cautious as the cushioning wears down with use. The upper is fairly warm despite some holes in the forefoot. Those wanting a snug fitting forefoot for narrow feet will enjoy the Wave Sky 5.

Bach:
The Wave Sky is surprisingly fitted around the forefoot. I'm used to Mizuno having some decent width around the toes, especially in the recent Wave Rider 25, but here it almost has a racer-like feel in the toe box. The toe box alone I would recommend for those with standard to narrow feet only.

The heel locks in okay, but there is just a bit of wiggle room to it for me. There is actually fairly minimal padding in the Wave Sky 5. It's a rare case where I would not have minded a little more plushness to help with getting more lockdown and just more comfort in general. The laces are standard and help get a good lockdown, and there is plenty of comfortable space in the midfoot width. The tongue is the same as the Wave Rider 25 and gets the job done with a touch of padding it provides. The shoe does run a bit warm, but I was able to get through some humid runs okay without having any hot spots.A different, more narrow forefoot fit for Mizuno, but otherwise a decent lockdown throughout with plenty of space through the midfoot and heel for comfort.

Nathan: 
This was a whole new upper for the Wave Sky, and subsequently a new fit. This upper is much less adaptable or stretchy than previous and has much less volume in the toe box with a significant lateral taper up by the toes. The heel is cushioned well and the midfoot is secure, but overall just a bit snug in the forefoot. This lead to a very secure fit, but likely not the best option for anyone with wider feet. Also, the taper does make it run a little short for me. I do love the upper look, for what it's worth, and think there's a nice "shimmer" to it that seems a bit reflective as well.

David: The Mizuno Wave Sky 5 fits true to size in my normal 9.5 but does run relatively snug throughout. The upper is padded well throughout and feels relatively plush like the rest of the shoe. The heel is very padded as well and does have heel counter that did not provide any irritation. I did have a little bit of heel slippage, but using the last eyelet seemed to do the trick. The laces are not very long... so I do have to utilize some of that fine motor control in the hand to lace the shoe down since I am using all of the eyelets. The upper is on the thicker end throughout but does seem to breath well enough in most instances. I haven't any problems with security in other regions and have taken it offroading as well. I will say however it isn't the most adaptable or stretchy like some other models, so those that like more roominess in the shoe might have some difficulty with the Wave Sky 5, particularly in the forefoot. The volume seems to be a little low (vertically) and the toe box normal but not very expansive. 


PERFORMANCE (RIDE / SPEED)

Matt: The Mizuno Wave Sky is a total redesign from top to bottom. The heel and midfoot sit on a ton of both MIZUNO ENERZY and MIZUNO ENERZY CORE. There is a great deal of soft foam underneath the foot. The Mizuno Wave (foam wave) runs the full length of the shoe. The ride is slightly soft on landing and stiff during toe off. The softness I mentioned seems to occur only at that initial landing. The rest of the shoe is on the firmer side, which to me was unexpected for having this much MIZUNO ENERZY foam. I really enjoyed the soft but responsive feel of this foam in the Wave Rider 25, but this was different, despite having a larger stack height. This may be due to the thick outsole material, which has absolutely no wear on it. I expect an exceptionally high number of miles out of this shoe as I have not been able to make a dent it. However, I found the ride of the Sky 5 to be a little odd. The heel transitions quickly, but the midfoot and forefoot are firmer and stiffer. That was surprising to me given the deeper flex grooves in the sole. This creates an unstable rearfoot and an abrupt transition at the forefoot. This has improved with time and I notice the forefoot is beginning to loosen up somewhat. however it is still stiffer. So those who want a stiffer ride will enjoy this shoe up front. I found this shoe far too heavy to be used for anything but daily trainer. For those with more stable/neutral feet, this shoe will do well as a daily trainer, long run and mileage shoe. For me, the instability/softness in the rearfoot limited it to a shorter recovery shoe. 

Bach: 
I felt it was nowhere near as soft as I was expecting it to be, seeing all the Enerzy foam. In the Horizon, you get a full length top layer of Enerzy to land on which I felt was very comfortable, before landing on their firmer U4iC midsole which plays into the stability mechanics of that shoe. I thought here we would get a very premium Wave Rider softness here with the layers of Enerzy and the new Enerzy Core, especially thinking to how soft the Wave Rider's forefoot is. While I do think the Enerzy itself is soft, I quickly found the rigidity of the outsole to counteract all the good things going on in the foam during my runs.

This is best seen in discussing the ride. There's a few issues I had with the forefoot that made the first few runs especially hard as I was breaking in the shoe. I kept feeling the outsole piece between the mid to forefoot striking the ground during my initial runs which provided some discomfort and really shortened my runs. Over my time testing I slowly felt that bump relax and the foam come to life as the shoe broke in, but it took a lot of time for that to happen. The forefoot also feels very weighted right under the metatarsals of the foot, noticeably where a lot of the new Enerzy Core foam is. At easy paces I felt most of my runs were a little sluggish, fighting the weight and outsole. I also did not feel the shoe transitioned as well as I hoped with the shoe not being full ground contact from heel to toe. The midfoot has a bit of an arch that's off the ground, contributing to a mildly awkward transition.

When I picked up the pace, however, and put more pressure on the forefoot - on the Enerzy Core specifically - most of my issues went away. I started feeling the response of the new foam and really started finding some appeal in the shoe for the first time. Aggressively getting up on my forefoot more helped greatly contribute to a smoother transition. I think anyone who is an aggressive runner that can put down enough force to really take advantage of the foam, or bigger runners in general may get the most out of the Wave Sky 5. Those who tend to be lighter on their feet may find some sensitivity to the weight of the forefoot and design of the outsole.

Nathan: This is the first shoe that I believe features the MIZUNO ENERZY CORE, a really bouncy and soft foam, especially based on Mizuno's lab metrics they released last year. Bach mentions "feeling the outsole in the forefoot", and I think a part of what he felt, which I did too, in the mid to forefoot is the thicker section of the ENERZY CORE combined with the outsole in that area. I had some difficulty with propulsion and toe off, where it felt a bit clunky under my forefoot as it rocked over that area of ENERZY CORE. What I did like, though, was the overall pop from the ENERZY CORE. I think the foam has a lot of potential and feels great, it just wasn't integrated smoothly for me in this iteration. The other piece that I think make for some less that smooth transitions was the gap of outsole contact in the midfoot. The outsole arches away from the ground through the midfoot, which made transitioning from the heel to the toes feel a bit clunky. Not sure if the goal is for that "arch" to create a soft of spring effect, but I think the ride may be much smoother with a true full contact outsole (which was seen in the Sky 4).

David: The Wave Sky was a pleasant surprise for me overall. For me this is the best Wave Sky they have done without question. With that said it will certainly still favor certain runners. As I stated in the summary this is a SOFT platform with full length MIZUNO ENERZY and now the new MIZUNO ENERZY CORE midsole. The outsole however is pretty thick and aggressive for a shoe this soft. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but it certainly firms up the ride of the shoe especially through the forefoot. As you can see below in the heel it is mostly exposed foam, similar to a crash pad like design, using rubber only in high abrasion areas. Because of this the heel is certainly soft upon landing and the transition is pretty quick through the midfoot. The forefoot is much stiffer though and can come off as a little bit "slappy" at first. I have some thoughts on how to improve this in the recommendation section though. I used to have instability problems in the Wave Sky through the midfoot because of upper security and soft platform but it seems like they resolved that in this model. Traction is good throughout and I've been able to take it through various terrain without problems. The quick summary on this guy is highly cushioned platform that is soft and plush through the heel and midfoot with a firmer forefoot and toe off. The heel bevel and the forefoot outsole design could be adjusted but I will address that later. 




STABILITY 

Matt: The Mizuno Wave Sky 5 is a neutral shoe. The higher stack height, soft heel and narrow midfoot comparatively do not make this shoe very stable. I found this shoe quite unstable for me particularly in the rearfoot and midfoot. The wider forefoot was fine, but the incredibly soft rear portion of the shoe had my foot collapsing quickly to the medial side. This is not a stability shoe by any means and those who want that should check out the Horizon. This limited my use of the shoe to only a couple miles at a time. 

Bach:
The Wave Sky 5 is neutral shoe with a couple of minor stability elements. The generous width of the shoe from front to back helps provide a bit of a platform for the shoe. The structured heel counter helps provide a little bit of support as well. There is some sole flaring, but the Enerzy is soft enough that it isn't really contributing to helping provide a ton of support as you get a bit of marshmallow effect on it.

Nathan: The Wave Sky 5 is a truly neutral shoe with a couple areas that are notably lacking stability. For me, this was the midfoot, where the outsole does not contact that ground and also narrows. I found that from that position moving forward it was a bit clunky (as noted above) and therefore more unstable due to having to control those transitions more.

David: For being a high cushioned neutral trainer (that I have had stability problems with in the past) they did pretty good. The upper is much more secure throughout and the outsole provides plenty of traction and ground feel through toe off (maybe too much... looking at Bach). It is still a soft shoe and some instability is expected but overall pretty decent throughout. Mild sole flaring is noted as well. I do wish the shoe had a little more of a rocker design to complement how soft the heel is and how firm the forefoot is to just make the shoe less slappy and more fluid on longer efforts. 


THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE

Matt: We often talk about sole stiffness or rigidity in reference to plates, but a midsole can be stiff without an internal device. Longitudinal bending stiffness specifically refers to how easily a shoe bends in the sagittal (front to back) plane of motion (Cigoya et al., 2020). This can be influenced by many factors, including the density of the sole, plates, stack height, interactions between different components in the sole and more. Whether this is good or bad depends on the person. We know that there are variations in how much people benefit or worsen from increased bending stiffness, with some improving by up to 3% and others losing out by 3% in regards to running economy (Cigoja et al., 2020; McLeod et al., 2020). The average amount people may improve their running economy by with increased stiffness is around 1% (Roy & Stefanyshyn, 2006). However, it is well known that each person's body responds best to a different amount of stiffness (McLeod et al., 2020). Some people will do well in stiff shoes while others will do well in flexible shoes. That is the nature of the human body: it always depends on the person.

Stiffness in the sole has the most significant impact on the toe joints (particularly the metatarsophalangeal or MTP joints) and the ankle joints (talocrural primarily). A shoe that has just the right amount of stiffness, particularly at the forefoot, while often facilitate forward moment as the body transitions over the sole and it snaps back during toe off. If the sole is too flexible, the person will be responsible for all forward momentum and propulsion. If the sole is too stiff, the individual will have to work harder at those areas (and potentially compensate elsewhere) to transition over the stiffness. Alternatively, with a sole that is too stiff, the individual may choose to alter their movement pathway to avoid the sole. The body will generally move toward the path of least resistance, which may be trying to move around the stiff segment. Used correctly this can actually create stability, whereas when used incorrectly can cause some intense movement and musculoskeletal compensations.

The Wave Sky 5 has a particularly stiff forefoot for a shoe without a carbon plate. There is some flexibility, but not enough for a shoe that is meant for easy days and mileage. Different paces usually equate to different amounts of force put through a shoe. The faster you run, usually the more benefit you get out of stiffer shoes (Cigoja et al., 2020). The Sky 5 is not a shoe for running fast and thus those running in it will generally transition slower over the sole. This makes the transition not as smooth as it could be. This is relatively easy to fix, as maximalist shoe companies have had to learn over the last few years. Increase the length of the toe spring is one method, which begins the roll forward and progression over the MTP joints at an earlier time. Another option is to increase the depth of the flex grooves in the forefoot. Each method either increases or decreases the demand for the toe joints to move, so which direction will depend on what what Mizuno wants to do. 


References

Cigoja, S., Asmussen, M. J., Firminger, C. R., Fletcher, J. R., Edwards, W. B., & Nigg, B. M. (2020). The effects of increased midsole bending stiffness of sport shoes on muscle-tendon unit shortening and shortening velocity: a randomised crossover trial in recreational male runners. 
Sports Medicine-Open6(1), 1-11.

McLeod, A. R., Bruening, D., Johnson, A. W., Ward, J., & Hunter, I. (2020). Improving running economy through altered shoe bending stiffness across speeds. 
Footwear Science12(2), 79-89.

Nigg, B. M., Vienneau, J., Smith, A. C., Trudeau, M. B., Mohr, M., & Nigg, S. R. (2017). The preferred movement path paradigm: Influence of running shoes on joint movement. 
Med Sci Sports Exerc49(8), 1641-8.

Roy, J. P. R., & Stefanyshyn, D. J. (2006). Shoe midsole longitudinal bending stiffness and running economy, joint energy, and EMG. 
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise38(3), 562-569.


RECOMMENDATIONS

Matt: My recommendations are going to be dependent on what Mizuno wants this shoe to be. The far more narrow upper and extremely soft sole will likely work well for those who want a high cushioned, snug fitting, softer shoe. If this is the target, then Mizuno may need to increase the toe spring at the forefoot or increase the flexibility up front. The ride in the forefoot is almost too stiff, which also makes transition through that area difficult. The upper is also very snug. If Mizuno is changing the upper fit to accommodate those with more narrow feet, I understand. However, this will leave out those with normal to wider feet. There is a wide version, but this shoe is drastically different fit wise compared to previous. The upper lockdown in the heel and midfoot is great, but I would still open the forefoot up more to not squeeze the toes as much. 

Bach: My main recommendation is for Mizuno is to shave the rubber outsole to be smoother throughout, and work towards a full ground contact outsole. I think the combination will help let the Enerzy shine through more and also help reduce the weight of the forefoot. Increasing the flexibility of the forefoot through deeper flex grooves may also help further cut the weight and let the midsole shine as it's currently a fairly rigid ride. 

Nathan: I love getting the first taste of Mizuno Enerzy Core, I think integration just needs to improve. It felt "abrasive" moving through to the forefoot and I think part of that was the lack of outsole contact in the midfoot. With such a soft (and bouncy) foam, it would be improved to have elements of design to improve the overall stability.

David: I like the direction Mizuno is taking with the Wave Sky, but I think there are certainly some areas of refinement. The midsole is great but the way it is used could be done a little better with the rest of the shoe. The heel is almost done really well... but I would like to see a greater angle of heel bevel so that when you land and compress that soft foam you are basically transitioning through the midfoot already. I would also like to see the outsole design in the forefoot adjusted slightly. It feels like the shoe needs to make a choice between full contact outsole, or soft plush transitions. The forefoot can come off a little jarring (even though traction is good). If they created a midline flex groove or a region for the foam to compress more (similar to say the ASICS Novablast) that would make the forefoot feel a little more bouncy and let the midsole shine more. My other big recommendation is to just make the toe box and forefoot a little more accommodating from a fit perspective. The heel security was fine once I used the final eyelet. 


WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR (Conclusion)

Matt: The Mizuno Wave Sky 5 is for those with narrow feet who want a highly cushioned but neutral ride. The narrowed toebox does stretch, but creates a compressive feel around the entire foot. The cushioning in the heel and midfoot is quite soft, transitioning into a stiffer forefoot. The forefoot is stiff, but will work well for those who like that. Overall this shoe is best for daily mileage and long runs. It is a daily trainer that is best for eating up miles for those who want a soft ride in the back and a stiffer ride up front.

Bach: The Wave Sky 5 is best for those who want a highly durable, premium trainer. Once broken in, there is some decent softness felt throughout the shoe. The Sky does run more on the narrow side when it comes to the forefoot but locks down well everywhere else. The forefoot took me a few runs to get used to, but a few runs in I found the shoe to be a capable daily performer. The outsole and forefoot feels a bit too stiff and heavy for my personal tastes, but that should not put off runners looking for an aggressive forefoot that has some bounce and will last tons of miles.

Nathan: The Wave Sky 5 is for those who are wanting a high mileage shoe with a more narrow fit and some true pop from the midsole. It will require some stability from the runner, but will be able to eat up many miles over daily and long runs. It gives that plush underfoot feel.

David: The Mizuno Wave Sky is a highly cushioned neutral training shoe for those looking for a plush yet slightly aggressive ride through the forefoot. The heel and midfoot are very cushioned throughout with good traction and firmer toe off. The upper does fit snug throughout so those that like a tighter lockdown will certainly favor this upper construction. Overall its a highly cushioned workhorse trainer that will work for those that like a plush contact and firm toe off with a snug upper configuration. 




GRADING (SHOE CATEGORY)

Matt
Fit: B (Good upper lockdown, however narrow in forefoot/toebox. Best for those with narrow feet)
Performance: B-
 (Heavy, stiff and soft. Best for daily mileage. Awkward transition)
Stability: C+ (Soft sole is unstable, particularly at the heel/early midfoot. Better natural stability at the forefoot)
DPT/Footwear Science: C+ (The higher stack height needs either more internal stability, a wider platform or stiffness in the appropriate areas. The forefoot is stiff with a soft heel, causing a great deal of stability and awkwardness with the transition)
Personal: C+ (Toebox tapers too much and the instability limits this shoe to 3-4 mile runs at most for me. I am not a fan of heavy, premium cushioned shoes though to be fair. )
Overall: B- (Solid shoe for those with Neutral/Narrow feet wanting a highly cushioned and slightly stiff ride)

Bach
Fit: B (Good heel and midfoot fit in line with most Mizuno shoes. Forefoot is a bit on the narrow side. Shoe runs a touch warm, but not unbearable in high humidity)
Performance: B-
(Forefoot weight and transition feels uncomfortable, though better over time but not as smooth as the Mizuno's other offerings)
Stability: B (Slightly wide base helps, but mixture of no ground contact on arch for a wider shoe and soft foam leaves the shoe somewhere in the middle)
DPT/Footwear Science: C+ (Enerzy Core is exciting, but implementation is not ideal here due to the construction of the shoe)
Personal: B-  (I really wanted to like the Wave Sky and enjoy certain aspects of it - the general fit worked for despite the narrowness, and the foam feels good on foot - but the implementation doesn't feel 100% there)
Overall: B- (Some exciting things ahead for Mizuno that are featured here including the Enerzy Core. Considering ride of this version though, I would point others to the rest of Mizuno's 2021 line before fully recommending this)

Nathan

Fit: B (Just a bit narrow and short, but nice upper material and lock down)
Performance: B-
 (Enerzy Core feels great, just a bit clunky on transitions)
Stability: C (Soft foam, higher stack, narrow midfoot, lacking full contact)
Personal: B- (Enjoy the pop, but too soft for my liking)
Overall: B-
 

David
Fit: B (narrow toe box, some heel slippage)
Performance:
B (Good ride overall but heel to toe transitions could be smoothed out, forefoot outsole/firmness)
Stability: B (Pretty good for high cushion, but still a little bit stability demands through heel or turning)
DPT/Footwear Science: B (I like the idea and direction, but integration can be better, heel and forefoot refinement, midsole is great though)
Personal: B (I like the shoe, but I don't love the shoe. Transitions could be a little smoother. I like ENERZY CORE though)
Overall: B (Good but not great... high cushioned neutral workhorse trainer)

SHOP | SUPPORT DOR

Shope Mizuno at Running Warehouse here. Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!

Adios Pro 2: Fast, fun, and effective for those who need guidance due to overpronation
Mizuno Wave Rider 25: New full length Enerzy is a simple joy. Soft, flexible forefoot is unique
New Balance Rebel V2
:
Fast, fun, and surprisingly versatile

Rabbit Running Clothes: Incredibly soft, high quality clothing for your next run
Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Coros Pace 2 Watch: Excellent watch for various running goals and a massive battery life
Theragun Massager: This small version is great on the go for working tired legs

FURTHER READING

Find all of our shoe reviews here.

Compare Max Cushioned Trainers
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New Balance Fresh Foam More v3 -
The softest offering yet in the NB line
Hoka Clifton 8 - 
The classic cushioned trainer that helped spark a maximal movement returns for it's 8th edition
Saucony Endorphin Shift 2 - 
Big stack of cushioning meets speedroll for a smooth sailing trainer

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New Balance Rebel V2 Update by Contributor Nathan Brown (7/28)
Podcast Episode 51: DOR Mailbag, Part 2
Adidas Adios Pro 2 Review - The Adios Pro gets retuned for Version 2, and there's a lot to like.

Thanks for reading!

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TESTER PROFILES:


Matthew Klein, PT DPT OCS FAAOMPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists

Dr. Matthew Klein is a 150 lb male with notable PRs of 14:45 for 5k and 2:32:44 for the full marathon.  He typically runs 70-100 miles per week and trains at a variety of paces from 8min per mile recovery runs to 4:40 per mile 1k repeats.  He prefers firmer and responsive shoes with snug heels and medium to wide toe boxes.  The stability guy of the group, he also prefers a little stability in his footwear. However, as a researcher, clinician and running shoe aficionado, he will run in anything. 

David Salas PT DPT CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 to 70 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes.  He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing, 

Nathan Brown PT DPT MS
Doctor of Physical Therapy 
Masters in Anatomy and Clinical Health Science
Movement Performance Institute Certified in Advanced Functional Biomechanics 

Dr. Brown is a 155 lb male with notable PRs of 18:18 5K, 39:25 10K, 1:29:01 half marathon, and 3:54 marathon. He typically runs between 20-40 miles per week at a variety of paces from 7:30-8:30 min/mile for recovery runs to 6-6:45 min/mile for tempo runs. He typically prefers shoes that provide some cushioning underfoot but still maintain a more firm and responsive feel. Current goals for 2020 are to break the 1.5 hour half marathon and 3:30 marathon.

Bach Pham MS
Marketing and Social Media Manager
Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology

Bach Pham is a 140 lb male with PRs of 23 5K, 52 10K. He typically runs between 25-35 miles per week at a variety of paces between 8:30 (tempo) -10:00 (recovery) min/miles. He typically prefers shoes that provide some mild to firm cushioning underfoot that is lightweight and responsive. Currently his goals are to complete the half and marathon distances.

Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your
local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

***Disclaimer: These shoes were provided free of charge in exchange for a review.  We thank the  people at Mizuno USA for sending us a pair.  This in no way affected the honesty of this review. We systematically put each type of shoe through certain runs prior to review. For trainers and performance trainers, we take them on daily runs, workouts, recovery runs and a long run prior to review (often accumulating anywhere from 20-50 miles in the process). For racing flats we ensure that we have completed intervals, a tempo or steady state run run as well as a warm up and cool down in each pair prior to review. This systematic process is to ensure that we have experience with each shoe in a large variety of conditions to provide expansive and thorough reviews for the public and for companies. Our views are based on our extensive history in the footwear industry and years testing and developing footwear. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

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