Happy Monday! Well, I’m back in Chicago and back at it… but I keep reminding myself that in less than 2 weeks I’ll be in Charleston for a friend’s wedding, and then in 4 weeks I’ll be home again! I think I can, I think I can…
As I mentioned briefly in my post yesterday, I got a new pair of running shoes! I’ve been wearing Asics, which I bought in June, wore through marathon training in September, and then bought the updated version 4 weeks out from the marathon.
I ran the marathon in these shoes and I really loved them. However, they are a stability shoe and one of the most supportive stability shoes that Asics makes. After going over my stride with my physical therapist, she says it looks pretty good. I hit the ground flat and don’t seem to have many issues. Since I’ve been having IT Band issues since wearing these shoes (I also realize it’s since upping my mileage considerably as well for marathon training), I thought it couldn’t hurt to try out a neutral shoe.
For those of you who aren’t quite as fluent in running speak, there are generally 3 types of shoes: Stability, Neutral, and Minimalist. I already know I’m not a big fan of minimalist and that would be a HUGE jump for my feet. These are the shoes with the least amount of padding. Stability shoes have more padding and are made for people who pronate, and or turn on the side of their feet when they hit the ground. Neutral shoes are the in-between.
I decided to head to Dick’s Sporting Goods since I’d been there earlier in the week and saw they had a huge selection of shoes. I tried on a few myself and then managed to find a sales manager who knew a lot about shoes. After talking with him about various brands and options, I decided to try out a new brand: MIZUNO!
I’ve worn Adidas, Asics, Brooks and Saucony but I’ve never tried Mizuno. After hearing about them on Hungry Runner Girl and STUFT Mama, I thought it was worth a shot. Plus, my mom offered to get me a new pair, so I thought it was worth the risk!
The pair I chose is the Wave Rider 15:
From their website:
What makes Wave Rider 15 different?
By combining the best qualities of every Wave Rider that came before it, Mizuno has created its masterpiece with the Wave Rider 15. While the pendulum in running may swing from one extreme to another, the genius of the Wave Rider 15 is found through its harmonious balance of a lightweight feel, wrapped-to-foot fit and exquisitely smooth ride, ultimately producing a brilliant running experience.
I tried them out for a 1 mile run on the treadmill and I was a little nervous, but once I got into the groove I found I really liked them.
They feel like they’re molded to my feet, and I’ve never run in such a light shoe! We’ll see how they work once I’m able to put a few more miles on them.
Do you stick to one brand of shoe, or do you try new ones?
Are you training for a race right now, or have you run one recently?