Saucony Endorphin Pro: The ARM Review
In the carbon fiber arms race taking over the running industry, the new Saucony Endorphin Pro is Excalibur, Zeus’ mighty thunderbolt, or, perhaps even the Infinity Gauntlet. It is top-tier, a thing of beauty, and an absolute monster on the roads. There are two necessary questions to answer when assessing the new wave of carbon fiber plated racing shoes. First, what is the shoe like? Very important. Second, how does it stack up compared to the gold standard that the the Nike Vaporfly, and now Alphafly, series has set? Perhaps more important. Let’s dive in. Out of the box, the Endorphin Pro will make you tear up a little bit. Mostly because the shoe is truly beautifully designed, but also because of a noticeable chemical smell from the shoes (don’t worry, it fades pretty quickly). The shoe is flashy and bold with the mostly white color scheme, but it’s not…
What Running Socks Are and Why They Matter
At its core, running is simple — put on the shoes, lace them up, and get going. You really don’t need much more to get by, right? Well, maybe not. Let’s take a closer look at, yes, the humble sock. First, we need to say farewell to our old friend, cotton. Cotton: soft, lightweight, natural — what’s not to like? Unfortunately, one of the most important characteristics of cotton is that the material absorbs moisture, rather than repelling it. What does that mean for running? When you sweat, your cotton apparel, including your socks, absorbs that sweat and keeps it on your body. Combine that with friction from movement, and you often get abrasive rubbing, blistering, and chafing. In other words, no fun. Your generic athletic sock from a department store 6-pack is likely made mostly of cotton. Those socks cover your feet, but don’t protect them. The main causes of blisters…
Do I Really Need Trail Running Shoes?
Now that we’re getting into spring weather, you’re looking into running trails! But, if you’re just starting out, do you really need dedicated trail shoes? Can you just get by with your road shoes? Do you really need to make another investment in a second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) pair? There is no one answer to this question — answers all start with “Depends on [blank]”. So, let’s consider a few of those blanks and examine why you should really go grab yourself a good pair of trail running shoes! One question I ask trail runners-to-be is what kind of trails they’re planning to run. Runners can get really liberal with the term “trail” — it can mean everything from a flat dirt path adjacent to a road to gnarly mountain climbs and steep cliffside trails. A lot of the time it’s the former, and they’ll be just fine…
Here’s When to Replace Running Shoes
We’re all guilty of having that one pair of shoes that, no matter what trouble they’re giving us or how beat down they look, we just can’t seem to get rid of. It may have given you some awesome miles, gotten you your half marathon PR, or were your first real pair of running shoes. You may not even realize they’re causing you that extra soreness in your knees and ankles! It’s hard to know exactly when to replace running shoes, but one thing’s for sure — using them past their expiration dates can cause real and lasting problems. So, how long do running shoes last? Here are a few ways to check to see if your running shoes are worn out! You’ve logged too many miles on them Most shoe manufacturers suggest 300 to 400 miles for any given pair of trainers. While we can assume they shoot on the…
How Should My Running Shoes Fit? – The Glass Slipper Paradigm
In a kingdom far, far away, a minimalist, neutral runner who preferred to feel the ground spent her days looking for the perfect shoe for her running and everyday wear in between her cleaning shifts at her stepmother’s home. The Altra Escalante was too wide in the toe box. The Saucony Freedom was too much shoe. The Asics DS Trainer would squeeze her toes. It wasn’t until she met her Fairy Godmother that, along with a pretty white dress and pumpkin-turned-carriage, she was blessed with the perfect fitting glass slipper. Her foot had never felt such pure bliss, and after a series of events, the perfect fit was how she eventually found her prince and lived happily ever after. This completely unaltered, faithfully retold tale of Cinderella teaches us of the importance of finding the right fitting running shoe. You may find a shoe with the right amount of cushion,…
What is a Gait Analysis and Why Should Every Runner Get One?
I can’t remember which pair of shoes I bought when I first got into running a few years ago — and that’s a problem! Like a lot of fellow novice runners, I bought something online that looked like a pair of running shoes, threw them on, and hit the pavement. The pavement hit back, and everything hurt — shin splints, calf soreness, and quads that felt like they’d been on the wrong end of a meat tenderizer. But, that’s the price of getting into running, right? Not necessarily. Turns out, running doesn’t (always) have to be painful. It all starts with getting into the right pair of running shoes for you, and odds are you’re not going to get them by accident. That’s where the gait analysis comes in. The gait analysis — a detailed look at the way you move when running to determine which shoe is right for you — is…
HOKA Skyward X
The Plushest Ride on the Road Big Moves…Launches April 25th…. Pushing soft and smooth to the extreme, this cushy new trainer features a revolutionarysuspension system with a convex carbon fiber plate that allows the suspension system tocompress and spring back with each step. CARBON FIBER PLATEBows in the middle for an amazinglysuspended feeling SUPER CRITICAL EVAROCKER FRAMESupports the MetaRocker™ for aconsistently smooth, easy ride TARGET CONSUMER:Core runner looking to maximize efficiency and miles