As a lover of all things running, I am always on the look out for the lightest shoe. Talk to any experienced runner and they will more than likely tell you the same thing. Obviously we are all built differently which means we all have different needs when it comes to choosing the right shoe, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. But does choosing a minimalist shoe benefit long term?
In 2010, I made the switch from heavy duty brick shoes (aka Asics Gel Kayanos) to Newton's (minimalist forefoot running shoe). I eventually moved onto Saucony Kinvara's (thanks to the recommendation of my coach and running guru, Owain Matthews) and have been running in Saucony's for about 3 years (I used the Saucony RIDE for marathon training and the Kinvara for runs under 10km/triathlons).
Most people who know me know that I love Saucony shoes, and probably always will, especially for racing. They have come a long way over the years in terms of upgrades. They're super light, they feel fast, they're comfortable and they get me through 10km of running when I am off the bike. However, there is a fine line between being comfortable in the first 5km and my feet being in agony in the last 5km. I guess I just learned to put up with the pain.
Given my child size calves and skinny asian ankles, I have always had issues with my achilles. Thankfully (touch wood), I've never had a serious injury such as a tear or being unable to run for more than a week. But this season, I started feeling pain in the arch of my foot, mid way through the run. Then after the race, I would be limping for two days because my calves and achilles were so tight.
No amount of stretching or icing helped. I just boiled it down to racing hard and running fast, but as the season went on, it became less and less of a 'normal' feeling and hobbling around was not ideal.
I thought winter would be the perfect time to try new shoes. I'm always hesitant to change what I know and love, but I figured I had nothing to lose. ENTER, EPIC MOON BOOTS!
Now I know what you're thinking because I had the exact same thoughts when I first saw a pair of HOKA's in store:
"Oh my god, those things are huge!"
"They're like Sketchers!"
"They remind me of those hideous toning shoes!"
"The 80's called. They want their bowling shoes back."
But before you judge a book by its cover, they are actually not as displeasing to the eye in real life and when you pick up a pair, they are just as light as a pair of Saucony Kinvara's or Newton's. So tonight, I gave them a 5km test drive and all the reviews were right; lightweight, comfortable and you literally feel like you are running on pillows! I rate these 100% for stability AND I didn't get any calf or achilles pain whatsoever afterwards. Winning! I'm looking forward to doing some longer runs in them to see how my feet hold up. Watch this space!
In 2010, I made the switch from heavy duty brick shoes (aka Asics Gel Kayanos) to Newton's (minimalist forefoot running shoe). I eventually moved onto Saucony Kinvara's (thanks to the recommendation of my coach and running guru, Owain Matthews) and have been running in Saucony's for about 3 years (I used the Saucony RIDE for marathon training and the Kinvara for runs under 10km/triathlons).
 |
| Saucony RIDE |
 |
| Saucony Kinvara 5 |
 |
| Me walking around after a race |
No amount of stretching or icing helped. I just boiled it down to racing hard and running fast, but as the season went on, it became less and less of a 'normal' feeling and hobbling around was not ideal.
I thought winter would be the perfect time to try new shoes. I'm always hesitant to change what I know and love, but I figured I had nothing to lose. ENTER, EPIC MOON BOOTS!
Now I know what you're thinking because I had the exact same thoughts when I first saw a pair of HOKA's in store:
"Oh my god, those things are huge!"
"They're like Sketchers!"
"They remind me of those hideous toning shoes!"
"The 80's called. They want their bowling shoes back."
But before you judge a book by its cover, they are actually not as displeasing to the eye in real life and when you pick up a pair, they are just as light as a pair of Saucony Kinvara's or Newton's. So tonight, I gave them a 5km test drive and all the reviews were right; lightweight, comfortable and you literally feel like you are running on pillows! I rate these 100% for stability AND I didn't get any calf or achilles pain whatsoever afterwards. Winning! I'm looking forward to doing some longer runs in them to see how my feet hold up. Watch this space!
A lot of people shy away from HOKA's because of how they look, but if you have shin, calf or achilles issues, or just want to feel comfortable on a long run without having to wear heavy bricks for shoes, I recommend you give them a go. I know a few people who have had various running-related injuries and once they have tried HOKA's, they don't want to run in anything else. You can check out one of the reviews online here.
I bought the Clifton 2's in grey and pink from Northside Runners in Crows Nest. Go and have a chat to the boys at the store. They really know their stuff when it comes to running shoes and are always super helpful. Massive thumbs up from me - I'm converted and I never thought I would say that about HOKA's!
So, who wants to join me for my next run on the moon?
#GiveHokasAChance
Happy running!
Bel
For more information on HOKA shoes, go to http://hokaoneone.com.au
