Friday, March 20, 2015

Mizuno Wave Inspire 10 Review

Generally speaking stability shoes come in quite a few varieties.  That said, I just took a pair of Mizuno Wave Inspire 10's out of the box for a quick 4k around the neighbourhood.  My first impression is that these shoes are built for comfort as well as stability control.  I wouldn't use these for speed work, but I would for a marathon.  They felt a bit heavy (despite their reputation for their lightness--they are purported to weigh 9.3 oz), which isn't a big deal since the comfort they provide more than makes up for the weight.

I ran a slow first kilometre (6:03) and followed with a faster 5-minute kilometre before settling in at a nice 5:30 pace.  This is where the Mizuno Wave Inspire 10 just blows me away: I thought I was going much slower than 5:30.  Wow.  When Runtastic advised me of my split, I almost couldn't believe how I was basically gliding along at my marathon race pace without even realizing it.

After my run, I stretched and had a nutrition shake and then took a look at the shoes.  The Mizuno Wave Inspire 10 looks and feels like a shoe for which a lot of care and inspiration went into designing.  The pairing of midnight blue and neon green trim with the silver logo looks even better in real life than it does online.  (I thought the green lace tips were a nice touch as well.)

To recap, the Mizuno Wave Inspire is a stability shoe for runners who overpronate.  It's a great training and marathon shoe, but for shorter racing distances you might want to stick to a lighter shoe.

Other reviewers will talk more technically about the foam and cushioning, so I'll stick keeping it real simple.  The Mizuno Wave Inspire 10's are a terrific running shoe.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Pools

After months and months of bone-chilling cold, Saskatoon is starting to thaw... and that means pools of water are forming on sidewalks, freezing to long dark blocks of ice, and thawing again.  On some stretches of the Meewasin trail off Spadina Crescent running is literally impossible without spikes, and even then it is hazardous.
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In other news, thanks to Voltaren (topical pain relieving gel), my calf cramping issues are subsiding.  But still, I think the key to preventing future soleus muscle injuries will be rely on how much I strengthen that muscle.
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The Saskatchewan Marathon is just 81 days away.