Running Shoe Reviews

 Coming soon- From the old to the new. What are feet really thought.

UPDATE 02-15-22

Walt- Now that all the “run with your hearts”, “love on the run” and “be my valentine runs” are neatly packed away in our cardiac sweetened memories until next year I thought it might be a good time to break out the running shoe reviews from our team. 2021 for me saw the addition of one trainer and one race day shoe. First the trainer.  The Nike Zoom Fly 4. 

I know this has been reviewed a million times so I will not bore you with all the specs. I will tell you that I  find the shoe very heavy, 9.6 oz per Nike, and my feet can corroborate that for sure. I made the horrible mistake of strapping these bad boys on and heading to the track. Ran my warm up first mile at about 1/3 race pace and my feet were screaming at me to take them off, NOW! They felt comfortable but really sluggish, like I was running through water. But I persevered and picked up the pace for the second mile. This is where the Fly 4 excels... With each step I could feel the shoe pushing me forward, or propelling me forward as others have touted, and the mid foot spring action felt amazing. I cruised through the next 3 miles barely noticing the shoes were even on my tootsies. I finished up with ten 100 meter sprints and called it a day. An hour later I felt calf and thigh pain and experienced some serious cramps. Therefore my suggestion is that you 1) wear the shoe and walk for awhile to get used to the feel and motion. I made the mistake of jumping in with both feet. 2). These are great training shoes for faster runs, perhaps tempo runs or speed drill days. They are demoralizing should you use them for slow pace days or easy runs. Bottom Line: I have used them now for 6 months a couple times a week and they are holding up better than many of the reviewers led me to believe. Normal wear and tear on the sole but the uppers and box are in good shape and they still have great spring action. I paid $140 for the Fly 4 which was comparable to what I was paying for my previous trainers. I would recommend that you go a half size larger than your normal shoe size. I am a size 9 and they were too tight. I had to get a 9 and a half. These are the perfect training complement to the Vaporfly Next % 2. 

Elena - I have been an Adidas Ultraboost supporter since 2017. I thought I would try the 2021 iteration of the Adidas Ultraboost.

I have been such a big fan of the Ultraboost that I still have my first pair from 2017. I was excited to try the 2021 Adidas Ultraboost 21, especially with the recycled material usage (which is wonderfully progressive and proactive), and their touted upgrades.  But... I was severely disappointed. They are heavier than the previous versions (11.1 ounces vs. 9.5 ounces) which I guess qualifies them as a training shoe but I found the entire shoe stiff, tight in all the wrong places, and quite frankly unflattering. Even after the break in period, which had never been necessary for me before, they still felt clunky and the boost foam that I loved so much previously, disappoints. I guess if I keep with Walt’s Valentine’s Day theme I would have to say I was broken hearted to learn that I would have to give my heart to another brand. I will have updates on my newly purchased Brooks Ghost 14 and Nike Infinity

Walt- Updated March 21,2022 - The Nike Vapor Fly Next % 2 - I know, I know, the Next % 3 is just around the corner but what can I tell you, it took time to save up, save up and save up for these. $250 smackers. 

And I know that everyone under the sun has given their rave review or nay review over the past year and I am a little late to the party. However, here is my unbiased, non sponsored, having to pay these on my own, review. First off, these weigh in at a feathery 6.9 ounces and once you lace them up they fit like a dream. The toe box is wider than the Zoom Fly 4 in my opinion making it an extremely comfortable ride. Everyone knows about the carbon fiber plates and the fly knit uppers. I have read some reviews that say the toe box is sloppy. I find that ridiculous. The fly knit material fits around the toes like a breathable glove, as least my toes anyway. An interesting feature is the off centered laces which keeps the pressure off the center anterior foot apparently, but in my case this has never been a problem. But it is unique and I find it cool. I have also read other reviews about the “looks” being absurd and odd. To each their own but I have no problem with the esthetics of this running shoe. Anyway, the proof is in the proverbial pudding and I took these out for a test run and was immediately impressed. All this nonsense about a sloppy fit, or heel slippage and/or balance issues just did not manifest. Not on the 1st mile, not on the 5th mile. Not the next day or the day after that. Maybe I just have perfect tootsies for these babies who knows. 

Next I probably committed the cardinal running faux pas of all running faux pas, I ran a race with them having only run with them twice in training. I thought Hermes was going to split open the streets of the 5K course and smite me down but…I was running too quickly to be caught up in that nonsense. I ran the fastest first mile I have ever run. The subsequent miles went by nearly as quickly. By the time I crossed the finish line I had a personal best and a first place medal for my age group (60 plus). Was it all from the shoes? Was it just one of those perfect days? I do not know for sure but I can tell you that in my mind it was the shoes. Of course only time will tell. I will be wearing them at the upcoming Carlsbad 5000 and the International race both happening within the next couple of months. I do believe that my training in the Zoom Fly 4 dovetailed nicely into the Next % 2 for the race. 

Mind over matter? Shoe over mind? If you do not mind it does not matter? I took the shoes off after the race for the podium ceremony as i did not want to lose my balance up there. Just kidding. I did not want to get them dirty lol. 

UPDATE March 28, 2022

I let my Nike Vapor Fly Next % 2 out for its second race yesterday. The International Race in Reynosa, MX. While I did not win the race, not even my age group, however I still came through with a Personal Best 23:55. That is two in a row. They say once is luck, twice is a coincidence and the third is a pattern. So……now I have to wait and see what the third holds for me. I know it seems crazy but it felt like the shoes would not let me quit (read as slow down) at any point during the race. The shoes are still in great shape and I am looking forward to Carlsbad 5000 to see if threes a charm.