In 1972, the first official female competitors joined the starting line of the Boston Marathon. In 2022, females made up 43% of those finishing the 26.2 mile journey. I am so grateful for all the generations of female runners before me that have opened up the sport for the rest of us. Just one example of women taking up more space in the running world is in the shoe market where more and more brands…
This has been my first pair of ASICS since some old sneakers I had in high school, and now, I wish I hadn’t waited so long to try another pair. The ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 22 are the new lightweight, neutral running shoe offered by the company. After shipping issues (my fault) and about 100 miles put through them, let’s get to the fun part. First off, lets get the specs out of the way first. The…
Meg’s Impressions: When I had the opportunity to try out the new ZERØGRAND Outpace Running Shoe, the hardest part of the decision was which color to pick. The four options all had combinations that were stylish and looked more like something for the runway than my neighborhood sidewalks. I finally decided on the Black-Silver-Optic White option because I’m all about looking classy while running during a global pandemic. Aren’t you? The website recommended selecting a…
A new pair of shoes is always exciting, and my new HOKA ONE ONE Arahi were no different. This latest iteration of HOKA’s road running stability shoe features a medium cushion, breathable upper material (great for summer days), and a 5mm heel to toe drop. Knowing from previous models that HOKA runs a little bigger compared to other shoe brands I own, I ordered it half a size smaller than other running shoes, so if…
When I completed my first 50K I had a few thoughts. First was a variety of cuss words not appropriate to share on Run Oregon. Second was a desperate desire to sit down for a very long time. And third was some disappointment at finishing just after the cut-off (the race directors were kind and it was not a DNF, but still). Once my legs stopped hurting and my stomach stopped growling, it was…
In full disclosure, I have not picked up a pair of Reebok shoes or worn them since high school, more than a few years ago. While I prefer to train in lightweight shoes that can double as racers, it is very helpful to have dedicated race shoes. I have owned several over the years, and appreciate that their cost is offset by the fact that they are generally usable for several years. When initially shown…
Altra continues its dominance in the trail shoe market with its latest update to the Superior model. Version 4.0 is a major jump from 3.5, with many notable changes. The first big thing is the weight. Altra dropped 2 ounces with this latest edition, making it the lightest trail shoe in their lineup. They also made a major change to the midsole, moving away from Abound to something called Quantic, which is the name for…
Stride. Turnover. Cadence. Running is really the simplest form of sport, with the essence being the efficiency of those three actions. Seeing as the only part of our body that touches the ground is our feet, the gear we shod ourselves with is of utmost importance. With 22 years of running experience and countless miles, I can often pick a favorable shoe from a picture, which is exactly what I did with the Salomon Sonic…
The minimalist running shoe trend has a lot of appeal. Who can argue that letting the human foot behave as closely as possible to how nature intended is a logical idea? And when it comes to racing shoes, I’ve long favored the lightest, lowest-profile shoe available. But recently the pendulum had swung so far in the direction of minimalism that comfort had gotten a bad name. Cushioning had fallen out of fashion. And runners (and…
Over here in the Central Oregon trail shoe test lab, I received a pair of Altra Lone Peak 4’s to eat up the high desert dirt and rocks. Having had the distinct pleasure of racing in a pair of Altra King MT 1.5’s for the last few months, I was excited to try something else from the Altra trail shoe arsenal. Therefore, without further adieu, let’s break it down. Whenever I do shoe reviews, I…
