Category: Reviews & Giveaways
The New {Shoe} Love of My Life
| January 21, 2013 | Posted by Lauren under Reviews & Giveaways |
First, it was the Guide 5s.
Then I discovered the lightweight, 4mm offset Mirage 2s and declared myself in love.
…a love that burned strong until the day the Mirage 3s showed up at my door…
New releases of my favorite running shoes scare me. So much so that I typically stockpile the current version, trying to delay making the switch as long as I can. One of the worst feelings in the world is when a company takes a shoe you’ve loved and “upgrades” — a term that usually translates to “ruins” — them. I hate when they mess with a good thing!
So I’ll admit that I was a little mistrusting of the 3s at first. When they arrived, they just looked and felt so different. I could barely believe they were the same shoe…couldn’t imagine loving them as much as my favorite, magical pair.
I had every intention to take it slow. To not give my heart away so quickly to something that would only prove to break it later on. The 2s had given me so much, I didn’t want to just turn my back on them.
But I had to admit that the shoes felt great from the second I slipped them on. The fit was different, but not in a bad way. I hesitantly laced up my new pink beauties for a test run, half expecting to hate them. If all went well, I would slowly work them into my rotation — still running primarily in the 2s to make sure that the new Mirage 3s actually felt okay on the run.
It only took a couple runs. A short adjustment period to get used to the flexibility and the new structure of shoe’s bottom. And after that, I was a goner. I suddenly found myself reaching for these shoes all the time. I still think of my 2s fondly, but it’s been hard to lace them up while my new love sits idly by. Saucony made a lot of changes in this new version, but I’m happy to report that (from my perspective, anyway) all of them are positive upgrades.
So what’s so good about these new shoes anyway?
The Weight
At 7.5 ounces for a women’s 8, this new version is about an ounce lighter than the Mirage 2s. Still not as light as the Kinvara 3, but getting closer! And I can tell you, the Mirage’s weight loss is definitely noticeable. The new version feels impossibly light — closer to a racing flat than a trainer. But don’t worry, the lighter weight doesn’t mean less support. The Mirage 3s still give you the same amount of guidance as their predecessor.
The Fit
The lighter weight isn’t the only thing the Mirage 3 has in common with racing flats. Saucony implemented its FlexFilm technology in the shoe’s upper, something that was previously used only in the Kinvara and racing shoes. This new design makes the shoe more flexible, contributing to an overall better fit.
The first thing I noticed when I slipped on the Mirage 3s was how well they fit to my foot — both due to the new FlexFilm upper and the way that the back seems to cup my heel tighter. In other words, these babies felt secure. As much as I have loved my Mirage 2s, my one complaint was that they never seemed to fit as securely around my heel as I wanted them to.
I no longer have that problem.
The Feel
As I mentioned above, these babies fit like a glove. The shoe definitely has more to it in the midfoot area than the previous version. This was never uncomfortable, but it did take me a couple of short runs to get used to the way it felt underneath my foot. My foot still felt supported, and running in these now feels completely natural. The changes in the design help support a midfoot strike even better than the Mirage has before.
And as an added bonus, the bottom of the shoe has more/deeper grooves in the forefoot and heel, adding to their ability to grip the ground — something I appreciate as the temperatures drop and the roads become covered in snow.
Please excuse the dirt…a clear sign I’ve been running in them
The Look
There was something about my first pair of Mirages that reminded me a little bit of an orthopedic shoe — the white color, the thick sole….I couldn’t deny that it looked just a tad bit dorky. The green color that I fell in love with this past summer lessened that a bit, and it was obviously never something that affected my love for the shoe. This new design however, is just plain sleek. The toebox appears narrower (it’s not, but the design makes it look that way), and the overall profile is lower. The laces follow the shape of your foot more closely, giving the shoe less bulk. Just the look of the shoe makes it seem closer to the ground.
And if that’s not enough, look at these colors!
A screen grab stolen from the RunningShoes.com video – you can watch the full video here to learn more about the specs of the shoe.
Green with pink laces!? Be still my #teamwatermelon heart! Pretty sure I was destined to love this shoe.
Overall Thoughts
My love for the Saucony Mirages has been no secret. These shoes guided me back from a knee injury, helped me change my form and made me a more efficient runner. I realize that minimal shoes are not for everyone, and as with many things in life, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. I’m not in the camp that advocates ditching your traditional trainers and heel-striking ways if they are working for you. In fact, I spent a good, long time against changing myself until I realized that my form was no longer working….so basically I only made the switch under duress.
That being said, sometimes stubborn runners like myself just need a little push. And I’m so glad I got the push that led to the best running decision I’ve ever made. I’ve grown to love the feeling of being closer to the ground, and my stride just feels better. I’m not saying that my form is now perfect and that I never ever strike with my heels anymore (I’m way too good for that silly heel-striking thing now, you know!), but the change has worked for me. And these days I find my old traditional trainers so clunky and awkward. In my opinion, the Mirage is the perfect blend of support and minimal shoe.
If you are currently a Mirage 2 wearer, I wouldn’t expect to slip the 3s on and go for a long run. The fit and feel are noticeably different, and I definitely had to go through a (brief) adjustment period. I also learned that I needed to loosen the laces a bit from what I was used to. The looser fit of the Mirage 2s meant I felt like I had to pull the laces fairly tight across the top of my foot. I quickly realized that doing this with the 3s led to a lot of discomfort. I’m not sure if everyone will have this experience, but in my case the upper fits snugly enough that I don’t need to worry about tying the shoes so tight.
Overall I am so happy with the upgrade. Saucony took a shoe I already loved and made it even better — something that I really didn’t think possible. I would highly recommend this shoe to current Mirage wearers or those looking for a minimal shoe with a bit of guidance/support.
Unfortunately these beauties won’t hit shelves for another few weeks (scheduled release date: 2/1/13), but I promise they are worth the wait!
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Saucony provided me with the Mirage 3s due to my participation on the Saucony Hurricane team (and my very vocal love for the shoe!). I was not compensated for this post in any way. In fact, I chose to review the shoe simply out of my love for the new model and a desire to share the upgrades with anyone who may be interested. As always, all opinions are my own.
The Mirage Magic
| August 14, 2012 | Posted by Lauren under Reviews & Giveaways |
Otherwise known as the shoes that got me up and running again.
I almost returned the Mirage 2s without having run a single step in them.
It seems crazy to me now, considering how much I love them, but I almost didn’t want to even give the Mirages a chance. I ordered them months ago…right before the injury that left me sidelined for the entire spring. At the time, my interest in a more minimal shoe had been piqued by all the great things I was hearing about the Kinvaras, as well as my positive experience with the lighter and smaller heel to toe offest Saucony Guides. I was intrigued enough to want to try running in less shoe…but too nervous to take my over-pronating self out onto the roads without any guidance at all.
The Mirage 2 seemed like the perfect compromise. From the Saucony website:
RUN – Minimalism
Aesthetically faster with an improved fit, the Mirage 2 is minimally constructed, lightweight, incredibly responsive, and also provides just a touch of guidance for the neutral to slight overpronator. Weight: 8.0oz.
These shoes are basically marketed as a more stable version of the Kinvaras (*not having run in the Kinvaras, I cannot do an accurate comparison, but I do realize that in reality these are two very different shoes). There’s a little more support to the Mirages, making them geared toward individuals who are slight over-pronators but still want the minimalist experience. Although the shoe is made with Saucony’s ProGrid cushioning system (called “ProGrid Lite”), there really isn’t a whole lot there. The insole is flat and firm, lacking that pillowy or springy feeling that you have with traditional stability shoes. The Mirage isn’t really a true minimalist shoe, but to me, it may as well have been.
Before making the switch, I had been running in stability shoes that had extra cushioning in the heel and lots of arch support. The Mirage doesn’t have any of that. Although there is more of an arch than most minimalist shoes would have (as you can see from the picture below), that arch is much lower than I was used to. The first time I tried on the shoe, I was struck by how little there was to it.
And then I started having ankle problems, which turned into knee problems, which led to a long spring of no running. I put the Mirages on the shelf, figuring that this was probably the universe’s (or my body’s) way of telling me that I needed to stick to a more supportive shoe from now on. In the end I decided to keep the Mirages, but only for walking around.
The more I walked in the shoe, however, the more I realized that I liked it. It wasn’t long before the lack of cushioning started to feel normal. The shoe seemed to mold to my foot in a way that my traditional running shoes never did — to the point where I just stopped noticing them. I realized that the shoe itself was even more responsive than I expected, and that I preferred the “closer to the ground” feel that it allowed. It got to the point where switching back to a more traditional running shoe felt awkward and clunky, even on walks. Soon I was wearing the Mirages all the time.
I still wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to try running in them though.
But as my injury progressed, I started doing a lot of reading about less traditional ways to combat knee pain. Even though the conventional wisdom seems to be that knee problems are indicative of a need for more support, I started discovering people who had gotten rid of their pain by running with less. I thought a lot about my poor running mechanics, and realized that I should be working toward fixing the problem, not finding a bandaid to cover it up. Frustrated with my lack of progress and desperate for a solution, I finally decided to give the Mirages a try.
The first run was only partially successful. I had tried running again too soon, and the knee pain came back after a few miles. But in those first two miles, the difference I felt was remarkable. It was enough to motivate me to give them another try.
These days I run exclusively in the Mirages and can wholeheartedly say that I love this shoe. I’m on my second pair, and have slowly made my way into the double-digits. Although the longest I’ve run in them so far has been 14 miles, I’m confident that they will hold up to the load of marathon training.
With each run, I am finding it easier to adjust to my new shorter stride. The shoe encourages a midfoot strike, which means that the days of me landing heavily on my heel with each step are finally over. I love how light they are, I love the way they feel on my feet, but most of all, I love how they’ve helped me run pain-free again.
The only negative that I’ve experienced so far is just in terms of my adjustment to the shoe. Because of the lack of cushioning and guidance, I can definitely feel my feet and calves working harder than they’ve had to before. The shoe felt comfortable from the start in that they never gave me any blisters or rubbed the wrong way, but the fatigue in my lower legs was tough to get used to at first. Especially when combined with my overall “out of shapeness” (yes that’s now a word) and the difficulty I was having adjusting to my new stride. It’s gotten better for the most part, but on longer runs I can feel my legs getting tired. And then on my 14 mile run this past weekend, the bottoms of my feet started hurting during the last couple of miles. I don’t know if they were just extra tired, or perhaps they still aren’t used to taking such a huge pounding. I know that I need to build up strength and so I’m hoping that I won’t feel this way over time. But if you have any experience with in this area, please share!
Only time will truly tell how they hold up over the course of training, but so far – I’m a believer in the Mirage Magic.
The awesome green color doesn’t hurt either…
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*These shoes aren’t for everyone, but they work great for me. If you aren’t sure what type of running shoe would work best for you, I highly suggest going to a running specialty store so that an associate can evaluate your stride and fit you. And remember to ease your way into a more minimalist shoe slowly in order to avoid injury.
If you have any questions about how I changed my stride/decided to switch to a more minimalist shoe, please drop me an email!
The Shoes Made Me a Believer
| January 25, 2012 | Posted by Lauren under Reviews & Giveaways, Running |
Dear Asics,
I have a confession to make.
I have been cheating on you. Big time.
Anyone who knows me and my history as a runner will know what a big deal that last statement was. I grew up in Asics, and have been running in the same shoes since the 90′s. When it comes to racing flats, I’ll try any brand. I’ve raced in most major shoe brands and had great results. But when it comes to my trainers? Well I’m loyal to a fault.
Until recently, that is…
When I heard about the new line of Saucony shoes and saw this video.
The Saucony ProGrid Guide 5 shoes have a heel-to-toe offset of only 8 mm. For comparison, the offset in the average running shoes is 12 mm. It may not seem like much, but let me tell you – that 4 mm makes a huge difference when you’re running. I will never actually transition to barefoot running (yes, I know that is a big statement but I can confidently tell you that I do not buy into the merits of running barefoot or in shoes that make it seem like you are barefoot. If you ever see a picture on this blog of me in a pair of VFFs, assume I’ve been hacked. Anyway, I digress…), but I do like the idea of shoes that are a bit more minimalistic than my usual trainers. These shoes are not only lighter, but the smaller heel-to-toe offset ensures that you land further forward on your foot. As someone who has major problems with heel-striking (see Exhibit A below), I knew I could benefit from a different shoe.
This hurts me just looking at it!
The smaller heel-to-toe offset in the shoe also allows for a greater range of motion with your calf/achilles, giving you a more powerful stride. Which, in turn, can help you run faster. (I am in complete support of that!) And if that’s not enough, the shoe boasts cushioning and some support for pronators like myself.
Knowing all of that, I was very excited to test out a pair…but a bit nervous about how my stability-shoe-loving legs would react. As soon as I picked up a pair and felt how light they were, I couldn’t wait to take them out of a spin.
The honest truth – it was love at first run. Not only did my feet feel so light and free, but I felt like I was running on pillows. The shoes were everything they were marketed to be. Light, responsive, fit great to the shape of my foot. All thoughts of my old trainers were out the window.
I have been running in the shoes for a couple of months now, with a little break in between due to a problem I experienced in the heel with my first pair. However, I was sent a replacement pair and have not had the same problem – they fit and feel great! Because I am not used to running in any sort of minimalist shoe and the Guide 5 shoes very clearly change my stride, I have purposely kept my transition very slow. I don’t run in the shoes everyday, and the longest I’ve run in them so far is 7.3 miles. I’m interested to see how they hold up over the course of marathon training.
For those of you who like bulleted lists, here are the major pros and cons of the Guide 5s (vs. my usual trainers – the Asics 2160s).
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Cushioned and supportive – I don’t feel like any of the cushioning was lost when making the shoe lighter and my over-pronating feet feel very supported.
- I land more on my mid-foot! This change was pretty much instantaneous. The first time I ran in the shoe, I was actually taken aback by the loud “slap, slap, slap” sound I was hearing as my feet hit the pavement. I quickly realized this was happening because I wasn’t absorbing all of the impact with my heel anymore, which made me land heavier on the front of my feet. This has gotten better as I’ve gotten used to the shoe and the change in stride.
- As an added bonus – my stride is better in my old shoes too. On the treadmill the other day, I could see that I was landing less on my heel and more on my mid-foot, even while wearing my old trainers. (Though this changes when I get tired or start to run really fast).
And finally, now when I switch back to my old trainers, I honestly feel like I’m running on bricks. Those shoes were built for support and cushioning. But they feel so hard, clunky and unweilding in comparison.
Cons
So far, any con that I’ve experienced is simply due to the fact that the Guide 5s have literally changed my stride and the way that I run.
- Uncomfortable rubbing on my arches/toes that is leading to some new calluses. This is expected, since the shoe not only fits my foot differently, but is changing the way my foot hits the ground. I am hoping it will go away as I become accustomed to the change in my stride. And my toes are pretty callused anyway, so what’s one more?!
- Soreness in my calfs. Again, I think this is because I’m not completely used to the shoe. And when I switch back and forth between the 8 mm offset and the 12 mm offset shoes, my calf muscles get a bit confused.
The bottom line: The Sauconys are here to stay. My feet have found a new love.
I’m still not running in them 100% of the time yet, but I plan to keep building up. At the very least, I’ve been loving these shoes for shorter runs and speed workouts.
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I received a free pair of Guide 5s to test out and review. But as always, my opinions are my own. I would never recommend a product I don’t like or believe in. And I love these shoes so much that I intend to buy another pair when these ones are worn out.
Team Sparkle Skirt Giveaway Winner
| November 7, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Reviews & Giveaways |
Thank you to all of you who entered my Team Sparkle Skirt Giveaway! I got so many great responses about why you want one of these awesome skirts and where you would wear them – so many that I really wish I could give one of these everyone who entered. I’ve only done a couple of giveaways on my blog, but I’ve quickly realized that the worst part about them is having to pick only one winner. It doesn’t seem fair to disappoint so many of you.
But…I know I’ve made you wait long enough. So without further ado, the lucky winner of a Team Sparkle Skirt in the color of their choosing is….
Comment #33, which Brigid won with her Tweet about the giveaway.
Congrats Brigid! Please send me an email with your information and we will get that out to you ASAP.
Thanks again to everyone who entered!! I’m sorry I can’t spread the Team Sparkle love to every single one of you.
Team Sparkle Skirt Giveaway
| October 25, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Reviews & Giveaways |
After a long, hot summer of many training ups and downs, marathon week is finally here! I’m trying to stay relaxed, rest a lot, and focus on positive thinking to help me run strong next Sunday.
If that fails, I’m adopting the following strategy:
(Source)
To get my mind off the race and celebrate the end of another training cycle, I figured we should do something fun. And what’s more fun than a sparkly giveaway?
I know you’ve seen them – those flashy, sequined skirts that powered Team After-nuun Delight 200 miles across the state of Oregon. And if you’ve been thinking about buying a Team Sparkle skirt of your very own, today is your lucky day. The girls at Team Sparkle have generously agreed to provide one Health on the Run reader with a Sparkle Skirt in the color/size of their choosing.
Now I know what you might be thinking: Running skirts are not for me. I’ll stick to my less girly articles of clothing, thankyouverymuch.
If that’s the case, I wouldn’t really blame you. I’m not really a skirt person either. In fact, when I tried a running skirt for the first time last spring, I was less than impressed. So I’ll admit that I some doubts about running in a skirt for the entire Hood to Coast relay.
But then I tried it on. I loved the way it fit over any running bottoms that I wanted to wear, spandex or not. And I loved the way it moved when I ran.
My first run in the skirt was through the hottest temperatures I had raced in all summer. Yet suddenly it didn’t matter. For over 6 miles on black unshaded asphalt, my fellow relay runners and I battled the heat. And the skirt that I thought would annoy me for the entire run ended up being the best thing about it. There’s nothing like tearing down a long stretch of road wearing a flashy racing outfit. When I started passing people in that flashy green skirt, I was hooked.
The girls who were wearing the sparkle skirts soon became recognizable on the relay course. Which only fueled my determination to run faster. Running fast when you’re dressed the part and people sort of expect it is one thing. But when you’re decked out in a sparkling skirt and matching from head to toe?
Something else, altogether.
And if you think the skirts are only for females, think again. There have been some super fast male runners who have been known to rock a sparkle skirt.
Have I convinced you yet? If you’d like to win a skirt from Team Sparkle, here’s all you need to do:
Like Team Sparkle on Faceboook and leave a comment (here) that you did.
I typically don’t love giveaways that make things complicated for readers to win something, but then again, it’s nice to have a few extra chances to win, right? So if you want extra entries, you can*:
- Leave a comment telling me why you want a Team Sparkle skirt and/or where you’d wear it
- Follow @runTeamSparkle on Twitter
- Like Health{ontherun} Blog on Facebook
- Blog/tweet/share this giveaway somehow, with someone. For example: I want to win the @runTeamSparkle giveaway from @HealthontheRun
*Please leave a separate comment for each entry
Edited to add: Contest will run through Tuesday, November 1st. (Sorry I left out that very important detail!)
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Team Sparkle has provided me with one skirt to give to a reader. Although the company also provided my team with sparkle skirts to wear during the Hood to Coast relay last August, I did not receive anything else in exchange for this giveaway. I truly love the product and would like to spread that love to a reader.
Winner will receive one Team Sparkle skirt in the color/size of their choosing and will have a week to claim their prize before a backup winner is chosen.
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