Skechers GoRun 2

This comes about 3 years late. But hey, better late than never. I first read about the Skechers Gorun back in 2012. Back then, Skechers had just embarked on the development of a running shoes and the review wasn't that great. Nevertheless, my curiosity was piqued and I was determined to get hold of one to try out. But being the kiam kanah, I wanted to get one at a more down to earth price since it was just for the purpose of trying. I waited and waited and Gorun 2 came and went and 3 came along. And finally I decided to buy. But not the Gorun 3 but the by now on offer Gorun 2. Beggars can't be chooser so I ended up with a blue shoe. My 2nd pair of all blue shoe after so many years. But the store didn't have any other color available. Worst of all, it was half size too small. I knew it the minute I put it on but so strong was my desire to try it, that I just went ahead. To be frank though, I quite like the color. That was back in the middle of last year and after that, it was left in the box for another 6 months before I finally took it out this year!

The Gorun 2 comes with a 4mm heel to toe drop and is considered a minimalist shoe. The upper is very breathable. And  it is light coming in at about 200 gm.

The heel counter is on the low side just like the tongue is pretty short too for my long feet at least.

The sole is what set the Gorun 2 apart from other running shoes. It comes with round studs which they called Pods. Not too sure what the various colors and design does but whatever it does though it must be doing something great for I am going to say it now, this is probably why I now consider this the best pair of running shoes I ever have!

So far I worn it for over more than 30 km and I am loving every km of it. Notwithstanding the fact that it is still half size too small. In my first run, I knew it was too small and because I have Morton's toe, it was a tight fit at the front although the width was just right. Not willing to give up on the shoe, in my next run, I decided to go sockless and bingo! Without the sock, the fit was just right and there was no blisters on my foot. Not at the heel where I expected or the side of the toe. Nothing. I was really delighted!

Cushioning. This is supposed to be a minimalist shoes and rightfully I do not expect much cushioning but it was there all right. Not a lot but enough to make the landing soft. And best of all, extremely comfortable. 

Traction: I ran mostly on road and in one instance, after a heavy downfall. There was no slippage even on the smooth concrete surfaces. Ground feel was good too. Obviously because this is not a trail shoe, I have not attempted to run in the trails with it. I think the upper appears to be a bit thin to take the toils of the trail. 

Flexibility. The shoe is rather flexible despite the presence of the many pods. The design of the pods forces the wearer to land on the midfoot and toe off properly. No way to land on the heel which is as it should be. I took it for a few hard runs with the longest distance at 10km and it works well especially the pushing off part.

Water Proofing. I ran once after a heavy downpour and maybe because I didn't deliberately run into puddles of water, my foot didn't get wet.

Overall, I would say this is by far the most comfortable running shoes I ever have. However, to date the longest distance I did in them was 10km and I am a bit apprehensive about going longer distance although I am aware many runners have already worn it for marathons. Maybe now that Gorun 4 is already out, I will go and see whether I can get a pair of Gorun 3 at a price below $100.00 with the correct sizing  and perhaps try to run a marathon in them. 

Saucony Kinvara 3

I really like my Kinvara. So much so that I am now into Kinvara 3. Wait a minute, I heard the Kinvara 5 is already out and I am 2 generation behind! So maybe I am not such a big fan of the Kinvara after all. But of course the reason why I am so behind is that I am the typical "kiamseap" guy and I will only pay less than $100.00 for a pair of shoes which means I have got to wait until the new season shoes are out and the last season shoes are on clearance. Like this pair of blue/white Kinvara 3.

Here it is compared to the Kinvara 2. Design wise it hasn't change much except for more colors and more aggressive looking lines and curves.

Performance wise I don't feel any great difference from the Kinvara 2 which is great. There are some improvements made to the materials. No time for the mumbo jumbo but they can be found here.

Anyway I like it so much that when I passed by the Royal Sporting House at Suntec and discovered it was on sale, I promptly bought another pair of the Kinvara 3, in a different colour of course!

Date of Purchase: 13 July 2013

From: Running Lab

Price: $109.00 after $50 trade in

Races::

Tokyo Marathon 2014

The North Face Hyper Track Guide

After I retired my last North Face trail shoe, I promptly went and bought another pair of North Face. This time attracted by the bright colors of the North Face Hyper Track Guide, I scooped it up at a good price as it was last season's shoe and on the way out.

Design: In the past, North Face has not been known for its colorful shoes. Both my 2 previous pair of NF were rather dull looking but this time round, NF has out done itself proud by coming up with nice beautiful colors and the Hyper Track Guide is just one of them.

The bright color extends to the sole with its striking yellow and blue color.

I especially like that they put the NR logo on the heel of the shoe instead of the usual side like everybody else does.

Weight: Coming in at about 280 gm, this has to be one of the lightest trail shoes ever produced by NF. As a comparison, my NF Sentinel weights in at 650 gm and my NF Arnuva Boa is a hefty 710 gm. Even my beloved Altra Lone Peak 1.5 is heavier at 345 gm!

Cushioning: There is sufficient cushioning. This is after all not a minimalist shoes. It has a 8mm heel to toe drop. It also lack the NF signature rock plate and is not meant for technical trail.  But one of the reason I bought this shoe apart from its color was that it is touted as a road cum trail shoe and where I am, the trails are short and there are always plenty of roads in between the trails. And our trails are fairly easy to run on and not very technical indeed. So I figured this will be a suitable shoes. And in my runs to date, I find no issue with the cushioning. My first run was on the beautiful carpet grass of Tampines Eco Green and I felt I was almost like running on air. For my next run, I took it for a long run on road at the hard ground of the Punggol Promenade. Again, I had no problem with the cushioning even on the hard concrete. My final run before this post was on the more challenging trails of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The ground was wet and rather soft and on the little area where there were more rocks, I walked over most of these so I couldn't really test how well the shoe protect me from the rocks. But generally, cushioning was very adequate and good enough for people switching to minimalist.

Traction: From the Bukit Timah run, I was fairly pleased with the performance of the shoes. The trails were generally wet and slippery but the sole gripped well. I didn't feel any slippage but then again I said the same thing of my Altra and it failed me miserably in the harsh wet ground of Kinabalu. Hopefully the Hyper Track will only have to do duty in safe comfortable Singapore.

Flexibility: Unfortunately it wasn't as flexible as I could like it to be. When I flexed it, I thought it was flexible enough but for my initial 2 runs, I had some difficulty adjusting to the harder ride and there was some strains on my mid foot as I tried to flex my foot. But on the trails, it was flexible enough or maybe that was because I replaced the insole? But overall, this is more a trail shoe than a road shoe and I think it adapt better to uneven ground than flat ground. 

Water Proofing: The upper is made up of a fine mesh and it will appears that water can get in easily. However, on my run through the Green Corridors, there were many small puddles of mud and water which I happily went through but nothing went in. But looking at the mesh and design, it is definitely not waterproof but I expect just as the water will get in easily, it will also drain out easily.

However, I do have one bad thing to note about the shoe. In my earlier 2 runs, my left toe kept rubbing against the side of the shoe so much so that I developed a super duper blister. I read conflicting online review of the shoe fit. In my opinion, the shoe fit well. Is snug and not loose. There is very little side movement so I am rather surprised. I replaced the insole for my third run, applied some Bodyglide on the toe and went for my 2 hours run and came away unscathed! So the verdict is still out on this.

Overall, I like the shoe for its light weight, its flexibility for both road and trail and of course the bright color. But because of the toe box, I will be hesitant to use it for too long runs and will probably use it for shorter runs.

Running Lab Singapore is currently clearing stock of this shoe at up to a whopping 60% discount and for those looking to get their first pair of affordable trail shoe, this could be it! 

Brooks Pure Flow

My latest toy. A green Brooks Pure Flow. My third Brook shoe. The Brook Flow is touted to be Brook's Minimalist shoe. It boast a totally a brand new design from traditional trainer and come with a 4mm heel to toe drop to qualify for its minimalist title and weigh only about 250 gm just a little teeny weeny bit heavier than the Saucony Kinvara.

Design This is the side view. Not too bad looking except for the grey sole. I thought black would have look better though.

The upper is made of the usual nylon material. It looks waterproof enough although I have not been able to put it to the test so far. What is unique about the upper is that 1) it comes with a what Brooks called a Nav band and 4 eyelets for the laces. Having read in some reviews that the Nav band may cause the shoe to be too tight, I was a bit concern that I may have to cut it away. But fortunately, the fitting was a tad on the loose side and this is not helped by the minimum eyelets. I had to pull the lace real tight to get a good fit. 

The Nav Band

I think the Nav Band serves no real purpose and in certain case can be more a minus than a plus.

Cushioning The ride in the shoe was soft. Very soft. After being used to the reduced cushioning of the Kinvara and the Terra Plana, it was a bit weird to run in a pair of cushioned shoes. The cushioning comes mainly from the BoMoGo DNA midsole. It is a bit too much cushioning for me. I likened it to running on a pillow. Nice for those who likes the cushioning but disturbing for me as I could not feel the ground.

Ground Feel. The sole is made of what Brooks call Brown Rubber. It promises flexibility, responsiveness and durability. There is a 4mm heel to toe drop but due to the cushioning and the thick outsole, there isn't much ground feel. On my first run, I did a short 3km interval and was very distracted when I could not get the rebound from the ground.

T

Right smack in the middle of the arch is this bright yellow bulge. Initially it made wearing the shoe very uncomfortable as the bulge is slightly higher and one can feel it with every movement. However, as I worn it over a few runs, I soon got used to it. And the purpose of this bulge? Apparently it forces the wearer to land on the mid foot instead of the heel. 

Another thing about the shoe is the Ideal Heel. The curve of the heel again forces the runner to land on the mid foot. Perhaps, due to these 2 innovations, Brooks dare to call the Pure series of shoes "minimalist" shoes

Brooks has also added a sort of split toe into the sole. Again I has no idea what it serves. It is too stiff to allow for the big toe to flex, too shallow to house the toe properly. Maybe like the Nav Band it is just another "differentiate itself from the competitors" features.

Flexibility. Despite the bulge and the thick sole, the shoe is quite flexible. I can bend it at will and this helps tremendously in the mid foot running.

Conclusion. The shoe is light at about 250 gm. But still slightly heavier than the Kinvara, its closest equivalent. It is too much cushioning for those used to real minimalist or barefoot. Brooks can call it what it wants, but this is no minimalist shoe.I would rather think of it as a transitional shoe much like the Newton. Good for those converting from heel strike to mid foot and not for those going shod less. 

Date of Purchase: 7 April 2012

Cost: $110

Purchased from: KPI Warehouse Sale

Worn in races:

Nil

Retired: 13 July 2013
Mileage 703 km

Kinvara 2

New gear. Still yet to try out.

Date of Purchase: 26 February 2012

Cost: $117.00

Purchased from: Running Warehouse

Worn in races

1 September 2013 Army Half Marathon
7 October 2012 NE Tampines Run


Retired: 13 December 2013

Total Mileage: 664 km

Field Report Saucony Kinvara

More than 1 month and 45km later, I am ready with a field report of the Kinvara 1. Well, the Kinvara 2 is now out in the market and available in outlets here in Singapore but then better late than never.

First, the usual technical stuff:

• Breathable nylon upper.
• Endoskeleton Synthetic Lockdown ensures a secure, supportive fit.
• Strategically placed memory foam in the collar provides a snug, comfortable feel.
• Hydrator Collar Lining helps wick away moisture and offers great next-to-skin comfort.
• EVA insole for lightweight underfoot plush.
• Heel ProGrid LITE midsole is 20% more responsive than EVA and supplies exceptional cushioning.
• High Abrasion EVA (EVA+) is an extremely lightweight grade of EVA that provides supreme cushioning and durability.
• XT-900™ carbon rubber outsole delivers multi-surface traction and long-lasting wear.
• Weight: 9 oz

I must admit I am not too sure whether these stuff are for the Kinvara 1 or 2 or they are the same for both.

Pic from Runblogger

Design: Like most of the newer Saucony shoes, the Kinvara comes in an assortment of colors of which the most striking is the sole. It doesn't really look like a conventional running shoes, what with it almost flat heel to toe drop compared to the usual big solid piece of heel lift and thick outsole. However, it is still a good 18mm thick at the heel and this makes it very different from the thin sole of minimalist shoes which the Kinvara claims it is.

Sizing: Saucony shoes does not come with wide version but I had no problem with the fit so far although it felt a big loose on first wear and subsequently after adjusting the lace, it felt too tight on the instep but I guess it is nothing an adjustment of the laces won't solve. So far no blisters, no abrasions on the big toe, yet.

Grip: Dry ground, wet ground. The triangle shape outsole gripped wet on both wet and dry ground. However, I have not worn this for trail running since it is not a trail shoe so I can't comment on how it will perform on trails. But so far I like that even on the smooth surface of the overly common pavement of our parks, the shoe ride well unlike some running shoes which tends to have poor grip on wet pavement.

New Balance MT101

This comes more than a year late. Prior to this review, I worn it once for a short run at MR and thereafter, it went back into the box where it has been sitting. Between then and now, New Balance has come out with a replacement for it and by now it is probably no longer available at the retail outlets except maybe during clearance sale. Nevertheless, now that I have finally decided to wear it, I will still do a field report of this shoe.

First off, the technical stuff from New Balance:

• Rock Stop® embedded into forefoot provides protection from sharp rocks and debris
• Synthetic/Mesh upper provides lightweight comfort and support
• ACTEVA™ Midsole cushions and resists compression set - 12% lighter than standard foam
• EVA foam on the upper provides visual contrast and supports and cushions the Achilles; it does the same with the ankle as the EVA extends to the shoe collar
• SURE LACE™ secure shoe laces provide added midfoot support and keep the shoe snug around the foot 

What does all that means? Go read it yourself lah!

Now the stuff that I make up:

Photo from runblogger.com 

Design: It is a beautiful pair of shoes. Overall a darkish green with shiny bright light green reflective strips, it looks rugged and very suited for running in the woods and forest unlike the colorful trail shoes nowadays.  There is no insole or at least the strip of what pass off as an insole cannot be removed when I tried to peel it off. The other interesting thing is that instead of the usual fabric heel collar, there is a piece of soft plastic cuff. This makes it easy for one to just slip the shoe on/off. The upper material is made of a  light weight synthetic mesh which promises to allow water to drain out quickly. One final thing is the tongue. I find it quite short compared to other shoes although reading other reviews, most seem to like it that way. But the tongue held well and do not slip or move. And did I mention that it is incredibly light even for my size 12?

Sizing: According to the New Balance website, the last for this shoe is RL-3 which means it comes with narrow heel width, standard instep height, standard toe box height and wide forefoot width. I have no problem with my size 12. The toe box was wide enough for my toes to splay and move slightly but not too much to cause discomfort. But again maybe because of my Morton toes, after the last 20km run, I could feel the beginning of some blister underneath the joints of the right toes. A new place which I have never encounter before. Maybe I had laced it too tightly? 

TNF Sentinel Trail Shoe

As  part of the support given to the Run Leaders for the TNF Trail Run Series, Run Leaders were each given a pair of TNF shoes. I was given the TNF Sentinel. For the technical aspect and specification of this shoe, read here.

I took it out for the maiden run on 23 April 2011 during the TNF Trail Run #3. In a way, this run was very suitable for field testing this shoe as the route comprises of 30% road, 10% grass and balance soil and dirt. Part of the route was also wet and muddy. There were also many areas where there were roots, rocks, logs, wooden planks, broken asphalts etc. How did this pair of shoes fared in all these conditions?

Terra Plana Evo

I have been looking for the ‘shoes’ to wear for my barefoot run. Yeah isn’t it a oxymoron thing? Shoes to wear for barefoot run? But I wasn’t going to take any chance of getting a nasty cut or picking up some nasty infection or worms from running around barefoot. But like the bikini, it seems that the less material the more expensive and I wasn’t prepared to stump up so much $$$$ for a pair of what would be an experimental shoes.

So far stingy me has contended myself with pseudo ‘minimalist’ shoes from the mainstream manufacturer or wear a cheapo alternative like my Tyr booties. I picked up the Brooks Launch at a sale, got the Saucony Kinvara at a very good discount direct from the local agent and bought a pair of NB MT101 at Hong Kong prices. Not for me, the overpriced and ugly Vibram Five Fingers which seems to be everywhere. But since I first heard about the Terra Plana Evo, I had wanted to try it out but again kiamseap me baulked at the retail price of $229.00.

But now I have it! Courtesy of the nice people from Terra Plana Sg, I have been given a pair of the Terra Plana Evo  to what they call ‘field test’ it. Before I go into the shoe proper, something about Terra Plana:

Brooks Launch

Went out and got this beauty for $69.90 a real steal nevermind that it is 1 season too old.

Have been contemplating one of those minimalist shoes but there doesn't seem to be a lot in the market and wasn't too sure whether such shoes can see me through the lsd. The Brooks Launch is supposed to be one of the minimalist shoes in Brooks range and was the best debuted shoes in Runner's Worlds  Winter 2010 guide. This is a light weight trainer that is supposed to provide 'just enough cushioning' whatever that is. More of its specs here.

Anyway, reviews here and here of the Brooks Launch doesn't seem so bad so can try try. Of course, the key selling point is its color. And how did it respond on the road?


I took it out for a 15km run on Saturday. First impression it was extremely light. The cushioning was good and it absorb a lot of the impact from the ball of the foot. Usually if I was running with the Saucony Fastwtich or Zoots Ultra, I would have feel the sole burning within 5km. So there are some advantage to a thickened cushioned sole. The toe head was a bit narrow though cos I could feel some friction between the big and 2nd toe. Or was it due to the way the laces were tied (I went with the original lacing straight out of the box) or the new Nike socks that I was wearing. The shoe was also not as flexible as I like but still I think I did managed to get some mid foot running out of it. It feels like the Nike Lunar and I think it is a close comparison. Overall, I am pretty please with it considering its price. This shall be my training shoes for all the long runs.

Date of Purchase: 15 October 2010

Cost: $69.90

Purchased from: Sportslink White Sands

Worn in races:

4 Dec 2011 Angkor Wat Half Marathon

Retired: 22 April 201

Total Mileage: 579km

Zoots Ultra Tempo+ 2

I am not a triathlete so what do one do when one get a pair of triath shoe? Got this pair of Zoots Ultra Tempo+ 2 courtesy of the folks at Running Lab.

The Ultra Tempo boast seamless lining within the shoe for wearing without socks. To aid in the transition from swimming, it has grab holes on heels and tongues and an unique lace system to help the triathlete put on the shoes faster. There are drain holes in the sole to drain water. It is lightweight with the usual EVA midsole and has a patent dri-lex mesh linings with SmartSilver antimicrobial treatment (whatever that means).

Anyway, although I don't do triath, nevertheless a shoe is a shoe and strictly speaking the Ultra Tempo according to the specs is a shoe meant for short distance running. Actually quite common sense since one don't wear shoes for swimming and shoes are not an absolute necessity for cycling. So I decided to baptise the shoes with its first run at what else but the Funan TNR. Just so that I can feel how responsive it is, I decided to go sockless since after all it is supposed to go without socks. The shoes I was given was a size 12 but when I put it on, the width seemed a tad big and after pulling the lace tight, it sorta squeezed up in front. Hmmm that could spell trouble.

The initial feeling was that it wasn't too bad. With its light weight, it was responsive and flexible enough for me to run mid foot despite it being a stability shoes with a higher than desired heel. This could be a suitable replacement for the Saucony Fastwitch. However, mid way into the 1st loop of Fort Canning where we were running, the back heel started to feel painful. A blister was forming where the heel tab was rubbing onto the back heel. Geez that means I will need to wear higher cut socks if I want to continue wearing this pair of shoes. And just as I expected, the wider width soon caused another blister to develop on the little toe. Sighed.. 2 blisters for 1 short run and in a pair of sport shoes?

So should I chuck the shoes? I like its lightweight, its lace system (save me money on a new set of lock lace), its design (would like it even better if it comes in orange ha ha) but can I overcome the blisters problem or is it just like any pair of work shoe and need some breaking in?

Date of Purchase: 18 March 2010

Cost: $249.00 (FOC courtesy of RL)

Purchased from: Running Lab Funan

Worn in races:

27 Feb 2011 NTUC Healthcare U-Run

Retired: 4 December 2011
Mileage 578 km

A Good Decision - Nike Lunarglide

It was a dark and stormy night. Okay it wasn't that dark and the rain had almost stopped and it was early evening but I like the phrase so ... Anyway, this was Thursday and the RL TNR but I was feeling nuayed this week and with the wet ground and evil looking sky AND my rotten luck this year, chances are I would likely slipped and injured myself so decided to potang the run and go kai kai instead.

So there we were just walking around in Raffles City. Of course as with every shopping expedition, the first stop was the sports shop at the basement. Went into the Sportslink outlet first. Their 25% discount offer was still ongoing. They had the greyish white and blue Nike Lunarglide and at 25% off, it cost only $142.00 but it wasn't what I really want. Yes I was still searching for my elusive Lunarglide. However, the shop displayed out front had the Lunarglide in the new color - dark grey with red or yellow trimming. What the hell - no fish, prawn also can. Went back into the shop but was disappointed when told that the discount was not applicable to those newer models.

Walked a few more steps and next to it was another Sportslink shop. The earlier one only carried Adidas and Nike products, this one had the usual Sportslink stuff. Saw the Brooks Launch but again they didn't have it in my size! Is it really that difficult to get a size 12 shoes here in SG?

And then I saw it. A pair of Black and Orange on display - and it looks big - was it? Yes it was a size 12! I can't believe it! After trekking through the whole of Queensway and Tampines 1, to find it here of all place and the best of all - the 25% discount was applicable ~ which made it cheaper than at Queensway.

Photo from i2runner and with a very powerful review to boot

The timing is just fantastic. I am going to retire my TNF Arnuva Boa this Sunday and to have my final replacement pair found at this time. Wow! Now I can't wait to try it out and hope that it is not 1/2 size too small!

Date of Purchase: 5 November 2009

Purchased from: Sportslink Raffles City

Cost: $142.29

Worn in Races:

20.3.2010 NTUC 350
27.6.2010 KL Marathon
12.9.2010 SBR/AHM 2010
5.12.2010 Macau Marathon

Retired 29 Mar 2011

Total Mileage 546km

Brooks Axiom 3

My third 'new' pair of shoes this month and this one came courtesy of a friend.

Photo from T@z's collection at run-to-live

Traded my Nike Lunar for his Brooks Axiom 3 on Thursday evening at the Running Lab run. Both of us immediately took our respective 'new' shoe for the run.

Initially, probably because I didn't do any adjustment to the laces, the toe portion was too lose and the instep too tight and it didn't feel very comfortable. But because I was running at a very easy pace with 2 newcomers, I couldn't really tell how good the cushioning was blah blah blah.

Anyway, took it out for a longer run this morning and this time inserted my insole, wore a pair of Wright double layer socks and adjusted the laces and this time it gave no problem at all. However, it felt heavy (I think quite obvious) after being having worn lightweight shoes for the past few runs. But I reckon this shoe should be just nice for my long runs.

Coming back to the trade, I think it is a good idea for runners to trade shoes which for one reasons or another is not suitable like in our case although I think he got a raw deal. His Axiom is in much better condition than the Lunar and has less mileage too. But it is better to trade than to dump it or leave it to rot.

Here are the reviews did by the original owner. Read them. Definitely more informative and useful than my one-liner.

national-day-2008-surprise-gift
Brooks Axiom vs Nike Air Zoom Elite
And his goodbye

Races: Nil
Retired: 10.9.2010
Mileage  689km (post T@z)

Adidas Exerta Trail

Was at the Adidas Factory outlet at Velocity and spotted three different trail shoes

The Kanadia was one of those I was considering to replace the North Face Arnuva 50 but when I saw the Response, all thoughts of the Kanadia was gone cause the Response came in the colour I wanted but it was going at $99 which was slightly more than the Kanadia at $89. After trying out the Response I was all but ready to buy it when M pull out a box and inside was a very similar looking shoe but retailing at $85. The Exerta

Honestly, I don't nuts or anything about these 2 shoes but what the heck, it was within my budget, in the brand that I wanted and most of all in the color that I want. So just went ahead and bought the Exerta.

Came back to google for some info on it. Nothing on the Adidas site which means it is really out of season although did got some generic info from one of those on line retail shops:

"Packed with adidas®'s signature technologies, the Exerta men's trail shoe ensures a smooth, powerful ride. It's crafted using lightweight air mesh, with adiPRENE®+ cushioning in place for optimal shock absorption on impact. The adiWEAR® outsole delivers dependable traction on tricky, uneven surfaces. "

Features		Benefits
Upper Material: Air Mesh		Ventilated mesh for breathability.
Midsole Material: Torsion® System		The Torsion® System creates stability and control and provides midfoot support.
Outsole: adiWEAR®		A non-marking rubber outsole compound offering abrasion-resistance and durability.
Cushioning Technology: adiPRENE®+		Cushioning material that retains natural propulsive forces for greater forefoot efficiency.
Heel Technology: adiPRENE®		Maximizes heel protection and stability; is located under the heel to provide extra protection from harmful impact forces.

So did I make a mistake in buying this obscure shoe? Wait until I go and try it at MR or TMB park soon.

Date of Purchase: 17 May 2009

Cost: $85.00

Purchased from: Adidas Factory Outlet

Worn in races: 


18 Nov 2009 Salomon X-Trail Run
25 Apr 2010 F1 EQ Nature Run
9 Oct 2010 TNF 50km Duo


Retired: 9 July 2011
Total Mileage:  529km

Saucony Fastwitch 3

Ha ha got my first replacement shoes. But not any one of those in my list though.

Went down to the Saucony warehouse sale over the weekend to look look see see. Have went twice previously and came away disappointed with zilch so did not expect to get anything. First spotted a pair of Triumph which came in my colour. Looked okay but was disappointed when they didn't have it in my size. Only size 14 left! Hmm wonder how many people in Sg actually wear size 14 shoes?

Was kapoing around looking at the boxes and not the shoes on display and spotted a word that caught my attention. Pulled out the box (luckily the whole row didn't collapse) and whoa there it was - a bright orange shoe! Ha ha this was it. Not switching to yellow anymore. Die die this year continue with orange shoe.

The box said it was the Saucony Fastwitch 3 which I know was a racer. Now I never have a racer before but why not? This will be a perfect replacement for the Saucony Phoenix 3. And it cost only $79!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, took it out for a run on Tuesday night. It felt thin at the sole. I am so used to shoes with thick sole but this one I can feel the ground, the road markings, the small little stones and every bit and bump. But what the heck I ain't wearing this for any long race so I don't really care. The intention is to wear this for distance up to 10k.

Anyway, to cut a long story even shorter, and because I am hopeless with all the technical stuff, I am not going to review the shoes. Anybody who is really interested can read an excellent review from a fellow runner in M'sia(i think) here.

Date of Purchase: 2 May 2009

Cost: $79.00

Purchased from: Saucony Warehouse Sale

Worn in races:

Mizuno Mt Faber Run 14 June 2009

Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 6 September 2009

North East Run 14 March 2010
Passion Run 22 May 2010
Timex Tri-Run 11 Jul 2010

Retired: 26 Dec 2010

Total Mileage: 398.24km

Nike Magic Ride

Was lucky enough to be invited to Nike Singapore to test run the new Nike Lunar an event which Nike called the Magic Ride Run. Among the invited people today were Roonz and Wendy also from sgrunners, Sumiko, others from the tri fam and a celebrity, Jessica Tan. After a short intro by Sacha, each of us were given a pair of socks, a pair of Lunar Trainer and a towel. Some lucky fellas who came without any running attire were also given t-shirt and shorts. A lucky lady got to test drive (wrong) run in the Racer simply because they didn't have the trainer in her size.

According to the Nike website, the Trainer and the Racer are both extremely lightweight cushioning shoes featuring the new Nike technology known as 'Lunarlite foam'. Apparently the people at Nike got their inspiration from the moon where everything was supposed to be lighter than air. The lunarlite foam is also supposed to spread the pressure evenly across the foot thus reducing the impact on the bones and joints. In addition, carbon rubber has been placed in strategic locations to increase the life span and durability of the shoes. The main differences between the 2 is that the Racer has flywire filament, the type of high tension wire that is used for suspension bridges whereas the trainer has the normal mesh. This made the Racer even more lighter without losing any of the cushioning.

So how did this mumbo jumbo performed on the road? We did a short 4km run round the Changi Business Park. Most of the runners were in common agreement that is has very good cushioning although there were some feedback that the side of the shoes could cause abrasions. According to Sacha, the design of the sole using the 'Free' technology will give a smoother run for heel strike runners.

So in my usual rough way, I test drive the shoe by running mid sole, heel strike and even bouncing up and down. Maybe it is the short run, or the slow pace of the run, but I couldn't really appreciate any remarkable technology leap that the Nike Lunar has over other shoes although it was certainly comfortable enough to run in even without my orthotics insole. One thing though is that the Nike Lunar as compared to the other stylo milo Nike shoes looks like a very poor cousin - just white with a rather luminous lime yellow sole - good for visibility but not terribly exciting. A quick check on the net though revealed that there are Red and Black version available in the US so hopefully when it is launch here in October, they will bring in the different colors. The other thing is that the design of the shoe especially around the nid foot caused the shoes to look very wide especially on my size 12 foot Apparently this is for stability control. Does it really work?

I shall reserve further review until another run.

Date of Purchase: 18 August 2008

Cost: FOC (trial shoe)

Purchased from: Complimentary from NIKE Sg

Worn in Races:

14 Sep 2008 KPE Swing 2008
28 Mar 2009 Head Over Heels Couple Run 2009

Retired: 15 May 2009

Total Mileage: 388.05km

Saucony Phoenix 3

The Running Lab is have a project amply called Project Love Sneaker in which the store is taking in used sports shoes in good condition for a $50.00 voucher which can be used against the purchase of selected brand of running shoes at their 2 outlets. The collected shoes will be given to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy in other countries. This is a good opportunity for those who have retired running shoes gathering dust at home to do a bit for charity and get something in return.

Decided on impulse to trade in my oversized NB 1220. The choice of shoes include range from NB, Mizuno, North Face, Zoot and Saucony. Cheapskate me opted for the cheapest shoe available, the Saucony Grid Phoenix 3.

According to the Saucony website, the Grid Phoenix 3 is designed to provide runners of all levels with the perfect blend of cushioning, stability and performance. Offering lightweight flexibility with rearfoot support and fore and rearfoot cushioning, the Phoenix is suitable for so many runners. It come under the Stability category (which is fine for me since all my shoes are stability shoes) and has the following:

Last: Contour - EAS for biomechanical correction
Upper Technologies - Airmesh Upper for lightweight breathability
Midsole Technologies - EVA midsole for responsive cushioning
Rearfoot Grid for Stable Cushioning
Rearfoot HRC for responisive impact absorbtion
Forefoot HRC for dynamic toe-off
HRC Strobel Board for foot-in comfort
Dual density for pronation control
Midfoot Bridge for support
Outsole Technologies - XT900 rubber compound heelstrike
XT900 rubber compound rearfoot
b/cR rubber compound forefoot.

Actually, I don't really care about all these mumbo jumbo things. I choose my shoes mainly on 3 factors - suit my foot type, must be affordable and come in my fav color.

For the Phoenix 3, it met 2 of the 3 and so I forked out $89.00 after the $50.00 trade in for it. Worn it straightaway for the Thursday Night Run along the forever under construction Esplanade/Marina Promenade. I must said it felt good, in fact surprisingly light but the only problem was I think it is a bit too small. Originally tried on a size 12 (my regular size) but somehow at that moment, it felt a bit too loose. In the end settled for size 11 (they don't have size 11.5). Using the standard 1 finger width test, it seems okay but halfway through, could felt the toes curling up. Sianz - from an oversized shoe to an undersized shoe. What a klutz!

Came back and replace the orthotics insole with the Sole custom footbed. Hopefully, this will help a bit on the space problem as it is lower and smaller than the orthotics sole. And yah, the Sole footbed is orange in color:)

Date of Purchase: 3 July 2008

Cost: $89.00 (after $50.00 trade in voucher)

Purchased from: Running Lab Funan

Worn in Races: Nil

Retired: 30 June 2009

Total Mileage: 406.78km

The North Face Arnuva 50 Boa

My NB 906 decided to 'talk' to me yesterday after the run at Bedok Reservoir.

So no choice finally decided to go get a new pair of trail shoe. Have been postponing it for some time. All the while wanted a North Face but somehow couldn't get one in my size. So it was a happy coincidence that just when the NB 906 decided to commit suicide, RL Velocity has a pair on Arnuva 50 Boa in my size. Rushed down today to get it. And doubly happy caused it came in my fav color!

According to the North Face website, "the Arnuva 50 Boa is built for the ultra-distance runner who runs trails, dirt paths, even road, and offering the innovative Boa® lacing system for a secure, near-custom fit"

Well I don't think I be running ultra distance any time in the near distance though having a pair of shoes for that purpose make me think..hmmm

The friendly salesman at the shop was telling me that it was a good shoe (he worn it for the last SCSM) but it was not good for wet weather and not very lasting. He was also of the opinion that it was not suitable for Bedok Reservoir's type of granite chip surface. The latter was a bit of a surprise since it was designed for trail and dirt path and therefore should be able to handle the type of light trail that we have in Singapore.

Anyway, will take it out for a test run soon.

Date of Purchase: 2 March 2008

Cost: $246.00

Purchase from: Running Lab Velocity

Worn in Races:
15 June 2008 Mizuno Mt Faber Run
19 July 2008 Inter Constituency Road Race
27 July 2008 Mizuno Wave Run
2 Nov 2008 Pearl Izumi Pure Run Series 3
7 Dec 2009 SCSM
7 Feb 2009 Safari Zoo Run
15 Feb 2009 Kampong Chai Chee Valentine Day Run

8 November 2009 NB Real Run

Retired: 9 November 2009

Total Mileage: 669.38km

Asics 2120

2nd shoe purchase in a week. Got my Asics 2120. Too late to season it for the big out tomorrow. It has my favourite colour. But only a little bit. Most of it on the sole. So for good measure, got a pair of Sole footbed to complement it. Ha ha!

2 down 2 to go. Was hoping to get the TNF Arnuva 50. But saw the 100 at RL and it is black and orange - so now I think I get the 100 instead. Hopefully, they can have my size soon. Last pair after seeing the Spira - very tempt to just buy 1 to try out. But Zoots got new shoe out - also very tempting to try that as well... hmmm decisions decisions........ Maybe will go for the one that comes in my fave colour.

Date of Purchase: 23 December 2007

Cost: $198.00

Purchase from: Running Lab Funan

Worn in Race:

6 April 2008 Couples Run
23 April 2008 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge
6 August 2008 Saucony 100 Plus Passion Run 2008
10 August 2008 Pearl Izumi Pure Run
24 August 2008 Army Half Marathon
12 October 2008 Borneo Marathon
1 March 2009 Netwon Run
15 March 2009 Suburban Run

Retired: 12 September 2009

Total Mileage: 577.81km

NB 1220

Date of Purchase: 22 November 2007

Cost: $90.00

Purchased from: New Balance Warehouse Sale

Worn in Races: Nil

Retired: 3 July 2008 (trade in at RL Funan)

Total mileage on retirement: 340.4km