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I think I may have found my new racing flat for track workouts and shorter distance races. About a year and a half ago I started using the Saucony Kinvara for track days because I wanted a lighter weight shoe than my Nike Vomero trainers. Now that the Kinvara has become my primary training shoe, and now that I’m also running 4 to 5 miles every week in Saucony Hattoris, I’ve been seriously thinking about moving to a lighter weight racing flat for track workouts.

I had previously looked at the Saucony Grid Type A4, but just found out today that the Grid Type A5 is coming out in February, and the weight has been reduced from 6.3 to 5.6 oz! That is only 1.2 oz heavier than my Hattoris.

Add to this the fact that Saucony tends to fit me extremely well, and that these babies look really SWEET, and I think I might just have to add the A5 to my arsenal. What do you think?

Yesterday, Competitor.com posted preview pictures of the Saucony Kinvara 3 which is set to launch sometime in 2012. Over the past 2 years, the Saucony Kinvara has become my go-to shoe for races of all distances, speedwork, tempo runs, and some normal training runs. I was very pleased that there was very little change between the Kinvara 1 and Kinvara 2, and that nothing was altered in the sole or midsole.

Well, it looks like that is not going to be the case with the Kinvara 3. From the pictures below It appears the support structure of the upper has been extensively modified:

It is also obvious that the sole design has been altered, especially in the heel and midfoot areas. It is interesting that the rubber is now only on the outside of the heel, with EVA foam everywhere else. Looks like the forefoot is relatively similar to the previous models.

Here’s hoping that these changes are an actual improvement, and do not negatively affect the fit, weight, or ride of the earlier models.

What do you think of the new design?

I had already pretty much decided that I was gonna go with Saucony Kinvara’s for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. I actually still have one pair of the first Kinvara’s in the box that I have not yet used. However, a few days ago I saw that Saucony has released some new colors in the Kinvara 2, and I am now smitten with the new Red and Black model pictured below:

I know it would be more economical to go with the unused pair that I already own, but I am such a big fan of red, and these are SWEET!

I find this pretty funny and sad all at the same time. Within an hour after my recent post regarding the new SKECHERS running shoe, I got this message regarding a new Twitter follower:

In a blog post last week I asked the question “Will Runners Take SKECHERS Seriously?” Well today I finally saw an up-close picture of their upcoming entry into the serious running shoe market, the SKECHERS GOrun:

Per Competitor.com “The yet-to-be-released GOrun by Skechers uses minimalistic engineering and a 4mm heel-toe drop to create a barefoot running experience. The shoe, endorsed and engineered with the help of Meb Keflezighi, will hit stores later this year”

I’ll have to admit that this is a pretty sweet looking shoe, but I still highly doubt they will have much success among serious runners or even minimalist fans. What do you think?

UPDATE: I also found this page which has more information on the GoRun along with a video presentation from YouTube.

SKECHERS Announces Endorsement Deal with Former NYC Marathon Winner and Olympic Medalist

This is not a new announcement, but one which was issued in a press release on August 3. I’m still baffled that Meb has signed with SKECHERS, and find it very hard to believe they will be able to gain much credibility among serious runners. I for one have always viewed them as a casual shoe company and completely dismiss their claims regarding the fitness benefits of the “Shape Ups” product line. Per the press release, Meb will be running in SKECHERS for the 2011 ING New York City Marathon.

Apparently they have a number of new running products in the pipeline for future release (Holiday 2011). Right now their web site only lists one “real” running shoe, the S R R ProSpeed. These shoes are marketed to be “Super light weight” and equipped with “Smart Shoe™ Mid-Foot Strike design” technology. For one thing, I do not consider 10 oz to 15 oz (range per size) to be “Super light weight,” so I would hate to see a shoe that was normal weight.

It will be interesting to see what they come out with later this year.  Anybody out there think they have a chance of succeeding among serious runners?

CNBC has an article today on an upcoming running shoe from Under Armour (UA Charge RC) which they are counting on to rebuild their reputation among serious runners. This is a sweet looking shoe and the author seems to be very impressed after a short trial. I’m still skeptical, but am interested to see them when they come out.

Wanted to share some thoughts on my continued experiences with the new Saucony Hattori’s since my initial review back in May.  Overall, these shoes have been a really fun addition to my training for the Fall and Winter marathon season.  I’m trying to incorporate a 4 to 5-mile Hattori “barefoot” run into my plan every Friday morning.

I’ve been working really hard on landing on my forefoot/midfoot through the running stride while running in the Hattori’s.  My whole goal in incorporating one “barefoot” day per week into my training was to improve my form and to increase my lower-leg and foot strength.

The first time I ran in the Hattori’s, I had a lot of trouble staying on my forefoot, and ended up falling back to a heel-strike for most of the run.  On the next run, I focused so much on a forefoot strike that I didn’t let my heel come to the ground through impact (like running on tip-toes).  After that run my calves were sore for TWO WEEKS!!  They felt like I had big rocks in them.

Since then, I’m beginning to get the handle of landing on my forefoot and briefly touching the heel before pushing off again.  I can still feel the work it is doing in my lower legs and feet, but the extreme soreness the next day is no longer occurring.

In my initial post, I noted that my first run was without socks, and I developed some hot spots.  I have since been running in very thin Swiftwick socks, and that is working out really well.  Also, even though the shoes provide a good feel for the road, there is still quite a bit of cushioning, and they are very comfortable.

A lot has been made about the fact that most of the sole is made exclusively of foam with two small spots of rubber under the heel and big toe.  While this might not work for everyone, the placement of the rubber seems to be about right for me, and the raw foam gives a very good feel for the surface beneath the shoe.  However, I do question how many miles will be possible in this shoe.

If I did order another pair in the future, I might order 1/2 size larger.  My normal dress-shoe size is 9 1/2, and my running shoes are typically a size 10 (including Saucony).  I ordered a size 10 for the Hattori, and there is not much room in the toe at all.

Anyway, I’m really pleased with these shoes overall, and excited to see how they can improve my overall running performance.

The Saucony ProGrid Peregrine received the Runner’s World Editor’s Choice award in their April, 2011 Trail Shoe Guide.  They were designed in the same vein as the highly successful Saucony ProGrid Kinvara road shoe with a low profile sole and only a 7mm drop between heel and forefoot.

I had been in the market for new trail shoes for the past several months, as my Nike Pegasus Trails were just not getting the job done.  I saw the Peregrines in Runner’s World, and was able to talk to a a Saucony rep about them at the 500 Festival Mini Marathon Expo on May 6th.  We actually started off talking about my experience with the Kinvara, which I started using last fall.  He recommended that since I was such a big fan of the Kinvara that I try out the Peregrines as a trail shoe.  I received my pair a few weeks ago, and have now completed two trail runs of 6 and 7 miles on fairly difficult terrain.

The Peregrines only weigh 9.1 oz and the fit is very snug throughout the upper, which is vital for a trail shoe. The upper material is extremely comfortable, and the low profile of the sole makes the Peregrine feel extremely stable, even on very rough terrain.  The lug pattern on the out-sole does a great job of protecting the foot, and providing traction on most surfaces.  The only time I have slipped in these shoes was on a large smooth rock.

The tongue is gusseted to prevent debris from entering the shoe, and it is only selectively padded so as not to add undue weight.  What is amazing is that even though the Peregrine is extremely light-weight for a trail shoe, it doesn’t seem to have any of the drawbacks you might expect (e.g. limited cushioning, poor traction, etc.) The only negative thing I can possibly say about the Peregrine has to do with the laces.  I’ve had a very difficult time keeping them tied, even with a double-knot.

The fit of the Peregrine is fairly narrow, so it might not work if you have a wide foot.  Also, I would recommend going 1/2 to a full size up from normal as they tend to run small.

Overall, the Saucony Peregrine is a pleasure to run in, and I look forward to many trail runs in these fantastic shoes.

This morning was my first chance to run in the new Saucony Hattori’s that arrived on Wednesday. The Hattori’s are Saucony’s first entry into the zero-drop, “minimalist” category.  I saw these shoes last month in Runner’s World for the first time, and was able to talk with a Saucony rep about them at the 500 Festival Mini Marathon Expo on May 6th. They only weigh 4.4 oz and the fit is much more like a sock than a running shoe.

I have been really wanting to incorporate some “minimalist” running into my training program in order to strengthen my feet and lower legs and to improve my overall running form.  I’ve received lots of advice about taking it very slowly, and not trying to do too many miles too fast. 

My “normal” training shoe for the past 3 years has been the Nike Zoom Vomero, which is almost opposite of a “minimalist” shoe.  Last fall, I added the Saucony Kinvara to my training for track days and short races.  These shoes weigh only 7.7 oz, and I have now completed a 1/2 marathon in them.  I’m hoping to make them my full-time training shoe later this year.  For the Hattori’s, I decided to begin running in these shoes once per week on a recovery day.

Before trying out the Hattori’s, I asked a few people about whether or not I should wear running socks, and got answers both ways.  I tried walking around the house with and without socks and decided to try my first run barefoot (though I did use some Body Glide in potential blister areas).

My goal today was to do 3 to 4 very easy miles after a fairly hard track workout last night.  I also selected a route that was flat so as to not put any extra stress on my feet and lower legs.  As I started out, it was immediately noticeable that I would need a very short stride to keep from pounding my feet.  The shoes actually felt really good, and running in them was quite enjoyable.  The fit is snug, and is enhanced by the velcro straps at the top and the heel.

They do have a barefoot-type feel to them, though they have a little more cushioning than I was expecting.  It was obvious that my feet were much more involved in the running motion, and my lower legs began feeling fatigued by the end of the third mile.

During mile 4, I felt hot spots on the back of my left heel and the top of my left big-toe.  The heel turned out to be a small blister, and the toe just has some minor irritation.  This was a little disappointing since I really enjoyed running without socks.  However, I did miss both of these spots with the Body Glide that I applied before the run.  Not sure if I’ll switch to socks or not for next week’s run in the Hattori’s, but definitely plan to continue using them.  If I do add socks, it will have to be something that is super, super thin. Anybody have suggestions for a super thin running sock?

Overall, the experience was very positive, and I really like the shoes.  It is now 11pm, and my calves are noticeably sore which is quite unusual for an easy, 4-mile run.  Really excited to add these to my shoe rotation.

UPDATE: You can find my updated impressions on the Saucony Hattori by going HERE.

I appreciate all of the response to my question a couple of days ago regarding incorporating barefoot type running into my training.  As a follow-up.  I have been using the @Saucony Kinvara since last fall and am slowly transitioning to it as my full-time trainer.  For those of you who run in Kinvaras….

• Am I negating the benefit of the Kinvara if I replace the insole? I typically use the Lynco 405, and have been using this with the Kinvara.

• How many miles should I expect out of the Kinvara?  I have only been using them once or twice per week so far, and my first pair has around 200 miles on them.  They appear to still be in good shape, but I’ve read a lot about durability issues.

• I have completed a 1/2 marathon in the Kinvaras, and they were great (Though my feet were sore the next day).  Has anyone tried using them in a full marathon?  If so, what are your thoughts (trying to decide about using them at Chicago in Oct)?

I am seriously considering adding one day of easy running each week with a “barefoot”  type shoe like the @saucony Hattori.  Anybody have any experience with this?  If so, what were your results like? Did it improve your overall running performance or lessen your susceptibility to injuries? What shoes did you use?

Spencer White, Head of the Biomechanics Lab @Saucony, explains Minimalist footwear and some of the things you should think about before taking the leap.

I started using the original Saucony Kinvara’s last fall, and just ran a 1/2 marathon in them 3 weeks ago.  I’m thinking that eventually I’ll make these my regular training shoes.  I also just purchased the Saucony Peregrine’s (not mentioned in the video) for trail running, and am intrigued by the Hattori’s.