Bought Some New Shoes Today. Initial Feedback

Triathlon Forum
1

I like to rotate shoes. Once I burn through a pair, I’ll probably not run in another pair of those shoes for a bit. Went through three pairs of Zoot UltraRaces so far this year, intermingled with a pair of Brooks T6s and a pair of Adidas Adizero RCs. Normally would have burned through more shoes, but I couldn’t run for a while after crash.

Picked up a bunch of new shoes at the RunningWarehouse 20% off sale.

Keeping:
Asics Pirahna SP3 - a bit roomy in the toebox, but that might be nice for races. VERY low, flat profile. (10mm forefoot, 14mm heel). REALLY light. Like stupid light. Will be fun to do some fast runs in them.

Adidas Adizero Pro - Really nice. Super low profile (9mm forefoot, 15mm heel). Like these trying on, but not sure if I’ll like them a LOT. But I think they’ll be a good all around shoe for me.

Adidas Rocket - really nice. Like these a bit better than the Pro. 10mm forefoot, 16mm heel. I think these will be my good every day shoes.

Adidas Adios - a bit tall in the heel (11mm forefoot, 22mm heel), but the fit is excellent. Maybe a bit better for slower paced runs. Liked them more than I thought I would. Initially very much on the fence, planned to return them, but the fit is so good I think I’ll probably give them a whirl.

Going Back:
Nike LunarFly - 9oz is just too heavy for me. Fit is very good, but the weight and REALLY tall heel are too much.

Unsure:
Lunar Racer 2 - miss the LR 1, but that’s coming back in Jan. 2011. Not sure I will race these in IMAZ or not. Was my original plan, but now thinking maybe something more flat-esque.

Happy to answer any questions, especially as I log more miles. Yes, I buy my shoes like everyone else. The folks from Zoot have given me some shoes, and I was very happy with them, but I always like to see what else is out there. I especially wanted something - as compared with the Zoots - with less toe-heel drop. I had no complaints running the Zoots, but I think variety is good.

I ONLY ever run in REALLY light shoes. And I only ever have. I’m not saying that it’s the only way, or that it’s what other people should do. I’ve just always done it. So it’s what comfortable for me.

Last year, my shoe of choice was the Puma Complete RoadRacer III. Puma looks to have mucked that shoe up a bit in the upper, which is why I didn’t buy any of the IVs.

Looking forward to the Brooks T7 when it comes out. But I do think Brooks puts too much heel-toe drop in their shoes.

2

Dude, even after talking to Danny, you didn’t pick up a pair of Newtons??

Just kidding, I doubt anybody at your level likes to ‘experiment,’ even if you thought they’d work for you.

Gotta love RunningWarehouse though, nice to hear your thoughts on that plethora you bought.

3

I’ve been looking at those same shoes to replace my Brooks Mach 11s I’ve been racing in. Which of the Adidas would you say has the narrower toe box and which is firmer shoe?

4

Jordan, How is the upper on the Adizero? Nice and stiff?

5

you should try the saucony A4. Love it!
Also the Nike Streak XC 2 in the ridiculous light category, soft and more reactive than the lunaracer.

6

I currently run in the Asics Piranha SP3. I’ve been considering the Adidas Rocket. I’d love to get you comparison of the two. Also, how flexible is the sole of the Adidas Rocket in comparison to the Piranha?

EDIT If you can compare it to the AdiZero Pro as well, that would be great.

Thanks!

7

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-PFAA3M4.html

pick up a pair of these and go for a ride after you return the LFs and let us know what you think…I may add these to my arsenal
.

8

I’m curious how many miles you run in these shoes before they get tossed and whether they are road or off-road miles. Since I went to minimal shoes/flats I’ve bought like five pairs of shoes in five years, four of which I’m still using. I run about 90 percent off road so I just don’t need that much cushioning while averaging about six hour of running per week. I’m curious what others do, given the price of racing flats.

Chad

9

if you like low & light, see if you can find a pair of the mizuno wave universe 3’s. they’re like slippers they’re so light. i have the older model and one thing i really like about them is that they feel like track spikes, ie not a big difference between the forefoot & heel. in a men’s 9 they’re supposed to only weigh 4 oz.

http://l3.zassets.com/images/z/9/4/0/940367-p-DETAILED.jpg

10

if you like low & light, see if you can find a pair of the mizuno wave universe 3’s. they’re like slippers they’re so light. i have the older model and one thing i really like about them is that they feel like track spikes, ie not a big difference between the forefoot & heel. in a men’s 9 they’re supposed to only weigh 4 oz.

http://l3.zassets.com/images/z/9/4/0/940367-p-DETAILED.jpg

I’ve looked at the universe before, but I’ve always thought they were RIDICULOUSLY priced. They’ve always been like $125-$135. I also had a hard time buying into a flat with a wave-plate in the HEEL. I don’t land on my heel. WTF is that going to do for me? Nada. But Mizuno puts a wave plate in ALL their shoes. That just doesn’t make sense to me if I’m a midfoot runner.

11

I’m curious how many miles you run in these shoes before they get tossed and whether they are road or off-road miles. Since I went to minimal shoes/flats I’ve bought like five pairs of shoes in five years, four of which I’m still using. I run about 90 percent off road so I just don’t need that much cushioning while averaging about six hour of running per week. I’m curious what others do, given the price of racing flats.

Chad

I run the vast majority off-road. But the trails around here are rough enough in spots that they can trash a shoe worse than the road. Sometimes, depending on how the shoe is built, the sole just gets torn up by sharper rocks and such.

Or, sometimes, the shoes just smell so bad that I have to throw them away. Or, rather, my wife mandates I toss them. Washing them helps. Sometimes.

I can run - from a cushioning perspective - on shoes that are ready to be chucked from a beat-up upper / offensive smell standpoint.

In general, though, I’m a bit of a shoe junkie. I’m sure that I could run more miles on shoes that I toss. But I usually - unless they are REALLY bad - will wash them and donate them to goodwill, where I figure that they’ll do someone a lot more good than I. And then I get to try something new, which I enjoy.

12

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-PFAA3M4.html

pick up a pair of these and go for a ride after you return the LFs and let us know what you think…I may add these to my arsenal

The struck me as being VERY similar to the Complete Racer III. I was very close to buying a pair of those. I would say next round, but I think I may be set for a while. Perhaps a suitable replacement for the LunarFlys though…

13

I currently run in the Asics Piranha SP3. I’ve been considering the Adidas Rocket. I’d love to get you comparison of the two. Also, how flexible is the sole of the Adidas Rocket in comparison to the Piranha?

EDIT If you can compare it to the AdiZero Pro as well, that would be great.

Thanks!

Rocket sole has the Adidas “torsion” bar. So much stiffer than the Pirahna. I NEVER do the “bend the shoe” thing, which seems to me to be a good way to destroy shoes, but just wearing around, the Rocket is definitely stiffer.

The Pro is not as stiff in my opinion as the Rocket. But still stiffer than the Pirahna. That’s my best estimate, based off nothing more than my foot’s “feel-o-meter.”

14

you should try the saucony A4. Love it!
Also the Nike Streak XC 2 in the ridiculous light category, soft and more reactive than the lunaracer.

I had the A3. I hated it. Main reason was those holes in the bottom. I run offroad a lot. You’d be amazed at how big a stick/rock can get jammed in those tiny holes. Fit was good. But the sole drove me crazy off road.

15

Jordan, How is the upper on the Adizero? Nice and stiff?

It’s ideal, IMO. I looked at the Nike XC2, for example. But I hate shoes that have 100% mesh uppers. All the Adidas shoes seem to have “real” uppers. Stiff isn’t the first word that I’d use. But I would say the uppers are not TOO flexible. So maybe stiff is a good word. They are “appropriate” - at least to me.

16

I’ve been looking at those same shoes to replace my Brooks Mach 11s I’ve been racing in. Which of the Adidas would you say has the narrower toe box and which is firmer shoe?

Pro and Rocket are VERY similar in terms of firmness. Rocket seems to have a stiffer sole - longer “torsion bar.” Rocket likely has a narrower toebox by a very little bit.

Adios is more of a “regular” shoe - more room, less stiff, etc. What I’d call a tempo trainer. But what they call a marathon flat.

17

Dude, even after talking to Danny, you didn’t pick up a pair of Newtons??

Just kidding, I doubt anybody at your level likes to ‘experiment,’ even if you thought they’d work for you.

Gotta love RunningWarehouse though, nice to hear your thoughts on that plethora you bought.

8.5oz is too heavy for me. When Newton makes a shoe where the weight starts with 5, 6, or maybe 7, then I’ll buy a pair. Until then, thanks but no thanks. Loved a lot of what I heard, but I just think they are too heavy.

18

I’m curious how many miles you run in these shoes before they get tossed and whether they are road or off-road miles. Since I went to minimal shoes/flats I’ve bought like five pairs of shoes in five years, four of which I’m still using. I run about 90 percent off road so I just don’t need that much cushioning while averaging about six hour of running per week. I’m curious what others do, given the price of racing flats.

Chad

I run the vast majority off-road. But the trails around here are rough enough in spots that they can trash a shoe worse than the road. Sometimes, depending on how the shoe is built, the sole just gets torn up by sharper rocks and such.

Or, sometimes, the shoes just smell so bad that I have to throw them away. Or, rather, my wife mandates I toss them. Washing them helps. Sometimes.

I can run - from a cushioning perspective - on shoes that are ready to be chucked from a beat-up upper / offensive smell standpoint.

In general, though, I’m a bit of a shoe junkie. I’m sure that I could run more miles on shoes that I toss. But I usually - unless they are REALLY bad - will wash them and donate them to goodwill, where I figure that they’ll do someone a lot more good than I. And then I get to try something new, which I enjoy.

Try tossing the shoes in the washing machine on warm with detergent and 1/2 cup of bleach (added after the machine fills). I put a tennis ball in each heel to help the heel counter keep it’s shape. This has managed to kill even the nastiest shoe issues, and doesn’t fade the shoes (repeated washings are a bit rough on the uppers though).

I’m excited to hear the LR1s are coming back. Trainer-level cushioning in a 5.5oz. shoe…and no arch support (I have flat feet).

19

you should try the saucony A4. Love it!
Also the Nike Streak XC 2 in the ridiculous light category, soft and more reactive than the lunaracer.

I’ll agree on both counts, both great shoes. Was running in the XC2’s for a bit, then was introduced to the A4. I think I’m digging the A4 more than the XC2, and the holes on the bottom I don’t even notice, although I haven’t gotten anything jammed in there yet.

20

No love for the Mayfly?

I agree I’m glad (some iteration of) the LR1 is coming back… although I like my LR2’s, or moreso the fact that they don’t rip my heel to shreds.