UNBELIEVABLE!- I remember telling a teammate who I was running with as we were decending to 89 “If I crash and burn it will not be due to these shoes because I’m floating right now” The hammer never came and I ended up running through the M40-44 from 10th to 6th with a semi-easy 3:34 marathon to secure a KQ slot. I can’t say enough about these shoes! No soreness to speak of to date. These shoes are truely game changers!!! Do yourself a favor and give them a shot! 
D
I did.
All they need are drainage holes and maybe a bit more breathable upper (not that these were an issue for Tahoe) and it would be my dream shoe.
Congrats. What were you running in before?
I did as well although more of a run/walk that a run. I will only run in these from now on. Makes running so much more enjoyable. I had no pain in my feet the day after, in fact after the race i was so lazy i didn’t take them off until I got home 1.5 hrs later…Drainage holes not needed this year in Tahoe but not a bad idea.
Congrats. What were you running in before?
Asics Kayano’s
I did.
All they need are drainage holes and maybe a bit more breathable upper (not that these were an issue for Tahoe) and it would be my dream shoe.
Yes, they have heard you… Check out what is in the pipeline for Spring 14.
http://www.runblogger.com/2013/07/hoka-one-one-conquest-preview.html
http://www.runnersworld.com/photos/sneak-preview-running-shoes-coming-in-2014
D
I’ve been at least willing to hear out nearly every other trend in the industry so I see no reason why I shouldn’t eventually give Hoka’s a shot. Definitely would be interested in the ones with drainage holes.
LT was one of the few races where I wouldn’t have minded not having them since it was one of the first times ever I wasn’t drenched in sweat or pouring water on me.
I’ve been at least willing to hear out nearly every other trend in the industry so I see no reason why I shouldn’t eventually give Hoka’s a shot. Definitely would be interested in the ones with drainage holes.
LT was one of the few races where I wouldn’t have minded not having them since it was one of the first times ever I wasn’t drenched in sweat or pouring water on me.
Give them a try Trevor. get them at roadrunnersports.com through the vip program. Can usually get them on sale for abotu $135.
Chris
Not intending to highjack, but anyone tried the new Adidas Energy Boost shoes?
http://www.adidas.com/us/product/mens-running-energy-boost-shoes/CY950
Seems to carry the same benefit of the Hokas without all the height. My local tri shop only gets them in a predetermined shipment (one size for 7-13) and my size is constantly taken before it even enters the store. I put a larger size on and the cushioning seems like a dream. Really soft but also felt like I was wearing spring loaded shoes. Really supposed to cut down on muscle fatigue. Want to try them but a bit skittish at the price tag.
On the course after I gave up racing and dedicated myself to finishing and I did a quick count to 20 of three brands, Hoka, Newton and Zoot. Hoka was the first to 20 but it took a long time to get to that number. Asics, Brooks, Saucony and the other big 7 dominated the course. I’m wondering:
It did not surprise me that Hoka got there first. I expected it. I have my thoughts on who’s losing out to Hoka. Nobody entered the running/triathlon market in Hoka so somebody (running shoe brand) is losing out. Just interested in who.
On the course after I gave up racing and dedicated myself to finishing and I did a quick count to 20 of three brands, Hoka, Newton and Zoot. Hoka was the first to 20 but it took a long time to get to that number. Asics, Brooks, Saucony and the other big 7 dominated the course. I’m wondering:
It did not surprise me that Hoka got there first. I expected it. I have my thoughts on who’s losing out to Hoka. Nobody entered the running/triathlon market in Hoka so somebody (running shoe brand) is losing out. Just interested in who.
Ran in Asics Kayano’s before I made the switch last Summer!! Unbelievable difference!
D
Dave,
It would be nice if Zoot made a competitor model to the Hoka. Anything in the pipeline?
See you in Hawaii. I can help you with shoe counting if need be.
Matt
Blue Bondi B’s.
I had my steadiest IM run to date, felt great the last 1mile+ up the false flat into Squaw Valley resort.
Still sore though Wed though, maybe a hairless post-race fatigue, but not much less.
I was one of those m40-44s that you passed to KQ. I wore Hokas Sunday too, but you broke science, so I didn’t KQ then. Plus, I’m female, in a different AG and didn’t race IMLT. At a different IM, I remember saying to some chump “if I don’t KQ, it won’t be because of the extra toe on my Vibram Six Fingers” then the little brat wet his diaper. That sparked an idea. Now, I wear feet diapers. You owe it to yourself to try feet dipies with Six Fingers. Did I mention my KQ?
I’m sitting in the office looking at the projection of our Spring 2015 Designs. I won’t divulge where we are going with the line but we are watching everything. The first shoe we have coming out in 2014 that is totally new is much closer to the #1 shoe I saw at IMLT overall. Again not surprising me at all but that one shoe (not a brand) would have hit 20 way before Hoka did in my count.
As far as helping out at the shoe count in Kona, I’d love the help. Thanks
On the course after I gave up racing and dedicated myself to finishing and I did a quick count to 20 of three brands, Hoka, Newton and Zoot. Hoka was the first to 20 but it took a long time to get to that number.
Interesting, I did a similar thing both this year and last, but less formally. I always observe very high density of Newton’s at the front of the race, specifically Newton Distance and Distance S. At one point I noticed I was in a small group of runners and all 4 of us were wearing Distance’s. I wonder if you did the same experiment (counting) if you’d get different results for FOP v mid v BOP.
Definitely not trying to derail though and say Newton’s are better, rather that I think time tells what is or isn’t a fad. Newton’s have lasted long enough to entrench themselves a bit for some runners, after a few more years I would not be surprised to see the same for Hoka’s if they work as good as people say they do. I’m not a grizzled veteran by any means but in my 3 IM runs I definitely start to feel the wear and tear of the run past mile 18 or 20. Open to the idea that being protected from that pounding more could change those last ~8 miles much for the better.
Been a Hoka convert since May 2012. Game changer for me and yes, I walk/ran IMLT in mine. Used to use Newton Sir Isaac WIDE version as obviously I have wide feet, but after going Hoka, it’s hard to go back to anything else.
I switched from Saucony to Hokas. I still have my Kinvaras for some short course racing and speed work, but I’m about to order some Ultra TTs. I tried some on at a race expo this weekend and was stunned at how comfortable they are. I’m just not sure if they’re going to replace the Hokas for long course stuff.
Huge respect to Newton and their market share. If I had done a first to 100 instead of 20, Newton (probably the Distance) would have killed it. The one shoe I spoke about earlier still would have been ahead for all of us. There’s another question on this thread about the adidas Boost and since I worked there before here and have a Hoka on my left foot and a Boost on my right as I type this I will comment. Yes I think the Boost is a shoe like the Hoka with some Ultra Soft Mega cushioning. Maybe not as soft and not as Mega but it’s softer and has more “Cushioning” than any other shoe out on the market right now.
Which model did you run in dmounts? I use the Stinson evo for ultra trail running… love them. Have toyed with the idea for IM running.