When I for some strange reason started running at my free-time I didn't know much about running shoes and certainly wasn't collecting them. I actually first used a pair of basketball shoes for over a year, before even thinking of switching to proper running shoes. The pair of Reebok Allen Iverson VII's got the job done really nicely, especially since I didn't really need much support or suspension of any kind as I weighed like 45kg back then.
My first "running" shoes
Now with almost twice the body mass (well not really) I seem to need twice the performance from the shoe as well. My current favorite pair of running shoes are Nike Katana Cage III's.
All the shoes in the Nike Katana collection are meant for neutral runners who are looking for lightweight shoes with not too much protection or support to slow you down.
At times I also use some other Katana shoes such as the Katana Rac3r II's for shorter distances
And the older Katana Cage II's
I can recommend the Nike Katana Cage series to runners who haven't had any serious injuries and have a neutral efficient way to run. They probably aren't the most comfortable shoes around, but they've always worked for me.
I'm also trying to get a pair of the new Nike LunaRacers that are said to be the fastest off-track running shoes ever produced. The Flywire technology used in them is the same that Nike has used in it's most premium football shoe prototypes like Mercurial SuperFly as worn by my two favourite football-players - how uniquely - Zlatan and Cristiano Ronaldo. This alone makes them a pair of shoes I have to purchase. Hopefully they are somehow eligible for an employee discount though.
I also have a pair of Asics Nimbus 9's that I use occasionally for longer runs. They are very comfortable and provide great support, but on the other hand they're not very fast on any surface. I could still recommend them for everyday training especially for runners a bit on the thick side.
I've also made the mistake wasting my time trying out Adidas running shoes back when they had the campaign where you can pick the shoes from the store and run with them for 30 days and then return them if you're not satisfied. And I definitely wasn't satisfied. The pair I had was from the top of their range, but it felt like running with two bread rolls laced to your feet. I've always hated Adidas anyway so perhaps I failed to be perfectly objective when testing them though.
And finally a few pictures of running shoes I find aesthetically pleasing - though my sneaker collection doesn't really have much room for running shoes as it's usually either chav or hillbillyish (quite a word.) to wear running shoes when you're not exercising.
The Original Nike Moiré Plus
Nike Air Max 95 2004 Greek Olympics edition
Oh and I haven't even decided what shoes to wear if I ever make it to the starting line of the Stockholm marathon.
And about training lately - just some random 9km sprints + other kinds more or less athletic activities.
With all these posts... I really think that Nike should be paying you for advertising. Maybe you should ask for a sponsorship? For all of us, of course. ;)
VastaaPoista- Esko A.
Actually, I've been a fan of Nike for quite some time so I don't see a problem writing about their shoes when writing about my personal experiences with running equipment in general. And being a sneaker collector it seems quite natural to write a posting about running shoes in a blog about running.
VastaaPoistaBy the way weren't the sponsorship deals of this project almost sealed already? There hasn't been any new info about them for weeks though.
I didn't mean to criticize. It just looked funny to see, how you first said you'll begin to work for Nike, and then the following posts concentrated on Nike products. No bad feelings, huh? :-)
VastaaPoistaAs far as I know, most of the sponsorship deals are highly uncertain or undecided. The project began with such a limited timeframe, and the companies often need some time to make decisions.. I hope Markku will inform us shortly. I think he promised to tell more this week. Nevertheless, new deals should be very welcome. As long as they don't conflict with each other. If you think you might get Nike to take part in the project, please contact Markku and ask for possible conflicts and current sponsorship statuses. And then use your contacts in the company. :)
By the way, I forgot to comment the Lunaracers. I'm sure you know, but some readers might not. Racers are light and fast. That is true. But they don't have much support or cushioning, and they wear fast. Only a few people can run a marathon with them. The light ones with a rather optimal running technique. Ordinary John Does would most likely just injure their feet.
Nice shoes and a nice collection. Fun to read about it. My first running shoes were Reebok DMXs. They have also been the cheapest ones, and the best for my feet...
(Well, at least the cheapest ones I have paid myself.)
- Esko
"Racers are light and fast..."
VastaaPoistaOf course, I was writing about all racer type sneakers. Not just Lunaracers.
- Esko
It's hillbillyish to wear sneakers when you're not exercising... I've been wondering this issue on the days when I run to work. I realize that I look hillbillyish with my running shoes when I take the bus back home in the afternoon, but do I really want to carry another pair of shoes in my backpack when running, just because I don't want to look hillbillyish when I go home from work..? Just wondering if it's so bad to look like a hillbilly once in a while...
VastaaPoista-Marjukka