Once Inspired

Posts Tagged ‘shoes’

So yesterday I headed out to the 3000 ha of the Koeberg Nature Reserve on the Cape West Coast (Eskom Power Station) and had my first run in the Saucony ProGrid Peregrine. Sandy, grassy and loads of gravel, the Peregrine ate it all up.

Built on the same platform as the Kinvara, the Peregrine boasts a 4mm heel drop. Traditional running shoes or the type of shoe that most people run in or are familiar with have a 12mm heel drop. Trust me, the 8mm difference is epic and I am loving life in my flatter shoes. I only run in 4mm heel drop shoes or complete flats.

For those of you who don’t know, running is not my strong point, even though I used to win just about every race I entered at school up until I was about 15. What happened after that? Shoulders and chest happened. Anyway, I am wanting to run like used to so I am paying quite a lot of attention on my running. I came across this video and thought it was pretty good. I find this to be working well for me. Just replace the Brookes he speaks of with the Saucony Kinvara.

Xtenex (indeXed-TENsioning-nEXus) is a worldwide patented elastic lace technology that produces adjustable tensioning between shoe eyelets. Xtenex laces have an elastic core and a series of knots along the entire length of the lace at consistent length intervals. Stretch the lace and the knots disappear, allowing you to thread the lace through the eyelets. Release the tension and the knots reappear. More knots between eyelets lessens the tension; fewer knots between eyelets increases tension.

Currently, most laces are not able to provide variable tension as laces are tied by creating a knot at the top end of a shoe. The problem with this way of lacing is that all of the tension sits around the ankle area and that results in a restriction of blood flow and circulation. The problem is compounded by people creating a double knot so as to avoid their laces coming undone.

The Saucony Type A4 is essentially the perfect triathlon running shoe. Super light at 189g, they are quite simply the best shoes I have ever run in.

Yes they are great looking shoes and very comfortable, but there’s little doubt that they were designed purely for speed. For more leisurely runs I use my Kinvaras (See my Kinvara review here).

The Saucony Type A4 is truly fast and although I may have mentioned that already it’s really no understatement.

Here’s a quick video intro to the Saucony ProGrid Xodus 2.0. I will be getting mine next week.

Read more here

A lot has been said in recent times about the fact that humans should be running with a more midfoot/forefoot strike. In certain segments of the running community this certainly has taken a firm hold. A midfoot/forefoot strike is said to make for more efficient running and is said to significantly reduce the risk of injury.

Recently launched in South Africa the new Saucony ProGrid Kinvara is one such shoe that was designed to facilitate a midfoot/forefoot strike. Classified as a neutral lightweight trainer the Kinvara is light (218g) and although it may be frowned upon by die-hard minimalist runners for its 14mm forefoot, there is only a 4mm drop from heel (18mm) to forefoot.

Saucony ProGrid Kinvara

Saucony ProGrid Kinvara coming to South Africa in December 2010. I will be doing a review on these shoes very soon. Super amped.

A great article from www.runnersworld.com by Amy Burfoot, 2004

As a teenager, I loved to run barefoot on the Connecticut beaches, splashing through the waves. A few years later, I often ran without shoes while training for the college cross-country season, completing workouts that were the hardest, fastest, most puke-able, and yet most enjoyable of my life.

“Your due for a new pair of shoes “But where do I start?” you may ask yourself. This is the problem faced by millions of people the world over on a weekly basis. Well let’s start of with this

The Big Myth

The most expensive pair of running shoes is not necessary the best pair of running shoes for you!!!

That’s right. In 2002 a study showed that 65% of all the people that run or play a sport that involves rapid movement were using the wrong shoe. Of that total 85% have an injury as a direct result of the shoes. Pretty scary stats when you think about it.