The Hungry Hungry Writer

I have obsessive compulsive disorder. In the clinical sense I have OCD. Maybe slight as I can catch myself here and there but OCD none-the-less.

But I also have obsessive compulsive behavior. I admit it. I will NEVER deny it.

What am I talking about?

I’m obsessed with shoes. Running shoes. Pure running shoes and not those fashionable attire that Nike or Addidas puts out (although they do have some shoes dedicated to serious runners).

Imelda Marcos I’m not. But I am Filipino so maybe its a FLIP thing!

About 10 years ago I really got away from buying ‘expensive’ shoes. Maybe I’d spend 30 bucks on a pair and try to make that last as long as possible. I use to buy Nike’s at $100+ a pop. Basketball shoes, trainers, etc. Usually whatever was hot or something. Not for working out or basketball or anything like that. Just because it was new and cool looking. That’s when I discovered Asics on eBay. They were older models and cheap! So that’s what I’d do for shoes. I hated to pay more than thirty bucks for a pair of shoes.

Then came December of last year. I had a pair of Asics stored away in a box that I got from eBay more than a year prior. They were a white pair of the “Kill Bill” shoes. They were cool! And they were like $30. So I pulled them out and used them for my workouts starting in September. In November I started to run on a treadmill and they weren’t very comfy. My other Asics, which I wore to the ground, were extremely comfortable but they were thrashed and two or so years old.

I signed up for a 5K race in December and the signups were held in a Running store. And that’s where I had my first taste of quality running shoes made for the serious runner and specific to a runners gait, pronation, etc.

I bought two pairs of UK Gear PT-03s to rotate as I trained for races and things. And also in December I decided to train for Triathlon. I ran my first 5K race with the UK Gear and used them for the race in December and also two Triathlons in February and April. But I realized they weren’t enough support for my running style and they screwed up my ankle!

So I bought another pair… and as the months came and went, and more miles were built into my running, and different surfaces were in play, more shoes were bought and more miles were run and the UK Gear PT-03 were shoved out of the rotation forever.

So if you’re looking for a shoe for running, if you are an overpronator and NEED support… here’s a list you can go by before going to buy a pair of shoes.

Yes… obsessive. But I don’t think I will buy another pair for a long time as I’ve tried on nearly EVERY pair out there for mild over-pronators like myself, and these offer the best support and comfort for me.

My rotation of running shoes has grown. I retired the two pairs of UK PT-03 after only approximately 72 and 105 miles on them respectively. This is quite early for shoe retirement but I think they were not giving me the kind of support I needed and ever since I switched to another pair of shoes, my ankle has not been giving me any problems. I am not sure if it was the PT-03s but I’m not about to test them out in my rotation for fear of continued foot problems. (both were $95 each)

So here’s my rotation of road and trail running shoes as of today (8/20/06) and a short review of each shoe sorted by road shoe miles ran and then trail shoe miles ran thus far:

Road Running Shoes
Saucony Grid Omni 5 (43.8 miles)
Brooks Adrenaline GTS6 (28.7 miles)
Mizuno Wave Alchemy 5 (18.3 miles)
Brooks Trance 6 (3.1 miles)

Trail Running Shoes
Saucony Grid Omni 5 TR (15.5 miles)
Salomon XA PRO 3D (2.0 miles)

Saucony Grid Omni 5 (43.8 miles) $90
Obviously, based on the miles, this is my shoe of choice – especially on my long runs. I’ve also owned it longer than the rest as I bought this pair to mix into the rotation of the two pairs of UK PT-03s that I was using. They offer great stability, they are comfortable all around, the cushioning is decent and they feel lighter as a trainer shoe. I wore these on my Central Park run and through most of my 10 hour walk around New York. It’s a popular shoe for runners and would work for most anyone who wants to get into a starter shoe. For those who don’t over-pronate, it might be too much stability so beware. I highly recommend this shoe for almost everyone where comfort and stability is a must. (back to top)

Brooks Adrenaline GTS6 (28.7 miles) $90
If I only had to own two pairs of shoes it would probably be this and the Saucony Grid Omni 5. Another go-to shoe for longer distances. Extremely stable without giving up too much comfort. It keeps my feet cooler than the Saucony’s and does the job for short distances as well. This is another popular shoe for runners and another shoe I recommend for those starting out. Make sure you can handle the stability or it may feel too stiff. I don’t know why ‘stability’ type shoes means less cushion, but these feel like they have enough cushion and yet are extremely stable. (back to top)

Mizuno Wave Alchemy 5 (18.3 miles) $85
I immediately took this pair out for a long run: 10K. I was 0.1 seconds off my personal best. The next day I took it out for a shorter run: 5K. I was 5 seconds off my personal best. A week later I ran 4 miles at an easy pace and I am still unsure how these shoes feel on me despite coming close to two personal bests. They feel very stiff compared to my other shoes and are made for moderate over-pronators. I’m probably a slight to moderate over-pronator. I will probably do a 4 or 5 mile run with them on my next run but may just reserve these for a 5K run and for shorter run rotations. (back to top)

Brooks Trance 6 (3.1 miles) $135
At first I thought they were as stiff as the Mizunos above. My first mile was a bit difficult to get into. I was at a normal 6.0-6.4 mph pace for me and after a mile I got into a faster pace: 7.0 mph. My goal was to hit a personal best 5K run. The shoes started to feel good. They have this new cushioning technology called ‘MoGo’ - midsole for a soft, cushy first feel that lasts, increased energy return, and incredible cushioning–without any sacrifice in stability. I’m not sure if I noticed it, but I did notice they were comfortable throughout the run (after mile 1) and eventually the stiffness disappeared. I’ve enjoyed walking in them and felt good on my run although they feel a little heavier than my other shoes. Oh, and hit a personal best 5K doing it in 26:53 (22 seconds better than former PB). Was it the shoe? Probaby not. But after my run I was quite pleased with the comfort it provided. Maybe the MoGo technology made a difference and maybe Brooks is right about their 90-day MoGo Guarantee: “If it’s not your favorite running shoe in 90 days, we’ll buy you a new pair – even a competitor’s shoe”. I’ll let you know in 90 days. (back to top)

Saucony Grid Omni 5 TR (15.5 miles) $95
Two Triathlons: UCLA Iron Bruin and the LA Tri Express #3 required me to run on trails. After the UCLA Tri my right ankle started having problems. I ran the LA Tri Express with a sore ankle 2 months later. Two weeks later I was scheduled to run another Triathlon – the San Bernardino Tinman which also required a trail run. Each of my Triathlon races I used the now retired PT-03 shoes. A week before the SB Tinman I purchased a pair of Saucony Grid Omni 5 TR and took them out for a trail run at the Rose Bowl; with a sore ankle. Then I used them for the SB Tinman a week later. I can say that it helped with stability as far as traction is concerned. I wasn’t slipping around as I did on the trail during the UCLA Tri and LA Tri Express. These shoes probably didn’t ‘cure’ my injury, but the combination of taking out and retiring my PT-03s from my running rotation directly after the LA Tri Express race is. These trail running shoes have great support as they are similar to the road shoes that I own, but it also provides comfort and traction that is needed for trail runs. I will always have them with me before a race if I find out the race is a trail run. The colors aren’t that appealing, but they’ll get dirty and dusty anyway right after your run. Out of the 5 Triathlon races I’ve run, two of them have been with this pair and the rest with the PT-03. For the LA Triathlon on September 10th, I will be running with the Saucony Grid Omni 5 road shoes unless my new Brooks Trance 6 works its way up to my favorite shoe category. (back to top)

Salomon XA PRO 3D (2.0 Miles) $100
Did I need another pair of trail running shoes? Probably not. But that’s debatable. Trail running is better for my body than road running so I was determined to do more of it. I just haven’t had the time to get to the trails as much as I like. I might do my long run on the trail this weekend and if I do, I’ll be running with these. They are extremely comfortable. They look cool. And they are built for stability which I desperately need. I’ve run 2 miles on a treadmill with them, have done quite a bit of walking with them, but I have yet to run with them on the trails. As of now I have no real review of what these shoes do for me. (back to top)