To which I respond, "But these are TRAIL shoes"
LOL
Ever since I switched to the 4mm drop Kinvaras, I have been so much happier with my running. I have a pair of Asics Trail shoes, but they just feel so much different...and are SO HEAVY! I usually wear them in the winter, but the mere thought of wearing them after running in a much lighter shoe was daunting at best. Then, last week, I was at Costco and saw these in the Men's section
At $59, I figured they were worth a shot and would get me back into trail shoes for what remains of winter (plus prepare me for any trail races I may be inspired to register for this summer).
Here's what New Balance has to say about the NB Minimus MT10GY
Inspired by barefoot running and designed to be used with good form running principles, the New Balance® MT 10 GY brings a whole new running experience. A challenge for experienced runners and a great starting point for beginners looking to develop good form. New Balance® Minimus offers the comfort of a running shoe in a minimal, low-to-the-ground package. D width.
- Synthetic mesh upper provides lightweight comfort and support.
- Designed to be worn with or without socks.
- Anti-microbial treatment resists odors.
- 4mm drop from heel to toe.
- Deconstructed ACTEVA® midsole provides great flexibility and featherweight cushioning.
- Minimal Vibram® outsole for lightweight traction and durability.
Today, I decided to take my new kicks out for a spin around Southwood on my lunch. I had some hills to conquer and figured a shorter run would be a good way to get a feel for them.
My initial thoughts:
- not for ice. Definitely not for ice. Great on crunchy packed, icy snow...but slick ice is no-go. Nearly went ass over teakettle a couple of times.
- so light. Like feathers for your feet
- comfortable but very little cush. If I'd gone from asics to these I probably would have gone back to the asics. But after having run Goofy in Kinvaras, I was fine. Just noticed they have less cush.
- super cute (ok - so they are men's shoes but I do think they are super cute)
I headed out to do a 2k warmup before I tackled all of the hills. Fairly uneventful. I felt pretty swift today, despite having been battling tight hamstrings all week thanks to Jillian Michaels.
When it came time for me to tackle the hills of Southwood, I tried to push past my comfort zone and power up the hills. This worked for the first couple but I was tired and hungry after that and slogging returned. Overall, though, I think it worked out to 5 or 6 hills total. Not bad after several months hiatus from hill training.
And I was practically glowing by the time I got back to work. Ah how I love the run.
