HARO BIKES

The first of our June "What's on" events took place last night at Mikes Bikes with the members of Cairngorm Runners meeting at the shop for an hour or so before their regular Monday evening run at 6.30. The warm, sunny weather allowed us to arrange a selection of Mizuno shoes and clothing outside the shop along with a range of High 5 sports nutrition. Cheryl from Mizuno had brought with her around 20 pairs of shoes for people to try on and take for a test run and those that had arrived earliest got the pick of a glittering array of finest athletic product! The scene outside the shop was really quite impressive with in the region of 40 athletes in summer running gear moving from sampling High 5 (that Mikes Bikes had provided for the occasion) to a comprehensive group warm up routine in the car park. With many of us shod in the variety of Mizuno footwear Cheryl had brought with her, supplemented by extra pairs from Mikes Bikes stock, I really should have taken some photographs but I didn't so you'll have to take my word for it - we looked fantastic!

http://www.cairngormrunners.org/

After the warm up the runners split into ability groups and with Cheryl joining the 30 minute continuous jog group, I set off with the group doing 55 minutes along the Speyside Way. Before setting out I had managed to get hold of a pair of Wave Creation 10 shoes from Cheryl and I was looking forward to seeing how they would perform.

From the moment I first tried them on in the car park I knew that I wanted these shoes. They provided an instant good feeling and the rebound from the infinity wave technology created the sensation of youthful elasticity during initial striding. The last time I enjoyed a training shoe this much was my first pair of Asics Nimbus, a shoe that, sadly, I feel has seen a degradation of its qualities in subsequent models (I have tracked this through 4 pairs of my own) with a tendency for the midsole support to collapse very quickly affecting balance and subsequently the runner's gait.

The first mile on tarmac saw the 55 minute group split up with a small group at the front including Mark who was testing a pair of Wave Elixir 4 as a possible race shoe for 10km, half marathon and the marathon. Also in the group was Robert who, in one of the many little twists in Scottish sport, I had last been out a run with on an European athletics tour in 1980! Initial impressions of the Wave Creation 10 held true with the rebound from each stride providing a marked contrast to the sinking feeling that can be experienced with cushioned foam midsoles. On the rougher terrain of the Speyside Way I was able to appreciate the stability of the shoe and the traction and support on offer allowed me to increase the pace without concern over 'turned' ankles or other similar mishaps associated with off road running. 

At the half way point we had managed to shake off Robert (old age and a turned ankle) and Duncan (dodgy shoes and blisters) - nae luck guys! Mark in his Elixir 4s on the other hand was intent on checking out their capabilities and as he ran on with Douglas I settled in to enjoy the second half of the run with Denise. It was a particularly warm night and I am happy to report that I didn't suffer from 'hot feet' as can often be the case in these conditions. Whether this was due to the "full-length midsole ventilation system reducing heat and humidity build-up inside the shoe" or to the breathable mesh upper I couldn't say but if it works on a night like this it will work in the best climate the UK can offer us.

The Wave Creation 10 has many little extra features that you would expect of the flagship offering from a company like Mizuno - I suspect the carbon rubber sole would prove its worth over time and there is no doubt that the tongue/elastic/heelcup design improves fit and comfort - and for those that are interested in all the technical detail Mizuno offer comprehensive information on their athletic footwear at

http://www.mizuno.eu/

in the "running,athletics" section. However, the bottom line can never be provided in technical detail. Only through trying the shoe yourself can you assess its suitability for your purpose. From my point of view, the Wave Creation 10 is as close to perfect for me as I have experienced. This does not mean that it would be the perfect shoe for you (though I recommend that you try it!) - I have a relatively neutral gait, for example, and do not need the sort of support offered by other shoes in the Mizuno range. Having your needs assessed and your shoes fitted by an authorised stockist is always a good idea!

A sceptical old coach of mine used to question the value of expensive innovations in running equipment by asking the question "will it make you a better runner?" and the answer for the Wave Creation 10 is "yes". They make you feel good and when you feel good you are more likely to go for a run and do the miles necessary for performance improvement. They will protect the runner from injury allowing the consistent training necessary for performance improvement. In short, cheap training shoes are a false economy (although the free Mizunos won by xxxxx and Denise in our post run draw will do them the world of good!).

Mikes Bikes has a full size range of Mizuno shoes for both road and trail running and our staff have completed company training in appropriate fitting of shoes. As an authorised stockist we can order any model from the Mizuno range. We can also order from the full range of Mizuno running sportswear. Currently, we have a small selection of running clothing at very special prices - when its gone its gone and a lot of it is in my size so you had better be quick!

Finally, did Cheryl get her Wave Creation 10s back? In short, no!