What you put on your feet after the run can be just as important as what you wear during it. 

Like eating a piece of fruit for dessert, wearing comfortable footwear after a run can be both a reward for the effort preceding it and a health benefit.

And it doesn’t have to look bad, either.

The shoes included here all share the qualities of recovery comfort and fashion and, in some cases, even have the approval of the American Podiatric Association. With an emphasis on cush, the footwear in this gallery includes flips, slides, sandals, and step-ins.  They all make you say “ah” when you put them on, especially after a hard run when you’ve really left it out on the route.

RELATED: Rethinking Recovery Footwear For Runners

Depending on your preference or need for structure, arch support, something between your toes or not, warmth, breathability, the footwear offered here offers those qualities and does so with the best of materials, including antimicrobials, accommodating foams, natural-forming insoles, and fashion-conscious styles.

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Use these devises to enhance or preserve your off-road adventures.

Granted, many run trails to get away from technology, as a true escape that is a Zen-like “be in the moment” experience.  And while the gadgets included herein don’t necessarily detract from that, they can either enhance or help preserve it.  Included in this gallery, you’ll find high-tech devices that enable you to monitor your progress and performance, record it, sustain the power supply that gives them juice, and even to keep you on track.  With GPS, a video cameras and sophisticated watches that record or provide your location, speed and other elements of the run, you’ll be able to share your trail adventures with friends and family, download all sorts of mapping, heart rate, elevation, speed, cadence, distance, and other information, and even share that with on-line communities or your coach.  And with solar chargers and power storage devices, you can even stay charged out on the trail.

Yes, you can turn off these devices and use them only on a need-to-know basis.  You can leave them at home and run closer to nature.  But on days when you want to know more about your run and record the excursion for recall or sharing, these lightweight, high-tech, easy-to-use tools are at the ready.  If a tree falls and you run by it and record its falling; you can be sure the tree really fell.

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New product delivers real-time audio coaching.

This week, PEAR Sports announced the launch of a patented Training Intelligence system and its introductory product, the PEAR Square One. With Training Intelligence technology, PEAR revolutionizes run and fitness training by eliminating the distraction and the difficulty of using and understanding a heart rate monitor. Be it to train for a marathon, lose weight or simply to get in shape, PEAR provides hundreds of personalized training plans and workouts designed by a team of world-class coaches, including Matt Fitzgerald and Jenny Hadfield. The PEAR Square One includes a wireless heart rate sensor, foot pod and sport earphones that work together to deliver real-time audio coaching and on-demand audio stats based on how the body is responding to the workout. PEAR Square One is compatible with Apple’s iPod shuffle and infuses your favorite music seamlessly into the coaching cues for maximum results and enjoyment.

“The PEAR vision is simple –to train smarter and enjoy it so that you can get the most out of each workout and accomplish your goals,” says Kristian Rauhala, PEAR co-founder and President. “PEAR is more than just heart rate training. It’s a boost from an upbeat song, a coaching cue that causes you to dig deeper and a brand new workout to keep you motivated. PEAR is coaching, motivation and a lot of fun.”

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This technique will turn a discarded old pair of running shoes into your new favorite winter trainers.

Aaron Hersh provides an affordable way to take on the winter conditions. Photo: Nils Nilsen

You’ll need an old pair of running shoes, a bag of three-eighth-inch hex head screws, a Sharpie and a drill or screwdriver.

Put the shoes on and run a few strides while feeling for the regions of your forefoot that take most of the pressure during a stride. Pop the shoes off and mark three spots on the sole underneath those pressure points with the Sharpie. They will probably be along the ball of your foot. Make sure to center the screws on tall knobs of rubber to prevent the screws’ tips from wiggling through the sole.

If you are using a screwdriver, poke a thumbtack into the sole to create a small hole to set the screw. Jamming a screw into hard rubber can be frustrating without a power tool, so be patient. The screws should go in easily if you’re using a drill.

Once those three screws are in place, add one more at the front of the sole and two more at the rear of the forefoot, toward the medial side of the shoe. There is no need to add any screws under the heel because running on ice naturally forces runners up onto their toes.

Your haggard old running shoes are now the perfect pair of snow, ice and mud trainers. The only side effect of installing the screws is a clanking sound when running on pavement, but they still grip the road effectively. Just be careful around hardwood floors.

****

About The Author:

Aaron Hersh is the tech editor for Triathlete magazine.

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Don’t know what to get your runner or outdoor enthusiast this holiday season?

Scroll through the tabs on the left of the page for some excellent holiday gift ideas in a variety of shapes, sizes and prices.

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We know they’re not a fashion statement. So what are they?

When Chris Solinsky became the first non-African to break 27:00 for the 10k he immediately became a distance running icon.  Although he can’t dunk a basketball, he will—like another Nike athlete from 15 years ago—no doubt inspire people to “be like Chris.”  And emulating Solinsky means racing in medical hosiery.

The knee-high’s that Solinsky races in are not a fashion statement, they are compression socks that squeeze his lower leg.  They have been used in medicine for years to increase circulation, and athletes have recently discovered the potential benefits to them. Compressive garments can be worn during training or recovery and they provide two benefits for a runner: they increase circulation and prevent muscle damage.

Circulation

While running: Blood is forced from a runner’s legs up to the heart as his or her lower leg muscles contract and relax with each stride.  This natural pump creates a strong circulating force, so the assistance provided by compression socks while running is quite minimal.

While resting: Compression gear is arguably the most beneficial to runners when they are stuck in a chair.  The legs do not have a natural pump to help circulate blood when resting so blood tends to pool in the legs. Compression socks, like the ones Solinsky races in, put a gentle pressure on the blood vessels in the calf so blood cannot pool in the lower legs while stationary.  This helps to reduce the stiff feeling that comes from sitting for several hours.

Muscle Damage

While running: The myth that lactic acid burns muscles and causes soreness has been debunked.  Soreness can be attributed to tiny tears in the muscle. Compression gear may reduce muscle damage by physically holding the muscle in place and preventing it from shaking back and forth with every stride. Although it is difficult to feel this effect in a healthy muscle, the difference is clear in an injured muscle.

While resting: Don’t fall down the stairs between runs and your muscles should be fine.

Compression socks look lame, but they can provide real benefit during running and between runs.  They are a necessity for an eight-hour day at a desk or a long plane flight.  Other styles of compression gear include calf sleeves, quad sleeves, full-length tights and shorts.

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Written By: Mario Fraioli

One look at the feet of the crowd gathered inside City Sports on Boylston Street Saturday morning and it quickly became apparent this was not a footwear fashion contest.

The gathering of about 100 strong shed their shoes in unison for the Vibram FiveFingers All-Star Barefoot Running Clinic, featuring Vibram spokesperson Corrado Giambalvo, Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman, as well as author of the wildly popular book Born to Run, Christopher McDougall. Co-sponsored by Vibram and City Sports, the event was aimed at educating the masses about minimalist running, a movement which has gone viral as a result of McDougal’s best-selling book.

“This is a project in self-experimentation,” Giambalvo said. “The greatest aspect of this movement is re-educating your feet and re-experiencing the joy of running.”

Lieberman, an evolutionary biologist, has studied the role of running amongst different cultures of people throughout history and says that research suggests humans were designed to run. Running shoes, he said, take away from the organic nature of the activity.

“We weren’t born to run, we evolved to run,” Lieberman explained. “Our bodies are designed by evolution to run. You don’t need shoes to run.”

“The attendance here this morning is testament to how little is actually known about (barefoot running),” McDougall added. “I’m happy that Vibram and City Sports are doing this to give people the opportunity to learn how to use the product properly. Throughout history, running has been an activity that has been associated with vitality and freedom. Only recently has it been associated with pain and fear.”

In his opening speech, McDougall went on to tell the story of how after suffering through years of incessant injuries many different doctors and physical therapists told him that he simply shouldn’t run. He tried everything, from stretching and rehabilitative exercises to corrective orthotics. Nothing worked until he shed his shoes and started running barefoot.

“It took a while,” McDougall said of the transition to running sans shoes. “You can’t just take off your shoes, go out the door and run five miles. There is a technique to it. The best way to relearn this thing is to shut down the brain and listen to the feet.”

After the initial introduction by McDougall, Giambalvo and Lieberman, attendees broke into smaller groups to learn the basics of running barefoot before heading outside to put their newly learned techniques into practice. The trio emphasized re-learning how to run by encouraging a forefoot strike, taking shorter strides and employing a faster turnover.

“You need to start slowly because if you don’t you will injure yourself,” Lieberman advised. “It’s a relearning process, but when you emerge on the other end you’ll wonder why you ever wanted to heel strike in the first place.”

Giambalvo, a veteran marathoner and running coach in his native Italy, used a metronomic beeping device with his group to teach proper cadence as a warmup exercise before heading outside to practice running barefoot on the sidewalk alongside Boston Common. He encouraged runners to be light on their feet and to use quick strides. Running in such a way, he said, lessens the likelihood of injury and increases the enjoyment of the activity.

“This is the way we learn to be quick and light on our feet,” Giambalvo explained to the group. “When you have a high turnover rate, contact time with the ground decreases. You learn to use your quads more so your heels aren’t taking any of the impact.”

Lauren Adams, Northeast Marketing Manager for City Sports, was excited with the response to Saturday’s event and felt fortunate to have McDougal, Lieberman and Giambalvo on hand to educate a curious crowd and bring people together on Marathon weekend.

“It was important for us to do the event this weekend not only to educate, but to bring people together,” said Lauren Adams, Northeast Marketing Manager for City Sports. “Vibram is a great partner of ours, so it was nice to put on such a great event for so many interested customers. The response was fantastic and by publicizing it through social media everyone was really geared up. We’re really excited about it.”

Giambalvo, who will run Monday’s marathon in a pair of Vibram’s, said that educational events like the one hosted by City Sports are a good way for runners to face their fears with others who share a similar type of uncertainty when it comes to trying something different.

“I think an event like this is important because you get acquainted with other people that are doing something which you are unsure about,” Giambalvo said. “Luckily there’s a lot of stuff on the web which is contradictory, sometimes outright critical, and I think that’s good. This is a hands-on kind of experience. You need to try it. You need to confront yourself with what it is that you’re doing.”

[sig:MarioFraioli]

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“The entire Saucony team is extremely proud to be recognized by the IRRA,” said Patrick O’Malley, Saucony’s vice president of global product for Saucony. “At Saucony, we’re intently focused on providing runners with the best-in-class innovation, style and performance throughout our entire product line. Our business and passion is to inspire runners. The Guide 2 reflects that, and it’s gratifying to see this recognition honor our passion and focus. We hope that runners everywhere will enjoy the supportive, smooth ride of this great shoe,” said O’Malley.

Designed to slow down mild overpronation, the ProGrid Guide 2 is a light stability shoe featuring a Dual Density Impulse EVA midsole for greater durability and responsiveness under the arch. The ProGrid technology in the heel combines seamlessly with the SRC XTRA forefoot cushioning to ensure an efficient transition and a smooth ride. The ultra-plush Comfortride sockliner is constructed from an exclusive material to offer both wicking and antimicrobial properties, while providing responsive cushioning and additional comfort. (Sizes: men’s 7-13, 14 and 15, and women’s 5-12; MSRP: $95.00)

This is the second time that a Saucony product has been recognized by the IRRA with this award. In 2007, the Saucony ProGrid Omni 6 took the title, based on its reputation as the ‘go-to’ shoe for retailers.

Also at The Running Event, industry veteran Fred Doyle, Saucony’s vice president of field sales, was inducted into the IRRA Running Specialty Hall of Fame. Doyle was selected as a Vendor/Influencer inductee based on the major impact he has had throughout his career in growing the specialty running business as an athlete and business person.

“We are so pleased and proud that the industry has recognized Fred in such a meaningful way,” said Richie Woodworth, president of Saucony.

“The IRRA is an integral part of our running community and is dedicated to the growth and health of our sport,” said Woodworth. “Their standards and expectations are high, and we will continue to strive to exceed them with great products, excellent service and a team dedicated to the specialty running business,” added Woodworth.

About Saucony, Inc.: Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of Collective Brands, is a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony and Saucony Originals. For more information, go to www.saucony.com.

About Collective Brands, Inc.: Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units focused on multiple price points and selling channels. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its more than 4,500-store retail chain; Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group, focused on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and high-quality children’s footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit. Information about each of the Collective Brand’s units can be found at
http://www.collectivebrands.com.

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The Somnio Runaissance—Neutral Trainer. Photo: Jay Prasuhn

New running shoe company is looking to change the way you buy your trainers.

Written By: Jay Prasuhn

I recall fitting cyclists to their bikes 15 years ago with a tool called the Fit Kit. Back then, bike fitting was a fairly new prospect; before then, it was about as specific as making sure you had a bit of inseam clearance, or could scrape your heel on your pedal when swinging your leg as a pendulum whilst sitting on your soon-to-be new bike trainer. A squint of the eye, and off you went.
Today, there are lasers, Dartfish angle determinations, expensive fitting bikes and charts, all delivered by classroom-certified fitters. You would be remiss to head out the door after spending $3,000 or more without having a very, very good idea that your fit on that bike is spot-on, and that you’d just headed off any number of potential repetitive motion injuries.

But what about your daily run trainers?

For all the advances in fitting of bikes, running shoes have been a black hole of information. Usually, biomechanists see runners and triathletes after the injury has occurred, which is followed by a gait analysis, perhaps a shoe recommendation, and likely a prescription for a $300 custom orthotic.

“Look for literature on gait mechanics, and there’s such a void out there,” said Tim Hilden, biomechanist at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine.

Somnio offers 648 combinations of support and cushion. Photo: Jay Prasuhn

A new Santa Cruz-based shoe company called Somnio (after the latin for “dream”) endeavors to solve common running injury problems not reactively, but proactively. Instead of selling you a shoe to prevent an injury you’ve acquired, they want to get you into a shoe that prevents the problem from even happening. The result is a shoe (actually three models) for men and women that have the ability to receive up to 12 adjustable inserts that can be combined to create more than 648 different shoe customizations.

The concept is something that has existed in the bike industry for decades: analyze the motion, correct the imperfections. So it comes as no surprise to learn that Somnio’s president, Sean Sullivan, has a history in the industry within the bike segment, spending several years with Specialized and its renowned Body Geometry fit program.

Sullivan thought, “If this works for cycling, why not running?”

Sullivan paired with BCSM’s Tim Hilden to develop the first fully customizable running shoe. As a biomechanist, Hilden sees a paradigm shift on the horizon. “The next five years, there will be a lot more change about how shoe companies address alignment control,” he said.

Patterns of injury include patellofemoral pain due to forward trunk lean (an overt Pose method), patellar tendonitis due to late initial full-foot contact loading, shin splints thanks to a short, choppy stride and Achilles tendinopathy due to fatigue-related exacerbation of sloppy running form. We often correct the problem with an orthotic, after we’ve experienced the injury. But what if, with the help of a bit of proactive analysis, you were able to customize your shoe to prevent the injury from even happening?

Changing The Shoe Industry Game

Dr. Tim Hilden specializes in biomechanics. Photo: Jay Prasuhn

Historically, the shoe industry has been fairly uniform in shoe design. Everyone uses a firm durometer at the arch to stop the motion of arch collapse during footstrike, creating a firm buttress to stop that motion. Varieties of methods and materials are used from brand to brand, but the desired effect is always the same.

As a runner, it’s your onus to determine how much support you need, if you need any at all. It can be a hit-or-miss proposition, and an expensive one as you go through shoes, and a painful one if you experience injury along the way.

Somnio’s approach is different. Their shoes support the arch from the inside, adjust the shoe from the outside. Somnio shoes have the canting as well as the intrinsic capturing of the arch support, and balance is addressed without just blocking at the foot.

“It’s a completely different way of correcting. With this system, we’re treating the cause,” says Sullivan. “With an orthotic, or with Somnio, you’re treating the cause of the misalignment. With this shoe, (the shop) can come in before you have a problem. It’s 60 percent of what an orthotic can be, and it doesn’t cost $600. We wanted to take the way a med professional would look at alignment, and give. There are a bunch of people who would benefit from this kind of support.”

While still a budding company, the result in some customers, Sullivan says, has been pretty shocking. “The alignment and support is completely different, such that we’ve been able to move people in a motion control shoe into a stability shoe, or people who have run in a stability shoe into a neutral shoe.”

The Hardware

The author choses the recommended inserts for his needs.

Straight away, you can tell that Somnio shoes are unique. The thing that jumps out is the red stitching on the board, sandwiched between the upper and the sole. In order to get accurate canting with the shoe’s wedges and footbed inserts, the upper is stitched to a modified welt construction—think of a Timberland boot. Standard upper and sole attachment with glue makes for curvatures and inaccurate canting. “It’s extremely difficult, but it results in a perfectly accurate measure,” Sullivan said.

“We have to have that board to make the shoe flat,” Sullivan added. “For all the adjustment in the shoe, a flat surface ensures the adjustments are honest.”

The other elements are the splashes of color at the lateral midfoot and heel. These are the custom-adjustable cushion inserts. With three different levels of cushion, or durometers, the ride of the shoe can be fully customized. While Somnio dealers have a clever alloy lever used to install or remove the slide-in wedges, something as simple as a stiff butter knife will suffice.

The inserts decrease the “timing” of pronation through the use of a softer-durometer heel insert (thus avoiding a catapult effect, where the heel forces the shoe through to slap the sole to the ground). It effectively accommodates for different weight categories and injury-prevention needs.

“For comparison,” Sullivan says, “the Nike Pegasus has the same durometer and air bag in a women’s size 5 as a men’s 12. You have runners of completely different weight and dimension on the same cushioning. We just think it should be specific to the runner.”

For that matter, in any single runner the left foot and right foot don’t always ride in the same way. So Somnio allows a runner to differentiate right and left shoes to account for imbalances and discrepancies. “You can really affect the intrinsic feel of the shoe,” Hilden said. “You can customize the feel and really enjoy the ride. For some runners, the act of running can now be a more comfortable experience, not one they should just have to put up with.”

Inside the shoe, the customer can choose from three different arch heights, which intrinsically capture the foot structure. Further, Somnio offers inserts that can add varus or valgus canting to the forefoot, based on your dealer’s advice after a gait analysis.

A runner can stack the inserts to create the proper amount of correction. It goes in and directly influences foot alignment. Of course, customers can purchase different footbeds and wedges from their dealers to tweak their ride as their season goes on, or as they see fit.

Analysis

Author before his gait analysis.

Gait analysis is something that should be done as part of any running shoe purchase, and is a practice that, fortunately, some retailers are starting to embrace. Hilden took side and rear video to identify idiosyncrasies. Mine? This was my first run gait analysis, and I thought I had a pretty good gait. Of course, I thought wrong. He ran back tape adding a visible angle finder to determine that I tend to run midfoot, but I also tend to want to lead with my chest, with both arms back, hands almost always at my hips. My project? Try harder to incorporate my arms, forward of my chest.

And below the hips, he made a correction with one shim in my left forefoot, and use of a slightly higher arch insert, for a bit more capture of a higher arch in that foot. Post-adjustment, the forward stride became a touch more linear. It was a small adjustment, but I was impressed.

Author after his gait analysis.

Of course, coming from over a decade of bike fitting, where a linear cycling path is also the goal, I was not surprised. I’ve only been surprised that the running shoe industry has only just now applied the same principles to running shoes.

The company offers a stability trainer (the Exact Change), a neutral trainer (the Runaissance) and a motion control shoe (the Mission Control) with a lightweight racer and trail runner coming down the pipeline.

Will this lead to a new wave of runners and triathletes who use this shoe as a tool to empower themselves to get what they need in running footwear? All I know is this: Not long ago people said high-tech bike fitting would never catch on.

You can find more on the Somnio line at SomnioRunning.com.

Check out our video from our visit with Somnio! Shoe Talk: Somnio Running

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“The GEL-Kayano series has been one of the running industry’s most popular high-end performance trainer for well over a decade,” says Jim Monahan, VP of Footwear for ASICS America Corporation.  “A key component of this tremendous success is undoubtedly the advanced technical features that are introduced with each update. So while the 16th version will introduce some exciting new features, fans of the series will instantly recognize the fit and comfort they’ve come to expect.”

Most notably, the GEL-Kayano 16 takes a technical leap with the introduction of a patented Guidance Line™ system, which encourages the foot to repeat an optimal path through the gait cycle, thereby creating a more efficient stride and ultimately reducing fatigue. This is achieved with a long vertical groove that flows along the length of the shoe sole.

Another noteworthy upgrade involves addressing the gender differences between men and women. Women typically have smaller frames and do not have the same compression rate that men do.  Therefore, exclusively in the women’s version of the GEL-Kayano 16, Soft Top DuoMax® is employed, which features a layer of Solyte® midsole material inserted directly over the top of the stabilizing DuoMax. This pillow-soft layer combined with DuoMax and a Gender-Specific Space Trusstic System® deliver an optimal platform feel without sacrificing stability, specially designed for the specific needs of a woman.

Plus3™, another innovation that is incorporated into the women’s model of the GEL-Kayano 16, provides a 3mm heel raise, intended to take pressure off of the Achilles tendon.  In the women’s version, an injected Solyte midsole cap is also added directly under the ball of the foot.  While the men’s model features the Solyte injected piece as well, the women’s model is a softer density than the men’s.

Completing the package of the GEL-Kayano 16, new updates to the upper have been made that include a new ‘discreet’ eyelet-stay construction.  Instead of the one-piece construction typically used to secure the eyelets, each eyelet stay is sewn on individually.  This change allows the upper to move independently with the foot and the effect is greater comfort and less potential for irritation.

The GEL-Kayano 16 will be available on January 1, 2010 with a suggested retail price of $140.

ASICS Corporation, with more than 60 years of footwear manufacturing experience, offers a full line of performance-driven athletic shoes and technical active sports apparel and accessories.  For more information, please visit www.asics.com.

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Asics New York City Store.

IRVINE, Calif. (October 22, 2009) – ASICS® America, a leading athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer, will open its first U.S.-based retail store on Friday, October 23, 2009 in New York City. The 1,100-square-foot store will be located at 51 West 42nd Street in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, near Bryant Park. Opening weekend festivities will feature ASICS’ professional athlete guest appearances, in-store promotions, a “fun run” through the city starting at Bryant Park, and a grand prize trip give-away.

“Despite a down economy, ASICS America is still seeing significant growth in sales,” says Rich Bourne, President and CFO, ASICS America. “New York is an active city in the running community which ASICS has long been a part of through our support of the ING New York City Marathon. We feel this is the perfect time and place to mark our debut as a retailer in the U.S.”

As the first stand-alone ASICS retail outlet in the United States, the store will stock running specific merchandise including footwear and apparel, and will have a sleek design aesthetic with traditional ASICS white and royal blue coloring similar to it’s predecessors in London and Tokyo. A main draw for the store will be the proprietary Foot ID system, which includes a 3D scan of the foot along with gait analysis to help consumers determine the best shoe for their foot and running style.

Foot ID’s 3D scan utilizes a cross-section of lasers and cameras to measure all aspects of the foot including the arch, boney architecture of the upper, length, width, heel and ball girth. The consumer simply stands on two pads located on the scanner and information is entered into a database. The consumer then runs on a special treadmill to collect additional information about their running gait. A specifically trained ASICS staff member will interpret all of this information and provide a recommendation on which shoes will work best for that individual. The gathered information will also be shared with the ASICS Research and Development center in Japan for future research.

“The state-of-the-art Foot ID system allows the customers to experience first-hand what ASICS technology is all about,” says Gary Slayton, VP of Marketing, ASICS America. “ASICS is known for our innovation, and we are proud to be bringing a piece of that to the floor of our first U.S.- based retail store.

Grand opening events for the public will take place throughout the weekend of October 23, including appearances from ASICS Olympic athlete Lolo Jones, product giveaways, a “fun run” on Saturday, October 24th at 8:00AM starting in Bryant Park and a chance to win a grand prize all-expense-paid trip to an ASICS-sponsored Marathon. For additional information on these activities, visit www.asicsamerica.com/asicsstoreny.

ASICS Corporation, with more than 60 years of footwear manufacturing experience, offers a full line of performance-driven athletic shoes and technical active sports apparel and accessories. For more information, please visit www.asics.com.

Source: Asics America

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Ryan Hall with his custom shoe made by Asics.

Courtesy of Asics

Irvine, Calif. (October 14, 2009) – In June 2009, esteemed ASICS athlete Ryan Hall traveled to the ASICS Research and Development Center in Kobe, Japan to undergo testing and evaluation, which would be utilized in constructing a custom pair of running shoes perfectly suited to his needs. The shoes have been completed and the 2009 ING New York City Marathon will be Hall’s first race in them.

It has been a life-long dream of Hall’s to get his own custom shoes, and he was amazed at the in-depth process that went into creating them. No less than seven experts were involved in the measurement and evaluation of Hall’s feet, legs, strength, flexibility, speed and impact. His feet were measured from every angle, using cutting-edge technology, and his legs were measured for strength and flexibility in relation to other marathoners. Run testing on an indoor/outdoor track helped determine his ground impact, force and reaction time.

After 2 days of testing, researchers had the information needed to create a pair of shoes uniquely designed for Hall’s specific running mechanics.  They also provided Hall with additional information and advice on strengthening and stretching exercises to enhance his performance.

“It’s every kids’ dream to have their own custom-made shoe, and now my dream has come true,” said Hall. “I think it’s going to help a lot for my future races to get my shoes dialed in.”

Hall will debut the one-of-a-kind black and white shoes, embroidered with the word “STEPS” in tribute to Ryan and wife Sara’s The Hall Steps Foundation, on November 1, 2009 when he runs the ING New York City Marathon for the first time. STEPS is a charitable initiative recently launched by the Halls to fund programs which create a better life for youth living in poverty in the United States and abroad.

“My shoe is not just a customized shoe, it is a customized extension of me,” said Hall.  “When I run the ING New York City Marathon, I will see all the faces behind the shoe, from the woman who is responsible for punching the holes for the laces, to the technician who analyzed my stride, to the researcher who measured my body.  I will feel their support in more ways than through my shoes absorbing the tough roads of New York.”  In addition, the R&D Center was able to custom make the shoes for the specific terrain of the ING New York City Marathon.

For insider video and more behind-the-scenes commentary on Hall’s journey to Japan, check out his blog at www.asicsamerica.com/ryanhall.

ASICS Corporation, with more than 50 years of footwear manufacturing experience, offers a full line of performance-driven athletic shoes and technical active sports apparel and accessories.  For more information, please visit www.asics.com.

Additional photos of Ryan and his shoes:

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Written by: Adam Chase

adidas Supernova Sequence 2

Adidas Supernova Sequence 2, $100 / shopadidas.com
With the Supernova Sequence 2, Adidas has shown a renewed commitment to producing dependable training shoes. The Sequence is a consistent platform for everyday use and high mileage. Our testers found it felt relatively light on their feet, and the comfort of its somewhat firm midsole and the 3D ForMotion wasn’t compromised-even late in a run or after numerous training sessions. The upper felt durable and the fit is flexible enough to accommodate odd-shaped feet; the women’s-specific features of a larger forefoot platform and added flex grooves for a woman’s gait cycle are also nice touches for this dynamic yet supportive shoe. The Sequence was cushioned, in a performance sort of way, and the flow from heel to toe felt seamless to our testers. We gave this shoe the highest of marks.

Asics GEL-Nimbus 11

Asics GEL-Nimbus 11, $125 / asics.com
Asics is a brand that just gets it-and its time-tested Nimbus has earned a stellar reputation with a broad following of runners seeking plenty of cushioning. The newest version of the shoe, which appeals to both neutral runners and mild over-pronators alike, has a forefoot midsole injected with Solyte cushioning material. The stable, flexible and supportive Nimbus is specifically customized in the women’s model, including a lower density of Solyte to complement a woman’s foot. Our female testers commented on the Nimbus 11′s lighter and more streamlined feel, in comparison with the Nimbus 10. The newest iteration of the shoe features asymmetric lacing, memory foam in the tongue and is a bit lighter than prior versions, thanks in part to the removal of overlays across the toe box.

Brooks Revenna

Brooks Revenna, $100 / brooksrunning.com
*AWARD: Best New Shoe*
Brooks could have called this shoe “the Trick” because of the slight-of-foot required to pack so much into a lightweight package. The Revenna is bursting with comfort, support and a fit that had our testers pleased with this go-to shoe for training and racing. Brooks gave the Revenna moderate motion control by kitting out the svelte shoe with a low-profile, cushioned and responsive midsole that features an injected plastic midfoot unit for torsional balance. The mesh upper includes microfiber construction as well as moisture management materials, and we found it quite comfortable for mid-volume feet, even though the Revenna ran like a racing flat.

Karhu Fast

Karhu Fast, $115 / karhu.com
Karhu offers another shoe in their performance line featuring their patented Fulcrum footstrike guidance system. The Fast is a neutral shoe for biomechanically sound runners, offering a low profile, responsive feel that was not enough for our testers who appreciated the lack of weight but wanted more forefoot cushioning and support, especially those with higher arches. Other, more competitive runners on the test team noted that it was smooth enough that the “transition from rear-foot to forefoot was seamless.” All found the colors and styling fun and pleasing to the eye.

K-Swiss Run One

K-Swiss Run One, $125 / kswiss.com
Why buy two shoes when one shoe with different inserts will satisfy your training needs? K-Swiss’ new Run One is a saver of closet space, thanks to the miSoul Tech interchangeable sole systems that allow you to toggle between a stability trainer and a lighter-weight, more neutral shoe. The plastic molded heel counter and injected urethane support cage gave the shoe rigid support, while the dual-density posting and midfoot plastic shank provided stability. Although our testers were unable to perceive a noticeable weight difference between the different inserts, and found that they altered the shoe’s internal volume by swapping out the insoles, we admired the ingenuity of the customizable system and look forward to K-Swiss’ next novel take on running footwear.

New Balance 1225

New Balance 1225, $140 / newbalance.com
The 1225 was a big hit among those of the test team who appreciate stability in a cushioned, relatively lightweight and responsive shoe. The 1225 improves on the 1224 with the help of NB’s N-ergy responsive cushioning compound and Stabilicore medial support system to smooth out the heel-to-toe motion with what our testers found to be an unobtrusive level of pronation control in their gait cycle. That, of course, was not the way most testers expressed it. Rather, they smiled and said things like “fluid” or “I didn’t notice these and that is a very good thing.” The 1225 also features a bevy of cushioning, moisture management, structure, comfort and security technologies in a streamlined fit that comes in on the narrow side in the heel, although it is available in a variety of widths so as to accommodate a full range of foot sizes and shapes.

Nike LunarGlide+

Nike LunarGlide+, $100 / nike.com
Nike likes to push the innovation envelope. You’ve seen it with Waffle, Air and Free and now you see it with a new adaptive midsole system called Dynamic Support, as delivered in the LunarGlide. The system adapts to your gait with each step, supplying you with cushioning and stability, but only as you need it. Thanks to the dynamic properties of the LunarLite foam core, a cushioning material that provides energy return embedded in a firmer foam carriage, the LunarGlide bridges the gap that separates cushioning from stability. The positioning of the medial side midsole is angled to create a deeper cushion in the lateral side, creating a rear-foot and gender-specific wedge that is contoured into a firmer foam carriage to provide stability only if needed. Thus, as our testers affirmed, those who need more motion control get it courtesy of the shoe’s on-the-fly adaptation. A neutral runner who tires late in a run is likely to pronate more and, correspondingly, will get more support from the LunarGlide+. To top off this flyweight shoe, Nike uses its Flywire threads in the seamless upper to keep the LunarGlide+ at its minimalist heft.

Reebok Premier Aztrek

Reebok Premier Aztrek, $80 / reebok.com
*AWARD: Best Value*
Somewhere between a training shoe and a racing flat prances the Aztrek, with a lightweight pillowy performance. Although the Aztrek weighs so little, it still packs a big sandwich of cushioning elements in the midsole as well as a transitional bridge for stability and fluid heel-to-toe motion. If you want a tempo shoe, whether for high-speed training or racing, our test team put this one through the ringer to confirm that it can take a pounding. The Aztrek is a one-stop shop… and quite the bargain, too.

Saucony ProGrid Triumph 6

Saucony ProGrid Triumph 6, $125 / saucony.com
Building on its award-winning predecessor, the Triumph 6 boasts a more responsive and cushioned EVA midsole and a cushioned, wicking antimicrobial sockliner in the performance shoe of choice for runners who want a neutral, flexible, comfortable trainer. For performance, the Triumph still offers favorite midsole features of full-length ProGrid, EVA and impact-transitioning technologies. The combination of blown and more durable rubbers in the outsole will withstand miles of easy running on these “thumbs-up” shoes that our testers enjoyed because they “just didn’t notice” them, allowing them to “focus on more important things, like running.”

Under Armour Revenant

Under Armour Revenant, $120 / underarmour.com
With improved midsole foam, the Revenant received rave reviews from our testers. They applauded the snug fit and amount of arch support of the flexible yet protective and stable trainer. The well-orchestrated blend of support, mild motion control and cushioning was impressive-thanks to medial posting and a midsole suspension system. The plastic-framed midsole materials offered plenty of cushioning and kept our bigger testers happy, thanks to impact-absorbing EVA, polyurethane gel and an additional cushioning compound. The internal sleeved upper was almost overdone to some testers, given the overlays, but overall they liked the hugging fit and one noted: “I enjoyed running in the Revenant because it made me feel light on my feet, yet with support and cushioning.”

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Author Bryon Powell shows how it’s done.

Road running shoes work just fine on smooth trails. But when the going gets rougher, your footwear should get tougher.

Written by: Bryon Powell

Considering venturing off the pavement and onto dirt? Know this: you don’t need a trail shoe to run on trails. There is absolutely no reason a road shoe cannot be worn off-road. In fact, many trail runners wear road shoes while competing in events as grueling as the Western States 100-mile run. That said, when you’re running off-road, trail shoes offer three primary advantages over road shoes: stability, traction, and protection.

Stability

The rocks, roots, and uneven surfaces encountered on trail runs require more stability than runs on pavement. While road shoes are available in “stability” models, trail shoes provide a different sort of stability. Like road shoes, trail shoes can deliver stability via heel counters, supportive uppers, and variable-density midsoles; however, trail shoes have a few more tricks for the trail.

For instance, trail shoes tend to have thinner, denser midsoles for a lower-to-the-ground feel. This reduces the chance of turning an ankle and provides better responsiveness. The occasional trail shoe also throws in an outrigger flap on the rear or outside of the shoe that creates a wider platform for additional stability.

Traction

Road shoes achieve most of their traction through a large contact area with the ground. A flat outsole pattern also works well for trail shoes when worn on slickrock like that in Moab. Rock grip is enhanced when the outsole’s rubber is softened, which makes it “sticky” like a climbing shoe.

Muddy or dusty trails require a completely different approach. If a trail’s surface is likely to shift, then deep, aggressive lugs keep a runner from skidding out of control when stopping or turning.  Aggressive outsoles tend to be heavier, so remember: burlier isn’t always better.

Protection

The same roots and rocks that warrant more stability in a trail shoe also call for more protection. Typical trail shoes include a thin rock plate that provides push-through protection from rocks and other debris. Trail shoe manufacturers have come up with various rock plate patterns, ranging from Inov-8′s Terra Shank that mirrors the bones in your forefoot to The North Face’s Snake Plate that resembles trail switchbacks, that don’t significantly interfere with a shoe’s flexibility.

A trail shoe offers more than underfoot protection. Toe bumpers have turned countless would -be broken toes into mere awkward stumbles. While less frequently encountered, jutting rocks and roots can also tear at the instep and outside of the foot, which is where protective overlays work their magic.

Some trail shoes also feature a gusseted tongue or “scree guard” that prevents small debris from entering the shoe from around the tongue.  Other shoes provide attachment points for gaiters – small fabric skirts that surround shoe uppers and extend over the ankle to prevent debris from entering through the ankle collar. These simple additions can be invaluable for preventing blisters that result from the increased friction of debris inside a shoe.

Choosing a Shoe for the Trail

When hitting the trails, match the shoe to the conditions at hand. Although a runner can sport any old shoe to hit the trail, wearing the right shoe can make for a much more enjoyable experience.  Below are some general categories of shoes that work best for different trail runs.

The Roadie (e.g., Asics Gel-Kayano, Brooks Adrenaline)

Road shoes are a fine option on some trails, though they perform best on surfaces that resemble road. By all means, lace up your road shoes for trail runs with minimal hazards such as a crushed-stone bike path or the woodchip trail, but leave them at home when mud bogging or imitating a mountain goat on rocky crags.

The Tank (e.g., Montrail Hardrock, Salomon XA Pro 3D)

If the rocks on your local trail are leaving your feet bruised and battered, it might be time to pick up a pair of tanks. While trail shoes are trending away from light hikers, there are days when you’ll be thankful to have a wider platform, a thick rock plate, a big toe guard, and a protective upper. Note, however, that these stiffer shoes rarely have as smooth a running feel as road shoes.

The Generalist (e.g., La Sportiva Wildcat, Montrail Mountain Masochist)

Generalist trail shoes are the bread and butter of dedicated trail companies.  Designed for everyday trail runs starting at the trailhead, the generalist features a decent rock plate, a moderate lug pattern, and enough upper protection to keep you running the trails day after day.

The Hybrid (e.g., Brooks Cascadia IV, Asics GT-2140 Trail)

The hybrid trail/road shoe is where it’s at for the many runners who need to hit the pavement for a few miles before reaching sweet single-track.  These shoes run like road shoes, but include lightweight versions of the protective features found in other trail shoes. A hybrid shoe is a great choice for any non-technical, off-road surface. Both road shoe- and trail shoe-focused companies are making quality hybrid shoes these days.

The Claw/The Wing (e.g., Salomon SpeedCross 2, La Sportiva Skylite)

Two specialty trail shoes, one for muddy trails and one for maximum speed, are more related than they look. Shoes for both conditions often have uppers stripped to the essentials. For the claw this is to limit weight when wet, while the wing aims for the lightest possible weight all the time. Both shoes are likely to have a minimal rock plate for weight savings. The primary difference is that the claw comes with an uber-aggressive tread pattern while the wing may hardly have tread at all.

Bryan Powell is a competitive trail runner, coach and editor of iRunFar.

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When the trails start calling your name be sure to be ready for whatever terrain you may encounter. 2009 has delivered a great set of new trail shoes from some classic manufacturers, as well as a few new players.

Oboz Ignition II

Oboz Ignition II, $95
obozfootwear.com
Oboz (Outside Bozeman) hit the market last year with a running start, and its sole trail running shoe, the Ignition, now in its second round, manages to impress. The Ignition is a multi-purpose shoe that can also work for hiking, approach and scrambling, thanks to features like a stretch-mesh upper bootie construction that’s snug enough around the ankle to block out trail debris, and the 3D Air Mesh upper that is adequately breathable. The shoe’s anatomical footbed uses multiple densities for precise, next-to-foot cushioning. The dual-density EVA midsole, forefoot cage and rather hard high-friction outsole is plenty protectiv e, but it detracts a bit from the Ignition’s trail feel because the ride feels rigid even though the forefoot flexion is good. The shoe features moderate cushioning, a low-profile ride and extreme flexibility on a wide platform. Our test team found the upper roomy, if not loose and malleable – a good thing for high-volume feet, but not secure enough for those wanting a snugger fit for challenging trails.

LaFuma Akteon

LaFuma Akteon OT, $130
lafumausa.com
Sometimes the line that separates scrambling footwear and running shoes is a thin one – and the Akteon OT toes that line. It struck our testers for being lighter than it looks, and it performs well on rocky downhills, especially because of its cushy upper and comfortable lace system. The Akteon gets rave reviews for its comfortable fit. The Vibram outsole provides excellent traction for traversing side slopes, but on climbs or flatter sections, the shoe impressed our test team as a lightweight hiker. We recommend it for those who are in the market for a mountain cross-trainer.

LaSportiva Wildcat

LaSportiva Wildcat, $100
lasportiva.com
Just as the challenge of being simultaneously waterproof and breathable has perplexed the outdoor industry, the challenge of making a shoe that is protective and flexible has frustrated footwear manufacturers. LaSportiva, known for its armor-like shoes that shield the foot against gnarly trail abuse, has attacked the flexibility part of the equation with the introduction of the Wildcat. To increase softness, it features an extra layer of EVA cushioning under the footbed, and for stability, it features a plastic heel stabilization cup that holds the rear of the foot securely with minimal weight. A scree guard that is integrated under the laces to ward off trail debris can put pressure on the instep for those with high arches, but otherwise our test team found the Wildcat plush from start to finish.

Patagonia Release

Patagonia Release, $110

patagonia.com
Patagonia, a company known for its light treading, has introduced a multisport shoe that functions well for adventure travel when you have only one pair of shoes and don’t know if you’ll be hiking, scrambling or running. Our testers really appreciated the fine craftsmanship that makes the Release the handsome shoe that it is, and they recommend it for runners who want the plentiful protection afforded by firm midsole material. Patagonia uses recycled EVA in a sandwich of shock pads, protection plates, an arch bridge in the midsole and a Vibram outsole. For a very secure upper feel, the Release features plastic heel-to-instep collar arms that embrace your feet.

Scarpa Raptor

Scarpa Raptor, $90
scarpa.com
The Raptor may suffer an identity crisis because, while it’s certainly running-compatible, it’s also well suited for scrambling, light hiking, trekking and other multisport mountain disciplines. Our testers enjoyed the secure feeling and comfortable fit of the ribbed synthetic leather and nylon mesh upper. The EVA midsole, with a forefoot plastic protective shield and heel stabilizing system, is both protective and dampens impact, but it leaves the Raptor on the heavy side. Our test team recommends it for off-road use only.

Merrell CP Paragon

Merrell CP Paragon, $90
merrell.com
The Paragon meets the needs of trail runners who enjoy lightweight, low-profile and airy minimalist shoes. The upper features Merrell’s M-fit and slip-resistant heel lining for controlled security that’s complemented by a gender-specific anatomical curve last fit. Despite the simple feel, the Paragon has a lot going on underfoot, including midsole cushioning from multiple materials that also provide support and stabilization. The women’s model features a Q-Form pronation control, while both the men’s and women’s versions boast added forefoot protection for metatarsal shielding on uneven terrain and multiple forefoot flex grooves. Our testers found that these features combine for a unique ride that feels rather naked, a good thing for some but too exposed for others.

The North Face Voza

The North Face Voza, $95
thenorthface.com
Because not all trail runners have easy access to trails without logging many road miles to get to and from their favored surface, companies like The North Face choose to make shoes that can be used on numerous surfaces, including pavement. The Voza is a road and trail shoe hybrid that should serve a wide variety of neutral runners, given its dual-tread outsole with a road-ready center and aggressive perimeter for trail traction. The Voza also features a smooth and simple compression-molded EVA midsole, which makes for smooth heel-to-toe transitions on most types of terrain.

Teva X-1 Control 2

Teva X-1 Control 2, $100
teva.com
The X-1 Control has been retooled with a new last that fits more closely, but not so much that it squeezed our testers’ toes, although the mid and forefoot constrained our high-volume testers. Teva has done a fine job of retaining the Control’s smooth heel-to-toe transition, but that comes at the cost of minimal underfoot protection and cushioning despite the integration of a forefoot protection web to guard against bone bruises. Accordingly, the shoe is not recommended for long runs on more rugged terrain or for heavier runners. The Control runs well on and off pavement, and Teva’s relaxed approach to pronation control through a dual-density midsole is unobtrusive.

Salomon XT Whisper

Salomon XT Whisper, $115
salomonsports.com
Salomon has always made alluring women’s apparel, but with the XT Whisper, it enters the women’s trail shoe market in an attractive and versatile way. The Whisper is a hybrid road and trail shoe that our testers found comfortable on tame trails, dirt roads, bridal paths and paved surfaces. The fit is what stands out, thanks to a women’s-specific last and a lightweight Agile Chassis System that Salomon tweaked to accommodate women’s feet. The Sensifit quicklace allows for a secure feel, and the dual-density, posted midsole provides dynamic return, support, pronation control and cushioning.

Vasque Momenta (Women)

Vasque Celerator (Men)

Vasque Momenta (Women)/Celerator (Men), $120
vasque.com
Call it sexist, but Vasque is keenly aware of the differences between genders and has accordingly introduced female- and male-specific shoes. The Momenta is shaped to support a woman’s metatarsals with a women’s-specific last, and it has a narrower heel, higher instep and lower center of gravity. Beyond the different fit, the neutral performance of the Momenta and Celerator represents the lightest of the company’s relatively heavy line. Both shoes feature highly breathable uppers, Vibram outsoles and protective midsoles – although the mid and outsole combination isn’t flexible enough for our test team to recommend the shoes for road running.

End Outdoors Stumptown

End Outdoors Stumptown, $85
endfootwear.com
END (Environmentally Neutral Design) is dedicated to the environment and treading lightly. This message is nowhere better presented than in the super-light Stumptown 12 oz. With this shoe, the company has taken a minimalist approach, focusing on sustainability in materials and the manufacturing process, both of which help the shoe to stay super light. The Stumptown’s key focus is its combination recycled and virgin EVA midsole, which gives it moderate cushioning, a low-profile ride and extreme flexibility on a wide platform. Our test team found the upper roomy, if not loose and malleable – a good thing for high-volume feet, but not secure enough for those wanting a snugger fit for challenging trails.

INov-8 Flyroc 310

INov-8 Flyroc 310, $95
inov-8.com
If you have a fast-paced trail race coming up, especially one with lots of ascents, the Flyroc 310 is a great choice. It has the feel of a racing flat and offers superb traction to nimble-footed trail racers who don’t need much in the way of cushioning or support. The fit is snug from heel to toe, as the shoe has a narrow, very flexible midsole over an outsole that means business. Our testers noted that these speed demons felt funny while walking, but when on rugged, muddy or sandy trails, it was hard to hold back from full-throttle running. Accordingly, the 310 is recommended for neutral, lightweight runners who plan to use them for racing or fast-paced training on rugged terrain.

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Saucony Grid Type A2 ($90)

Inside Triathlon assistant editor Susan Grant reviews the Saucony Grid Type A2 ($90) racing flats in this week’s edition of Girl Gear.

I can’t finish a run without getting a comment about these shoes. The bright cobalt blue siding, grey and white mesh uppers, and silver shoelaces make these shoes fashionable on the starting line and in the Starbucks line.

The heel of the shoe has a unique feature.

Make sure to lift up your foot so the annoying person behind you tapping their foot while you order your coffee can clearly read the “kiss this” printed on the soles. Once you slip these on you’ll know why they are popular with pros like the U.S.’ Linsey Corbin and Australian Kate Major.

While looking sharp is half the battle, it turns out the slick-look of these shoes belies a highly functional racing flat. The bright blue sides of these shoes are highly reflective for those dawn and late-dusk runs. The tongue and heel have pull-loops for quick entry and adjustment, a nice feature to have in the transition area. The mesh uppers are highly breathable, and the shoe weighs in at less than 6 ounces, making it ideal an ideal hot weather racing flat. Because of the lightweight nature of this shoe, it’s meant for neutral runners who don’t need elaborate cushioning or stabilization features.

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