I motivate myself to run in a variety of ways. I sign up for a race. I go look into my dog’s pathetic eyes she guilt trips me into it. I make a new workout playlist.
One great form of motivation for me that comes around less often is trying out new running shoes!
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now, then you may know that my go-to running shoe is the Mizuno Wave Rider. I’ve previously purchased three pairs (and I mentioned them in my post about my favorite running gear), so when I learned about a partnership between Mizuno and FitFluential, I immediately expressed my interest and signed up to participate in the campaign.
I was awfully excited when my new shoes arrived today and took them out for a five-mile run around my neighborhood with Sadie. I caught her fighting boredom by sniffing the metal rods of our pool cage and figured a run would make her happy.
I initially got hooked on Mizuno Wave Riders when I started training for my first half marathon. I was running in Nike Shox (remember those!?) when I developed some serious blisters and shin pain. (I now understand that certain shoes are running shoes and others definitely are not.)
Following the advice of one of my running buddies, I visited Track Shack, a local running store in Orlando, where someone watched me run and asked me a bunch of questions.
They recommended I try a pair of Asics that didn’t feel quite right and then suggested the Mizuno Wave Rider and it immediately felt fantastic. While I knew buying the Wave Rider was the smart thing to do, I had a hard time spending some serious money on a shoe that I thought was pretty darn unattractive. That has always been my biggest complaint about Mizunos – they just aren’t that cute – but I buy them again and again because they really are a quality running shoe. At least this new maroon/fuchsia pair is cuter than the Wave Riders of the past!
I completed my first half marathon training in the Wave Riders and when they wore out I bought another pair… and then another after that. While I love trying new brands and gravitate toward shoes with fun colors for circuit workouts and strength training, when it comes to running, I’ve been a loyal Wave Rider girl since 2007.
My first five-mile run in these shoes went well!
My calves were quite sore, but that’s not the shoe’s fault. I blame the hills in Oregon! I went on two runs while staying in Jacksonville last week (one with Sandy, Dara and Sommer) and since I’m used to very, very flat terrain, even the slightest hills seriously engaged my calves. I guess they’re still recovering!
Lunch
After my run with Sadie and an important conference call, it was time for lunch.
I made myself a salad topped with roasted butternut squash, tomatoes, a sliced MorningStar Farms spicy black bean burger and balsamic vinaigrette.
Plus a few handfuls of rice Chex cereal that I had leftover from my pumpkin spice puppy chow that I ate while waiting for the butternut squash to roast in the oven.
Time for a few hours of studying!
Question of the Afternoon
- Do you own a pair of shoes designed specifically for running? Are you loyal to one brand? Any favorites?
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I was skimming this quickly and thought you wrote “After my run, Sadie and I had a conference call….” Hah. I stopped to read that one more closely. I’m in the market for a new pair of shoes but I’m told that Mizunos aren’t for wide-footed people like me….I’m still trying to find my perfect running shoe but I think these Mizuno’s aren’t too shabby looking.
I have those EXACT Mizunos!!! Love the Wave Riders — I swear by them too! So glad the 15s are more like the 13s… the 14s didn’t to it for me. The color is awesome too 🙂
I love that color! I’ve been wearing wave riders for years! I usually try to find the outdated model online to save some money, but those might be worth the splurge!
I love my Saucony’s for running. They’re the only ones I’ll wear on a run!
I am so jealous. I wanted to wear Waveriders so badly. There are two colors I’m in love with. Those and then the purple ones. Of course I overpronate and those were told to be big no no’s for me by the people at the running store. Oh well! Congrats on getting that from Fitfluential.
I absolutely LOVE my Muzino NIRVANA 8s! I use to wear Adidas religiously, Kanadia TRs, for all the different stuff I use to do (zumba, kickboxing,weight training, walking, hiking) but after my first half marathon, they left me with knee and hip pain BAD! I went to Road runner, which sounds like the same type of store you went to, and found the mizunos thru a sales person, but I ALSO fell in love with the Nike Zoom Structure +15. It is a little expensive to buy 2 pairs, but rotating them is SUCH a good idea and provides support at every run. I use the Nikes for my short runs and the Mizunos for my long runs. The Nikes were about $40 cheaper too, so that helped the burden. I really needed shoes that would help correct my running gaite, and these both didn’t let me down. I run pain free and with a perfect gaite. Do you use inserts as well? You have me thinking about changing to the waveriders. I will be looking to buy another pair after my last half marathon of the year.
Back during my basketball days, our team shoes were Nikes, and they didn’t fit my feet–so many blisters and aches; I even wound up with some calf problems! For the past year, I’ve been an Asics girl, but a few weeks ago, I went to Fleet Feet for a new pair of running sneakers and walked away with Mizuno Wave Elixirs. I absolutely love them!
I’m pretty loyal to New Balance, but I’m using Brooks right now. I have flat feet, but no pronation, so I was recently fitted for the Dyad. They’re definitely not the cutest, but comfy so far.
I’m a Mizuno Wave Rider kinda girl, too! I looove my pair. They’re not super cute, but they’re kind of colorful and fun, I guess. I see people with cute running shoes all the time, but I tell myself that their feet aren’t as happy as mine are.
It’s also so good to see someone who doesn’t always run sub 8 minute miles post their time somewhere! I see people posting about their 7 minute mile runs and it makes me feel inadequate haha.
My shins are sore too from running a hilly 5k in Tallahassee. Since I live in South Florida, any other type of running terrain is rough!
I’ve always been curious about Mizunos but never tried them~I do own a pair of Asics and I loooove them! They are so so lightweight, simple looking, and hug my feet perfectly. And that’s really hard to find since I’m flat footed 😛 yours are really pretty by the way!
Oh yeah. I am totally picky when it comes to running shoes! Having had a right foot stress fracture and ITBS, it is really important for me to find the “right” shoe. I have been struggling with this…
A couple of years ago, the New Balance Wave was pretty good, although, I had a stress fracture with those (possibly not due to the shoe) and 2 pairs of Asics (having an ITBS occurrence with the Asics) until finally I found the Nike Vomero 7’s. While I wasn’t stoked about the $130 price tag, the benefits of Stability+Cushion+Support DEFINITELY won the vote for me. I. love. them. Plus, no more injury occurrences since! LOVE Them.
p.s. I know everyone says Asics are awesome, but they just aren’t for me either. I tried to like them, I really did.
I am in LOVE with Mizunos! I run in the Wave Inspires. I have never had running shoes feel so comfortable, even during the first time ever wearing them. I agree, they’re not the cutest–but they are definitely the best for my running feet!
My favorite are Asics Nimbus! Well, they were! I ordered them for a really long time and then they started seeming too wide. So I have been trying out a few different types of Asics to see what works best – I get pretty bad shin splints due to an old injury, so I have to make sure they fit well!
I seem to change brands every time I change shoes. It really depends on the shoe for me. I used to be partial to Nike and now I’m stuck on Asics. I’ve never tried Mizuno but I hear they are great ones!
I have tried SO many different shoes, but have yet to find ones to be loyal to. They are always too tight in some places and if I size up, they practically fall off. I have wide feet with high arches. I wonder if Mizunos are good for that?
I’m loyal to my Mizuno Wave Nexus 5s. There’s a 6 out but I love the 5s so much that I refuse to upgrade. They’re fabulous!
LOVE Mizuno wave riders, thats all i run in. well, clothes too….
Hahaha… I was about to say… have you ever done the undie runs? 😉
heck no! no one would want to see that!
Yeah… I’ve never done them either. I just couldn’t bring myself to running in a bra and underwear. Have to cover the belly! No matter what I look like in life, I will not run in a bra and butt huggers. Thanks, but no thanks!
I just got my first pair of Mizunos a couple of months ago and now they are my running shoes. I absolutely love them!
Hi Julie! I wear Newtons for running. I SWEAR by them. They made me faster by at least a minute per mile. I can run an 8 min mile comfortable with these shoes! I love them. Plus, they come in bright colors. They are phenomenal… it does suck to drop $175 on a pair of running shoes, but if they prevent injuries and make me faster, I’m all for it.
I run in Asiacs all the way! I actually love Mizunos as well, but they really are so expensive!
I love running to podcasts, but hadn’t thought to run to audiobooks- what a great recommendation from the comments above!
I’ve only ran in Mizuno Wave Riders and feel like I should stick with what works. I would like a less orthopedic pair to swap back and forth with my super old lady orthopedic pair. Just to keep my foot moving and flexing in different shoes.
I am a huge listener of podcasts when I run, love them! But on long runs I tend to only listen 25% of the time. Enjoy the quiet 🙂 I have twins lol
Also I appreciate your input on products. I know that you take a lot of time and care with what you share with us.
Running = Asics. Always!!!!
I reviewed a pair in the post linked below. They’re my absolute favourite runners that I’ve owned 🙂
http://www.femme-fitale.com/2012/04/new-kicks-satisfied-soles.html
Every foot is different though…so I think it’s important to choose based upon how good a fit you’ve had in the past, not a trend or something that looks good on someone else.
I just bought my first pair of “real” running shoes and they are also mizuno only white with pink bands. Funny though, I find them really cute (and comfy of course doh!) & had to buy pink tops to go with them 😀
Those shoes look pretty cute! I love asics and I have the current gel nimbus 14! In fluro pink, which I LOVE. I want another neon pair but have to be sensible and make sure they’re appropriate for what I’m doing.
I am not loyal to a certain brand of shoes, but I probably should be with the running that I do. I honestly have never been properly fit for a pair of running shoes, and I think it’s time I take the plunge and JUST DO IT!
I ran my first half in Mizuno Wave Runners, too! They were great. And it’s funny, the people at the running store said I needed Asics. I did recently get a pair and they have been fine, but I think I’ll go back to Mizuno for my next pair of sneaks! I like the maroon.
Three years ago when I started running, I went to a store similar to the one you mentioned. They started me in Asics. Though they’re a good shoe, I too fell in love with Mizunos- esp the wave riders! Everything in the post about your running shoe experience is almost exactly like mine! Crazy!
Adidas supernova, every time!
I’m a New Balance girl….sadly, can’t remember what number they are but I do know that they are the pink breast cancer awareness pair. Love my pink running shoes!
I also love the look of those pink Mizunos!!!
Hi Julie,
Long time reader here, first time commenter.
I just wanted to say, without being rude, that as a reader, I’m a little over the infomercial aspect of your blog nowadays. A lot of your post sell something or promote something or link to a company site.
I really miss the days where your blog was about YOU and not about products.
Anyway, that was just my opinion.
I originally began my running career in a pair of super old Asics, and after my first 5K in them I decided I could stand an upgrade (they were about seven years old, after all). I was in Brooks Ravennas for about a month, but they seriously messed up my back, so I switched to New Balance 890s (v1) and I’m a big, big fan. I’ve run 2 10Ks and a half marathon in them (and trained for those races exclusively in the 890s as well), so they’re definitely reaching the end of their life. I’d like to stay in similar shoes because these ones really work for me, but I honestly have no brand loyalty haha. I just want my shoes to feel good when I run!
My favorite shoes are Brooke Pure Flow. Ran my first marathon in them, and PR’d a half. They rock my world!
Hi Julie! I see you have the Garmin Forerunner 305. Do you like it? I’ve been searching for a workout watch like that but can’t decide which one would be best.
Mizuno’s are my favorite! I started running in them when I signed up for my first race and I haven’t found any other brand that does the trick- thankfully, our local DSW seems to always have a few pairs on the sale rack 😉
I am liking my Reebok RealFlex shoes for running. This is very silly of me, but now every time I see New Balance shoes, I am reminded of the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love. During a fashion makeover, Ryan Gosling’s character tells Steve Carell’s character that unless he is Steve Jobs, he had no right to wear New Balance sneakers – ever. It is hilarious. I have had some awesome NBs, but I wouldn’t want to turn off Ryan Gosling with bad shoes…. 🙂
I heart Mizunos because they are just narrow enough. When I run in Adidas, Saucony’s, or New Balance I feel like a platypus because I have narrow feet. I tried Asics in a Narrow width, but they were TOO narrow. I’m like Goldilocks with running shoes!
I have two pairs of Mizunos, one blue and pink and the other is white, purple, and black. The colors are AWESOME!
I recently made the switch from Asics to Mizuno. I was a devoted customer for about 6 years with the GT2100 series. Now I wear the Mizuno Wave Inspire 8’s but I’ll be on the market for a new pair next month… I’m thinking of trying another type although I’m a creature of habit so once my feet get comfortable with a shoe, I can’t bear to break up with it!
I started running in Brooks fifteen years ago, and throughout the last decade and a half, I’ve worn everything from Asics to Adidas to Nike to New Balance to Salomon. I recently went to a similar running store out in Colorado and got fitted for Brooks Adrenaline ASR-8. For those of you who are looking for a good trail shoe that’s not Salomon, try these out! I’ve worn them hiking up Colorado’s highest peak and running the Denver Half Marathon. Super great shoe for you trail running girls!
So Funny how I ran across this blog. I was actually searching for an replacement shoe that was like my Wave Riders 15. Reading on everything sounds like what I went through I started running in Shox and got pains. Everyone was telling me to get new shoes. Some good ones! Go get fitted hit some local running shoe stores let them watch you and make recommendations. So I did but went to three and put together what they recommended and what I thought felt good. Of course I did not know what I was suppose to be feeling. I had my first half coming up so I ended up with the Wave Rider 14’s they felt amazing when I went on my runs. Started hitting distances I’ve never done before and legs were fine. So when my Half came never have gone that far yet close maybe 11 miles. I ran it finished in 1 hr 56 min. I was so happy and couldn’t have done it without buying new pair of shoes and good pair at that. This year I shoe looked like crazy tried on so many and ended up with the Wave Rider 15’s my feet felt at home in them. I love them and they suppose to be releasing new ones soon. I’m back to looking at shoes wondering what compassion with the Wave Riders such as support, heal toe drop, etc.
Guess I will have some time in research and trying on. Or just go back to the Wave Riders lol.
Happy running!!
I leave a leave a response when I especially enjoy a
article on a site or if I have something to add to the discussion.
It is a result of the fire displayed in the article I browsed.
And after this post Mizuno Wave Rider 15 | Peanut Butter Fingers.
I was actually excited enough to leave a thought 🙂 I actually do have a couple of questions for you if it’s okay. Could it be just me or do some of the remarks come across like coming from brain dead visitors? 😛 And, if you are writing at other places, I’d like to follow anything
fresh you have to post. Could you make a list all of all your social sites
like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
I leave a response when I like a post on a site or
I have something to add to the conversation. Usually it is a result of the passion
communicated in the post I read. And after this post Mizuno Wave Rider 15
| Peanut Butter Fingers. I was excited enough to post a
thought 😉 I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s okay. Is it simply me or does it seem like a few of these remarks appear like written by brain dead individuals? 😛 And, if you are posting on additional social sites, I’d like
to follow anything new you have to post. Would you
list the complete urls of all your public pages like your twitter
feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
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