One of These Things is Not Like the Other...

Looking at my last few pairs of running shoes, you may notice a trend. Well, until you look at that last pair on the top.





You see, I've been running in Asics for as long as I can remember. Even in high school, when I took an occasional jog at the park and wore my cheerleading shoes, they were Asics.

This was my first "real" pair of running shoes. When I say "real," I mean that there was more thought into their function as good running shoes rather than just how they look and how they fit. I got them 6 years ago when I was training for my first half-marathon. I went to a "real" running store and was fitted for them and everything. I thought they were amazing. This particular pair of shoes is now dedicated for yard work which is why they are so clean and shiny.



Every pair of running shoes since have been Asics, until just recently. Now don't get me wron, I will forever love my Asics and will probably buy more in the future, but I got sucked into a new craze and just had to try something different. Anyone in the running community knows that there is currently a new craze for minimalist shoes. Minimalist shoes mimic barefoot running, causing a runner to run off the midfoot rather than strike hard with the heel, also causing a shorter stride length. All of which helps to decrease impact and risk for common injuries. Plus, they are incredibly lightweight, feeling like you have feathers on your feet. For more info from some people who actually know what they're talking about read this article: click here.



Since I'm currently all for anything that could possibly help reduce my risk for another injury, I researched some of the current options in minimalist footwear. I finally chose to give Saucony's Kinvara a try.

Here they are in all their hot pink glory!



I went on my first run in them on Saturday. The first thing I noticed is how incredibly light and flexible they are. I felt like my foot turnover was much faster than normal, and as it turns out, I maintained an average of a 9:30 pace which is much faster than I've been running since coming back from my injury, and much closer to what I was running prior to my injury.



Today my ankles and calves were a bit sore which matches some of what I've read about switching to minimalist shoes. Apparently, it engages different muscles in the feet and ankles and it takes some time for your body to acclimate. So for now, I will be switching back and forth from my old shoes for every-other-run, or so, to give my feet time to adjust.

Ryan got a pair too! We have just over a month left before the Disney Half Marathon, so we are looking forward to "breaking in" our new shoes over the next month in preparation. For more info on the Kinvaras (way more than I can give you here), visit saucony.com.