Sneaker Project #2 – Saucony Triumph ISO

• Date Purchased: June 5th, 2015
• Date Retired:  In use
• Accumulated mileage: In use

Sentiment: As I mentioned at the end of my  last Sneaker Project post, I was left high and dry on my order for more pairs of Nike Lunarglide+4s. An order for two back-ordered pairs was taking way too lung to fill (and still hasn’t, 1.5 months after by purchase), so I had to go out a real brick-and-mortar store and buy a new pair.

Naturally, my goal was to find a shoe in the same category as the Lunarglide+s, which I would but in the Neutral category, though they are sometimes listed under Stability.  Ultimately, I went with the new Saucony Triumph ISOs. They seem to have very lightweight uppers, which fit like a snug sock on your foot.  I believe they have the same ~9mm drop that I was looking for.

My first run, roughly 7.5 miles, revealed the shoe to be very stable during my stride. Very light shoes. The laces are long, which compelled me to loop through the topmost, offset eyelet (Does that one have a name?). The toe box feels roomy yet my big toes seemed to lose some sensation during the back half of the run. I’ve experienced before with new shoes; it eventually goes away as the shoes break in. So far, no issues with the cuffs at the back of the ankles. Can’t wait to see how they feel over time…..

Sneaker Project #1 – Nike Lunarglide+ 4

• Date Purchased: October 28, 2014

  

• Date Retired: June 5, 2015 (estimated)
• Accumulated mileage: 332 mi ( as of 5-24-15)
  • 90% road miles, 10% trail miles

Sentiment: I loved this shoe about as much as I’ve loved any running shoe in recent memory.  A big reason is that this was my first pair after a brief period running in Mizuno Wave Rider 17s which, inexplicably, caused me persistent plantar fasciitis in my right foot. I’ve been a consistent 15-25 mi per week runner for 15 years and I’ve never had problems with plantar fasciitis.  (Except this one time in 1998 after I ran the New Haven Road Race. I still see those side-laced Nikes in my head, which I’ll try to track down.) But I was bracing myself for the possibility that, as I approach my 40s, that plantar fasciitis could be an aging-related phenomenon.  But hallelujah! A change in shoes to the Lunarglide+ 4s and I’ve been pain free for months.

The shoe is incredibly light-weight with breathable, reflective uppers. The cushion still feels pretty decent even as I’ve pushed past the 300 mi mark. Several reviews I’ve read have complained about the amount of “mechanical weathering” that wears down the  sole , and I can see from the photo that indeed the sole has lost a lot of its original tread. in terms of performance, it hasn’t been a big deal for me.

Historically, I’ve had no shoe loyalty, bouncing around from brand and style to brand and style. I’m still cost-conscious; I figure that at my level of running, most shoes in the neutral or cushion range will work. But I liked running in the Lunarglide+4 so much that I ordered two additional pairs. They’re cheaper nowadays because Nike has moved onto the Lunarglide+5s and now Lunarglide+6s.  But reading about the design changes in those models got me a little nervous that I wouldn’t like them as much. So while I’m sure I’ll run in a variety of shoes in the future, just as I always have, for the near future, I’ll be in Lunarglide+4s.

Update: I’m sorry to say that my order for two additional pairs of Nike Lunarglide+4s hasn’t been filled and likely won’t be filled. They’re back ordered apparently. I’m a little miffed that the online retailer didn’t mention this. So, I have credit there now (I assume) and I went out and bought a new, different pair, which I’ll write about soon.