As for the Best Shoe of the Year for Secondwind, guess who won…the KSwiss K-Ona.

Best Lightweight/Racing shoe for women was my very own pair: the KSwiss Kwicky Blade Light. This was my shoe for 2011 too.

- the 2012 Kwicky Blade Light for Women that I currently use -

What running shoes will we see next year and what shoe will stand out?  Let’s wait and see.  Just another reason to get excited about 2012!

Click below to download Secondwind’s 2011 Runner’s Choice file in PDF.

<<< Secondwind 2011 Runner’s Choice >>>>

WHAT IS ON RUNNING SHOES?

On Running Shoes builds on the idea that our regular running shoes doesn’t really protect us from injury. They claim that horizontal impact causes injuries and running shoes in the market today only absorbs vertical impact.

Enter On Running shoes. Designed by a Swiss engineer, On has CloudTec, 13 circular rubber elements on the sole of the shoe which absorbs both vertical and horizontal shock which they say allows you to run as if you were on clouds and lets you push off as if you were on concrete. This technology, they say, benefits all runners: top athletes can train longer and more often, because the muscles are less strained, and beginner or recreational runners can run injury- and pain-free. To add, since there’s less fatigue, they even run faster and longer.

- On Running Shoes: Cloud Surfer -

GETTING ON

Last month, Chris Sports gave me a pair of On Cloudsurfer to road test. From its website, here’s how they describe the On Cloudsurfer:

Fast feels good. The Cloudsurfer fires your run. Equipped with On’s patented CloudTec™ 3D cushioning system, the Cloudsurfer remains light, agile and transfers energy into forward momentum. Run light and fast.

The Cloudsurfer is made to perform in training runs as well as in competitions. The CloudTec™ system is engineered to provide the best of both worlds: cushioning on impact and speed on push-off.

I’ve used it for three 10k runs and will post a detailed review when I test it beyond 15km.

OLIVIER BERNHARD: COACH AND TRIATHLETE

One of the most credible endorsers of On is Olivier Bernhard, a professional triathlete from Switzerland, three-time World Champion and six time Ironman winner, who swears by the shoe. Chris Sports will be flying in Olivier early next year for a series of tri camps and running talks and clinics. Visit this blog for exact schedule to be released soon.

View this video to learn more about him. I love how often he tells us how much he loves running.

FOR MORE INFO

Facebook: Chris Sports

Website: On Running Shoes

Nike then “upgraded” my favorite shoe to Nike Lunar Glide+ 2 which, uhm, to put it bluntly sucked big time.

Then, a little birdie told me that the next Lunar Glide would be more like the 1st release.  So, for months, I patiently waited for its arrival.  Who would’ve thought that a text from Nike this morning would signal the end of my long wait?!

Introducing: Nike Lunar Glide+ 3 fresh out of the box!

What a beauty, eh?!  Tomorrow, I am all set to run my first weekday run post-injury.  Isn’t it perfect timing that I get to road test this brand spankin’ new pair of Nike Lunar Glide+ 3 as well?!  As Tony of Nike said: “It’s fate!”

Check this blog for a more complete review after a week.

I loved everything about the trip.  It wasn’t just about realizing my dream of running NYC.  It was the freedom I had from all responsibilities, pressures, and worries.  It was much needed and, must I say, well-deserved after months of 24/7 work.

I’m not ready to go back into the real world just yet.  But, today is the deadline I gave to myself.  By Monday, it’s back to reality for me.  I have to work again, go out for meetings, tear off a new sheet of paper and start a new to do list which will fill quickly.  And, worst of all, I have to stop eating chocolate.  Good bye mint M&Ms!

As a celebration of my month long vacation which I still wish would never end, I’d like to share this little gift with you:  Thanks to The Brick Multi Sport Store , we’re offering 15% discount on Asics, Mizuno, New Balance, and K-Swiss running shoes from today until December 5, 2010.  Just print out the coupon below and present at The Brick.  For inquiries or clarifications, contact Leroy at The Brick 985-4890.

Happy shopping!  I’ve done more than enough while I was away.

The Brick Multi-Sport store
Unit 1, Woodridge Apartments
McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Phone: 985-4890
Open Mon to Sat, 7 am to 9 pm

A total of 438 runners participated in the running shoe survey and might I say that the results made hubby and I scratch our heads at one point or giggle in another.

Allow me to share the portion that intrigued me most:

When asked what brand of shoes you wear, these were the top 3 answers:

• Nike – 49%
• New Balance – 42%
• Adidas – 34%

But, when asked “What in your opinion is the best running shoe brand?” you replied:

• New Balance – 35%
• Asics – 19%
• Nike – 16%

I’m no research analyst, but I’d love to hear what YOU think could be the reason for runners using running shoes that isn’t their top choice.  (A friend said we shouldn’t discount the fact that NB shoes were being given away hence the bias despite my informing you that the survey was not commissioned by any shoe brand.)

Anyway, without further ado, the winners of the running shoe survey who will each get 1 FREE New Balance shoe to wear test (if they agree to write a review about it) are:

1. 11th – brucemartin3
2. 309th – etheljansamson
3. 355th – m_janeo10

Congratulations to the lucky runners!

* I didn’t post the winners’ full email address to protect their privacy.  Winners will be notified via email.
** Winners were chosen through random.org.

Remember I was at Hong Kong, not just for the Hong Kong Marathon, but also for the New Balance Tech Summit? During the talks, I jotted down notes as I learned more about the wonderful world of running shoes. Methinks New Balance unleashed the monster running shoe addict in me!

Here are running shoe tips I picked up from New Balance:

1. Check the INSOLE and look at the imprint to find out if you have the right fit.
2. Don’t just measure the length of your foot.  Measure the width and where the joint bends (ball to heel) too.
3. When checking the shoe fit. Feel the WIDTH. You don’t want too much pressure on the side or too much material.
4. You should be able to play the piano with your toes to ensure the TOE BOX is wide enough. But you don’t want too much excess material in this area either.
5. Get the shoe size for the bigger foot.
6. There should be 1 to 1.5 thumbs width from the tip of the longest toe to the end of the shoe. Why? Your foot expands. Your foot moves such as when you run down the hill.
7. The MIDSOLE is like the engine of the car, materials that hold the shoe together.
8. Check the TONGUE. How much of the tongue is showing?
9. Women have about 4x as many foot problems as men.
10. Women are more difficult to fit.  We often worry that the shoe is too wide when we’re probably just not used to a spacious toe box since we wear narrow shoes (e.g., high heels).
11. Shoes should last 300-600 miles, which is roughly 3 to 6 months.
12. Best way is to rotate between two pairs. Pair A and B. Introduce second pair after roughly 200 miles on the first pair of shoes.
13. Foot size changes as you get older because ligaments stretch. Your feet may not get longer, but they may get WIDER especially for women who have given birth.
14. Never wash your entire shoe. Do not put them in the washing machine. Do not throw them into the dryer.
15. Test a running shoe by flexing the shoe. If it flexes in half that’s not a good shoe.
16. When you run, you run on an S-shaped angle. Land on the lateral side of the heel and exit on the big toe.
17. Running generates 2-3x your body weight.

When: Dec. 4 to 6, 2009

Where: Mizuno, BMG Center Roofdeck, Paseo Commercial Center, Magallanes Makati City

For inquiries, call 757-3160 or visit www.mizuno.ph

Second Wind carries big name brands in running shoes such as Mizuno, Asics, and New Balance (Asics is currently on sale). They also sell apparel, hydration belts, Optic Nerve shades, Sports Beans, Accel gel and more.

The great thing about this store is that it is owned and managed by runners. Hector, who is a self-confessed shoe nerd and ex-Nike employee, and Neville, team principal of Pinoy Ultra Runners, can give you tips on choosing the right shoe for your foot and make wise recommendations on brands and models. Their extensive knowledge with running shoes doesn’t come from a company module, but from hands-on (or more like feet-on) experience during their own ultra runs. No clueless salesmen nor misdiagnosed feet here (both of which I experienced at local big brand stores.)

- Hector talks about his greatest love. No, not her!  I meant, shoes! -

- Neville playing cashier -

Second Wind also has a treadmill in the store to allow customers to test the shoe for a quick run.

- Jun runs with jeans to strengthen his legs.  PR in the next race! -

Pretty soon, they will offer gait analysis using a software imported from the U.S. to guide you when shopping for shoes.

- Can’t wait! -

Before you leave the store, you can even sign up to join the informal running group they’ve created. Meet up at the store and just run together for fun.

Beyond all that, after spending over three hours there yesterday, I would say that what I love most about the store is it’s atmosphere. It is all running in there. One wall was adorned with race bibs and medals from the most memorable races of runners (My Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon bib is there and Hector promised he’d give it back. Right, Hec?) while another wall has photos of Running Aid talks, Pinoy Ultra races, and favorite races. Everyone in the store were runners: a young runner from the U.P. track team zipped in and out of the store in between his road run and other Pinoy Ultra runners, Mikey and Dr. Paolo, dropped by for even more running talk.

- My favorite bib is Jeremy’s muddy TNF100 race bib (011) on the upper right -

Congratulations to The Second Wind Running Store and wishing you more success. I have a feeling that Second Wind will be like a Second Home for a lot of runners.

- See that ugly laugh? Told you we had fun -

- with Neville, Jun, Hec and Doc Pao -

WHERE:
88 Maginhawa St.
Teachers Village, QC
www.secondwindrunningstore.com

thesecondwind.multiply.com

There’s been a lot of buzz around this shoe, the Nike Lunar Trainers, even if it isn’t out in the market yet. There was the Nike Lunar Test Run we had last August. And I read about Runwitme‘s similar experience in Malaysia.  Plus, Jeannette Wang‘s positive experience using it when she won the Singapore Sundown Ultramarathon (84km) with a time of 9.5 hours.

The Lunar Trainers are set for a limited release this October 2008—meaning the distribution of this shoe is not massive and not a on a wide scale like other Nike shoes—while bulk of these will go on full blast in early 2009.  

For those of you who would like to reserve a pair of Lunars (retails at P4,995), below are the contact numbers of Nike outlets.  Nike says there are only 18 pairs each for men and women per outlet, except at Nike Bonifacio High Street where there are 30 pairs for men and 18 for women:

Black Cat, I-Np Glorietta 729.14.73 / 813.00.82

Nike Park – Greenbelt3 757.44.91

Nike Park – Sm Moa 556.07.89

Nike Park – The Fort 856.25.86 / 856.25.87

Nike Park – North Triangle 901.35.47

Last Saturday, I was fortunate enough to be one of those invited to test the new Nike Lunar Trainer at Bonifacio High Street. It was a reunion of sorts as friends from the running world (I won’t name names since I’m bound to forget someone!) showed up eager as I was to try out Nike’s newest shoe. Of course, the celebrities were there too, such as triathletes Drew Arellano and Paolo Cabrera and Tessa Prieto who I’ve read is currently training for NY Marathon.

After our costume change (Runaholic singlets, dri-fit socks, and the Nike Lunar Trainers were distributed like candies on Halloween), the test run’s organizer, Coach Rio, beckoned for us to run loops around BHS together. At an easy pace, we ran chatting, laughing, and exchanging stories that only runaholics like us could truly appreciate. After a couple of loops, there was a brief presentation about the features of Nike Lunar Trainers, which got its name from the lunar system encased inside the shoe (lunar foam with piston waffles).

- Norman, My hubby, Annie, Ben, Coach Jo-Ar, Doc Oknoy and Patrick C. -

- Hanging out after the run: Annie, Ben, Patrick C., Mon, Doc Oknoy, and Norman -

Since Saturday, I’ve used the shoe twice which is enough for me to give an honest evaluation of this shoe:

PROS

1. Ultra light: This was the lightest shoe I have ever worn. After running in them, you might look at your feet once in a while to wonder if you actually forgot to wear the shoes; it feels as if you’re just wearing socks.
2. Super fast: Oh, I felt invincible when I wore them last night. My regular pace for short runs is 6:00 to 6:15 min/km. Last night, I was surprised to find myself running at 5:30 without extra effort.
3. Very stable: It’s wide so I felt like it protected me from my usual overpronation problem.
4. Great fit: This shoe is all about comfort. It was soft and snug; I cannot imagine anyone getting blisters from this one.