A truly iconic running shoe just got better, a lot better. First introduced in 1997 and now in its 24th year, the Wave Rider 24 is the result of years of perfecting and improving on one of the world’s most popular running shoes.
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, rowers up and down the country have had to turn to alternative forms of training to maintain fitness and, in some cases, sanity. Running is a popular choice amongst rowers, given the fact that it improves base cardiovascular fitness and increases muscle endurance in key areas of the body.
After the five kilometre charity crazy that dominated social media in the early months of lockdown, athletes are now turning to perhaps longer routes to improve base fitness ahead of a potential season restart in September/October. Enter – the Mizuno Wave Rider 24.
The Wave Rider 24 features brand-new Mizuno Enerzy foam technology in the heel wedge which is 17% softer and has 15% higher energy rebound compared to previous Wave Rider models. This means you can expect an even softer landing than before and maximum energy return with every stride for a truly propulsive running experience.
Mizuno retains its famous Wave Technology which works with your body to give you cushioning, stability and energy return. The upper in the Wave Rider 24 has also seen some updates with a seamless construction for increased breathability and a modern look. An all new gusseted tongue provides better midfoot support and prevents the tongue from moving for maximum comfort throughout your run.
Given the unique strain that rowing places on a body, rowers looking to crosstrain may be best served on longer, less intense runs particularly given the hot weather. A 10km (just over six miles) is always a fairly good barometer of fitness for a competitive athlete – you should ideally be aiming to get your time under 50 minutes. Pacing can be somewhere between UT1 and UT2 – short of breath but able to speak in short sentences. With a short warm-up and warm-down, this is what is known as a Tempo run.
Fartlek/interval training is also a great way to build fitness and strength in the muscles which power the boat down the track. Fartlek is the Swedish for “speed play,” and unlike tempo work, fartlek is unstructured and alternates between moderate to hard efforts with easy efforts throughout. In essence, you variate with speed by running at faster efforts for shorter periods of time (to that tree, to the sign) followed by easy-effort running to recover. By developing the explosivity of your legs, you’ll be improving your ability to power a shell from a standing start and get a nose ahead of your competition on race day.
Whether it’s training miles, race day or just a run around the block, the Wave Rider’s versatility delivers a premium experience for ahletes at every level.
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