I count myself as one of the rowers that has taken up running during lockdown. With all successful runners, comes a shoe which is the keystone to their performance, one which can provide both comfort and grip suited to their surface. The recent release of the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 coincided perfectly with the demise of my previous pair of running shoes; their soles were non-existent and the laces had snapped clean off. I did not miss them once I had jumped into my new pair of Wave Rider 24s.
It was clear from the start that these running shoes were different from ones I had previously. The care booklet that arrives attached to the left shoe is very clear that they must be cleaned regularly by hand with water, and this is not just so the visually-striking colour gradient along the edge looks as good as new. Such is the extent of the technical fibres within the shoe, it will become damaged if washed in a machine or with soaps.
I now had two weeks to try them out on as many runs as I could before writing this review and signing off on Junior Rowing News’ written content for the 2019/20 season. And here are my findings….
Despite living in the countryside where the 45-minute drive to the school boathouse was a trek, I am graced with having a variety of surfaces on which to try out these shoes: tarmac, gravel, grassy paths through fields, muddy woodland paths, you name it. The previous brand I used for running shoes (which shall remain nameless) on a whole was fine, the shoes were comfortable and had a nice spring to them with each stride. By comparison, the best word I would use to describe the Mizuno’s is that they are compact. There is a stronger sense of sturdiness to them that does not infringe on the comfort nor change between different terrain.
The usual run route I took would incorporate a short tarmac section at the start and finish, and between then I would dash around the North Downs through overgrown tracks in fields and footpaths through the woods. I found that the shoes best performed on the harder tarmac and stone surfaces which, after a spot of research, is not something Mizuno did not consider. They have their own other range of trail running shoes as well and the Wave Rider 24 bears in mind the all-round-runner. Even with a variety of distances racing from a flat out 5-kilometre charge around my local village to a 15-kilometre tour through various woodlands and golf clubs, the shoes felt the same throughout which is a positive aspect when I see the variety of runs being taken by fellow rowers on Strava.
As there is no immediate sense of a return to large boats and racing in the near future, I definitely will be using these shoes going forward, and I think it would only be logical if people invested in a pair of running shoes at this stage just like they do with respect to rowing kit.
So what are you waiting for? The demise of your current trainers? I think you should consider getting a pair of these even now. And you can by clicking here!
OarsomeBows
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